I Hate You!

Summary: Eve is a stubborn girl who doesn't trust anything with a penis. She is a feminist and one crazy young woman with quirks that have attracted the handsome Julian. He has just moved to her apartment complex and has complicated her life with a bet where pride on both parts is at stake. Blackmail, hate, and passion mingle to create a this romantic comedy. More info. would spoil the weird plot.

A/N: The characters and events within belong to me. They are original to me as is the story, so please do not copy them because it is illegal.

This story will be written from the two protagonist's POV. I will try to keep the pattern even. That is in one chapter it is her POV and in the other his POV, but I may jumble it. At any rate I will clearly state the POV shift in a single chapter. This story began as an RP (that was never finished) between a good friend and myself and that is why there must be a shift in POV. That's how the story will flow better. Hope you enjoy it. Don't be shy and leave me feedback. Since this is told from ordinary people's perspective, some misuse of grammar will be intentional.

Prologue:

Carson City, Nevada; city of wonder. Yeah right, more like the city of the retired gamblers who still smoke five packs a day. You think that with all the news out there about lung cancer, people would think twice before wasting money on the cigarettes. But I guess intellect is something that is also lacking in the city. Take my trip to the new Wal-Mart down on West College Parkway for example. I ask one of the associates if they had the seven dollar Monopoly out in the back; they were all out on the rack, and guess what he brings me? Monopoly Deluxe with a price tag triple of the regular old Monopoly on sale; the one I had asked for. And like this little incident many, many more. You can ask for water and they'll bring you soda; life isn't so bad once you get used to being twice as explicit in your requests and very patient when you have to repeat yourself twice. The town has a few jewels here and there. One thing that I sure ain't missing is the rapists that popped out of nowhere each week in Miami. In fact Carson was pretty quiet, the criminal rate really low. You heard gunshots in Reno, but in Carson City, the only thing you might hear is the drunken laughter of some old hag hitting on the fella's at the local bar. You could get a good laugh going to the favorite casino of retired citizen's- The Carson Nugget. They had no money for food alright, but when the crossed the glass doors of the Nugget money would magically appear in their pockets. But I do have to admit their buffet is pretty sweet. Seven bucks on weekdays and fourteen bucks on the weekend because they offer sea food then. Heaven knows it takes a lot of time and effort getting fresh fish out here in the middle of nowhere.

Carson is a pretty short city. By the time you hit the good stores you're in Douglas County, passing the "Welcome to Carson City" sign on your way south of highway 350. I live at the very end of Carson if you're coming from the welcome sign down south, although to my reasoning I live at the beginning of Carson. After all when you get here the highway is dubbed "Carson Street" and is divided by North and South. Going to Vegas? Then you head South Carson. Going to Reno? Then you head North Carson. I live in the best apartment complex, that is, the one who still takes poor people. You see if there's one good thing about Parkway Plaza is that you can have a decent apartment and still be considered dirt poor. We have air conditioning, a little feature many residency here lacks. We also have pretty gardens. The green is so bright and so pleasing in the summer that you just want to jump out and swim in the grass. Of course nobody does, during that time over one thousands residents compete for space in one of our three "deluxe" pools. Heaven also knows if you want a good, clean bath you need to be the first one up on opening day after a cruel winter. After that I wouldn't be sure of the sanitary conditions. It's like a small little world here. The nice educated people live in the front buildings, facing West College Parkway. They need to be the good people, it's the first thing future residents see when they come in to apply. The shoe gunk lives in the back, on Broadleaf Lane. That's the street address my mail gets sent to. I'm sord of in between the good and the bad, the area otherwise known as "the tennis court." Right behind my apartment, I see the cute guys who aren't ghetto play tennis. A nice view to wake up to, so I'm not complaining.

