I Hate You; I Love You Too

Cassandra Moerman tugged anxiously at her long brown hair in a ponytail as she finished up her University application with the guidance counsellor. She was only a few clicks away from the part of her life she had always looked forward too: leaving high school in her rear view mirror.

“Great! Now just click okay and I can print your application receipt,” the counsellor smiled kindly at her while fiddling with a ball point pen. With a single click, the application was completed and Cassandra was one step closer to the next chapter of her life.

“Thank you so much for your help.” The counsellor nodded her head and Cassandra left the room with her folded receipt in hand.

When Cassandra stepped out of the office, her best friend, Felisha Sider, was waiting just outside. She was leaned against the cool brick wall in a lengthy floral dress. Her bangs were pinned back to keep out of her eyes while the rest of her long hair flowed down her shoulders. Felisha looked at her and said, “Guess it’s my turn, wish me luck.” Cassandra smiled back and headed through to the hallway.

Peering down at her receipt, lost in thought, Cassandra walked through to the stairwell to get back to History class. Unexpectedly, she was bumped to the side and she gasped in surprise. Her heart was beating fast and she looked up to see Aiden Mullen. His brown hair was messy as if he had just rolled out of bed and he had one hand resting in the pocket of his navy blue shorts.

“Oh, I’m so sorry…” he started to say. For a moment his expression was apologetic, until his deep green eyes met Cassandra’s, “On second thought, I’m not sorry at all.” Aiden let out a laugh and continued to wherever he was going.

“Asshole,” Cassandra muttered under her breath. ‘I hate him.’ She thought as she proceeded to history where she knew she had to deal with Dakota Wolfe. Since the first grade, Dakota and Aiden had been her arch enemies. They tormented Felisha and Cassandra all through elementary school. Of course, as the years went on, the girls began to stand up for themselves more and more.

Aiden and Dakota were like the gum that stuck to ones shoe. They had always been Satin’s little helpers, by stealing Cassandra’s favourite shoes in grade 1, by sneaking a hammer into the school and smashing Felisha’s Beyblade while she played. Throwing rocks, sticks, snowballs, all through grades 2, 3 and 4. It wasn’t until middle school that Aiden and Dakota started with the verbal abuse. The girls had come to the point where they didn’t even want to go to school.

Now, Cassandra and Felisha just fight back and know how to avoid all their traps. It was high school after all, and one does not survive high school without knowing the lions from the gazelles.

When Cassandra arrived at the classroom she quietly handed her history teacher, Mrs. Bauman, her class excusal slip. The walls were covered in Canadian world war history, maps, and a giant ‘I want you’ poster of James Montgomery Flagg. She walked to her desk and was instantly relieved to see Dakota wasn’t in his seat. As she was setting up, her phone vibrated in her pocket and she checked it under the desk. It was a message from Felisha.

Is Dakota in class?

Cassandra checked quickly that the teacher had her back turned before answering.

Not today.

In a short wait, her phone vibrated again.

It must be your lucky day. Aiden is sitting next to me in the guidance office and won’t stop whistling. I have to hit him; please let me hit him! Lol.

Peeking up to see the teachers back still turned, she quickly wrote her reply.

You have my permission as long as you hit him twice. One for me.

Cassandra couldn’t help but smirk. She put her phone away and sat back in her chair. ‘May as well enjoy a Dakota free History class’, she practically sang in her head.

* * *
Dakota Wolfe lay on his back in the sun by the football field. He hated being cooped up in a classroom all day, especially when the weather was so perfect. The sun shone bright and warmed his golden skin. Being outside, he was relaxed and allowed his thoughts to run free. Of course, the peace could only last for so long before someone came looking for him.

Dakota noticed a shadow blocking his sun; he opened his eyes to see someone peering down at him. “Hey babe.”

He sat up to see his girlfriend Sasha, hovering over him while intensely staring at her freshly manicured nails as if daring an imperfection to show up. She leaned on her left leg while she extended the other; both shown off by her mini denim skirt.

He looked her up and down. She really was hot. Her blonde highlights shone brightly through luscious curls that bounced playfully when she walked. She wore a lot of make-up, but not too excessive. Just enough to stay out of the cake face zone. Sasha was never caught wearing anything that didn’t reveal her large breasts. Of course, all boys loved the cleavage.

