He used to hate her

Chapter 2

“Wow, I didn’t see this coming. Wait, a minute. Wait, a minute. Am I dreaming?” Veronica got too excited while Sofia’s mouth was wide open. They know that I’m not the one who even lay her eyes on a boy. I’m not a lesbian, but a girl with a messed-up life. I have a lot of problems in my family which made me who I am? I don’t want to exaggerate it.

I had an older sister named Tracy who died in a car accident. When our family was dealing with that tragic accident, my dad becomes a drunk addict. He couldn’t handle that pain and that almost made him forget he had a second daughter to take care of. But I don’t blame him. Because that accident affected my mother too. She lost her mind for real. She becomes Psycho and imagines things that don’t exist. One imagination is that my sister is alive. My mom didn’t stop there. She’s in search of the killer who did that accident to kill him. With the help of some relatives, I tried my best to bring back my mom, who was happy when my sister was alive. But I failed. Now, she’s in our relative’s house well taken care of and dad’s a drunk who visits home rarely. And I came abroad to study with financial help from my relatives. But when I grow up, I have to earn. I have to survive and pay back for my relatives who are dealing with my parents. I have shared this with my two best friends. But that's not going to bring back my sister or the happiness I lost in me. I’m grieving for my one and only sister, who’s a part of my life. When Tracy died, one part of me died, leaving me miserable. Every pain is in the past, present and it could be in my future, too. I lost my hope a long time ago.

While having all these grieves, this is a feeling I got for someone. I know I got these feelings cause I’m looking for someone who could patch all the broken pieces of my life. My whole family has shattered four years ago. All I have are my two best friends. Is it wrong to look for love? With who I could share my life? When my heart tells that Xander’s the one. Now I’m pouring it, so it won’t add up to one of my miseries.

“Who is that, Madison? Say it right now. I couldn’t wait any longer.” Veronica urged me. I got back from the memories.

“Um... I’m in love with Xander for a year,”

Chapter 3 A chance to confess her love

Oh my god, he’s one of the hottest guys in our class. I should have guessed it a long time ago. You have always been distracted at classes when Xander was sitting in front of you." Sofia said with a lot of excitement. While Veronica stayed silent for a minute. I think she’s taking whatever I’m saying into her mind. But she has a bright smile on her face, like she’s so happy for me. The thing is, Xander has no idea that I have a crush on him. So, what’s the point with all this excitement? Unless some situation gives me a chance to make him fall in love with me. You don’t know how much my life will be good if it happens.

“You should take it to the next level. Does he talk to you? Try to make him your friend. That will do the remaining things. You are hot like him and there’s all possible ways for him to like you.” Veronica encouraged me.

“You are saying that I’m hot because you are my best friends. That’s not how it works. I just confessed what’s in my heart. This is going be a secret love hidden forever.” I told them firmly so they won’t push me to give it a try. I have already seen enough failures in my life. I don’t want to add up this to the list.

“Secret... No, you never know what will happen unless you try. Try to act friendly with him. That doesn’t include studying because that’s what you are talking with him from what I know.” Sofia suggested. I nodded while Veronica suggested something that almost gave me a panic attack.

“You should directly tell him what you feel. Some girls do that. I know it and I know it works. Even if you didn’t get a reply right at the minute, he will think about it and decide to spend time with you. That’s enough in the beginning. Just do it. Trust me.” Veronica sincerely said. All I could say now is, ‘I will try. But I need more time’.

I thought about that. What could go wrong if I told him what I feel? I will feel relieved and something good happens. But I guess I can take some time for it. Maybe a month... that could work.

Days passed by. Again, and again... The more I talked with him, the more I fell for him. But I don’t know whether he has a little of feelings for me. Somehow, I’m glad he’s still single. He’s selective about choosing a girl. He’s not a filthy-rich boy who sleeps with everyone. That’s never going to be him.

“Whoa... Veronica... what’s the rush?” I asked when she almost bumped into me outside the class.

“Hey, Madison. I... I will explain it later. Can you take my notebook to our class?” She asked and, of course, in the evening she explained it all. Veronica and Percy (a senior sports guy) had an intimate moment, and she almost hooked up with him. So, the first word I want to say is gross. Do you know why did I say that? She has got no feelings for him. She’s interested in sports guys and flirts with a lot of them. I don’t want to judge anyone, especially not my close friend. Whatever she says about the encounter with boys, I would hear it out.

But Sofia doesn’t have any incidents like this. She’s like me. No, not like me. I’m a girl who’s crushing on a guy secretly? Sofia isn’t interested in anyone. Not even celebrities. I wish I know what makes her like that? But she says she doesn’t even know the answer to it. Maybe she would fall in love after a few years.

When exams came closer, I got no time to spend time with my friends. We barely talked and do not know what they are doing. We three will equalize it by having a girl’s night every night after all the exam stress.

That’s when we had an annual day celebration in our school after two months. Our entire class had no classes. It’s in the evening and we can do whatever we want in class till the celebration starts.

“I like this. Everyone got divided into all different ways. We got a whole day for ourselves. What are we going to do?” Sofia asked as we walked in the corridor while all the other students are wandering everywhere on the third floor. But one of us is missing. We called Veronica, but she said she’s in the middle of something.

“What did she say? She’s too late. This is the day we got time to spend together.” Sofia complained.

“She said she’s in the middle of something. That wasn’t brief enough to understand,” I said, keeping my phone inside my jeans pocket.

“Middle of hooking up with Percy. Nowadays, she’s spending time with Percy a lot.” Sofia sounded angry.

“Oh, maybe she’s interested in him for real. When did you see them together?” I asked.

“Well, it was a week ago. And then it was too difficult to spot here after class is over,” she said. I will be happy if Percy’s her boyfriend, but we should be her priority too.

“Can you go to our class? It seems like something going on here,” Sofia sneaked in and called me in. I have no interest in spending time in the same class, but I spotted Xander. My feet followed Sofia without hesitation. Xander is seated at the table with his leg on the desk.

“Hey girls, you want to join the game too. All are invited to truth or dare,” a guy said. There are seven to eight girls and boys. I would definitely feel claustrophobic, but that’s okay. Xander’s here and I’m not going back.

“Yeah, did you start the game already?” Sofia asked as we seated together.

“Yep, but you both are counted here too,” Then they started one by one. If my chance comes, I would take the truth. I couldn’t bear the risk of taking the dare. But most of them choose dare. Some girls are caught up in a situation of kissing a boy. Others passed and convinced them to change the dare. In the middle, everyone chatted and made sure we all are having fun inside the class.

Suddenly, Xander called us." Hey, I have always seen you three of them together. Where’s Veronica?"

“She’s not here now, Xander.”

“We three are not inseparable like triplets. Why are you asking?” Sofia asked. Before he could say something, the bottle spins and points in my direction. I have got to answer to my classmate, Henry, the blonde guy.

“What do you choose? I will make sure it’s easy since you came to play with us for the first time.” If I choose truth, it would look like I’m afraid. I can beat the odds.

“Dare,”

“Okay, so let me think. What should I give?” He said, running a hand over his hair.

“Kiss a boy you like who doesn’t have a girlfriend. I’m sure there’s half of the boys sitting here are single. In fact, I’m included in the list too. You can choose me too,” he said like he wanted me to choose him. But what should I do? I don’t want to choose Henry because he asked for it.

“Give that girl a choice. She will not choose you.” another guy said.

“I gave her a choice. And I’m good enough to get chosen.” He proudly said. He’s somewhat right. But I don’t want to fake it by kissing someone without liking him. This would be my first kiss. I don’t want it to be fake. I should probably leave this game. If I say that I never kissed someone, I will get embarrassed.

I looked at Sofia for the next move. Her looks tell ‘do what you like, don’t hesitate. It’s just our classmates. It will stay with us.’

By the way, you all know what I want. I want Xander. Always. If I let it flow by, I will never get a chance. I might look like a frightened girl, but I got enough courage to do what I want to do. Let’s do this and don’t regret it. I can handle it no matter what response I get.

I’m going to kiss Xander.

Chapter 4 Betrayal

I decided while my mind voice is saying that I’m going to regret this later (that’s 100 percent right).

“Go ahead. We have little time left. Everyone has their chances,” Henry said.

For what... every girl has a chance to kiss you? that’s never going to happen, dude,” another guy said and laughed.

"Shut up, I’m not desperate to kiss a girl,” they continued arguing. While I’m going crazy. I have a terrible dilemma. If I didn’t do it, I will miss my change forever. If I, did it, I will regret it. It won’t end up well. I’m a girl will zero luck. Everything ends up bad for me. So, what’s the matter of worrying?