#paxton (swim team coach) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

automaticpostinfluencer · 5 years ago

Text

Today-would-have-been-Opening Day MLB Power Rankings

Well, there are no flyovers, no cracks of the bat, no peanuts or Cracker Jack. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be Power Rankings.

On what would have been Opening Day, we compile the votes of ESPN’s baseball reporters, writers and editors and unveil our rankings for all 30 teams, looking at where they stand with the season in limbo. Along with the rankings, David Schoenfield and Bradford Doolittle offer a look at what a shortened schedule could mean for each team’s season.

World Series odds for all 30 MLB teams

Watch four HR derby showdowns on Opening Day

Best we ever saw week: Web gems | Prospects | Games | Home runs

2019 record: 106-56 World Series odds: 3-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: If anything, a shortened season should only make the Dodgers stronger. They won’t have to worry as much about monitoring the workloads of veteran starters Clayton Kershaw and David Price or the innings for Julio Urias, who is projected to finally enter the rotation on a full-time basis. — David Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Enjoy Kershaw while we can

2019 record: 103-59 World Series odds: 3-1

On Thursday, March 26, ESPN2 will be airing a Home Run Derby Classics marathon starting at 6 p.m. ET. How to watch »

2019: Cleveland, 6 ET 2018: Washington, 8 ET 2017: Miami, 10 ET 2015: Cincinnati, midnight ET

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Whether they are playing or not, more Yankees are probably injuring themselves even as these words are typed. But in theory, New York could begin the season at something like full strength, with the season-long absence of starter Luis Severino a glaring exception. Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and James Paxton all have time to heal up in time to be active whenever we finally get an Opening Day. — Bradford Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Looking back at Judge’s 2017 HR Derby barrage

2019 record: 107-55 World Series odds: 8-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Obviously the Astros’ rotation gets a tangible boost from a late start. Justin Verlander will have time to rehab his groin injury and could end up taking the Opening Day slot after all. Also, Tommy John returnee Lance McCullers Jr. shouldn’t need to have his cumulative workload as closely monitored. Intangibly, the Astros get a mental break from the avalanche of animosity they were buried with during spring training. For now, they are no longer in the eye of the storm. Will fans forget about their misdeeds altogether? Not a chance. But those misdeeds are no longer smoldering as hotly in the public consciousness. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Game 5 of 2017 World Series a wild ride

2019 record: 96-66 World Series odds: 25-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: If, as was posited by Rob Mains of Baseball Prospectus, offense will be suppressed by a late start, the Rays could post epic run prevention numbers. They were already elite in that regard as it was. Then they would have three additional advantages in a shorter campaign: (1) Their star-studded rotation has a spotty recent injury history, but it wouldn’t have to be limited as much in a short season. (2) The Rays’ organizational depth and systematic approach to running a bullpen would stand out even more. (3) If bats are slow to start around baseball, the Rays’ elite defense would be there from the outset, improving their standing from a positional standpoint. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Rays on top of farm system rankings

2019 record: 101-61 World Series odds: 16-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Twins might benefit as much as any team in the AL Central from a clipped campaign. As it was, Minnesota was just hoping to tread water with the innings missed by starter Rich Hill, who isn’t expected to be back from his elbow injury until June. The Twins don’t get a similar break with PED-suspended starter Michael Pineda, who will still have five weeks to sit out. But Minnesota gets more time for Byron Buxton to strengthen his surgically repaired shoulder. As much as anything, though, the Twins won’t have to map out as much rest time for advanced veterans Nelson Cruz and Josh Donaldson. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Remembering Morris’ masterpiece

2019 record: 97-65 World Series odds: 12-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Braves were still unsettled in their rotation when spring training was interrupted, with Sean Newcomb, Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint and Felix Hernandez battling for the final two spots. In a shorter season, it’s more imperative to get those decisions right from the get-go. They will also now have Cole Hamels for a larger chunk of the season, as he would not have been available at least until mid-May. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Albies will keep rising in MLB Rank

2019 record: 93-69 World Series odds: 20-1

In the weeklong series focusing on a different baseball theme each day, we asked our MLB reporters to tell us the stories of the best they ever saw — with only one rule: They had to be there to witness it in person.

Monday: Home run Tuesday: Games Wednesday: Prospects Thursday: Defensive plays Friday: Behind-the-scenes moments

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Max Scherzer had missed a spring training start because of fatigue on his right side, which was more precautionary than anything (he felt no pain and didn’t require an MRI). Throw in all the innings Stephen Strasburg had thrown last year and the lack of depth in the rotation after the top five, and there had to be concerns about a World Series hangover (like what happened to the Red Sox’s rotation in 2019), but that should now be less of a concern. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Recalling Strasburg’s eye-opening ceiling

2019 record: 97-65 World Series odds: 20-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Injury-addled starter A.J. Puk turned up with a shoulder strain this spring. While the injury wasn’t serious, it probably would have kept him from a March 26 roster spot. Now Puk could be in the mix from the start. Along with fellow prospect Jesus Luzardo, Puk brings star potential to the Oakland staff. Neither would have been ridden hard in the 2020 season, even as Oakland is positioned as a contender. Now, proportionally, they should be able to have a greater impact, giving the Athletics a better chance to be their ideal selves. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Anticipating Semien’s follow-up act

2019 record: 93-69 World Series odds: 30-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Rotation injuries hampered the Indians before the shutdown, and a late start gives Carlos Carrasco a chance to rest his inflamed elbow. And, all of a sudden, it is once again possible that Mike Clevinger — expected to be ready by late April or so — could return from his knee injury in time to make the Opening Day start he seemed destined for. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: How Rajai Davis left us speechless

2019 record: 84-78 World Series odds: 20-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Cubs had several still unresolved roster battles going on: center field (Ian Happ, Albert Almora Jr.), second base (Nico Hoerner, David Bote, Jason Kipnis), fifth starter (Tyler Chatwood, Alec Mills) and the back of the bullpen. In a sense, these are all important decisions: The problems with the 2019 squad weren’t so much the top-line players, but the backups and role players, who were mostly awful. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Cubs’ Rachel Folden breaks through as full-time coach

play

2:10

Tim Kurkjian takes us through some of the greatest moments in MLB Opening Day history as Opening Day 2020 will be delayed for just the second time in history.

2019 record: 86-76 World Series odds: 25-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Yoenis Cespedes, who played only 36 games in 2018 and missed all of 2019 after surgery on both heels, was questionable for the original Opening Day, but now should be ready when baseball resumes. How much he has left at age 34 remains an unknown, but even with two surgically repaired heels, he can’t be any worse on defense than J.D. Davis or Dominic Smith. Meanwhile, the rotation will be without Noah Syndergaard for the next season and a half. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Alonso’s power-packed show

2019 record: 91-71 World Series odds: 12-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Miles Mikolas (right flexor tendon strain) and Andrew Miller (had struggled in spring training) were both shaky for Opening Day, which probably had opened up a rotation spot for Carlos Martinez. With Mikolas now likely to be ready, that puts Martinez’s role back in limbo. Kwang-Hyun Kim had also looked good with eight scoreless innings, although the Cardinals would have liked to see him against tougher competition in the final weeks of spring training. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: David Freese, St. Louis superhero

2019 record: 75-87 World Series odds: 20-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Reds had a few injury issues when spring training was halted. Eugenio Suarez, who had shoulder surgery in late January after a swimming pool accident, was just getting ready for game action and manager David Bell has said there was a “strong chance” he would have been ready for Opening Day anyway. Nick Senzel, who had surgery for a torn labrum in September, had returned to DH but had yet to play in the field. He’s now more likely to be ready. Freddy Galvis had also been limited in spring training by a quad strain and sore shoulder and should now be OK. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Bauer’s social media presence

2019 record: 72-90 World Series odds: 20-1

ESPN staff make their picks for who the elite players are heading into the new season. MLB Rank »

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: For the Angels, it’s all about the possibility of having Shohei Ohtani ready to go as a two-way player by the eventual Opening Day, as he’s continuing his rehab work during the shutdown. Suddenly, the specter of repeating Babe Ruth’s historic 1918-19 impact looms. Those were Ruth’s only seasons as a true two-way player, and they also happened to be two shortened seasons. In 1918, Ruth led the AL in homers (11) and slugging percentage while, on the mound, he went 13-7. Returning to the present: The greater the portion of the Angels’ innings that can be covered by Ohtani, the better, because their rotation lacks star power. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Trout, Rendon baseball’s dynamic duo

2019 record: 89-73 World Series odds: 50-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Luis Urias, acquired from the Padres in the offseason to play shortstop over light-hitting Orlando Arcia, broke his hamate bone in winter ball and was questionable for the original Opening Day but could now be ready. Once a top prospect, Urias has struggled in the majors at the plate, with a .649 OPS over 300 plate appearances. But he doesn’t turn 23 until June and Arcia has just a .610 OPS over the past two seasons. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Yelich on Milwaukee: Where I want to be

2019 record: 85-77 World Series odds: 30-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: No significant change to Arizona’s outlook as the only injury of note in spring training was Mike Leake, who suffered a fractured wrist on his non-throwing arm and had been questionable for Opening Day. Given the options for the rotation, however, he was the No. 5 starter at best anyway. The Diamondbacks had planned to monitor Luke Weaver ‘s innings after his elbow issues last season, so that is less of a concern. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Bumgarner with D-backs an odd sight

2019 record: 81-81 World Series odds: 28-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Left fielder Andrew McCutchen and relievers Tommy Hunter and Victor Arano would have missed the start of the season, but all three should now be ready when play resumes. McCutchen is the key player as he had scored 45 runs in 59 games with a .378 OBP last season when he injured his knee. The Phillies’ bullpen was also ravaged by injuries a year ago, so a healthy Hunter and Arano will provide additional depth. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Podcast — Victorino on ’08 Phillies

2019 record: 72-89 World Series odds: 15-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The ideal version of the White Sox would gain more proportional exposure in a shortened season, enhancing playoff odds that would already be boosted by a smaller sample size. Tommy John returnee Michael Kopech would get a higher percentage of innings. The same would hold true for younger, innings-limited starters such as Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez. And don’t forget about Carlos Rodon, who is aiming at a post-All-Star return. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Moncada excited about White Sox’s talent

2019 record: 84-78 World Series odds: 75-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Boston’s playoff odds have plummeted over the offseason, thanks to the dealing away of franchise cornerstone Mookie Betts, and punctuated by Chris Sale‘s season-ending elbow surgery. A short season gives the Red Sox a mathematical boost thanks to sheer randomness. If that’s not a marketing pitch, we don’t know what is. More tangibly, Boston won’t have as many innings to cover with what looks like a woefully thin starting rotation. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Podcast — Roberts on steal, ’04 Red Sox

2019 record: 70-92 World Series odds: 22-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Hard-throwing Andres Munoz, who averaged 99.9 mph on his fastball last season in his impressive 23-inning debut, had Tommy John surgery last week and is out for the season, so the Padres have lost a key setup reliever. The key question, though, is a how a shorter season affects the arrival of top prospect MacKenzie Gore. He has only five starts above Class A, but his stuff is big league ready. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Padres’ prospect pipeline is deep

2019 record: 78-84 World Series odds: 60-1

From Twitter to Twitch, these 10 players are providing a window — often silly, sometimes serious — in an unprecedented time in baseball history. Joon Lee

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: Willie Calhoun‘s jaw was cracked by a fastball during spring training and the delayed start gives him a chance to be ready by a rescheduled Opening Day. Beyond that, the biggest effect for the Rangers is that they get more time to put the finishing touches on their new ballpark, which would have staged its first regular-season game next week. Just make sure the Wi-Fi and the power outlets in the press box are functioning, guys, and the coverage of your unveiling should go fine. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Hamilton’s Home Run Derby deluge

2019 record: 67-95 World Series odds: 100-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Blue Jays improved their rotation with their winter dealings, but the group still will lack an ace until fireballing prospect Nate Pearson arrives. He looked fantastic in spring training, but his high point in innings pitched in a professional season is the 101⅔ that he threw last season. Thus a midseason debut seemed likely for Pearson, even if he’s already the best pitcher in the organization. Now, the later the season starts, the shorter the period Toronto will run out a rotation that is not headed by its most talented performer.

