Paxton Flynn

I wouldn't lie, I was beginning to think Diego was a magician, one minute I was so nervous about traveling and going for his dad's wedding and the next I find myself worry free, laughing and talking like my mouth had no brake. Thankfully Diego didn't let me go on my talking spree alone and although he didn't rant like I did, he told me his stories to. We talked about many different things sometimes all unrelated, laughed about stupid things and I swear my bond with him is different.

It's not like the one I have with Ryder, not like the one with Sebastian either, it's this new foreign thing that keeps drawing me in wanting me to learn more and more about it. I knew if I was to choose one person in school to travel with, it'll definitely be Diego. It's strange and stupid and probably a bad decision but I wanted more. I wanted to know more about Diego Royal and most times, I couldn't care about the consequences, if there are any.

"What?" I asked, taking note of his silence and rigidness. The plane had just taken off and we were up in the air now.

Diego just shook his head as an answer, his face looked red.

I studied him more, narrowing my eyes and then it clicked. I almost laughed, "wow, is this why you couldn't travel alone? You're afraid of heights."

He rolled his eyes, "not really."

I frowned, "it's a yes and no thing Simba."

He quickly looked at me and away again, then sighed. "Taking off the ground takes some getting used to, I'd admit—"

"Ha!" I yelled— I didn't mean it to come out that loud but it did and some old lady in the other side of the aisle turned to glare at me. I totally ignored her like I didn't see her, blinking widely at Diego.

Diego chuckled at my antics but didn't say anything about it, "—but that's not why I couldn't come alone."

I narrow my eyes at him, "you sure?"

"Yes, now stop looking at me like a chipmunk."

I scoffed, muttering under my breath as I searched for my earpiece. "I'd look at you anyhow I want."

"Tch," he made a sound. "You might regret saying that later."

"Why?"

"Because when you say it, then it applies both ways."

"What? You want to glare at me or what other—"

"Shush," he had the audacity to shush me. "I and the granny are trying to get a hang of this flying in the clouds."

I glared, my mouth open. I had a lot of things on my tongue to retort back but let's just say for the sake of the granny, I kept shut. I found the earpiece and after thinking thrice about it, I take one ear and attempt to wear it on Diego exaggerated on purpose (almost shoving it right into his ear).

"Ow?" He stopped me, grabbing the earpiece and raising both brows at me.

I huffed, turning away and putting the other ear in my ear. "Music should help you calm down," I gritted out. "Or not, I don't care."

Before Diego could say anything, I played a random song out from my favorite playlist, putting my phone down, crossing my arms in front of me and huffing exaggeratedly as I relax on my seat, looking anywhere else but at him.

His finger touched my nose after some seconds, startling me in the process and making look at him with a glare— of course my glare was not serious, I was just being petty. Diego smiled at me, his green eyes staying on mine and his white teeth trying to hypnotize me. "Cute."

He doesn't say anything else and turns back ahead, still wearing a small smile. I can't help that I'm smiling now. Honestly, I need a manual on how to frown. I blushed, looking away, "tch whatever."

Diego and I don't say anything more and soon enough he's relaxed, shaking his head a little to the music while I occupy myself with looking outside. The journey is supposed to be two hours and fourth minutes later, I felt his head gently come to relax on my shoulder. I turned and saw him readjusting the earpiece on his other ear and getting comfortable. I could smell his cologne and shampoo and his soft hair touching my neck was tickling me but I didn't dare move. Diego's eyes was closed peacefully and I noticed his lashes were longer than mine. He looked at peace and it's then it dawned on me that all our time being friends I've never really seen him like this and I've slept in his car once.

"You're paying for this comfort," I whispered, incase he was already asleep.

Five seconds later... I guess he's actually—

"Okay, Cash or Kind?" He whispered back.

I smiled, "I don't know yet."

"Mm."

I sighed, not even wondering how his head wasn't heavy on my shoulder and how I was still comfortable. I wondered if he visited his father often, if he was going to actually fall asleep and dream and if he was still thinking about Jordy's refusal to come.

"You smell nice," Diego suddenly said out of nowhere, sounding asleep.

I looked at him, then I smiled. I thought so too but I didn't tell you, thank you for telling me first. "You too."

Feeling silly, I carefully brought out my phone and took a picture of the moment. I'd probably have fun teasing him about this later.

Then I text Seb;

—in the plane rn. Diego's sleeping 😅. What are you doing? Don't tell me you're still staring at the framed picture pls.

