Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

Finally, he makes up his mind.

“Always have, Vee.”

Slow the fuck down, pulse.

“I—”

“Dia, wait!” Finn’s panicked voice echoes all the way from the second floor the next second.

My stomach plummets to my feet.

This isn’t good.

My best friend comes bursting into the kitchen the next second, teary eyes burning with rage and tan cheeks stained by mascara. Her once perfectly defined curls are now a wild, tangled mess. They definitely weren’t playing Tic Tac Toe up there.

“Vee. Car. Now!” Dia orders.

Confused, I glance over at Xavier, who seems just as clueless as I am, and sprint to Dia’s side. We storm out of the house with Finn on our tail, and I understand Dia isn’t messing around when she takes off running toward my car. You best believe if my best friend is running away from a boy, I’m running, too.

“Dia!” Finn yells, chasing after us, and he sounds so desperate I almost feel bad for him.

I unlock the door with the remote, and Dia climbs into my passenger side in a hurry. I get in a second later, stuff the key into the ignition, and lock the doors. Dia can’t hold it together a second longer.

“Get me out of here.” She bursts into sobs, crying so har

d she can barely breathe, and I consider running Finn over for whatever he did to her. Until he literally throws himself in front of my car, and I realize I’d look awful in a prison jumpsuit.

“Dia, please.” He looks straight at her through the dashboard. My window is open a crack, allowing us to hear him loud and clear. “Don’t fucking do this. Just listen to me.”

“Drive,” she pleads, and I push the gear into reverse, hoping I won’t crash into a gold fountain or some expensive shit on my way out. But Finn isn’t having it. The car hasn’t moved an inch before he’s rushing to the passenger-seat window, smacking his palm to the glass.

“Dia, look at me. Just fucking look at me. Please.” He begs for her attention, but she refuses to acknowledge him, covering her face like a world-renowned pop star denying paparazzi a picture. Finn’s sharp jaw flexes with pain, his dark brown hair dangling in front of those devastating hazel eyes.

I’ll admit, Finley Richards looks good.

Just like Xavier.

Just like Theo.

But… when he’s about to cry, his charms are damn near devastating. I repeat, Finn Richards, the guy I spent years thinking had a block of ice where his heart should be, is about to cry.

Real tears.

Real. Human. Tears.

Does Dia have a magic pussy or something?

How the fuck did she do that?

“Diamond, I love you,” he croaks.

Only then does she look at him. Judging by the shock in her eyes, this is the first time Finn’s ever said that to her. And this is definitely a moment I shouldn’t have been here to witness.

“I fucking love you, Dia. I do. Just give me a chance to explain. Just… Please.”

She doesn’t make a sound, doubt floating around her glassy eyes, and dabs at her tear-soaked cheeks with her sleeve. He looks so beautifully damaged, standing there, begging her with tears in his eyes, I almost think she’s going to change her mind.

Hell, I’d change my mind.