Love To Hate You

Chapter 43

Asher

The sun is shining, the trees are in full bloom, the grass feels soft under me, and our friends are lying in the field, my head resting on Cas's lap as he fiddles with my hair. All the seniors have figured out where we're going for college, and it feels a little like the last time we'll ever be like this again - just a group of teenagers lying in the grass, laughing about stupid shit and pretending the future doesn't exist.

Alyssa is braiding daisies into her blonde locks while blasting Taylor Swift at full volume. Kyle is doing the other side of her braids, the two of them singing along to the music while Dani and Nath sit opposite them, occasionally rolling their eyes at their antics. Theo rolls around on the field, crashing into everyone and getting screamed at by the two girls. Emery sits between Cas and Dani, who's mostly content just to listen as joking conversation flows through the group.

"...and then, I punched him." Dani finishes off her story with a flourish, throwing her head back with laughter.

Alyssa cackles in far too much delight for it not to be slightly concerning. "That's so funny help, he totally deserved it."

Kyle nods with agreement. "Seconded, he was being really annoying."

"Hey!" Theo yells. "I did not deserve that!"

Cas snorts, looking over at them. "You know what, I actually agree with Theo. Dani's punches hurt like a bitch."

"You're a bitch!" Dani yells, surging onto her feet to smack the back of his head.

Cas gasps in offense, rising to his feet to get her back, laying his hand under my head as he gets up so that it doesn't hit the ground. I sit up, watching her run off and him chase after her like a couple of kids.  Everyone laughs as Cas tackles her to the ground and she takes off one of her high heeled boots, chucking it at his face. Cas grabs her other shoe, tugging it off by the heel when she tries to escape.

She screams, falling flat on her face from the tug on her leg, and we all laugh so hard that I can see tears in Theo's eyes, and my stomach cramps up painfully. Alyssa whips out her phone and takes a picture of Dani lying on the ground, Cas holding up her boot like a trophy.

He poses exaggeratedly, grinning into the camera. His eyes flicker over to me for a second, and he winks briefly before he drops the shoe and sprints back to where we are.

Dropping down next to me, Cas flashes me a wide grin, leaning in quickly to press a kiss onto my jawline. I giggle as his hair tickles my face. From a distance, I can hear Alyssa making fake retching noises. "Ew, guys, please no PDA when I'm around."

"I feel so single," Kyle says, sighing dramatically and looking up at the sky.

Dani, who's already recovered from falling over and looking immaculate, snorts at him. "Okay Kyle, sure, as if you couldn't literally pull anyone if you wanted to. I've yet to see you fail to charm whoever you want to talk to."

"Hey," he protests feebly. "That's so not true."

"It kinda is." shrugs Alyssa. "If I would turn straight for any guy, it would be you, babes."

"You would turn straight for me?" Kyle takes Alyssa's hand and kisses it gallantly. "I'm so honored-"

"Nah, actually, ain't no way. I'm sticking to pussy."

Theo nods in approval. "Lyss, you're right. Pussy is good."

"Can we stop talking about pussy?" Nath asks, arching a brow.

"For real, that's not very inclusive." Dani says slyly. "I mean, after all, Nath, you don't like pussy, do you?"

Nath glares at her in a way that would make any normal person cower. "Danielle-"