Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

All three of us laugh.

She’s barely pulled away before she says, “Jesus, is it hot in here?”

“Is it? I can’t tell anymore. Happens every time Vee walks into the room.” Xav smirks, and I swat at his chest, topping it off with a fake gag. What? I can’t have him knowing I’m a sucker for his lines.

“Before you guys go, can you give me a hand? I can never get the damn thing open,” Dia asks, halfway to the window.

“Sure.” I nod, following her lead.

Dia screams like she just saw a ghost the next second.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

Dia moves at least five feet away from the window, her palm squeezing her pounding heart. I rush to the window myself, the biggest, stupidest, goofiest smile spreading across my face when I see an old friend crawling its way up the window frame.

Just like that, my fears vanish.

One look and I’m not scared of anything anymore, not the future, not my missed period, not my decision to move in with Xav.

Nothing.

“What is it?” Xavier pops up behind me, craning his neck to see over my shoulder, and I smile.

Because I know everything’s going to be okay.

“It’s a caterpillar.”