Page 16 of Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

“Brie just got dumped. That’s what. Get your cute ass in that pool,” Finn commands, and Dia complies, joining her friend pronto. Finn draws her into his chest, scattering kisses all over her neck and cheek as she giggles.

Wow, I’m so single.

“Lace, come on!” Dia yells, and Lacey wastes no time diving into the pool. When did these two become friends? Right. What did I expect? Dia’s popular now. I’m convinced I couldn’t possibly feel more out of place than I do in this very moment.

Until he proves me wrong.

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

I don’t need to look at him to know he’s talking about me. My head whisks up, and I meet the most vibrant pair of aqua-blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I’ve been quiet, near invisible up until this point, but there’s no hiding now.

“I thought we said close friends only.” Xavier stares at me in sheer disgust.

“Don’t be a dick, man. She’s Dia’s best friend.” Finn comes to my rescue.

“So fucking what? She’s no friend of mine.”

“There’s the bully I remember.” The words fall out before I can stop them. Xavier’s eyebrows shoot upward at my response. I’m guessing he didn’t think I’d talk back since I never did before.

Well, we’re not eight anymore.

His eyes won’t leave me, a million questions stirring beneath his gaze. Only then do I understand I’ve got it all wrong. He’s not surprised that I talked back. He’s confused.

He doesn’t remember me.

“Fuck you, Xavier,” Dia snaps. “She’s staying.”

“You know, guys, if we’re going to hang out with the less fortunate from now on, at least tell me so I can add that shit to my resume.” Xavier huffs a sarcastic laugh and ambles back inside Theo’s house.

I’m stunned.

“Sorry about that. It’s not you.” Finn breaks the silence as soon as his buddy’s out of range. “’He’s shitty to everyone these days. Just going through a bit of a rough patch.”

I nod, knowing damn well he’s lying. It is me. Xavier was always like this in my presence, but I guess I’d deluded myself into thinking he might have changed over the past ten years.

The kids at school got at least one thing right.

Xavier Emery isn’t like his friends.

He’s worse.

* * *

“You didn’t answer my question earlier. Your name… where’s it from? Shampoo or hand cream?” Theo leans over the pool table to take the first shot and break up the balls.

I roll my eyes at his question, a hint of a smile on my lips. We’re on our fourth game.

It turns out Theodore Cox isn’t the worst conversationalist when he’s not making bad jokes about my name. He’s been chatting me up since we all relocated to the living room.

Axel left twenty minutes ago. Good riddance. I couldn’t bend over to play without feeling his eyes on me. As for Xavier, he never came back after he stormed off. Finn tried texting him, but it seems I repulse him so much the poor guy couldn’t take another second of being in my presence.

“Wait, isn’t your sister famous or something?” Theo asks when I don’t respond to his teasing.

“Maybe. Why? You want an autograph?” I mock, knocking down three balls at once.

Theo cracks a smile. “Sorry. Must suck getting asked about her all the time.”

I’m tempted to tell him he’s actually the first to bring her up in a hot minute. Ashley was so young when she won Rising Voices, the people who remember her are