Almost hate, Almost love✨❤️

Chapter One

I didn’t hate him at first.

I just didn’t like the way he existed so easily.

The lecture hall was packed when I walked in late, and my heart sank immediately. I hated being late it made me feel exposed, like everyone could see straight through me. My eyes scanned the room until they landed on the only empty seat left.

Right beside him.

I hesitated. Then I sat down, dropping my bag onto the floor a little harder than necessary. He didn’t react. He just kept writing in his notebook, calm and focused, like nothing in the world could disturb him.

That irritated me more than it should have.

“You’re taking up too much space,” I said under my breath.

He looked up slowly, like he had all the time in the world. His eyes met mine, steady and curious.

“You chose the seat,” he replied.

I scoffed and turned away, my attention shifting to the lecturer walking in. I didn’t need distractions. I didn’t need him.

Or so I thought.

Later that day, the lecturer announced group assignments. I stood with everyone else, already planning how I’d handle my part alone until I saw the list on the board.

My name.

His name.

Together.

I froze.

“You’ve got to be joking,” I whispered.

“Trust me,” he said behind me, “I’m not celebrating either.”

I turned sharply. “Excuse me?”

He shrugged, lips curving slightly. “You look like you’d rather fail than work with me.”

I crossed my arms. “And you look like you don’t take anything seriously.”

Something flickered in his eyes, gone before I could understand it.

“I’m Noah,” he said, holding out his hand.

I stared at it for a second before shaking my head.

“I don’t need to know your name.”

He didn’t seem offended. If anything, he looked amused.

“Alright,” he said softly. “But we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice.

“Don’t get comfortable. This is just an assignment. Nothing more.”

Noah leaned in slightly, his voice dropping.

“Funny how the things we call nothing end up meaning everything.”

I walked away before my heart could betray me.

Because I came to college with a plan.

And falling for the boy I almost hated was not part of it.

Chapter Two – Forced

I didn’t expect him to text me first.

My phone buzzed that evening while I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling and pretending not to replay his voice in my head.

Unknown Number:

Group meeting. Library. 6pm.

No greeting. No emoji. No politeness.

I stared at the screen for a moment before typing back.

Me:

I didn’t agree to a meeting.

The reply came almost instantly.

Unknown Number:

The assignment doesn’t care.

I rolled my eyes, tossed the phone aside, then picked it back up.

Me:

Fine.

I told myself I was annoyed.

I told myself this was just about grades.

At 6pm exactly, I walked into the library—and immediately regretted it.

Noah was already there.

Sleeves rolled up again. Backpack on the chair beside him. Laptop open. Focused. Calm. Like he belonged everywhere he went.

He looked up when he saw me.

“You’re late,” he said.

“You’re not my clock,” I replied, dropping my bag onto the table.

A small smile tugged at his lips. “Feisty.”

I shot him a look. “Let’s just do this and get it over with.”

We worked in silence at first. Or at least, I tried to. But it was impossible not to notice how he explained things—patient, clear, like he actually cared if I understood.

“You’re doing it wrong,” he said eventually.

I stiffened. “Excuse me?”

He leaned closer, pointing at my notes. “Your argument is good, but your structure is weak.”

I hated that he was right.

“Why do you care?” I snapped.

He paused. Just for a second.

“Because if we fail, we both fail.”

Something about his tone made my chest tighten.

An hour later, my phone vibrated.

A message from my best friend.

OMG. Isn’t Noah King the guy who broke Zara’s heart last semester?

My fingers froze.

I looked up slowly.

Noah was watching me—like he already knew something had shifted.

“Problem?” he asked.

I forced a smile. “No.”

But suddenly, I wasn’t just annoyed.

I was curious.

And curiosity, I knew, was dangerous.

End of Chapter Two

Chapter Three – Rumors Don’t Lie (Or Do They?)

I tried not to look at him differently.

I really did.

But once something is planted in your mind, it grows—even when you don’t want it to.

Noah was quieter than usual the next day. Or maybe I was just paying more attention. He sat two rows ahead of me in class, his shoulders relaxed, head slightly tilted as he listened to the lecturer.

Heartbreaker.

That word echoed in my head, uninvited.

When class ended, I packed my things quickly, hoping to avoid him. No such luck.

“Library again?” he asked, falling into step beside me.

I didn’t look at him. “We can’t meet today.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

He stopped walking. I didn’t—until I realized he wasn’t beside me anymore.

I turned back. “What?”

“You always do that,” he said calmly.

“Do what?”

“Push first. Explain later. If at all.”

I crossed my arms. “You don’t know me.”

A beat passed.

“You’re right,” he said. “But I’d like to.”

The honesty in his voice caught me off guard. For a second, just a second, I almost forgot the rumors. Almost forgo