Chapter 1
Daisy cringed.
She wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. All around her, girls were slow dancing, swaying like they belonged there.
She stared at her phone so she wouldn’t have to watch.
She stepped backward until her shoulders hit the wall.
Great.
Wallflower.
Her chest tightened — not quite a panic attack, but close enough.She wanted to leave. Just walk out of the gym and be done with it.
But she couldn’t.
That would look worse.
And she already had a reputation.
Stuck-up. Intimidating. Unapproachable.
No one had ever said it to her face, but she knew.
Daisy had opinions. She said them. Loudly, sometimes. People didn’t mess with her. And then there was that night — making out with someone’s on-and-off boyfriend. Drama exploded, but no one came for her.
That was it.
Untouchable.
Why would anyone ask her to dance?
The song was ending. Thank God. She’d wait for her two best friends and get the hell out. Maybe get a little tipsy on her mother’s rye later.
Oh shit.
Another slow song.
“Fucking double slow song. Jaysus.”
Some couples stopped dancing, but most stayed. Daisy dragged a hand through her short brown hair.
That was part of it too.
Her hair.
She imagined it long — something she could throw into a messy bun without thinking. Her friends had that kind of hair. Blonde, effortless. Pretty in a way Daisy never quite felt.
Her mother always kept it short when she was younger. Easier. Practical.
And Daisy had stuck with it.
Even now, flipping through magazines, she’d pause at longer styles — but always went back to short.
Still… standing there now, she wondered.
Maybe if it was long and luxurious, someone would have asked her to dance already.
She stared down at the floor.
Institutional green and tan tiles.
Safe.
Predictable.
Then she felt it.
Someone behind her.
Her stomach dropped.
Oh God. Please don’t be for me.
Slowly, she looked up.
Donall.
Tall. Hockey team. Popular.
Her face flushed instantly.
Was this a joke?
“Hey, Daisy.” He gave a small wave.
“Yeah?” she said, a little too sharp.
He smiled. Nervous.
“Want to dance?”
Her first instinct —this is a dare.
She glanced around the gym, looking for laughter, pointing, anything.
Nothing.
She knew him, kind of. Science class. One lab together. Barely spoke.
Why would he want to dance with her?
“I suppose.”
His shoulders relaxed immediately.
They walked onto the dance floor.
She waited.
He placed his hands lightly on her waist.
Her head spun again.
She avoided his eyes — she knew they were green.
He pulled her a little closer.
Faint cologne.
She wanted to breathe him in.
“You like this song?” he asked.
His voice pulled her back.
She was dancing with Donall Rooker.
What the fuck was happening?
“Sure.”
One word. That was all she had.
He leaned closer.
“Good.”
The song ended too soon.
His hands dropped from her waist. He lingered for a second, like he expected something.
“Thanks, Daisy.”
And then he was gone.
Back to his friends.
A fast song started.
Daisy fled the dance floor.
“Holy shit, Dais — you scored big. Donal Rooker!” Emma grabbed her arm.
“The guy from science, right?” Jenna added.
Daisy nodded, still dazed.
“Maybe he likes you,” Emma said. “Why else would he ask?”
“Guys, I seriously doubt it. Probably felt sorry for me. Or it was a dare.”
“Jesus, harsh,” Jenna laughed. “You’re gorgeous.”
Daisy rolled her eyes.
“Did he ask for your number?” Jenna said, reapplying lip gloss.
“God, no. He just asked if I liked the song. I didn’t even know it. I just said yes. Then he said ‘good.’ Which… what does that even mean?”
“He was trying to be nice, ice queen,” Jenna nudged her.
“Hey. I’m not that.”
But she knew that’s what people thought.
Girls said it behind her back.
Even asked her friends —why is she such a bitch?
It stung.
Daisy wasn’t a bitch.
She just said what she thought.
In class, especially.
“I’m not a feminist, but…” girls would start.
Daisy would roll her eyes.
“Why not? Do you even know what feminists have done for you?”
Yeah.
Not exactly friendship-building material.
“Let’s just go,” Daisy said. “Sleeping at yours, right Jenna?”
Jenna grinned. “Obviously.”
Daisy woke early.
She remembered him.
His hands.
His voice.
The way he had looked at her.
She felt her cheeks warm.
Why had he asked her?
Did he like her?
He hadn’t even been on her radar.
Shaking her head, she got dressed quietly and slipped out the front door. Emma and Jenna were still asleep.
Daisy liked mornings.
Still. Quiet. Hers.
She walked the familiar trail home, the early sun warming her back.
Saturday.
Too much homework waiting.
Work tomorrow at the drugstore.
Life would go back to normal.
Right?
Sunday mornings at work were always quiet. By ten, it started picking up.
Daisy was stocking shampoo when she saw them.
Hockey boys.
Acting like they owned whatever space they walked into.
