Hatred With Benefits

T W E N T Y - T W O

EVA.

"So she goes here?" I ask Aliya, giving her a side look and she nods, pulling on the strap of her bag.

"I was right when I said I saw her blur at the dorm. She rarely attends classes though. " She sighs and I

raise a teasing brow at her, "And how could you possibly know that?"

"We talked. For a while. "

"Does that talk includes you ending up somewhere between the top and the bottom?" My lips spread

into a wide smile and Aliya slaps my arm at the not so innocent question, her flushed cheekbones

coated with redness as she says, "We didn't do anything. "

"And why's that?" I ask with curiosity.

"It didn't feel right. " She raises a shoulder, staring ahead of us.

"What do you mean, it didn't feel right?" I ask, confused, and Aliya sighs. She stops on her steps to turn

to me. "I was with Sage. It felt stupid hanging out with Chloe when I was there with her. "

"Since when have you ever cared about playing two girls at the same time?" I ask in a flat tone, and

Aliya chuckles with a small shake of her head.

"Tell me. " I insist, throwing her a frown.

"Since it's about Sage?" She says the words like she's so unsure of herself and I furrow my brows.

"Sage? I thought you said Chloe is your better option. "

"She is. " My best friend is the right definition of confused right now and I can tell that, judging by the

way creases form over her forehead and she presses her lips into a thin line. She seems like she's

having an internal battle, and that comes as a surprise. "It's different with the two of them. " She finally

speaks, her voice lower with uncertainty dripping from it.

"How different?" I ask her, moving closer to her side, and Aliya says, "With Sage, there's this calmness.

She makes me feel safe and around her, I want to be the better version of myself, but with Chloe: I feel

reckless. I'm usually in the high spirits with her. I feel hot and I'm unable to control myself. She makes

everything wild. " A smile climbs on her face at the last words and I sigh, throwing a hand over her

shoulder.

Aliya turns to me and I give her a tiny smile. "Two personalities. One makes you feel safe, and one

makes you feel wild. You, my friend, are in terrible trouble. "

Aliya frowns and pulls away from me. "I know that. " She hisses, before walking away and I laugh as I

quicken my steps to catch up with her.

"You'll figure it out. " I assure her, giving small pats to her shoulder.

"I know. " Her shoulders sink in a sigh and I gnaw at my lips before I let the words slip through my

mouth. "But you do know you'll have to give up one in the end? If you don't want to lose both? "

Aliya stays still for a moment before she picks up her pace again. "You said that as though I'm in love

with them. " A soft chuckle falls from her lips.

When I give no response, she snaps her gaze at me. "You honestly think I am?"

I shrug. "That's what it sounds like. "

She scrunches her nose. "No. I don't fucking love them. "

"The first stage is always denial, babe. " I wink at her and she throws me a glare. "Don't fuck around

with me, Evie. I'm not in love with them. You don't fall in love with two people. "

"But you like both?" I lift my brows and she nods slowly.

A laugh falls from my parted lips. "If you can like them both equally, what makes you think you can't fall

in love with both?"

"I won't. " She frowns and I nod. "I'll wait by the side to tell you I told you so when you have a hard time

letting one go. "

"Fuck off. " She flips and I laugh before pulling her along.

"I'm still mad for what you did, bitch. Control your damn tongue. " I tell her in a stern voice and she

laughs. "You're nineteen, Evie. How long will your dad control the people you mix with? "

"When it comes to the son of his rival? He'll do till the end of the world. " I sigh.

"And if you fall in love with him?" My head snaps to her at those words and my breathing quickens. My

voice is small and I try to keep it composed as I say, "Have you seen us?"

"It can happen, babe. What will your father do when it comes to that?" She lifts her brows and I shake

my head. "I don't have to think about that, because falling in love with Emerson Ford is the most

impossible thing for me. I'm good with hating him. "

Aliya chuckles before she twists her head and freezes. I lift my head to see Sage standing in front of us

with a tiny smile on her face.

"Hey, Eva. " She greets me and I give her a wave with a smile.

She turns her attention to Aliya and I nudge her shoulder before taking a step away.

"I'll be in class. Take your time, Lia. " I wink at her, and I don't miss the glare she throws at me before I

walk away from them.

"And I assume you're in a good mood if you're smiling like that?" I angle my head to the side at the

sound of that voice to see Dan striding towards me.

"Hey, you. " I smile at him and he returns it with one of his. "Hey, are you okay?" He asks with a worried

expression.

"Of course, I am. " I let out a low laugh. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You never returned my calls nor did you respond to any of my messages so I thought something

happened, but I guess I read that wrong. It was me? I didn't think you were purposely ignoring me. "

Annoyance creeps into his voice and a frown covers his lips.

