I Hate That I Love You Read online

  I HATE THAT I LOVE YOU

  B.A. Rivera

  © 2019 B.A. Rivera. All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1—Alexandra

  Chapter 2—Alexandra

  Chapter 3—Naomi

  Chapter 4—Naomi

  Chapter 5—Alexandra

  Chapter 6—Alexandra

  Chapter 7—Naomi

  Chapter 8—Naomi

  Chapter 9—Alexandra

  Chapter 10—Alexandra

  Chapter 11—Naomi

  Chapter 12—Naomi

  Chapter 13—Alexandra

  Chapter 14—Alexandra

  Chapter 15—Naomi

  Chapter 16—Naomi

  Chapter 17—Alexandra

  Chapter 18—Alexandra

  Chapter 19—Naomi

  Chapter 20—Alexandra

  Chapter 21—Alexandra

  Chapter 22—Alexandra

  Chapter 23—Naomi

  Chapter 24—Alexandra

  Chapter 25—Naomi

  Chapter 26—Alexandra

  Chapter 27—Naomi

  Chapter 28—Alexandra

  Chapter 29—Naomi

  Chapter 30—Alexandra

  Chapter 31—Naomi

  Chapter 32—Naomi

  Chapter 33—Alexandra

  Chapter 34—Alexandra

  Chapter 35—Alexandra

  Chapter 36—Naomi

  Chapter 37—Naomi

  Chapter 38—Alexandra

  Chapter 39—Naomi

  Chapter 40—Naomi

  Chapter 41—Alexandra

  Chapter 42—Alexandra

  Chapter 1—Alexandra

  This town sucked. Why in God’s name would anyone move into a small town? This was where people ran away from. And yet here we were. Driving through Silver Lake. I had yet to see a lake anywhere. Why the hell was is called Silver Lake anyway?

  What I did see a lot of was rain. Rain, rain, rain. It hadn’t stopped since we entered the state of Seattle. Stupid, just so stupid of my parents.

  Seattle was known for being one of the rainiest states in the country. Why did Dad have to open his practice here? Of all places, why?

  “Alex?”

  I looked at my mom, taking off my air pods to hear what she was saying. “What?”

  Mom smiled. “I asked what you want for dinner?”

  “Oh, I don’t care. I’m not hungry.”

  “Ana,” Josh coughed.

  I furrowed my eyebrows, looking at my little brother in horror. That was a terrible joke. “That’s not funny. A lot of people suffer from eating disorders. I’m not included. I’m just sick to my stomach that we have to move here.”

  Dad looked at me through his rear view mirror and smiled. “Honey, I promise you’re going to like it here.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

  I put my air pods back into my ears and looked outside of my window. There were a lot of tiny shops. It looked like a ghost town. I had yet to see a single person.

  It was raining. But I got the feeling it rained all the time.

  When we finally pulled up to the house, I realized why Mom and Dad said they were getting it for a bargain. It was huge. At least two times the size of our last house. Josh was the first to get out of the car. “I call dibs on the biggest room.”

  Josh could be so obnoxious. I didn’t care about the size of my room. I didn’t want to be here.

  “Alex, sweetheart, please try to make the best of this,” Mom said. “I know you didn’t want to leave California, but this move is going to be good for us. I think if you give Silver Lake a chance, you’ll love it.”

  I didn’t agree. But I should stop giving them a hard time. It’s not like they were going to change their minds and move us back to Cali. Mom and Dad were trying really hard to make me feel better about this. I should stop being such a bitch.

  I smiled. “I hope you’re right.”

  I got out of the car and stretched my legs. I was sitting in that gas guzzling minivan for over two hours. When I stood back up, I saw the first sign of human civilization in Silver Lake. And she was running my way.

  The girl was wearing a rain jacket. Some of her blonde locks were threatening to fall out of the hood. When our eyes met, I smiled at her.

