Full Summary because I couldn't fit it in: AU, AH. Bella and Edward have mutually hated each other ever since he moved next door when Bella was six. Unable to take their bickering any longer, Alice convinces their parents send them to summer camp together. Whilst attending camp will they end up killing each other or will they get over their animosity and learn that there's a thinner line between love and hate than they expected? Canon Pairings.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story, only the ones you've never heard of. They belong to Stephenie Meyer, genius extrodinaire.

Enjoy!

Mutual Loathing

Bella POV

I’ve always hated Edward Cullen, ever since I can remember.

He moved to Forks when I was six and unfortunately is my next door neighbour. As soon as we locked eyes we knew we were never going to get along. Our parents tried to get us to like each other by setting up play dates and even sending us to the same schools, but nothing worked, we still disliked each other despite all their efforts.

Alice thought our situation was hilarious. She couldn’t get over the fact that the hottest boy in school (exception of her oh-so-charming boyfriend Jasper) and me could be at each other’s throats all the time. She said that in a perfect world we would make a cute couple. At that point I’d tell her to keep taking the medication.

Alice has been my best friend since birth, really. My mom and hers attended the same school when they were kids, so our friendship was always going to be set in stone.

The only thing that Alice and I are complete opposites with, is clothing styles. She’s always been the girly one; she likes skirts, heels and the colour pink. I’ve always been most comfortable in jeans, trainers and neutral colour clothes. But we never let those differences bother us, they defined us both and that was what we liked about each other.

We were on our way to lunch when we spotted him walking out of his psychology class, strutting along as usual with his fan base giggling after him. I rolled my eyes to the sky and Alice sighed as she usually did when I looked at Edward with disapproval.

“I’m wondering if you two will ever get over this lovers tiff you have going on.” Alice teased me as we entered the cafeteria.

I saw Edward take his usual seat on the table with Rosalie and Emmett. Rosalie is Edward’s older sister and Emmett has been her boyfriend since the dawn of time.

Although I’ve never had anything against Rosalie, she’d never warmed to me like her parents had. I guessed she sided with Edward’s view of me, which didn’t bother me because we were never destined for the same social circles anyway. She was pretty, popular and smart. I am average looking, I will never be the most popular girl in school and I’m just above average in my studies.

Emmett was the sports star of the school; he was on the baseball and the football team and was built like a professional wrestler. Although he’d never reach Edward’s popularity with the girls, there was still quite a fan base for him, but when you’re going out with the prettiest girl in the school you can’t do any better really.

I noticed Edward had a girl at his side, it was usual occurrence for him to choose someone to sit with him at lunch, but it was never the same girl, two lunch dates in a row was obviously too much commitment for him. He caught me glaring over in his direction and he smirked at me as if to say ‘look what you’re missing out on’. I stuck my nose in the air and walked past him just to show I didn’t care one single iota.

“It’s not a lovers tiff,” I retorted as my attention was brought back to Alice, “It’s a mutual hatred, something you, being loved by everyone who meets you, would never know about.”

“True, I don’t know what hatred feels like but, I still don’t get what you don’t like about him. He’s charming, smart and extremely good looking, second to Jasper of course.”

“I’ve told you this a thousand times, Alice. He’s cocky, he’s the biggest chauvinist known to man, he mocks my religion when he can, and he thinks he’s God’s gift to women, even though he doesn’t believe in God.”

“I don’t believe in God, you don’t hate me do you?” she joked.

“You don’t mock my beliefs; therefore there is no reason for me to dislike you.” I replied as I hugged her waist.

“Didn’t you two used to go to church together when he first moved here?”

“He was forced to go by Carlisle, but he’s never believed in it, I don’t think he ever will.”

“I find it weird that you dislike him but love his parents, you’re even on first name terms with them.”

“They are my next door neighbours after all, why shouldn’t I be on first name terms? Anyway, luckily for me he’s nothing like them, hence why I like them.”

“They are family; he must have some of their genetic traits.”

“Not that I’ve seen.” I shrugged.

After paying for our food we made our way to a table Jasper had saved for us, he smiled at me and gave Alice a kiss on the cheek as we sat down.

“It seems Cullen’s on a lunch date with Kelly Heydon today.” He commented as he took a sip of his lemonade.

“I give it two hours.” I said as I took a bite out of my chicken salad sandwich and laid down a dollar on the table.

“I think this one might stick.” Alice mused as if she were in a psychic trance.

I arched a cynical eyebrow and she laughed as she spun her apple on the table and placed another dollar on the table.

“Ok, it’ll stick for a day.” She bet.

“That’s more like it.” I smiled, “What do you reckon Jasper?”

“Two days.” He predicted as he added a third dollar to our pile.

“Here’s to whoever wins.” Alice grinned as she scooped the money into her tiny purse. Knowing my luck she would be the one to win anyway, Alice had this uncanny ability to win any bet we placed.

As lunch went on we talked about the summer and our plans as it was only 2 weeks away. Jasper was going to Prague for a month to visit some of his family, while Alice and I were going to the summer camp I’d been attending for the last five years, it was going to be Alice’s first year there and she was totally unprepared for rural life.

