Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

“You know, the thing over there by the…” She pauses. “Thing.”

Xavier bites back a laugh at how obvious she’s being.

Still confused as hell, Finn plays along, “Right… the thing.”

“Catch you guys later.” Dia traps me into a quick hug.

“I hate you,” I half joke in her ear before she pulls away and she flashes me a satisfied “You’ll thank me one day” grin. Finn whisks his head back seconds before they dissolve into the crowd. “Oh, and Vee, nice ink.”

I offer him a smile. “Thanks.”

As soon as they’re gone, Xavier scoffs a mocking “And the award of subtlety goes to…”

I suck in a breath, meeting his eyes. I don’t have an inkling of how to say goodbye to him.

It was nice falling in love with you.

Sorry we’re a lost cause.

See ya?

Not sold on my previous ideas, I opt for a simple “Hi.”

Xavier’s lips pull into a sad smile. “Hey, Harper.”

There’s a beat of silence.

“So…” I start. “I… You wanted me to stop by?”

Just so we’re clear, he’s still melting my insides with a single look, and I’m still a babbling idiot who can’t form a sentence. Xavier moves closer to me, a single whiff of his cologne enough to make my knees buckle.

“No,” he shocks me by saying.

My jaw hangs limply.

“I wanted you to come and stay,” he corrects, and a herd of murderous butterflies assault my stomach.

“Stay tonight?”

He moves closer again.

“Forever,” he says unapologetically.

I avoid his gaze. “Xav, I—”

“Don’t fucking go, Vee.” He cuts to the chase, cupping my face in his hands without a single thought as to the possibility of people seeing us. “I know this is shitty, and complicated, and it’d be easier for you to get on that plane, but… I don’t want easy—fuck easy. I want you. I love you, Vee,” he croaks, pressing his forehead flush to mine. “Just… stay.”

I should’ve known I’d end up here.

Rethinking everything because of one speech.

Wondering if I should stay because of those eyes.

That mouth.

This boy.

“There’s nothing left for me here anymore,” I whisper.