The Girl I Can't Stand

The first thing I learned after my father married Annika Rodriguez's mother was that peace was overrated.

The second thing I learned was that having my longtime academic rival under the same roof was going to be a nightmare.

The third thing?

Annika Rodriguez could turn silence into a personal attack.

And somehow, she was even more annoying when she was standing in my kitchen, drinking coffee like she owned the place.

"You're in my seat."

I looked up from my phone.

Annika stood at the other end of the dining table, one hand wrapped around a mug of coffee and the other holding a book against her chest.

I glanced at the chair beneath me.

Then at her.

"Your seat?"

"Yes."

I looked around the enormous dining room.

There were twelve chairs.

"Twelve seats," I said. "And somehow, you decided this particular one belongs to you?"

"I've been sitting there for years."

"And?"

"And you're sitting in it."

I leaned back comfortably.

"Looks like you're going to have to choose another one."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Move."

"No."

"Rafael."

"Annika."

She placed her mug on the table with a quiet click.

"Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"

I smiled.

"Maybe."

"Why?"

"Because you're easy to annoy."

She stared at me for several seconds.

Then she pulled out the chair directly across from me and sat down.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Giving up already?"

"No."

She opened her book.

"I'm simply choosing not to waste my morning arguing with an immature idiot."

I laughed.

"Good morning to you too."

She ignored me.

That was Annika.

She didn't need to yell to make her point.

She didn't need to insult you loudly.

Sometimes, all she had to do was look at you like you were the biggest inconvenience she'd ever encountered.

And somehow, that was worse.

I took another sip of coffee.

She turned a page.

I watched her.

She turned another.

"You know," I said, "you could at least welcome me to my own house."

Her eyes lifted from the book.

"Your own house?"

"Yes."

She glanced around.

"My mother lives here now too."

I almost smiled.

"Exactly."

She frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Then stop smiling."

"I'm just getting used to the fact that you're living here."

"Trust me. I'm not thrilled about it either."

"Good."

"Good."

We stared at each other.

Neither of us looked away.

And somehow, in that moment, I realized something.

My house had never felt this crowded before.

Not because there were more people.

But because Annika Rodriguez was here.

And I had a feeling she was going to make sure I never forgot it.

"You're staring again."

Annika's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I blinked.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I was thinking."

"About me?"

The question came out so casually that I almost laughed.

But there was something different in her expression.

She wasn't teasing.

She was genuinely curious.

I leaned back in my chair.

"Don't flatter yourself."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Good."

She returned her attention to her book.

I should have done the same with my phone.

Instead, I watched her.

It was ridiculous.

I had known Annika for years.

Mas maikli at natural:

I knew her habits, her preferences, and the little things that annoyed her. I knew her better than I probably should all because she had been my rival for years.

At least, that was what I told myself.

"Stop."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Stop what?"

"Looking at me."

"I'm not."

She slowly lowered her book.

"You've been staring for almost a minute."

"Maybe you're imagining things."

"Maybe you're being annoying."

She sighed.

"Why are you like this?"

"Like what?"

"Insufferable."

I smiled.

"You missed me."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"I saw you yesterday."

"Exactly."

"That doesn't make sense."

"It doesn't have to."

She shook her head.

I noticed her lips twitch.

She was trying not to smile.

I pointed at her.

"There."

"What?"

"You almost smiled."

"I did not."

"You did."

"No."

"You absolutely did."

She looked away.

I grinned.

"Got you."

"You are unbelievably irritating."

"And yet you're still talking to me."

She gave me a look.

Then she stood.

"I'm going to class."

"It's barely seven-thirty."

"I know."

"Class starts at nine."

"I know."

"Then why are you leaving?"

"Because I need peace."

I laughed.

"You're in my house. Peace was never guaranteed."

She stopped.

Slowly, she turned around.

"Your house?"

I realized my mistake.

She crossed her arms.

"Right."

I sighed.

"Our house."

She nodded.

"Much better."

Then she picked up her bag.

"See you at school."

"Wait."

She looked at me.

"You forgot something."

"What?"

I pointed toward her coffee.

She looked at the mug.

Then back at me.

"That's yours."

"No."

She frowned.

"You were drinking it."

"Yes."

"Then it's yours."

"I don't want it anymore."

"Why?"

I shrugged.

"Too bitter."

She stared at me.

"You took my coffee?"

"I thought it was mine."

"It had my name on it."

I glanced at the mug.

Her name was written clearly across it.

ANNIKA.

I smiled.

"I didn't notice."

"Liar."

"Maybe."

She walked over, grabbed the mug, and headed toward the door.

Before she left, she turned around.

"Don't touch my things."

"Anything else?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"Stay out of my room."

I raised both hands.

"I wouldn't go anywhere near your room."

"Good."

She left.

I waited until I heard the front door close.

Then I looked at the empty chair across from me.

For some reason, the room suddenly felt quieter.

I frowned.

Why did I notice?

I shook my head.

This was getting ridiculous.

By eight-thirty, I was on campus.

The moment I entered the university grounds, Diego spotted me.

"There he is."

I walked toward him.

"Morning."

He looked behind me.

"Where's your new stepsister?"

I stopped.

"Don't call her that."

He laughed.

"Why?"

"Because it's weird."

"What's weird about it?"

"Everything."

He grinned.

"Still fighting?"

"Always."

"Good."

"Why good?"

"Because it means you two are still pretending you hate each other."

I stared at him.

"There's nothing to pretend."

"Sure."

I was about to answer when someone called my name.

"Rafael!"

I turned.

A group of girls from the basketball team were walking toward us.

One of them smiled.

"Great game yesterday."

"Thanks."

"You were amazing."

