Page 37 of My Fake Relationship With the Popular Boy
I grinned wryly. “Oh yeah? Then why is the only relationship I’ve ever had a fake one?”
Jaxon let go of my shoulder to tuck some stray hair behind my ear. My skin tingled as his hand brushed over it.
“Because you know your worth,” he whispered. “You know that nobody at Bayshore… nobody in the world… is good enough for you.”
thirteen
As Jaxonand I walked down to breakfast the next morning, I felt like something had changed between us. Not because Jaxon was acting any differently, mind you. On the contrary, he seemed as normal as could be. But I felt like now that I had seen this other side to him, I could see him in a whole new light. I’d realized before this that I had severely misjudged him over the past few years, but this went beyond that. It was one thing to recognize someone was a good person generally and a whole other thing for them to be that good to you.
The hotel had a free breakfast set up in a buffet style so we both just grabbed a plate and filled it to the brim with food. Jaxon’s plate looked so much healthier than mine that I felt pressured into grabbing some fruit, though all I really wanted to eat were some croissants. Once we got everything we wanted, we walked over to a corner table, where Eli and Sabrina were already eating.
As was often the case, the two of them looked like complete opposites, but for a different reason than most days. Eli looked the same as one might expect, dressed and ready for the day. Sabrina, on the other hand, looked as though she had just rolled out of bed and straight downstairs. Her hair was still a totalmess, she was yawning every five seconds and she was wearing black and pink flannel shorts that she pulled off well but that I wasn’t entirely sure weren’t pyjama pants.
“Hey guys,” Jaxon said as we sat down across from them. Neither of them responded.
“See, Eli,” Sabrina snippily, eyeing her boyfriend. “Even the morning people came down to breakfast later than us.”
Eli sighed and poured her another mug of coffee. “Yes, dear.”
I shot him a questioning glance. What was all that about?
“Like I said on the bus,” Eli said. “She’s not much of a morning person.”
Sabrina slumped in her chair, her hair falling in her face. “Eli forced me to come down to breakfast early.”
“I did not force you!” Eli said.
“Come down to breakfast,” Sabrina said in a mocking tone under her breath. She was glaring holes into the table. “Everyone will be there.”
“I’m sorry,” Eli said. Based on his tone of voice, I guessed that this was not the first time they’d had this conversation. “I really thought Jaxon and Violet would be here.”
Jaxon and I shared an amused glance.Eli pushed his plate towards Sabrina.
“Eat my waffle,” he said. “You’ll feel better.”
Sabrina, still pouting, took an angry bite of the waffle. She reminded me a little of an overtired toddler. Eli laughed and kissed the top of Sabrina’s head.
“I love you,” Sabrina muttered around her mouthful of waffle.
“Love you too.”
“Hello, my loves!” Madison sang as she slid into the seat next to me. Despite it being way too early in the morning, she was completely ready for the day, with her makeup done beautifully and her blonde hair straightened and tied in a ponytail witha ribbon tied around it. “Did you guys realize Prom Court nominations closetomorrow?”
Of all the things she might have said, I was not expecting that. As far as I knew, Madison didn’t care about the politics of high school, including who won Prom King and Queen. I certainly wasn’t interested, so I only half-listened as I continued to eat my breakfast. Beyond it just not being her thing usually, I didn’t understand why Madison was so enthusiastic about it — it wasn’t exactly big news that the nominations closed tomorrow given that they’d been open for at least two weeks.
“What’s the big deal?” Sabrina asked. She glanced around the table. “It’s not like any of us are going to nominate, right?”
“That’s the thing,” Madison said, leaning forward and clapping her hands together in front of her chest. “I think we should nominate Violet and Jaxon for Prom King and Queen since they’re, like, the hottest couple in school right now.”
I choked on my orange juice at her words. Jaxon clapped me on the back as I struggled to catch my breath again.
“You okay, Violet?” Eli asked.
“We… are the hottest couple?” I asked.
Madison nodded. “Uh-huh.”
“Me and him?” I clarified again, pointing between myself and Jaxon. What was she thinking?
