I Hate You...I Think Page 3

  "Well, I was going to do that regardless," he smirked. I was beginning to hate that smirk. He led me to the door and peered out then ushered me into the hall locking his classroom door. I waited impatiently. Kimmy is in class right now and wouldn't be out until later. I'm sure she'll want to hang out. Pulling my phone from my pocket I saw I had a new text from Kimmy.

  “Going on a date tonight. Hope you don't mind."

  I frowned. This is the one time I wish she didn't have a date. After texting her it was fine I snapped my phone shut, shoving it in my pocket as I followed Oliver out of the building to the parking lot. In the parking lot there were two guys standing by a car. I knew they were some of Oliver's friends. The nice guy that always smiled at me was one of them.

  "Took you long enough," the other remarked. Oliver shrugged.

  "This is, Ever. Ever, this Jake and Eien," Oliver told me getting into the driver seat. Jake was the nice guy. He opened the passenger door for me. I climb in thanking him. Jake and Eien then got in the back.

  "Why's she coming with us?" Eien demanded. And, I thought Oliver was a jerk.

  "She's going to make dinner for us tonight," Oliver smirked.

  "What!" I yelled. "You didn't say anything about that," I glared at him.

  The three laughed. Oliver made a kissy face at me. I gritted my teeth and sat back in the seat crossing my arms.

  "Freaking jerk," I grumbled. That got a few more chuckles.

  "Just letting you know. I can't cook for nothing. So have fun eating whatever I make," I smirked not looking up at him. I could cook but I wasn't going to tell them.

  "I'm sure the cat will eat it. If not we'll use it for fertilizer," Oliver laughed. Turning to face him I reached out and punched him in the arm as hard as possible. Eien and Jake stopped breathing all together. Oliver looked at bit shocked and impressed.

  "Damn, you punch hard," he rubbed his arm. "I'm quite impressed, Ever. Maybe you'll practice with us tonight," he grinned.

  "Practice?"

  "You'll see," he said softly. We went to the grocery store. Oliver shut off the car and hopped out. Grudgingly I got out too.

  "What if someone sees us?" I growled looking around the parking lot. Jake wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

  "Who says you’re with Oliver? You could be with me," he winked. Oliver frowned at him. I shook my head. What have I gotten myself into? Who the hell are these guys?

  The grocery store was all but empty.

  "What can you make?" Oliver asked looking up and down the aisles.

  "Food," I told him sarcastically.

  "Really? What a coincidence I like food," Jake replied back with sarcasm as well. I laughed a little.

  "Come on we haven't got all night," Eien grunted.

  "Fine, grumpy ass. I can cook Alfredo, and mash potatoes and stuff. Whatever you want."

  Oliver smacked me in the back of the head.

  "What was that for?" I smacked him back. Jake and Eien looked at me like I was crazy. I guess not many people can hit Oliver back and get away with it.

  "For lying. Here." Oliver started throwing stuff in the basket he was pushing. Mash potatoes, macaroni, and chicken, everything I needed.

  "How many people are going to be eating?" I wondered watching him fill the basket. Did he really expect me to cook all that?

  "About seven," Jake said counting people off on his fingers.

  "Seven!" That's a lot of people!

  "Yep, and it better be good to," Oliver told me elbowing me in the side. I shoved him to the side. Jake and Eien watched us apprehensively.

  Once Olive had paid for all the food we carried it out to the car and placed it in the trunk, then we were back on the road again. He went a little ways down the street. We were pretty close to the club. It was just a street over. Pulling into a driveway of a two story house, Oliver shut off the car and got out. Grabbing a few grocery bags I followed them awkwardly. There wasn't anyone else in the house as far as I could tell.

  "Everyone will be here at seven. So start cooking," Oliver told me. I grimaced at him. Oliver was an annoying jerk. The boys left me alone in the kitchen to go into some other part of the house. Cursing under my breath I started unpacking the food and stuff.

  "Freaking stupid jerk. Why do I have to do this? Why can't he just leave me alone?" I grumbled under my breath searching the kitchen for things I needed. I fixed two large containers of Alfredo and placed it in the oven and turned on the timer.

