Love to Hate You

100 Ways to Hate

"Hey, Munson!" Dustin greeted as he started walking next to me after the last bell. I smiled and put an arm around his shoulders and ruffled his hair.

"Hey, kid – how goes it?" I asked. He grinned his toothy smile at me.

"It's fine – I'm hearing some interesting rumors about you," he replied. I looked ahead and continued to class.

"Don't you know not to believe everything you hear?" I asked, hoping to remain ambiguous.

"I think that's just about messages written on bathroom doors," he quipped. I flushed and stared straight ahead. "I heard that you defended a damsel in distress this weekend."

I felt heat creep up my neck and smiled at the memory of hitting Jason Carver. I grinned at him and shrugged.

"Victoria is neither a damsel nor was she in distress. She can handle her own. I just wanted to help," I answered. Dustin smiled up at me.

"I think that it was still pretty cool of you," Dustin said. I smiled and felt pride burst in my chest. I didn't have a miserable time with Victoria – it was actually fun. She was interesting, even funny sometimes. I was glad I was able to stick up for her, it helped ease some of the guilt I felt from my stupid prank.

"Thanks, Henderson," I replied. He nodded and broke away, heading towards the school's exit to head home. He waved goodbye and I returned the gesture before starting towards the archive room. I was walking faster than usual – was I excited about the work I had to do with Victoria?

I threw the door open, beaming as I entered. Victoria jumped at my sudden entrance, breaking into a smile when she saw it was me.

"You scared the shit out of me," she said, hand over her heart. I grinned and sat in one of the chairs in the room.

"I like making an entrance," I responded, kicking my feet up. She grinned and took a box off of one of the cabinets, setting it on the table.

"Exits, too, apparently," she replied. She was referring to the party. I flushed and looked down at my hands. "Thanks, by the way."

I looked up and smiled at her, shrugging.

"I figured I owed you one. And I've always wanted to hit Jason Carver," I said, my chest filling with some strange anxiety. She smiled and my chest tightened.

"I appreciate it. You aren't totally evil, I guess," she offered. There it was, again – that tightening in my chest. I smirked at her.

"The day's still young, Icky – I could prove you wrong," I teased. She rolled her eyes and brought the box over, setting herself in the chair next to me. She pulled different papers out and handed me a stack. She leaned over, close to me as she read over my shoulder. She smelled nice – I noticed it on Saturday when she started reading aloud to me. It was floral and light. I couldn't tell it was her shampoo or perfume.

"Staring again, Munson?" she hissed. I flushed and looked straight ahead towards the papers in her hands. The words were jumbly again. She nudged my side and kept reading. We continued like that, organizing the different papers chronologically, for a while. We got through another year of information and Victoria sighed, leaning back.

"Well, there's another year. I've got to get home," she said, standing and gathering her things. I smiled and leaned back.

"Got to get home and call Boring-ton? You guys going to talk about holding hands and waiting until marriage?" I teased. She rolled her eyes and her face flushed.

"No, I've got to get home and start that English essay that's due at the end of the month," she snapped. I grimaced and crossed my arms.

"I hate that class. I've got a solid D in it," I complained. She stopped, turning her head.