Daisy's Code Novel by Amelia Bennett

Lance was scrolling through his phone, the photo bringing a genuine smile to his face.

Daisy, coming out of the store with an armful of snacks, noticed his expression and felt an odd twinge of jealousy.

“Looks like you’re having a good time,” she said, trying to sound casual as she dropped the snacks on the table and ripped into a bag of chips, crunching defiantly.

Lance, sensing her mood, decided to play along. “Just admiring my girl. Why? You sound a bit jealous.”

“Jealous? Of what?” Daisy retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she chomped loudly on her chips, trying to mask her annoyance.

With a teasing grin, Lance showed her the phone. “See for yourself. Isn’t she a knockout?”

The photo was a recent one from Harley, capturing her and Lance sharing an intimate glance, the kind that spoke volumes without a word, with a playful hint of romance in the air.

Daisy’s response was instant-she choked on a chip. Lance, his smile replaced with a look of concern, handed her a juice. “Easy there, tiger. No one’s fighting you for the snacks.”

“I’m feeling better.” After a few sips, Daisy’s face returned to its normal color, but her eyes rolled dramatically, showing her irritation.

“If you hadn’t blurted out I was your girl, I wouldn’t have choked,” she complained, lightly hitting his arm for emphasis.

Lance just chuckled, letting her vent.

Then Daisy’s tone turned serious. “Who said I’m your girl? And who took this picture? Delete it.”

“Realizing now, are we? Too late,” Lance said, his fingers moving quickly to lock his phone screen.

Daisy’s heart raced as she aimed to delete some photos from his phone. Just as she \made a move to snatch it, a group of guys from the PE class, each with a basketball under their arm, sauntered over.

“Hey, we’ll take two glasses of water,” one of them shouted, catching Daisy mid-grab. The sudden call distracted her, and she tripped, stumbling right into Lance’s embrace.

The boys took a moment to enjoy the awkward situation. “Seems like the boss is a bit preoccupied,” one teased. “Did we come at a bad time? We could swing by later if you’re busy.”

Their laughter echoed around them, and Daisy’s face burned with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She kept her gaze lowered, her cheeks a deep shade of red.

Lance gave them a brief nod, his voice steady! “Go ahead inside the store. There’s someone attending to customers.”

With a final “Alright, boss, we’ll leave you to it,” the boys dispersed, leaving Daisy to extricate herself from Lance’s arms.

As she straightened up, Lance couldn’t help but notice the flush on her cheeks. It was a sight that stirred something within him, a longing that was as sweet as it was frustrating. He had to content himself with just looking, the unspoken tension between them palpable but unacknowledged.

The bell rang out, and the students were all set for their next class-P.E. The heat was intense, and the students were eager to grab a quick snack and cool down. Emma and Laura were no exception.

As they approached the convenience store, they spotted Daisy enjoying the snacks.

Emma, with a swift move, left her friends and joined Daisy, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Lance.

Lance, with a subtle turn of his head, signaled his disinterest.

Emma, catching on, shook off her starstruck gaze and got back to the moment. “Hey, Daisy, you doing okay?” she inquired, her tone friendly.

“Totally fine,” Daisy responded, a bit bewildered by the question.

Emma, in a playful gesture, tousled Daisy’s hair, but quickly stopped when she felt Lance’s eyes on her, his look stern.

With a gentle hand, Lance fixed the tousled strands of Daisy’s hair. “Enjoy your time with friends. Feel free to grab a snack inside,” he added before heading off.

Emma watched him leave, feeling a strange sense of loss

Daisy picked up on Emma’s longing look and felt oddly protective. She shook her head, banishing the thought.

Emma had defended her in class, and Daisy felt it was only right to return the favor. So she asked, showing genuine concern, “Did Sherry h*le y*ou?”

Emma dismissed the incident with a wave of her hand. “That’s not important. Who’s the new guy running the store? The owner changed overnight. Yesterday it was a balding, pot-bellied man, and today it’s… him, looking all charming and refined.”

Daisy just shrugged, playing it cool. “Beats me. But he’s definitely an upgrade.”

Emma leaned in, her voice dropping to a hushed tone. “So, what’s your deal with the new guy? What’s his name?”

“No idea. I’ve only seen him a few times,” Daisy said with a chuckle, brushing off the curiosity.

Emma gave her a thumbs up, impressed. “You’ve got some serious skills, Daisy. He’s already taken with you after just a few meetings. Any tips you’re willing to share?”

“Maybe it’s just my natural charm,” Daisy said, playfully touching her soft, fair cheek.

Emma was at a loss for words, unable to find a witty comeback to Daisy’s playful remark.

In the midst of snacking in peace, the mean girls interrupted their quiet time.

Yvonne, leading the charge, sneered, “New kid from Mistville, huh? Never seen this many treats, have you? So, what do you think of Narston’s snacks?”

Daisy, unfazed, responded with a casual, “They’re just okay,” before setting her snack down and taking a sip of juice.

Yvonne continued, her voice laced with condescension, “You should try some high-end raw chocolate. But I doubt you’ve got the budget for it. My dad’s coming back from a trip tomorrow. If you’re really lucky, I might share a taste.”

Daisy met Yvonne’s challenge with a sly smile. “Since your family is so affluent, why not. invite everyone to experience a five-star restaurant in Narston? I’ve heard Luxe Dining is quite impressive. What do you think, Yvonne?”

Yvonne’s smug expression wavered. She’d only been to t Luxe Dining once and was taken aback that Daisy, the newcomer, knew of it. The crowd’s whispers and glances made her cheeks burn with embarrassment, prompting her to hastily exit the scene.

Lance, watching from afar, had intended to come to Daisy’s rescue, but she’d navigated the awkwardness with ease. Her clever charm was captivating.

Laura appeared from the crowd, her demeanor gentle and submissive as she spoke to Daisy, “Daisy, please don’t make fun of Yvonne. She’s trying to help. You…”