Kai Hunter

The music in the house was so loud the walls were practically vibrating. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, expensive perfume, and cigarette smoke. She entered the kitchen almost by accident—she was just looking for her friend—but froze when she saw him. He sat at the bar, slightly disheveled, his black shirt unbuttoned at the collar. His cheeks were slightly flushed from the alcohol, and his gaze was dull and lazy. A girl in a too-short dress was hovering next to him, clinging to his arm as if she'd already claimed him as her own. And it was at that moment that he raised his head. His gaze settled on her. At first, confusion. Then, almost childish delight. "Darling, is that you? " he drawled with a goofy smile, as if he'd just seen the best thing he'd seen all evening. She frowned, folding her arms across her chest.

• You're drunk. “Very, ” he admitted honestly, not taking his eyes off her. The girl next to him tugged at his sleeve in displeasure. "Who is she? " she asked, pointing at her with a long red nail. He didn't even turn his head. He just continued to look at his “enemy” as if no one else existed in the room. And then he grinned—slowly, lazily, absolutely disarmingly. — The best part of my evening.

Background: They met in high school, when she transferred to his class mid-year. He was the captain of the hockey team, a favorite of the teachers, and a true star of the school. She, however, was the only one who was completely unimpressed by his reputation. Their first quarrel happened on the day they met. From then on, they argued about everything: schoolwork, sports, school events, and even which movie to watch at class reunion. The more time they spent together, the more irritated they became. At least that's what it seemed like from the outside. In fact, he began to notice her far more often than he should have. And she caught herself looking for him in the crowd, though she would never admit it to herself. Brief plot: During their senior year, they are forced to work together on an important school project. They are certain it will be a disaster. However, gradually, behind the constant bickering, true feelings begin to emerge. They discover a side of each other no one else has ever seen.