I Hate You...I Think (6 page)

             
He doesn't want him near me? What does that mean? I felt butterflies in my stomach. I mentally slapped myself. I'm sure there's no meaning to it. Yeah, it just means something else.

             
"Well, we're all going to be there. He won't have a chance to get near her. She should come and watch," Jake told Oliver. Completely ignoring the fact that I said I didn't want to go.

             
Oliver shook his head. "It's better if she don't."

             
"But...” Jake started.

             
"Ever, why don't I take you home," Oliver said cutting Jake off. Jake gave a pouting face.

             
I laughed and shook my head. He looked like a little kid.

             
"Well, I guess we'll see you later, Ever," Jake told me still peeved.

             
I messed up his hair. "You’re just like a kid," I laughed. That just made him sulk more, but I could see he was trying not to smile. Oliver was heading for the stairs.

             
"See you later, then," I told him.

             
"Bye, Ever," Jet and Tyler told me.

             
"See you later munchkin," Logan called to me.

             
"I am not a munchkin," I scowled at him. He just grinned.

             
"Thanks for dinner," Alex smiled. Eien said nothing. Jerk face, I thought glaring at the back of his head.

Chapter Four

             
It was awkward being alone with Oliver in his little black car. Neither one of us spoke as he pulled out of the driveway. I was staring out the front window clutching my purse to my stomach.

             
"Damn, I need gas," he muttered. I glanced over and saw he was almost on empty.

             
"Mind if we stop?"

             
"Err...no," I told him. Why did he ask? It's not like I could honestly stop him from getting gas.

             
"Where do you live anyways?" He asked not taking his eyes off the road.

             
"Ridge Creek Apartments," I told him.

             
"You live with your parents?"

             
I stared curiously at him a moment. "Umm...no."

             
"How do you pay for your college and apartment?"

             
I frowned. What's with all the questions? Why is he prying?

             
"Umm...well my dad had a trust fund for me. It opened for me when I turned eighteen," I explained looking out the window, while fiddling with my fingers. I don't like talking about my family. My mom is a raging alcoholic and my dad is...dead.

             
Oliver nodded, but didn't say anything further. We pulled up to the gas station and Oliver started to get out.

             
"You want a drink?" He asked popping his head back in the car.

             
"I don't have any money on me," I told him shaking my head.

             
"I'm buying," he responded.

             
"Really?" Wow, he's been really nice tonight.

             
"Why do you seem so shocked?" He asked curiously.

             
"Cause...earlier you were a jerk and now your being all nice," I pointed out.

             
"Don't get used to it. What do you want?" He smirked.

             
"Dr. Pepper?" I told him unsure.

He nodded and shut the car door. After pumping the gas he headed inside. I sat there looking over the inside of
his car. It was surprisingly clean. A backpack sat at my feet but aside from that there’s nothing else in here.

There was a tap on my window. I jumped and looked up expecting to see Oliver but instead there was some guy standing there. I gave him an apprehensive look. What could he possibly want? He reached down to open the car door and I slammed my hand down on the lock.

              "Come on, girly. Open up," he told me with a smile.

             
"Hey, get away from my car," Oliver snarled coming toward the car with a bag in his hand. He was glaring at the guy next to my window. The guy raised his hands.

             
"Whatever," the guy muttered turning and walking away. Oliver tried the driver door but it was still locked. I pushed the button and opened it for him. He got inside still watching the guy, who had walked back over to the corner of the convenient store and was watching us but now on his cell phone.

             
"Do you know him?" I asked Oliver.

             
"He's one of Jason's guys," Oliver explained in an irritated voice. He placed the bag in my lap and pulled out of the parking lot quickly.

             
"He tried to open the door," I stated, hoping he would explain why.

             
"He was probably going to try to take you."

             
"Take me?" I asked bewildered.

             
"Let's put it this way. Jason attracts freaks just like himself. They have no respect for women and they will hurt you, if you know what I mean," He told me with a stern look. I was shocked and horrified. What if he hadn't come out? Would the guy have broken the window? Oliver's phone started going off. He jerked it out of his pocket and looked at it. A scowl appeared on his face. He flipped it open shoving it to his ear.

             
"What?" He demanded his voice full of anger. He paused a moment and glanced over at me.

             
"Go to hell, Jason," Oliver snarled snapping the phone shut and tossing it onto the dash.

             
"What's wrong?" I asked my voice quieter than usual.

             
"Nothing for you to worry about," Oliver told me glancing over at me face. He moved his hand off the steering wheel and opened the bag in my lap and pulled out a coke. Unscrewing the cap he took a drink and focused back on the road.

             
"Oliver, I don't understand anything about what's going on. I personally don't want to but it seems now I'm in it I might as well know. What's going on?"

