I Hate You, Fuller James

by Kelly Anne Blount

“But don’t you think you should talk to him about it? Make sure you’re both on the same page. Maybe ask why he was such a jerk to you in middle school?”

  Dae meant well, but I wasn’t going to fall for the rumors and I definitely didn’t want to bring up the past. It had been five years since Marissa had told me that we couldn’t be friends. Fuller doesn’t want me to hang out with you anymore. Recalling her words stung. But they were just that: words. All three of us were different people than we had been in middle school. “Nope. Rumors are rumors and the past is the past.”

  Dae shifted in his chair. “All right. If you really think that’s what’s best.”

  Guilt tugged at my heart. I didn’t admit it to Dae, but part of me did want to confront Fuller. I’d gone over it a hundred times in my mind. I’d ask him what was going on with Marissa and why he was a jerk to me back in middle school, he’d explain and apologize, and I’d accept. But every time I replayed the scene, I’d only end up feeling worse. What was the point? I couldn’t hold a grudge forever. That wasn’t healthy.

  Plus, I was falling for Fuller.

  “All right, if you feel that way, I respect it.” Dae shoved a carrot into his mouth. “I wasn’t going to tell you this, but…”

  “But what?” I grabbed a box of Nerds from my backpack. Best dessert ever.

  Dae grinned.

  “Come on, tell me.”

  He swallowed. “He messaged me on Instagram last night.”

  “He who?” I reached across the table. “He Fuller?”

  “Maybe.” Dae shrugged.

  “Dae!”

  “Chill, chill.” He chuckled.

  “Chill? Are you kidding me? Spill it, Dae.” I tore off the perforated top of the Nerds box and dumped a few of the bright pink, sugary sweets into my hand.

  He grinned. “He may or may not have inquired as to what kind of movies you’re into.”

  I slapped a hand over my mouth to contain the squeal that threatened to come out, spilling the Nerds all over the table in the process. “Wait, why did he want to know that?”

  “It sounds like he may be getting ready to ask you out.”

  Excitement shot down my spine. “Wait, what? Like on an actual date?”

  “I’m not going to ruin his game.”

  “Dae!” I quickly swept up the candy and tossed it into a napkin.

  The bell rang, signaling that we had five minutes to get to class.

  “Gotta go.” He picked up his tray and bolted from the table.

  “Dae, wait.” But it was too late. He’d purposely dropped a truth bomb on me and run away. He’s lucky he’s my best friend.

  A few minutes later, I’d thrown away my garbage and made my way to AP. Fuller was already in his seat. He smiled when I walked in, and butterflies took flight in my stomach and refused to calm down. I snuck a few Nerds while Mrs. Brewster took attendance on her computer.

  I loved AP and it usually flew by, but today time practically stood still. All I could think about was Fuller asking me out. Would it be an official date? Did he want to take me to a movie? Or did he want to watch one together at his house? Would he try to kiss me again? He’d left abruptly after our second kiss. But he had a ton of work today, so even though I didn’t like it, I understood.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the bell rang.

  Mrs. Brewster motioned for Fuller to stop by her desk after class. I headed to the library with a fluttery feeling in my stomach. I was pretty sure she wanted to talk to him about his paper. He’d worked really hard on it, but would he earn a grade high enough to pass AP?

  A few minutes later, Fuller walked through the door with a report cover in his hand. His expression was neutral, which caused my stomach to clench in anticipation.

  “She graded it.” He tossed his paper on the table.

  Holding my breath, I waited for him to tell me his grade, but instead, he motioned to the paper with his eyes.

  Reaching across the table, I grabbed his paper and flipped open the cover. In the upper right-hand corner was a long note from Mrs. Brewster, but more importantly, his grade. Fuller had earned a ninety-seven percent. A massive smile spread across my face, and my chest swelled with pride. “You did it!”

  He came behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “It’s all because of you.” His arms lingered for another few seconds before he pulled out the chair next to me.

