Keeping my voice low, I said, "The warning bell's about to ring. I'll just bring it to lunch, okay?"
Dare shook his head. "That'll be too late. I'm hungry now."
"Dare," I hissed, "people are staring."
"Relax, Vi. Ten to one, they're looking at me, not you," he said back, which made a few girls nearby giggle. They looked like freshmen, but I couldn't be sure. As he threw them a smile, it set them off again. Their eyes were all over Dare in his dark blue t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. And I got it. He was gorgeous standing there, jaw all tight, a shine in those sky blue eyes. If I hadn't known how frustrating he could be, I might've melted right along with them. "Now, are you going to feed me or not? I'm not leaving until I get my treat."
Taking a deep breath for patience, I re-entered my locker combination, grabbed a granola bar and apple from my bag and quickly pressed them into his chest. I jerked my hands away, not liking the zing that went through me as I touched him.
"There," I said. "Happy now?"
Dare looked down at the food then smiled up at me. "Very," he said. "Thanks, flower. I was thinking I might starve. You're a lifesaver."
"Yeah, right." I shook my head. "You are so annoying."
Dare scoffed. "I'm a freaking delight, and you know it. Later."
And then he was gone, giving fist bumps to guys, and saying hi to almost everyone, teachers and students alike. He was that popular—which was why a lot of people were still staring curiously at me, the girl he'd stopped in the hall to get his morning treat.
Ugh.
That's what I got for being nice.
Penn and crew found me again—like they had every other day this week—and began their barking routine. The only difference was Dare. He walked up right in the middle of it, on his way to study hall no doubt. The guys were barking, and I was just holding it together. I'd already felt like crap because, thanks to my dead drier, my hair really did look like a wet dog, and the guys' insults had seemed extra cutting today. They were standing in a semi-circle, hounding my steps—no pun intended—when Dare suddenly appeared in front of me.
"What's this?" he said, glaring at the three of them.
"Nothing." Penn shrugged. "We were just messing around."
"Yeah," Rex said while Jimmy remained silent. "It's all in good fun."
"Dog Girl likes it when we bark at her." Penn shot me an ugly smile. "Don't you, Dog Girl?"
Dare said nothing while I stood there fuming.
"Come on, bro." Penn gestured to me. "She brings it on herself, dressing like that, acting like she's better than everyone. Just because her loser father played for the big leagues."
"You are absolutely vile," I said. "Doesn't take much to be better than you."
"See? Total bitch."
I rolled my eyes. "At least I'm not an ass."
"Yeah well, at least I don't smell like one."
That. That right there stung a little. I'd always been more sensitive about hygiene since working at the shelter, and even though I knew he only said it to get under my skin, Penn's comment rankled.
Dare hummed—and then he slowly leaned in, pulling me to him and putting his nose in my hair, right next to my neck. I gasped as he breathed in.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Checking something," he murmured so only I could hear. After another breath, he straightened, staring down Penn as I tried to get my heartbeat back under control.
I couldn't forget the feel of the air hitting my neck as he spoke, the shivers it sent down my spine. One thing was certain: Dare Frost did indeed have moves.
"Actually, she smells amazing," he said with a completely straight face. "Kind of like fresh rain with a hint of lavender."
Penn scoffed.
"Unlike you guys. Your stench is a potent mix of sweat and cowardice."
"Dare, come on," Rex said. "It wasn't like that."
"Wasn't it?" he said.
"What do you care?" Penn asked. It was the million dollar question, and I waited to hear Dare's answer like the rest of them.
Dare stared at me a beat, then looked back to him and shrugged. "I just do," he said. "Don't pull that crap again."
Penn snickered. "Or what?"
"Well, we could fight—and I'd win. It'd be a pleasure to wipe the floor with your sorry asses." Dare tapped his lips like he was thinking as Penn, Rex and Jimmy tensed. "But I'd rather not get suspended again. Had enough of that freshman year. Plus, Coach is always telling me to control my temper. I guess I could report you to her dad, who I'm sure would love to suspend you for harassing his daughter."
Dare stared them down for another second before Penn forced a laugh.
"Yeah, whatever," he said. "Let's go guys."
"That's what I thought," Dare said.
Penn flipped him off as he and his friends walked away.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Dare turned to me. "Okay, that was fun. Do you know how hard it was for me not to bark at them as they left? How long has that BS been going on anyway?"
I blinked, wondering what the heck had just happened.
"Hey, I meant to ask. Did you want to hang out later?"
Okay, that was the last straw.
"Come with me," I said,