  Looking through the bag I seen Oliver had got some brownie mix to. I mixed that in a bowl and dug around for another pan, poured it in while making the boiling water for the macaroni and mash potatoes. Forty-five minutes later I pulled the two Alfredo pans and tossed it up on the stove, shoving the brownie pan into the oven afterward.

  Turning around I caught sight of Oliver, Eien, Jake and few more guys standing at the doorway. I jumped about a foot in the air.

  "Can I help you?" I pursed my lips annoyed.

  "It smells goods," Oliver commented with a smirk. They all look like they were starving.

  "It's not done, so get out," I told them. I picked up a wooden spoon I had been using to stir mash potatoes and pointed it toward them. Chuckling, they moved away from the doorway. I turned back and was finishing up with the mash potatoes, when the front door opened.

  "What’s up?" A guy yelled in a goofy tone.

  "Damn, something smells good," Another called. A few faces popped into the kitchen.

  "Out!" I demanded pointing at them with my wooden spoon.

  I heard Oliver laugh. "In here guys. She might beat you with her wooden spoon."

  The guys nodded or winked at me and headed off to where ever Oliver was. Everything was done now except the brownies, it was all just hot. I placed all the bowls on the counter in the center of the kitchen.

  "It's ready!" I called out. A whole crowd of boys came running into the kitchen. I pressed myself into the far corner as they stampeded around me to get food.

  "Wait!" Oliver told them sternly. Everyone froze.

  "Guys, this is, Ever. You remember her from last night. It would be nice if you said thank you instead of trampling her."

  All guys turned to me and I felt my cheeks get hot. There was a various thank you or thanks from all of them.

  "You’re welcome," I muttered. They went back to filling their plates and pushing one another. The stove timer went off and I pushed a few of the guys out of the way so I could open it.

  "Shoo," I scolded Jake as he hovered around the stove. I grabbed a glove and pulled the brownies out. All movement stopped behind me instantly. I sat the first tray on the stove then the next one. Jake was closet to me. He stared at the brownies drooling a little. They acted like they've never had brownies before.

  Eien popped up next to me reaching out to grab one. I smacked his hand with my wooden spoon. He let out a strangled cry of surprise and yanked his hand back.

  "There hot!" I scolded. "Did you not just see me pull it out of the oven?"

  Eien frowned at me.

  "You can have one when you have ate everything on your plate. Not sooner," I informed them feeling like a mother scolding her children. They groaned and dispersed out of the kitchen into the living room. Oliver was the only one left in the room.

  "Very motherly of you," he grinned. I shrugged not really wanting to talk to him. I half wanted to go home, but I was curious about these guys. Man, my curiosity is going to get me into trouble.

  Oliver made a plate and handed it to me. I took it giving him a look. There goes his weird mood change again. He made himself a plate and guided me out of the kitchen into the living room. I was surprised to see, well more hear, that no one was speaking all their mouths full of food.

  "I don't think I have ever seen you guys so quiet," Oliver remarked.

  "This is the most amazing food ever," a guy I had yet to know spoke with his mouth full of food.

  "Don't speak with your mouth full. That's bad manners," I scolded.
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  "Yes, ma'am," he told me after he swallowed. I nodded approvingly. Oliver sat down in a black leather chair. Some sat on the floor. There wasn't anywhere to sit but on the ground next to Oliver's chair. I sat down crossing my legs. They all glanced at me occasionally, but overall it was silent.

  "I finished, can I have a brownie," the same guy I had scolded for eating with his mouth open, asked.

  "Sure..."

  "Oh, I'm Logan, by the way," he said holding out his hand. I shook it and he smiled then bolted out of the room to get a brownie. I heard an “ohhh...man”, and then Logan came back in with two brownies in his hands.

  "These are amazing," he groaned taking another bite. I laughed as he shoved it in his mouth.

  "Logan, dude chill on the brownies," Eien warned.

  "Maybe we should introduce her to everyone else since she's going to be around more often," Jake told Oliver. He nodded at looked up to the guys.

  "Err...I'm Alex," the first one started. He had blond almost white hair. All of them were wearing all black like last night.

  Alex pointed to the guys next to him.

  "Jet and Tyler. They’re brothers obviously."