  She gave me the dirtiest of looks as she passed by me. I raised an eyebrow as I watched her run up the driveway next door to us.

  Great. My new neighbor was a bitch with a capital B.

  I walked into the house. It was pretty. I could see why Mom fell in love with it when she saw the pictures. Dad was the one that came to see the house in person. This was our first time seeing it in person.

  It had cathedral ceilings. Above the foyer hung a chandelier. I never liked chandeliers. If that thing fell and one of us was underneath it, we were screwed.

  I walked into the family room next. I smiled when I saw the piano sitting on the opposite side of the room. Dad already had it brought in.

  I went straight to it and sat down. I guess the house wasn’t so bad. I kind of liked it. I just didn’t like having to leave my friends.

  I lived in California since before I could remember. I was friends with my friends since we were toddlers. I didn’t want new friends. I wanted to graduate with Ivy and Cameron.

  “What do you think?” Dad asked, smiling at me as he came in. “I hope I picked a good model.”

  “Yeah Dad. It’s perfect. Thanks.”

  “Want to see the rest of the house?”

  “Sure.”

  I already knew the rest of the house was going to be as nice as the foyer and the family room. The house was great. The town was probably going to be great too.

  It just didn’t feel like home yet.

  I was not excited for my first day at Silver Lake High School. I barely got any sleep last night and Mom didn’t get to make it to the grocery store yesterday so we didn’t have any coffee. I was going to try to stop somewhere on the walk to school.

  Yeah, apparently I was walking to school now.

  It’s a very safe neighborhood and the school is only a five minute walk from the house.

  Dad. Didn’t he realize that all neighborhoods were safe until suddenly they weren’t? Small towns were known for that kind of shit. Can’t trust anyone in this fucked up world.

  It was raining outside. Again.

  “Are we supposed to walk in the rain?” I said, coming into the kitchen.

  Josh was wolfing down a breakfast sandwich. His mouth was full of food and grease was coming down his chin. I made a disgusted look at him. For a fourteen year old, he sure ate like a child.

  I looked at the counter and smiled when I saw the coffee cups. I went straight to it and grabbed a cup. I didn’t care what was in it. As long as it contained sizzling hot caffeine I was good.

  Dad laughed. “Yeah, I figured that would get you in a good mood. My little caffeine addict.”

  “She takes after you,” Mom said.

  Dad nodded in agreement. “I’ll drive you guys today.”

  “You know, I could drive us, if I had a car.”

  Mom and Dad gave each other a look. I hoped that look meant I was getting a car for my seventeenth birthday. I had my license since the day I turned sixteen. But they weren’t ready to let me drive on my own yet.

  Apparently the state of California deeming me a safe driver wasn’t enough for them.

  “We’ll see,” Mom said. “Have some breakfast.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “I’m telling you,” Josh said. “Eating disorder.”

  “Joshua, shut up. I don’t have an eating disorder.”

  “First day butterflies?” Mom asked.

&
nbsp; “Yeah.”

  “You know what helps with that?” Dad said, coming beside me.

  “What?”

  “Food. Eat something. I got some fruit.” Dad kissed the side of my head as he grabbed a coffee for himself and started drinking it.

  I took an apple from the fruit dish and got started on it.

  I hated this. I felt like I was a preschooler again. I couldn’t really remember preschool, but I imagine this was how it felt.

  I knew no one here. I had to make friends with people who have probably known each other their entire lives.

  This sucked ass.

  “Alright, we better go. Or you guys are going to be late to your first day.”

  I kissed Mom goodbye and turned to go get my bag. Mom stopped me. “Try to have a good day Alex. I’m sure you’re going to make plenty of friends.”

  I made a face. “Hmm.”

  She laughed as I went to go get my bag and join Dad and Josh in the car.

  Here we go.

  Chapter 2—Alexandra

  I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. I wasn’t used to being stared at so much. Someone should tell them it was rude to stare.

