#HateThatBoy

by Yesenia Vargas

  I slowed down to pull over onto the shoulder and was met with a loud honk from someone behind me. They sped off but not before I gave them a long and satisfying honk back.

  Then I came to a stop near Noah. His clothes were already soaking wet.

  It irked me that no one stopped to offer an obvious student a ride.

  I rolled down the passenger window. He turned away and kept walking. How far was Noah planning to go?

  Leaning forward, I yelled. “Will you just get in?”

  His shoulders slumped. He finally looked at me.

  As he walked over, I made sure the passenger door was unlocked.

  Noah opened the door and got in, putting his backpack at his feet. “Thanks,” he said. “And sorry I’m getting your seat wet.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, turning on the seat warmer on along with the heater. I set it to high and tried not to notice his slight shivering. “I wish you’d just let me give you a ride back at the school.”

  He glanced at me, and I saw kindness in his eyes. “Free shower.”

  For some reason, his comment made me snort, and we both started laughing.

  When the moment was over, he turned to me. “Thanks.” His wet hair grazed his forehead while his t-shirt clung to his chest and shoulders. He definitely had more muscle than I initially thought.

  Taking a deep breath, I tried to focus on his words instead. “You’re welcome.”

  Wow, I thought. That had to be the first non-snarky thing we had said to each other since we’d met. A smile threatened to take over my face, but I bit my lip hard and focused on getting back onto the road. Noah put on his seatbelt.

  Once we were driving in the direction Noah had been walking, I wanted to ask him if he had warmed up, but instead, I turned up the radio a little and let music fill the weird silence that permeated the air.

  A couple minutes later, we came to a red light at a four-way intersection. I never came to this part of town. “Where to?” I asked.

  He pointed left. “I live that way. Just a couple more minutes.”

  So I turned left, with Noah Thomas in my car.

  A couple minutes later, we pulled into his gravel driveway.

  “I can’t believe you were gonna walk all this way in the rain,” I said.

  He shrugged but didn’t meet my eyes. “Exercise.”

  Something told me it hadn’t been the first time he had walked home, and my heart squeezed at the thought. I bit my lip but wasn’t sure what to say to that. It wasn’t like I could offer him a ride regularly if he needed it, not with daily cheer practice.

  As he got his stuff and got out of the car, I realized it had stopped raining.

  I got out too, just to bask in the fresh, cool air.

  The porch door of the small rundown house opened and slammed shut, and a young girl ran toward us. “Noah! You’re home!”

  She ran up to him and hugged him. “You said you’d be home at five or five thirty.”

  “I know,” he said, bending down to hug her. “That’s why I called you, remember? Mom had to work tonight after all. Sorry I was late, munchkin.”

  She groaned. “Don’t call me that.” She looked up at me. “Is she your friend?”

  I liked the easy way she smiled. It reminded me of Noah, except her smile was just plain adorable.

  Noah stood up and met my eyes. “Uh, yeah. This is Tori.” He glanced back and forth between us. “Tori, this is my little sister, Emma.”

  I held out my hand and gave her a big smile, a true smile. “Hi, Emma. Nice to meet you.”

  She took my hand and gave me a guarded smile. “I’m in fifth grade. Are you Noah’s girlfriend?”

  Noah coughed and grabbed Emma’s hand. For the second time in recent times, I felt my cheeks turn hot.

  Noah stepped forward and steered her toward the house. “Come on, Emma. Why don’t you take this inside?” He unzipped his gray bag and took out his purchases from the convenience store.

  She took the bag and peeked inside. “Noodles! My favorite. And mac and cheese. Did you bring me some cookies too?”

  Noah’s face fell for a moment. “Next time, okay, chicken nugget?” He pinched her cheek.

  She made an angry face, her lips pressed together and her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say anything.

  “Go see if we still have chicken nuggets in the freezer, chicken nugget.”

  “Wait, you’re forgetting something.” I ran back to my still running car and rummaged through my own bag, taking out the ice cream and pizza and leaving them on my seat.