I've been pretty lucky these past few months when it comes to neighbors. Last winter I had a drug dealer live below me, and I had to breathe in all her "cooking." So if I did something wrong during winter, I blame it on her. We battled for months to get her a nice eviction, until finally our prayers were answered and she left. Now that a married couple moved in, we only smell the scent of vanilla candles. Across from our neighbors below lives a disabled woman. She sometimes will scream in the middle of the night, but no one holds it against her. In fact we are protective of her, especially the married couple. The neighbors across from my apartment are hardworking college students with a passion for music. Aside from some love making once every blue moon, my sleep is untouched. In the end, I've adapted pretty well. I have more things than I ever had in my life. I pay my own bills and I sleep in my own bedroom. A nice change from sleeping in my crazy cousin's living room with my mom thrown on the floor like a dog and snoring like a bear. Life was treating me good indeed. But then he came along.

Chapter One: Getting To Know Your Neighbor.

My routine began quite like any other. My groan would echo through the room, joining my cell phone's charismatic alarm. My hand would reach under my pillow and my fingers would furiously press the buttons to shut it off. Then I would roll onto my back, whimper and ask the heaven's why I had to get up so early. The semester in college was almost over and I sure was looking forward to staying in, especially when the tempeture was a chilling fifteen degrees. Thanksgiving was just around the corner too. It would be my first turkey day away from my party family. Mom and I had moved to Nevada alone. By this time we managed to own a dog. A fiesty little Chihuahua that we named Tsuki; Japanese for moon. My boyfriend had given her to me some weeks prior. By now the boyfriend was more like the ex, we hardly saw each other and I was beginning to fall out of love with him. Many reasons for that, but that would take a separate story to explain. I stretched beneath the warm covers and comforters and opened my eyes. If it had been summer, I would be staring out my window to catch a glimpse of the cute guys playing tennis in the court behind my bedroom. My view was perfect and completely parallel to the court so I thoroughly enjoyed watching them play during those hot mornings. As usual my neighbors were yelling at each other. That was the ritual. At night they'd yell for pleasure and in the morning they'd yell for the hell of it. I swung my legs out of bed and sat up, rubbing my eyes gently with my fingertips. Once again, I had forgotten to remove my mascara. I sighed.

I let myself yawn before wrenching my bedroom door open and secluding myself in the bathroom. Everyone knows what happens there so I don't need to elaborate further. Once satisfied with that routine I got out of the bathroom and ran to my room, my body complaining for not having taken my robe in the first place. Damn, it was cold. Bitterly cold. I allowed myself to shiver as I hugged my robes and stilled for a minute, adjusting to the warmth. To my surprise when I headed out of my bedroom, this time to grab breakfast my mom wasn't anywhere in sight. I called for the puppy and when I didn't hear her little padding I frowned. Mom was never one to leave the house so early in the morning. Unless...

Cursing, I headed to the window in the living room and peeked through the vertical blinds. Sure enough there was mom, dragging some furniture she probably found in the trash. This was a pretty nice chair. With Tsuki in one arm, she looked like Superwoman hauling the obviously heavy chair through the snow covered lawn. If there was a furniture thrown out in good condition, trust mom to find it and bring it home. The complex opposite ours had acquired a new tenant. He was one pretty boy, I tell you. And he smelled like money. So why was such a man living in the best dump in town? It sure blew my mind. Then the situation got much worse. The pretty blond dashed out of his apartment and ran to my mom's aid. The idiot had jumped out in the freezing cold with no shirt on. Not that I was complaining, he had nicely toned arms and a god's chest. I shook my head and any dignity left my face when I saw him carry the chair and head up my flight of stairs. Mom was laughing and smiling and then a knock on my door. I was probably blusing a zillion shades of red. The new hot neighbor was helping my mom bring furniture from the trash bin. That was boderline degrading. Especially since I had seen the ride he sported. A brand new flamming red Porsche Boxster. My mom shouted something at him and I made a dash for my bedroom and shut the door as quietly as possible. Like hell would I face him in such embarassing conditions.

I heard the door open and his deep, masculine voice flooded the living room. My heart skipped a beat, I was a big fan of such deep sexy voices. I leaned closer to my door, pressing my ear to better hear. Not that I needed it, my hearing was as good as any canines.

"Put it there." my mother stated, in her deeply accented English.

"Alright. You know, if you want the other chairs I can bring them for you." he offered.

