SOLVED. YA Fiction- Runaway Girl; a man tried to get physical with her and so she cut him with a knife and in fear of getting hurt or picked up by the police, she hitches a ride with a willing stranger in a nice car. [s]

[Peyton]

I read this book in the early 2000s and it seemed to be dated at that time. It was about a teenage girl who ran away from home. I really don't remember a lot about it, other than I think a man tried to get physical with her and so she cut him with a knife and in fear of getting hurt or picked up by the police, she hitches a ride with a willing stranger in a nice car. This is all at the beginning of the book. By the end, she falls in love with some guy. I think "Love You Forever" or "Love You Always" or something to that affect may be in the title. It was not a famous book that everybody was reading, just a random find in the school library.

[Zwervers]

I think you're looking for "To Take a Dare" by Crescent Dragonwagon. I read this book 20 years ago and still have it.

Chrysta is old for her age and distant from her parents. After her mom leaves the gate open purposefully and lets Chrysta's dog escape (and he gets hit by a car), she runs away.

Early in her hitchhiking, she develops a practice of taking her knife out of her bag and (I think) cleaning her nails with it while hitchhiking so that drivers will know she is armed. Eventually she connects with another girl runaway named Lissa, her main hitchhiking friend.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Peyton, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Rainbowheart]

Still out there, Peyton?

To Take a Dare for the trackable link.

[Peyton]

Yes! To Take a Dare was it! Thank you! I thought I had responded, but I obviously, I got preoccupied! I did purchase the book and added it to my library. I haven’t taken the time to reread it yet.

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome, glad it was the right one! Thanks for the update.