Chapter 4: Hate Is A Strong Word

Arabella's POV

I stepped out of the shower and quickly wrapped myself in one of my fluffy towels. Erika went out to grab some coffee which I don't believe is what she actually wants to do but that's just Erika and her procrastination.

I strode towards my closet and pulled out a pair of black jeans skirt with a white crop top. I slipped on my undergarments, then my clothes and bathed myself in perfume.

My phone suddenly went off on the bed, chiming every five seconds with is quite an annoying notification sound. With a huff, I strolled towards the edge of the bed and grabbed my phone off of it.

I slid my finger across the screen and unlocked it swiftly. "What now?" I groaned as Erika's name flashed across the screen. I clicked on the message and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

Rika90210: Come downstairs to the lounge now! I have a surprise for you?

What is this sneaky girl up to now? I rolled my eyes and stuffed my phone in my back pocket. I slipped on a pair of flats and stepped out of the room before shutting the door behind me. I couldn't help but take a quick glance at Tyler's room that sat right next to Erika's and mine. He wasn't kidding when he said we were neighbours and Erika flipped the flip out when she found out.

I strolled down the hallway and waved sarcastically at a few guys who would not stop staring at me like I was some mystical creature. Guess they heard the rumours from high school. Demons really do follow you wherever you travelled.

Do I have to keep up my reputation as well? Never will I degrade myself like that again. I learnt that lesson the not so easy way. I stepped into the elevator with a few other students and ignored their piercing eyes and gazes. I leaned back into the wall and heard one girl whisper something to her friend's ear.

The other one turned to look at me and nodded in the other girl's direction as if confirming a question she asked. "Who the hell do I look like? Kendall Jenner? Stop staring at me before I clock both of you." I snapped annoyingly.

They both snapped their heads away from me and quickly turned to stare at the elevator door. When we finally got to ground floor, I brushed past both girls and received a few foul words here and there, but I didn't care. I searched for Erika in the mass of students and spotted her standing next to the pool table talking to someone with familiar blonde hair.

And no, it wasn't Ace -thank god- but it was someone else who had me whining and groaning. How many times must I tell Erika that I don't like her brother? I spun around to leave but was caught red-handed when a familiar voice called my name out, "I was wondering when you were gonna get here!" Erika chirped. I clenched my jaw and spun around on my heels.

My eyes subtly landed on the familiar dirty blond-haired boy who's loved me for as long as I could remember. Nate Simpson, Erika's younger brother who made his way to college early after skipping twelfth grade because apparently he's really freaking intelligent.

I walked towards them and smiled in his direction before averting my menacing gaze to Erika, "I thought Matt Lanter was here," I deadpanned. She burst into a fit of laughter as Nate rolled his eyes. "I wish!" She exclaimed before patting her brother's back and gesturing towards me. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as she began walking away.

"W-Wait where are you going!?"

"Uhm, Ace! Yeah we kinda. . .yeah, bye!" She babbled before spinning around and running away. I groaned deeply and formed my hit list inside my head.

Number one on the list.

Tyler Hart.

Number two on the list.

Tyler Hart again.

Number three-

"Hey," he smiled. I snapped out of my thoughts and gave him a smile of my own. Nate is frankly a really nice guy. He looks a lot like Erika, but just a male version. I'm not gonna lie when I say I had a crush on him once but I thought it was weird seeing as he was my best friend's younger brother even though we're just one year apart it felt wrong.

But lo-and-behold, Erika instigated this awkward relationship thing. Sigh. If only I had a normal best friend like everyone else. "I'm sorry about Erika, she forced me to do this. Frankly, my sister is crazy and needs help," He chuckled. I couldn't help but laugh as well as I took a seat next to him on the couch.

"I'm glad we can agree on something, great minds think alike." I winked with a small laugh. He flashed me a smile, and I quickly looked away. Why do I feel like Erika did this just so I could fall for her brother? I smell something fishy going on here.

"I heard Tyler's here. You okay?" He asked. I snapped my head towards him and furrowed my eyebrows, "I'm great! Actually, I don't really care about Tyler, he's a prick whose life mission is to get into the opposite sex's pants."

Nate laughed loudly, which was obviously contagious and caused me to guffaw as well. I rolled my eyes and leaned into him until my head was lying on his shoulder. "But on a serious note. I don't really want him here, he's ruined enough of me." I mumbled as I gazed into the distance.

I had classes today at twelve. My first class was English, and I dreaded to go. I just wanted to settle in more and sleep, yes sleep, I crave sleep so bad! "Don't allow him to start up these stupid rumours here as well." Nate snorted as his fingers tangled through mine. My heart suddenly fluttered in my chest as my eyes landed on our intertwined hands.

He always does this, mostly when he was getting at the moment and I was caught alone with him. Erika would push it and ask me to make a move and kiss him, but I really shouldn't ruin the reputation of someone else. Remember, I'm the high school easy pass. That's what everyone thinks because apparently sleeping with one guy caused a whole heap of guys to sleep with me.

I also instigated my downfall, so I was in no need to complain.

And no, I didn't actually sleep with a lot of guys. I've only ever slept with Tyler, Hunter, and some other dude that I hooked up with last summer. Other than that, that's pretty much it. "Anyway, I was wondering if-"

"Nate!?"

