HATING YOU WAS EASIER

THE RULES OF HATING YOU

By Wednesday, the entire school knew about the Carter-Blake partnership.

Apparently, our parents' decision to work together had become the most interesting piece of gossip Westbridge Academy had heard all year. It didn't matter that neither Ethan nor I had anything to do with the business arrangement. To everyone else, we were the perfect story: two rivals from two powerful families suddenly forced to become partners.

Mia thought it was hilarious.

“You two are practically famous,” she said as we walked toward our lockers.

“We're not famous.”

“You're all anyone is talking about.”

“That’s because everyone here has nothing better to do.”

She laughed. “Or because they think you secretly like each other.”

I nearly dropped the books in my hands.

“I would rather eat cafeteria food for a month.”

Mia gasped dramatically. “That's serious.”

“You know how much I hate cafeteria food.”

“Exactly.”

I slammed my locker shut.

“Besides, Ethan and I have rules.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Rules?”

“Yes.”

“What kind?”

I counted them on my fingers.

“Rule number one: We don't argue unnecessarily.”

Mia burst out laughing.

“What?”

“That's already impossible.”

“I know.”

“Rule number two?”

“Never agree with him.”

“That sounds very mature.”

“I didn't say they were good rules.”

She laughed again.

“Rule number three?”

I hesitated.

“No personal conversations.”

Mia's smile faded slightly.

“Why?”

“Because he's annoying.”

“That isn't an answer.”

“It is to me.”

She studied my face for a moment.

“You're avoiding the real reason.”

“What real reason?”

“You're afraid you're going to like him.”

I stared at her.

“No.”

She smiled.

“Sure.”

Before I could respond, the bell rang.

“See you later,” Mia said, disappearing into the crowd.

I shook my head and headed for class.

I spent the entire morning trying not to think about Ethan.

It didn't work.

He was everywhere.

He answered questions in history class. He joked with his friends at lunch. He scored the winning point during physical education. And every time I accidentally looked in his direction, I found him looking at me too.

It was irritating.

Or at least, that's what I told myself.

After school, I arrived at the library five minutes early.

Ethan was already there.

I stopped beside the table.

“You're early.”

He looked up from his laptop.

“You sound disappointed.”

“I am.”

He smiled.

“I brought something.”

He reached into his bag and placed a cup beside my notebook.

I stared at it.

“What's this?”

“Coffee.”

“I can see that.”

“You like it, don't you?”

I looked at him suspiciously.

“How did you know what I liked?”

“You order the same thing every morning.”

I blinked.

“You've been paying attention?”

He shrugged.

“Maybe.”

I picked up the cup.

It was exactly how I liked it.

I tried not to smile.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

For some reason, the simple exchange made me uncomfortable.

Ethan had spent years annoying me.

He had challenged me, teased me, competed with me and occasionally made me want to throw a textbook at his head.

But he'd never done something like this.

I sat down.

“Don't think this means I suddenly like you.”

“I didn't.”

“Good.”

“I just thought you'd appreciate the coffee.”

“I do.”

“Then we're good.”

We began working.

For the next two hours, we actually made progress.

It was strange how well we worked together when neither of us was trying to prove that we were better than the other.

I organized the presentation while Ethan handled the research. He had a talent for finding information quickly, and I had to admit that his ideas were surprisingly good.

At one point, I looked over his notes.

“This is actually impressive.”

He looked at me.

“Was that a compliment?”

“Don't get used to it.”

“I'll treasure it.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You're ridiculous.”

“And yet you keep talking to me.”

“Because we're partners.”

“That's what you keep telling yourself.”

I looked away.

He laughed.

Then a familiar voice interrupted us.

“Ethan?”

I looked up.

Chloe stood beside our table.

She was one of the prettiest girls in our year, and she always seemed perfectly confident. Her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and she wore a smile that made people immediately want to smile back.

Ethan looked up.

“Hey, Chloe.”

“I've been looking everywhere for you.”

“Why?”

“I need help with the math assignment.”

She held out her notebook.

Ethan looked at me.

Then at her.

“Sure.”

Chloe pulled out a chair.

Unfortunately, she chose the one right beside him.

I immediately looked back at my laptop.

I didn't care.

Obviously.

Not even slightly.

They started talking about the assignment.

I tried to focus on my work.

