Daisy's Code Novel by Amelia Bennett

Lance’s face was unreadable as he cradled Daisy in his arms and walked briskly away from the gathered students.

Emma followed closely, her brow furrowed with worry. Daisy, now in Lance’s arms, met Emma’s eyes and said reassuringly, “Emma, you should head back. We’re almost done for the class.”

“I can’t leave you like this,” Emma protested, her voice firm.

Once they were out of earshot, Lance addressed Emma over his shoulder, “I’ve got her. You should go ahead and take care of her class excuses.”

Daisy chimed in, “Really, I’ll be okay. I’ll see you back in class this afternoon.”

After a moment’s consideration, Emma recognized the practicality in Lance’s words. She had responsibilities too, including informing the PE teacher about Daisy’s absence. With a nod, she conceded, “Alright, be safe.”

Emma stayed where she was, her gaze trailing after them as they walked away. There was something about the way Lance carried Daisy that seemed… right.

Daisy attempted to ease the awkward silence with a light inquiry, “What brings you here?” She observed Lance’s stern expression, which could be misleading to those unfamiliar with him, suggesting he was the one in distress.

Lance responded with a chilly stare, his words clipped, “I was on my way to find you but stumbled upon this situation instead.”

A brief “Oh,” was all Daisy mustered in reply, leading to a lull in the conversation. Lance’s emotionless demeanor indicated he wasn’t open to further discussion.

Lance, with a gentle yet firm hold, carried Daisy to his car where Harley was already waiting, his posture casual against the vehicle. The sight of Daisy in Lance’s arms sparked a momentary look of astonishment on Harley’s face.

Harley was well-acquainted with Lance’s aloof nature, especially when it came to girls. Lance’s tender handling of Daisy was uncharacteristic and unexpected.

Quickly regaining his composure, Harley opened the car door for them. Lance carefully settled Daisy into the passenger seat before joining her.

As he looked at Harley standing outside, Lance commanded with a straightforward tone, “Let’s get going.”.

Lance hustled Daisy through the doors of Central Hospital, by**ng the school’s own medical care. He had his doubts about the school’s medical staff; he didn’t want Daisy’s treatment to be anything less than top-notch.

At the hospital, Lance didn’t waste a moment. With Daisy cradled in his arms, he made a beeline for the Orthopedic Chief’s office. The Lindsey Group’s support of the hospital made it a familiar stomping ground.

“Dr. Hinton, we need you!” Lance’s call preceded them as they approached the office.

The door swung open to reveal a man in a white coat, a look of surprise on his face. “Hold your horses,” James Hinton said, adjusting his coat. “This is a hospital, we need the quiet.”

The surprise on James’s face turned to concern when he saw Daisy. “What’s happened here?” he asked, all business now.

Lance laid Daisy gently on an examination bed. “She took a basketball to the foot. I didn’t find any fractures, but I want you to check her out.”

James nodded, his hands moving deftly as he examined Daisy. “Hold on. Give me some minutes.”

But inwardly, he was excited-seemed like Lance finally fell for someone.

After a few tense moments, he removed his reading glasses, relief washing over him. “She’s lucky, no breaks. Just a bad bruise.”

Lance exhaled, his eyes tracing the discolored skin around Daisy’s ankle. The swelling was pronounced, but James’s words were a relief.

Meeting Lance’s icy stare, James felt a sudden lurch in his heart. He hadn’t expected Lance, now aware of his feelings, to be even more intimidating.

“She’s got a sensitive body,” James explained. “Even a little force can leave a mark. That’s why it looks so bad.”

He gathered a selection of medical supplies, placing them within Lance’s reach. “I’ve got patients to see. You take care of her.”

With a final pat on Lance’s shoulder, James left, a knowing look in his eyes as he closed the door behind him, leaving Lance to tend to Daisy with a newfound sense of protectiveness.

Lance knelt beside Daisy, his hands gentle as he positioned her injured leg on an available chair. He carefully rolled up her pant leg, revealing the bruising beneath. The sight was rough, even for someone who’d seen it before.

His concern was palpable as he inquired, “Is it really hurting?”

Daisy’s response was a hesitant shake of her head, but Lance wasn’t buying it. He pressed lightly on the bruise, his gaze demanding honesty. “Don’t hold back,” he said, his voice firm.

She conceded with a slight wince, “It hurts a little.”

“The ointment might make it worse for a moment, but bear with it,” he warned, applying the medicine with the lightest touch he could manage.

The contact still sent a jolt of discomfort through Daisy, and Lance’s face mirrored her pain.

With a light touch, Daisy smoothed the worry lines from his forehead, her voice soft. “You look better when you’re not frowning.”

Lance’s face cleared, and he swiftly finished dressing her wound. The moment was tense but brief, and when he was done, they both exhaled-a shared sigh of relief.

He wrote some notes on a piece of paper, folded it, and handed it to Daisy along with the medicine. Then, in one fluid motion, he lifted her into his arms, ready to carry her wherever she needed to go.

“Let’s get you home so you can rest up,” Lance said, his tone suggesting it wasn’t really a request.

Daisy’s brow furrowed at his decision, but her voice was quiet, carrying a note of finality. “I don’t have a home to go to.”