  “I helped you get organized, but you did the work. This is really awesome, Fuller.” I read over Mrs. Brewster’s note. She praised him for his excellent thesis and grammar, and for his overall approach to the paper. She used words like “insightful” and “reflective.”

  “My parents are going to freak out.” Fuller’s smile was so genuine; he looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. “And, best of all, Mrs. Brewster said that this already brought my grade up to a C plus. We’re getting an assignment and homework next week, so if I do a good job, my grade is going to go up to a B minus or even a B. Can you believe it? I’m going to be able to play in the season opener and I’m getting a freaking C plus in Advanced Lit!”

  “Of course I can.” I smiled. “You did a great job. I’m really proud of you.”

  I handed him back his paper. Fuller always looked good, but the authentic smile plastered across his face took his hotness to a whole other level.

  “Listen, I, um, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to come over tonight?” He carefully placed his paper back into his backpack. “We could watch a movie? Celebrate my awesome grade?” His shoulders rose slightly, and he bit his lower lip.

  “That would be really nice.” I tried to remain calm, but I was freaking out on the inside. I felt like one of those little cars that kids played with when they were younger. The kind you would pull backward, revving it up in the process. Then, as soon as you let it go, it would race across the floor.

  Fuller definitely revved me up.

  “Really?”

  His voice sounded unsure. Did he think I might turn him down? I mean, it wasn’t like he was taking me out to dinner or a movie in public, but still, Fuller James invited me over to his house on a Friday night, to watch a freaking movie. I thought about the freshman girl I’d stood next to in the cafeteria line. The one who said she would invite Fuller in and make out with him. If she were in my shoes, she’d probably squeal so loudly she’d burst people’s eardrums.

  “I was thinking we could watch one of the best Avengers movies of all time.” His blue eyes peered into mine. “If that’s okay? We could totally watch something else instead.”

  I grinned. “I love the Avengers.” Dae for the win. “But, serious question, which Avengers movie is the best of all time?”

  “Infinity War, duh.” Fuller rolled his eyes. The corners of his lips twitched.

  “I’m glad we’re on the same page.” I fought the urge to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. No, stop. You’re still in the library. I’d have to wait until tonight. Tonight, when I was at Fuller James’s house watching a movie.

  “Awesome. I have practice until six. Maybe you could come over around seven?”

  “I can do that.” I felt like jumping up and sprinting around the room. I also felt like vomiting. Definitely a combination of both. Sure, I’d been over to his house once before, but that was for tutoring. Well, tutoring that led to an almost kiss, that eventually ended in the best make-out session ever. What was going to happen when I went over tonight? Would we kiss again?

  My stomach churned. Wait, what if this wasn’t a date? What if he wanted to thank me for helping him with his paper and we were just going to hang out, like when Dae or Brandon and I watched movies? Oh my gosh. What if I had it all wrong?

  Distracting me from the whirlwind of thoughts bouncing around in my mind, Fuller pressed his lips together. Those soft lips. He looked like he was trying to
suppress his grin.

  Reaching under the table, he squeezed my hand. “How about we get some math homework done? You know, so we have all night to hang out.” He emphasized the words hang out.

  Butterflies exploded in my stomach.

  “Deal?”

  My doubts melted away. “Deal.”

  …

  “I don’t know.” I twirled around in the floral dress. It was still casual, and the jean jacket I wore on top was super cute, but was it too much? I never wore stuff like this to school. I was strictly a T-shirt and jeans girl.

  “Come on, you look great, Wren.” Dae sat on my bed with his phone in his hand. He’d been texting someone nonstop since he came over.

  “Are you sure it isn’t too much?” I frowned and flipped my braid over my shoulder. “I don’t want to make it look like I’m trying too hard.”

  “You look good,” Dae said with a smile.

  I smoothed out the dress with my hands. “Thank you.”

  He set his phone on my nightstand for a moment and met my gaze. “You’re welcome.”

  I tilted my head to the side and glanced at my own reflection in the mirror. “I do look pretty cute. Okay, I’ll wear it. But I’m throwing on these.” I held up my favorite pair of white, low-top Chuck Taylors.