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Jays’ young guns ready for next step

2019 record: 71-91 World Series odds: 100-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: One thing to factor in is how a shorter season affects the likelihood of trading Nolan Arenado. It could go either way. If play does start up, there are fewer games before the trade deadline on July 31, so the Rockies are more likely to be in the race. Or maybe the club figures it’s a lost season no matter what and decides to trade Arenado and retool the organization. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Arenado moving on from trade rumors

2019 record: 77-85 World Series odds: 100-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The outlook for the Giants wasn’t exactly rosy and still isn’t. Pablo Sandoval was recovering from Tommy John surgery and not expected until mid-May, but he should now be ready. The closer situation was unsettled, especially with Tony Watson battling a sore shoulder, but he’s more likely to get the job now (and become trade bait). Top prospect Joey Bart could see his timeline affected. He would have been a possible midseason call-up, but the Giants might just save his service time now and wait until 2021. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Pence gives fans “love, kindness”

2019 record: 69-93 World Series odds: 400-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Pirates have a new general manager in Ben Cherington, a new manager in Derek Shelton and are coming off a 93-loss season, so this was supposed to be a rebuilding year and a chance to evaluate the organization. That now becomes more difficult, although the hope is that veterans such as Chris Archer and Keone Kela come out pitching well and become attractive trade options. The top prospect ready to make a push for a call-up is third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who played at Triple-A last year but needs to improve with the bat. Similar to other prospects in his shoes, it will be interesting to see how the team handles him. — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Pirates give 400 pizzas to medical workers

2019 record: 59-103 World Series odds: 250-1

Spoiler alert: Wander Franco leads our list. Which MLB stars of tomorrow follow the best prospect since Mike Trout in this year’s rankings? Kiley McDaniel (ESPN+)

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The late start gives the Royals a chance to get injury returnees Adalberto Mondesi and Salvador Perez back to full strength. The bigger questions are about what happens to door-knocking rotation prospects Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar, Kris Bubic and Brady Singer. Singer in particular seemed like a strong bet to make the original Opening Day roster. So do the Royals unleash these arms en masse on the American League, a la the 1984 KC rotation with rookies Bret Saberhagen, Danny Jackson and Mark Gubicza? Perhaps unlikely. But it would be fun. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Anticipating Dozier’s breakout encore

2019 record: 57-105 World Series odds: 1,000-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Marlins had added veterans Jonathan Villar, Jesus Aguilar, Corey Dickerson and Matt Joyce to provide competition and depth after last year’s team struggled to score runs. It wasn’t exactly clear how things were going to shake out as far as playing. Does a shorter season make it more likely the Marlins just play the vets or more likely they give more opportunities to players like Isan Diaz, Lewis Brinson and Harold Ramirez? — Schoenfield

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Marlins have top-10 farm system

2019 record: 68-94 World Series odds: 250-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: It might not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but the Mariners should be able to rely more on a core group of starting pitchers in a shortened season. Kendall Graveman and Taijuan Walker are both trying to reestablish themselves after major injuries, and venerable prospect Justus Sheffield threw 169 innings across three levels in 2019, the only season in which he has reached a level that would get him through a full MLB season. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Kurkjian’s first look at The Kid

2019 record: 47-114 World Series odds: 1,000-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The question of what might happen to the timeline of topflight prospects who might have (or still will) debut in the 2020 season is an industry-wide quandary. So it will be for the Tigers, whose top pitching prospects — Casey Mize and Matt Manning — have not pitched above Double-A. Will they be pushed up or back? At the other end of the age spectrum: Every game Miguel Cabrera loses hurts his chances of reaching 3,000 hits or 500 homers this season. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: What does Miggy have left?

2019 record: 54-108 World Series odds: 1,000-1

How they’re impacted by the shutdown: The Orioles’ biggest issue is that it’s not just MLB teams that are in stasis, and Baltimore’s top prospects are stuck waiting for game competition at the minor league level along with everyone else. Beyond that, you kind of feel for Chris Davis. After two horrendous seasons, he was crushing it in Florida, putting up a 1.682 OPS with only three strikeouts over nine spring games. A mirage? Quite likely. But now he loses the chance to hit the regular season running with a head full of confidence to prove that it wasn’t. — Doolittle

While you’re waiting for Opening Day: Podcast — Bill Ripken joins Buster Olney

Source link

from WordPress http://justtoosilly.com/2020/03/27/today-would-have-been-opening-day-mlb-power-rankings/

#Sport

0 notes

lynccycling · 6 years ago

Text

LYNC UP & FIGHT BREAST CANCER

We connected with our riders and instructors on why our studio’s breast cancer donation efforts this week are so important to them. Read on to see why our clients are riding this Saturday at 9am, purchasing donation classes, wearing pink, donating pay and sporting new gear.

“This Saturday I am riding to celebrate one of our incredible Lync family members, Gleith, that also happens to be a breast cancer survivor. From the moment she told us she had been diagnosed, she knew she was going to beat it. From an outsider looking in, she never seemed to question her strength. This diagnosis was not going to define her or her life. She is such a kind and inspiring soul and always brings amazing energy into the studio - even at 5:45am.”

–SYDNEY [instructor & studio manager]

“I’m doing the charity ride because it’s a testament to what LYNC represents: community. The charity ride is a way to show up with a purpose greater than just getting my daily sweat. It’s a way to be present with my fellow riders to support an important cause that has likely affected all of us in some way. We band together to kick ass and support survivors and those battling breast cancer.”

–MOLLY C. [client]

“The Lync community means so much to me, not just because of the friendships, but because of the passion that everyone there exhibits. This weekend I am riding and donating for a good friend who was recently diagnosed and is just beginning her battle. Her attitude and fight inspires me to support her in every way that I can. Thank you Lync for supporting such a great cause!”

–ANNIE S. [client]

“My story with cancer is a long one, but cancer ultimately affected me the most as a senior in high school when my mother was diagnosed with estrogen-induced breast cancer. It was a hard time, being 17 and trying to figure out life while being presented with an unknown, scary obstacle to overcome. I flunked my first class ever because I would stay home and take care of her while my father was working. I remember how scared we were, how hopeless we felt, and confused as to why her? why now? why this? Luckily enough, my mother was able to fight the cancer with her treatments and surgery but bears the scars every single day to remind her what she went through. I’m stronger because of this time in my life but I wish that no one would have to go through what we went through. I’m hosting the TIEM TAPS BACK ride on Saturday for $25 in efforts to donate as much as we can. I’ll also be including my instructor pay to add what I can to the cause. This one is for you mom–I love you!“

–KAYLA [instructor & marketing manager]

“This Friday I’m donating my instructor pay because I think it’s important to show up with action. There are lots of ways to demonstrate support, but it always feels good to know you’re not in the fight alone. I’m riding and donating for my aunt, a breast cancer survivor, and for all of our clients that have been personally affected. I’m in a position that allows me to coordinate events and donations like this, and so I am. Having a team willing to show up and do the same makes it even better.”

–KELSEY [owner]

“Funding breast cancer research holds a very special place in my heart. When I was young, my aunt lost her battle with breast cancer and my great grandmother survived hers. As long as I can remember, my family has been donating, participating in fundraiser events, and just doing all that we can to help find a cure. Donating my instructor pay from this coming Sunday’s class is just one more way to give back and help the fight!“

–SHANNON [instructor]

“Growing up the “C” word wasn’t something that we really talked about all that often...and no not that deplorable “Cee You Next Tuesday” one but that life altering “Cancer” word. My paternal grandmother died of Colon Cancer right before I was born but that really wasn’t ever discussed much so it wasn’t something I admittedly ever thought about.

My Senior Year of high school was my first real involvement with Breast Cancer Awareness. Our volleyball team started an annual “Dig for the Cure” game where the proceeds would go to a search for the cure. It was such a success that it is still something they do to this day, 10 years later (so old, yikes). After moving back home from college I started working out at the YMCA. I became friends with a group of older ladies and became really close with a very special woman who became my WOM, “Workout Mom”. You wouldn’t ever know it because she is so badass but I came to find out that she is a 9 year Breast Cancer Survivor. Between early detection and a double mastectomy, she was able to beat it before it could do too much damage.

One day our fitness instructor, who happened to be my childhood swim coach, told us we should do the Dallas Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. My WOM had done it before but always by herself with her family at the finish line. So I decided to get all of our workout friends together to sign up (and make super cute race shirts of course)! We went on to do this race a couple of times, even the year after I moved away. My last year of doing it my WOM invited me to go into the Survivors Tent with her and that is a memory I will have with me forever. Fast forward to July of this year when my mom found a mass on her Colon. Knowing we didn’t have much Cancer on her side of the family, she reassured me that’s not what it was going to be. Turns out it was that ugly “C” word and after a surgery and 25 treatments of radiation, I am typing this at her first of 12 chemo appointments.

You never know what you are going to face in life but from my experiences thus far, all you can do is fight like hell and be there for those people you love the most. “

–JESS M. [client]

“I’m donating my class on Thursday at 545am to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in honor of my Nana, Linda Paxton, who beat cancer once but then later lost her fight to cancer when I was 8 years old.”

–JASMINE [instructor]

We appreciate all of our instructors and riders who are participating in efforts to make a difference. Catch all of these classes where instructors are donating their pay to BCRF:

THURS:

Zeke 545am in Dallas Jaz 545am in Plano Liz 530pm in Dallas Becca 630pm in Plano

FRI:

JD 545 & 645am in Dallas Kelsey 830am in Dallas

SAT:

Sydney 9am in Dallas Kayla 9am in Plano Cortney 10am in Plano

SUN:

Shannon 3pm in Plano

Click here to sign up for classes!

Between now and Sunday evening at 10pm, you can purchase up to 5 classes for $15 each (normally $25) where all proceeds will be donated to BCRF.

Click here to purchase classes.

Between now & Sunday, you can purchase PINK Tiem Athletic Cycling shoes for 10% off where proceeds are donated to BCRF.

Click here to place your order.

Sport this new LYNCUP tank for $28 and proceeds will be donated directly to BCRF.

Place your order here and pick up in studio this weekend.

Thank you for making this possible. You can feel even better about your next workout knowing you are making a difference.

–LYNC FAM

0 notes

iupetm · 8 years ago

Text

Day 111: IUPUI Top 100

Selection as one of IUPUI’s Top 100 students is one of the most prestigious recognitions offered by the campus. The annual program, co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and Student Organization for Alumni Relations, recognizes the Top 100 undergraduate junior and senior students on the IUPUI campus. Students are nominated and then judged by a review committee comprised of faculty, staff, and alumni. Honors are presented at a banquet to which students, parents, family members, faculty, staff and alumni are invited. PETM is proud of the school’s strong history of involvement.

2015 Top 100 PETM Students:

Jamie Collier

Lauren Hansen

Niral Patel

Stephen Stashevsky

Sarah Tanner

Natalie Trout

Ben Vickery

2016 Top 100 Students:

Mutsa Godza

Brittani Grove

Erin Ingram

Paxton Ott

Ben Vickery

As the selection of IUPUI’s Top 100 students is just around the corner, we took a moment to interview Brittani Grove, an Exercise Science major who was selected as part of IUPUI’s Top 100 students last year as a junior and is completing her application for this year’s honor.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Top 100 student?

Being selected as a Top 100 student is the greatest honor I have received. Sure, I've earned other awards from school and swimming, such as being on the Dean's list and Academic Advisors list. But this award is different. Those who are chosen as Top 100 are not the simply the smartest 100 students, or the top 100 students to log the most community service hours. They are well-rounded, engaged students who have done well in school, but most importantly, they have made an impact during their time here at IUPUI in the school and community. This award reminds me that the late weeknight study sessions required so that I can volunteer on the weekends is worth it in the end.

How has PETM supported your application and experience with Top 100?

For starters, the two people who have nominated me the past two years were PETM faculty members! It's nice to know that my hard work doesn't go unseen among hundreds of PETM students.

Josh Halmi, Assistant Director of Career Development, has been an amazing addition to the staff! He's helped me with my personal statement among other things. I would refer anyone and everyone to Josh. He can help in ways you may have never thought of before! He's a great resource to have, I just wish he would have started a few years earlier when I was first coming in!

What impact have you made on IUPUI or your community and how do you make this happen?

Being a student-athlete is a handful. Being a student-athlete who is involved in both the school and community while preparing for graduate school is even more challenging! However, I have done my best to integrate my interests into the community and volunteer initiates.

