I Hate You

03. "start over?"

There's bad things you just learn to love after a while. Like that old finicky pair of headphones that barely works and sometimes has a ringing sound in the ear. But you wouldn't trade it for any other pair. I just can't seem to learn to tolerate Brandon like that pair of headphones.

"I cannot believe you did that. Seriously I'm really mad, Max." I say whilst struggling to put my rose gold stud earring in.

"Oh relax, you'll get over it. You need to loosen up." She says slipping one of her heels on. "How could you invite him to our fun night?"

"You need to stop with all that, he's not that bad Jess. And you know what?" She puts on her second heel and looks over at me. "What?" I shoot her an annoyed look.

"You are going to be thanking me later, because you are going to have fun tonight okay?"

On one hand I really wanted to be mad at her, but on the other, it was really hard because Max always did the right thing and somehow it always just ended up working out. That's why I love her, because she sees the good in people and she very charismatic. No wonder her boyfriend loves her so much.

//

"Hey, so glad you could make it." Max says to Brandon outside this nightclub we were meeting at. "Yes, of course." His hands were in the pocket of his black jeans and his messy brown hair swept to the left. "I could never pass up on a good party." He looks over at me, standing next to Max and her boyfriend. "What's up, man," They participate in one of those cliché bro handshakes. "Nice to meet you, I'm Brian, Max's boyfriend." He said cheerfully, yet with a subtle dominant tone in his voice. I guess he needed to make sure Brandon knew Max was taken. It was kinda cute.

"Nice to meet you. Shall we go in?" Brandon asked. "Yes let's do it." Max clapped her hands enthusiastically.

The club was packed on a Monday night which was really surprising. Max suddenly pulled me aside. "What are you doing Jess? C'mon talk to him."

"Do I have to?" I whine. I found myself doing that a lot lately. "Yes. Now go, you two get drinks and Brian and I will find a table." She lightly pushed me in his direction and I just huffed.

"So, Brandon." I clear my throat. "How about we start over?"

"Sounds good to me." He says. I feel better already. He simply grins and begins to walk. He looks back at me and asks me if I'm coming.

I hesitated for a bit but I followed him to the bar and found a seat next to him on one of the red stools. "So what are you getting? It's on me." He says. "Oh thank you, but I don't drink much."

"Of course you don't." He says to himself and I scoff. "Again, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Okay sorry, nothing. It's fine—never mind." He takes a swig of his scotch on the rocks. "I don't need alcohol to have fun, Brandon." I say.

"Why are you getting so defensive, you need to chill". I'm getting sick of people telling me to chill.

"I don't need to do anything." I say, getting ready to walk away because I'm starting to feel really fed up at this point. "Wait." He grabs my arm gently and I swat him away. "I'm sorry. Wanna just go somewhere and talk?" He asks.

"No. I certainly don't wanna go anywhere with you." I huff.

"I didn't mean to insult you, if we're gonna be working together we might as well get along right?"

"Fine." I wonder where he's gotten this sudden rise of maturity all of a sudden. We both get up again and find a moderately quiet booth, in the corner.

"So, how long have you been working at the company?" He asks trying to initiate some decent conversation. "A year." I reply flatly. "Only a year?"

"Yeah, why?".

"I don't know, you just seem like you've got it all down and you're all—professional and stuff."

"Professional and stuff?" I scoff again. "I know it may be a foreign concept to you, but when you get a job, especially one that you've wanted your whole life, you begin to take it seriously."

"Jeez, I was only trying to give you a compliment." He gets offended. "I didn't know your job meant that much to you."

"Yeah, well it does. And you weren't trying to give me a compliment, I know guys like you." I say sounding more mad than ever.

"Oh, so that's what this is about. And what exactly do you mean by guys like me?" He seems unamused which is strange for him, because he's always amused. "Guys that would say and do just about anything to get in a girl's pants, then break her heart." After hearing those words escape my mouth, I felt a sense of shame and guilt come across my face.

"Okay woah," His eyes widen. "You actually think I'm trying to get in your pants? Contrary to your beliefs, not all guys are like that, alright? Im really trying here but clearly you have some issues that need to get worked out, so don't be taking them out on me."

I stand up. "Whatever issues I have are non of your business. From now on we just get our work done and that's it, got it?" I make myself very clear before walking away in search of Max.

"I'm leaving." I say stomping up to her. "What? We just got here Jess, what happened? I thought you two were hitting it off."

"Well, you're wrong. I don't want to talk about it. I'm just gonna go home, you guys have fun."

//

I head back home, get into my pyjamas and pull out my laptop to start editing. I love it. It's always been my escape. It makes me happy and it makes me feel at ease. I still don't understand why Max wants Brandon and I to hit it off so badly. We clearly come from two different worlds and he seems like a total player. I would never want to be with, let alone, be friends with someone like that.

I hate him.