Chapter 11: Commence (Hope's POV)

"Let me get this straight," I said, turning my body to face him. 

We've been here the whole day talking about things. We talked about our memories here, he was asking me questions about New York. It was like for once he wasn't totally against the idea of me living there. And now, the sun has started to set and we're back to talking about what to do. 

"You want to keep hating each other?" I asked. 

He sighed, "I want to keep pretending to hate each other," he corrected. 

"Why?" Can someone explain to me in what world that makes sense? 

"So Jonah doesn't get hurt. If he thinks we hate each other, he won't think there's something going on between us, which we know there isn't, but when people see us, for some reason everyone assumes we're together." True. "So, if he thinks we hate each other, he won't think we're dating behind his back, and therefore, he won't get hurt." 

"So, whenever Jonah's around we can't hang out, we can't talk, we just have to argue and go down each other's throats about every little thing?" 

"Yes," he nodded. 

"And you think we can do that?" 

He hesitated. "Kind of. Just think about what a dick I've been and I'll think about what a bitch you were for leaving," he shrugged. I rolled my eyes. He's just using this as an excuse to call me a bitch repeatedly. 

"Okay, what about when Jonah isn't around?" 

"Why won't he be around?" 

"Uh, hello? He's in Florida right now. What about times like now?" I questioned. 

"Then we can hang out. Like we are right now," he shrugged. "But I doubt that's gonna happen. You'll be with your boyfriend every day," he rolled his eyes. 

"I'm sorry, but he's not boyfriend enough for me to hang out with him every single day. He's a sweetheart, all right? But I can't spend every single day with him." 

"But you will. Because now your friend group is common." He shot me a pointed look. 

I sighed, into my palms, running my hands over my face. I'm just gonna have to deal with it. This would have been easier if I didn't want a relationship with Jonah. But I want to give this a shot. He's exactly the kind of guy I need in my life right now. The kind who cares, who's good for me, who's a sweetheart. So, I'm willing to give this a real shot. "Okay," I shrugged. "The plan can... commence once he's back." 

"Commence?" he chuckled. 

"Shut up," I rolled my eyes, leaning my head against the side of the wall and watching the sunset. "When was the last time you went swimming in that lake?" I asked. 

He thought for a moment. "I think last summer. All three of us went swimming there. It's safe to say we were tipsy." 

"I kind of want to go right now," I mumbled more to myself than to him. 

"The water is freezing, I'm afraid you'll have to wait till at least spring break," he scoffed. 

"I bet I can handle it." 

"You catch a cold if you come out of the shower and your hair is too wet." 

I turned to him in confusion. "Why do you remember that?" I laughed. 

"Cause you're the one person I know who suffers from a cold in the summer as much as you do in the winter," he shrugged in response. 

"Sounds like you remember everything," I teased. 

"I try to forget it, I think it's a curse." 

"I think it's a blessing. You'll always know what not to do to piss me off, you'll always know what I love and hate, and you'll always know what candy to buy me," I chuckled. 

"Doesn't everyone always know what candy to buy you? You've been very expressive about your love for Starburst since the first grade," he scoffed. 

"You'd think so but apparently not. Apparently, nobody appreciated Starburst anymore and everyone gets me chocolate." 

"I don't understand how you don't like chocolate," he shook his head. 

"I don't understand how you do. It's so... chocolaty." 

"That's kind of the whole point." He shot me a weird look. 

"I'm not a sweet food person," I shrugged, pulling my knees up and hugging them. 

"You hoard candy." He gave me a dirty look. 

"Candy is the exception," I whined, smacking his arm. 

"Whatever you say, Princess," he chuckled. 

I stared at him, surprised that he's calling me that again. "When was the last time you called me that?" I asked. 

"Probably the same as the last time you called me Asshole," he shrugged, looking at me. 

"I didn't think you'd remember that." 

"Why would I forget?" he chuckled. "It was like... our thing, you know? I always called you Princess, you always called me Asshole." 

"That's cause you were an asshole," I shrugged. He rolled his eyes at me in response. "Nevermind, it's because you are an asshole, Asshole." 

"Okay, Princess." 

I shook my head, biting back a smile. "You weren't as much of an asshole when I left, you would just tease me. What happened? Since when have you been such an asshole?" I asked. 

He narrowed his eyes in thought, biting on his bottom lip. "Since about six months after you left." 

"Six months? That's awfully precise, what happened?" I questioned. 

"About six months after you left, my dad came back," he sighed. 

I stared at him, my jaw slack. "Y-your dad came back? What do you mean?" 

"He came back," he shrugged nonchalantly. 

"Why?" 

"To apologize. And take our money." Oh, my God. "He came by a couple of times, started off by being really nice, apologizing, trying to fix what he did wrong but it only took a couple of days for us to figure out. It got really messed up after that." 

"Why did he want money?" I asked. 

"I don't fucking know, probably to pay off a stupid debt. He became so invasive, showing up in the middle of the night and everything. My mom would have to send Kimberley and me to stay with some friends. When I turned sixteen, I started staying at home with my mom. We'd have to kick him out every goddamn time," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We called the cops on him one night. Haven't heard from him since." 

"Shit," I mumbled, "God, I'm sorry." 

He shrugged nonchalantly, continuing. "We were surprisingly unbothered by it. All three of us. It was just pissing off and annoying. We talked shit about him when that started happening. I think he owes some big people money and doesn't know how to make any," he scoffed. 

"What did he do?" I inquired. 

"Gamble." Both of us looked at each other knowingly. "Yeah, I know," he nodded. 

"Were you okay?" I questioned.

"For the most part, yeah," he paused. "It was hard when I was going through it, I don't think about it much now. But I will say, it would have been easier with you here," he mumbled the last bit softly. 

"Why?" I asked hesitantly. 

"I could have just walked over and crashed at yours. I actually did occasionally. But it's whatever." He pulled his legs up and stood up on his feet, dusting his clothes and hands. "It's getting dark. We should go." 

I sighed, taking my hood off and pulling my legs up. I looked up when he stuck his hand out in front of me. I bit back a smile and grabbed his hand, letting him pull me up. He climbed down first and I followed, my shoe slipping off one of the steps. I gasped, losing all grip on the bars. I thought I was gonna fall flat on my ass, but he managed to catch me before I did. "Oh, my god," I put my hand to my chest, closing my eyes. "Thanks." 

"Happens every fucking time," he mumbled, taking a step away from the treehouse. I took note of the way he carried me like you would a bride. He set me onto my feet slowly, making sure I was standing steadily. "Are you good?" 

I nodded, pulling the sleeves of my jacket lower as a cold breeze blew by. 

He stopped walking and turned to me when we got to the door of the house. "We might run into someone," he mumbled, looking through the mesh in the door. 

"What happens if we do?" I whispered. 

"We run, I don't know," he chuckled, shrugging. 

"Blake," I said warningly, trying to peek inside and see if we could spot someone. "Can't we just go around the house?" 

"We could if you're willing to walk all the way around." 

Am I? No, I'm not. 

"Does someone actually own this land?" I asked. 

"I don't know. I just know it's abandoned, Hope. I'm not a walking Google. Come on, we'll make a run for it," he paused "Come on." He grabbed my hand and slowly opened the door, both of us tiptoeing inside. We started walking towards the door, hoping to get out of there... 

But nope. Not today. Today we're out of luck.

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Chapter 11

Fuck period cramps.

next chapter: flash