  Jet and Tyler were Asian they had the left side of their head shaved and the other side was long. There were green streaks through Jet's and silver through Tyler's. At least that way I could tell them apart.

  "Eien is over there," Alex told me jerking his thumb to Eien who was sitting on the couch next to Logan. Eien had very short black hair with a red streak through it. He didn't even look up at me. Logan grinned at me with a mouth full of brownies. His dark brown hair falling over his eyes reminded me so much of a young child.

  You know Logan and then Jake and of course Oliver," Alex added.

  "Um...nice to meet you all," I told them awkwardly.

  "What do you mean she's going to be around a lot?" Eien asked. He's so crabby. It's annoying.

  "It means exactly that, Ever is going to be around a lot," Oliver told him in a hard voice. Eien lowered his head and nodded.

  "It's not like I have choice," I muttered glaring at Oliver. The group gave me apprehensive looks. They looked between Oliver and I. Oliver is clearly the leader of this little “gang” and not many people talked back to him, I concluded.

  "Let's head down stairs and start practicing. The tournament is coming up and I want us all to be ready," Oliver told everyone standing up.

  "She's staying?" Logan asked bewildered.

  "Am I staying? Can't I go home now?" I groaned.

  "Nope. How would you get home anyways?" Oliver smirked.

  "Walk," I told him in a duh tone.

  "That's probably a long walk. What if Jason finds you?" He raised his eye brow. I pursed my lips at that.

  "That's what I thought," he smirked again leaving the room. Sighing, I turned back to my now empty plate.

  "So...your names, Ever?" Alex asked. I looked up at him the six of them were looking back at me.

  "It's Everlyn...I know, it's kind of a stupid name," I told them softly.

  "Nah, not stupid. Just...unusual. I like usual," he grinned. I smiled back.

  "Come on," Oliver insisted entering the room again. He held his hand out for me. I took it and he pulled me off the ground and took my plate from me and placed a brownie in my hand. Hmm...I like nice Oliver. It's the smirking annoying side I don't like.

  "Thanks," I told him.

  They lead me down stairs to the basement. It was like a gym. There were weights and punching bags. One side was a fighting ring. There were benches around it.

  "I don't really even want to know but since you insist on me being here. Would you care to explain..?" I gestured around the room. "Like who is Jason anyways. Why is he a douche bag and what the hell's going on?"

  Oliver gave me a lopsided grin, just like the first night we met. I wonder how I had never met him at the club before the other night.

  "Well, while they train. I'll tell you a bit about what's going on. Not everything though."

  "K..."

  The others moved off to the gym stuff. I was caught in awe as I watched Jet and Tyler practicing with the punching bag. They spun, kicked, jumped, and punched. It reminded me of the classes I took when I was little but I could never hope to be as good as them.

  "So what do you want to know first?" Oliver asked sitting on the bench near the fight ring.

  "What are you guys practicing for?"

  "Tournament," Oliver said simply. I gave him a look. He grinned.

  "All I'm going to say is it's like UFC but underground. Fighting for money and stuff, but it's a lot rougher. There's less rules. More blood," he shrugged.

  "That's dangerous. What if you get hurt?"

  He smirked down at me. "You care if we get hurt?"

  "I care if anyone gets hurt...well except that dude from the other night, Jason. By all means kick him in the teeth," I shook my head. I did not like that ass wipe.

  Oliver chuckled along with Jake who was close by.

  "That's why we’re going to the tournament, aside from the money. Oliver wants to beat Jason's face in, or as you suggested, kick him in the teeth," Jake smiled.

  "Okay, that aside why do you insist on being annoying? I wasn't going to tell anyone. I'm not even legal to be in a club anyways," I told Oliver.

  He looked shocked. "How old are you?" He demanded.

  "Don't get you panties in a twist. I'm nineteen."

  Jake burst out laughing hard. "Who says that anymore?"

  "Oh shut it," I kicked him in the shin hard. He stopped laughing instantly and jumped back.

  "Gahhh!" He yelled hopping around on one foot. "That hurt!"

  The other guys stopped what they were doing and looked over curiously.

  "Why do you all keep staring at me like that?" I groaned annoyed.

