Page 49 of My Fake Relationship With the Popular Boy
“I’m suddenly starting to understand why you hate PDA,” Sabrina said. She looked mildly disgusted but I hoped it was in the same way I felt disgusted every time I had to watch her and Eli make-out.
Jaxon kissed my cheek one last time before letting go. I watched him as he set up a pillow and blanket on the floor in a pathetic attempt to make a bed, feeling oddly empty without his arms around me. I held his sweater to my face, letting the smell of his cologne fill my senses, and laughed as I watched him start a pillow fight with Sabrina.
Was this what it would be like if this was real? This overwhelming sense of happiness and feeling of belonging? Ihad never longed for a relationship, especially one with Jaxon… not until now.
seventeen
The next daywas the morning we had to leave for school again. Our bus was picking us up early in the morning, so we headed to the bus immediately after eating breakfast — or in Sabrina’s case, after being dragged out of bed by Jaxon.
“Man, I’m exhausted,” Sabrina said as we got onto the elevator. She yawned loudly.
“Really?” Eli asked. “I slept great.”
“Of course you did, you got the room to yourself,” Sabrina said grouchily. “How did that go, by the way? Were the teachers suspicious?”
“Mr. Smith definitely thought something was up,” Eli said. “But he couldn’t prove that anything was wrong so we got away with it.”
“Thanks, man,” Jaxon said. “I owe you one.”
Eli brushed it off. “It was no problem. I’m used to covering for you.”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened to the lobby. I could see most of our class collected on the sidewalk outside, next to our bus. Unlike when we came here, it seemed like Ms. Moscowitz was doing attendance as people got on the bus, which I thought was a much better idea than what they did before.
“Is that Jaxon’s sweater?” Eli asked me as we walked outside. I glanced down at what I was wearing, even though I already knew what it was.
“Yeah, he gave it to me last night,” I said. I grinned. “All thanks to your girlfriend recommending it.”
Eli laughed. “I’m not surprised. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t own a single sweater that she didn’t steal from me.”
We handed our suitcases to the driver, who was putting them under the bus for us, then waited for our turn to get on the bus.
“Hey, Violet,” Jaxon said, wrapping his arm around my waist, “do you mind if I take the aisle seat? My back is killing me and I want to stretch my legs out.”
“Yeah, no problem,” I said. I actually preferred the window seat, so that worked out well for both of us.
“Did you hurt your back?” Eli asked him.
“Just slept badly,” Jaxon said. “Guess being on the floor all night will do that to you.”
Mr. Smith, with his super-human hearing, appeared out of nowhere and descended upon Jaxon.
“Why were you sleeping on the floor last night?” Mr. Smith asked. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at us sternly. “If you were in your room last night, you should have slept in your bed.”
I was sure we were done for. He was right; there wasn’t a reasonable explanation for Jaxon to sleep on the floor if it was just him and Eli in their room. But I shouldn’t have doubted Jaxon’s ability to come up with excuses. He just stared back at our teacher in boredom and said, “I was in my room, sir, but Eli isn’t very good at sharing beds. I’m afraid I had to take the floor to avoid getting literally kicked out of the bed in the middle of the night.”
Eli looked away at his words, probably trying to pretend to look ashamed, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
The people in front of us in line got on the bus and Ms. Moscowitz called us forward. None of us moved, as Mr. Smith was still staring at us intently. Walking away would just make us look more guilty.
“Well, hurry up and get on the bus,” he said gruffly. We all quickly did so. I didn’t miss that as soon as they were on the bus, Eli and Jaxon slyly fist-bumped. I laughed and shook my head. I was finally starting to understand why Eli hung out with him.
“You need a ride home?” Jaxon asked as we got our suitcases from the bus when we got back.
“No, it’s fine,” I said. “I’m just going to take the bus.”
“With your suitcase?” Jaxon asked, eyebrows raised. “No way. I’ll give you a ride.”
“How are you even going to do that?” I asked. The wind blew my hair in my face and I impatiently pushed it away.
