Love to Hate You

Part One || Chapter One

Pausing for a moment, I examine my features. Nothing too special. I wouldn’t say I’m particularly “average” looking, because I’m not. Is there even such a thing as being average, anyway? I’m  on the shorter side, thin with some curves, but not anything that would make a guys head turn. My jaw is on the stronger side, my cheek bones subtle.  I have a small nose that is ever so slightly turned up and large hazel eyes hiding underneath eyebrows that teeter on the thicker side. My lips are my least favorite because my lower lip is rather full while my upper lip is thin with an exaggerated cupids bow.  People might describe me as cute, but I don’t see it. I see strength and independence in my features, not helplessness and “cute”.

Sighing, I step away from the mirror and turn away towards the bench where I dropped my stuff. Feeling slightly calmer now that I’m dry, I pick up my backpack and head out of the locker room.

Now students are starting to arrive and the hallways are filling up rapidly. Shoes skid and squeak, and conversations get louder. I absolutely hate people. Well, not all people, but the majority. They have no respect for anyone but themselves, they ignore and irritate the teachers, and they are all nasty to one another. Actually, maybe I don’t hate people, just other teenagers. In fact, I hate the male population more than the females.Guys smell, they’re obnoxious, and their brains are the size of a walnut.

The only things I actually enjoy about high school are art and literature class. They get my creative juices flowing. I love it. I love paint, chalk, books, poems, pencils, paper—heck, give me the art department and lock the door. I’ll never get bored. There are just a few problems though.  My art class is full of creeps but my literature class wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for Justin Knight.

Justin Knight is cocky, self-absorbed, pathetic, moronic, and simply gorgeous—and he knows it. He’s a heartthrob with his spiky brunette hair, grey eyes, and perfectly tanned skinned. It’s like he was a designer baby or something. He’s horrible, though. At least I think so. He arrives late to class, cracks jokes and ticks the teacher off, he hits on every girl he knows, and he happens to be in a band. He does everything from play the guitar, to writing songs, to playing covers of hit songs at a local modern café downtown. He and his friends named the band “Heartbreakers”. With a name like that you’d think the girls would avoid him like the plague, but no. They fall head over heels for the lead singer and get their hearts shattered into a thousand pieces. Shame.  You’d think they’d know better.

I sit through algebra, history, and chemistry before slipping into Literature Studies. The room is always chilly and has the faint smell of yellowing paper. Miss Myers sits behind her desk clicking away on her computer. I shuffle over to my assigned desk and drop my backpack onto it, which causes the desk to groan as if in pain. I walk over to the front and lean over Miss Myers desk.

“We’re starting Anne of Green Gables, right?” I muse, nodding to the stack of worn green books piled high on top of her desk.

She swivels around in her sit and smiles brightly at me. Her strawberry blond hair catches light from the suns rays streaming in through the window. She’s in her mid-thirties but looks twenty-one.

“Aren’t you excited?” she gushes like a schoolgirl, “I even have a new seating chart. It’s like a fresh start after To Kill a Mockingbird.”

“New seating chart?” I’m getting a sinking feeling in stomach. Let’s just say that I have the best seat in the class. I’m surrounded by intellectual beings, it’s a nice environment. With a new seating chart, I could get thrown under the bus and kicked up next to someone who needs to ask to borrow my notes every day.

“Yes ma’am. Sorry in advance.” She says, her eyes softening before turning back to her computer.

I scowl and hesitate before turning back to my desk. Sorry in advance? What’s that supposed to mean? Am I going to be surrounded by the worst set of people imaginable? The people who fall asleep, ask pointless questions, throw paper airplanes as if we’re back in elementary school? Is this my fate? I set my backpack on the floor and sink into my seat. The bell rings a few seconds later and everyone sits down. Miss Myers practically skips to the front of the room.

“Alright, to get started I have a new seating chart. Everyone up.” She motions for us to come to the front of the classroom with her.

We all get up slowly and grumpily and go to the front. Miss Myers touches each desk while saying a name and the student moves to take their seat.

“Ben, Savanna, Jake, Hunter…” the list continues and the group narrows down. She gets to the very back of the classroom in the third out of four rows and calls my name. Back of the classroom? Not bad at all. I have Nicky on one side of me, a plump brunette with glasses who never talks, and a mystery person on the other side.

I take my seat and wait. The last person she calls is the mystery person that will be sitting on my right side. Problem is, there are no other students at the front of the classroom to take their seat next to me. So, who’s going to sit there? My question is answered with the classroom door flying open and a loud, obnoxious greeting.

“Hey, Jen! What’d I miss?”

Miss Myers turns on her heel, obviously flustered about being called by her first name. Her eyes instantly turn into daggers.

“Where’s your pass, Mr. Knight?” she asks, her voice dripping with impatience.

He holds up a bright orange pass and sets it on her desk, giving it a pat for good measure. He smiles sweetly at her then looks at the class in a confused fashion.

“Hey, something has changed.” He notes, stroking his chin.

“Yes, we have a new seating chart. Now please take your seat behind Arthur and next to Reese.” Her voice strains to keep calm.

I scowl at him while he walks up the aisle and flings his backpack under the desk and sloppily sitting down. He puts his feet up on the desk and winks at me.

I make a weird sound in my throat that sounds like a cross between a scowl and a deep sigh. I can’t believe my luck today.