Misanthropy

Alex Gaskarth was my only hope.

He was the only person to keep approaching me and trying to be nice to me. I may have no idea why he was doing it, but I couldn’t second guess it now. I had to get him to be my friend by the end of the day or I was stuck with Jared. There were reasons that I didn’t want anyone living with me. I wanted to be alone. I needed to be alone. But of course, the moron couldn’t understand that concept.

My hand was throbbing as I walked into English only a few minutes late. The teacher knew that I was at the office, so he didn’t say anything as I sat down at my desk. I glanced over at Alex, who was scribbling down on a piece of paper. For once, I actually hoped that we were doing partner work today. And my hopes came to fruition when the teacher announced a long-term partner project.

I stayed in my seat, not wanting to seem too different. He would definitely come over again. If he’s been braving through all of my attempts to hurt him so far, he wouldn’t give up so easily. As if he heard my thoughts, he appeared in front of me. My eyes stared into his as he stood there. There was nervousness in his eyes which didn’t go unnoticed by me. I was very good at reading emotions most of the time. “Do you want to work together?” He asked, bracing for the venom that would usually spout out of my mouth.

I couldn’t bring myself to say a simple “yes”. My eye twitched as I thought of the many insults I could throw his way. He seemed shocked at my silence, continuing to stare at me. “Hazel?”

Before I could say something stupid, I nod, surprising him even more. After the shock wore off, a huge grin replaced it as he grabbed a chair and brought it over to my desk. We began to work for the next ten minutes, only talking about the assignment. We had to choose a play to research and present in a slideshow. It was dull, but it had to be done. “So, we’re going to do Divided We Fall then?” I mumble, writing down on the sheet of paper we were given.

He didn’t respond to my question, making me look up at him. He had his arms folded over his chest, staring at me with questions in his eyes. “Why did you agree to work with me?”

With a sigh, I put the pencil down, “I doubt you want to know the answer.”

“I do,” he insists, leaning forward slightly. “You’ve been treating me like shit since you met me and all the sudden, you’re being nice to me. I’m honestly confused.”

I shake my head, “I don’t think you’ll like the answer.”

“Tell me, or I’m walking away,” he frowns.

I don’t reply, only staring down at the paper which had both of our names on it. My eyebrows were furrowed as I considered the options. If I tell him straight up that I’m using him, he won’t want anything to do with me. I hear him sigh as he begins to get up, “Fine.”

“Wait!”

He froze, staring at me incredulously. I groan, “I need you to be my friend.”

“What?” He questions as he sits back down, puzzled.

“Or at least pretend to be,” I correct myself swiftly. “My uncle is threatening to move in if I don’t have a friend by the end of the day. You’re the only one at this school who is still trying to be nice to me.”

“Why should I help you?” He snaps, “You’ve been a complete bitch to me since we met.”

“I can’t have someone living with me,” I snarl. “I will lose my mind if that happens.”

“That doesn’t affect me.”

I grit my teeth, “Look, I will fucking pay you.”

The anger on his face dissolves as he leans toward me, whispering, “Why do you have to live by yourself?”

I shake my head, “That’s not the point. The point is I need someone to at least pretend to be my friend or he is moving in. If you pretend to be my friend, I will pay you one thousand dollars.”

He scoffs, “Where the hell do you expect to get that money?”

“That’s for me to know and you to never find out,” I run my fingers through my hair. “This is taking a lot out of me. I am fucking begging you. Please.”

There are a few moments of silence as he ponders my offer. I was worried that he would say no and I would be screwed. I was preparing my runaway in my mind in those moments. I would deposit some money in a new bank account and get a new card. I would only take the bare necessities. Maybe I could run away to North Dakota or something. It would be a place with barely any people and it would be cold. Sounds like a plan. “I’ll do it.” Alex’s voice interrupts my train of thought.

My eyes snap up at him, “Really?”

“Yeah,” he is still whispering. “But I have some conditions.”

I lean my face on my hand, a look of annoyance crossed my face, “What are your fucking conditions?”

“First of all,” he says brusquely. “You have to stop being a bitch to me. My friends included because I do hang around them a lot.”

Grumbling, I nod in agreement. “Secondly, you have to be honest with me at all times. No lying, no bullshit, no nothing.”

“It depends,” I glare at him. “I’m not spewing my life story.”

“You don’t have to,” he smirks. “I just don’t want you to lie to me all the time. If I’m intruding too much, you can tell me.”

“Fine,” I agree. “Anything else?”

“Lastly,” the smirk was still plastered on his face. “You have to always buy my food if I ask for it.”

“Done.”

He holds a hand out as if he wants me to shake it. I curl my nose in disgust, “No. No contact.”

Shrugging, he leans back, “Suit yourself. Let’s get back to work.”

He wore a smug look on his face as he began working again. I knew I was going to regret this someday.

Notes