in which; he hated her first, but she hated him back twice as hard.

in which, two hurting souls who need each other, can't be together.

in which; he needed a tutor and she needed something in return.

Mike Wheeler is used to people liking him. Eleanor Hopper definitely does not. She's sarcastic, impossible to read, and somehow always ready with an eye roll whenever he speaks. So when Mike needs a fake girlfriend to survive the world's messiest breakup, El should be the worst possible option. Instead, she says yes. Now there are rules, public appearances, accidental jealousy, way too much hand holding, and a growing problem neither of them seems willing to talk about: maybe pretending to be in love would be easier if they actually hated each other.