             
Oliver sighed and gave me a brief glance, "Well, to be perfectly honest. My friends you met tonight and I are in a gang."

             
"And, you’re the leader. I figured that much. So, Jason's like the leader of a rival gang?"

             
Oliver nodded with a smirk on his face. "The tournament is not only about money. It's about respect and territory. It's pretty complicated so I won't explain that to you."

             
"Well, how do I fit into this? I told you I won't tell anyone. Why would you bring me over there tonight?" I frowned.

             
"Because, you’re amusing," He smirked again.

             
"So, you'd put my life in danger for your own amusement?" I pursed my lips glaring at him. Self-centered jerk.

             
"Your life isn't in danger, Ever. Don't be so dramatic," Oliver rolled his eyes.

             
"Dramatic! I have a right to be, Oliver. That guy back there was going to 'take me'. I don't want to be part of your gang issues. I worked my ass off to get scholarships and go to college. I don't expect 'you' to understand that. You’re too worried about how amusing I am to you."

             
I was seething with anger. He is such a self-centered, arrogant, freaking asshole.

             
"Well, are you going to get out or not?" Oliver asked emotionless. I stared at him a moment then looked out the window. We were at my apartment, already. Pursing my lips I glared at Oliver slinging the car door open I jumped out throwing my purse over my shoulder. I didn't even bother with the drink leaving it in the seat; I slammed the door and stomped across the parking lot to the building. Tires screeched behind me, I turned back a brief moment and saw Olive tear out of the parking lot.

             
Maybe I'll just skip his class tomorrow. Yeah. I think that's what I'll do.

             
I got up to my apartment and tested the knob before placing my key in it and opening the door. After locking my door I collapsed on the couch and pulled out my phone. There was a missed call from Kimmy. I quickly called her back.

             
"Ever!" She greeted.

             
"Hey!" I replied. "How was your date?"

             
"Suckish," she groaned.

             
"Why what happened?" I asking flipping on the TV and scanning the channels for something to watch.

             
"Eh...he was a loser, and only want...you know," she told me disgusted.

             
"Well, we should hang out. I haven't seen you since Monday."

             
"Tomorrow, it's supposed to be warm. We should go down to the beach after classes," she offered in an excited tone.

             
"That sounds great!"

             
"So, what did you do tonight?"

             
"Umm...well...l...let's talk about it tomorrow when I see you okay," I stuttered.

             
"Is it something bad?" She asked in a worried tone.

             
"It depends on what you classify as bad."

             
"Ever," she started in an accusing tone, "How do you always find yourself in trouble. Remember that time in the sixth grade when we went to the mall and you just 'had' to go and explore the section that they were renovating. Then, those old perverts who were working back there wanted to "get to know us better". It better not be something like that. You’ve always been too curious for your own good," she told me.

I could hear the disapproval in her voice. I bite my lip, maybe I shouldn't tell her.

              "We'll talk about it tomorrow," I told her.

             
She sighed, "Okay. I'm headed to bed now, I'll see you tomorrow."

             
"K, night Kimmy."

              "Let's go swimming!" Kimmy whined.

             
I looked up at her from my beach chair; she was hovering over me with her hands on her hips.

             
"So you’re not upset?" I asked confused.

             
"Of course, I am!" She yelled. I cringed. "But, it's happened and there's nothing you can do about it. I think it's kind of cute. Why don't you just tell Oliver you like him?"

             
"Shhh!" I scolded.

             
"Sorry," she whispered looking around. "It's not like he's here or anything."

             
"He might be!" I cried, looking around with wide eyes. I had ditched his class today and even passed up getting my coffee this morning just to avoid him. He might be out there watching me all pissed off.

             
"And, I can't tell him. It's illegal. Besides, I DON’T like him. He's a bipolar jerk."

             
"You’re just in denial. Maybe he's moody but once you get to know him more maybe you'll see that you like him," Kimmy said waving her hand.

             
"Did you not hear me though? It's illegal!"

             
Kimmy scoffed. "You’re not under age, and no one knows."

             
"It's morally wrong. He's my professor, and he doesn't even like me," I told her drawing in the sand between out chairs with a stick.

             
She sighed heavy. "Ever, you don't know that. He thinks you’re amusing. He likes to keep you around, I think it's cute."

             
"Kimmy, I have only known him for a few days. I'm not going to jump into anything," I explained, furrowing my eyebrows.

             
"Ever, you're just making excuses. It's not like what happened with your parents. You’re not having a baby and have to get married. You like him, learn to love, and live. Hunny, ever since your dad died you changed. It's been seven years, babe," Kimmy told me softly reaching over and squeezing my hand.

I frowned, had I changed since dad died. I mean I'm sure I did a little, and I wasn't making excuses. Oliver is...he's weird and I don't know anything about him. I'm just being logical about this. I'm not making excuses.