"Oh, that. I wasn't ignoring you. " I tell him and he lifts his brows in silent questioning. I proceed to say,

"I was busy, and didn't have time to check my phone. "

"And this morning?" He persists.

"I haven't checked my phone, Dan and I wasn't ignoring you, I promise. Why would I do that?"

"Maybe you regretted that date. " He raises a shoulder and I shake my head. "I told you I had fun. "

Dan nods and steps to my side. "With you, I can never be sure, Eva. It's as exciting as it's frustrating. "

"Weird, isn't it?" I tease him and Dan nods again.

There are seconds of silence before he speaks again. "So tonight?"

I repeat his word. "Tonight?"

Dan smiles. "Can I have you for tonight, Eva Carson?"

A smile creeps to my face, but I clear my throat and tip my chin. "That depends on how nicely you ask,

Daniel. "

There's this look that appears on his face after my words and I can't seem to decipher it because it

disappears as soon as he opens his mouth to speak. "Please go on a date with me tonight, Princess.

I'll make it worth your time, I promise. "

A low laugh falls from my mouth. "You know how to beg, Dan. And yes, I'll go with you tonight. "

Dan shakes his head, his smile not leaving his lips as he says, "You make me do a lot of silly things,

Eva. "

"Isn't that the fun part? Experiencing things you've never before?" I lift my brows and he stares at me

with that deeper look of his before he nods. "I presume. "

I nod and look behind him. As if catching on to what I'm doing, Dan says. "He isn't here. I'm hurt, Eva.

You're looking out for Noel when I'm right in front of you. "

"Stop it. " I laugh through my words. "Just surprised he isn't here. You always seem to be together. "

Dan gives a small bob of his head. "We are, and you? Where's your pretty blue-haired?"

I fake a gasp and repeat his words. "I'm hurt, Dan. You're looking out for my friend when I'm right in

front of you. "

Dan breaks into a laugh and I follow before we walk away.

"Where's your class? I'll walk you there. " Dan asks as we take the path that leads through the hallways

and I shake my head in refusal. "That, you cannot do, Mister. We part ways here and we meet tonight. "

When he parts his lips to argue, I say, "Don't try to insist. "

Dan's lips curves and he nods, giving my shoulder a tight squeeze before he walks away. I watch as his

frame disappears before I twist my body to see Aliya walking towards me with Sage by her side.

The smile on my face wavers at the sight of Emerson driving into the campus and I turn away to walk to

class.

~

My phone beeps as I walk through the door and I drop my bag on the couch before retrieving my

phone.

Dan's text stares back at me.

DAN: A reminder that you got a date tonight.

I make my way to the kitchen as I type back a reply.

ME: I have an extremely good memory, Dan.

I hurl the phone into my back pocket as I pour myself a glass of water.

I down the liquid and with the tip of the glass attached to my lips, I turn around and jump at Emerson in

front of me; the glass slipping from my hold with the water running down my chest.

"Oh fuck, you scared me!" I snap at Emerson, staring down at my wet top before lifting my head back

to his face with a glare. "The fuck you looking at?"

"You're in my way. " His tone is flat, which is unlike him and my frown deepens as I study his features. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

No smirk, no smile and no taunt despite what just happened: something is wrong.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask him and he gives one nod. "You're in my way. " He repeats his earlier words

and I move to the side.

I watch as Emerson opens the fridge to retrieve a bottle of water before turning around and walking

right past me.

Hissing, I drop the glass on the counter and proceed to move towards my room.

I shut the door behind me and strip out of my clothes before heading to the bathroom.

I stand under the shower and let the water run down my body, soothing my skin and calming my nerves

before walking back into my room with a towel wrapped around my body.

Grabbing my earlier Jean to retrieve my phone, I smile at the new text from Dan.

DAN: Making sure you remember you got a guy waiting and you don't get busy unintentionally.

I shake my head as I type out a reply.

ME: The second time you're reminding me now? I won't stand you up, Dan.

I click the send button and throw the phone on the bed before walking to my closet to get dressed.

After settling with high waisted pants and an ash top to complement my hair, I grab my phone and

make my way out of the room.

Emerson is on the couch when I get to the living room and I grab my bag beside him; my eyes not

escaping the way he's focused on the screen in front of him.

I have no reason to tell him, and I doubt Emerson Ford actually cares, but the words slip through my

parted lips. "I'm heading out. "

Emerson gives a small nod and I give him one last glance before striding to the door.

My phone beeps with a new text from Dan. He sent a smiley and a bus emoji. I wrap my hand around

the doorknob, ready to walk through the door but I find myself turning back to the jerkass who's

currently ignoring me.

I should leave. I shouldn't care about him. He would be back to himself before I get back, but the urge

to return the favour he did for me that day overpowers the need to not care about Emerson Ford and I

find myself shutting the door to walk back to him.

