First Comes Hate, Then Comes Marriage

First Comes Hate, Then Comes Marriage

Chapter One

Kicking and Screaming

Summer. A time all kids, young and old, look forward too. No school no worries all freedom. Yeah not for me, for as long as I can remember I’ve been cursed to spend my summers with the spawn of evil. Dakota O’Malley. For 16 years that evil, punk has tortured me every summer, from flipping my skirts to locking me outside during a thunderstorm, his evil knows no bounds. But not this year, Oh, no! My parents will have to drag me kicking and screaming out of my room to even get me any where near that monster! And that’s a promise.

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“Lonnie! Come out of there this instant! I’m not joking young lady!” my dad banged at my door.

I dragged my eyes from the Seventeen magazines I was reading. If he keeps banging on my door like that, he’ll probably break it down. “But daddy, I’m sick. I don’t feel good at all.” I used my best sick day voice which has never failed me before.

“Like I’m going to buy that! No more than 25 minutes ago you were chatting it up with your friends on the phone. So you better open this door young lady! The O’Malley’s will be here any minute.”

Err. So he got me. I’m not really sick, I feel fantastic despite the fact I’ll be spending the next two months with Dakota…on second thought I think I’m starting to come down with a stomach ach . I hate Dakota! I don’t have a problem with his family, hell his parents have been Uncle James and Auntie Pree for as long as I can remember. It’s just him. He has no taste in music, he plays stupid pranks anytime he gets the chance, and not to mention how he looks. God, for the boy has all the money in the world, how hard do you honestly think it is to wear a clean shirt or to comb his hair? The last time I saw him he had gingered colored freckles on his goofy face and wild, crazy, curly hair.

“Lonnie! I mean it come out now!!” He hit the door once again, and then a few monuments later I hear his heavy steps going down the stair case. Thank god. Any more of that banging the door would have broke down.

I stood up and straighten out my baby blue sundress mom made me ware. I glanced at myself in my mirror, my long pale blonde hair went straight down to my lower back no curl insight, it took 40 minutes in front of a mirror with my mom’s and my sister’s help but it was worth it, my skin was clear and zit free and my grey eyes were out lined in a little bit of eyeliner. I may not like the kid but there is no way in hell I’m looking like a slob in front of him. Down stairs I heard the door bell ring and then a mad rush to go answer it.

Might as well go before dad starts yelling again. I walked out of my bedroom to the loft and lend on the rail.

“Michel it’s been so long!” Uncle James pulled my father into a tight hug, in reality they saw one another no more than 3 days ago to discuss ‘business’, yeah they been doing that a lot lately… “Business” huh, what could a doctor and a lawyer have to talk about ‘business like’?

“Pree, Love! How have you been?” My beautiful dark hair mother kisses the smiling redhead on the cheek. Mom and Pree go way back, back before they were even married to my dad or Uncle James. They went to school together and were Captain and Co-captain of the cheerleading squad.

“Splendid Catharine, just splendid! I’m so excided with this ‘business’ deal!” she grabbed my older sister. “Oh, hello, Cleo!! My look how lovely you look!”

My older sister Cleo hugged back and laughed, “Hello Aunt Pree thanks for the complement! Coming form you it means the world!”

The exchanged greetings and hugs, blah, blah. I looked for my enemy, Dakota. What’s this? Dakota isn’t here?! Oh thank the fates! Maybe He has summer camp, or even better, his parents found out how evil he is and they sent him to Juvenile Hall! Horary!

“Dakota? Well you come in here, boy? You don’t want to hurt Lonnie’s feelings do you?” Uncle James called outside. Damn it! Fates! You suck!

“Coming Father.” Dakota walked in. He looks different. He grew like a foot last time I saw him, his wild mop was now, shaggy and surfer like. His skin a darker tone and his freckles looked like they disappeared. His clothes were a nice grayish suit that brought out his fiery red hair and deep forest green eyes. Whoa… This is defiantly not the Dakota I remember.

“Oh, my, Dakota! You’ve grown up so much since last year!” My mom hugged him tight.

I’ll say. What happen to the cocky little brat? I watched as Dakota hugged my family. Then he looked up at me. For a seconded his green eyes went wide, all most in shock, and then his evil, cocky smirk appeared on his boyish face. The smirk that reeked of ego. Yup that’s Dakota alright. I smiled back, my enemy.

“Oh, is that you Lonnie?!” Aunt Pree giggled like a school girl. “James! Just look at her! She is all grown up!” Aww I love Aunt Pree! I made my way quickly down the stairs.

“My, she has grown. It must be so hard keeping the boys away, right Michel?” Uncle James laughed and nudged my father.

“You have no idea.” He sighed. Oh yeah right! He doesn’t even let me talk to guys on the phone it’s so medieval! When I reached the last step Aunt Pree rushed over and gave me the biggest hug ever, she literal squeezed the breath right out of me!

“Pree put her down before she turns blue!” Uncle James rescued me only to pick me up.

“Airplane!” We’ve been playing this game for as long as I can remember, Uncle James would pick me up and swing me round. Childish you say? Nonsense! It’s awesome! He swung me once then put me down. I gave him a great big hug! “Thanks Uncle James! That was so fun!” I giggled as he patted my head.

