I Need You To Hate Me

by Genicious

“For me to hate you, I’d need to feel something—and frankly, I feel nothing for you.”

“I can’t believe you don’t know who the Arctic Monkeys are. They are the most superior band of all time,” he says, revealing a more passionate and less asshole-ish side. I roll my eyes, suppressing a smile. “I suppose you’re going to tell me that you’re also a fan of Nickelback.” He shakes his head in disbelief, his crooked grin evident. “I won’t be shamed for my music choices by someone who probably listens to Hannah Montana.”

“You brought her here. Make sure she doesn’t leave your sight,” Ace orders Theo before striding away. Why does Ace care what happens to me all of a sudden?

Ace and I communicate through sticky notes for the rest of the week.

“Cold shower?” “Hmm? Uh…yeah, the hot water isn’t working,” he responds, avoiding eye contact. That’s strange. It was working the last time I checked.

Girl, are you dumb?

“Somehow, messed-up things have a way of bringing something good along with them,”

“Ace, we all do bad things. But not all bad things make us bad people. Redemption is possible,” I assure him, speaking from my own experience.

“And sometimes the worst things that we do lead us to the best things that happen to us,” I add,

“Don’t do that. No amount of guilt will change the past. Don’t blame yourself. It’s unfair, and it will destroy you.” He gazes at me like I’m the stars when all I’ve ever felt before was the darkness that encircles them. He makes me feel incredibly sane for the first time in my life. “It already has, Ace.”

“Not everything is defined by fate, and fate is almost always cruel and unfair.”

“Calla?” he calls out, sensing my hesitation. “Mm?” “I don’t want to see anyone else but you.”

“How do you always say the right things?” I sigh, a smile curling at the corners of my lips. Ace shrugs. “Maybe it’s because I’ve done all the wrong things.”

The song “Do I Wanna Know?” starts playing, and Ace turns to me, grinning and singing along with the lyrics. His hand casually rests on my thigh, but there’s absolutely nothing casual about it, especially not with the words flowing from his mouth.

“Relax, love. You look beautiful,”

“I have to go,” Ace says, squeezing my hand in reassurance. He turns to Theo. “Make sure nothing happens to Calla.” I roll my eyes. I don’t need a babysitter. “Of course, man,” Theo replies, slinging his arm over my shoulder. Ace shoots him an uneasy look before making his way toward Dean.

“Would you like it if I told you that our being here was written in the stars?” he asks. “Hmm, yes. I would like to believe in something.” “You and me, we’re written in the stars, love.”

Insulting me right now? I’ve had enough of his games, and my frustration reaches its peak. Without thinking, I raise my hand, fully intending to slap him, but he catches my wrist without even flinching. He leans in closer, his lips grazing my cheek, and a tingling sensation races down the back of my neck. “Wanna try that again, love?”

“How did you get here so quick? You better not have been speeding,” I jokingly chastise him. “Me? Speeding? Never, love.”

I need you to hate me.

The worst thing is, I blindly trusted Ace with everything that I had. And he showed me exactly why I shouldn’t have.

I wanted to hate him. But I don’t, and that’s what hurts the most.

Nothing can stay the same. We’re all part of a changing power that twists and turns us in unconceivable ways until we experience it for ourselves. There may be harsh and eccentric lessons to learn, but they are all a reminder that nothing stays the same—not even when you want it to. Every so often, that can be something to look forward to, and other times, it’s something we shy away from. Nevertheless, take everything as it comes, for it’s a gift to be able to move through time and experience what the universe offers you—no matter how forbidding it may seem.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, I gather the courage to open my eyes and allow my gaze to skim the words that will remain etched in my mind for eternity. Maybe we’ll meet again in another life. When the stars align.