Love me like you loathe me

Chapter3

The sound of the bus arriving made me snap my eyes away from my phone. I was pushed over when someone behind me didn't think I was moving fast enough, making me turn around. My mind was frozen in terror for a second, thinking it was him, my ex.

Adam always used to push me when I walked too slowly, my mind getting wrapped up; he called me stupid and lazy, too wrapped up in something I was working on.

That's why my first plan was to change. I was going to work, and I wasn't going to depend on Mike. He had already given me some money for this month.

I felt bad since I knew he had this whole family, and now he had to support me, his stupid younger sister who couldn't even keep out of trouble, even if I wasn’t a kid anymore. My life wasn't something to put over the mantle or show at family gatherings. It was just… awful.

"Oh god!" The bus was moving, making me take a sidestep when I was still lost inside my head again, almost knocking down the guy behind me, turning around to apologize, seeing the big coffee that was knocked out over his white shirt trying not to start panic over who was wearing, not a stranger that I had wished for more than the handsome man that looked more like he was in control now more than ever, only now he had a beard and maturity that I didn’t recognize from being younger!

"Lewis…" I said his name slowly and nervously as the small light in his eyes started to flame, dropping the anger for something more familiar inside his green eyes, jolting me even more now that he finally knew who was standing before him.

“Stephanie…. Oh, yeah…. "Allie told me you were back in town…." He smiled when I gulped; the bus was still moving when he beamed more. His teeth were white and perfect in my open mouth. I didn't remember having that great smile since he had never used it on me.

"Yes… I'm back…" I was breathing slowly. I saw him before me, trying to understand why his eyes were on me, and forgetting that I hated him.

"You changed your hair…" Lewis stared at me and finally said something when we had both been silent for too long, making me more insecure, twirling the dark locks slightly along with my body, suddenly not feeling so great about becoming a brunette like I had for years.

I was a blonde growing up, not one of those pretty girls he was dating; just plain sandy that didn't match my eyes. I had become a brunette for the last few years, wanting to change after I left this town.

"Yeah…" I tried to push my hair back when he smiled from nowhere, making me stare at him suspiciously. What? Was I weird-looking? Or I should have shaved my head since nobody cared about me anyway, like he told me when we were kids!?!

I hadn't said anything back when his eyes were still on my hair, before switching to my eyes still etched on his face. I lost my last strength when he nodded, smiling at my unwillingness to talk to him.

"Okay… so…this is my stop…." My cheeks flushed when he looked for the bell behind me, and I panicked, almost falling over another person since my eyes were still on the suit-clad man giving me a friendly smile back. Why did he even look like that while riding the bus? Did his car break down?

"…it was nice seeing you, Stephanie, really… You stay in touch if you need something…" I didn't believe him, scoffing back at his friendliness that didn’t mean anything to me anymore, giving him an even worse scowl, seeing him leaning back and having one hand inside his pants like none of the stuff he did mattered anymore!

Lewis was known for being helpful in the neighborhood, but not towards me! He loved watching me become embarrassed and blush ever since Mike dragged him inside our kitchen, looking like he didn't know what food was when I had been eating a sandwich, being fourteen, already knowing he hated me from the moment his eyes met mine, having a hunger that always was my torment.

“I won’t… stay in touch…” I said slowly and harshly, his polite smile fading at my sudden hostility. I didn't care if Mike had talked or not about why I came back; it wasn't his problem, and I didn't want him to tell me everything that was wrong with me; I already knew.

“Oh, that is going to be hard, Stephanie…” he chuckled, and my fear increased. My heart rate made me breathe heavier in the heat I hadn't adjusted to yet. I saw him still smirk like something was funny. He was drinking the last of his coffee and pressing the stopper. He walked off when the doors opened, leaving me still holding my breath, watching him again.

Lewis stared at me from the street, as if he expected me to run. His cunning green eyes made it hard to think, reminding me of the past I wanted to forget. I hated him and everything he did.

His white shirt was stained with coffee, and he wore a smile I knew too well. He wouldn’t back down from tormenting me, laughing in my face just like he did in our teenage years. I turned my scared eyes, drawn to the billboard we passed, unable to believe what I saw. The clean, cursive design captured my attention.

Discover your ideal retreat with OASIS REALTY Co. (™), proudly serving the community since 1991. Trust in Lewis Caldwell, your dedicated realtor (™), to provide expert guidance throughout your real estate journey. Experience the distinctive OASIS advantage today.”

I read the lines breathlessly, almost choking on them, knowing I would never work under the handsome man in the picture, his bright smile and attractive face that made me sick; Lewis wasn’t just my brother’s best friend and my bully, from now on - he was my boss.