"Tyler Hart, hey." Nate drawled out, I raised my head from his shoulder and scowled at Tyler who obviously flashed us his trademark smirk per usual. "What-what's going on here?" He asked as he gestured towards us with his hands mockingly.

"Ask questions you know we'd answer," I spat, glaring right at him. He returned the glare, his dark eyes hooded and masked with annoyance before it suddenly vanished and was replaced with a taunting smile. "Hey, Bella. Remember when I asked for your opinion? Yeah funny enough neither can I." He exclaimed in a clipped tone, his brows arched as his face masked with feign confusion.

My fingers were itching to flip him off, but the warm hand that was placed on my thigh prevented me from adding fuel to the already blazing fire. "Oh how sweet," Tyler cooed as he rolled his eyes, leaning on the pool table before glaring at us both.

This boy just can't get enough, can he?

"What's up, Tyler?" Nate asked with a hint of anger and annoyance laced in his voice. He was trying to get him away from me and I would be forever thankful for such a generous act because Tyler Hart is a mentally draining human being who needs to be locked away permanently.

"I wanna talk to Bella, we have so much to discuss and a lot of catching up to do!" He exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. Oh, I swear he's looking to see his early grave because I swear to god I will pummel his face into the floor and watch him squirm until he grows unconscious.

"If you leave me Nate, you'll never see me again because I'll be thrown behind bars for murdering this son of a leach." I squealed out loud, which caused both Tyler and Nate to burst into fits of laughter. Nate in amusement and Tyler obviously mocking me because we all knew I wasn't capable of taking him down even if I wanted to. He leaned into my ear and I couldn't help but maintain eye contact with Tyler, whose lips pulled into a thin line and his eyes narrowed to slits.

"I'm not leaving you," he mumbled into my ear. I smiled in triumphant and Tyler responded with a smile, his eyes averted from us and then flickered back to me, "awe so cute. Britany is here, and she's glaring at both of you," Tyler spat.

I averted eye contact with him and let my eyes travel to the red-haired girl I call Nate's ex-girlfriend glaring at us both. A menacing scowl was plastered on her face and Nate let out a long, exasperated sigh. They broke up weeks ago and I really don't know why, but she seems pissed for an ex-girlfriend. I'm pretty sure by the way she was glaring at us, it had something to do with how jealous and controlling she was.

"Shit," Nate hissed softly. I averted my gaze to him and gave him a reassuring smile. "Go before she commits murder, or she gets seriously hurt for staring at me like that," I exclaimed as I plastered on a forced smile, to which he nodded his head in response. I quickly glanced at Tyler whose eyes sparkled, he suddenly shrugged and winked before flickering his towards Nate.

Oh, how I wish I could wipe that smirk off his face nice and clean.

"I'll make it up to you!" He exclaimed as he shot up from the sofa and hesitantly strolled towards Britany. "Now I have miss Bella all to myself, do you know Bella also means beautiful?" Tyler asked as he flopped down next to me. His arm draped over the armrest which just so happens to be where my head was, obviously.

"Do you know shut up also means to zip your ass?" I muttered sarcastically which only resulted in him snorting childishly, "how charming Ty." I scoffed in response, a small involuntary chuckle escaping my lips. I was tempted to tell him not only did he appear like a pig, but now he sounds like one. But like I said earlier, I don't want to add fuel to the already blazing fire.

"Ty?"

I snapped my head towards him, and my eyes widened in realization. Did I just call him Ty!? No, he doesn't deserve that beautiful pet name; he deserves something like an asshole or prick. But how could I let that name slip from my tongue, this is why I wanted to distance myself from him, slowly I was only going to sink further into the trap I call, Tyler Harts heart?

My cheeks flushed a deep crimson red, and I no doubt appeared like a ripe tomato. I coughed rather nervously and suddenly felt the need to shoot up from my seat and hightail the hell away from here. "Forget what I just said!" I blurted out loudly. He shook his head and smiled, like a real sincere smile which had me skeptical. "Are you planning on murdering me?" I asked as I leaned away from him.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head with the smile still plastered on his face. Did I create a monster? Who is this person smiling so kindly towards me? "Never thought you'd call me Ty," he shrugged lightly.

"Well, it's your name so," I cringed inwardly at my poor excuse for slipping up, but that didn't seem to stop him from smiling like a Cheshire Cat. "My name is all over you so." He shrugged nonchalantly as he slipped back into his pompousness. With arched brows, I scoffed loudly and sneered. "What's that supposed to mean?"

In that second of my complete and utter annoyance I had not realized that he leaned in, his face hovering only inches away from mine and I could feel his minty breath against my skin that slowly lured me closer and closer towards him until his lips lowered to my ears and he parted them, speaking in a low seductive melody.

"It means that you're mine."

A shiver suddenly crept down my neck and through my spine at the mere contact of his lips to my neck but I didn't let that phase me like yesterday in the elevator so before anything could escalate and I earned the nickname slut once again I pushed him back against the sofa and scowled.

"I hate you," I hissed genuinely as I shot up from the sofa and began marching away.

"Hate is a strong word, Bella. Be careful what you say!" He shouted.

This time I couldn't stop myself from raising my hand and flipping him the bird. I could hear his exaggerated gasp from behind me, and I couldn't deny that his statement before definitely affected me.

Curse you, Tyler Hart, and your perfectly curly hair.

Curse you.