I am the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Through this organization, I have helped increase awareness of IUPUI athletics across campus. I have also served as a captain of the swim team for the past three years. This has allowed me to help cultivate a team driven by competition and love for the sport, not one only focused on success and/or failures.

Brittani with a Live, Laugh, Dance participant

The School of PETM has provided me incredible service learning opportunities that have allowed me to better the Indianapolis community. I taught young children the importance of exercising daily while helping them train for a 5K. I served as a trainer and health coach for individuals in the Indianapolis area, helping them create goals and achieve them! I have had the opportunity to teach dance to young adults with Down syndrome. I also give swim lessons weekly to children with all different disabilities. Some of these same kids I have helped learn how to ride a two-wheeled bike. Both of these opportunities were through the Rainbow's End optimist club.

I had the privilege to volunteer for multiple NCAA events, including Division II swimming and the Final Four/Championship basketball games. Through the NCAA, I also helped renovate JTV City Park.

All these things have been possible with a little discipline and a lot of hard work! I don't give myself the option to make excuses and skip out on volunteering because I'm too busy or tired. There will be time to sleep later in life. College will be over in the blink of an eye, so make the most out of your time here!

Anything else you’d like to add?

I'm probably biased, but the School of PETM has the most incredible, fun, supportive, light-hearted staff out of any school at IUPUI. I didn't choose to come to IUPUI because of the faculty, but if I had known about them before making a decision on which college to attend, I'd choose them hands down! All of our professors are here to help you succeed. They are so easy to have casual or difficult conversations with. I will miss this group of professors and faculty members more than I ever thought I would after I graduate in May. Enjoy them while you're here!

Top 100 students selected for 2017 will be recognized at the annual Outstanding Students Recognition Dinner on Friday, March 31, 2017. PETM looks forward to celebrating with our selected students!

PETM 2016 Top 100 students and faculty at the Recognition Dinner: Lisa Angermeier, Keith Naugle, Alan Mikesky, Mutsa Godza, Jay Bradley, Kelly Naugle, Brittani Grove, Erin Ingram, Rachel Swinford, Steve Fallowfield, Allison Plopper

#150daysofimpact #TeamPETM #Top100 #IUPUI

0 notes

cupcakesandtv · 3 years ago

Text

Innate Talent

It's my birthday but YOU get the fic! <3333 I'll take comments in lieu of gifts thank you!!!!! read it here on ao3 Paxton put his notebook down on the table next to Devi with a pop sound from his mouth and sat down. She had her glasses on and they were perched at the edge of her nose, like a librarian but somehow Paxton found it incredibly endearing. She was cute. She bumped her knee into his and looked over at him. “How was the thing?” she asked, pulling the glasses off her face and shoving them in the pocket of her bookbag.

He was about to answer but he noticed the forgotten chili cheese fries next to her. “Are you okay? You didn’t eat.” Devi scrunched up her face and shrugged. “Dead dad moment. I’ll eat later.”

They’d come up with the shorthand of “dead dad moment” because sometimes that just happened to Devi. She got sad or nostalgic or upset and she either wanted to talk about it or she didn’t. If she wanted to talk, she’d say more. She wasn’t saying more so Paxton knew to leave it alone for now.

“I’ve got this list.” He handed it to Devi.

“What’s the context on the list?” Devi asked, tilting her head as she skimmed the paper.

“Coach and Ms. Warner put the list together of schools who were interested in me for swimming before I broke my arm.” “Before Devi broke your arm,” Trent said, sitting across from them. Eleanor followed him and smacked the back of his head. “She’s apologized like a thousand times, they were literally making out on your couch yesterday, I don’t think you have to remind them,” Eleanor explained while picking at Devi’s cold fries.

“We could make out on my couch, you know?” Trent waggled his eyebrows at Eleanor.

“Anyways, so the list,” Devi cut in. The Trent and Eleanor thing was an ever evolving kind of weird thing where Trent openly begged Eleanor to date him and Eleanor basked in the obsession, but didn’t really know how she felt about it.

“So it’s the schools that wanted me, but canceled visits to scout me because of my arm, but told Ms. Warner they wanted to hear if I got my grades up.” Paxton shimmied his shoulders in an awkward little dance.

“What does that mean?”

“It means, if I email them with my current GPA and my most current swim times, and I really kiss some ass, like just make the email full of how much I wanna go to their school, they might send someone out to see me swim when we do the swim team trials in May.” Paxton pointed at the top of the list and Devi looked. “Princeton? Is there another Princeton?” Devi asked, unsure. “You don’t think I can get into Princeton?” Paxton looked offended.

“I didn’t know my Princeton had sports.” “Every college has sports, Devi,” Aneesa replied, sitting down next to Trent.

“Are you sure?” Devi was very skeptical. “Yeah,” Paxton scoffed.

“There’s a lot of Ivies on this list,” Devi said, reading further down.

“It’s gonna start to hurt my feelings if you keep saying it like that, Vishwakumar.” Paxton was irritated.

“No, I think this is really cool, I just didn’t even know they had sports programs!” Eleanor nodded her head. “She’s not fucking with you, she didn’t know that. The most she’s ever been interested in sports is when the NBA went to Disney World.”

“What about the Olympics? Surely you get excited about the Olympics? Everybody does?” Trent asked, concerned and definitely thinking of his favorite gymnast, Simone Biles. “They flip in the air and shit. Like so many times! Plus they’re wearing leotards, it’s fucking awesome!”

“Nah, never seen ‘em,” Devi answered while Paxton put his forehead on her shoulder and laughed.

“I can’t believe you’re the girl I picked,” Paxton said, coming up and kissing the side of Devi’s head. “Absolutely shocked every day that this works for me.”

Devi frowned and elbowed Paxton’s chest. “Stop making fun of me.” “I’m not. Literally, I’m embarrassed by how into a girl who doesn’t even know sports exist I am.” Paxton shook his head. “It’s more like a self own but I don’t care. I love you.” Everyone at the table stopped and looked at Paxton, Devi parted her lips to say something but Paxton backtracked smoothly. “I love that you didn’t know Princeton had sports.”

The bell rang and saved Paxton anymore embarrassment. “Alright, so tonight we start drafting kick ass emails to all these schools, right?” Devi asked, standing up and slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

“Right.”

Devi’s head was hanging off the side of her bed, her hair touching the ground, and noticing that there was a grease spot on the wall in the shape of a Bagel Bite. “Wonder when that got there?”

“When what got there?” Paxton asked from his spot on the floor, leaned against her bed, so their heads would have been perfect for a Spiderman upside down kiss reenactment if they weren’t in constant danger of Nalini walking into the room.

“Nothing.” Devi glanced at the laptop screen but was unable to read it because she was upside down. “So Fab is going to Stanford because they have a good robotics program, so you can mention that in your letter to them.”

“Oh, that explains why she texted me a wall of text that looked like gibberish. I thought she was trying to get me to join the robot club or whatever,” he said, looking at the text on his phone. “I can see now it’s all about Stanford.” Devi put her hand in Paxton’s hair and shook loose some of the curls from the gel he used to tame them. “Stopppp,” he said, dragging it out.

“Hey, remember at lunch today when you told me about this project,” Devi asked, scratching at his scalp in what she hoped was a soothing way.

“Mmmmhmmm,” he said, absently tugging on her hair to try and get her to stop. If he was chill, he could ignore her question. He didn’t want to talk about how he accidentally blurted out that he loved her. She stopped messing with his hair and moved to pull all her own hair into a bun, still upside down off the bed. Devi finished and kissed his cheek before turning to sit up. “You said you-” Devi started but Paxton cut her off. “I was pretty excited about the list.” Paxton closed his laptop and stood up. Better to just exit the situation. “I gotta go, my mom is making fajitas tonight and if somebody isn’t home to hold the fire extinguisher, things can go south fast.”

He bolted out of the room so fast, Devi could hear her grandmother fretting about the floors being too slippery for him to run that fast in socks.

This was the worst day of Paxton’s life. He had to get to Devi immediately. She would have some kind of plan for this. Or she would remind him that he was more than a hot bod meant to swim. She liked him for lots of other reasons. He couldn’t think of any of those reasons at the moment but that’s why it was important to get to her. Thank god she was in Bio last period because he knew she could slip out easily.

Paxton leaned against the front door of the classroom, just out of view of Mrs. Paloma, but at the right angle that Devi could see him.

“I need to go to the bathroom!” Devi said, her arm in the air. “That time of the month so it’s gonna take a minute!”

“You can just say you need to use the restroom, Devi, I don’t need to be updated on your cycle,” the teacher said as Devi grabbed her bag and slipped out the front door. “What’s the matter?” she asked. He must have looked as shitty as he felt. “Is somebody dead?”

Paxton shook his head. It was important to always assure her that no one had died.

“I suck.”

“Ha, yeah you do, suck my-” Devi tried to joke but Paxton shook his head again stopping her.

“No, Devi, I got in the pool. Coach had his PE class in the pool today so he told me to come by and get in the pool and swim. You know. For the first time. Since my arm.”

Devi’s brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. You were hyped about that at lunch.”

“Yeah. I was. And then I got in the pool.”

“Are you allergic to chlorine now or what?”

“Devi, I suck. I couldn’t do 100 meters without stopping, I was slow as fuck. My legs felt like lead. I suck now! My flip turn was sloppy. I’m never gonna be good again because I suck now!” His outburst surprised her and he felt bad. He didn’t mean to take out his frustration on her like that. He grimaced and Devi took his hand and tugged him away from the classroom.

“This is the first time you’ve been in a pool since you broke your arm,” she said over her shoulder as she pulled him outside of the school building. “It’s gonna take a minute to get adjusted. To get back into it.”

“I don’t have time to get back into it! The time trials are 10 weeks from today!” She spun around and pushed him against the brick of the outside of the building. Devi put her hands on his face, her thumbs rubbing back and forth on his chin. Paxton forgot what was happening, he just looked at her and everything slowed down. She leaned in and kissed him, he put his hands on her hips and tugged her closer to him, relishing the way she felt against him. He slid his hand up her side, looking for the skin under her shirt. Devi sighed into his mouth and pulled away just a second to kiss the corner of his mouth.

“What was...what was I saying?” he asked, dazed.

“You were panicked about swimming but you’re gonna be fine.”

Paxton felt every muscle in his body tense again. Did his arm hurt? The one he’d broken? His legs felt like jelly but not in the fun way. “Hey,” Devi said, her hand shifting to his shoulder and her other hand on his chin again. “Look at me.”

He scrunched up his face but after a second looked at her. Her eyes were soft but stern.

“Swimming takes like all the weird muscles in your body working together and your body hasn’t done that in a while. You’ve been running and that thing where you lay down on the bench with the bar and your shirt off and-” “Weight lifting, Devi, it’s called weightlifting,” he corrected, a small smile blooming on his face.

“Those are all different muscles that didn’t have to work together.” She tipped her face and kissed his chin. “Somebody super smart told me that. Somebody with some kind of vast knowledge about swimming.” She feigned ignorance.

“Me, I told you that,” he said, dryly. “Yes!” Her eyes lit up. “You told me that. So how about remembering what you said and realizing that it’s gonna take a minute to get back to where you were before?”

“Did you just kiss me to distract me from saying I suck?” Paxton looped his finger into the belt loop on her pants as an excuse to look away from how very hot she looked at this moment. Her lips slightly swollen from the kiss, her cheeks flush, and this piece of hair that was coming out of her ponytail and settling on the side of her cheek.

“LIke you haven’t kissed me to shut me up before,” she said, giving him a quick peck and stepping away from him. “So the plan is you keep working. You’ll get better. Soon those schools you sent emails to are gonna respond by saying they’re sending someone out to see you swim and then you’ll be basking in scholarships and good grades and trophies for being so fast and hot.” “Nobody is giving me something for being hot,” he said, trying to pull her back to him but she didn’t budge.

“Oh that’s me.” Devi said, digging into her backpack and pulling a notebook out. She pulled a pen out of her ponytail and scribbled something down on the paper, ripped it out, and handed it to him.

“Hottest, favorite boyfriend,” Paxton read off. “Really?”

“I’m being 800 percent honest,” Devi said.

He scoffed, but smiled. “I love y-, I love it. I love this dumb award.”

Paxton didn’t really have to work hard to swim. It came naturally to him. He would go to practice and he’d do the drills and work out, he was always focused. But he never had to work at it. It was effortless. But that was all before he broke his arm.