“Hey Sash. What’s up?”

“Oh, you know, the usual. What about you baby?” Her tone was bored and uninterested.

“I was just-”

“Oh! You wouldn’t believe what happened this morning. So Leah decided to try the duff puff with her hair and it was so funny because she used the wrong hair spray, and then…”

He tuned her out almost as soon as she started talking. Sasha didn’t care about anyone but herself and Dakota knew that. He often wondered why he even dated her. They had nothing in common. She never listened to what he had to say and whenever she spoke, it sounded like mindless droning. He knew he could have pretty much any girl he wanted in the school. The only exception was Felisha Sider and Cassandra Moerman. They were attractive but he also hated them. Besides, he and Aiden already agreed to stay away from Felisha and Cassandra like that but that didn’t mean they couldn’t make their lives hell.

“Dakota!” He snapped out his daze. Sasha had a large frown on her face. It wasn’t sexy, “Did you hear anything I just said?”

“Yeah, yeah. Leah is hilarious.” Dakota stood up and nonchalantly brushed the grass from his Hollister jeans and brown shaggy hair from his eyes.

“You are such an asshole, Dakota!” she snapped.

“Yep, you inform me every day.” He got close to her and put one hand on her butt, and pulled her head in for a hot, wet kiss. He was instantly turned on when Sasha began trailing her fingers down his flat stomach. Dakota let out a low grunt when Sasha nearly reached his…
There was a light smack to the back of his head. Sasha and Dakota separated.

“Get a room love birds.” Aiden Mullen stood there with messy hair and a faint smirk, revealing perfectly straight teeth. His navy blue shorts hung loosely on his hips. It was unlike him to wear his pants low. He likely forgot his belt again. He also wore a Batman t-shirt that said ‘Keep calm and call Batman’. Wrapping his arm around Dakota’s neck in a playful way, he said, “What’s up bro?”

“Well I was a little busy, if you know what I mean?” Dakota wiggled his eyebrows and Aiden let out a laugh.

“Oh, I know what you meant dude.” They shared mischievous grins with each other.
Sasha gasped and spat, “You’re both jerks!” They both watched as she stomped away, deliberately and fiercely swaying her hips left to right.

Aiden gave Dakota a light punch to the arm and said, “I don’t know what you see in her.”

“She’s hot,” Dakota shrugged, “And you’re one to talk. You’re dating Leah. She’s the ditsiest girl in the school.”

Aiden laughed, “I dumped her before I came to rescue you from the troll. When she finds out she’ll have your head and try to make you choose her over me.”

Dakota couldn’t help but be relieved. It would be liberating to break up with Sasha again. They basically had an on and off relationship that was mostly driven by sexual desire rather than actually liking each other. They used each other for what they wanted – sex and popularity- and would break up over the latest drama Sasha couldn’t get over.

He supposed that he wouldn’t mind being back in the dating game though. Especially now that he and Aiden were single again, they could be each other’s wing men and have some real fun.

‘Whatever happens, happens, Dakota thought with a smile on his face.

“Common man, we better get to Math or Mrs. Muso will put us in detention again.” Aiden began heading towards the school.

“Shit.” Dakota groaned and reluctantly jogged after Aiden.

* * *
Felisha’s guidance appointment had taken a lot longer than she had expected. She discussed the many different University programs that were available to her with the Guidance Councillor. She never really knew what she wanted to do with her life. The one thing she was sure of however was that she loved to write. This was what led her to decide to major in English.

When she finally walked out of the office, Math had already started. She hated Math. Not the class in particular, she hated that Dakota, Aiden and their girlfriends were in it too. If Cassandra hadn’t been in that class as well, Felisha would rather have taken Math in summer school, and no one went there on purpose.

Unwilling to go to class, she decided to take her time by taking the long route through the building. She viewed a few display cases and notices on the walls on her way. Anything to avoid Math for as long as possible. She stopped at a water fountain for a brief drink. There was a bathroom to the left. Felisha went inside, chose a stall, locked it and immediately checked her phone.

Midway through a text, the door crashed open. She could hear two girls in front of her stall. One was crying while the other was shushing her.

“Leah, get a hold of yourself!” The voice sounded like Sasha. She sounded exasperated.

