Wallflower by Cookie O'Gorman (first color ebook reader .TXT) 📗

guys are too cute," I said, watching as he placed a kiss behind her ear.  Mom seemed to shiver in response.  "Unfortunately, I don't have a guy best friend.  Darn."

"Honestly, I don't see why not," Dad said.  "You're great, Vi.  I'm surprised I haven't had to fight off the guys at Durham High with a stick."

I hated to burst his bubble, but…  "Dad, the guys at school call me 'Dog Girl' behind my back."

"They what?!?"

I nodded.

"Who?" he said, sounding angry now.  "I want their names, Vi.  It better not be anyone on the team.  They know my anti-bullying policy.  Those little jerks."

"It's not, Dad."  Surprisingly, this wasn't a lie.  It was more the football players, who in addition to the nickname, thought it was the funniest thing to bark at me in the halls.  Someone (my bet was on Whitney) had leaked the info about me working at the shelter, and posted very unflattering pictures on the school website.  In one, I'd been covered in poop because one of our pups had had an accident.  The dog treats I carried around in my pockets and forgot to take out at school probably didn't help.  They'd been barking since freshman year.  Not that I would tell my father.  He looked upset enough already.  "And I'm not giving you any of their names.  I just want you to understand."

"But Vi—"

"I'm a loner, Dad.  I don't have friends, and I'm okay with that."  For the most part, I mentally added.  "I'm just going to try and get through senior year with as little fuss as possible.  That's my goal."

Dad still looked concerned, but before he could say anything, I stood, placed my plate in the sink and began walking to my room.

"I'll see you guys in the morning," I murmured.  That was definitely enough truth for one day.  "Love you."

"Okay, love you," Mom said.

"Hey Vi, I wanted to talk to you," Dad called.  "I have kind of a big favor to ask."

I raised a hand as I neared my room.

"Whatever it is," I said over my shoulder, "I'll do it."

"It's a pretty big favor," he repeated.

"You're my favorite muggle, remember?  Love you, Dad."

"Love you, too, Vi," he said softly.  "Thanks, and your senior year is going to be great.  I just know it."

Yeah, I thought.  Too bad I'd already screwed that up by making a fool of myself in front of my secret crush—who it turns out I hadn't really known at all.  And now that little convo with my parents had reminded me just how friendless and alone I really was.

Oh well, at least I'd gotten all the awkwardness out of my system.

There was no way it could get worse than that, right?

  CHAPTER 3

You know that dream where you can't wake up?

The one where you know it's a dream, not quite reality, because something is off.  But you can't figure out what?  That was kind of how I felt when I woke up on Monday.  The only difference was that the moment I stepped out my front door, I knew exactly what was wrong.

I got ready for school in a flash, grabbed a banana, thermos of milk, and pack of peanut butter crackers (aka the breakfast of champions and people who hate being late) then rushed out the door…only to freeze on the porch.

I blinked.

Blinked again.

But the scene before me didn't change.

A pinch to the arm didn't work either.

Why wasn't I waking up?

This had to be a dream, I thought.  Either that or a hallucination.

Standing in our driveway, leaning back against my little Honda, hands in his pockets like he was Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles or something, was a guy who knew he looked good even in sweats and a hoodie.

Dare Frost.

His six-foot-three frame dwarfed my car.  Dare was the last person I expected to see waiting outside my house on my last first day of high school.  I was so surprised it took me a second to find my voice.

But Dare just cocked his head.

"Morning flower," he said.  "Better hurry or we'll be late."

I shook myself out of it.  "Are you lost?"

"Nope, I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."

"What are you even doing here?" I asked.

"Isn't it obvious?"  He held his hands out, a small smile playing on his lips.  "I'm here to bum a ride to school.  Speaking of, could you pop the locks?"  Dare rubbed his hands together.  "It's a little chilly out here."

I laughed, couldn't help it.  "Are you crazy?  Dare, I'm not taking you to school."

"Yes, you are."

"No.  I'm not."

Dare shrugged.  "Coach said you would."

My jaw dropped.  "He did what?  When?  Why?"

"That's a lot of questions," he said.  "But yeah, your dad and I talked the other day after practice.  He said you'd give me a ride because we live so close to each other.  Said it would be no problem.  I run by your house every morning anyway.  Plus, my car's in the shop for repairs."

"Didn't you just get that car?" I asked.

The question made Dare smile for some reason.  "You keeping tabs on me, Vi?"

I choked.  "What? No!"

"Hey, no worries," he said.  "I'm not mad about it.  A lot of girls do it.  Just wasn't aware you were one of them."

"I'm not," I said, taking a deep breath for patience.  "It's just hard not to notice when one of your classmates wrecks three luxury vehicles in the space of a three year period."

"Ah, so you have been keeping track."

I really wasn't.  Dare Frost was just one of those people who was hard to ignore.

"And my father offered for me to take you to school?" I repeated.

"Yeah.  He said he talked to you about it."