"But wha—"
My phone rang, and seeing my dad's name, I picked up immediately.
"Hi Viola," he said. "I wanted to catch you before school. Have you left yet?"
"Not yet," I said. "Dad, why is Dare Frost here saying that you told him I'd drive him to school?"
"Yeah, I meant to bring it up again but didn't have the chance." My father chuckled self-consciously. "Remember that favor we talked about?"
My eyes closed. "Dad, please tell me you didn't."
"He's a good kid, Vi. I just thought we could help him out."
Turning away, I lowered my voice. "We? We aren't doing anything. This is just me, playing chauffer to one of your star athletes. I can't believe you tricked me into this."
"Tricked? Come on, sweetheart. I love you, but you agreed without hearing any of the details."
He had me there, but—"Can't someone else do it? He has so many friends, Dad. Or for that matter, can't he take the bus?"
Dare scoffed behind me, but I didn't turn.
"The bus doesn't stop in his neighborhood. You know that Vi."
I did. My family and I lived in a little suburb called Piper's Glen, but Dare's family was from the subdivision behind ours called Royal Oaks Estates. Those Richie Rich people lived in McMansions, got their kids brand-spanking-new cars at 16, usually expensive ones—sometimes multiple cars as was the case of the guy behind me—and they definitely wouldn't want a cheese wagon rolling through their streets. It might remind them that there were real, lower-middle class people, who didn't make six figures a year.
"And as for his friends," Dad added, "they didn't want to step up, drive out of their way every morning and bring him to school."
"Hmph," I said.
"Also, did you know Dare couldn't find a ride, so he ran to practice every day last week? That's a few miles at least."
I shrugged. "Aren't you always encouraging the team to run more?"
"Viola."
"What? It sounds like a good workout."
"Oh, Vi." Dad's disappointment was clear, and it hit me right in the chest. "I expected better from you."
I swallowed. "Couldn't you take him?"
"If I didn't have to get here an hour before all of the students arrived, I would," he said. "Can't you just do this, Vi? For me? Your favorite muggle?"
Annnd in addition to the guilt trip, he just had to bust out the big guns by using our Harry Potter-inspired way of saying I love you. With a sigh, I said, "Sure, okay."
Dad whooped. "Yeah, thank you!"
"But just know, I'm never agreeing to one of your 'favors' again," I said. "Not without full disclosure."
"Sounds good," he said, and I could tell he was smiling. "Who knows, Viola? Maybe this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?"
Between me and Dare Frost?
Yeah, right, I thought with a mental scoff. But I didn't say it aloud, not wanting to bring him down.
"I love you so much," Dad said. "Drive carefully and stay positive."
"Love you, too, Dad. Don't let the muggles get you down," I said then hung up.
After a moment, I turned to find Dare still standing there, leaning back like he had all the time in the world. He looked up at me from beneath his lashes.
"Everything good?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said, squaring my shoulders. "Are you ready? Or would you rather keep standing there like something out of a John Hughes film?"
"John who?"
I sighed. "Just get in the car Frost."
"Whatever you say, flower," he said.
When Dare scooped up his backpack and started for the driver's side, I rolled my eyes. "Listen, just because I agreed to give you a lift it doesn't mean you get to drive my car."
"Okay," he said.
"Seriously," I added when he stopped by the door and turned to me. "Buttercup can be finnicky sometimes. She doesn't like strangers."
"Ah, so it's a girl car." He smiled, patted the hood then reached for the handle and pulled the door open, disregarding everything I'd said. "We should get along fine then. The ladies love me."
"Ugh, did you really just…" My eyes went squinty in the face of his arrogance. "Never mind. You're still not driving my car, Dare."
"I know," he said slowly. "I'm just getting the door for you."
My jaw dropped. "Why would you do that?"
"Hmm, let's see. Because chivalry isn't dead, and I'm a gentleman? Jeez, Vi." He ran a hand over his neck then lifted his chin toward the door he still held open. Waiting for me, apparently, to get inside. I'd read about this, seen it in plenty of movies, but never had a guy do it for me in real life. So, of course like an idiot, I stood there speechless. "Can we go already?"
I nodded then had to clear my throat, trying to ignore the warmth inside my chest.
"Fine," I said. "Just don't do anything else weird, okay? I'm not a baby. I can open my own door."
He looked amused but tipped his chin in acknowledgment. "It'll be hard. I'm used to opening doors for girls, but I'll try."
I didn't miss what he said. Girls. Plural. So, this wasn't anything special for him, not that I needed the reminder, but there it was.
"Next thing you know, you'll be trying to put on my seatbelt for me or something," I murmured as I got in, and he finally walked to the passenger side.
Starting the car, I waited for him, trying to shake off the flutters Dare's little gesture set off inside me. I honestly thought he hadn't heard my last words until he slid into the car and shocked me. Again.
"Ready?" I asked, putting the car in reverse.
"Almost," he murmured.
Dare leaned toward me, and my breath
