But did I really?
Dare frowned. "I thought you would be happier."
"Oh no, I'm good," I said.
"It looks like you're about to cry," he said. "Is something wrong, flower?"
Yes, everything. This whole thing is wrong, and I feel like such a fool.
"Happy tears," I said. What was one more lie, right? "I'm just so happy."
Dare nodded. "Give Tyson a chance. You'll like him."
Not as much as I like you, I thought.
"I need to leave," I said. "But talk to you later?"
"Sure. Bye, flower."
The rest of the day went by in a haze. I couldn't have told you what was said in any of my classes. Thank goodness, none of my teachers called on me. There was a quiz I was pretty sure I failed—which never happened, by the way. But my concentration was shot.
Tyson found me at the end of the day and asked if he could pick me up at seven. I told him I'd rather drive myself, which he was totally cool with. We arranged to meet at a little Mexican restaurant in town.
The whole drive there I thought about turning back and calling it off.
But Dare's words kept replaying in my head, "Give Ty a chance."
If the tables were turned, I didn't think I could say the same. Nice girl, mean girl, whatever, I wouldn't be able to tell Dare to give them a chance. I loved him too much for that. And he obviously didn't feel the same.
My heart was heavy as I walked into the restaurant.
Tyson was already sitting in a booth, and he waved me over.
"Hey, Viola," he said then noticed my expression, "you okay?"
"Yep," I said. "How are you?"
"Doing fine."
"That's good."
We sat for a minute in silence until the waiter brought over some chips and salsa. It smelled wonderful. Tyson poured us both a cup of the red stuff. He picked up a chip and started munching, but though I tried to do the same, my heart just wasn't in it.
"How's soccer?" I tried.
"Going alright." He laughed. "Though Dare was pretty hard on everyone today. He was playing like a man possessed."
My ears perked up at the name. "Oh? I wonder what that was about."
"No idea," Tyson said. "But I tried to stay out of his way. Dare's my best friend, but he can be moody."
I laughed. "Yeah, tell me about it. He's so annoyingly confident but still likeable. How does he do that?"
"The way he switches from hot to cold can give you whiplash," Ty commented.
"Yes!"
"And he hates discussing his feelings."
"He totally does," I said. "God forbid the guy actually has any of those."
We both laughed and soon I was eating the chips right along with Tyson.
He sighed a second later.
"But that's our Dare," he said. "Hard shell with a heart of gold in the center. Who wouldn't want that, right?"
"Yeah," I said suddenly not so hungry anymore. "That's a great way to describe him."
"I wanted to ask you about something. But I hope you won't get mad. I promise I'm not trying to embarrass you."
I looked up, and Tyson smiled.
"You know how you confessed to me earlier in the year?"
"How could I forget?" I said and waited for him to continue, wondering where this was going.
"You were so brave," Tyson said.
That caught me off guard.
"I really admire that. How you said exactly what you felt. I was just wondering"—he cleared his throat—"how you got up the nerve to do that?"
I laughed a little self-consciously. "I don't think it was bravery as much as it was being afraid I'd miss my shot."
Tyson sat forward. "What do you mean?"
"Well," I said, "you were supposed to be moving all the way to South Korea. I didn't know if I'd ever see you again, and I thought it was love."
"And now, you know it wasn't?" he finished.
"Sorry," I said with a shrug, but his smile widened.
"That's okay," he said. "It was still nice to hear it, that someone loved me at all."
"Really?"
He nodded.
"I'm assuming there's someone you love, but you haven't told them yet," I guessed.
"Yeah…but it's complicated," Ty said back.
I shrugged. "Isn't it always?"
"Our relationship has never been about that. It can't be. I know it would never work—but I still really want to say it. I just don't want to mess anything up, you know?"
"I do," I said. And truly I did. "I understand that better than probably anyone."
"Well, this sounds interesting."
My eyes narrowed on his grinning face. "Don't even go there, Ty."
"What? I just said it was interesting." There was a sparkle in his eyes. "So, this thing you've got going with Dare, how's that working out?"
In answer, I shrugged.
"I have to say I totally bought it," he said.
My eyes snapped to his.
"You two, together. I meant it when I said you were couple goals. I don't think I've heard Dare talk so much about a girl or keep one around for this long."
"Well," I said, "it was all part of the act. He's really good at convincing people."
"Is he, though?"
Tyson and I stared each other down.
"One thing you should know about my best friend," he said. "He doesn't always trust his feelings, has trouble admitting them—even to himself."
He was giving me false hope again, and I really didn't need more of that.
"Tyson, thank you for asking me here," I said. "I had a good time."
"But?" Ty said.
"Honestly, I need some space to think, and you're in love with someone else."
He lifted his chin at me. "Would it make a difference if I wasn't?"
I shook my head. "No, because I am, too."
Tyson nodded to himself. "Thanks for the talk,
