Daisy's Code Novel by Amelia Bennett

Daisy scanned the convenience store, her search for a familiar face coming up empty.

“Looking for our boss?” the cashier asked, already knowing the answer. “He’s stepped out, but I can call him if you like.”

“No need,” Daisy said, holding a thermos she intended to return. “I’ll just come back when he’s here.”

She had hoped to thank Lance personally, but since he wasn’t around, she’d have to wait.

“Hey, it’s scorching outside. Why don’t you wait here? The boss might be back any minute,” the cashier suggested, seeing her hesitation.

Daisy thought about it, considering the heat outside, and decided it was a good idea. “Sure, I’ll hang out here until school’s over,” she agreed.

The cashier, eager to be helpful, quickly sent a text to Lance when Daisy wasn’t looking.

Lance hadn’t gone far. His phone vibrated, and he pulled over immediately. Seeing the text, he didn’t hesitate to turn the car around and head back to the school.

He’d been researching online about how to care for women during their special times, learning that they might be irritable or down. He wondered if Daisy was experiencing any of that.

Daisy sat in the store for a bit, and soon enough, Lance came rushing back, a light sweat on his brow.

“Where have you been? You’re all sweaty,” Daisy asked with a teasing smile.

“Just went for a quick walk,” Lance replied, not wanting to reveal his real motive.

Lance had been so worried about Daisy that he rushed back without delay.

Daisy watched as he grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “In this heat? You must be made of steel.”

Instead of responding, Lance twisted the cap off, tilted his head back, and drank deeply. His throat worked as he swallowed, a few drops of water escaping and trailing down his neck, disappearing under his collar.

For some reason, Daisy found herself thinking of words like “enchanting” and “enticing.”

After finishing, Lance tossed the bottle aside and caught Daisy staring at him, almost in a trance. His lips curved into a smile, his eyes twi***ng with amusement. “What are you looking at? Do I have something on my face?”

Daisy blushed and quickly looked away. “Thanks for the ginger tea, by the way.”

“Feeling better?” Lance asked, curious about the effectiveness of the traditional remedy.

“Much better,” Daisy confirmed.

Lance nodded to himself. “Guess the internet knows best.”

Daisy rolled her eyes playfully. “Why are you so interested in this? It’s not like you it.”

She kept the sentiment private, knowing that some things were better left unsaid.

Lance thought to himself, ‘I’m learning all this for you!’

He settled into a chair, his gaze on Daisy’s cheeks, still rosy from the recent upset. “Shouldn’t you be in class? Did you ditch?”

Daisy didn’t hesitate, relaying the classroom drama in full.

Lance’s expression turned grim as he listened, concern etching lines on his face. “Did you get hurt?” He looked her over carefully.

With a shake of her head, Daisy reassured him, “I’m not hurt, but Yvonne might have taken the brunt of it.”

“Serves her right,” Lance muttered, his hand tightening into a fist, his tone turning serious.

Initially, he’d brushed it off as a small scuffle, but the reality was more severe. The thought of that water splashing in Daisy’s face was too much for him to bear. Thankfully, she was quick-witted and hadn’t been victimized.

“Want me to lend a hand?” he suggested, the offer hanging in the air.

Daisy met his offer with a curious tilt of her head. “What kind of help? I’m just dandy. And I don’t let people walk all over me. I can handle myself.”

Lance didn’t press the point. His gaze, when it rested on Daisy, was filled with a fondness that was hard to miss.

After class, Emma came to Daisy with her backpack. “I knew I could find you here.”

Daisy’s face warned at the sly smile Emma sent her way, the earlier conversation echoing in her mind. She stole a glance at Lance, feeling a telltale flush creeping up her neck.

“You missed quite the sight,” Emma said, her voice dripping with drama. “Yvonne’s face was all puffed up, like she was wearing a mummy costume that went a bit too far with the wrapping. Only her eyes were left to tell the tale.”

Daisy wasn’t the type to take pleasure in someone else’s pain. She had her own philosophy: live and let live. Yvonne’s fate, whether it be a quick recovery or a more complicated journey, didn’t sway Daisy’s emotions one bit.

“Wasn’t Sherry going to involve the police?” Daisy asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Emma shrugged it off. “Laura managed to stop her. Probably didn’t want to get a reputation for being the teacher’s pet, or worse, for turning on her own.”

A wry smile tugged at Daisy’s lips. The whole incident seemed like a distant memory already, not worth the menta**

“Hold it right there!” Fiona barked, her expression stern as she glared at Daisy.

Daisy paused, turning to meet Fiona’s gaze with a look devoid of warmth. “What is it you want?”

“How can you carry on as if nothing happened, Daisy? What kind of heart do you have?” Fiona accused, her voice laced with venom.

“Heartless?” Daisy nearly scoffed at the absurdity. It was clear to her whose influence was at play here.

Fiona shouted, “Daisy, I thought you might lack manners and education, but at least I believed you had the innocence of the countryside. Yet you had the audacity to throw scalding water on a classmate at school. I swear, I will make your father cast you out today. I will not tolerate a ruthless, ungrateful child under my roof!”

“Sure thing, I’ll fetch the contract. Once Mr. Wilder signs it, I’m out of here,” Daisy shot back, her tone as cool as her demeanor.

The Wilder mansion wasn’t somewhere she wished to stay; she’d been ready to leave for a while.

“Mom, please don’t do this. Daisy didn’t mean to. Daisy, please apologize to Mom. Where will you go if you’re out of the Wilder family?” Laura pleaded, her eyes puffy from crying, an act that was sure to pull at people’s heartstrings.

Daisy sneered, “Apologize? Laura, I think you’re clearer on what really happened than I am. Why should I be the one to say sorry?”

As Laura blinked back tears, she threw herself into Fiona’s arms in a dramatic display. “Mom, don’t send Daisy away. She’s a Wilder by blood. I’m the interloper. Make me leave, Mom.

“Laura! What are you doing? Don’t say that!” Fiona said.

Daisy watched the scene with a cold, mirthless chuckle.