The Art of Hating You

Chapter Two: The Worst Partner Possible

I should have known the universe hated me.

There was simply no other explanation.

"Miss Reyes?"

I looked up from my notebook.

"Yes, Professor?"

Professor Castillo stood at the front of the lecture hall with a folder in his hands.

"Mr. Villareal?"

From three rows behind me, a voice answered.

"Here."

My entire body tensed.

No.

No, no, no.

Professor Castillo smiled.

"Perfect."

That was never a good sign.

"Congratulations. You two have been selected to represent Westbridge University in the National Academic Excellence Competition."

The room immediately erupted into whispers.

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

I slowly turned around.

Adrian was staring directly at me.

His expression mirrored mine.

Pure horror.

"No," we said at the same time.

Professor Castillo frowned.

"Excuse me?"

I raised my hand.

"Professor, respectfully, there has been a mistake."

"There hasn't."

I pointed behind me.

"You're assigning me with him."

Adrian leaned forward.

"Professor, I agree with Luna."

I glared at him.

"Don't agree with me."

"I didn't want to."

"Then don't."

"You started it."

"I literally said one sentence."

"And it was already annoying."

"Can both of you be quiet?" Professor Castillo asked.

We immediately stopped talking.

The entire class was trying not to laugh.

Professor Castillo sighed.

"The competition begins in two months. You will work together."

I stared at him.

"For two months?"

"Yes."

"Every day?"

"Yes."

I looked back at Adrian.

He leaned back in his chair.

"You'll survive."

I narrowed my eyes.

"I survived four years sitting near you. I'm basically invincible now."

Someone laughed.

Adrian smiled.

And I hated that smile.

Mostly because, for half a second, I forgot why I was supposed to hate him.

"Classes dismissed," Professor Castillo announced. "Reyes and Villareal, stay behind."

Everyone quickly gathered their things.

Sofia walked past me and whispered, "Don't kill him."

"No promises."

Adrian's best friend, Ethan, stopped beside him.

"Don't fall in love."

Adrian threw a pen at him.

Ethan laughed and walked away.

I froze.

Did Ethan just—

No.

Absolutely not.

Adrian noticed my expression.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Then stop staring."

"I wasn't staring."

"You were."

"I was looking."

"At me."

"Unfortunately."

His lips twitched.

Professor Castillo cleared his throat.

We both turned toward him.

"Sit."

We sat.

On opposite sides of the desk.

As far away from each other as possible.

Professor Castillo placed a folder between us.

"Your first assignment is inside."

I opened it.

Adrian leaned closer.

Our shoulders touched.

I immediately moved away.

He noticed.

Of course he noticed.

"Relax," he whispered.

"I'm relaxed."

"You look terrified."

"I'm not terrified."

"You moved like I was contagious."

I glared at him.

"Maybe you are."

He laughed quietly.

And I hated that sound.

The folder contained information about the competition.

Research.

Presentations.

Debates.

Problem-solving challenges.

Two months of working together.

Two months of Adrian Villareal sitting beside me.

I closed the folder.

"This is going to be a disaster."

Adrian nodded.

"For once, we agree."

Professor Castillo smiled.

"Excellent. Then I'll leave you two to discuss your strategy."

Before either of us could protest, he walked away.

The door closed.

Silence.

Adrian and I stared at each other.

"Ground rules," I said.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Already?"

"Rule number one: Don't touch my things."

"Wasn't planning to."

"Rule number two: Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking."

"That's impossible."

I stared at him.

He smirked.

I continued.

"Rule number three: You listen to my ideas."

"Why?"

"Because my ideas are usually better."

He laughed.

"They're really not."

"They are."

"They aren't."

"They are."

"Prove it."

I leaned closer.

"Gladly."

For the next thirty minutes, we argued.

About the competition.

About strategies.

About research topics.

About which one of us was more qualified to lead.

By the time we left the classroom, I was exhausted.

"You're impossible," I muttered.

"So I've been told."

"By everyone, probably."

He smiled.

"You included?"

"Especially me."

We walked down the hallway.

Together.

Which felt strange.

Usually, Adrian and I walked in opposite directions.

But now, apparently, the universe had decided we needed to spend more time together.

How unfortunate.

"So," Adrian said.

"So?"

"We're starting tonight."

I stopped walking.

"What?"

"The project."

"I know what we're talking about."

"Then why are you asking?"

I crossed my arms.

"Because you said tonight."

"Yes."

"Tonight is my free night."

He stared at me.

"And?"

"I have plans."

"What plans?"

"None of your business."

He tilted his head.

"You have no plans."

"I do."

"Liar."

"Excuse me?"

"You always study on Friday nights."

I froze.

Adrian looked amused.

"How do you know that?"

His smile disappeared for a second.

Just one second.

Then it returned.

"We've been rivals for four years, Reyes. I know your schedule."

My heart did something stupid.

Something embarrassing.

I ignored it.

"That's creepy."

"You're welcome."

"I didn't say thank you."

"You were thinking it."

"I was thinking about pushing you down the stairs."

He looked at the staircase beside us.

Then back at me.

"You'd miss me."

I laughed.

"Never."

He stepped closer.

Too close.

His voice lowered.

"You're going to get tired of saying that eventually."

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Then Sofia appeared behind me.

"Luna!"

I jumped.

Adrian stepped back.

The moment disappeared.

Again.

Sofia looked between us.

"Why do you both look weird?"

"We don't," I said quickly.

"Nothing happened," Adrian said.

Sofia narrowed her eyes.

"Interesting."

"What's interesting?" I asked.

"Nothing."

She smiled.

That was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

"I'll see you tonight," Adrian said.

I turned toward him.

"At seven."

"Don't be late."

"Don't tell me what to do."

He smiled.

"See you later, partner."

Partner.

The word sounded strange coming from him.

I watched him walk away.

Sofia slowly turned toward me.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

"No."

"Yes."

"Sofia."

"You hate him."

"I do."

She smiled wider.

"And now you're spending every day together."

I grabbed my bag.

"I am going to fail this competition."

She laughed.

"No, you're not."

I looked toward the hallway where Adrian had disappeared.

The truth was—

I wasn't worried about losing the competition.

I was worried about something much worse.

Because Adrian Villareal was no longer just my rival.

He was now my partner.

And somehow—

That felt far more dangerous.

Especially when my heart had started doing strange things every time he looked at me.

And I had a terrible feeling that this was only the beginning.

End of Chapter Two