  I ran back with the package of cookies in my hand. “Here. You forgot this.” But I handed the package to Emma instead of Noah.

  “Oreos! Yay!” She ran inside with her bag of goodies.

  Noah came a little closer now that Emma wasn’t standing in between us. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  I gave him a small smile before glancing away. “I know. I wanted to.”

  He blinked as he remembered the familiar words, then a smile grew on his face until it reached his eyes. “Thanks. For the ride.” He studied me, and I tried my hardest to keep my face straight while my stomach did a flip from the grateful way he looked at me. “And the cookies.”

  I raised my phone and opened up a new message, trying not to think too hard about what I was gonna say. “Give me your phone number.”

  He took a step back and laughed. “Whoa, there. I don’t give out my number without being promised dinner and a movie.”

  I pursed my lips but eventually grinned. “Number?”

  He took my phone and tapped away. Then he gave it back to me. “There. Happy?”

  His pocket dinged, and he dug out his phone, holding it up for me to see. There was a message waiting from my number.

  “Thanks,” I said. “Now, next time you need a ride, text me or something.”

  “Don’t you have cheer practice? I hear you guys are going to nationals.”

  I took a few steps backward, keeping my eyes locked on him. “You let me worry about that.”

  With that, he walked inside, and I turned around and made my way back to my waiting car.

  Eleven

  By the time I got home, it was already well past dinner time.

  Unlike Noah, no one was waiting for me tonight.

  I locked the door behind me and looked around. The house was big and empty and full of shadows, which only reminded me of how alone I felt.

  My mom had renovated the whole thing a couple years ago. It could have been taken straight out of a Southern Living magazine, especially since we were never here and she hired someone to come and clean and iron and fold laundry for when we were.

  When I reached my room, my phone dinged with a text from my mom.

  Mom: Going out to dinner with some friends on the hospital committee. Big event to plan. Be home later! Want me to bring you something?

  Tori: No, thanks. Going to bed soon. Dad?

  Mom: Home tomorrow in time for a nice family dinner :)

  I rolled my eyes and got ready for a hot bath. Yeah, back tomorrow then gone again by Monday morning. That was his schedule most weeks. We hardly saw him. He traveled most of the year for work while my mom spent her days and evenings at luncheons and dinners and meetings. Hosting this. Raising money for that.

  Never mind her own daughters.

  Tonight, my little sister, Isabella, was at a friend’s house for a birthday sleepover thing. My heart ached. I hardly got to see her either. Just around bed time or on the weekends, if I didn’t have plans. But at age eleven, she already had a busy life of her own.

  My mom made sure of that. She had her in tennis and swimming and piano lessons. Plus cheer. All the things I did at that age. I missed when we were little and we built forts together to watch movies. She’d bring all her favorite stuffed animals. I was too old for them by then. She’d only been four.

  Now we seemed worlds apart when her room was just down the hall from mine. As I stepped into the bath, I ma
de a mental note to myself to start spending more time with her again, ask her how school was going and who her friends were.

  Friends were important. The right friends were, anyway.

  I didn’t want all of her friends to be from cheer or swimming. Or whoever Mom organized her playdates with.

  She was the same age as Noah’s sister. They had to go to the same school. Maybe they could hang out sometime. Isabella would love her. She was quiet now that she was older, but she’d love hanging out with talkative Emma.

  After I got dressed, I padded downstairs in some yoga pants and a huge t-shirt, my hair still dripping from my extra-long bath. Then I popped the pizza in the oven and settled in to watch some TV and work on homework while it baked. Most people liked to order pizza, but I thought frozen was so much better.

  Halfway through my first slice, my thoughts turned to Noah and Emma. She was the most adorable kid I had ever seen, even if she was in fifth grade. My heart ached again but for a different reason.

  The food Noah had picked up at the store. I’d thought it had been for him, a snack for when he got home. But it looked like it was their dinner.