He didn’t suck. When he started back at it, he’d been slow. And his muscles were sore. But he kept practicing. A new problem quickly presented itself though. If he now had to work at swimming, he didn’t have a lot of time for school or for his social life. But Devi had a plan for that too.

As Paxton swam his laps, Devi was at the end of the pool on a chair. She was studying herself, but as Paxton came down, he’d pop his head up every rotation and lean on the edge of the pool. Devi would quiz him on whatever subject he needed to be studying. “My arms feel like they’re gonna fall off at the shoulder joint,” Paxton whined as he leaned on the edge of the pool in front of Devi. “Sounds awful but what’s the quadratic equation?” Devi held up a small whiteboard with several equations on it.

“It’s the second one, the negative b, plus or minus square root over…”

“Yes! You’re doing so well! But you’ve only done 400 meters, go faster, babe,” Devi gave him a chipper smile but he frowned. “What if instead of college, I join the peace corps? I hear that’s a great way to do good work around the world.”

“That’s a noble cause. But you don’t like having to skip In-n-Out for more than a week so I can’t imagine how well you’d fare in the peace corps in the middle of nowhere.” Devi took the whiteboard down and erased the quadratic equation and held up the board again with the other two mystery equations.

“The one on the left is Slope intercept and the other one is-” “If you can’t remember, that’s fine, go swim 100 meters and get back to me.” Paxton shook his head. “Nah, give me a minute, it’s area for a rectangle, no, no triangle.”

“Ding ding ding!” Devi jumped up and clapped, then got down lower so she could high five him. “You chose to answer the question rather than swim the laps. Did you just pick school over swim?”

“Yeah because my brain doesn’t hurt as much as my shoulders do.”

After eight weeks of training and studying at the same time, Paxton reached his limit. He considered telling his mom he was sick and staying home but something propelled him out of bed and to school. As he was heading to the pool building, Devi came running up behind him.

“Guess what?” she asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet. He smiled because even exhausted, it was impossible to not smile when Devi smiled.

“Your mom is going out of town and Kamala is working and you have the whole house to yourself so we can play strip twister in your living room?”

Devi stopped and frowned. “That’s your idea of fun if we had the house to ourselves?”

“No,” Paxton answered, shaking his head. “I’m pretty tired and that’s the best I’ve got on the fly but it doesn’t even sound that fun.”

She gave him a sympathetic look. “You can’t keep going like this.”

“Yeah, I can. And the fun thing I’d do if we had the house to ourselves?” Paxton perked up, trying to prove he was fine as he tugged on a strand of Devi’s hair. “Nap. We’d nap in your bed except it’d be the best nap because I’d sleep so good all snuggled up.”

Paxton moved closer to her and put an arm around her neck, pulling her into a hug. He whispered into her ear then, “I’d like to do more exciting things but nap first. Then I’ll-”

“Paxton, you can’t swim today,” Coach came walking down the hall and Paxton released Devi to a more suitable position so they didn’t get yelled at for excessive PDA in the halls.

“Why?”

“If it’s because I told that kid Moonbeam his name was stupid and he should try lacrosse instead of swimming, he started it Coach!” Devi cut in.

“What did Moonbeam ever…” But Coach shook his head and realized the futility of even asking for more context from Devi on whatever hijinks she was cooking. “Nah, Eric puked in the pool so it’s down for the next two days.” “Just for some puke?” Paxton asked, a little puke was a couple hours problem, not two days problem.

“It was a lot of puke, Paxton. You don’t really want more information than that,” Coach explained. “You’ve been working yourself to death though, why don’t you take your girlfriend out. Maybe she’ll stop fighting with Moonbeam if-” “I’m not gonna stop fighting with that kid, he’s a men’s rights activist raised by two moms. What’s wrong with him?” Devi argued.

“Devi, I appreciate you helping Paxton get his grades up and encouraging him in his workouts but you’re just too much for me to handle.” Coach shook his head.

“Fuck off,” Paxton said without thinking. He quickly covered his mouth and realized what he’d done. “Sorry. I guess I do need a day off.” Devi’s eyes were wide and Coach’s were too. Devi grabbed his hand and tugged.

“See you on Monday, Coach, I’ll make sure he rests,” Devi shouted from down the hall and then turned to Paxton when they were far enough away. “What were you thinking?”

“He didn’t have to say that to you! You’re not too much, he’s just…” Paxton made a face like he couldn’t figure out what insult to lob at his swim coach.

Devi gave him a half smile. “You need a nap, let’s go get you one, bud.”

It wasn’t until they were wrapped around each other on Paxton’s living room couch that he remembered Devi had some news that she was trying to tell him earlier. They were both on their sides, her back against his chest and his fingers were playing across the skin of her stomach, just under her shirt. She was looking at her phone and Paxton was almost asleep before he remembered.

“What were you bouncing in to tell me, after school?” He lifted his head up from her neck so he could see her face. She didn’t look at him but a smile spread across her face, the big kind, the one where her whole face lit up. The one she usually reserved for when he said something she really liked or when he complimented her.

“Oh.” She rolled on her back so she could look up at him, a wicked twinkle in her eye. “You sir, are an honor’s student.”

He furrowed his brows and frowned. “That’s not funny.”

Devi smiled wider, she looked at her phone for a second and then turned it so he could see it. “How did you login to my student account?” Paxton asked, confused, before he could even focus on the grades on the screen.

“Oh please, your password is MichaelPhelps420*. It’s not hard. You logged in on my laptop once.” She shook her head. “Look at your grades!”

He took the phone and scanned the screen. He couldn’t believe it. It didn’t seem real.

“Did you photoshop this? To make me feel better because I’m so worn out?” He looked down at her and she was beaming. “No, you got A’s in every class you’re taking right now.” She bit her lip quickly and then went back to smiling. “I mean technically it doesn’t do a lot for your cumulative GPA but you can still work it into college applications about how you improved and did well from junior year and on. Some bullshit about buckling down and working hard to excel. I’ll write something up.”

“You don’t have to write it up.” He put her phone on the arm of the couch above her head. “I’ll write it up myself with the goddamn A I have in English lit and Junior Comp!”

“Why are you taking a sophomore english lit and a junior composition, anyway?” Devi asked, confused.

“Oh, uh last year Coach had me take two PEs so I’d have more time in the pool but I forgot to take sophomore lit so I had to double up this year.”

“You took two PE classes last year and nobody noticed you missed a whole ass core class?” Devi seemed horrified but Paxton shrugged.

“I obviously didn’t care last year but now I do so here we are, fixing that.” Struck with a sudden surge of affection for the girl who believed he could be smart enough and work hard enough to get A’s instead of C’s, Paxton ran his thumb across her bottom lip.

Devi took that moment to lick her lip and by extension the pad of his thumb and Paxton had a different sudden kind of surge now, his jeans feeling entirely too tight for such close contact with his very smart and very hot girlfriend. Devi reached for his neck to bring him down to her and wedged a leg between his, giving him something to grind down on. He groaned into her mouth as she kissed him.

“Smart dudes are so hot,” she said, kissing along his jaw as he slid his hand along the skin of her stomach, inching his way up her torso.

“But I was hot before, right?” he asked, feeling uncomfortable with the new label of smart. She kissed under his ear and nipped at his lobe.

“So hot. Just always really hot, all the time,” Devi whispered, pushing her hips up into his.

His breath hitched at the movement and he closed his eyes for a second to try and keep his cool. When he opened his eyes, Devi was looking up at him and oh shit, what was that feeling in his shoulders and chest and stomach and...no, he wasn’t getting off, don’t be gross. Paxton was in love with Devi. Her bright skin and her smile that he lived for and the way her eyes crinkled at the corners and the way she looked at him like he could do anything and she was proud of him. “Devi-” he tried to say something but his mouth wouldn’t work. The words wouldn’t come out and he floundered like a fish. “What?” she asked, biting her bottom lip. There was no point in saying it. He leaned in closer and kissed her lips, gently pulling her bottom lip between his, sliding his tongue into her mouth. And then.

Then.

Paxton sat up. His arm was asleep from leaning on it, Devi was still in front of him but the tv was on, the hum of it quiet, and it was dark outside.

“Did I fall asleep?” he asked, unsure. But hearing his voice in his own ears, he’d definitely been sleeping.

“Yeah, right in the middle of the good part of making out,” Devi said dryly, without looking back at him, but pressing her ass into his crotch. “You’re really tired because you’ve never done that. I didn’t realize I was so boring.”

“I’m sorry.” He cringed and moved the hair from over her shoulder and kissed the bare bit of skin between her collar and her neck.

“Devi, make sure he drives you home before midnight, the couch isn’t nearly comfortable enough to sleep on,” Paxton’s mom said, walking through the living room with a big bag over her shoulder. “We’re doing inventory at the store so we’ll be there all night, Paxton, so take her home before midnight so you can get some rest. You’re running yourself ragged.” She leaned over the couch and ruffled his hair before she left.

“I told my mom I was staying at Fab’s the minute your mom mentioned overnight inventory, is that fine or do you wanna take me home?”

Paxton put his chin on Devi’s shoulder and tightened his arm over her stomach.

“It’s easier to keep you here instead of climbing in your window... so,” he said, sighing content to be right where he was. His stomach growled though, reminding him it had been a long time since lunch.

“Your mom ordered pizza, should be here soon,” Devi offered. She reached up her hand and pat his cheek, her attention still on her phone and the TV.

“Am I missing The Mummy? You should have woke me up!” Paxton pressed his lips to the skin of her neck like he was going to kiss her but instead blew a raspberry. “Eww,” Devi whined, but couldn’t help but laugh. “Am I not paying enough attention to you or something?” She sat up and it was Paxton’s turn to whine.

“No, come back.” He lifted himself up and kissed her, gently guiding her back down to her back on the couch, this time he was hovering over her.

“Oh, now you want to make out? Sure you’re not gonna fall asleep again?” Devi looked up at him through her long lashes and oh no, there it was again. That feeling.

“I’m sorry I fell asleep, but some of us don’t coast to A’s, we gotta work our asses off.” “Shut up, you know I don’t coast to A’s. I work for them. That’s why I’m the best peer tutor out there, because I know anybody can work for good grades. Nobody’s stupid... like permanently.” She slid her hand up his chest and tugged on his collar to get him to kiss her but he wanted to hear more of what she was saying. “You really think anybody can be smart, don’t you? You’re the smartest girl at school and you really believe anybody can do that.” He slid his hand up her neck to cradle her cheek.

“It’s called a growth mindset. There’s not much you can’t improve upon if you work at it.” Devi scrunched up her face. “Well. I’ll never swim like you. You’ve got too much innate talent. But I could work hard and come close. But I’m gonna leave that to you. Exercise can fuck right off.”

Paxton laughed. “What about your innate talent at school?”

“Doesn’t exist.” Devi tugged on his shirt to bring him down to kiss her. This time he went. She sighed into him and parted her lips, and balled her fist into his shirt like she was desperate to get closer to him.

“Got some innate talent there,” he said against her lips. “I’ve kissed a lot of girls and you’re the best.” “You’re full of shit,” she said, kissing along his jaw.

Paxton wanted to argue but the doorbell rang and his stomach rumbled again, reminding him of the food he definitely needed to eat.

“Ohhh, my meat lover is here,” Devi said, pushing him over so she could jump up from the couch. She turned around realizing what she said and pointed at him accusingly. “No time for jokes, I’m starving and I know you are too.”

After they ate, Paxton wanted to settle right back into the couch, pick up where they left off, but the doorbell rang again. Before he could get the door, Becca came in from work and looked at him funny. “There’s a dude on the doorstep that says Devi told him to come?” His sister went straight for the pizza.

“Steve!” Devi shouted from her seat at the table.

“Who?” Paxton asked.

A tall Asian guy in a tracksuit with a folding table and a bag let himself in. “Hey, Devi, where should I set up?”

“In the garage, I’ll show you,” Devi walked past Paxton with a slice of pizza still in her hand. “You want some pizza, Steve?”

“I’ll get some after,” Steve replied, nodding at Paxton in greeting. He held out his hand. “I’m Steve. I think I sorta met you once? I was sneaking out of the Vishwakumar house, I think you were trying to get in?”

“I have no idea what is going on,” Paxton said, shaking Steve’s hand before following Devi to the garage. “Devi?”

