It's A Love/Hate Relationship...

Chapter 1: Forced Together, But Hating It.

"I hate you." Beverly muttered into the phone while brushing her hair.

"Trust me, the feeling's mutual, babe." Carter spat on the other line.

"Did I mention that I despise you?" She sneered.

"Whatever." Beverly could just imagine Carter rolling his eyes, "Let's just get this damn thing over with. Seven o'clock after school at The Brown Boutique."

"But I hate that place!" She exclaimed and set her brush down before she beat the phone with it.

"So?" He chuckled.

"You listen to me and you listen good, Carter Julian," her voice was very close to a growl, "you are not going to take me to that God awful place." The Brown Boutique was old and tacky. The whole place reeked of spoiled and burnt food. Insects were constantly found scurrying around. She almost got sick when her grandmother had decided to unwisely take her there for lunch. A shudder ripped through her frame.

"I'm heartbroken." His voice was dry and uncaring. Typical. How was it that their mothers had hooked them up together? Why them? Why Carter?!

"I wish you were!"

Click.

Did he just hang up on her? Silence, then: Beep. Beep. Beep.

                                                                                     That a**hole just hung up on her!

Fuming, Beverly slammed the phone back into its awaiting cradle. Too pissed at her mother, disappointed in her father, and far too irked with Carter, she stormed up to her room and went to bed early.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It didn't make things better in the morning. If anything, it made Beverly more frustrated. The day just seemed to have crept up on her. Waking up in a grouchy mood didn't faze her mother though. The woman was either blind to her daughter's fury or ignoring it. She gushed over every little thing that Beverly should wear to impress Carter she said.

Why waste time trying to impress him? She wanted to scream, We don't even like each other!

In the beginning, she adamantly refused to play the role of a mega upgraded Barbie. Trying to get through to her mother that she was going to be late was useless. Feigning sickness didn't help either-she tried everything from a sore throat to nausea. Somehow, her mom won it all. Oh, she got a reprimand from her father when he caught her alone about how much of a fuss she was putting up.

"Just try it out. Please?" He pleaded.

"Fine, but I will go on record saying that it is against my free will!" Her voice was a low hiss.

Having to stuff a granola bar into her now empty stomach, Beverly dashed to school in her car. In her mind, she silently cursed at her mother for dressing her in a skirt and two inch heels. This type of shoe and her didn't get along on normal conditions. Was her mother trying to kill her?! It must be the new way mom's all over the world say 'I love you, sweety!' She thought grimly.

"I love you, sweety!" The farewell rang out fom the house. Spooky. "Have a nice day with Carter!" She all but sang his name.

With a fake smile plastered on her face, she called back, "I'll try!"

"Worst. Day. Ever." She groaned through tight lips. Beverly hit every red light and got stuck behind a large tractor trailer for most of her ride. School wasn't going to be any better. After that, she'd really be in Hell.

Why them?!

---------------------------------------------------------Carter's POV---------------------------------------------------------

"CARTER ARVIN JULIAN!" His mother bellowed from downstairs, "GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED! YOU'VE GOT SCHOOL AND BEVERLY TO GO TO!"

Dear, sweet Jesus! Carter mentally cursed then hollered back, "I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THAT GIRL!"

"But she's your girlfriend!" His mother wimpered loudly.

The old guilt trick. Well, he for sure wasn't going to fall for it! "She's NOT my girlfriend!"

"Yes she is!" The woman sang.

"Strike me down-please!" He groaned while forcing clothes on his body. No use in fighting it with his mother; when she insisted on something, she didn't back off until it was done.

So she wanted to play match-maker, huh? Well, this match is going to go out with a bang if it was the last thing he did!