I turned to see Dakota, well I really didn’t just turn I had to look up too, quite a ways I might add, and man he got tall! I’m 5’4” so he must be at least 6’0”. “Hello Dakota. It is very nice to see you again.” I said in the sweetest voice possible, for my parents’ and Uncle James and Aunt Pree’s sake you see they don’t know Dakota and I hate one another. I stared hate rays at his boyish face.

“It is good to see you too, Lonnie.” He said in an equally honey voice, but his eyes flamed with death. He and I gave one another a quick hug then turned back to our parents. Who look oddly pleased with themselves? This is really weird.

“Well, why don’t you kids run off to the game room? While we old folks talk business.” My mom giggled. Okay, this is really weird. Dakota, Cleo and I head down the hall. “Cleo, love. We would like you to stay too.”

What the hell? I looked at Cleo, who raised her chin at me in a suspire fashion. Oh I’ll get her for that. Dakota and I made it to the game room; once the door was closed we’re allowed us to be how we really are. Dakota removed his tie and jacket, while I went to the radio and flipped it to a rock station. The song, ‘Stellar’, by Incubus came throw the speakers.

“God, Lonnie! Do we have to listen to that?” He moaned as he placed the billiard balls on the pool table.

Jerk. “Yeah we have to listen to it. One being; it’s an awesome song, Two; The music, if it can even be called that, sucks. And lastly Three; I hate you.” Trying to dis my music like all ways.

“Yeah, yeah .Are going to play or what?” he chalked up his pool stick I went to the wall and grabbed one. If there is one thing we have in common it’s our compositeness. When we play a game we always have to win, no matter what.

He went first and sank in the stripped number 4 ball. “So what have you been up too?” he asked casually, as he surveyed the table.

“Not much just trying to stay alive.” I leaded on my pool stick, “What about you?” He leaned over and got ready to hit the ball.

Just before he hit it, my stick ‘anciently’ hit his leg. Causing him to scratch.

He gave me the most intense hate glare; I think my face it about to fall off. “Oh to bad. My turn.” I smiled and went to the other side of the table, far form him. I leaned over, “4th ball, side pocket.” The ball went in fast.

“Just living day to day.” He rolled his neck, “Hey have your parents be acting weird lately?”

“Weird? Have you met them Dakota?” Seriously, my ‘rents are nuts! Like my dad, he once knocked out a clown because it scared me, and my mom made an officer cry because he gave Cleo a ticket under false pretences.

“I mean, really weird. Like my mom looks at me and she starts to get all misty eyed, and says weird stuff like, ‘my little man’ or ‘I can’t wait’.” I looked up at him like he was crazy. I always knew Aunt Pree was little out there, but that is just silly.

“Well, Dakota. She is your mother, and you’re her only child so when she sees you growing up she is bound to get a little emotional.” But come to think of it may parents have been doing stuff like that too. Like when I enter a room all the talking stops, or how dad is a little more protective of me. “But to be honest. Mom and Dad have been acting a little off. Like that ‘business’ thing. What is up with that? Or how they were looking at us in the hallway?” I leaned back down, “2, corner pocket.” It went in and hit one of the stripped balls.

“Nice shot. I was hoping they might have let you in on the ‘business’ thing, but it would appear you’re just as blonde as ever.” Bastard! Making fun of my hair color! Grr!

“You are so lucky that I happen to like this pool table, Dakota! Because if I didn’t trust me there wouldn’t be enough club soda in the world to remove that blood stain!” I leaned to sink the 5 ball into the corner pocket, pulling back on the stick when I felt cold air on my bottom. I screeched and scratched. I pulled down on my dress hem quickly! “God damn you, Dakota!! Go to hell!!”

He smiled at me impishly, “To bad. My turn.” He chuckled as he went around the table. That asshole! Who does he think he is lifting my dress like that! I’ll kill him! He leaned over to strike the ball, but looked up at me instead. His green eyes filled with laughter, “Oh and by the way Lonnie.” he winked, “Nice panties.”

That’s it its so on! I jumped up on the table and hurled myself on him. Kicking and calling him nasty names. He is so going down! In all the years I’ve know Dakota he has never beat me in a fight! And today is no different.

I felt a vise-like grip wrap itself around my waist and his weight push me onto the table with my hands over my head. Okay, I didn’t see this coming. When the hell did he get so effing strong? “Silly, Lonnie. Did you honestly think you could take me down?” he laughed out, causing him to talk with an Irish accent.

“Get off me now, Dakota! I swear to god I’ll scream ‘rape’ so loud the effing town will hear it! And stop taking steroids!!” I fought like a wild cat, but under his strength I was helpless, and that Irish bastard knew it too! If only I had one leg free…

“And once the town comes running to save you what will you tell them? That you attacked me first and thought to cause me bodily harm? I wonder what they’d say.” Damn it all he is right too! Bastard, bastard, bastard!

“Okay, maybe I won’t yell rape! But I promise you I will cause you bodily harm if you don’t let me up! RIGHT NOW!” In the back round I heard the song ‘Animal’ by Nickelback.

