I Probably Hate You

Six

September gave way into October. Chillier air. Allergies spreading. Gaten Fallbrook still insistent you sit with him and his friends at lunch. That was the basic drill of the beginning of the month.

"It's cold in here"

"No its not, Gaten" I said "Besides, I'd rather be cold in here than be warmed by a stuffy room filled with sweaty teenagers"

"It's not that bad. Walker's the only one who has questionable self hygiene between us."

"Are you going to leave now? Because personally, I'm starting to get sick of this"

"I'm completely fine, actually"

That's right. He never seemed to give up.

I was in the library. I'd taken a liking to staying in here at lunchtime when it was almost completely deserted.

I munched on a baby carrot, staring at my phone rather than the young man in front of me.

"Why is it you always seem to be doing something extremely interesting on your phone whenever I'm around"

"I want you to think about that real hard, Fallbrook"

"It's cute when you refer to me by my last name, Melvin"

My eyes snapped to his. Gaten seemed very fond of pissing me off these days.

"Do not call me cute"

"Why not? Most people enjoy compliments"

"Yeah well so do I. That is, when they're not said by you and they're actually genuine"

"You baffle me sometimes"

"That's nice"

"Hey......"

I looked up to find Eleanor awkwardly standing by Gaten who was a good foot taller than her.

"Hey" I said, popping a whole baby carrot into my mouth

"You're still doing this?" Eleanor said exasperatedly

I glared at Gaten "did you tell her to come?"

He glanced at me, looking mildly amused "no ma'am"

"Oh come on Eleanor I told you I like it better in here"

"You're sitting here by yourself eating baby carrots. How is this better than before?"

"Why are my lunch location preferences that big of a deal?"

"Just come with me"

The three of us walked back to the cafeteria. Well I sort of shuffled like an upset nine year old.

Gaten calmly walked back to his friends but not before giving Eleanor a very obvious look.

My sister had to repeat my name twice before I actually snapped out of burning two holes into Gaten's head.

"What is it?"

"Dont give me that tone. That ' I can't stand anyone' tone. Please, just please sit with Gaten and Mallory. I beg you"

"Why? How'd he bribe you into this?"

"He didn't. Believe me when I say this isn't about Gaten. it's about you"

"I very clearly am not the one dying for myself to sit on that table"

Eleanor stepped closer to me, saying quietly "Do you- do you remember when you said you wanted things to be different this year?"

I froze, my gaze focusing on a random poster on the walls "that wasn't-"

She cut me off "is there any chance at all you could sit with them? Could you please do this for me?"