She looked like she still had her doubts, so I added more context.
"I almost drowned today, and Dare saved me."
"Dare, is that true?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Yeah."
"That's…not what I was expecting. Sorry, if I jumped to the wrong conclusion."
"I'm used to it," Dare said, and my heart went out to him.
She looked surprised while his father gave him a nod.
"Good job, son," he said. "I'm impressed—though like your mom said, there hasn't been a lot of cause for that since you hit high school and started acting like a wild child."
"Mark," Dare's mom hissed, but he ignored her.
"Viola, do you want to stay for dinner?"
"No thanks," I said. "I should go."
As Dare walked me to the door, I picked up my shoes, stopped and turned around.
"You know, you should really make an effort to come to Dare's games," I said.
"It's okay, Vi," Dare said softly.
"No, it's not," I said back. Then added, "He has a gift. It's plain for everyone to see. Dare's the best on our team, and he's going to do great things, probably go to college on a scholarship and play for the pros one day. He's that amazing."
His dad gave me a patronizing grin. "We have jobs, young lady. We can't just drop everything to see every single one of his soccer games."
"What about just one?" I countered.
After a moment, I shook my head.
"The saddest thing is you're his parents. You really have no idea how wonderful you son is. Do you?"
They just gaped at me as I left, but I didn't care. Dare was right. His parents really did suck. And someone had to say it. I walked blindly out to the driveway. It took me a few minutes to put on my shoes and get the car door open. I was that upset. But as I was finally about to get in, Dare grabbed my elbow. As I turned, he pressed my clothes into my arms.
"Fresh out of the dryer," he said.
"Thanks," I said back, avoiding his eyes.
Placing his hand under my chin, Dare lifted until I had to look at him.
"Thank you," he said. "No one's ever stood up for me like that."
I swallowed. "No problem. They may hate me now, but it was worth it."
I could do nothing as he lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on my temple. My eyes closed as he let out a breath.
"Drive safe, flower. I'll see you in the morning."
I left feeling lighter than air. Maybe something really could happen between us, I thought. Maybe Dare just didn't believe in love because he hadn't found his person yet. Maybe…I could be that person.
For him.
Maybe he could be it for me.
Hope was a dangerous thing, but it sprang eternal in my chest as I looked in the rearview mirror and noticed Dare watching as I drove away.
CHAPTER 17
Dare was quiet on the drive to school.
I didn't think much of it.
I mean, we'd had a pretty long talk the other night, so maybe he needed space. No problem. I could give him that. But when he refused the breakfast I brought him? That was when I grew concerned. Dare loved to eat. Anything, everything, I was pretty sure the boy was constantly hungry.
When I parked, I looked over to him, but he was staring straight ahead.
"Everything okay?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
He jolted as if startled. "Oh yeah. Just got a lot on my mind."
"Care to share?"
Dare gave a half-smile. "You worried about me, flower?"
"Maybe." I shrugged. "You didn't eat today. That's not like you."
His stomach growled in answer, and about a minute later, he had wolfed down the entire banana, granola bar and bottle of milk.
"Thanks for that," he said then got out of the car and grabbed the cello from the back.
"No problem," I said. But he'd already closed the door.
After we dropped off my instrument (it had been a silent walk to the band room), I tried to draw him out again.
"Dare, are you sure you're alright?"
He stopped and so did I. "Yeah, I'm good. You better go now, or people might see us."
I scoffed. "As if I care about that."
"Don't you?" he said.
"No." My eyes took in the tight, guarded look on his face. "They think we're together. And according to every teen movie or K-drama I've seen, boyfriends and girlfriends walk down the hall all the time. Right?"
Dare nodded.
"You're the popular star athlete," I said. "I'd think you wouldn't want to be seen with me."
"You're the one who doesn't like attention," he said.
"Yeah, but…"
"But what?"
I stared at him a moment then told the truth. "When I'm with you, I don't mind so much."
Dare's whole face changed then. I couldn't quite put my finger on where it started, but the tension I'd seen only seconds before melted away. His eyes grew brighter, the grin I loved coming back full force.
"Well then," he said and nudged my shoulder, "let's walk. Shall we?"
I nodded.
As Dare and I walked side by side down the crowded halls, every eye we passed conveyed something slightly different. Estelle said, "Hey guys" and gave me a smile of support that I greatly appreciated. Whitney, of course, threw me the stank eye. Penn and his boys looked at the two of us with disgust—but he didn't bark, thank goodness. And there were so many other people. I actually was starting to get nervous. Dare had longer legs than me. I wasn't sure I'd be able to stay next to him.
But then Dare took my hand.
He did it smoothly, like it