*

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh..." I couldn't stop jumping around and spinning (in hindsight, very bad idea) in wonder as I tried to look at the entire place at the same time. Diego brought me to Dulce and Gabanna, D& fucking G! "I cannot believe I'm here right now and I'm going to buy a suit. Or now, you're going to buy me a suit!"

Diego threw his head back and laughed, then closed the distance between us and grabbed my shoulders. I was already getting dizzy. "Yes, I am." He lead me to a shirt and made me sit, "now please sit, you're making me dizzy just looking at you."

The smile couldn't leave my face, and my feet kept bouncing. "I see it now."

"What?"

"The appeal in being rich, oh my gosh!"

He laughed again, then crouched down in front of me, making me look down at him. "What color would you want?"

How was he already looking and sounding so mature? It's like he got five years older after we stepped in here... H.O.T.

I swallowed, "um..." I had no idea but that wasn't the problem, the problem was I was being heavily distracted by Diego's green eyes that looked darker staring at me.

Diego blinked, he was looking at me like he had all the time in the world to. Then he blinked, "you know what? Don't worry about it."

I watched him leave and for the life of me, I couldn't explain anything. I also didn't want to think about anything any deeper than it was because that was what caused me to avoid him the last time and that can't happen again. Sighing, I returned my eyes to the building and subsequently busied myself taking pictures. I tried to imagine Sebastian being here and the smile on my face was immediate. I could easily imagine it, Sebastian would fit in really well. In fact I could see him looking like one serious mafia gang leader, he wouldn't greet them or smile with them like Diego was doing, I'd be the one doing that. Other than with me and some special friends, Seb was mostly rude to strangers and I totally didn't mind. Ha.

Although I don't think means to be rude, it's just like second nature to him, like he can't just bother being anything else. Normally, if he was anybody else and before I would have thought he was a jerk but now, he's my jerk and I like him like that. I know he can be really kind and sweet when he wants to and that's all that matters. And now, he's changed even, life in the bar has changed him a little. Yes, he mostly does what he wants still but he's a bit more disciplined and puts a little effort into understanding people. Especially since he really loves his job, it's cute.

"Here you go," the man who welcomed is in at first said, causing me to turn around and see him coming with a full hanger roll of expensive suits. My mouth dropped and I take me eyes to Diego who's following right behind him.

"What? Are you planning on getting all these?"

Diego smirked, "do you want them all?"

"No!" I yelled and he laughed.

"Yeah, we both don't know what you'd want or what would fit perfectly," he waved a hand. "Although personally, I think everything and anything would fit but then, you should try them all out."

My eyes widened, "all of them?"

He shrugged, "yup, Mr Luis would help you or I could anyone."

I blushed, "I'd go with the professional and don't you need to try things on too."

"I do but that doesn't mean I can't help you," he winked and I rolled my eyes.

"See you by the mirror," I said, feeling like some kind of Prince as I walked away with the Mr Luis.

The next twenty minutes is a fucking montage filled with the song MOOD, a lot of laughter, a lot of handsomeness and swag and a lot of blushing. I try on the suits color by color and so does Diego and my oh my, there are no words. I don't think I can see him normally again after this if he's not in a suit. It's supposed to be the only clothing he should wear, although many people won't be able to concentrate in class and female lecturers might just keep giving him free marks for just looking good. I had the time of my life and I wasn't even at the wedding yet, Diego made me feel like a prince myself; anything I wanted, I got and we were both treated like royalty, although, anyone can tell it's not a foreign feeling for him.

At the end of the day we left there looking like royalties; I got a black suit and black tie, with a shining white shirt inside. Diego got just a black blazer to match with the pants and a black turtle neck top inside. It looked so good, I prayed that somebody from Vogue or any fashion magazine would just bump into us and take a picture of him; he looked too good to not be on the front page of a magazine.

Anyway, that didn't happen and by the time we arrived at Diego's 'castle', he wasn't smiling anymore. The house was so huge, I wondered how people didn't get lost inside. It was arguably the biggest house I've ever set my eyes on. I didn't even go inside and I was already getting mind blown by the outside view and scenery. I have never seen a house like that before. It looked like a tourist site, a home and a park all in one. There were a lot of trees and green life, it just made the place much more beautiful.

"Wow," my mouth stayed open in wonder. "You've actually lived here?"

He nodded, then chuckled lightly at my expression. "You get used to it after about...hm, thereabout three years."

I scoffed, "for someone like me, maybe ten."

He opened his mouth to say something but we were interrupted by a guy that looked like a Butler and a bodyguard.

"Ah, Master Royal," he grinned widely, although it looked like the muscles on his face was fighting against the grin. I could tell he smiled once in a full moon. "It's so nice to see you. Your father has been anticipating your arrival."