  I stared guiltily down at the entire pizza in front of me. It wasn’t much bigger than a personal size, but I put down my slice all the same.

  They were sharing microwave noodles, frozen chicken nuggets, and a small cup of mac and cheese while I had a whole pizza to myself. And ice cream.

  I glanced at the freezer. An awesome little girl like Emma deserved ice cream for dessert on a Friday night.

  They both deserved a nicer house than the one they were living in, with tall weeds instead of grass and a coat of paint that looked like it had been new a few decades ago.

  Her clothes, like Noah’s, had been well-worn.

  Meanwhile, I drove a brand-new SUV, had a closet stuffed full of clothes, and a fridge brimming with food. They deserved those things more than us. We were never even here to appreciate them.

  But from the way Emma had lit up at the sight of Noah, and the way he had hugged and loved on her, I knew their life was richer than ours.

  For someone whose life was supposedly perfect, I sure envied theirs.

  I got up and threw away the leftovers and empty packages, making sure to take out the trash so my mom wouldn’t find out about my celebratory dinner.

  That night, I lay in bed, texting the girls in our #BestFriendsForever thread.

  I struggled to stay awake, smiling at the funny things Lena was saying about the guys on the boys’ soccer team.

  Lena: I didn’t realize one guy could have so many abs…

  Harper sent a wide-eyed, open-mouthed emoji, Rey sent an awkward gaze emoji, and Ella sent a blushing emoji.

  Tori: Abs, huh? Nice. I thought soccer was a sport you played with your feet, not your arms. Yet the guys have abs? Count me in!

  Then I sent a monkey emoji, the kind with its little paws covering its mouth.

  That got some LOLs out of them.

  Lena: What are you guys up to? The boys still have another half to play so I’m stuck here for at least another 45 minutes… so much for the rest of my Friday night.

  Lena: Scoring two goals was pretty fun, though.

  She sent a sunglasses face emoji.

  Ella: Wow! Two goals? Good job!

  Rey: You did great. I’m watching a movie with my brother and his best friend. Little brother and sister fell asleep an hour ago on the couch. While eating ice cream. My brother turned off Trolls and put on some action flick with tons of flashy cars. They didn’t want to watch Jane the Virgin with me :( Outvoted every time. So yeah, I’m doodling :b

  No surprise there. That girl filled journals like she was pouring every single thought inside her brain into them.

  Maybe she was.

  Tori: Boys. Do they ever let you pick the movie? I just ate too much pizza and ice cream and I’m trying not to fall asleep with a sticky face like your brother and sister. Lol. Need to get up and wash my face.

  Ella: Gross! Lol.

  Lena: It’s only 9 o’clock! Grandma…

  I got up and texted her on my way to the bathroom and read their messages as I brushed my teeth.

  Tori: If you had double cheer practices every day… All I want to do is sleep. But I have cheer practice at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

  Lena: They can’t be as bad as soccer practice. If the zombie apocalypse ever happens, I’m set. I can run for miles without stopping. LOL.

  Tori: Yeah, but can you do a backflip? ;)

  Ella: Take me with you :)

  Harper: Same. I’m sitting alone too. So bored. Wish I had a car so I could drive to one of your houses. Has to be better than this.

  Lena: When soccer season is over, I’ll come pick you up on Friday nights ;)

  Tori: Me too.

  I cleaned up my mess and headed toward my room. As I walked up the stairs, I hesitated for a second before sending my next message, but I felt like telling someone.

  Tori: Guess who I gave a ride home today?

  Ella: ???

  Rey: WHO?

  Lena: *thinking emoji*

  Harper: NOAH???

  Harper knew me too well.

  Tori: Yep.

  In a matter of seconds, my phone was inundated with texts asking whys and hows and whens.

  Tori: He didn’t have a ride. I asked. He said no. I saw him walking home in the rain. I insisted.

  Rey: Omg. Rain is so romantic.

  Lena: Anything to report?? ;)

  Tori: No! I barely talked to him. I just gave him a ride home. He has the cutest little sister, by the way.

