Chapter Text
“I think this is the first time I've been in your room and you've crawled through my window about a thousand times.” Paxton looks up from the floor, his back to the edge of his bed. “Doesn't seem fair to me.” She takes a step inside the room but her hands are fidgeting nervously.
Paxton smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. Instead, he bows his head down and takes a deep breath.
“Yeah well, I don't spend much time up here. When I'm in the garage, it's easier for my mom to barge in and ask me to speak on the phone with distant family members who all want to ask me how I'm doing even though I see them once every 5 years.” Mid-sentence, Devi noticed an edge in his voice she only ever heard once. “And if I have to answer them one more time, I'm gonna go crazy-
“Ok!" She braces her hands up but marches closer. “Hey, ok. Don't worry, I won't ask how you're doing.”
“Thanks. It's good to see you Devi.”
He stands up and offers her a quick hug. Not his usual aftershave, Devi thought. Paxton sits back on is bed and pats his right side, offering her a seat.
“You too. I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances” She sits. “I always thought the first time I'd see you again would be when I show up at your dorm in ASU during a long weekend. Trent would be there obviously because he can't stay away from you. He's the reason I even know about what happened.” Paxton chuckles.
“The offer about ASU still stands and you'd be right about Trent. We facetime every day before bed.”
“Cute.”
A beat, then-
“How are you doing, Devi?”
“Oh, fine. You don't want to hear about my life right now.”
“Come on, yes I do. And I could use the distraction.” He tilts his head and tries to pull on the charm but his heart isn’t quite into it. Devi’s seen his bedroom eyes once or twice and this wasn't it.
“Right. Of course. Here it goes... You're the first person i'm gonna tell about this, well... besides Fabiola but I... I got rejected from Princeton.”
“Damn. I'm sorry Devi.” Devi can feel a pinch in her chest and her eyes start to water almost immediately. The feeling of failure ever present since the last 24 hours. “I know it was your dream school.”
“I'm starting to wonder if it was really my dream or my mom's dream... and I just convinced myself it was mine too. Like somehow, it was a given that I'd go there since birth. Or maybe I’m really devastated and this is me trying to soften the blow, unconsciously, you know.”
“It doesn’t matter, though. No matter how much you plan, life just doesn't give a fuck. I never imagined I'd be going to college because of my grades and not on a swimming scholarship but here I am. You came into my life and long story short, I got run over by a car.” He bumps her shoulder with his own and Devi chuckles. “Hey, I figured out what was the best path for me. You'll figure it out too.”
Paxton grabs her hand and a laugh immediately escaped her before she could stop it.
“What?” He pulls his hand away quickly.
“Nothing, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. I just didn't imagine I'd be the one getting the comforting pep talk when I decided to come over. I’m a shitty friend.”
“Hey, I asked for a distraction and you delivered.”
“You did, didn’t you? I guess I forgot how much I missed our talks. You always knew how to make me feel better.”
Paxton is taken aback for a moment, confusion written all over his face, just like the time she admitted he helped her get over her grief.
“Really? I always thought I made you like... really insecure.” He looks down shyly before he whispered the next part, almost to himself. “I hated that.”
“I guess but it had nothing to do with what you did or said, that was all me. You were right to break us up, even though it hurt like a bitch, not gonna lie. I'm starting to learn rejection is kind of a part of the whole high school experience.”
“Starting to?”
“Hey!” Devi punches his arms and gives him one of his signature pouts. He laughs and rubs his arm in silence.
“Paxton, I don't want this to sound cliché but I know what you're going through and I'm here for you if you need to talk, or don't want to talk.”
Paxton nods wordlessly.
“How many times did you rehearse that?”
“Not... that many times. The point is, I’m sorry.” He nods again. “I never told you this but your grandpa and I did meet once.”
“You did?” Paxton finally looks up from staring intently at his lap. His eyebrows shot up. Devi looks please she has his full atention.
“Mhhmm. It was right before we started dating. The second time. He caught me sneaking out of your garage before school and knew my name before I even introduced myself. That's when I knew you two were hella close.” Paxton smiles. This time, you can see it in his eyes. “It’s also when I realized you were crushing on me hard be tee dubs.”
“I wasn't very subtle. I'm surprised it took you that long to figure it out.”
“Yeah well... I was in my own head a lot.”
“Was?”
“The only reason you're not getting smacked in the face right now is because you get to play the dead grandpa card for as long as I played the dead dad card.”
“Trust me, I’m well aware of your anger issues.”
“Paxton- Oh hello Devi.”
They both look in the direction of the door. Paxton’s mom is leaning on the frame wearing a faint smile on her face. “It's good to see you, sweetie.”
“You too, Mrs Hall yoshida. I'm sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to interrupt but Paxton, your dad is asking for you.” Devi looks back at Paxton, offers him a restrained smile, as if she already knew it was another relative on the phone, and then faces his mom again.
“Um, I was about to leave anyway. I'm supposed to be at the library right now, studying.” Devi gets up. To Paxton- “I'll see you around?”
“Sure, yeah, I'll text you.”
“Cool. Say hi to Rebecca for me.” Devi practically runs out of the room.
“It's nice of her to stop by.”
“We're just friends, mom. She's dating someone else.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“Great. Don't.”
“But it was nice to hear your laugh for a second.”