Oh great. Now he was going to help my mom bring the entire trash back home. I rolled my eyes and cursed beneath my breath.

"There was only one chair." mom said.

He laughed, "No. I mean... I own the set. I was the one who threw it out."

I fell to my knees, the embarassment taking over the air in my lungs. How could I ever walk outside again? Sure we were poor and I didn't mind, but I hated it when my mom blew her trash hunter cover. Especially to some guy who owned shoes more expensive than my car. I had heard a great deal about him from the women who worked at the management office. They loved to gossip and well, I was sitting there. It was rude not to listen right? Okay so maybe listening was the rude thing, so sue me. I liked gossip. The noise I made by falling must have caught his good ears because he asked my mom if there was another dog in the house. Must be true what they said about blond men and intellect.

"No. That must be my daughter." mom laughed, "She doesn't like to be woken in the morning."

"Ah. So she's lazy." he joked, "Can't blame her in this cold."

Mom laughed, "You crazy to go out without sweater."

In my mind he was crazy for more reasons than I could count but I wouldn't argue this fact to myself. I sighed heavily and just waited until he left. But the situation was not about to end.

"If you don't want chairs, I'll take them." mom said.

If there was one thing about my mother it was her ability to ask for the most bizzare things with a straight and seemless face. Here she was literally taking the man's chair set and she didn't even care. In fact if he wouldn't have offered she would have surely asked. I slapped my hand against my forehead and asked heaven to fix the lose screws in my mother's head.

"You know. I'm getting a new table too. So why don't I bring you the chairs and the table?" he offered.

"Oh that wonderful."

My mom's English got worse when she was happy and sometimes she would end the rant in Spanish. It was like early Christmas for her now. I could hear the blond chuckle, and in that chuckle he beared amusement. Who the hell was he to amuse in my mom's insanity? Only I had the right to do that! Oh, but I would show him.

"Let me get my daughter to help."

"It's okay, m'am. Don't wanna disturb the sleeping princess." he said mockingly.

Mom was too naive in English sarcasm to catch the pun, but I sure as hell wasn't. I stood up in a fit, swung the doors to my closet open and put on my jeans and two wool sweaters. I ran to the mirror to comb my honey brown hair back into a ponytail, brushing my thick bangs straight. I applied lipgloss, more for protection from the cold than to show off my very full lips to some prick.
I slid my socks on and sighed before twisting the doorknob of my bedroom and walking out with a smug look on my face. He was so much taller now but a few feet away from me. I estimated he was over six feet tall. His back was to me until my mother smiled and introduced me.

"That my daughter." she said proudly.

I arched my brow at him, "Got a Tarzan complex, blondie?"

He whipped around and stared at me for a moment, looking me over. I glared at him and at this gesture he smirked, "Didn't know the cell phone addict girl who walks around here everyday was the daughter of such a nice lady."

Did he just call me a cell phone addict? "Excuse me?"

"I've seen you around." he smiled, "Always talking on your little phone."

"Yeah, she sleeps with it too." mom added, much to my displease.

"That boyfriend must be a real talker." he smirked, never taking his eyes off mine.

What an arrogant little- "She no have a boyfriend." mom laughed.

I looked at my mom, shooting unsharpened daggers at her and scoffed, "I don't feel like complicating my life that way."

"My name's Julian." he said, extending out his hand to me.

Reluctantly I took it, squeezed it with all my might and let it go. He seemed more amused by the second. He then turned to my mom and shook her hand.

"My name is Cindy." mom said.

Julian turned to me, "And your name?"

I rolled my eyes, "Eve."

He nodded his head. "Okay, Mrs. Cindy. I'm going for the rest of the chairs. I'll be back in a minute."

"Eve, go with him."

I shook my head. Mom narrowed her eyes at me, "Go."

I grumbled my way out of the door, following the speedy blond. He waited for me at the base of the stairs and leaned against the cold wall. "You don't have to help me." he whispered.

"Look. I just hate my mom's little odd quirk about picking up good trash." I confessed, much to my surprise and his.

"I don't mind. I'm getting new furniture anyways. I swear I'm healthy and that the chairs are clean."