But Chloe kept laughing.

Every few seconds, I heard Ethan's voice.

Then her laughter again.

My fingers tightened around my pen.

Why was she sitting so close?

It wasn't my business.

Ethan could talk to whoever he wanted.

He could sit beside whoever he wanted.

He could spend the entire afternoon laughing with Chloe if he wanted.

I didn't care.

Not even a little.

Then Chloe laughed at something Ethan said, and I looked up.

They were smiling at each other.

Something uncomfortable twisted inside my chest.

I immediately looked back down.

Ridiculous.

I didn't like Ethan.

I couldn't stand him.

So why did I suddenly want Chloe to leave?

“Lena?”

I looked up.

Ethan was watching me.

“What?”

“You've been staring at the same page for five minutes.”

“I have not.”

“You have.”

Chloe glanced between us.

“Oh.”

I frowned.

“What?”

She smiled.

“Nothing.”

Then she closed her notebook.

“I'll see you later, Ethan.”

“Yeah.”

She walked away.

I pretended to continue writing.

Ethan leaned closer.

“Are you jealous?”

My pen stopped.

Slowly, I looked at him.

“Excuse me?”

“You've been glaring at Chloe.”

“I wasn't glaring.”

“You were.”

“I don't care who you talk to.”

“Then why are you angry?”

“I'm not angry.”

He smiled.

“You're terrible at lying.”

“And you're terrible at being quiet.”

He laughed.

I tried not to smile.

I failed.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The teasing disappeared.

Something unfamiliar settled between us.

Then Ethan looked away.

“So,” he said quietly, “we should probably finish the project.”

“Yeah.”

We returned to our work.

Neither of us mentioned what had just happened.

But something had changed.

I could feel it.

And I didn't like it.

Because Ethan Blake was my enemy.

He was supposed to stay that way.

Later that evening, I sat at my desk going through research for our project.

I couldn't concentrate.

My mind kept returning to the library.

To Ethan's smile.

To the coffee.

To his question.

Are you jealous?

I groaned and dropped my head onto my desk.

“This is ridiculous.”

My phone buzzed.

I picked it up.

A message from Mia.

So?

I typed:

So what?

Her response came immediately.

You and Ethan.

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

Nothing happened.

She replied:

That's not what I asked.

I sighed.

Before I could respond, another notification appeared.

This one wasn't from Mia.

It was from Ethan.

Did you finish the research section?

I smiled before I could stop myself.

Then I deleted the smile from my face.

I typed:

Almost.

His response:

Need help?

I paused.

Then:

No.

Three dots appeared.

Are you sure?

I smiled again.

Yes.

His reply came quickly.

Okay. Goodnight, Carter.

I stared at the screen.

Then typed:

Goodnight, Blake.

I placed my phone down.

For several minutes, I simply stared at the ceiling.

Something was happening.

Something I didn't understand.

And I was beginning to suspect that Ethan wasn't the only one noticing it.

The next morning, I arrived at school to find students gathered around the notice board.

Mia was waiting for me.

The moment she saw my face, she grabbed my arm.

“You haven't heard?”

“Heard what?”

She handed me her phone.

A news article was open.

The headline made my stomach drop.

CARTER AND BLAKE FAMILIES PREPARE FOR MAJOR BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.

I read it twice.

Then again.

“No.”

Mia frowned.

“What?”

“My father would never do this.”

Apparently, I was wrong.

Because ten minutes later, my father called.

“Lena, we need to talk.”

“About the partnership?”

“Yes.”

“Is it true?”

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes.

“And what does that have to do with me?”

There was a pause.

“The Blake family has proposed a joint youth leadership initiative.”

I frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“You and Ethan will be representing both families.”

I almost dropped my phone.

“You've got to be kidding.”

“I wish I were.”

“And Ethan knows?”

“He does.”

I ended the call.

My phone immediately buzzed again.

A message from Ethan.

Looks like you're stuck with me.

I typed back:

I'd rather fail.

His reply came instantly.

You'd miss me.

I stared at the screen.

Then another message appeared.

See you after school, partner.

I shook my head.

I hated him.

I really did.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

Because if I admitted anything else, everything would become complicated.

And I wasn't ready for complicated.

Not yet.

But as I slipped my phone into my pocket, I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

And that scared me more than anything.