  "Cause, not many girls can hit or kick that hard. Your punches are quite strong. Have you ever trained before?" Oliver asked amused.

  "My dad put me in a few classes to learn Kuk Sool Won, when I was younger," I shrugged.

  "Nice," Jet and Tyler said at the same time.

  "What is that?" Jake asked confused.

  "It's a traditional Korean Martial Art. It covers body conditioning, weapons training, and mental development," Jet said proudly.

  "It's meant for self-defense," Tyler added.

  "Thank you, for that intriguing description," Eien replied in an extremely bored tone. Tyler and Jet shot him a look.

  "What level are you?" Jet asked looking back at me.

  "I was close to achieving 1st degree black belt..."

  Jake whistled. "Sounds impressive. Why didn't you get it? And, why didn't you fight off Aaron in the alley if you could?"

  "Well, it's been a long time since I have fought, and did you not see him. He lifted me off the freaking ground. I thought he was going to break me in half," I ignored his other question completely.

  "That’s awesome, Ever. Will you show us some moves?" Jet asked.

  "Err...umm..." I had been in it for a while when I was younger. My dad took me. He liked watching me practice, he was always there to encourage me, but stopped going altogether after he got sick.

  I spent every moment taking care of him while my mom went out and got drunk. Now that he's gone, she stays drunk. It brought back some painful memories talking about it, but now that I mentioned it, I might as well. I'm not about to tell them why I wouldn't want to.

  "Okay...” I muttered. "What do you want to see?"

  "How about me and you get in the ring? I'll go easy on ya," Jet grinned.

  "Okay," I shrugged. Jet bolted to the matted area. I stood and followed him. The others gathered around. I felt like I was in a display case the way there were all staring at me. Oliver had a look of amusement plastered on his face. I looked back at Jet.

  He didn't say anything but jumped at me. It was like someone flipped a switch in my brain and the two years of training came back to me instantly. Jet grabbed the front of my shi
rt. I twisted my arm around his breaking his grip then clamped my hand around his arm. Knocking his legs out from under him, I twist his arm dropping him instantly. It all happened in a matter of seconds. Jet rolled over and jumped back up.

  "Nice," he approved.

  "Wow...it's been a long time."

  "You only know defensive though right?"

  "Well, it could be attack if I so choose, but I don't want to hurt you."

  Jet chuckled. "I promise you’re not going to hurt me, Ever. Let's go again. Don't hold out on me okay."

  Jet launched at me again. I dodged but he grabbed me and wrapped his arm around my throat. I slammed my elbow back into his stomach and grabbed his arm twisting it and kicked him in the stomach then spun kicking him in the chest. Jet fell over backward hitting the ground.

  He jumped up instantly not even using his hands. He sent a spinning kick at my head. I ducked and swept his legs out from under him. Before he hit the ground he did a back flip, and landed in a crouching position. I was still crouching as well. Just from that little bit I was out of breath. I plopped over on my butt.

  "Out of breath already?" Jet laughed.

  "It's been twelve years since I have done any of this, so kiss my ass," I told him breathing hard. Olive walked out into the ring and held out his hand for me. I took it and he pulled me off the ground.

  "Why don't you go sit down," he told me. I nodded and headed for the bench. I pushed Jake over and sat down.

  "Jeez, pushy much," Jake teased. I grinned innocently at him. Oliver and Jet started after each other about that time. Oliver clearly had the upper hand. Not a single one of Jet's punches and kicks landed. Oliver dodged everything then just when it looked like Jet was about to collapse Oliver went after him. Jet couldn't dodge. He was sluggish. I hid my face with my hands as Oliver sent a punch at Jet's face.

  Jake chuckled next to me. "He didn't hurt him."

  I peeked to see Oliver helping Jet off the ground. Jet was grinning and they high fived.

  "See what Oliver does is he makes his other opponent weak first then goes after them. Usually it works but Jason knows how he fights. Jason is Oliver's only real challenge. Come this weekend Oliver's going to beat him for the first time. They normally come up in a draw, but Oliver's been training more," Jake informed me as Eien and Logan took the ring. They were just about equal. No matter what Eien did Logan blocked it and Eien did the same to Logan. They really didn't get anywhere.