"Talk to me. " I tell him, repeating his words from that day as I stand in front of him, blocking his view

and Emerson lifts his head to me. "I thought you were heading out?"

"I was, " I agree. "But you're acting weird, and it's no fun when you are this way. "

"When am I fun?" He lifts his brows and I shake my head. "That's not the point. I just want to know

what happened. "

"I didn't think you care that much about me, Carson. " A smug smile appears on his face and I roll my

eyes. "I don't. This is me returning your favour. "

Emerson seems to catch onto my words, and his smile drops. He looks away from me as he says, "I

don't need you to. "

"But I do want to. You're the last person I want to owe anything. " It's a white lie. More than that, I want

to know what went wrong with him.

"It's not something you can help with. " Is the response he gives and I nod. "But there must be

something I can do to make it better?"

Emerson remains silent as he watches me before his eyes fall to my body, roaming across the skin and

I suddenly feel hot under his gaze.

"Where?" He asks when he meets my eyes again.

"Out with a friend. " I tell him and he nods. "The guy from that night?"

I hum and Emerson gives another nod.

"Nothing?" I ask him the last time and when he gives no response, I sigh and make my way towards

the door. His fucking problem, not mine. I tried to—

"Actually–" Emerson's voice stops my thoughts from moving further and I turn to him. There's a tiny

smile on his face as he says, "There's something you can do to make it better. "

I raise my brows and he answers my silent question. "Come here. " With the tone he uses to speak

those words and the way he gestures so gracefully– my heart thumps in my chest and something tells

me I know what he's hinting at.

"You asked if there's something you could do. " Emerson says and I look at the door, knowing Dan is

waiting for me to make an appearance, yet I can't seem to move. Choosing between a guy I've been

enjoying my time with and an enemy I should give no shit about: I must be stupid because I go with the

latter and walk back to Emerson.

When I'm within his arm's length, he slides his arm around my waist to pull me to his chest. He pushes

the bag off my shoulder and keeps my phone to the side before gliding a hand to the back of my head.

Emerson meets my eyes when our faces are inches away from each other and something about the

moment tugs at my heart before he closes his lips to mine.

He guides me to straddle his lap and my hands lie flat against his naked chest as Emerson's hands

move to my ass and rock me against his growing cock; all the while we fight for dominance and

surprisingly, Emerson let me take the lead this time. Moving along with the guide of my mouth.

I groan against his lips and slide my hands up his chest before wrapping one around his neck while the

other remains on his chest. Emerson lifts me in his arms as he rises to his feet and starts to move us in

a direction I'm too occupied with his lips to care about.

I finally pull away when he shut a door and I'm only able to take one glance to realize we're in his room

before Emerson mashes his lips to mine again.

Unlike his usual game of push and pull in this intimate moment, Emerson says nothing as he brings me

to his bed. And he says nothing as he strips me out of my clothes. He says nothing as I do the same to

his clothes until we're naked to each other gazes and he says nothing as he pushes me to the bed to

meet my lips.

The words are at the tip of my tongue, the urge to push Emerson over his weird form pulls at my chest

but I shove it off to give him what I feel he needs.

Emerson says nothing as he retrieves a condom from the bedside and rolls it down his hardened cock

and he says nothing as he slowly rocks inside my wet pussy.

Emerson's insulting words doesn't follow as my whimpers and moans fill the space of the room. Grunts

only leave his lips as he reels me to my pleasure and he says nothing as we both move down from the

high.

He's silent as he pulls out of me to toss the rubber to the trash can beside the bed and I watch him with

rapid rise and fall of my chest.

The sex is as good as it's always been, but I find myself amazed at the thought that I actually missed

Emerson's taunt during it.

Emerson smiles as he moves back over me. "Thank you. "

"You're going softer, Ford. " I joke and he chuckles before pressing his lips to the middle of my chest.

"Thank you, Eva. " He repeats, the sincerity in his voice and in his words too thick to ignore. My throat

is dry and I'm at a loss of what to say so I go with a hum and a nod.

Emerson smiles again before he falls on me.

He lays his head on my chest and I let him.

He wraps his arm around my waist to bring me closer to his body, and I let him.

I give him the warmth I hope would soothe whatever he's going through and I let my hand fall to his

head, coiling my fingers through his curls.

I tilt my head back to have a better view and I smile at the peaceful look on his face.

And as I lift my hand from his head to his face, trailing a finger across his brows, I know this is another

side to Emerson Ford that he's showing me.

He has always been so guarded, the only expression I've always gotten off him is one of hate, and

now– I realize there's more to him than he seems and the more I peel each layer of his deeper self; the

more I seem to drown in the unwelcomed storm that's Emerson Ford.