Lovers & Haters Read Online Free

his hand. “I’m Samantha—Samantha Fox.”
    â€œFox, hmmm—yes, you are, ma. Maybe we can have some lunch, get to know each other.” Xavier was quick with his game.
    â€œPump your brakes, Romeo,” someone yelled from the back of the room. The entire class laughed.
    â€œYes, Mr. Hunter,” Ms. Gorman butted in. “Please try to contain yourself.” The teacher went into her desk and retrieved a thin book. “Everybody, can you please take out”—she held it up in full view of the class—“Shakespeare’s Hamlet .” Ms. Gorman said to Samantha, “Looks like we are short one play. I won’t be able to get another until tomorrow, so would you mind sharing with someone?”
    Xavier saw his chance. “Ms. Gorman, I’d like to volunteer my play.”
    â€œRespectfully—Xavier is it?” Samantha asked in a serious tone. “My father taught me never to accept anything from bad boys.”
    â€œOoooh,” a few of the male students instigated.
    â€œOh, it’s like that?” Xavier asked, still slyly smiling. “Don’t say that because most girls love us bad boys. This school ain’t the most secure place in the city for a beautiful girl such as yourself to be walking around alone. You might need somebody like me to protect you.”
    Samantha smiled flirtatiously and batted her long, thick eyelashes. “Your offer for bodyguard services is tempting, but that’s why the school has security.”
    The “oohs” and “aahs” started again.
    Cheese butted in, “Girl, the jackers will be off with your goods before these security guards get off their butts to do something.”
    Some of the students laughed at Cheese’s sense of humor.
    â€œIt’s all good, Cheese,” Xavier said. He turned to Samantha. “Security, huh? Okay. But just keep in mind that my door is always open for you, gorgeous.”
    Samantha blushed, smiling.
    â€œExcuse me, Xavier,” Ms. Gorman said. “This is not some mall where you can openly flirt. The only hook up that will be happening in my class is you hooking up with William Shakespeare. Now that you’ve volunteered your play to Samantha, tell me how will you be keeping up with the rest of us?”
    Xavier smiled confidently. “No sweat. I read Hamlet this past summer. I don’t need the book.” He tapped his finger on the side of his head. “Got it all up here.”
    â€œThe only thing you got up there is a lot of fat,” Sally Peoples bitterly cut in, apparently still fuming from their earlier argument.
    Xavier turned his back on Sally’s comment. The girl was old news and he wasn’t about to go there with her again.
    â€œThat will be enough out of you, Ms. Peoples,” Ms. Gorman scolded. The teacher looked back in Xavier’s direction with an inquisitive expression on her face. “Okay, Mr. Hunter, I’m going to ask you to sum up the play, in your own words.”
    â€œOh, Ms. Gorman, you’re trying to play a brotha out. I got this.” Xavier flirtatiously smiled at Samantha. “Peep this. Prince Hamlet takes revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering King Hamlet, Claudius’s brother and Prince Hamlet’s father. Claudius then takes the throne of Denmark by marrying the king’s widow and Prince Hamlet’s mother.”
    â€œDon’t let that steroid freak fool y’all,” Sally interrupted by snapping on Xavier. “Anybody with Internet access could log on to Wikipedia to print the summary.”
    â€œSally, one more outburst out of you and I’m going to send you to the principal’s office,” Ms. Gorman scolded. She then returned her attention to Xavier. “Mr. Hunter, would you please be so kind as to tell us what method Claudius used in killing King Hamlet, and what does the third guard, Marcellus, report to Hamlet that he saw one