Her face flushed just from them being there.
“Hey, you work here, right? Lilly, is it?”
She didn’t bother correcting him.
Wrong flower, asshole.
“Yes.”
“Where are the condoms?”
Loud. Obnoxious.
“Bruh, what the fuck?” one of them laughed.
“Back aisle,” Daisy said, turning back to the shelf.
But they didn’t leave.
“Which ones are the best?”the other one asked, grinning.
More laughter.
Daisy turned slowly.
“Probably the small ones for you.”
She stared straight through him, her blue eyes glinting.
“Ohhh, she got you, bruh. You’re cooked.”
The handsome one flushed.
They walked off, still laughing.
Fucking idiots.
Her mind started racing.
Did Donall send them in here?
Was this a joke?
Wasshea joke?
She walked into the back room and leaned against the counter.
Fuck them.
Fuck Donall.
Obviously an asshole.
She’d been wrong about him. About that moment.
Sighing, she pushed herself upright and went back to work.
Monday.
Science period before lunch.
Head up, Daisy strode into class. She dropped her bag a little too hard, but she didn’t care.
She knew he was there.
Back row. Where he always was. Surrounded by his friends. The pretty girls.
Daisy didn’t dare look.
Class started.
Notes. Diagrams. Something about chemical reactions.
Daisy almost laughed.
How apt.
Was there chemistry between her and Donall?
Fuck.
Why was she thinking like that again?
His friends showing up yesterday proved everything. This was some kind of joke. A social experiment.
She gripped her pen tighter.
She wanted to confront him. Ask him what the hell that was.
But no.
Daisy wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
She thought she heard whispers.
Her head turned slightly.
Sly smiles. A couple of girls watching her.
Of course.
Thankfully, class ended.
She packed up quickly.
Lunch.
She spotted Donall near the door. A couple of girls beside him.
Fuck.
She’d have to walk right past them.
She adjusted her bag and headed straight for the exit.
“Hi, Daisy.”
His voice.
She didn’t stop.
“Hi,” she said, flat, and kept walking.
A second later, he fell into step beside her.
The girls stayed behind, already whispering.
Daisy shifted her bag to the other side.
Suddenly she felt flustered, like she’d forgotten how to even walk to the caf.
“Why are you walking so fast? Trying to get away from me?” he said, half laughing.
“Maybe.”
But she slowed down.
“Are you going to ask me about condoms too?”
She stopped and turned to face him.
His face flushed instantly.
“Condoms? Jesus, no.”
“Oh. Well, your friends did. Thought you might want to continue the joke.”
He frowned. “Joke?”
Daisy stood there, suddenly overwhelmed.
She started walking again.
“The dance. Your friends at my work. Is this funny to you?” Her voice was rising.
“Jesus Christ,” he said. “I’m just trying to talk to you. I guess that’s not something you want to do.”
He stopped.
Daisy took another step and stopped too.
Her eyes stung.
What the hell was going on?
Was she wrong about him?
Why wasn’t he embarrassed to talk to her out here?
In front of everyone?
She felt exposed.
Like everyone was watching.
She wanted to run.
Then his hand touched her shoulder.
Everything stilled.
“Can I get your number?” he said, softer now. “In case I need help in science. I know you know everything.”
He smiled.
God.
It was unfair how beautiful his smile was.
“Oh, so that’s it,” she said. “You need help.”
She exhaled.
“Fine. 905 636 5774.”
“Thanks, Daisy.”
He walked away.
“Sure,” she muttered.
Daisy tried to focus on her homework that night.
Her phone kept buzzing.
Emma.
Jenna.
“Did he text yet???”
“Jesus, Jenna, stop,” Daisy typed back. “Andrea said he has a girlfriend.”
“So why did he ask for your number?” Jenna shot back.
Good question.
Daisy closed her books.
She needed to focus.
Exams were coming.
Keep your eye on the prize.
Her mother’s voice in her head.
No overthinking.
No distractions.
Ping.
She glanced at her phone.
Daisy, hi, it’s Donall.
Her stomach flipped.
He was actually texting her.
She stared at the message.
Then grabbed her phone again.
Emma, Jenna he fucking texted me
“Omg I knew it,” Jenna replied instantly.
“Wait,” Emma said. “Don’t answer right away.”
Daisy rolled her eyes.
But she waited.
9:45.
That was long enough.
Hi Donall.
She tossed her phone aside.
It buzzed almost immediately.
Daisy, what you up to?
Daisy stared at her phone.
She didn’t overthink it.
Daisy: Homework.
Donall: Always the good girl.
Daisy: Maybe...
Donall: My game Friday. Maybe I will see you there? I’ll look for you.
Daisy's stomach flipped. Was that an invitation? She had never been to a school hockey game. She would go with the girls.
Daisy wanted the week to fast forward to Friday.