"Appreciate it."

She touched my arm.

"Are you going to the party Friday?"

"Maybe."

"You should."

"I'll think about it."

She smiled.

"Hope to see you there."

They walked away.

Diego watched them disappear.

Then he looked at me.

"See?"

"What?"

"You're surrounded by girls."

"And?"

"And Annika doesn't care."

I frowned.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Nothing."

He smiled.

"Exactly."

I shook my head.

"You're annoying."

"Learned from the best."

We started walking toward the academic building.

Then I saw her.

Annika.

She was standing near the stairs with two classmates.

She was holding several folders.

One of the guys beside her said something.

She laughed.

I stopped walking.

Diego noticed.

"Oh."

"What?"

"Nothing."

I started walking again.

"Why are you looking at her?"

"I'm not."

"You stopped."

"I didn't."

"You literally stopped."

"I was tying my shoe."

"You aren't wearing shoes with laces."

I looked down.

Damn.

Diego laughed.

"You're in trouble."

"I'm not."

"You are."

I ignored him.

We continued walking.

Annika noticed us.

Her expression immediately changed.

The smile disappeared.

"Morning," I called.

She sighed.

"Unfortunately."

"Missed me?"

"No."

"You're lying."

"Why would I miss you?"

"Because I'm charming."

"You're delusional."

Her classmates laughed.

I smiled.

"See you in class."

She rolled her eyes.

I walked past her.

But as I did, I noticed the guy standing beside her looking at me.

Then at Annika.

Then back at me.

He looked amused.

I didn't know why.

And for some reason, I didn't like it.

Our first class was Business Strategy.

Annika sat in the front row.

I sat behind her.

Not because I wanted to.

At least, that's what I told myself.

The professor walked in and placed a stack of papers on the desk.

"Today, we're going to divide you into pairs."

The room filled with complaints.

I didn't care.

Until the professor continued.

"And I will be choosing the pairs."

Annika glanced back.

Our eyes met.

I smiled.

She immediately looked away.

"Rafael Montero and Annika Rodriguez."

The room went silent.

Someone laughed.

Someone else whispered, "They're going to kill each other."

I looked at Annika.

She looked horrified.

"Sir," she said, "can we change partners?"

The professor shook her head.

"No."

"But—"

"No."

I leaned toward her.

"Looks like we're partners."

She turned around.

"This is your fault."

"My fault?"

"You probably bribed her."

I laughed.

"You think I'd bribe a professor just to work with you?"

"Yes."

"That's insulting."

"You deserve it."

The professor began explaining the assignment.

We had two weeks to prepare a business proposal.

The highest-scoring pair would receive extra academic credit.

I looked at Annika.

She was already taking notes.

"You know we're going to win."

She didn't look up.

"I know."

I smiled.

"Confident."

"Realistic."

"Same thing."

"No."

She finally looked at me.

"We're going to win because I won't let you ruin my grade."

I leaned closer.

"And here I thought you trusted me."

"I trust myself."

"Fair."

She went back to writing.

For the next hour, we worked.

And strangely...

We worked well together.

Too well.

She understood my ideas before I finished explaining them.

I challenged her assumptions.

She corrected my mistakes.

I improved her presentation.

She improved my strategy.

It was frustrating.

Because for once, I had to admit something.

Annika wasn't just smart.

She was brilliant.

And maybe that was one of the reasons I'd spent years trying to beat her.

She made me want to be better.

When class ended, she gathered her papers.

"Library after class."

I looked at her.

"You're inviting me?"

"For the project."

"Still counts."

"It doesn't."

"I'll take it."

She rolled her eyes.

Then she walked away.

I watched her disappear into the crowd.

"You're smiling again."

I turned.

Diego was standing beside me.

"Shut up."

He laughed.

At lunch, the basketball team was gathered around our usual table.

The conversation was loud.

Music played from someone's phone.

Everyone was talking about Friday night's party.

Then Diego brought up something else.

"So..."

I already knew where this was going.

"No."

He laughed.

"I haven't even said anything."

"I know."

"You're scared."

"I'm not."

"Then prove it."

I sighed.

"Diego."

He leaned closer.

"One month."

"What?"

"One month to make Annika fall for you."

The table went quiet.

I looked around.

Everyone was waiting for my answer.

I laughed.

"That's stupid."

"Why?"

"Because she hates me."

"Exactly."

Someone across the table shook his head.

"There's no way."

Another laughed.

"Annika Rodriguez would never fall for Rafael."

That got under my skin.

I leaned back.

"Never?"

"Never."

I looked across the cafeteria.

Annika was sitting alone.

Reading.

As usual.

She looked completely uninterested in everything around her.

I smiled slowly.

"Fine."

Diego grinned.

"Fine what?"

"I'll do it."

The table erupted.

"No way!"

"He's serious!"

"How much?"

"One month!"

Diego held out his hand.

"Deal?"

I looked at his hand.

Then at Annika.

She had no idea what was happening.

I shook his hand.

"Deal."

Cheers erupted around the table.

Someone slapped my shoulder.

Someone else started laughing.

I smiled.

It was just a game.

A challenge.

Nothing more.

I could make anyone fall for me.

At least, that's what I believed.

Then Annika suddenly looked up.

Our eyes met from across the cafeteria.

She frowned.

I smiled.

She looked confused.

And for some reason...

my heart beat faster.

I ignored it.

Because this was going to be easy.

I just had to make Annika Rodriguez fall for me.

Simple.

At least...

that's what I thought.

I had no idea that the moment I accepted that dare would be the moment everything began to change.

Because the girl I wanted to make fall in love with me...

might be the same girl who would eventually make me fall harder than I'd ever imagined.