Page 8 of Playing with Fire

The joke gets me a chuckle from one of them. "What are you talking about, Em?" I hear Elijah ask.

"And did you just Camdenl him Jaxon?" Felix's laugh fills the room.

The urge to join in his laughter crossed my mind but I maintained my self-control. "Jaxon, can I ask you something?"

He moves closer and gently closes my laptop.

"Can you stop calling me Jaxon?"

The irritation in his voice was audible right away. Perfect.

"Why? Do you not like it?" I asked dumbly.

"Nobody calls me Jaxon," he emphasizes. And no, I don't like it. You'll probably call me it from now on just because I said it. I give him a smile of satisfaction. "You know me so well it's astonishing." I gush.

"Okay, where is this going?" Tristan asks from above me.

"Oh, right. Jaxon." I repeat his new name.

He leans back in his chair as he starts to mutter words which make Felix burst into laughter.

"Jaxon." I try again.

Still, he ignores me.

"Jaxonnn." I extended his name but received no response.

My amusement grows as everyone begins to laugh around me. My words cause everyone's faces to fall.

Would you like to attend prom as my date?

For a moment all eyes turn to me while the room goes silent. Holding in my laughter was difficult but I managed to remain composed.

"What?" They all blurt in disbelief.

"Sorry, let me rephrase." I raise my body into a sitting position while locking gaze with him. "Jaxon. Would you like to attend prom with me? Once more, the room goes quiet. He leans forward to shut my laptop and sets it down on the coffee table. "What?" he asks again.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. "Oh my god, are you, like, deaf? My question was about your desire to attend prom together.

I maintained a calm tone while keeping my facial expression serious. The other people remained seated while their faces displayed expressions of pure shock.

What is happening at this moment? Nolan asks his question with no idea like everyone else around him. "Are you... okay?" Jaxon asks, giving me a look. This concussion might have damaged your preexisting fragile mental state?

Wow.

I feel completely okay but I need to get the truth about this situation. "She's not serious." Tristan assumes.

I turn to face him. "And why can't I be serious?" I repeat his comment. "I'm asking him.

Why is that so weird?"

My sanity must be questionable because Tristan stares at me as if I've lost my mind. You must explain why you think it's so strange! he raises his voice. You're asking him to prom even though you two can't stand each other. There's no way you're being serious!"

I want to laugh so damn bad. But I don't. I delivered him a shrug. If you are not secretly engaging in sexual activity behind our backs, then I-

The sudden rush of air causes me to gasp and then cough.

I signaled that I was finished while uncontrollable laughter escaped me. "God, you guys are too gullible sometimes." I practically wheeze out the words.

---