  “Good choice. It’s totally you.”

  My bedroom door swung open, and Brandon strolled in. “Hey, hey, hey.” He plopped down on my bed. “My legs are killing me.”

  “What’s up?” I asked, turning away from the mirror.

  “Coach had us do ladder circuits like twenty times. We’ve been working on improving our overall speed as a team all preseason, but today was the hardest.”

  “Did you know that Russell Westbrook could get from one baseline to another in 3.36 seconds?” I asked.

  Brandon laughed. “I did not know that, Wroogle.”

  Scrunching up my nose, I said, “Huh?”

  “Wren plus Google equals Wroogle.”

  Brandon burst out laughing and I joined in. Dae, on the other hand, did not. Instead, he had his phone glued to his hand.

  “Who are you texting?” I asked.

  Dae set his phone down next to him on the bed. “Huh?”

  I tossed my shoes on the carpet and sat down next to Dae. Catching him off guard, I grabbed his phone and sprang to my feet.

  A wide grin broke out across my face. “Are you serious?”

  He tried to grab his phone back, but I spun away and tossed it to Brandon.

  “Are you flirting with Jenna Marie and keeping it a secret from us?”

  Dae tilted his head to the side and shrugged. “Maybe?”

  Brandon grinned and tossed the phone back at me.

  “Maybe? You think this is maybe talk?” I waved his phone over my head. “I knew you liked her, but I didn’t know you two had become so…extra friendly over the phone.” She was hands down one of the nicest and prettiest girls at Saint Catherine’s, a nearby Catholic high school. Dae and I met her at a cross-country meet. I must have totally missed the sparks between them.

  Dae’s dark brown eyes flashed with happiness. “I’m going to ask her out.”

  I tossed him his phone. “Dae, that’s awesome.”

  “Yeah, man. That’s good stuff,” Brandon added.

  Dae tucked his phone into his back pocket. “Thanks.”

  Brandon turned his attention toward me.

  “Something you want to say, Brandon?” I asked.

  “Are you sure you want to hang out with Fuller? His head is so big, I’m amazed he can get in and out of the gym for practice.” His tone usually had a bite to it when Fuller’s name came up, but unless I was imagining it, it seemed a bit softer today.

  “He’s not that bad. I promise.” The words sounded foreign as they left my lips. Never in a million years would I have expected to be sticking up for Fuller James.

  Dae nodded in agreement with me. “I’ve only talked to him a few times, but something about him has changed. He’s a lot more down-to-earth.”

  Brandon opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Dae’s phone buzzed, giving me the perfect excuse to change the subject.

  “Jenna Marie?” I asked.

  Brandon’s rigid jaw loosened, but only slightly. He had to put up with cocky basketball captain Fuller. I didn’t blame him for not liking him, but I was hoping that, if things with Fuller and me continued, Brandon would give him a shot off the court.

  Dae grinned as his fingers flew across the keyboard of his phone. “Yup, and guess who has a date tonight?” He moved his shoulders and neck from side to side in an impromptu celebratory dance.

  “Eek!” I jumped up and down. Dae dated a lot, but I hadn’t seen him this geeked about someone in a while. “Maybe if things work out with Fuller, we can all go on a double date sometime?”

  I ignored Brandon flinching in response to my suggestion.

  “Deal.” Dae stood and stretched his arms above his head, causing his sculpted abs to peek out from under his shirt.

  “Damn, Dae. Looking good.”

  “Who me?” he joked, tucking his phone into his pocket.

  Dae and I had kissed once freshman year. We bumped foreheads and our teeth clinked together. It was hands down the most awkward experience ever. Luckily, we both decided that it should never happen again. We were way better friends than anything else. Same with Brandon, minus the whole kissing thing. Always had been, always would be.

  “Whatever, you’re a Grade A hottie.” I chuckled and checked the time on my phone. “Oh my gosh! It’s six thirty. I need to leave for Fuller’s in like twenty minutes.”

  Brandon grimaced but remained silent.