“So I can’t wear my heels?” she complained as she was still spinning the uneaten shiny red apple.

“It’s in the wilderness, there’s mud and rain. What do you think your chances are for them not to be spoiled?”

“So I won’t be able to bring even the cheapest pair I own?” she asked incredulous.

“When they snap or get ruined, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I sighed as I lunged for the spinning apple.

It rolled on the floor and out of sight, I knew then I had to go and get another one otherwise I’d only have Alice guilt tripping me about how I’d lost her lunch for the rest of the day.

“How much was it?” I smiled sheepishly.

“Seventy cents.” She replied as she was having a little moment with Jasper.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” I told her glad to get away, I loved them both but I always felt uncomfortable when they got all mushy.

I walked over to where the fruit was placed and as I went for the last red apple someone grabbed it before me.

“Well, well Swan, did I just steal your apple?” he asked me in a husky voice that I supposed all the girls fell for.

It could only be one person, as no one else referred to me as ‘Swan’.

“It’s not for me, it’s for my friend Alice.” I said clenching my teeth; he knew I hated being called by my last name as much as I hated being called ‘Isabella’.

“Isn’t she the dark haired one who never leaves your side? Oh, well in that case you can have it back.”

He was just about to drop it in my grasp but he changed his mind and threw it into his left hand.

“Sometime today would be nice.” I said as I tapped my feet impatiently waiting for his taunting to be over and done with.

“Now now Swan, patience is a virtue.” He said patronisingly.

“You don’t believe in virtues, so hand it over.” I retorted with a glare I only ever reserved for him.

“Come on Isabella; love thy neighbour and all that. What would God think about the way you’re speaking to me?” he said as his deep green eyes glanced at the gold cross I had round my neck.

“He’d think it was justified seeing as you are the spawn of the devil.”

“I think you will find I was born of a woman’s womb, just like Jesus, get your facts right.”

“I think you were switched at birth just like in The Omen.”

“You’ve watched it have you? Did it give you nightmares?”

“You give me nightmares.” I replied frostily.

“I always knew you dreamt of me,” he smirked, “you’re just like every other girl in this place, totally besotted with me.”

“Look a reflective surface! I think it’s calling your name.” I mocked as I snatched the apple from his hand. It was cold, just like his heart.

“Cute Swan, but this isn’t over.”

“It is for now. So run back to Kelly, whisper sweet nothings in her ear till she’s convinced that she’s the only one for you. Then sleep with her and ignore her first thing in the morning. That’s what you do best right?”

“You think you’ve got me all figured out don’t you?” He asked me coldly. I saw a glimpse hurt but I don’t think he wanted me to see it, he recomposed himself within seconds and it was gone.

“Sadly that’s all there is to you.” I replied trying to keep a hard edge to my voice.

“Suit yourself.”

He turned away and left me standing there confused. Had I gone too far with my insults or was there something going on behind Edward’s usually cocky facade for him to seem so hurt by my words? I walked back to my table and the bell rang for the end of lunch.

“You and Edward enjoy your talk?” she joked as she took the apple from me and took a loud bite out of it.

“He was being a jerk as usual.” I replied as I grabbed my bag and walked in the direction of Biology, a class that had Edward in it and there was no Alice around for me to talk to.

“We’ll talk about this later.” Alice hugged me and went off in a different direction with Jasper towards the gym.

I walked into Biology alone and was stuck with fear when Angela wasn’t in her seat. I knew for a fact that Edward’s partner Mike was off sick with tonsillitis as Carlisle was a doctor and had mentioned it in a previous conversation.

“Ah Bella you’re without a partner.” The teacher noted as I cringed because I knew what was coming next. “You can team up with Edward for today.”

I rolled my eyes to the heavens and wondered if God was punishing me for the things I’d said earlier.

I made my way over to a smug looking Edward and I took a deep breath to calm myself. I could be civil to him for one lesson; it couldn’t be that hard could it?

“Look, I’m sorry for the things I said at lunch. If they really offended you I didn’t mean it.” I apologised.

He looked at me surprised and I thought we’d come to an awkward understanding. Then he started smiling at me in the way he knew it irritated me.

“You didn’t actually think I was hurt by what you said, did you?” he laughed.

“Erm, well, no?”

I was blushing, that was a very bad sign. He had me right where he wanted me and I was squirming like a bug caught in a spider’s web.

Why did he always have the last word?

“I was just bummed that you figured out tonight’s plans; it takes out all my fun knowing you of all people know what I’m up to.”

I sat there in shock and embarrassment and all I could come back with was,

“You disgust me.”

“That’s my aim in life, Swan. Now can I get on with my work? I don’t need you distracting me any longer.”

The rest of our lesson was sat in silent loathing of each other; Edward and I were never going to change and we knew that. I just wished the next two weeks were here already, and then I wouldn’t have to be anywhere him.

Little did I know that Alice had other plans in mind.

Reviews (equals) love!