“But Aiden dumped me! I hate him!” Leah wailed. ‘Oh great,’ Felisha thought sarcastically, ‘Math is going to be a real treat.’

“Who cares Leah? You sleep with half the population of the school anyway! You’re not exactly faithful. Do you think he’d want to be with you if he ever found that out?” she snapped.

‘I wouldn’t want Sasha to be my best friend’, Felisha thought, thankful for her actual friends.

Leah sniffed loudly, “But Aiden is so perfect, I can’t afford to lose him! How will I stay popular?”
Leah kept whining, but Felisha paid less attention to her and more attention to the sneeze she could feel forming. She held her breath and her nose, praying it wouldn’t come out and betray her hiding spot. She felt it pass and breathed a sigh of relief.

“A-chew!” There was a silence that seemed to stretch forever. ‘Maybe they didn’t hear me…’

“Who’s in there?”

‘Shit.’

Felisha came out of the stall with her head held high. She didn’t even look at Sasha as she went to the sink to wash her hands. She took a quick glance at Leah. She looked like a complete mess with mascara streaking down her cheeks and snot running from her nose. There was a palpable tension in the room when Sasha broke the silence.

“Who do you think you are, listening in on our conversation?” She demanded.

“I couldn’t care less about your conversation.”

“You’re so stupid. Why don’t you run along to that friend of yours,” Leah retorted.

“I’m stupid? Wow, you really graduated grade four with that comeback, didn’t you?” Felisha laughed as she grabbed paper towel and wiped her hands dry. Before she left the washroom, she looked back and said, “Nice face by the way.” She walked away with a huge smile on her face.
* * *
Cassandra watched as Felisha walked into Math fifteen minutes late and handed Mrs. Muso her guidance slip. The teacher looked down at it for a moment, then back up at Felisha.

“Your appointment ended ten minutes ago, Miss. Sider, and yet you’re still late for my class. I expect to see you at lunch.”

“Well I’m glad to be punished for having to pee,” Felisha muttered. She walked to her desk beside Cassandra and plopped down, “Hey,” she greeted.

“Hey. How was your appointment?” Cassandra whispered back.

“Took forever. Guess what, when I was in the washroom, I had a run in with Sasha and Leah. Apparently Aiden broke up with Leah.”

“That’s not a surprise,” Cassandra answered. “So what did-”

“Cassandra, Felisha! I’d like you socializers to split up,” Mrs. Muso ordered. She was not in a good mood today at all. “Cassandra, sit beside Aiden; Felisha beside Dakota.”

“Can’t you sit us somewhere else? Anywhere else?” Felisha complained. With an angry shake to the teachers head, the girls grumpily sat in their new seats.

Sasha and Leah didn’t end up coming to class and Dakota and Aiden didn’t bother the girls much through the period. They were on their phones most of the time except when Aiden threw Dakota a paper airplane when Mrs. Muso wasn’t looking. It accidently hit Felisha in the head and Cassandra tried not to laugh at the look on her face. Aiden looked smug by the fact he could make her laugh. When the bell rang, the girls quickly packed their things and left for Sociology together.

They made a quick stop to their shared locker to swap text books and so Felisha could grab her sweater. The locker always looked like it had been struck by lightning. Cassandra often worried about their lack of organization. They were always so busy, and had other things to care about than their locker.

On their way to room B120 for Sociology, Felisha filled Cassandra in on everything she heard in the washroom earlier. When they approached the classroom, they noticed that Dakota and Aiden were standing in front of the entrance.

“What do they want?” Cassandra sighed.

“Hey, ladies,” Aiden bowed. The girls rolled their eyes at his stupidity.

“What do you want?” Felisha snapped, “Can’t we just have one day without you losers bothering us?”

“I like your dress,” Dakota said, standing a little too closely.

“Cassandra,” Felisha faced her best friend, “remind me to burn this dress when we get home?”

“My pleasure, now boys, don’t you have somewhere to be? Because we do,” Cassandra stepped aside and stormed into the classroom. Felisha looked at them expectantly, waiting for them to leave, but Dakota smiled.

“Actually Felisha, we have officially transferred into this class. So I’m afraid you’re stuck with us for the rest of the semester.” On that note Dakota walked into the classroom and sat behind Cassandra.

“Just great,” Felisha sighed before heading into the room. Aiden followed cautiously behind her.