Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

We’re a game I can never win.

No matter how many times I play.

Edging my way through the crowd of teachers, parents, and basketball players gathered in Finn’s backyard, I second-guess the hell out of my decision. Why did I show up again?

The reason comes to me in a flash.

Because Xavier asked you to.

And… because you secretly want to see him one last time, but you’re too damn stubborn to admit it.

“Vee!” Dia’s voice slashes through the ambient music, and I twist my head to see her cutting across the lawn in stiletto heels. Finn trails behind, his hand possessively wrapped around hers.

They look perfect.

Outrageously perfect.

Finn is sporting a navy-blue suit that probably cost more than the scholarship I lost, while Dia’s wearing her dark hair up in a curly, messy bun, wearing a tan dress that complements her sun-kissed skin. I’ve barely greeted her before she’s unlatching her hand from Finn’s and flinging her arms around my neck.

“I’m so glad you came,” she whispers, sadness bleeding through every word. I’m going to miss the shit out of her. How am I supposed to get through life without Diamond Mitchell?

“Me too, D.” I pat her back.

“Are you… all packed?” She pulls away, her almond eyes glimmering with a pain I’m in no way prepared for.

“Not completely, but Mom said we’ll be coming back in a few weeks to get the last of it,” I explain, and she gives a small nod.

“I-I can’t believe you’re leaving.” Her lower lip quivers, a clear sign that she’s not doing much better than I am. She wipes a tear before it has a chance to fall, and I wince.

“Don’t be like that, D. I’ll visit every summer. And we’ll FaceTime all the time. This isn’t goodbye.” I reach for her hand, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze.

“Right.” She sniffles, nowhere near as comforted by my promises as I was hoping she would be.

“Anyway, where are the guys?” I ask Finn, making quick work of studying the Richards’s backyard. I saw Lacey flirting with one of the waiters on my way in, spotted Brie and a few cheerleaders taking selfies by the chocolate fountain, yes, they have a chocolate fountain, and ran into Axel in the driveway. His suit was messed up, and he looked terrified as he got into his sports car and bolted.

“Fuck if I know.” Finn shrugs. “My guess is, Theo’s raiding the wine cellar and Xav is—”

“Right here,” a deep voice says behind me.

My heart propels itself forward, dead set on breaking out of my chest, and I spin, coming face-to-face with my biggest weakness. He looks so damn perfect I’m tempted to poke his cheek to make sure he’s real. I analyze his attire from head to toe, memorizing every inch of him.

Brown hair slicked back.

Coal-black suit.

Hands tucked in his pockets.

This.

I want to remember him like this.

“Hey, man,” Finn says, and Xavier acknowledges him with a quick flick of his chin before pinning me with a look that makes every nerve ending in my body tingle.

Dia clears her throat. “Baby, weren’t you going to show me something earlier?”

I turn to stare at Dia, my widened eyes screaming, “Don’t you dare,” but she completely blows me off.

“What thing?” Finn doesn’t follow.