Finally together.
When I went to bed Monday night, I admit I was a bit worried that I would get kidnapped in my sleep. But when I wake up safely in my dorm room, I know that it was all in vain. I am safe at East Raven Academy.
Actually, I’ve always felt safe here. Of course, I felt safe in California until I got kidnapped.
Teagan is still sleeping when I leave for breakfast that morning. I heard her sneak into the dorm around two this morning, so I figure she’s exhausted. I’m so happy for her and Jason, that they’re finally together.
As I’m about to walk in, I spot Paige glaring at me.
This girl.
“Is one guy not enough for you?” she asks. “You’ve got to date Estaine and Brooks now?”
“I’m only dating Estaine,” I say, not that it’s her business. “It’s only ever been Estaine.”
“I saw the video. Everybody did,” Paige says. “I don’t know how you did it, but I’m watching you.”
“Okay,” I say. “Have fun with that.”
“You’re pathetic,” she says, shaking her head at me.
“Phoenix!” I hear somebody yell.
I look up and spot Ian walking over.
“Everything okay?” Ian asks.
I nod.
“You got a third boyfriend now?” Paige asks.
“If only,” Ian says. “She always turns me down. She and Estaine are sickeningly in love.” He turns so that he’s standing between Paige and me. He’s got his back to her, clearly excluding her from the conversation. “I think Estaine is already in there.”
The two of us walk towards the cafeteria together, and I am thankful for him.
“Thank you,” I tell him, after we get our food and start walking towards our table. “I can’t stand girls like Paige. I don’t know what her problem is, but she’s been ridiculous to me since she found out about Estaine and me.”
“Estaine says you’re into MMA and that you can kick his butt in a fight, so I’m not too worried about you,” Ian says, as we sit down. “That girl is a wimp. She’d be too scared to break a nail in a fight.”
“Who are you going to fight?” Estaine asks.
“Paige Lawson,” Ian answers for me. “She’s jealous that Phoenix is dating you.”
“Still?” he asks, looking at me.
“It’s not a big deal. I’ve dealt with mean girls before,” I say.
“I’ll take care of it,” he says defensively. “I’m not going to let that girl mess with you.”
“Don’t,” I say. “She’s just got a crush on you and is mad that you’re with me.”
I already know that he’s not interested in dating Paige. He made that very clear. If he was, I would gladly let him break up with me.
Well, maybe not gladly.
Having a fake relationship with a guy that I might kind of have a small crush on is hard. Because, while we are completely faking being together, my feelings don’t know that. And when he eventually does want to date somebody else, breaking up is going to suck.
“I wouldn’t give her the time of day, even if you weren’t here,” Estaine says.
“She’s always wanted Estaine. And Brooks,” Ian says. “They’re the only two guys that she can’t have.”
“You dated her?” I ask.
Ian laughs. “Dated is a strong word. We might have made out a couple of times.”
“Gross,” I say. “I hope you sanitized your mouth afterwards.”
“True story, Estaine said the exact same thing to me after he found out,” Ian says. “You two must be meant to be.”
I always feel so weird when our friends make comments about our relationship. Like, when they say we’re cute together or perfect together. But Estaine seems like it’s completely normal, like he expects it. He just puts his arm around me, pulling me closer.
“It’s fate,” Estaine says.
“What’s fate?” Emma asks, as her and Bryce sit down at the table.
I guess they’re back together, but nobody says a word to them about it.
“Estaine and Phoenix,” Ian says. “Both of them even have weird names.”
“Can you imagine what they’ll name their kids?” Bryce says.
Wow.
Even Bryce is in a good mood today.
“Just don’t name them after food. You don’t want your kid being called something weird like Pineapple,” Emma says.
“I’ve heard a lot of celebrities name their kids weird things,” I say. “I actually went to school with a girl named Peach. Though, in her defense, her dad was strung out on drugs pretty badly when she was born.”
“Peach. That’s just horrible,” Emma says.
“Charlie dated this girl who was named Tokyo. Apparently her parents named all their children after the cities they were conceived in, and they had a lot of kids,” I say. “Tokyo, Rome, Hamilton, Berlin and, the worst, Warsaw.”
“Warsaw?” Ian asks.
“It’s in Poland,” I say.
“Were you named after the city you were conceived in?” Emma asks.
“I’m too scared to ask my...”
Estaine cuts me off before I can say my mom or dad. “I am convinced my parents made up my name.”
“Knowing your dad, they probably had a book with posh baby names inside,” Ian says. “Like, which name will look best on a presidential ballot?”