Love to Hate You • E.D.

Sixteen

When I actually get it on, I look at myself at all angles in the ceiling to floor mirror. The jewels, which I can't tell if they're real or not, sparkle in the light like nothing I've ever seen. This is absolutely gorgeous. Stunning, even, really.

"Are you done?" The lady asks almost impatiently, and I can't help but roll my eyes at the fact that she isn't polite in the slightest.

"Uh, yeah, just a second." I call, fitting the dress more on my chest. It's my perfect size, and when I came in here, I didn't even know my size. I still couldn't believe the way I looked in it. This was definitely not the body I perceived myself to have everyday. I looked in the mirror, ashamed.

This wasn't me. This wasn't me at all. I didn't wear girly things, I barely wore makeup for fuck's sake.

But something about this dress...something about all of this...made me feel so good. It made me feel happy and...confident.

I slowly stepped out from behind the curtain and even the lady perked up at the sight of me.

"My, my, my, I am good." I couldn't help but giggle under my breath.

She helped me onto the rise in front of the mirror and peered at my reflection over my shoulder.

"This does fit you absolutely perfectly if I do say so myself."

I shyly wrapped my arms around my stomach.

"Do you think he'll like it?" I ask quietly.

"Why don't we just ask him?"

"No! I uh, I want him to be surprised." She raises her eyebrows in realization.

"Well then I guess the question at hand is do you like it."

I stared at myself a little longer, twisting this way and that.

"Can I be honest with you?" She nods furiously.

"I actually really love it." I can't help but smile. She smiles in return.

"Then I guess it's a done deal?" I nod, my smile still stretching from ear to ear.

Ethan stands at the counter, credit card in hand, peering at my dress bag.

"I can't even get a peek?" he presses.

"I said no, you gotta wait." I reply grinning, swaying slightly.

"You know, I must like you a whole lot more than I think cause I never put up with this kind of shit."

"I bet you even love me." I don't realize what I've said until it's completely left my mouth.

Ethan turns his full attention to me, cheeks flushing. I stare back at him before turning my attention to my shoes. Dammit Ana calm down it's only a dress.

The lady appears behind the counter and Ethan immediately hands her his card.

"You don't need to tell me, just swipe the card."

My chest felt like an overblown balloon ready to pop. Why was he doing this for me? I really didn't deserve any of it. I was just a girl who minded her own business and gave nothing but attitude to him, and hard. I always thought he was just a self-centered douchebag who didn't care about anything except his fame and football. But now all a sudden we were spending time together, making out, and going to prom together, was I going insane? How did this all happen so freaking fast and so out of the blue?

Once we left the dress shop I couldn't hold back any longer.

"Ethan I need to know the truth."

"About what?"

"About us." I see him raise an eyebrow.

"What about us?" he asks.

"I need to know if this is just a sick joke because it surely can't be real. You're the last person I ever expected to like me and I sure as hell wasn't planning on feeling anything except hate and disgust towards you." I could hear myself sounding completely desperate.

"I thought you already hated me, why else would I have asked you to prom?" He was grinning.

"Come on Ethan be real with me."

He shifted in his seat, his features tightening and his posture becoming a little straighter.

"Ana Ray I wouldn't play you. Whenever I want a girl I want her and only her, even if it's only for a short time. This isn't a sick joke, this is me and my feelings and that's it. I never expected to like you, and I never expected you to like me, but hey, it happened. If you don't want this to continue I get it and I'll stop, and you can still keep the dress."

I sat back in my seat, resting my head against the window. I wanted so bad to believe him but I still had to stand guard. This was Ethan Dolan. If I got fucked over by him I'd never forgive myself for letting it happen. He peered over at me and slowly moved his hand from the steering wheel to my thigh, giving it a light but strong squeeze. I placed my hand over his, a soft smile spreading over my lips.

The next week of school flew by, and we were just a little less than two weeks away from junior year prom. I didn't think I'd make it this far, I really didn't. Now, I stand on the sidelines of the football field, watching Ethan practice. He made me come, and I didn't give him a solid answer when asked, but decided to show up anyway.

He's the only one out there practicing, just for the heck of it. I put my hood up over my head, trying to get a little warmer. He's wearing a cut off t-shirt and basketball shorts, and I can't help but think that he is insanely attractive. I shift my weight to one hip, watching him tackle a dummy as hard as he can. When he stands up and is nearly panting, he turns around and his eyes land on me.