You have to love to hate

Chapter One

Hello, this is my first story so please; please comment with your thoughts. Thank you! xx

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Rebecca sat alone in her two bedroom apartment, munching on a bowl of cornflakes. Her older sister was out with her new boyfriend, Tizzy, her dog, was sulking in the corner after her ‘surprise’ bath and she had not received any visits from her friends (or in fact anyone...) in the past few days.

 Sighing wistfully, Rebecca stood up and placed her now empty cereal bowl in the over full kitchen sink. Frowning down on the dirty dishes; she started to run the hot water tap, squirting a massive amount of washing up liquid all over the dishes as the water heated up.

 Overall it was going to be a pretty boring day. Around mid-afternoon Rebecca decided to get dressed and go for a walk, sticking on a pair of jeans, a plain T-shirt and a pair of old trainers.

 Locking the apartment door she accidently fell over the gift lying right outside the door, squishing it on her way down. Muttering a few choice words under her breath, Rebecca picked up the now squished flowers, noticing there was a card attached. It read: Jess I’m so, so sorry, I honestly thought it was you in that hot tub. Please forgive me. Brad xx

 Searching through her memory Rebecca tried to match the name with a face. Brad. Brad. Brad. Oh, that Brad! That sleazy, slime ball, pathetic excuse for a man, Brad. Her sister, Jessica, had been dating him for the past three months before enough was enough and broke up with him. Exactly how many times did he think he could cheat on her and get away with? You think he would have learnt the first time he had done it when Jess had caught him and a blonde hooker (in Jess’s own bed!), getting all nice and cosy. Think again. ‘Sorry Brad,’ she muttered, picking up the cheep flowers, ‘Not today.’ And with that Rebecca stood up and threw them in the trash on her way out.

 Considering it was mid-January it was pretty warm outside. Rebecca let the sunlight warm her face as she walked down the crowed high street. Stopping just out-side Mindy’s, the only cafe worth stopping in, Rebecca debated on whether entering or not. Deciding she had no where important to be anytime soon, Rebecca entered the small cafe, breathing in the sweet scent of fresh cookies and coffee. Taking her usual table in the far corner she sat down and waited to be served.

 ‘Hey Blossom, a bit late for you isn’t’ it?’ Looking up, Rebecca saw the ever smiling face of Mindy Pritchard. Rebecca had known Mindy since she was little. She had been her and her sister’s baby-sitter whilst their parents were out, but always a lifelong friend to the family. Now in her late forties, Mindy’s once shiny blond hair was now nearly completely grey, wrinkles were showing on her once flawless face and instead of being the energetic girl she was in her youth, Mindy was now looking worn out and tired.

 ‘Fancied a stroll,’ Rebecca replied, smiling back.

 ‘Well it’s good to see you all the same. How’s that sister of yours? Still dating that Brad?’ she asked. Jessica was the exact replica of Rebecca apart from having short, glossy, chocolate brown hair and hazel eyes compared to her own long, silky, black hair and green eyes. Jessica was always the fun loving, outgoing one where as Rebecca was the quiet, shy one.

‘No, she got rid of him a few days ago. I think she’s seeing this Michael now,’ Rebecca grinned. What was her sister’s motto? Out with the old in with the new?

‘Well I hope she settles down soon, how old is she now twenty, twenty-one?’

‘Twenty, twenty one in November.’ She replied. There was three and a half years between her and her sister, but sometimes Rebecca felt as if she was the older one.

‘That’s right, that’s right,’ Mindy muttered, ‘Anyways, what can I get you?’

 ‘Ahhh, Double chocolate chip cookie and a banana milkshake with whipped cream, please.’ Writing down her order whilst nodding, Mindy walked away shouting over her shoulder ‘Give my best to your sister.’

‘Will do,’ she shouted back. Knowing that it she would have to wait at least ten minutes till she received her order, Rebecca let her mind wander while staring out of the window and onto the street outside.

 ‘Rebecca Madison!’ Jerking out of her day dream, Rebecca looked around with a start. ‘Rebecca Madison! Final call for Rebecca Madison!’

‘Coming!’ she called out. Rushing over to the counter, she managed to walk into three tables, stub her toe twice on the scattered chairs and walk into almost everyone she encountered before she finally made it. Picking up her order Rebecca turned around to go walk back to her table but stopped when she realised she had no idea how to get there. All of a sudden the once deserted cafe was now filled to the brim with a sea of people.

 With a sigh, Rebecca lifted her cookie and milkshake above her head and barged into the crowed. ‘Sorry...sorry...sorry!’ Rebecca murmured as she pushed people out of the way with her elbows. Finally seeing her table in sight, Rebecca thought she was home free, until the up worst thing in the world happened. She slipped, flying full force into a complete stranger, milkshake and cookie flying out of her hands in the process. Landing on what she thought was the floor; Rebecca looked up to see her banana milkshake dripping down a rather shocked, male face. She could not help it, Rebecca burst out in fists of laughter ‘Oh my God,’ she said, trying to calm herself down, ‘I’m really, really sorry.’ Getting up, Rebecca offered her hand out to the stranger. He took it, pulling himself up. Gathering some napkins of a nearby table, Rebecca handed the stranger them, giggling as she did so. ‘I’m glad you think it’s funny,’ he said, his voice deep and rough.

  Finished laughing, Rebecca looked up at her new acquaintance, looking at him more closely. His hair was black, just like hers, but with an added layer of banana milkshake. His face looked like it was finely chiselled, a slight layer of stubble growing over his face. Lastly, Rebecca looked into his almond shaped eyes. His messy hair was hanging in his right one, but you could still easily see the ocean blue eyes underneath. Overall, she was breathless.