"Not like it matters. My mom will wash them anyways." I mumbled.

He chuckled and we headed out and I noticed there was a little sprinkling of snow. I shivered, feeling the air creep through my jeans, chilling my legs to the bone. Julian sneezed and then he sneezed three more times. Damn, just what I needed. To hold in my mind the death of another hottie who didn't appear to be gay at all. I sighed and dared to place my warm hands on his back, pushing him faster towards his complex just a few feet across from mine. We walked up the stairs and he opened the door to his apartment. The furniture was leather, expensive, and very modern. There were still scattered boxed around. I sneezed at the intake of dust and he just grinned at my sensitivity. The living room and dining area were ajoined so there wasn't much walking to do. He had rented a two bedroom apartment and this caught my attention. He pointed at the chairs and arched his brow, standing in the hallway that led to the bedrooms. This apartment was no different in positioning than mine.

"I'm going to put on a jacket." he said.

"Good idea, blondie."

"Call me Julian."

I nodded my head absently, and waved my hand in dismissal. Sure, I was being fresh but I somehow couldn't bring myself to respecting this guy. Even if my body was appreciating the beauty of his and even if he was probably the most gorgeous looking man I had ever seen. Until now I hadn't taken a close look at him. That is until he came back out with his leather jacket. He sat on one of the chairs destined to my apartment and gave me a look that literally knocked me off my balance. His eyes were the most mesmerizing shade of gold, which was commonly referred to as hazel. His hair was longish and cut in sharp layers. His long bangs following well over those beautiful eyes. I could tell he wasn't a bleached blond, he was the real deal. His jaw was perfectly square and masculine, yet so insanely beautiful. His nose perfect and straight and his lips full, perfect for kissing. I mentally slapped myself for allowing my thoughts to stray south. He was smirking at me by the time I realized I must have been staring for minutes at his physical perfection.

"Like what you see?"

"Shove it up your ass."

He laughed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, "You're cute."

"Cute?" I asked distastefully.

He nodded, "You don't want to be cute?" he teased, "You wanna be a sex symbol. Be worshipped by all men..."

I arched my brow. "Sorry, you're two cups sizes below the requirement for that title."

I glared at him, "Just who the hell do you think you are?"

He chuckled, "I like seeing you all fired up." he leaned closer into my face, "Now that is sexy."

I backed away smirking, "Listen blondie... sorry to burst your overgrown ego, but... I don't like you. You're a snob."

He narrowed his eyes at me, "Who are you to judge how I am?"

I pointed at his attire, "I know expensive when I see it."

He grinned, "I spend all my salary on possessions. So sue me."

"Salary?" I laughed, "And what do you do for a living?"

He smiled at me, "I work on computers."

I didn't quite believe him, but I let it slide. It wasn't my business and I had no idea how the conversation had gotten to where it had. I stood up. "Come on."

We began our work taking the chairs from his apartment to mine. Then finally we took the table and by that time my hands were sore and I was out of breath. He helped my mom settle the new furniture in the corresponding place in the dining area and then the other task was throwing the old set out. Not too hard of a task and Julian did it on his own. A feather weight table and two chairs were all that needed to be thrown. Once he did that he came back to make sure that nothing else was needed of him. My mom thanked him over one hundred time and then snapped her fingers. I rolled my eyes knowing what was coming. She turned to me and smiled.

"Dile que se quede a tomar chocolate caliente con nosotras y asi estrena la mesa con nosotras."

I sighed and turned to Julian, "She said to stay and have some hot cocoa with us... so you can... have the honor of being the first to sit in our new chairs."

Julian smiled and bowed his head at my mom. The gesture surprised me. I expected it to come from someone who was Asian, he sure did it in that manner. I arched my brow as he held the seat out for my mother after she had made the hot cocoa and offered her famous Dulce de Pan. Julian seemed to be familiar with the dessert for he complimented her with knowledge on the recipe that even I didn't know. He had held the chair out for me too and I sat dazed upon hearing his squeaky perfect English. My mother was just as awed for she understood every single word that escaped his lips. Now that I listened closely, I noted a very faint accent that sounded a little like British. My mom spared me and asked him where he was from. The answer surprised us all.