“Sorry, bud, this is Steve.” She waved over her shoulder. “He’s Kamala’s ex, he was climbing in windows at our house before even you were.”

Paxton looked at Steve again who nodded in affirmation. “It’s a nice roof.”

“Okay but why is Steve here?”

“Steve is in sports medicine and he’s here to massage your shoulders so you’ll quit complaining,” Devi explained before taking a bite of the piece of pizza in her hand. “It’s good for you!”

Steve slipped by Paxton into the garage with his table and his bag and started to set up.

“You got me a massage?” Paxton asked, surprised and touched.

“I didn’t like hire someone. Steve’s doing it for free because he’s a nice guy but yeah, I got you a massage. You deserve it for all the work you’ve done lately.” Devi stood on her tiptoes and kissed Paxton’s nose. “I’m gonna go see what Becca’s working on. Have fun, boys.” And then she was gone.

There was only one week left until the time trials and Paxton hadn’t heard back from any of the schools. Maybe his grades weren’t good enough. Devi said the cumulative GPA wouldn’t improve enough until next year. Maybe his times weren’t fast enough? Maybe he should revisit the peace corps idea? Or consider a community college. That felt like a loss but Devi would spin it. Actually, he was so used to her spinning bad news he could do that himself.

A community college was cheaper and he could save money living at home, improve his GPA and it was easier to transfer to a good school when you did well in a community college environment. Maybe that was gonna be the thing that worked.

School was feeling stuffy so he skipped fourth period and got In-N-Out. He brought back Devi a double double and met her outside of her fourth period class as it dismissed. “Where’s my double double?” Fab asked Paxton, seeing the bag. “Right here,” he said, moving his hand to show a second bag with a burger for Fab, Eleanor, and Trent. “I didn’t know what your order was Aneesa so I just got some extra fries for you, hope that’s cool.”

They ate outside comfortably until Ben Gross came to collect his girlfriend. What girls saw in that jerk, Paxton had no idea, but he was happy to see Ben wisk Aneesa away instead of sitting down to hang out. Paxton was not interested in that, especially today, while feeling hopeless and talking himself into community college.

“Check your email,” Devi whispered as Trent tried to convince Eleanor that actually scary movies were a higher form of cinema than musicals.

“I’m trying not to think about it,” he told her, looking off in the distance and noticing Jonah Sharpe doing some dance that you’d think he was filming a tiktok for but since it was Jonah, he was probably just doing that.

“Somebody is gonna get back to you,” Devi tried, her bright eyes hopeful and sure.

“Or I’m going to save so much money by going to community college and living at home.” Paxton’s knee began to shake before Devi put her hand on it and squeezed. “It’s fine.” But he didn’t have that kind of faith.

The time trials were on Saturday and Paxton had already thrown up once from nerves. Then again from being embarrassed. He was a failure. A couple of schools replied to his requests but they all said the best bet was to try walking on to the swim team when he got to the school. As if he could get into these schools on his academics enough? What a joke. He was a joke and soon everyone would know it.

The worst part was that Devi wasn’t even around. She said she was coming. He offered to pick her up on the way but she declined, saying she had to run an errand before. Paxton thought it might be an excuse to surprise him with some grand gesture or at least breakfast beforehand but he was just about to start warming up and she still wasn’t around.

Maybe she didn’t want to be there to witness the embarrassment of not a single scout showing up. Sure, the time trials were necessary for next season’s swim team and he might even be chosen as captain, but was swimming even worth it anymore? If it didn’t get him to college and now he had to work at it, why bother?

Paxton took another look at the clock and put his airpods in, turning up some music to try and get him in the right headspace to race. Even if he was just racing against his own best time.

The minute he saw Devi walk through the door, his shoulders felt lighter. At least he still had Devi.

She practically skipped over to where he was sitting on the bleachers. She was wearing the skirt she wore the day he took his first test in history that he actually studied for. He got a B and yes, he studied and yes Devi wearing the skirt was not the reason he did well but he was superstitious sometimes and this seemed like a good sign. He reached for her and tugged her closer by putting his hand on the back of her thigh, under her skirt. He didn’t care what it looked like, touching her skin calmed him down even further. And okay, he was nervous and doing something risque like that felt like an act of confidence. Things were looking up.

“What, did you think I was gonna ditch you? Today of all days?” she asked when he pressed his face against her chest.

“No...yes, I don’t know what I thought, I’m freaking the fuck out,” he admitted, looking up at her. “Nobody is even coming to see me so what’s the point? I’m going to community college and you deserve somebody better who can get into several Ivies and-” Devi smacked the back of his head, interrupting him. “Shut up!”

“Ow.” He rubbed the back of his head, before Devi leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Let go of my leg so you can make a good impression, dork,” she said, surprising him and stepping out of his reach.

“But nobody is coming?” When he stood up to get closer, he noticed an asian man behind Devi, he had a swimmer’s body (generally speaking, broad shoulders and slender all the way down, like a carrot) but he had glasses on and he looked well, like a nerd.

“Hi Paxton,” the man offered his hand. “I’m Daniel Choi. I’m doing my PHD work at Princeton.”

“Nice to meet you,” Paxton said, shaking his hand but still confused.

“Devi said you were particularly interested in history, in Japanese American diaspora in the western US and how those communities developed culturally after internment? We have some grad students doing some work that lines up with that well in our department.”

“The history department at Princeton,” Paxton verified. “The one in New Jersey?”

“Yeah, also they have sports there,” Devi added, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Tell him about the sports, Dan.”

“I was on the swim team when I was an undergrad and now I’m an assistant coach for the team. I was at a conference at UCLA when Devi contacted me.”

“You contacted an assistant coach for the Princeton swim team while he was at a conference here? Devi, did you stalk this poor man?”

Devi smacked the back of his head again.

“No, I wouldn’t do that.” Devi glared offended. Paxton gave her a knowing look. “Okay, I didn’t have to do that because I already knew Dan because of a project last year I was doing with Asian Americans in southern California history specifically. I just remembered he was a swimmer.”

“You called in a Princeton favor for me? You used one of the connections that could get you into school for me?” That rush of affection, the flip of his stomach, he loved her so much. Not because she’d done this for him, but because he knew she’d do that for anyone who needed it. And he needed the favor and she didn’t hesitate to call it in.

“Well,” Dan cut in, “I was looking to diversify our department.”

Paxton’s stomach dropped. “I’m a diversity hire?”

Dan nodded, seemingly unaware of Paxton’s shift in demeanor. “Yes, we need somebody who isn’t all nerd all the time. At least two of the grad students didn’t even know Princeton had sports teams. I need a jock in there that I can trust to do good work.”

Paxton laughed, relieved. “I didn’t really settle on history though, I was so focused on getting into school that I-” “Devi explained that. So yeah, there’s the catch. If your times are good and you and I get along, the issue is going to be dependent on your wanting to study in the history department. There’s not a lot of money in it but it’s honest work.”

Paxton nodded, turning over the idea of history as a major before being snapped out of it by Coach.

“Let’s go, we’re starting with 200 free,” Coach shouted.

“I’ll let you get to it, I’m excited to see you swim.” Dan offered his hand again and Paxton shook it.

Devi started to follow Dan to the bleachers but Paxton grabbed her arm and swung her around to him, crashing his lips into hers as soon as he could manage. Teeth bumped and noses got in the way, but he didn’t care. Devi was out of breath by the time Paxton let up.

“Okay,” Devi muttered, clearly having lost her train of thought. She looked up at him, still hazy, and he couldn’t stop it this time.

“I love you,” he spit out. “Not because you do shit like call in favors for Princeton, but because you gave me a piece of paper that said best hottest boyfriend.”

“You love me because I called you hot?” she asked, a laugh in her voice.

“No, I love you and it just happened. Effortlessly. Like how I used to swim without work. I just do. It just happened. I’m not even sure how.” He gulped, worried that she wasn’t understanding.

Devi looked down for a moment before looking back at him, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Would you say you have an innate talent for loving me?”

“Yeah,” he said, pushing some hair behind her ear. “Hopefully you’ve also got some innate talent for-”

She kissed him, pressing into him hard and scratching at the back of his neck.

“Paxton, we’d like to start sometime today,” Coach said after blowing his whistle. Devi pulled away quickly, smiling wide. “Go on, babe, you’ve got this.”

“You said you hated the layouts in Whitman,” Devi said, sitting with Paxton on her porch. He’d come home for the summer and Devi’s graduation was next weekend. But that was all settled. The more pressing issue was where Devi was going to be living at Princeton.

“I did but it’s still coed so you and I could request the same building. Plus it is close to the pool.”

“But I don’t need to go to the pool,” Devi said, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah you do, to see me.” Paxton kissed the side of her head. He had missed being with her all the time. "It's close to the bio building which is where most of your classes are gonna be because you already took your core classes in AP this year."

"Maybe I'll change my mind and be a chiropractor?" Her tongue was in between her teeth and she smiled coyly.

"Your mother would disown you." Paxton had a point. "And you wouldn't make it five minutes in some sketch chiropractor place because you'd be correcting everyone about how it's not real medicine."

They tried to break up when he left for Princeton. It seemed reasonable, mature. Paxton knew very well about Devi’s out of sight, out of mind problem and Devi felt like she was holding him back when he could be having some kind of wild college bro experience as a freshman at Princeton. But when he came home for Thanksgiving, he spent all his time with Devi, as platonically as they could make it. By Christmas they had sex the night he got home and by Spring Break, they were back together fully. They didn’t want to be apart. They wanted to be together.

Eleanor and Fab came out of the house with bottles of water for everyone.

“Why don’t you two just get an apartment?” Fab asked.

“What if they get an apartment and hate each other? That happens, you know? Stop acting like they’ll be together forever.” Paxton’s brow furrowed. “Shit, that was my plan.”

“Mine too,” Devi said with a shrug. “But we have to live on campus for the first year at least, but by the second year they’re so low on housing that you can move off campus. So next year, yeah?”

“Yep,” Paxton agreed.

#never have i ever #devi x paxton #paxton x devi #daxton #daxton fic #devi vishwakumar #paxton hall yoshida #just established FLUFF so #you're welcome

78 notes · View notes

cupcakesandtv · 4 years ago

Text

My Home is Your Body

Chapter 5 on A03 Start from the beginning here There’s some reveals here, some of you have been catching hints and I’m dying to know how that worked out! Please, tell me all your thoughts! Oh yeah, and I’m a Disney person so I made sure to have someone not Disney read over that bit but if I still confused anyone, lmk!

Things were comfortable.

Devi apologized. Paxton apologized. They could be friends.

Paxton pushed the door open to his classroom with his shoulder and put down the milk crate full of supplies. He spent all weekend thinking about Devi but they were friends so it was fine. They were going to Disneyland tomorrow and he texted to let her know he was picking her up at 8AM sharp. He asked what she wanted to do while there and she’d been vague which was annoying. He wanted to make a plan for the day and she wasn’t helping.

But they’d been texting back and forth since then, so as he was unloading classroom materials, he was thinking about Devi. His friend. His very cute friend with too much attitude and nice legs and a big mouth. Soft lips. And her eyelashes-

“Mr. Hall-Yoshida!” A plump woman with greying hair flagged him down from the hall.

‘What’s up, Mrs. Johnson?” She was the registration secretary and she’d been at the school almost since Paxton was in elementary school himself.

“We’re trying to move the copy machine but a wheel broke off so it won’t slide, I know you can move it by yourself and you know I can’t,” Mrs. Johnson explained, gesturing for him to follow her.

He walked into the office through the back entrance and went directly to the copy machine. The elderly woman told him where she wanted it, just a foot over, and he moved it easily.

“You’re the best, thank you,” she said, patting him on the back. “Oh, did you meet our new attendance secretary?”

Paxton shook his head. “I’m gonna head back to my car, I’ll meet them later, I left the door open on my truck since I was unloading.” He started towards the door but Mrs. Johnson followed him.

“You’re passing the desk on your way out.” Mrs. Johnson stopped at the front desk as he kept walking. “Kayla, this is Mr. Hall-Yoshida, he’s the star second grade teacher.” “You’re just saying that because you are happy you don’t have to teach second grade,” he corrected Mrs. Johnson, but gave Kayla a tightlipped smile. “So modest!” Mrs. Johnson clapped her hands together.

