Usually when guys end up with a girl they can't stand, they wonder why, but Montana Max never did. His reasons for dating Elmyra Duff were always clear as a bell.
One, it was better than being chased and having her cry every time he shot her down. If his money could buy a way to forget that one prom night, he'd plunk it down in a heartbeat.
Two, her parents were friends with his and they'd practically insisted their kids were "meant to be". Plus, Mom and Dad threatened to cut his allowance in half if he didn't go along with it.
And finally, a tiny part of him did like her. A little. At least enough to admit she was cute and not a bad kisser. And her attempt at girlish shyness on their first date had been almost endearing, at least it showed she had some form of social grace in that fluff-filled head of hers.
Of course, no matter how much he grew to tolerate her there was one thing he outright hated about Elmyra.
"There we go!" she chirped. "Now my cute lil' bunny-wunny collection is neat and tidy!"
Those stupid rabbits. Her bedroom, her school locker, her clothes, her projects for class, everything always had to have some kind of rabbit motif about it. He'd given up knocking them down and throwing them across the room, every time she'd just pick them right back up and they'd be good as new. Even the breakables. And then, there was her favorite pet name for him.
"Come on, my Monty-Wonty snugglebunny! We're gonna be late for class!"
He pushed back a scream building in his throat, steam pouring from his ears as he did.
"How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?!"
"Oh, don't be such a silly-willy-billy, I know you love it!" Oblivious was this girl's middle name. She latched herself onto his arm and he dragged himself down the hall, ignoring the snickers of their classmates.
Sometimes he wished he didn't love money so much. Or withstood guilt trips better. Or didn't have that pesky empathy kicking his brain every now and then.