scott x hope oneshots

the things i hate about you

It's mid-day as I open the front door to the house and saunter into the entrance hallway, humming a tune while jiggling my house and car keys in one hand. "Hope!", I call out as I place the keys on a side table at the hallway, which was now adorned with picture frames of our family. There was no reply.

"Honey?", I call again and I could picture her rolling her eyes in response. I knew that she disliked pet names, but I would do it every once in a while just to annoy her. Besides, I love catching the little upward curling of her corners of her mouth as she comes out with a witty retort. I peek through the living room but it was unoccupied, though traces of her were hard to miss as my gaze fall onto the crumpled blanket scattered across on the couch, and onto the half-filled mug and book that was placed on the coffee table. I frown, worry creases forming in my forehead. I was positively sure that she was at home, judging from her car that was parked at the front porch and her house slippers that were missing from the shoe rack. A little panicky, hoping she wasn't having one of her dizzy spells again, I pace to the stairs in a hurry and head upstairs. I walk towards the direction of our bedroom when I catch sight of the attic door that was left open. Curious, I climb up the steps and peer inside the attic, only to find her kneeling on the floor in front of several cardboard boxes with her back facing me.

"Hi.", I lean on the door frame, relief washing over me. "What are you doing up here?", I ask softly, watching her, noticing that she had wore her hair in a braid, tied up in a ponytail, something that I love seeing her in. The attic was where I used to spend time with Cassie though now it was mostly used for storage, but it would soon turn into a play room, again. I grin at the thought.

"Hey.", her reply cold, she didn't turn around, her focus clearly on something else. I recognise the pile of boxes at a glance, it was the things I had to clear away two years ago from my bedroom, when she had officially moved in. I narrow my eyes in confusion, wondering what was she rummaging through.

"What is so important that I can't even get your attention?", I remark dramatically. I walk to her side and get down on my knees, giving her a kiss on her temple in greeting.

She didn't return my affection, which was odd. "I was looking for a book, but instead I found this.", she shoves a sheet of slightly foxed paper into my hands, and she looks at me, expression unreadable, her lips a thin line.

My brows knit into a frown, perplex. "What is this? It's blank.", I stare at the piece of paper that was empty, place on my thighs.

She rolls her eyes at my silliness. "Turn it around.", she gestures at me with her finger, as she stares at the paper then back to me,  emphasising me to take it. She sits back casually, her legs crossing beneath her.

I squint my eyes, suspicious and worry arousing inside me. Quickly, I turn my attention to the paper and flip it around. I widen my eyes in surprise, my jaw fall open, as I recognise my handwriting immediately. "Oh.", I gasp, my mouth turning into an 'O" shape, I glance quickly at her, and at the paper again, reading the title that I had scribbled a long time ago, my face swiftly breaking into a sheepish grin.

The things I hate about her.

Shit. I thought I threw that out years ago. How did this paper not decompose. It wasn't meant to be read, not by her.

"This.", I divert my gaze away from her, and look down, anxious, my thumb brushing the thin, brown-spotted paper, my throat dry.

"Oh yes. This.", she nods her head, her beautiful clear green orbs boring into me intensely, and I feel a burning sensation arising from my chest. "You know, for such a title, I thought it would depict my flaws, but they seem to be my good traits? Care to explain?"