  I didn’t tell them about their dinner. That didn’t feel right. It was private.

  Harper: I don’t know… I saw sparks before…during lit class.

  Rey: From the moment they crashed into each other, if you ask me :)

  I sent an eyeroll emoji.

  Tori: Like I said, it’s not like that.

  I ignored the weird feeling in my chest and hit send.

  Tori: Plus I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m the most conceited shallow human being at Westwood.

  Harper: I don’t think so…

  Ella: ^

  Rey: What they said.

  Lena: You sure love to hate that boy…is all I’m saying. Lol.

  Rey: There’s a thin line between love and hate. I read that once…

  My face flushed as I tapped out a response, and I was grateful we were having this conversation via text and not in person.

  First, several eyeroll emojis.

  Then I drew a blank. Everything I thought of sounded defensive. I was not being defensive.

  Ugh!

  A new message popped up on my screen.

  Harper: Omg I’m on Pinterest and check out some of these prom dresses!

  Ella: I want to see!

  Phew. Grateful for the change of subject, I said good night and plugged in my phone for the night, making sure my alarm was set.

  Then I turned off my lamp and tried to settle into sleep. After several minutes of battling with what Rey had said about the thin line between love and hate, I finally did.

  Monday rolled around again. I walked into literature class after lunch and took a seat, grabbing my binder from my book bag.

  “You look rested,” Harper said from her desk.

  I gave her a sincere smile. “Thanks. Amazing what happens when you get eight hours of sleep.” I held up my iced coffee and took a sip. “Not to mention lunchtime coffee. Did I mention I feel great?”

  Harper giggled.

  It’d be back to five or six hours a night during the week between homework and cheer, seven if I was lucky, but nationals were in three weeks. I just had to hang in there until then.

  “Want a sip?” I asked Harper. “Mia brought it back for me. She doesn’t have a fourth period, so she has an extra long lunch.”

  Harper shook her head. “No, thanks. Coffee makes me jittery.”

  Noah strolled in and took a seat next to me. O
ur eyes met, and he smiled. “Hey.”

  I waved. “Hey.” Okay, that was a little too enthusiastic. Maybe Harper was right.

  She caught my eye and gave me a knowing wink before turning around to face forward.

  The bell rang, and Ms. Holloway began the class, dry erase marker at the ready. “Today, we’re talking about the different types of irony. Let’s begin by going over some definitions and examples.”

  It was going to be a day full of notes. Not ideal when I was all hyped up from the sixteen ounces of coffee I had just inhaled, but it beat doing endless worksheets or writing a paper.

  Noah leaned in. “You okay?” he whispered.

  I offered a tight-lipped smile. “Fine.”

  Wow, he was close, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked his lips. And his bright blue eyes, the way they crinkled when he smiled. His messy hair.

  It was the coffee making my heart race, right?

  I went back to taking notes, and so did Noah.

  Taking one last glance at him, I decided this was way better than pretending each other didn’t exist.

  Twelve

  Lindsay and Courtney made good on their promise to make brownies and hand them out to the entire school.

  I found them sitting behind a long table in the cafeteria at lunch. “Guys, I got home at nine o’clock last night after practice,” I said, walking up to them. “Don’t tell me you went home and made brownies too?” I picked up a plastic-wrapped brownie. It had a big round sticker slapped on the front that read: TORI FOR JUNIOR PROM QUEEN.

  They had even Photoshopped a silver tiara onto my head.

  Courtney smiled proudly. “Our mom was a huge help.” She handed out a brownie to the girl next in line. “Thanks for your vote. Tori for prom queen!”

  I looked around the cafeteria. Apart from students waiting for free dessert, most of the people in the cafeteria were already wearing the stickers.

  Two people near the front of the line bickered, their whisper shouts close enough for me to hear.

  I recognized the girl from government. She didn’t look happy. “You promised you’d vote for Krista.”

  The guy next to her shrugged. “I will. But free brownies.”