Love to Hate You • E.D.

Two

"She's done nothing but put a bad name on this family!" My father exclaimed.

"But she is still family!" My mother cried, hands planted on the kitchen counter leaning for exaggeration.

"Aunt Vanessa call again?" I chip in, placing my bookbag on the bench by the door.

"Yes she did Ana how did you ever guess such a thing?" My father gave me a sarcastic look.

"I guess I'm just a genius." I shrugged making my way to the refrigerator.

"How was school dear?" My mother asked gently. She didn't know it but those words stung worse than heartbreak. Clenching the handle in my hand a bit tighter I replied,

"Same old, really nothing special." What a lie.

"That's nice dear, now Robert what do you suppose we do?" Once again, the interest in me dropped quicker than flies.

"I suppose we cut her from our lives, permanently!"

"But dear she is family, she has no one left!" I slowly made my way around them, grabbing my book bag and making my way up the stairs.

"Why don't you go ahead and stab your husband Victoria, and see how many people you have left!"

I shut my door, separating myself from the chaos downstairs.

I laid on my bed freshly showered and in my pajamas and I made my way through social media. While scrolling through Vine, I clicked on Ethan Dolan's account. Scrolling through his vines, i found myself laughing. Despite how stupid they were I had to admit they were funny. Not that I like them anyway, but the content wasn't that bad. I finally give up, shutting my phone off, and eventually shutting my eyes to close out the outside world.

"Ms. Ray?" The teacher pulls me from my thoughts, my eyes being peeled from the desk I was staring at. I was analyzing it. It smells like old cleaning supplies and the seat is always warm from whoever sat in it last.

Everyone in the class looks at me.

"Huh?" I question. The teacher rolls her eyes.

"Read the third paragraph on page sixty seven." I quickly pull out the book that we've been reading in class for the past week, quickly flipping to the page. I hear Ethan and Grayson Dolan snickering behind me with their 'friends'. If only they knew how many times they shared my current situation.

After class, I slide my headphones over my ears so I can drown out the rest of the world. It's lunch time, the most dreaded time in the school day for me. I usually don't sit with anyone, and I like it that way, but some days I just wish that someone would have initiative to come over and ask if I was lonely or wanted someone to sit with. When I sit down with my lunch, Ethan is sitting in my spot. He knows I sit there, and no one else.

"Can I help you, assface?" I question, putting a sarcastic smile on my face while taking my headphones off.

"Yes, actually. See, there's this project for US History and-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," I cut him off, opening my water bottle.

"First off, why on Earth would you ever come to me? And secondly, I don't want to work on anything with the likes of you or your brother." He scoffs, but keeps his eyes glued to me as I start to eat. Creepy much? When our eyes lock, I furrow my brows.

"What?" I snap.

"Come on Ana, please?"

Please.

That's a word that no one has used in regards to me. I swear, I've never heard it directed at me once in my life. And he knows my name, which I didn't think anyone did so, score one for me I guess. I roll my eyes and his look as though they're pleading to me.

"Ugh..." I exaggerate, pretending to die on the table right in front of him. I close my eyes, waiting until he either leaves or checks to see if I'll actually agree. After a few seconds, I sit back up and Ethan is still looking at me.

"Fine." I reluctantly agree.

Ethan wasn't stupid, like at all. Why was he asking for my help? Did he think that I was playing hard to get, and he was just playing along?

If that's what he thought he must be stupider than he looks. He stands up, smiling in triumph.

"Thanks so much. You wanna come to my place after school? I can give you a ride."

Barf.

I'd much rather ride the school bus than get in a car with him, his brother, and their douchebag friends. Getting ready to put my headphones back on, I answer.

"Let me think on that. I'll let you know after last period." He winks at me before walking away to go sit with his little posse. A wink? Really? Why me? There's plenty of other girls that would die to get the Dolans to even breathe in their direction. I can't take my eyes off the sight of Ethan laughing with his brother and their friends.

Grayson Dolan.

He was probably the biggest douche out of them all, besides Cameron Dallas of course. Finally, I turn around, and just as I do, I see Ethan glance in my direction.

When last period rolls around, I slump in my seat, not quite ready for another lecture on Presidents that we've been learning about for the past three years. Thankfully, we only had a short worksheet to do, which I was able to finish within less than five minutes while everyone chatted away around me, not even touching their assignment. I get up to hand it in early, and when I do, I see Ethan standing outside the door, casually leaning against the wall.

"What are you doing?" I hiss when the bell rings and I approach him as I walk out the door.

"What do you mean?"

"You actually stood here for the last five minutes of class doing nothing when you could've been working on improving your attendance and or grades." He only laughs, snorting at me. His brown eyes look into mine.

"You actually think I care? Now, let's go." He starts walking, his back to me. When he realizes I'm not by his side, he turns to face me. Ethan raises an eyebrow.

"Are you coming?"

"No."

"Oh I'm sure you will be after a few hours at my place tonight baby girl." He winks. What the actual fuck? I stalk to my locker, looking at the floor, my cheeks flaming. Shoving my books in it, Ethan leans against the locker next to me, looking as though he's ready to eat me.