"Canada." he smiled, "Which is why this temperature is nothing for me."

I hated to admit, but his conversation was interesting. The man knew how to talk that was for sure. My mom was shooting out all the questions which I reluctantly admitted I was thankful for. Knowing your enemy is half the battle.

"I'm German." he admitted, taking a sip from the mug, "My father is a retired general although that is not his only business. He's really an expert in telecommunications which has been the family business for many generations."

Family business. My intuition and gut told me that's where the money to pay for his fancy car came, but it really didn't matter. Money only interested me when I had to pay bills and so far in my twenty years of life I never had a problem paying them. I smiled a little, being able to hear the comments of my friends if they knew about this neighbor. The vast majority would push me into his arms just for his looks. Then half of those would lock me in a bedroom with him just for his money. But being an alien when it came to what lured me in a man, I would not jump on him for any of those reasons. In fact he seemed far too superficial to satisfy my taste in deep and intellectual men. My mom picked up the mugs and plates and secluded herself into washing them as I walked Julian to the door. Before I could protest he had pulled me out and shut the door. The frigid air burning my cheeks.

"What the hell was that for?" I protested.

He smirked, a gesture he did often and that looked damned sexy, "There's something about you that I like."

I laughed sarcastically, "That I'm not drooling over you?"

"Is that something you're supposed to be doing?"

"Very funny." I countered, "I know your type. Not interested."

"What's my type?" he asked, holding me against the door.

Oh yeah I felt chemistry alright. It was so obvious between us that I could see the sparks when he touched me. This was the kind of guy that could make any girl lose her mind, her pants, and her dignity. Aside his looks he had that arrogance that was so damned appealing to me. I cursed myself for letting it manipulate me.

"You're the type that's always used to getting what he wants." I paused to narrow my eyes, "When he wants... and how he wants. But I'm not that weaklings you've dealt with. You don't even know who I am and you're trying to bed me."

"Mighty confident are we?" he asked, "Didn't I tell you that you're two cup sizes under the requirement for such sentiments?"

"I bet you're also under the fantasized size of what a man's length should be." I smirked, looking between his legs, "Not a whole lot there to begin with."

He glared at me, that hurt his ego straight up, "Do you want to make a bet, Eve?"

"What could you offer me that would interest me when you lose?"

He chuckled, "You were right about one thing." he paused to whisper the rest in my ear, "I get everything that I want. I'm willing to give you whatever you want if you lose."

"What's the bet?" I asked, my breathing coming harsh, his weight was crushing me against the door.

"You'll like me by the end of the year." he smiled and his lips brushed my ear.

I shivered, "You're on blondie. You're gonna be one sore loser."

As if satisfied with my answer he removed himself from me and began descending the stairs. He looked over his shoulder once down and smirked again, "We'll work on prizes later."

And that was how it began. The silent war with Julian the German blond. That day I laid in bed and had a conversation with my other self. My alter ego if you would. I named her Eva. Well, in truth I named everything. Even my butt cheeks have names, but those I ain't revealing. Eva always had the most brilliant ideas when it came to male torture.

You've really done it now, Eve.

You're supposed to help not complain. You always like to chew 'em up.

Very true. And I don't like this ones arrogance. Who does he think he is?

A spoiled rich brat.

Ooooh, he's rich is he?

That's what I suppose.

Think we can bet your Academy tuition?

That could be a possibilty. Sounds funny somehow.

You have to get something out of it.

His defeated look sounds enough.

Tell you what. I'll handle this... you'll see how we'll both win with this.

My alter ego was a cruel bitch. She didn't care for feelings and all that mattered was winning. I seldom let her loose because she caused me a lot of problems that could never be fixed. But for this punk, I'd risk it. It seemed to me that if I let my bitch side handle the case then it would be a sure ass win. Little did I know the surprise I had in store for me. It's funny how destiny has a very twisted sense of humor.

To be continued. Not edited for minimal/major errors as of Jan. 29th 2006.