  I went straight to my assigned locker to drop off my gym bag before going to meet with the guidance counselor to get my schedule.

  My locker was situated right between two muscular guys that didn’t really look like teenagers to me.

  Together they were blocking me from getting in. I tried waiting patiently, but they were taking forever and I had to get to the guidance counselor’s office before first period started.

  I cleared my throat. “Excuse me.”

  Both of the guys looked at me. They looked confused.

  “That’s my locker.”

  “No one has this locker,” one of them said. He had dark brown hair and hazel eyes.

  The other one had spiked orange hair and bright blue eyes.

  “I guess I’m no one then.”

  Neither of them laughed. Bad joke I guess.

  “It’s my locker now. I’m new.”

  The one with brown hair smiled. “New huh? Nice to meet you new girl. I’m Derek.”

  “I’m Connor,” the other one said.

  They both cleared the way for me to get to my locker. “Thanks. I’m Alexandra. Alex.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Alex,” Derek said. “If you need any help finding your way around Silver Lake, I’m always available.”

  “Because no girl wants to date you,” Connor said.

  “Shut up Gallagher,” Derek said, glaring at Connor.

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine. But thanks. I really have to get to guidance.”

  “I can take you,” Derek said. “I know where it is.”

  “Me too. I’m good.” I entered the combination and opened my locker. I put my bag inside and closed it, spinning the dial to lock it. I turned and Derek was still smiling at me. “I’ll see you around.”

  “You definitely will neighbor.”

  I started walking down the hall, looking over my shoulder to see if Derek was still staring at me. He was. Only his eyes were now pointed down towards my ass. I hate boys sometimes.

  As I walked, I looked into my purse to make sure I packed my air pods. I was going to need them considering I didn’t know a single person here. I definitely wasn’t going to be eating lunch with Derek.

  SLAM

  My hand went to my head. It was throbbing. Whoever I just collided with had a seriously hard head.

  The girl was down in front of me picking up her things. I shook my head, quickly bending down to help her.

  “Sorry about that,” I said, reaching for one of the textbooks.

  “Yeah, might want to watch where you’re going next time.”

  I was taken back at the girl’s tone. It was clearly an accident.

  “I said I was sorry.”

  Her blue eyes met my brown eyes. “And I said to watch where you’re going next time.”

  It suddenly hit me. She was the girl from yesterday. My neighbor. The bitch with a capital B.

  I pursed my lips, trying not to lose my cool with the girl that I didn’t even know the name of. I thought people from the east coast were the ones with attitudes. I had never been glared at like this girl was glaring at me.

  I handed her the textbook, rising to my feet. I didn’t say another word to her. I walked towards the guidance office.

  It wasn’t even first period yet and the day was already turning into shit.

  I was late to first period. The guidance counselor talked way too much. I just needed my schedule. I’d been to a high school before. It wasn’t complicated.

  My first period was Honors English. Yay. Not my favorite class. I preferred analytical classes, like math and science.

  The teacher was already talking when I knocked on the door for him to let me in. The doors locked five minutes after class started.

  The teacher stopped and told one of the students closer to the door to let me in. A girl with a blonde side ponytail smiled at me as she opened the door and let me into the classroom.

  “You must be our new student. I’m Mr. Reynolds. Welcome to Silver Lake High.”

  “Thanks.”

  “How about you tell us your name, grade, and something about yourself?”

  Way to put me on the spot. I already hated Mr. Reynolds.

  I cleared my throat.

  “Her name is Alex.”

  I looked at the back row and saw Derek grinning at me.

  Ugh.

  “Thank you, Derek. Yeah, my name is Alexandra. But I go by Alex. I’m a junior. And I play the piano.”

  “Nice, classical?” Mr. Reynolds asked.

  “Mostly. But I’ve been experimenting with Jazz lately.”