  Dae placed his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t freak out. Tonight’s going to go great.”

  Ignoring Brandon, I spun around in my dress and grinned. “For both of us!”

  A flash of doubt raced through my mind as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My lack of dating experience left me totally uneasy about tonight. Excited, but worried that something would go wrong. I’d read a sub thread on Reddit about terrible first dates. Bumping faces while kissing and breaking a nose in the process, dumping a hot coffee on the guy’s lap and sending him to the emergency room with second degree burns in the worst place possible… What if something like that happened tonight?

  I pushed my fears aside.

  Tonight’s going to go great.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Fuller

  The carpet squished under my toes as I paced back and forth across my bedroom floor. “It’s no big deal, Fuller. She’s coming over to watch a movie. It’s like any other date you’ve had before.” My pep talk left me only more flustered. Partially because it was a lie. This wasn’t like any other date I’d had before. This was a date with Wren Carter. The girl who I hadn’t given the time of day to for years, only to fall for, hard, in less than two weeks.

  I closed my eyes and flopped onto my bed. How had I missed it before? She’d been the same person since seventh grade, but now, all of a sudden, I was seeing her in a new light.

  Opening up my Instagram app, I clicked on her account. Since she accepted my request over the weekend, I could finally see more than her profile picture. She’d posted a new picture yesterday. It brought a smile to my face. She sat with her arm around Gramps, both wearing matching Bulls jerseys. The caption read, “My favorite guy and me.”

  I scrolled through the rest of her pictures, pausing on a selfie of her running. She was wearing her Magnolia Valley High School cross-country uniform and a pair of running shoes. She’d taken the picture just over two weeks ago, and captioned it with the hashtags #LastMeetAsACougar, #GCC, and #Runner4Life. The girls’ team had just missed out on qualifying for state this year, but that didn’t seem to bother Wren. Besides telling me tha
t she listened to audiobooks on long runs, she never mentioned running or the team. She was always more focused on academics.

  I zoomed in on her face. Those hazel eyes, the way they twinkled when she got excited, and those lips. Man, those lips. They were perfect.

  I’d been thinking about kissing her all day. Especially when we were in the library. The way her face lit up when I asked her to come over… Hopefully Hudson and his friend would keep each other occupied while Wren and I watched our movie. The last thing I needed was two nine-year-olds interrupting our kiss with one of their Nerf Gun battles.

  At least my parents wouldn’t be looming over us. They were heading out to dinner with some friends. Normally, they didn’t let me have girls over when they weren’t home, but, since Hudson would be there, and it was Wren, they were more than okay with it. They really liked her. In fact, even though they’d only met her once, she was the first girl they’d actually asked me to have over again.

  I closed my eyes and let my phone fall onto the mattress. I hadn’t felt this happy or hopeful in a long time. My feelings for Wren were real and, like I’d told Brandon, I’d never do anything to hurt her.

  I’d even come up with a plan to get Marc and TyShaun to drop the bet. Things had progressed way past the point where I could be honest with Wren; I knew there was no way she’d accept my story and forgive me. Everything that had happened between us was based on a lie. I’d already hurt her once; I couldn’t risk doing it again. My best chance was to cancel the bet, but I was running out of time. The season opener was next week.

  Cringing, I imagined myself telling her tonight while we were sitting on the couch. It would be like middle school happening all over again. She’d never forgive me.

  That’s why things had to work with Marc and TyShaun. It was pretty simple—I’d pull them both aside before our next practice. Unlike earlier with Marc, I’d talk to both of them calmly. I wouldn’t lose my cool. I’d tell them that I really liked Wren and that I’d do anything to get out of the bet. I didn’t care if they wanted me to do all their math homework until the end of the year, just as long as they never spoke about the bet again. I had a backup plan, too, in case that didn’t work, but I really didn’t want to have to use it. I had dirt on both of them. Pictures of them drinking at Marissa’s massive end-of-the-summer party. They were both obviously wasted and double-fisting beers. It would get them suspended and possibly kicked off the team.