Chapter Three: An Unwanted Lunch Companion

The moment Jaxon’s icy glare settled on Noah, it was over.

Noah let out a quiet sigh, muttered a barely audible "See you later," and grabbed his tray, moving to another seat without looking back.

Eli was now alone with Jaxon.

Jaxon slid into the empty seat beside him, moving with an effortless kind of confidence that made Eli’s shoulders tense. He could feel those sharp blue eyes on him again—watching, analyzing, as if he were something to be figured out.

Eli stared down at his tray, pushing his food around with his fork. The silence was unbearable, thick with tension. His heart pounded against his ribs.

He wasn’t good with attention. Especially not this kind of attention.

But he couldn’t take it anymore. Gathering every ounce of courage he had, he turned his head slightly, meeting Jaxon’s stare. His voice was quieter than he wanted it to be, but he still managed to ask, “Why aren’t you eating? Didn’t you say you were here to have lunch with me?”

For a moment, Jaxon said nothing. Then, he chuckled—a low, amused sound that sent a shiver down Eli’s spine.

“You’ve got a great voice,” Jaxon mused, tilting his head slightly, as if committing it to memory.

Eli’s stomach twisted in nerves. That wasn’t the response he expected. Why was he like this?

Before he could figure out how to respond, Jaxon leaned back slightly, shrugging. “Thing is, I don’t have any money for cafeteria food today.” His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smirk, but close. “So why don’t you lend me some? Then we can really have lunch together.”

Eli stiffened. He didn’t want to eat with Jaxon. But something told him that if he refused, this conversation wouldn’t end anytime soon.

With a quiet sigh, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his lunch card, sliding it across the table. “Just… get what you need.”

Jaxon didn’t hesitate. He took the card with a satisfied nod, standing up and walking toward the food line, leaving Eli to let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.

It wasn’t long before Jaxon returned, setting his tray down with an unceremonious clatter. As they ate, Eli could feel it—Jaxon’s stare, never quite leaving him. It wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t exactly friendly either. It was just there, unwavering, making his skin prickle with unease.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the whispers had started again.

"Is that Jaxon? Eating with someone?"

"Since when does he sit with people?"

"That new guy… is he crazy or just unlucky?"

Eli lowered his gaze, gripping his fork a little tighter. He didn’t need this kind of attention. He just wanted to get through the day unnoticed.

But as he glanced up, meeting Jaxon’s ever-present gaze once again, he had a sinking feeling that his life at Westbrook High had just gotten way more complicated.

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