Daisy's Code Novel by Amelia Bennett

Daisy’s stride hitched when she heard Yvonne. “What’s up?” she asked, her eyes darting around, landing on the unexpected sight of Yvonne on the ground.

“Whoa, Yvonne, you alright?” Daisy’s shock was palpable. “I’ve run through every kind of terrain back in Mistville and never took a tumble. How’d you manage to fall on a track? Take care!”

Her tone was laced with disbelief, her gaze sweeping over Yvonne with a mix of pity and confusion. Yvonne felt strange since it seemed not Daisy’s doing.

Yvonne had been in the zone, running, when a pebble caught her off guard. She’d dodged it instinctively, but it threw her off balance, leading to a painful spill.

Mark was quick to react. “Yvonne, you’ve scraped your knee pretty bad. Let’s get that looked at,” he said, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a flicker of worry as he took in the situation.

Daisy picked up on Mike’s subtle reaction, her eyes narrowing as she pieced together the scene. She wasn’t the only one who’d noticed; it seemed Mike had a soft spot for Yvonne.

Yvonne, initially too concentrated on finding the initiator of this mass to assess her injuries, winced as the reality of her fall set in.

“Here, take my jacket,” Mark said, quickly removing his jacket and handing it to Yvonne. “I’ll carry you to the infirmary.”

“Thanks,” she muttered, her voice tight with discomfort as she accepted Mark’s jacket.

Without a word, Mark offered his back, and after a moment’s hesitation, Yvonne climbed on.

“The rest of you, keep going with the run. When you finish, you’re free to go,” Mark instructed the group before heading off towards the infirmary, Yvonne securely on his back.

As seniors, almost adults, the class had got this. They pull off a run without anyone breathing down their necks.

The run was a breeze, and afterward, Emma and Daisy plopped down on a chilly stone bench. The October air was crisp, but the sun’s rays felt like a warm blanket, casting a cozy glow that put everyone in a good m

Daisy lounged on the steps, basking in the sun. She stretched out, her hands catching the light, making her skin look radiant. She was the picture of relaxation, like a cat soaking up the sun.

The basketball court buzzed with activity behind them. The mix of girls’ cheers and guys’ laughter filled the air, creating a soundtrack of high school spirit.

Emma’s voice cut through the noon air. “Daisy, why just chill here? I heard we’ve got a game against Class 3’s sports team. Let’s go check it out.” Her energy was infectious.

Daisy, groggy from a nap, looked at Emma with a mix of curiosity and interest. “Sure, let’s roll.”

They hurried to the small set of stairs nearby and emerged onto the basketball court.

Class 3 had claimed the court early and finished their warm-up, while Class I was just getting warmed up as Daisy and Emma took their seats. The sounds of the game- groans of effort and cheers of encouragement-mingled in the air.

“Come on, you got this!”

“What a save! Did you see that? Class 3 almost scored, but just barely missed…”

Daisy observed the players with a critical eye. Being on the sidelines wasn’t as relaxing as she’d thought. She noticed a girl in the crowd stealthily snapping photos with her phone, trying to capture the action.

On the court, Mike from Class 3 was clearly in control, his skills with the ball making him a force to be reckoned with.

Emma explained to Daisy, “The guy in the number eleven jersey was recruited for his basketball prowess. It looks like the game’s pretty much decided.”

Daisy nodded, her mind wandering to Lance. He had that effortless charisma, the kind of guy who looked good in anything and, from what she could tell, had the body to back it up.

With Mike leading the charge, Class 1 was on the ropes, unable to put up a strong defense or make any significant plays. The scoreboard was starting to look grim.

As the first half was winding down and halftime was just around the corner, a sudden commotion broke out.

“Hey-”

“Look out!”

Daisy was pulled from her thoughts by the sudden shouts. Before she could react, the basketball appeared out of nowhere, moving too fast for her to avoid.

Normally, she could handle a stray ball, but Emma, in a split-second decision, grabbed Daisy, trying to get her out of the way but instead throwing her off balance.

The ball hit the ground hard, bounced up, and then struck Daisy’s ankle. The initial impact was followed by a sharp pain that made her suck in a breath.

She winced, biting her lip to keep from crying out. The court fell silent as everyone turned to look, surprised to see the usually unflappable Daisy in pain.

Emma shot a glare at the player who’d sent the ball flying, then turned to Daisy with concern. “Are you okay? Let’s get you to the infirmary.”

**

Lance was killing time at the convenience store when he realized the track was deserted. No Daisy in sight. He decided to take a quick look around; if he didn’t spot her, it was off to work.

As he approached the basketball court, his keen eyes caught sight of a stray ball heading straight for a girl. Dropping his drink, Lance sprinted towards her and knelt down, his actions swift yet deliberate.

With a tenderness that contrasted his earlier rush, he cradled her leg. She flinched, a pained expression flashing across her face as he touched her ankle.

His brows knitted in worry, Lance lifted her leg onto his knee.

“You… you put…” Daisy’s voice trembled, a trace of tears in her voice.

“Easy, don’t move,” Lance soothed, his tone firm. He carefully rolled up her pant leg, exposing her leg-now marked with bruises. The sight was a stark reminder of the accident.

Daisy clenched her jaw, her face a canvas of stoic endurance as Lance examined her. She bit her lip so hard it turned white, her hands balled into fists. She didn’t cry out, even when he touched the tender spots.

“You’re coming with me to the hospital,” Lance said, his voice resolute.