Whispered Promises

Chapter 11 - Lines Blurred

Jackson's POV

Later that night, I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the deal I just made with Josy. Fake dating. What the hell have I gotten myself into? Her face still lingers in my mind—those blue eyes, a mix of amusement and caution. What if this all blows up in my face?

Rolling over, I grab my phone. The screen glows in the dark room as I scroll through my messages. There's a new text from Marques:

Marques: "You're welcome. Don't screw it up, bro."

I chuckle, but the anxiety gnawing at me doesn't ease up. Marques makes it sound so simple, like Josy agreeing is some kind of magic fix. I wish it were that easy. But deep down, I can't shake the feeling that this might backfire in ways I can't even imagine.

Me: "Thanks, man. Let's see how this plays out."

Tossing the phone aside, I shut my eyes and try to ignore the knots twisting in my stomach.

Monday morning comes too quickly. As I head to school, everything feels heavier. By the time I park my truck and walk toward the entrance, the hallway seems longer, the eyes on me sharper, and the whispers louder. Word spreads fast when you're the football captain tangled in a fake relationship.

I spot Josy by her locker, flipping through her books like it's just another normal day. I envy her coolness—nothing seems to faze her. I walk over, feeling awkward despite myself.

"Hey," I say, clearing my throat. "Ready for this whole fake relationship thing?"

She glances up, a smirk tugging at her lips. "As ready as I'll ever be. Still think you're a little crazy, though."

"Crazy's an understatement," I admit, scratching the back of my neck. "But desperate times, right?"

Josy closes her locker and turns to face me fully, her expression softening. "I get it. Just promise me one thing?"

"What's that?"

She steps closer, eyes locking with mine. "No funny business. We both know the rules, and I'm not about to let your 'ladies' mess with me."

I nod quickly. "Deal. No funny business. Just fake dating, nothing more."

Satisfied, she nods, and for a moment, the tension eases. We both know what's at stake—my scholarship, my future, and her reputation. This isn't just a game. It's a balancing act, and we're both walking a fine line.

As we head toward the main quad, I spot Marques leaning against a tree with his crutches, grinning like an idiot. He waves us over, and I can't help but laugh. He's clearly enjoying this way too much.

"So," Marques starts as we approach, "you two lovebirds ready for today?"

I roll my eyes. "Can we not?"

Josy chuckles, nudging me playfully. "Come on, Jackson. You've got to at least pretend to enjoy this."

I shoot her a sideways glance, caught off guard by how easy it is to be around her. I thought this whole thing would feel stiff and awkward, but it's not. She's laid-back, funny—way cooler than I usually give her credit for.

As we walk across the quad, curious glances follow us, whispers swirling around like gossip on steroids. It doesn't take long before someone approaches us.

"Hey, Jackson," one of the girls from my history class says, a mischievous glint in her eye as she glances between me and Josy. "Is it true? You and Josy are... together now?"

I feel Josy stiffen beside me, but she recovers quickly, flashing a confident smile. "Yep, it's true," she says smoothly, slipping her hand into mine as if it's the most natural thing in the world. I blink in surprise but squeeze her hand lightly, playing along.

"That's right," I add, trying to sound casual.

The girl raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but doesn't push it. "Well, good for you guys. You're, like, the talk of the school now."

As she walks away, I glance down at our hands, still linked. Something tightens in my chest, and I quickly shake off the feeling. This is fake. All for show. Josy pulls her hand back, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"See? Easy," she says, a teasing edge in her voice.

"Yeah," I agree, rubbing the back of my neck again. "Easy."

Later, we meet Marques for lunch under the big oak tree. Josy sits across from me, Marques beside her, and for the first time in a while, things feel... normal. Except, of course, for the whole fake-dating-my-best-friend's-sister thing.

"So," Marques says between bites of his sandwich, "how's it going so far?"

"Fine," Josy answers before I can. "No hiccups yet. Jackson's been a gentleman."

I scoff, rolling my eyes. "You make it sound like I'm usually a jerk."

She grins. "I mean..."

Marques nearly chokes on his food, laughing. "Bro, she's got you there."

I kick him lightly under the table but laugh too. It's strange—this whole situation should feel awkward as hell, but it doesn't. Maybe it's because Josy's always been around, like family. And yet, now... there's something different. I can't quite put my finger on it.

After lunch, we walk to class together. Josy's hand brushes against mine briefly, and I feel this weird warmth spread through me. It's strange, right? This is just an act, but those little touches keep messing with my head. I try to clear my thoughts and focus on the plan.

In the days that follow, we settle into a rhythm. Josy and I walk the halls together, holding hands, sharing quick conversations between classes. The whispers around us slowly die down, and people start believing it—our fake relationship. Even Coach stops pulling me aside to lecture me.

But somewhere along the way, something starts to shift. I catch myself looking forward to those moments with her—when she teases me, when her laugh lights up her face. I can't ignore the growing pull between us, even though I know it's dangerous.

One day after practice, I swing by to see Marques before he leaves for New York. Josy's in the kitchen, baking cupcakes. The smell of vanilla and sugar fills the air, and my stomach growls in response. She's got flour on her cheek, her hair pulled up in a messy bun.

"Hey," I say, leaning against the counter. "What's the occasion?"

She glances over her shoulder, smiling. "No occasion. Just felt like baking."

I watch her for a moment, a mix of comfort and confusion swirling inside me. I've known Josy for years, but now, with this fake relationship, I'm seeing her differently. She's not just Marques' sister anymore. She's... more.

"Need help?" I offer, even though I have zero baking skills.

She laughs softly, shaking her head. "You'd probably burn the house down."

I grin. "Probably. But I'm great at taste-testing."

She rolls her eyes but hands me a spoonful of frosting. I taste it and hum in approval. "Damn, Josy. You're good at this."

"Glad to know I have one talent," she jokes, but there's a warmth in her smile that catches me off guard.

As I head out to my truck later that night, the realization hits me like a ton of bricks: this fake relationship might be working a little too well.

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