Page 34 of A Lab Rat's Guide to Fated Love
“I know what transference is, Nori. That’s not what this is.”
“Stockholm syndrome then. I mean, I did abduct you. Sort of. Not really, but—either way, you don’t actuallylikeme. That’s absurd.”
“Why do you hate me so much? Don’t tell me you don’t. You know I can feel it. All of it.” His voice wavered at the end.
Nori bit her lip, but didn’t answer.
“You do, don’t you?” he asked again, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Nori’s hands moved up to cover her face, and a long moment passed. She was no longer angry, just sad. And knowing that somehow made everything so much worse.
Guilt rolled heavy in his gut. He didn’t need to have said all that.
“No.” Nori sighed, letting her hands drop to her lap. “I don’t hate you. I didn’t think my emotions would come across as that… out of context… I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry.”
His grip on his arms loosened slightly before he replied, “I can feel how pissed you are, Nori. And… sad. I don’t know what I’ve done to offend you so terribly. But I—I won’t bother you. I promise. I’m not asking you to reciprocate or anything. Just…”
Don’t hate me.
Nori
Nori stared at her hands whilemoisture pooled in her eyes. She blinked, willing the wetness to go away. Vir was waiting for her to reply.
“I think it’s my fault,” she said, once she could trust her voice. “I might’ve said or done something to lead you on in some way.”
“No. You haven’t.”
“Vir…”
“Is the treatment failing?”
“What? Why would you think that? No.”
“Then why have you been avoiding me so diligently?”
“I—when did I ever—why would I do that?”
“You can’t even be in the same room as me lately. If it’s because you don’t want me to know yet, I haven’t had my hopes up anyway. It’s okay, you can just tell me—”
“Oh, for god’s sake…” She couldn’t keep herself from rolling her eyes at him. She pushed her chair back and sprung to her feet. The sound of its legs grating against the floor set her teeth on edge. “Stop jumping to conclusions. I don’t care if you don’t have any hope of getting out of this alive. Youaregoing to live. I’m going to make sure of it. You don’t get to decide otherwise anymore.Idecide.”
Vir slowly uncrossed his arms as she spoke. His scaredy kitten-eyed expression reminded her of Goober’s whenever she’d scold the dumb cat for trying to eat plastic. It was endearing and hilarious at the same time.
She squeezed her eyes shut and pursed her mouth to stop herself from laughing. When only a moment ago, she’d been struggling not to cry. She was officially in her unhinged era and she wasn’t sure she could survive it at all.
“And I already told you,” she added. “Idon’thate you.”
“Why have you been avoiding me, then?”
“Because I—” She should’ve just told him she hated him. That would’ve shut him up and made him stay away from her. “I don’t date.” It was her turn to cross her arms.
“Okay. I didn’t ask you to.”
“You can’t like me either. Stop that.”
“Sorry.” Vir shrugged. “Can’t.”
“Stop liking me,” Nori ordered. What was wrong with him?
