Love to Hate You • E.D.

Ten

The next day at school I can barely make it to my locker without suffocating from all the looks and whispers. As soon as I stepped into this shithole it erupted. People were staring, pointing, and shaking each other with excitement when they saw me. Surely I was dreaming.

I walk over to my locker keeping my head low as I turn the padlock.

"Oh my god, is it true?!" Andrea asks as she slides up beside me. I nearly shit myself.

"Is what true?" I ask in a salty tone.

"Did you and Gra- I mean Ethan, really make out after the football game?!"

Dear god the whole school did see.

"Um, maybe. I wouldn't consider it a makeout."

"Oh my god it's so true!" Andrea has a smile that would put the cheshire cat to shame.

"Ok like, how do you even know?" I ask as I switch out my books.

"Because like, Grayson saw and then like, he totally told all his friends, and they told their friends, and like, you know how it goes."

Sad but true.

"It's not what you think okay?" I feared what she thought.

"Wait so like, are you two not a thing?" I shook my head.

"But wait, then why were you making out with him?" I shrugged my shoulders shyly.

"Oh my god you're so naughty Annie."

"It's Ana, and don't call me naughty, okay? That's gross."

The rest of the day continued on the same, Ethan even switched seats to be closer to me in all of our classes. The surprising thing was the teachers didn't seem to notice, didn't seem to care. He would watch me every chance he got, he even watched me as I finished the homework in class. As soon as I finished he would grab my attention.

This all felt insanely weird and it was even making me start to rethink what I had done. I don't even know why I did it in the first place, I guess curiosity my got the best of me. What made me so desperate to kiss him right there on the field? Surely I would have had the chance to during another "study session" but something inside of me just...clicked. It's like my insides were telling me to grow a pair and I did.

"You're looking great today." Ethan whispers while I'm doing my class work in geometry. When I meet his gaze, he's staring right at me with a toothy grin.

"Thanks?" I say it as if it's a question.

"Why have you been ignoring me all day?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ana, what happened wasn't nothing. You approached me. I'm not just going to pretend it wasn't the greatest thing ever and act like it never even happened." I set my pencil down.

"Surely it wasn't the greatest thing ever. I bet you've had plenty of chicks that were, and are, better than me."

His gaze on me hardened.

"You think I'm lying?" I let out a sigh.

"I don't know what I'm thinking Ethan...I really don't. I especially don't know what I was thinking last night."

As the words escaped my mouth he looked almost hurt. He sat up a bit taller grabbing his desk, scooting it and himself right beside me. He leaned in lowering his head.

"Come to my house after school. I'll drive, and I'll make sure you don't regret anything."

His words caused my breathing to stop, and I could only nod.

Jeez Ana, your balls aren't that big.

I exited my last class and quickly made my way to my locker. Not even ten steps in and Ethan jogged his way up beside me. Now everyone was staring.

"Ethan why-"

"I'm making sure you don't ditch me."

"Possessive much?" I asked once I reached my locker.

"Only of the things I hold near and dear to my heart." He replied, leaning against the next locker.