  “Hmm. I play a few instruments myself. You should see Mr. Bishop. He’s always looking for piano players. Doesn’t ever have enough. Everyone wants to play the drums.”

  “Yeah, maybe I will.” It wasn’t likely. I wasn’t big on playing for the school band. Besides, I was more focused on my schoolwork. Junior year was important.

  Mr. Reynolds smiled. “Well, take a seat. There’s only one free seat so not much of a choice in the matter I’m afraid. We were just about to discuss the reading from last night. We haven’t gotten very far in the book so you’ll be able to catch up in no time. I’ll grab you a copy from the cabinet.”

  I made my way down the isles towards the empty seat in the backrow. It had to be right next to Derek.

  My eyes met the eyes of the girl sitting right in front of the desk I was heading towards. I paused when I saw who was sitting there.

  I groaned.

  This bitch was everywhere.

  English was going to be a nightmare.

  Chapter 3—Naomi

  That girl was sitting behind me. The one that almost made me late to first period. I hate when people don’t watch where they’re going.

  After Mr. Reynolds finished his lecture he gave us time to work on our assignment and get an early start on our homework. This class was already giving me problems. I don’t know why I let Mom convince me to take all honors classes this year.

  Having two overachieving parents could really put a damper on a girl’s life. It was hard to live up to perfect people. And Mom and Dad were the epitome of perfect. Too bad their marriage wasn’t.

  “Where’d you move from?” Derek said.

  He was talking to the new girl. Alex, I think she said her name was. I honestly wasn’t paying attention when she introduced herself.

  “California.”

  “And you moved here?” Derek said.

  “Not by choice. My parents moved me here. I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.”

  “Look on the bright side. We wouldn’t have met if they didn’t move you to Silver Lake.”

  Oh my God. Kill me now.

  Derek was such a freak. He didn’t even know this Alex girl and already he was drooling all over his desk for her. The guy onl
y thought with his dick. Such a pig.

  Alex cleared her throat. “I guess so.”

  I held in a laugh. From her voice alone I could tell Derek was making her uncomfortable. He had that effect on most girls at Silver Lake High.

  “You and I should hang out sometime.”

  “Maybe some time,” Alex said. “I have a lot of catching up to do on schoolwork. I probably won’t have much time for a little while.”

  At least she was letting him down easy. I would have told him to fuck off. It didn’t matter if I didn’t know him.

  I didn’t have time to sugar coat things for people. I was real. Nothing wrong with that.

  If you ask me, there aren’t enough real people in this world.

  As soon as the bell rang, I threw my stuff in my backpack. I couldn’t listen to Derek harass the new girl for one more second. I was seriously about to turn around and tell the girl to grow some boobs and tell Derek to go fuck himself.

  “What class do you have next?” Derek asked.

  “Chemistry.”

  I rolled my eyes. Was the girl going to be in all of my classes? I was definitely going to have to barf before lunch if I had to watch one more guy obsess over the fresh meat.

  Silver Lake was a really small town. Everyone knew everyone here. The students at Silver Lake spent their whole lives together. Any time we got a new student, he or she was obsessed over. It was like having a foreign exchange student. Only they weren’t that foreign.

  I bolted from the classroom just as Derek was trying to offer to walk her to class. He wasn’t the least bit a gentleman. He only wanted one thing from the new girl. I hope she realized that. If she didn’t, she didn’t belong in honors.

  When I left the classroom I went straight to my locker to get my chemistry book and binder. Tiffany and Rachel were at my side in seconds.

  “Did you meet the new girl yet?” Rachel asked.

  I groaned, glaring at my friend. “Oh my God. Not you too.”

  “What?” Rachel asked incredulously.

  “I just spent the last half hour listening to Derek try to get in the girl’s pants.”

  “So she’s hot,” Tiffany said, shaking her head. She looked like someone pissed in her cheerios. “Great, we have competition.”

  “No, she’s new,” I said. “Give it a couple weeks and she’ll be old news.”