Page 67 of I Hate You More

“I was just chatting with her. We’re trying to get along.”

Shane laughed and shook his head. “Well, good luck with that.”

“Is it really so unbelievable that we could get along?”

“Anything’s possible. I mean, if Woody and Buzz Lightyear could manage to put aside their differences, I’m sure you guys can too.”

“You’re comparing us toToy Story?”

“You’re right, maybe you guys aren’t quite capable of that friendship arc.”

I sighed, a sense of defeat washing through me. I hated that Shane didn’t believe Ally and I could change. He knew the two of us better than anyone, and if he didn’t think we could even make it as friends, did we have any chance at becoming more than that?

“Look, I’d like nothing more than for you two to get along,” Shane said. “You’ve both been bickering for years, and it sucks. I just don’t think I can believe it until I see it, if that makes sense.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

The bell rung, signaling the end of lunch and Shane, and I got up from our seats. “I just hope you’re not falling in love with her again,” Shane said as we walked toward the door.

My cheeks warmed, and I glanced around to make sure no one had heard what he’d said. Thankfully, everyone was making their way to class and uninterested in our conversation. “I wasn’t in love with her,” I growled. “And that was forever ago.”

Shane grinned. “It wasn’t that long, really.”

“Why would you even say that?”

“I just wouldn’t want you to be disappointed,” Shane replied. “You know Ally and I don’t date.”

I frowned at his comment. Shane had never bothered with a girlfriend because he was so focused on football, but that didn’t explain why Ally didn’t date. She certainly hadn’t mentioned it to me, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. I guess it made sense considering she’d never had a boyfriend that I knew about. I wanted to ask Shane for the reason, but I knew I couldn’t without inciting his suspicions.

“Well, clearly, that’s not a problem,” I said, trying my hardest to look like I didn’t care. The scary fact of the matter was, it was already too late, and I did care if Ally didn’t want to date me. Clearly, she wasn’t as committed to her no-dating rule as Shane as she’d asked me to hang out with her this weekend.

Shane chuckled. “If you say so, man.” Something in his eyes had me wondering if he suspected I was lying though.

“I do.”

One of the guys from the football team called Shane’s name, and he patted me on the shoulder as he went to walk away. “I’ll catch you at home later,” he said before jogging down the corridor.

I stared after him, still wondering why I hadn’t heard about Ally not dating before. If Ally didn’t date, then why was she making an exception for me?

23

Ally

The week had draggedon far too long. Between studying for my math test and stressing about Operation Pest Control, I was completely exhausted by the time the final bell rung on Friday afternoon.

I hauled myself to my locker after class, wanting nothing more than to go home and put myself to bed. My head actually hurt from the all the equations I’d just completed. Whoever thought it was a good idea to put a math test on a Friday afternoon had a sick sense of humor.

“Hey, Ally,” Luke said, falling in beside me as I opened my locker to grab my things before heading to the car.

I was so tired that I struggled to give him a polite smile. I really wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “Hey, Luke.” Even my voice sounded weary.

“How did you do on the math test?” he asked.

I pushed my locker shut and hugged the books I needed over the weekend to my chest as I turned to him. “Okay, I think. My brain feels like it’s been reduced to mush from all those figures though.”

“Tell me about it.” He grinned.

I didn’t know what else to say, and an awkward silence hung between us. There were still so many numbers floating through my mind that I couldn’t think of two words to string together.

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