Dare You to Hate Me by B. Celeste (classic fiction .txt) 📕

toward the hoop. “This is why I’m Chaos. You know, kinda like how ivy spreads everywhere. That’s me.” Cap nudges her again, bringing her attention from my loud friends disappearing down the street on their bikes to my dog.

I don’t let her dwell on Judd and the others because that’s who they are. They annoy me half the time and Mom doesn’t like most of them but they’re people to hang out with when I’m bored. “My mom just made cookies. Want to come in and have some?”

When the sun hits her eyes, they look almost golden. She glances over her shoulder at the house they recently moved into before looking back at me. “I like cookies.”

I start walking toward my house before I stop, remembering the stranger assembly we had at school. “Do you need to ask your mom if it’s okay to come over?”

She starts to say something before stopping herself, her eyes darting back to her house before she quickly shakes her head. “My mom is busy, and my brother is napping. Do you have any siblings?”

“Only child.”

Ivy follows me to the front door. “I’d probably be sad if Porter didn’t exist, even if he annoys me sometimes.”

I hold the door open for her and see Mom come into view from around the corner. Her eyes widen in surprise when she sees Ivy trailing behind me before they go to me. “Who’s this? Where are the boys?”

It’s Ivy who murmurs, “I chased them off.”

A small laugh comes from Mom as she walks over. “Well, that must mean more cookies for you two then. Do you like chocolate chip?”

My neighbor’s head picks up to look at my mother before slowly nodding. “I’m not supposed to take food from strangers though.”

“I’m Emily Griffith, and you’ve obviously met my son. Your family just moved into the Avery’s old house next door, didn’t you? We saw the moving trucks there last week.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We’re hardly strangers then,” Mom comments, holding out her hand for Ivy to take with the same warm smile she gives everybody stretched across her face. “Aiden’s father and I shop at your parent’s store sometimes. I’ve spoken to your father a time or two.”

I’m not sure if Mom sees it, but Ivy winces at the mention of the store. I’ve heard about Underwood’s Grocer. My parents said it’s important to shop local and support local business, but they never come home with more than a few items.

I get the milk while Mom directs Ivy to the kitchen table and grabs some of the fresh cookies, and I sit beside the girl whose legs kick back and forth on the wooden chair after putting glasses down in front of us.

I tell Mom, “Cap went up to Ivy.”

Mom passes us napkins and smiles. “He likes you then,” she tells the timid girl staring at the melted chocolate in the baked dough.

It’s a moment before we hear, “I keep asking to get a dog, but my parents say they’re too much work.”

Pouring us cups of milk, Mom caps the jug and puts it back in the refrigerator. “It can be, I suppose. You’re more than welcome to come over anytime and play with Captain.”

My neighbor smiles as she picks up a cookie and takes a bite. “I want to learn how to bake,” she declares after half of it is gone. “My mom used to let me help her bake Christmas cookies, but we didn’t do it last year because she said Santa was on a diet. Can you teach me?”

I haven’t seen Mom’s face get so bright since the day Dad and I surprised her with a ring with my birthstone on it for Mother’s Day a few years ago. “I’d love to teach you. We’ll have to schedule a time with your parents to make sure it’s okay to come over. And it’s the perfect time of year because Santa won’t have to eat what we make.”

Ivy gets quiet.

Mom studies her closely.

I fill the silence. “Can we play outside after we’re done? I want to show her the old fort by the creek.”

With Mom’s permission, I lead Ivy through a thin patch of trees leading to a creek that winds around town. Dad told me the stone foundation left in the middle of the trees used to be an old fort from the French and Indian War, and when I relay that information on to Ivy, her eyes widen in wonder instead of boredom like my other friends when I showed them.

And that’s when I know.

We’re going to be good friends.

Chapter Eight

Ivy

I’m walking inside after a long day of classes and work, my feet throbbing in the cheap pair of knock off Chucks I bought at Walmart, and tense when I hear deep sets of laughter coming from the living room. When I walk past the open room, Caleb sees me first, then Raine who’s cuddled up beside him on the couch.

“Hey,” I greet them tiredly, about to ask how their days were since they always give me the same courtesy before my eyes go to DJ sitting on the couch across from them by himself.

To my recollection, he’s never been here before. I don’t attend most of the parties held if I can help it, and I’ve never heard the girls talk about the football team making many appearances—least of all the big flirt who’s using that charming smile on me again. When they do show up, it’s always big news. The girls dare each other to make moves on some of the players, which usually winds up with a lot of colorful public displays of affection and morning after walks of shame out the front door.

“Long time no see, Ives,” DJ says, jumping up from the couch with a wide smile on his face. He’s in his usual jeans and college sweatshirt, red with a black and white embroidered dragon across the front, and the same pair of dirty boots he always wears. I asked him