"Good day Fred," Diego said. "Or is it better I say Mr Sanchez?"

The man laughed; was so strange, I had to take a double look. "My bad, welcome home Diego." Then Diego hugged him and the man just laughed some more. I could tell Diego is one of the rare reasons why he laughs. It was really cute.

We started walking as they talked. "And Miss Jordan?"

"You know her Fred, she's sick and tired of this bullshit."

He sighed, "your father wouldn't like that. You were supposed to bring her home."

"I know," Diego nodded. "But it's not like I can drag her over here. She's not a child anymore."

"Very true. Neither are you."

"Not so sure about that. I'm here, aren't I?"

Things moved a bit fast from there and finally we meet a man who looked like the much older male version of Jordy Royals. He had wrinkles and unlike the image I had in mind, he smiled a lot. Diego went to meet his father and they talked, in between the father turned to look at me and then gave me a nod that said 'Welcome'. I nodded back. After that, Diego went around to greet a few other people while I sat, drank something and enjoyed the scenery. The wedding was happening at their backyard that looked like a five star garden. There was clearly a lot of food and many guest had already arrived.

About forty minutes later, Diego came to sit by me, forcing a smile and already looking exhausted. The whole place quieted down and that's when I knew the wedding was starting. The 'Here Comes The Bride' song comes on and I watch in wonder to see a lady that looked like she could be age mates with Deigo come forth. If she was older, it wouldn't be more than five years old. I froze in surprise but I didn't dare turn back to look at Diego. The bride walked up to his father, the groom. They exchanged smiles and the wedding commenced.

Halfway through, I spared Diego a look and the frown on his face was firmly set, his left leg bouncing and his left hand drumming over it. I could feel his discomfort oozing out of him and I just wanted to make him feel better. My hand reached out and rested on his bouncing leg, tapping him slowly. His leg stopped bouncing and I gave him what I hoped was a warm smile before attempting to remove my hand. Attempting because, when I tried to, Diego's hand reached out and before I could blink he was holding my hand in his like it was some kind of anchor. My breath hitched and when I looked at him, he kept his eyes straight ahead like nothing was happening.

I scoffed under my breath, leaning closer to him to whisper. "You'd pay for this comfort too."

He didn't look at me and just whispered back. "Okay."

Inhaling and exhaling, I tried to focus back on the wedding happening in front of me but it was of no use. All my mind cold think about was about how warm Diego's hand holding mine was and how I was supposed to be feeling strange but was not.

*

"Let's dance?" I offered because I was tired of sitting down and I wanted to distract Diego. It was dancing time and he has just been trailing the newly wedded couple with his eyes. If he could shot lasers with them, the bride would be long dead by now.

He looked away from them finally, his green eyes returning to my face. Then he nodded, getting up the seat. "Why not."

We get to the dancing floor and I mentally slap myself from not realizing it's a slow song before I suggested it. Diego put both hands on my waist and I put mine on his shoulder. We silently and slowly moved to the song.

"Are you okay?" I asked, I couldn't take the silence anymore. My heart was beating too fast.

"No."

"Because of the wedding?" I asked and he nodded. I swallowed. "Did you know she was going to be this young?"

"I figured, the last one was, so was the one before her." He answered, monotone.

"Where's the last one?"

"Divorce."

I nodded. Then I groaned, "sorry, I shouldn't be talking about the wedding. I'm trying to make you feel better."

He tilted back a bit to look at my face, "you are?"

I nodded, "I'm doing a terrible job, right?"

"Maybe." One of his hand left my waist to touch my hair and time froze. "But it's perfect."

My heart skipped looking into those bright green eyes and I felt like if this was a movie, this is where the slow romantic music would start playing— and it scared me. I coughed a little, looking away. Then I chuckled, "want to know why I avoided you that time?" Diego just raised a brow, clearly caught off guard by the question. I continued without waiting for his answer. "I thought you liked me and I was getting confused as to what exactly I feel in our relationship and I didn't want to mess up anything, so I ran. Basically."

Diego stayed silent and I really thought he wasn't going to say anything but then— "you were confused?"

I forced a smile out and nodded. "Yes but it's all good. I love Seb and I shouldn't have avoided you."

Diego's eyes looked different, it's like it got narrower and clearer all at the same time and then he hugged me. Although it still looked like we were dancing but but of the blue...he hugged me. I barely heard it because his voice sounded way rougher and hoarse and he didn't leave a room to speak on it, but I heard it. I heard him whisper, "you should've."

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All those who think Paxton should've, say aye... Against say nay. Lol

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