I Hate You More

by Alexandra Moody

Note to self: Ally’s eyes are hypnotic and should be avoided at all costs if I ever want to disagree with her.

I always thought of my brother as a sun and Chase as the thundercloud that followed it everywhere it went. But, when Chase smiled, he transformed into a star of his own that shone far brighter than I ever realized.

But when I woke up the next morning and found his copy of The Book Thief lying right outside my door, I had to wonder if perhaps I’d been wrong.

“I think you’re always going to drive me crazy, Ally,” he murmured. “But I think I’m starting to like it.” He pulled his hand back.

“Tell me you don’t feel anything for me,” I begged one last time.

“I can’t do that,” he said before his lips descended on mine.

“I didn’t have a choice, Ally, because if I didn’t hate you, I would love you, and loving you would only break my heart.”

“Because you don’t let the people you love push you away,”

“And I do love you. I love you because the things that have happened between us were real, because we are what happens when things don’t go to plan.” He closed the distance between us once more until our bodies were but a breath apart. “And because I miss every damn thing about you, including every little thing I thought I hated. You are the most stubborn, most annoying pain in the ass I’ve ever known, but you’re my pain in the ass, and I’m not letting you throw us away.”

“I talked to your dad and told him that I was in love with you.