Paxton nodded and offered his hand to Kayla, a dark skinned woman with braids who looked younger than him by at least five years.

“Nice to meet you,” Kayla said, her eyes wide and her smile soft.

“He also started and coaches the fourth and fifth grade swim team!” Mrs. Johnson provided.

Kayla tilted her head to the side, like she was connecting dots. “Paxton Hall-Yoshida?”

He nodded. She was still staring at him with hazy eyes. Paxton knew that look.

“You swam at Sherman Oaks High?”

“Yeah. Way back when.” It was time to extricate himself from whatever this was about to be. He turned to try and go.

“I think my brother went to school with you.” He turned back to her, putting on a fake smile, trying not to be rude. “Who’s your brother?”

“Randall? Randall Curtis?”

Paxton took a second to think before shaking his head. “Sorry, I don’t remember him. But to be fair, I really only remember like five people from high school.”

“Well, you were pretty popular back then, hm? I understand.” She looked embarrassed.

“It’s been a long time and my memory is terrible,” he tried to cover. “Besides my best friend and his wife who was my high school girlfriend’s best friend, I just don’t think about those people anymore. Sorry.”

“Why’re you talking about me?” Trent asked, coming up behind Paxton, kids in tow.

Paxton rolled his eyes. “This is Kayla, she said her brother went to school with us, Randall Curtis?”

Teddy offered a fist to Paxton and he bumped it.

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Trent said, pulling a folder out of the backpack he had with him. “I’m here to register Teddy for kindergarten.”

“Good,” Paxton said and this time Trent rolled his eyes. “He’s gonna do great.” He turned to Teddy again. “You got this, dude.”

“Eleanor said I had to, but whatever,” Trent looked between the two women standing at the desk in front of them and Paxton gestured to the older woman.

“Mrs. Johnson’s got all the stuff you need.” He looked down at Teddy. “Come help me get this stuff out of my truck, Teddy. Your dad has to fill out like eight million forms.”

“I can help too,” Kayla offered but Paxton waved her off.

“We got it,” he said walking out the door.

Later, back in Paxton’s classroom, Trent was filling out forms at a kid sized table while Paxton moved tiny desks into formations just like he wanted while the kids pulled every book out of his book box.

“You should ask that Kayla out,” Trent said, looking up as he put one finished form behind the stack he was working on.

“Pass,” he said, standing back to look at the classroom set up as it was, hands on his hips.

“Can’t date Devi, might as well date her.” “I don’t want to date her, I just met her.” Paxton shifted a cluster of desks in front of him to the right. “Devi apologized anyway.”

“Did she break up with her boyfriend?”

“No,” Paxton answered, perturbed. “But we’re going to…” he looked at the kids in the back and lowered his voice, “Disneyland tomorrow.”

“So another date? You’re dating Devi.” Trent leaned back in the tiny kids chair and almost lost his balance, before slamming the legs back on the floor and hitting his knees on the table.

“We’re hanging out. We’re friends.” But it had occurred to Paxton that them going to Disneyland together certainly felt like a date. Especially since the last time they’d been there together, they were dating. They used to go all the time.

His family always had annual passes and Devi’s parents had never taken her. Her mom thought it was a waste of money, so of course, when they dated, Devi jumped at every chance to go with his family.

“Yeah, okay, if she wanted to go to Disneyland just to go, she could have asked Eleanor. We have kids, it’s a great excuse.” Trent didn’t look up from his forms but Paxton could see him smirking.

“We used to do it all the time, she knew I’d have a pass,” he said, trying to avoid the obvious conclusion that this was very much like a date.

Trent nodded, exaggerated, his face smug. “If she’s not answering her boyfriend’s calls but she’s going to Disneyland with you…”

Paxton sighed, irritated. “We’re friends. Just friends.”

Trent kept quiet but Paxton couldn't stop thinking about it. He decided if there was nothing else, he could be friends with Devi. He wanted to be friends with her. He’d fucked up back in college and they stopped talking and that was the thing he regretted. So friends. He was gonna be friends with her.

“What are you wearing?” he asked Devi when she opened her front door.

“Clothes,” she said, looking down at her outfit, confused.

“We’re going to Disneyland,” he said like his point was obvious but Devi was still confused.

“I have comfortable shoes,” she said, using her foot to bring them closer to the door.

Paxton gestured to his sweatshirt with a classic Mickey head front and center.

“You can’t embarrass me at the House of Mouse, you’re not even wearing anything Disney,” he said as she put on her shoes and pulled the door closed behind her.

They walked towards the truck.

“I know my mom bought you at least six shirts back in high school, you’re telling me you don’t own anything Disney? To wear?”

Devi laughed, walking around the truck and getting in as he did the same. “As if I could wear a shirt from high school.” Paxton made a face. “I can wear stuff from high school.”

“First of all, that’s bullshit,” she said, putting on her seatbelt, before pushing on his shoulder. “Your shoulders are like five inches broader than when you were 17.”

“Yours aren’t,” he said, his brows furrowed.

“My boobs would not fit in a size small shirt from when I was 16.” She gestured to her chest and try as he might, he couldn’t avoid looking.

“Your boobs got bigger?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“Eyes up here,” Devi said, pointing to her face, a sly smile there. “They didn’t but I can now buy myself very expensive push up bras so…” She laughed.

He looked away and laughed too, starting the car. “I never complained about your boobs.”

“You never complained about anything,” she said, rolling her eyes. But like when she said he always thought she was cute, it was meant to be an insult that she accidentally delivered softly.

“Sorry,” he said, facetiously.

Devi huffed. “Oh shut up!”

Paxton remembered what started the conversation and as he came to a stop at a light, he dug around behind him and produced a black ball cap with Sleeping Beauty’s castle on it.

“Here.” He handed it to her. “Wear this so you’ll actually look like you’re going to Disneyland.”

Devi took it, glared at him for a second, before she put it on her head, pulling her ponytail through the back.

“Happy?”

“Yes.”

Paxton picked her up early because he knew she’d want to stop at Starbucks in Downtown Disney. They parked and walked with all the other early risers, coming out to Disney on a summer Tuesday in August. It wasn’t hot yet, thank goodness, and there weren’t too many people.

“I just ordered on my phone,” she said, rolling the sleeves on her cardigan up a little. He pulled his phone out to order his drink but she stopped him with a hand on his arm. “I got yours, don’t worry.”

Oh. She remembered his pizza order and his drink order. This was the Devi that kept telling him they didn’t know each other but then she did that. He tried not to think about it too much.

They picked up their drinks and headed to the gate. They were there early enough that they were in the front and Paxton was happy to ignore whatever date feelings he was having about this and just move his shoulders back and forth to the cheesy Disney music blasting over the loudspeakers as they waited for the park to open.

“You’re such a nerd,” Devi said. “Dancing.”

“You could have asked Eleanor to take you to Disneyland,” he replied, mildly annoyed.

“God, and go with her kids? What a nightmare.” Devi made a oops face when a mom with kids next to them glared at her. “Besides, you’re the expert.”

“You never told me what you want to ride.” He pulled out his phone and looked at the Disneyland app. “Park opens in five minutes and I don’t even know where we should go first.” “You pick. Don’t you usually start in Fantasyland and work your way up?”

The line started to move as the cast members started letting people in and a rowdy show with some characters started in front of them.

“Yeah, but don’t you have favorites?” “You tell me my favorites, I haven’t been in over a decade!” She laughed as he considered.

“The last time you really loved the Matterhorn but fuck that, we’ll need a chiropractor after that. Trust me, we’re too old for it.”

She laughed again before taking a sip of her drink. “Okay hm, oh! I love that creepy ass Snow White ride!”

“Oh yeah,” he said, remembering the time his parents made fun of them for making out through most of it. “We’ll start there. And wait, you threw up after Roger Rabbit.”

“I almost threw up on Roger Rabbit,” Devi corrected him. “That ride is a trip.”

They knocked out most of Fantasyland and rode Indiana Jones before lunch and then Devi started to whine about food.

“So the real reason you wanted to come was food?” Paxton asked as she stood at a cart waiting for her Mickey pretzel.

“Yes, all the Mickey shaped food. Some not Mickey shaped food. Anything Minnie or princess shaped is acceptable as well,” she said, taking the pretzel and handing him a churro.

They wandered around Tomorrowland before their Fastpass for Space Mountain. “This one or this one?” Devi held up two long sleeve, oversized shirts. Paxton tugged on the hem of the teal one.

“You look better in this color,” he said as she crinkled up her face.

“I look good in every color.”

“I didn’t say you looked bad in the other one,” Paxton said, before putting a pair of Mickey ears on his head. “Are you gonna get ears?”

“Why? I have a perfectly good hat.” Devi pointed at that hat he gave her this morning.

“Uh, that’s Becca’s. She’s gonna notice it’s missing.”

“It was in your car,” Devi said, moving to the cash register. “But fine, I won’t steal her hat.” “But you would steal my hat?” Paxton asked, raising a brow.

“Yeah, of course.” She said it like it was obvious.

The cast member started to ring up Devi’s shirts and Paxton pulled out his wallet.

“Whoa, you’re not buying my shirts.” “I’m not, I’m getting my annual pass out. I get a discount,” he said, showing the cast member his card.

“Oh shit, nice.”

“You could get one yourself you know, we could go to Disneyland all the time,” he said, putting his card back in his wallet as Devi took the bag from the counter.

Devi’s jaw dropped. “I live here!”

Paxton laughed. “Yeah, you live here.”

“I could get a pass!” Devi smiled wide. “Hell yeah, I’m getting a pass! Wait, if you’re in school, we can’t go on the weekdays and you hate going on weekends.” “Too many people on the weekends.” He dodged a cast member selling balloons and tugged Devi’s arm so she missed the cast member too. “But we could go after school, whenever your days off are.” “You’d come to Disneyland in the middle of the day? Instead of at opening? That sounds fake. You only want to come at opening.” “It’s called rope drop,” he corrected her. “And I can go at different times. I’m not militant about it.” Devi laughed. “Yes, you are.”

Paxton rolled his eyes at her but she was right. He did prefer going at rope drop. You got more done. But he would go later for her.

“I’d rather go on a weekday afternoon than a weekend at any time so yeah, I would go after school if you wanted.” She stopped to avoid someone taking a picture in front of her. Paxton got three steps ahead of her but stopped to look back at her. She had this glossy look in her eyes, he didn’t know what it meant. “Okay,” she said, suddenly. “I’m getting a pass and we can go after school on my days off.” Paxton nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I said.”

“Great,” she said, and for the first time since she was home, she gave him that big smile. The one that showed all her teeth. No holding back, her entire face lit up. “Now let’s go ride Space Mountain!”

By the time the sun was setting, they’d been on most of the rides and Paxton asked Devi if she wanted to stay for the fireworks.

“Not tonight, let’s get some Dole Whip and go home. You’ve got work tomorrow, yeah?” She linked arms with him and pressed in close, whether from the sea of people congregating to get a good view for the fireworks or from the evening chill that started to blow around them, he wasn’t sure. But he wasn’t complaining.

“You’re cold and you want Dole Whip?” But he was already walking towards the stand that sold the frozen pineapple soft serve.

“When have I ever not wanted Dole Whip?” she asked, incredulous.

But his phone rang. “I need to take this, can you get the Dole Whip, I’ll be right here?”

Devi nodded and walked off, Paxton tried not to shiver at the loss of her being right next to him with all her body heat. He answered the phone and was done in three minutes so headed towards Devi at the Tiki Juice Bar where she was waiting for the Dole Whip she ordered. “Here you go, ma’am,” he heard the girl say as she handed Devi the Dole Whips in their brightly colored cups. He saw Devi reach for spoons and napkins and then saw her turn and glare at a large man behind her. “I’m sorry sir, the machine just needs to be refilled. We’ll get yours in a moment.” “If this bitch who doesn’t even have kids hadn’t ordered those, I could be giving them to my kids!” The man was shouting and way too close to Devi for Paxton’s liking.

Before he even thought, he picked up his pace and moved in between Devi and the man. “Sir, why don’t you calm down. The cast member said she’d have yours in a second.” Paxton stood up taller but Devi was tugging on his arm.

“Paxton, let’s go,” she said, but the man glared down at him and Paxton didn’t intend on going anywhere.

“Your girlfriend stole my kids’ ice cream!” Paxton could smell the man’s terrible breath as he pushed into his space. People around them were starting to stare.

