Yeah, I Hate You Too, Sweetheart.

Chapter 10 - Justin

I didn't know how long I sat there, just staring at my knees, letting my thoughts wander. I thought about a lot of things. But mainly I was thinking about Laila. Like that look that had come over her when Maggie had up and kissed me out of nowhere. She had looked so sad and lost. And it was entirely my fault.

But why should it have mattered, anyways? So what if she'd looked like she wanted to start crying? She'd said it herself that she hated me, so why should it have made any difference if I'd been kissing another girl?

You like her, that's why, a small voice in my head told me. It matters so much to you because you like her.

I wanted to start laughing. There was no way that I could like Laila. It just wasn't possible.

Or...was it?

I gave a disgusted sigh, fighting the urge to go off and punch somebody.

In the end, I may have not had the slightest idea about how I felt about Laila, or what things on the horizon were going to bring, but there was one thing for sure that I knew.

Laila Hayes had walked into my life like nobody's business and gone and complicated everything that she possibly could have. Just like I'd known she would.

But somehow, I couldn't help but wonder if things would have turned out the same anyways, even if we'd both gone out of our way to avoid each other.

"Something on your mind, cachorro?"

I nearly jumped a foot in the air, not having expected Avery to come and sit herself down beside me out of nowhere. There was a knowing, somewhat sympathetic look on her face that made me dread what was undoubtedly about to occur.

"You could say that," I muttered darkly.

Avery gave a half hearted smile, leaning forward on her knees. We both fell silent, not sure of what to say. What was there to say? I'd already gone out and humiliated myself more than was humanly possible tonight. What else did everyone want from me?

"So..." Avery trailed off, scuffing the toe of her sneaker on a porch step. "You want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" I snapped, a bit more harshly than I intended.

"Sorry."

"It's okay," Avery said, glancing up at me. "Obviously, something's bothering you."

"You could say that," I repeated.

Avery tsked, shaking her head in a pitying gesture.I glanced over at her curiously.

"Something on your mind, Aves?" I asked, a little sarcastically.

She laughed, shaking her head again. "I was just wondering when you'd finally come out and admit that you actually care for this girl."

"What girl?" I asked sharply, my eyes narrowing.

Avery gave me a "don't be stupid" look.

Oh. Right.

"You know what I'm talking about," she said pointedly, sounding irritated.

I blew out a defeated sigh, rolling my eyes up at the night sky.

"Yeah, freaking Laila," I said, running a hand through my hair.

"Look, Justin," Avery said, sounding insanely wise. "I'm not going to pretend and act like I know what you're going through with all that whole self-loathing, self-pity thing that you've got going on."

I glared at her, frowning. She smiled back before continuing.

"Don't give up so early in the game," she said. "You've only just been...reuinted, for lack of a better word. You've done some pretty stupid stuff when it comes to girls, yeah, but that doesn't mean it's too late to change that."

I sure hoped Avery was right about that.

"I don't like Laila like that, Avery," I told her, gritting my teeth out of frustration. "Honestly, the girl confuses the hell out of me half the time, and the other half, she annoys me to no end."

Avery smirked, her eyes glancing upwards. "All is fair in love and war, Justin."

I made a sour face. "What does that even mean, Aves?"

Avery thought about that for a moment before she shrugged indifferently.

"Yeah, when I figure that one out, I'll let you know."

I laughed in spite of how miserable I felt. At least Avery could always be counted on to cheer me up. My earlier years in high school would've looked pretty dismal without her.

"Put a smile on that ridiculously cute face of yours, Justin," Avery teased, giving me a nudge. "What girl could resist you?"

I sighed again, shaking my head.

  Obviously the one girl that I wasn't sure if I wanted or not did.

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    - Seeeee!! Justin's human!! I just thought it was important for Justin to at least show some emotion that's not stuck up and jerky and stuff all of the time...writing his character is so much fun. 

  I want to thank every one that's read this so far and maybe even keep coming up to check for updates and stuff. It means a lot that you'd take the time to read my work here, so I thank you profusely!! Thank you!!!

  So, uhm? Thoughts, anybody?

Comments are always welcome. Votes, too. haha. (: