Chapter Text
General POV- The night after getting home from malibu.
Ben kissed her, well technically she kissed him but then he made out with her. After they pulled away from each other. She said thank you and ran to her mother’s car leaving him visibly shocked as she glanced at him. She never thought kissing Ben could feel like that, with his hands in her hair and his lips moving in sync with hers. After she got home, she finally found the courage to glance at her phone, seeing Paxton called her and left her a voice mail. She had decided to wait a couple hours before listening to it since spending time with her mother was her first priority, but not before send a quick text to him to thank him again and to let her know when he finally made it home.
First person-Devi
“I can’t believe I kissed him” Devi thought to herself. Practically screaming in her mind. Everyone finally went to bed after an emotionally exhausting day. She slipped in her bed finally looking at her phone for the first time since texting Ben earlier. Multiple missed calls and texts from Eleanor and Fabiola lit up most of her screen, but the one that makes her heart skip a beat was a singular text from Ben. She holds out on reading what Ben’s response until after giving her two best friends the full attention they deserve. She immediately types out a message that conveys that she needs to spill every detail about today and the past week but is necessary that this happens in person tomorrow at school. Besides, she needs to know about how the past week has been for them. They let it slide in the promise that she will fill them in tomorrow. Eleanor breaks into a full monologue in text form about every emotion she has felt since the start of their fight. Fabiola is slightly more reserved than her so the both of them let Eleanor type away.
Devi’s thoughts stray to both Paxton and Ben, deciding to listen to the voicemail Paxton left first.
“Oh hey, um I’m in your neighborhood and I thought maybe we could hangout. Seems like your busy-uh- anyway give me a call or text or whatever. Okay”
He seemed almost nervous when he spoke, seeming afraid of rejection. Probably not something that Paxton H-Y has never experienced before. She feels more confused than ever, mostly due to up until probably god knows when she would have been more than excited to hear this from him, but now she is not sure how she feels. Looking back on last week after Ben’s party when Paxton kissed her, she did not feel how she thought she would feel after getting her first kiss. Today though? A kiss from Ben threw her for a loop. She now shifts her focus to Ben. Clenching her eyes shut, more nervous about opening a simple text probably just telling her he made it home.
“Hey Devi, I made it home. I need to talk to you, please call me”
Her heart is pounding hard and loud. Thudding like a bass drum directly in her ears.
Ben’s POV- after getting home from Malibu
He had taken his time pulling out of his parking spot, being nearly frozen in his place after Devi bolted from his car. Luckily, traffic settled a little, so he was not quite as nervous during the drive home. Pushing all thoughts of her out of his mind until he got out of the car at home. He checks the house and realizes he is completely alone, again. His heart starts to break until he finally checks his phone with a text from Devi.
“Ben. I can never thank you enough for what you’ve done, but I can try. So… thank you. Please let me know when you’ve made it home, so I know you didn’t wreck or have a nervous break down on the side of the road. I know it will take you forever to get home since you drive like a grandma, but if I don’t hear from you before bed, I’m sending out the FBI 😉”
Who knew that one text message from her even one with a flirty insult would stop any heart break from his parents abandoning him or from seeing her fleeing his car earlier in the day? He sends a quick reply letting her know he wants to talk. He goes about his evening feeling more alone than before. Its utterly impossible to be more alone than usual since he was always alone, but this past week with Devi being here all the time and now her being gone his life feels empty.
General POV- Devi finally calls
Devi hears the ringing waiting for him to answer, growing anxious with each passing second. She feels ridiculous feeling nervous over this, they have known each other for almost ten years. He finally picks up
“Hey, I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for you to call.” He says with a mixture of sarcasm and concern.
“What can I say? My attention is in high demand.” She jests trying to dissipate any nerves he has. Still doing nothing to calm her own nerves which have been strung tight since she read his ominous text minutes ago.
“Well then I’m sorry to take you away from your popular life” he replies. Still dancing around the oh so delicate subject of their kiss.
“Thank you again. For taking me in, taking me to malibu, for getting my friends back for me, and in general being there for me.” Trying to get it out in one quick breath “You were right about everything. I can picture the smug look on your face right now so no need to rub it in.”
“Well Devi, glad to be of service, but huh- I don’t think I caught that last part. What did you say I was?” trying to feign innocence.
“Was this the reason you wanted to talk? To finally get me to admit you were right about something?” She tries tricking him into getting to the point.
“You know that’s not why I wanted to talk.” She can practically see the look in his eyes change even though she cannot actually see him.
“Ben, about today. I’m sorry I ran so fast, it’s not because I regret what happened. I do need to sort out my feelings a bit before we have the real conversation we need to have.”
“I know Devi. I just needed to hear your voice. The house feels even more empty without you here with me. Take your time to figure out how you feel about the possibility of us if that’s what you want”
“I needed to hear your voice too.” Devi whispers into the phone. “Ben, I’m really sorry but I should go to sleep before my mother hears me on the phone with you”
“You’re right. Your mom scares me” he chuckles, “Goodnight Devi, I’ll see you tomorrow”
Next morning at school
Devi is by her locker as she sees Ben out of the corner of her eye walking to his own locker. She smirks discreetly as she sees his eyes light up a little. She had decided to dress up a little wearing the skirt she had cut a few weeks prior paired with a short sleeve shirt and sandals. Interrupting this non-verbal, non-physical exchange are her two best friends barreling past him towards her locker.
“Devi! Please tell us! What was so intense you couldn’t tell us about over text last night?” Eleanor exclaims not so quietly. Over her shoulder she sees Ben’s beaming face over hearing how intense their kiss was to her. Though it was as intense for him too.
“Eleanor, not right now” she rolls her eyes practically being able to read his mind. “we have prying eyes and eavesdropping ears” pointing directly at Ben. He winks directly at her.
“ugh.. fine” Fabiola whines.
Her two best friends run off to their lockers and she’s left standing there staring directly into the bright blue eyes she can’t seem to get out of her head. Ben is grinning like he finally beat her at something that matters. “Come on, David. You know you can say anything in front of me. I mean I know you’re already going to say how amazing it was and how you can’t get me out of your head.”
He really is trying to get under her skin this morning, but she cannot seem to feel any actual anger about it. “Well, Gross, I don’t know where you would get that idea from. I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out”
Ben’s POV
The day is going by so slowly, and the only thing making it any better is seeing Devi blush each time he catches her eye. So, he thinks his day will end up being alright. That is until he catches Paxton leaning up against the locker next to where Devi is standing. Ben starts to get annoyed as he continues to watch Paxton flirt shamelessly with her. He knows he does not truly have a claim on her, but he just cannot help to walk away angrily. He thought she might pick him. Silly of him to let him believe that he would be first pick for once in his life. If only he knew how the day would turn out.
General POV
After school Fabiola must work in the robotics lab so Devi and Eleanor decide that would be the best place to talk in private. They’re dying to know what Devi has to say.
“Alright Devi, spill!” Eleanor exclaims, getting more anxious.
“Yeah Devi, we need to know”
“Okay dudes, let me speak. I guess this all started when I went on the model UN trip. Ben and I actually talked, it was surprisingly nice. Then it got out that I was sleeping with Paxton even though I wasn’t. So Paxton got mad at me and I took my anger out on Ben. Though a couple days later Ben had dinner at my house and had an civil conversation and laughed together” Devi states setting the scene for all that happens next.
“Wait, I thought that this was going to be about Paxton?” Fabiola inquires. Looking between Devi and Eleanor trying to figure things out.
“I’m getting there and no this isn’t just about Paxton. It would be simple if it was just about him. Moving on to where Paxton forgives me for not telling the truth and asks me to help his sister with her fashion designs, that was what I was doing when I should have been supporting you, Eleanor. I’m so sorry, again, I was so stupid and caught up in my own head.” Devi says regretfully.
“Devi, we already forgave you, but it is nice to know you really do feel bad about that.” Eleanor looks at her friend with true forgiveness in her eyes.
“I love you guys.” Devi’s full of relief. “Well this whole situation starts to boil over the day of Ben’s birthday. He originally wasn’t going to throw a party, I still don’t know what made him change his mind but he threw one and I made sure that Paxton would come-“
“Wait wait wait... He didn’t want a party? What was happening when he decided to have one?” Fabiola asks.
“I’m not really sure. One second, I was telling Ben happy birthday and asking him why he wasn’t having a party then Paxton walked in showing me my pictures for his sisters fashion line. Next thing I know Ben interrupts telling me he is going to have a party after all.”
“Wow for one of the smartest people I know, you can be pretty stupid. He was never going to have a party. He only wanted to hang out with you. You said you made sure Paxton would come, right? I guarantee that if you hadn’t invited him then Ben would have never told anyone about his party. He just wanted you! Holy shit Ben likes you” Eleanor putting the pieces together.
“Come on I doubt he threw an entire party just to get me to come over. Moving on. I snuck out of the house to go to the party and Ben showed me around until we got to the screening room. We were talking and all of a sudden he leans over to kiss me, TWICE” Devi practically shouts. “Well I got a little freaked out especially since I kind of wanted him to actually kiss me, but I never let him since he was with Shira and he was just drunk.”
“Ohhh this actually explains so much but continue on” Fabiola states.
“Well you know what happens next. We had our fight and I fell in the pool. Paxton helped me out, leant me some clothes, and drove me home. When we pulled in front of my house we talked for a few minutes and he kissed me. Nothing too intense but it was wonderful. I was so surprised. The next day Paxton showed up at my house to give me my dress back and then my mother and I got in a huge fight. Leading to me running away and moving into Ben’s house. It was nice spending time with him, obviously we were still competitive but less of a bite to our arguments.”
“You so like him! He clearly LOVES you. Just look at all he’s done for you” Eleanor points out.
“Well you both know how all of that led up to yesterday and how he got me to Malibu. He stayed just to make sure I was okay, so I could not help but kiss him. It was amazingly perfect. His eyes staring directly in mine, looking so blue that I was drowning in them. I never knew a simple kiss could feel that way, but he took it one step further by kissing me back with his hands in my hair, just oh my god that simple act made me feel so hot.” Devi stares off into the distance.
“well it looks like you never really had a choice. You just made it very clear who has your heart.” Eleanor sing songs.
“I feel like all that build up and pining over Paxton was for nothing. I cannot believe I let Ben FUCKING Gross in my head. We talked on the phone last night briefly and kind of scraped the subject of the kiss, but I don’t think he made it that clear on where he stood with me. I mean he was acting semi-flirty on the phone and we smile at each other all day, but then he suddenly looks at me as if I ran over his cat and runs away from me before I can get a word in.” feeling exasperated over the whole situation.
“What were you doing when he was acting like that?” Fabiola asks quietly.
“I was just at my locker talking to-OH SHIT why am I so dumb sometimes? Paxton was talking to me” Devi realizes. “I was wondering why Paxton was acting strange towards me. I just thought it was because I never brought up the stupid voice mail. Do you think they’re just jealous of each other?”
“Oh, a love triangle! How very Christine, Raoul, and phantom of you!” Eleanor shouts, probably already thinking of how she can turn this into a play.
“There is no triangle, and there is no love!” Devi declares. “One, I don’t know how either of them feel about me. Two, I’m not pretty or cool enough to have one guy actually like me, let alone two.”
“Devi stop underestimating yourself. You are amazing and Ben OR Paxton would be lucky to have you.” Fabiola prompts.
“Aww Fab! Thank you and I love you.” Devi gushes. “I guess I need to talk to both of them and let one down”
“So, which one is it going to be? Team Ben or team Paxton?” Eleanor queries.
“You’ll just have to find out. Besides I really need to sit down with both of them to fully understand where each of them stands with me as well as work out my feelings for them” Devi continues to ponder this in her head.
Little did they know that someone was spying on them, but by tonight they would know and so would the rest of So-Cal.
Later that Night- Ben’s POV
He spent the evening sulking around his house. Barely having the motivation to do his homework (even though he does it all anyway) and not even attempting to study or read ahead like he normally does. He flops down on his bed until he gets a notification on his phone; he almost didn’t look at it, but something in his head told him to. It was only from some guy in his model UN, but what the text contained shocked him.
“Dude, you stole Devi from Paxton H-Y? Nice! Always knew you were secretly cool!”
Ben looks at his phone in confusion. “What do you mean?” replying feeling completely clueless.
“you haven’t seen the video? Oh damn here’s the link” followed by a link to a YouTube video.
“Uh thanks? I guess I’ll check it out.” Ben hesitates with his finger over the link. What could this video be about? His curiosity gets the best of him so he presses play. Hearing Devi’s voice recount the last week or so to her best friends in what appears to be the robotics lab taken from under a desk somewhere. Who would spy on them and post a terrible quality video about it? He doesn’t think to much on that, but continues to watch. He’s clinging on to every word she’s saying. Especially about their kiss, he didn’t realize how she actually felt about all of that. He also did not know that she saw him walk away from her earlier.
Now feeling bad he decides to call her, feeling more confident than ever since he heard how she thought their kiss was perfect and hot.
“Uh hey Ben, I’m guessing you saw the video?” she laughs nervously, “Look I’m really sorry. That is probably embarrassing having our whole school know about our kiss. I just needed to talk this over with my best friends. I just don’t know why someone would go”
“Devi, I’m definitely not embarrassed. I just love knowing how our kiss was perfect, or was it amazingly perfect?” he quips while trying to soothe her. He knows she’s rolling her eyes at him.
“Don’t go getting an even bigger head, Gross.” She snarks back.
“Those were your words David even though I do agree with them. It was just nice hearing you gush more about me than the great Paxton” he reveals. “Seeing you at your locker with him made me jealous even though I have no right to be.”
Feeling a flush on her cheeks at his words, “Well I meant every word. I just want to be upfront with you. Just because I feel these things for you doesn’t make all the things I felt for Paxton go away. All this is so new and I don’t know what to do about it. I still feel attracted to him, but I’ve been starting to realize that since you had dinner at my house that we have a connection. I think that connection has always been there but we never put our competitiveness aside to realize it. Besides last week I accidentally saw you shirtless and I’ve been wondering ever since then when you got abs.”
“Well Devi if you want to feel them just ask.” Trying to sound confident and seductive. “Though I do know what you mean. Our connection has always been there. Our similarities and our differences go together better than I ever let myself admit”
“Well I still need to talk to Paxton about his feelings and how I feel.” Devi says with a calmness and maturity to her voice. “I don’t want to start anything before I know everything even though my heart is telling me to just go for it”
“Okay, I guess I can respect that” he jokes with her. They talk for the next forty-five minutes without even realizing it.