“It’s actually non dairy and you’re ruining the magic for everyone around you,” Paxton raised his voice a little more, feeling his skin heat. This guy wasn’t gonna quit.

“Paxton!” Devi shouted from behind him. He turned to look at her and as he turned back to the man, he saw too late that the man’s fist was heading right for Paxton’s jaw. It happened quickly and before Paxton could even raise an arm to return the punch, several security guards came rushing to put themselves between the two men.

Devi dropped the Dole Whips she was holding at some point, probably when he got hit, and had moved around in front of him, she took his face in her hands to examine his chin. Her eyes were wide and she looked concerned. “What the fuck is wrong with you,” she muttered. It looked like concern but her words didn’t seem to match her worried face.

“Sir, we need to fill out some paperwork,” one of the security guys said to Paxton but Devi swatted him away. “I’m a doctor and i’m trying to decide if he needs medical attention, give me some space!”

“It’s just a punch, Devi, I’m fine,” Paxton said, embarrassed at the thought that this might require medical care at all. The guy was big but not that big. People were chattering on loudly, staring, shouting, so many people, all around them until a firework went off, signalling the beginning of the show. But the loud bangs of exploding fireworks weren’t any better. Paxton’s head started to throb. Paxton couldn’t really be sure how he ended up in the first aid office closest to the front of the park. It was a blur. But Devi handled telling the security people what happened and then they escorted them out of the park with apologies. “You’re too noble for your own good, you idiot,” Devi said, holding onto his arm as she walked him back to his car. The breeze hitting his face brought him back to feeling like a normal human being at least.

“I didn’t think the guy would hit me,” Paxton said, matching Devi’s scolding. “I was defending you!” “I’m an adult. I don’t need to be rescued anymore, Paxton.” But her arm tightened around his. That was unexpected.

“He called you a bitch, and he was ruining the magic for everyone. He was so mean to that poor girl at the counter,” Paxton argued. “How did your temper not flare at that?”

“Oh, it flared, but I’ve learned to not come at men much larger than me, he punched you, he’d have killed me.”

“No, he wouldn’t have.” “I don’t know that, and you know, being a woman, it’s just not a good idea for me to have tried my luck with that one today, you feel?” They walked onto the parking garage escalator and Devi used her free hand to reach for his chin. “It’s gonna be a nasty bruise.”

“So now you’re just mad at me? I get the temper?”

Her eyes narrowed and she dropped her hand from his chin. “You always do this.” “Always?”

“Yeah, or did you forget the end of my freshman year at Princeton?”

Paxton cringed. He closed his eyes and then carefully opened one to look at her. “I remember.”

“You know it’s almost impossible to file a complaint with the Title IX office for sexual harassment after your ex-boyfriend flies across the country to throw a TA up against a wall.” Devi stepped off the escalator and tugged Paxton by the arm towards the Jeep.

“That’s stupid, you should have been able to file the complaint,” he said, feeling his skin heat again at the injustice of it all. “Of course it’s stupid, but that’s how it is. And you wouldn’t even apologize to me! You never even called me to tell me you got home safe!” Devi reached into his front pocket, causing Paxton to jump, and took his car keys out. She put him in the passenger side and walked around to the driver’s side of the car. He probably shouldn’t drive after being almost knocked out by a large man at Disneyland so he didn’t fight her.

“I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me, actually, you said specifically, ‘I never want to talk to you again!’ Those exact words. Burned into my memory!” Paxton hated even thinking about it but he remembered all too well.

“I was angry, of course I said that,” Devi said as she backed the Jeep out of the parking space. “You know I say all kinds of shit when I’m angry. I didn’t mean don’t talk to me for the next three years!”

Neither of them said anything for a while. Paxton watched the street lights on the freeway until Devi hit the Sherman Oaks exit. He wanted to tell her that he regretted what he’d done back then. He wanted to apologize. But it felt like the time for that had already passed.

“I can’t help it,” he whispered finally. “I’m just trying to make sure the people I love are safe. It’s not like I’m starting fights with randos. I’m stepping in when things are bad.”

“And when I want you to step in, I’ll ask for it,” she said, looking over at him. “And you don’t love me anymore so just, I don’t know, remove me from that list of people. You didn’t need to get punched in the face today because of me.” Did she feel guilty? Was that soft voice because she felt bad about it? What did that mean? But more pressing was her statement about how he felt about her. He hadn’t meant to say people he loved but it was what he meant. He did love her. Still. But that wasn’t gonna fly at the moment.

“I meant before, I meant that I loved you before,” he lied.

“Right.” It didn’t sound like she believed him. She pulled up to her house and turned the car off. “You okay to drive yourself home from here? Or should I drive over to yours and get an Uber?”

“I’m not at all fuzzy and my head barely hurts now, Doc, I can drive myself from here.”

Mariah Carey was blasting from his classroom but it was fine. The teachers he shared walls with had finished their classroom set up and were already gone for the day. So it was no big deal for Paxton and his mom to be singing Emotion at the top of their lungs while they did bulletin boards.

Lindsey Hall-Yoshida was a die hard Mariah Carey fan. Through high school and college she saw Mariah perform five times. The first time she went to a Mariah Carey concert, she got her tickets from winning a radio contest where you had to be the fifth caller and then answer a trivia question. Paxton’s mom once forgot his first word, but she had never forgotten the set list of a Mariah Carey concert or album. (It was fine, she had his first word written down in his baby book. It was “go.” The Emancipation of Mimi however was etched in her brain.)

“I thought I’d have a hard time finding your classroom because the woman at the front office didn’t have stellar directions but it turns out, I just needed to follow the sound of Dreamlover as it blasted down the hall,” Devi said as she walked in.

Paxton didn’t expect her but before he could do anything, his mom was running to hug Devi. Must be nice. Sure, he could hug Devi too, but after last night, he didn’t think it was a good idea.

“I’m so glad you’re back, Devi,” his mom said, pulling back and smiling wide. “You’re more beautiful than the last time I saw you, when was that? Trent and Eleanor’s wedding, right?”

Devi nodded. “Thank you, but I’m really the same.” (Except when Paxton suggested that they were the same people. Then she was staunchly demanding that he recognize she had changed.)

“And you’re working in the Emergency Room? I’m so glad you ran into Paxton there. I felt so bad about his head when he was putting those shelves in!” She turned to look at him. “I can’t even tell that just two weeks ago he had a huge gash on his head. You’re very competent at your job I see. We always knew you would be though.”

“It was really nothing,” Devi said, looking at Paxton for half a second then back to his mom. “Thought I should pop in today and check on his face.” “God, I can’t believe what happened at Disneyland.” Mrs. H-Y covered her mouth. “Thank goodness you were there with him! And by the way, I called someone I know that works over at the park and they’re going to credit you an extra park admission. I can’t believe they didn’t do anything like that last night. Usually they’re very good about that sort of thing.” Paxton busied himself with a pointless stacking of some folders. He didn’t want to talk about last night and he really didn’t want to focus on his mom calling someone she knew to get them some kind of better treatment. He hated when she did that.

“You didn’t have to do that, but thank you,” he heard Devi tell her.

An alarm from Lindsey’s phone went off and Paxton looked up at her and then at the clock over the door. “I’ve got to go, but you’re here to help now, right?” She picked up her purse and Devi nodded and smiled. “I was working on the sight words bulletin board over there. And yes, check his face to make sure it’s okay. It’s already turning sort of purple.”

“Bye Mom, call me after?” Paxton waved as his mom ran out.

“I’ll call after,” she tossed behind her.

And then he was alone with Devi. She folded her arms across her chest and looked around the classroom. “This stuff looks way better on the walls than it did all over your apartment.” “Thanks, I think?” He turned back to the bulletin board he’d been working on but Devi was next to him before he could get back to it. Paxton glanced at her quickly, she was wearing her new teal Disneyland shirt from yesterday. The color did look really good on her. He tried to pretend he was concentrating on the board in front of him, picking some yellow seahorse cut outs. She took them from his hand, he tried to ignore the way her fingers brushed his.

“Don’t put them there,” she said, moving them higher and to the right. “This looks better.”

“Your board is over there,” he said, tilting his head to the board his mom worked on. For some reason, he couldn’t look directly at her. It was stupid.

Instead of moving to her board though, she turned and reached for his chin again. Paxton cringed, it was sore. Devi lightened the pressure on his face, but he had to look at her now and he didn’t really want to do that.

“It’s not too swollen, so that’s good,” she said just before worrying her lip between her teeth. She was very close. If he weren’t her friend, a light breeze could have pushed him into her in a less friendly way. A romantic way. “Did you put ice on it last night?”

“Of course, just like you told me to.” Paxton thought the least he could do was to text when he got home and let her know he wasn’t dead on the side of the road somewhere. Devi followed up with a list of instructions like icing his face, Ibuprofen, and lots of water. It was patronizing but he knew it was more about her being worried so he let it slide.

“Noble idiot,” Devi whispered, her hand and eyes still on his chin. Paxton felt his body respond to her voice and proximity and wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to happen next. If she didn’t have a boyfriend still, he was very clear on what he would have done. Someone knocked on the open door to the classroom and Devi jumped back and looked at her feet, he heard her take a deep breath and took the smallest amount of delight knowing he wasn’t the only one flustered by how close she had been.

“I have your class list,” Kayla, the new attendance secretary, said from the door.

Paxton frowned. “I got the email.” “I was, I was just,” Kayla tripped over her words. “Just giving everyone a hard copy! Sorry to interrupt.”

“It’s fine,” Paxton said, shrugging. “Wait, Devi.” She seemed to have put herself back together and was smiling normally now, looking attentively. “Yes?”

“Did you know Kayla’s brother? He went to school with us. What was his name?” he asked Kayla again. “Randall Curtis,” Kayla answered eagerly.

Devi’s face lit up with recognition. “One hell of a trombone player, yeah I remember him!”

A band geek. No wonder he and Trent didn’t remember him.

Kayla looked relieved that finally someone knew what she was talking about.

“A good kisser, I would assume,” Devi said, winking at Kayla.

“What? You kissed her brother? When?” Paxton was suddenly very jealous about something that would have happened over 10 years ago.

“No,” Devi shook her head. “Horn players are good kissers. It’s a band joke.”

“Oh.” Paxton frowned and felt stupid.

“Were you just retroactively jealous of someone we went to school with?” Devi asked, a smirk firmly on her face. She looked really cute and Paxton was mad about it.

“No,” he lied, and tried to laugh it off. Devi didn’t buy it. Her smile got wider and she reached for his chin again, putting just a little too much pressure again. “Ow!”

“I can’t believe you were just jealous. That’s hysterical.” Devi’s fingers lightened up again but Paxton couldn’t even glare at her. Something was shifting and he wanted to know more.

Kayla cleared her throat from the door and Paxton took a step away from Devi. He took the paper from Kayla and then waited for her to leave. “See you tomorrow.”

She gave a half wave to Devi and turned to leave.

“You should ask her out,” Devi said, Kayla barely out of earshot. Now he could muster a glare for her.

“I don’t date people I work with,” he snapped. Nothing was shifting. He was imagining it.

His phone dinged as Devi went on, “She’s got that enamored by Paxton Hall-Yoshida face.”

“You would know the face very well, you had it for a long time,” he said, checking his phone and seeing it wasn’t anything important.

“Was that your mom?” Devi asked, her chin pointing to his phone.

“No,” he answered, but Devi looked concerned now.

“What’s going on with your dad, Paxton?”

Paxton looked at her seriously now. “What? Nothing.”

It was a lie.

“You’ve been crazy tied to your phone lately.” Devi lifted her hand and pushed down a finger. “Your mom called last night when we were at Disneyland and you had to take it.” She ticked another finger down. “There’s a sticky note on your fridge that says ‘Dad, Wednesday 4:30’ which was today and I assume the appointment your mom left for.” Another finger down. “You were putting up shelves in the bathroom for your mom instead of your dad. I’d mention the lawn mowing but you’ve been doing that for too long, I don’t think it’s related.”

Paxton sat down on one of the desks and sighed. “You didn’t used to be that observant.”

“See, I have changed,” she teased but it was hollow and sounded like she was desperately trying to lighten what she’d just laid out. She knew the gravity of it.