“Really? Because I have this strange feeling if I was to let you up right now, you’d kick my ass. And I honestly don’t feel like having my ass kicked by a little girl.” He was talking in an Irish accent the whole time and if you’ve know Dakota as long as I have you’d realize it was only when he was feeling evil.

“Oh trust me you’re going to get your ass kicked! Ether way so let me up now!!” I kicked or tried too. Hey, his freckles are still there! No focused Lonnie! Kick girl, kick like the wind!

“Will you be quite for a second? I like this song.” He smile wickedly, the song was at my favorite part.

We were park out by the tracks

We were seating in the back and

We start getting busy when she whispered

What was that? The wind, I think no one else

Knows where we are and that was the about

The time she started screaming that’s my dad

Outside the car! Oh please the key

They’re not in the ignition, must have fell on the

While we were switching our positions

I guess they knew she was missing as I tried to tell her dad

It was her mouth I was kissing!

Dakota’s was sing along in his Irish accent and evil smirk. Okay, if this was any other guy I think he had a major thing for me, but this is Dakota for god sakes! He is just being a major ass like always.

“Well isn’t this an interesting scene?” Came a girlish giggle that could only come form my elder sister Cleo. Dakota quickly let me go and turned to face Cleo, with her devilish blue-grey, and her short straight hair.

I pushed myself off the pool table and kicked Dakota in the shin! Punk! He so deservers to die! “You kids are so lucky, I was sent to get you and not mom or dad.” She chuckled, “but then again if they had seen this, it would have only confirmed what they think is right. Come on the ‘rents want to speak with you on an important matter.” She gracefully walked down the hall.

I kicked Dakota again but harder this time. “You asshole! What the hell do you think you were doing?” Die! Die! And burn in hell!

He looked down at me scornfully, “Shut up for a second, I forgot how freaking loud you can be sometimes. We have more important things on our plate right now. Like what the hell our parents are up too.” We walked after Cleo into the living room where our parents were having coffee and cake.

“Hello children!” My mother smiled so brightly. Aww my eyes!

I glanced at Dakota, “Did something good happen?” People are way to happy right now. I don’t like it at all. I looked around to see my father beaming with pride and Uncle James and Aunt Pree smiling much too hard for my liking.

“Oh yes, something wonderful!” Pree giggled. Okay this is really weird! What is going on here? I looked at Dakota again and he looked at me with the same confusion.

“Like what?” Dakota and I asked at the same time. Causing the parents to laugh. Like we just did something unbelievably cute when we were like 4 or something.

“Well we decided, as your parents what was best for you two.” My father cleared his throat.

“And we want to make you two happy. So we have been speaking to one another secretly about you two.” Uncle James took a bite of chocolate cake. I seriously don’t where this is going? Are they going to make us go to the same school? Or worst! Summer school!! God please not that!

“Okay really now! If you got something to say, why don’t you just say it and get it over with?” Dakota said gruffly, if wasn’t for my over all hatred for the boy I would have agreed, but since that pool table stunt he could be right 7 ways to Sunday, there is no way Id agreed.

Uncle James laughed gruffly, “Straight to the point like always. Okay we’ll come out and say it. For the longest time we’ve been talking about you two and your futures. Even we you two were toddlers.” Some much for getting to the point. I sighed out loud and Dakota nudged me. I glared at him throw the corner of my eyes and he glared just as hard back.

“Do you two remember when you’d play make believe, that you’d play house.” My mom reminisced. “You two where so cute together!”

Oh god, this is going to take for ever! I heard Dakota take in air sharply. Huh? What does he know that I don’t? “Okay, I’m over this. Will some please tell me what is going on? Because I have no clue!”

“Well, it’s simple really; we decided that you should get married.” Aunt Pree took a sip of coffee and avoided eye contact.

Huh? Married? Oh I get it! It’s a joke! A sick, sick joke! I nudged Dakota and winked, “Yeah Dakota. Why don’t we get hitched? Just like when we were kids.”

He blinked at me then smiled, “Yeah, why not. And we’ll have 6 kids.”

“Why stop at 6! 12 seem like a more reasonable number!” We both started to laugh but that quickly faded when we realized no one else was laughing. My mouth went dry. “You’re kidding right?” I felt my mouth quiver. “This is a joke right? I mean you can’t serious?”

No one said anything. Oh my god! They aren’t joking this is real! “Is this even legal?!?!?” I demeaned.

My mother looked very uncomfortable; “Well in some countries it is…” she trailed off.

“I mean in the United States! Not in Asia or Europe! And I’m not talking in Hicksville, U.S.A! There is no way this is legal! Dakota, help me out here!” I turned my anger on him.

“Lonnie’s right! You can’t make us do this! It’s not right!” Dakota fist clenched and unclenched; a tail-tell sign he was pissed.

“Do NOT raise your voices at us! We are doing this for your own good!” My father bellowed, “You two are just too stubborn to realize this is what you wanted! And we can do this because we ARE your parents and you two ARE getting married if we have to drag you two kick and screaming down the aisle!”

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Parents. Don’t you just love them?