“He uh, he started to lose feeling in his arms, couple of months ago, they thought he was having a heart attack or a stroke but it’s not that.” Paxton tried not to think back to that first drive to the hospital. “They aren’t sure if it’s MS or ALS, could even be Parkinsons. Turns out something like this takes months to diagnose.”

“Yeah, three to six easy. Maybe longer.” Devi sat down next to him and touched his knee. Mariah crooned Butterfly and Paxton wished he’d turned off the music before. “You should have told me. Who is his neurologist? Dr. Green is not good. You gotta have him seeing-” “Devi, my mom got most of the recommendations from your mom, I’m sure his doctors are good.” This is one reason he didn’t tell her. She was already in problem solving mode.

“My mom knows?” Hurt flashed across Devi’s face but Paxton shook his head.

“Nobody knows, my mom asked without saying anything, you know, lying about some friend to get the names.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? The whole reason I came home was my mom’s health. You should have said something. I get it.” Devi looked at him, her eyes full of pity. That was another reason he hadn’t said anything.

Paxton scratched at his neck, buying time to figure out how to respond. Being honest last night worked mostly well in that it made the fight shorter, less pointed, but there was that slip about him loving her. He had to choose what he said to be in that in between area where honesty was good but too honest, too direct, made her uncomfortable.

“You’re the only person I know who has lost a parent.” Devi sighed. “My dad dropped dead. It’s not the same thing as what you’re going through with your dad.” Her hand tightened on his knee and she looked away. “You’re going to watch your dad deteriorate over months and years. Watching my dad die will look pretty tame comparatively. It was fast at least.”

Paxton scrubbed at his eye and swallowed past the lump in his throat. “That wasn’t helpful, Devi.”

“I know.” She inched closer to him, putting her arm around his back and resting her chin on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

He put his hand over hers on his knee and squeezed.

“What do you need?” she asked, her voice hitched and it was almost too much for him.

“Just this,” Paxton answered. He turned and kissed her forehead. It wasn’t romantic. For the first time since she came home, he wasn’t thinking about Devi romantically. He was clinging to his friend. The person who knew him best. It made him feel better, just sitting with her like this. It felt safe.

It felt like he was home.

#never have i ever #daxton #devi x paxton #daxton fic #nhie fic #My Home Is Your Body fic #big shout out to jess for being my not disney reader #fic

25 notes · View notes

cupcakesandtv · 4 years ago

Text

Swim Meets and Wooden Beads

I swear i’m working on the exes fic but I COULDN'T NOT WRITE THIS when it came to me so! OOPS.

Read it ao3

Devi stood at her locker trying to remember what books she needed to take home to get her homework handled. The hall was only half lit, it was well past dismissal, and she’d finished doing a bulletin board for her AP Geography teacher because she was going on maternity leave next week and Devi really enjoyed the chance for a mindless arts and craft project that also netted her 10 extra points. Bonus being it was a good deed, too.

She picked up her Chemistry book and then put it back down in the locker, rethinking the work she had to do when Paxton came flying down the hall. He skid to a halt right by her locker, causing her to startle but smile at him. He smiled back, wide.

“Hi,” she said, trying not to laugh at the goofy look on his face and the way his hair was sticking up.

“Hi,” he said, leaning his shoulder on the locker next to her. “You haven’t left yet?”

“I was doing a bulletin board for Mrs. Hernandez. I’m headed out now though.” Devi shut her locker and looked Paxton up and down. He was wearing slides on his feet instead of his usual high tops and a pair of sweatpants like the pair he’d let her borrow the night she fell in the pool at Ben’s party (no she hadn’t returned those sweats because there was never a good time to return them, especially during her brief stint of dating Ben Gross.) “What are you still doing here?”

“There’s a meet,” he said, his eyes bright. “‘Bout to kick some 200 meter fly ass!” “Excuse me? I don’t know what any of those words mean. Except the ass part.”

He laughed and started lifting his shoulders up and down. “200 meter butterfly stroke, it goes like this.” He lifted his shoulders and then his arms, coming up out and over, right in her space. “You’re a little giddy,” Devi noted and Paxton nodded, smiling wide again. “It’s the meet, I always get hype before a race.” He leaned in closer to her, much closer, if he hadn’t been so goofy she might have assumed he was coming in for a kiss because of how close he was coming to her. “Gonna go fast, gonna win,” he whispered. She couldn’t help but laugh. She’d never seen Paxton like this but she liked it a lot.

“Okay well,” she started. “Shouldn’t you go?”

Devi tilted her head towards the pool building.

“You should come,” Paxton said, his smile getting wider. “It’ll be good luck.” “You’re gonna win anyways and I don’t believe in luck.” The statement didn’t damper his mood at all, though and she couldn’t stop smiling at him. “Even if I did believe in luck, I’d probably be bad luck.”

That made his smile falter a little. Oh no, what had she said?

He looked her dead in the eye, serious now, “Only kind of luck you could possibly be is good luck.”

Devi felt her cheeks flush at the compliment. How could she say no now?

“Are you sure?” “Unless you have somewhere to be?” He side stepped her and tugged on her hand, but it was her opposite one, she had to let go so she could walk with him. “Got a hot date or something?” That was the first time he looked unsure in the conversation.

“No, I guess I can come,” she said and his face reverted instantly to that goofy smile he was doing. “So how far is 200 meters like in regular people words?”

“Just a little over a tenth of a mile. Takes Michael Phelps two minutes to do it but I am not that fast,” he paused and looked over at her as they walked into the pool building. “Not yet.”

She smiled and he winked. “You should sit at the top, it’s easier to see me that way,” he said, tilting his chin towards the bleachers. “See you in a few minutes.” There weren’t too many people watching, but she stuck to the end of the bleachers instead of walking towards the middle more, and watched him walk over to where the other swim team guys were standing. He shucked his pants and shirt and shoes, while his coach was talking to him.

“I thought you were just running to your car to get your cap,” she heard the coach say. “Got distracted but I’m back.” He walked over to the water and dipped his swim cap in the water and then stood up abruptly. He jogged towards Devi and came up the bleachers two at a time, stopping at the step under her. (Devi would have fallen on her face taking the bleachers one at a time at that speed.) “Uh,” Devi said, confused as he lifted her hand and slid his wooden beaded bracelets that he wore all the time from his wrist to hers. “Hold onto those for me,” he said, looking up at her through his long lashes. “Keep ‘em safe.”

The way his voice was quiet, the look in his eyes, and the way he was shirtless were too much for Devi’s delicate system. All she could do was nod slowly.

He was back down and dipping his swim cap again in the water so he could get it on his head before she even realized what had happened. She looked down at her wrist and touched the beads absently, looking back at him. The beads were part of Paxton’s permanent look. Devi was surprised he’d handed them off to her to hold. It felt like it meant something. But surely not. No. It couldn’t.

Rows of guys now stood up on starting blocks, bent over, ready to race. Devi picked Paxton out in the third lane and watched as a buzzer went off and every guy dove into the pool. The butterfly stroke looked a lot more majestic and kind of pretty when they were doing it across the pool versus when he tried to show her out of the pool, by her locker. Before she knew what was happening, they were flipping in the water and turning to come back the other way and Paxton was definitely winning.

People started to cheer louder as they were coming back to the edge of the pool where they started and Devi cheered too. She stood up and started to shout, thinking they were almost done, Paxton had this in the bag, but the swimmers flipped again and Devi looked around to make sure no one noticed that she had misunderstood what was happening. They were all still shouting. Okay, she was fine. No one noticed her faux pas. They flipped again and she touched a bead, spinning it on her wrist. By the time Devi turned back to the pool, the swimmers were approaching the middle of the pool. Paxton’s lead was almost nonexistent now and Devi started to worry. She put her hands up to her mouth and started shouting as loud as she could. She was no John McEnroe but she out shouted the people closest to her easily. “Faster Paxton!”

Devi wouldn’t presume to take credit for it, but Paxton did pull out ahead as she was shouting and threw his hand up on the edge of the pool, easily three seconds before anyone else did. She saw him blowing out air, catching his breath, and then watched him pull himself out of the pool as everyone else did the same. He looked over at the electronic scoreboard on the opposite wall and jumped up, throwing his arms in the air when he saw his time. He pulled his cap off and high-fived his coach and a few teammates and then he came rushing back over to Devi. She was still standing and he only had to come up to the bleacher just before her and he was at her level.

He smiled that wide, giddy smile he had the whole time he was talking to her at his locker before he wrapped an arm around her and lifted her up.

Devi squealed. “You’re gonna drop me!” He put her down instantly but now he was looking at her, breathing heavy.

“See, good luck,” he said, before moving just close enough to kiss her.

It wasn’t like the soft, quiet, and charged kiss in his car all those months ago. But it was just as good. She responded quicker this time, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he followed her lead, putting his arm around her back, pulling her closer, no more space between them, meaning she was now damp. But she didn’t care. He tasted like chlorine and she felt drops from his hair fall on her cheeks as they kissed. Paxton nipped at her bottom lip.

“Now you have to do that forever,” he said, against her lips, and she felt him smile.

"You're superstitious," Devi said, touching the beads on her wrist as she held onto his neck.

"Very." He kissed her again before the coach was shouting for him to come back for the next race.

It had been two weeks since the last swim meet and this time Devi was rushing down the hall to the pool. She made it to the lockers just before the door and practically ran into Paxton. He pulled her close and spun her around so she was trapped between him and the lockers.

“Thought you might bail,” Paxton said in between kisses. He ran a hand down her side, lifting her shirt so he could touch the skin at her waist just above her shorts.

“Never,” she said, gasping when he kissed just below her ear. “If I wasn’t here, then you might lose, then I’d feel terrible.” Her hand moved to his neck, then into his hair as she used her other hand to move his chin so he’d come back to kissing her lips.

Since he’d kissed her after winning his race, they hadn’t stopped kissing. He went back down the bleachers and raced in six more individual races and one more relay. He won every race that day and gave her all the credit. Devi knew that was ridiculous, she hadn’t done anything but show up and wear his bracelets, occasionally cheering him on. Okay, cheering him on constantly, her voice was pretty hoarse after the meet, but that was fine because he took her home and they made out in his car some more. Paxton texted her back and forth that night and then kissed her against her locker first thing the next morning before class and that was pretty much the new routine. Devi had zero complaints.

Devi opened her eyes while he was kissing her but just to peek at the clock on the wall. Paxton moved to her neck and she pushed on his shoulder. “Quit that, you’re gonna leave a mark.” But Paxton, giddy from the combination of the meet and making out with his girlfriend, didn't care. He pulled back and smiled, rubbing his thumb along the spot on her neck that he’d definitely just left a hickey on. “Sorry,” he said, but he was lying. She rolled her eyes. “Go, Coach is gonna be mad at you again,” Devi said, sliding out from under his arm and away from the lockers.

“Fine,” he said, pouting. “But I’m gonna win so it’s not like he can be mad at me.”

Devi started to walk towards the door but Paxton grabbed her arm and pulled her close again. “Just one more, I don’t think that last kiss had enough luck in it.”

Devi laughed against his lips, happy to help. He still held her hand and she remembered the bracelets. While still kissing him, she moved the beads from his wrist to hers, smoothly. She’d done it a couple of times now, she’d wear one of them throughout the school day and he’d steal it back at the end of the day, sometimes he didn’t. Sometimes he would drop her off at home with one. “Keep ‘em safe,” he’d say every time. She was basically an expert at moving them between them now. “Thanks,” he said, finally pulling away to head towards the pool.

Before he could get too far, Devi smacked his ass. “Go get ‘em,” she said, smiling too wide.

He turned back to her and laughed. “Paxton, stop flirting, we’re trying to have a meet!” Devi heard Coach chastise him as she walked up to her spot in the bleachers.

“That wasn’t flirting, sir, that was kissing.”

Devi put her head in her hands, embarrassed. He didn't need to be a smartass about it to a teacher!

“If you don’t win this race, you and only you will be pulling the lines in after the meet so your girlfriend will need to get a ride home because you won’t be doing it,” Coach said.

“Guess I better win this one, then, huh?” he said, that giddy smile back on his face.

He did win.

Coach seemed annoyed about that but Devi loved it and took full credit.

Maybe she did believe in luck.

#Never Have I Ever #devi x paxton #daxtonet #nhie fic #fic #IM SoRRY I JUST HAD TO DO THIS IT WAS A CUTE IDEA AND I HAD TO TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO AND WRITE IT

34 notes · View notes