017

HIM

I had never been so nervous asking a girl out...... ever. Well, during my high school days I was too focused on my studies to date but during college it was easy. Stephanie and I dated through college and well after..... you know what happened. I was way out of the dating game but I needed thIs to be special so I did something I knew I would regret.

*47 minutes later*

Brendan and Casper came in with a six pack, even though I told them not to bother.

"So bro, what do you need us for this time?" Casper asked, chugging down his first beer while Brendan set up the Xbox. It was just like our college days.

"I need help planning a date for Alexandria and Casper do you think you could keep Ava for the night?"

"Sure" Casper replied immediately

"Hey, why does he get to keep Ava" Brendan whined just as I expected him to

"You are practically a kid yourself"

"Exactly, so she would have more fun with me"

"You can babysit next time okay, now help me plan the perfect date before they get back"

The next 5 hours were spent brainstorming, making different calls and making a mess of everywhere but it'll all be worth it...... hopefully. When I heard the door open, I was internally a wreck. Casper and Brendan were waiting outside with an overnight bag for Ava so she won't have to come in only to go out again.

"Paxton? Where are you? Your friends just ambushed me and kidnapped my daughter" Alexandria shouted as she entered the house not yet seeing me. If this had happened 3 weeks ago there was no way she would have allowed Ava to go with them but after what happened during the last event we went to and during the 'Max mourning week' (story for another time) we've started getting together once a week, everyone on both sides to show Ava that she has a lot of people to love her. It's been helpful to say the slightest, there have been no more episodes since we started this.

She walked into the living room and stopped in her tracks when she saw me. "Paxton, what's all this?" She asked as she took in her surroundings. Brendan,Casper and I pushed all the chairs and Centre table away and laid down a blanket and brought out the projector we used for Ava's birthday party, apparently watching a movie from a projector is more romantic than watching it on a 65-inch flat screen.

"I believe you owe me a date and since we have both been swamped at work, I decided to bring the date to us" I replied patting the spot beside me for her to take a seat and she complied without any more questions. I took her shoes off as she sat and I was rewarded with a slight objection at first but a smile after.

"I got information from someone that this is your all time favourite movie" I took the remote and pressed play then went to the kitchen to get the salted popcorn and soda with m&m's. She had already removed her jacket and was only in a singlet-top and her jeans when I got back and she looked relaxed. I mixed the m&m's with the salted popcorn just like Tristan said and I had already premixed 3 different flavors of soda. "Looks like you did your research" she commented, dipping her hand into the bowl.

*Way after the movie*

"okay, your turn"

"Truth"

"What was the most extreme dare you have ever done"

"Well, last year of high school, I went through an horrible break up and my friends dared me to sing a song I wrote about the break-up during prom"

"No way, did you?"

"Well yeah"

"Let me hear it"

"Nope, it's your turn"

"Fine, truth"

"oh, you gonna be a chicken? Fine. How many girlfriends have you had.... ever?"

"You wont believe me if I tell you"

"Try me"

"Fine......3"

"..."

"What?"

"You have had 3 girlfriends and a fake one?"

"Well considering the fact that I want you to be my real girlfriend, you are part of that 3"

"..."

"Your turn"

"Truth"

"And you call me the chicken, okay, how many people have you dated"

"You do not want to know"

"If i didn't, i wouldn't have asked"

"How about I sing you the song?"

"That sounds tempting but your avoidance to answer the question is only making me more intrigued"

"If you ever tell anyone this, I will kill you in your sleep"

"Scout's honor"

"I - I cant tell you that"

"..."

"Sorry, its kinda embarrassing "

"Gimme a hint at least"

"I explored my sexuality a bit during college"

"So.....?"

"Lets just say its a bit more than yours"

"And how much is 'a bit'?"

"multiply your number by 5 and add a few more to it"

"..."

"No Judging. Now it's your turn"

"Dare"

"I dare you...... to kiss me"

-THIRD PERSON-

2 weeks after the whole truth or dare episode and everything is running smooth. Paxton and Alexandria have weekly date nights indoors apart from the 2 public ones that are mandatory, the whole gang still meets up weekly. It felt like a real family. Alexandria was in her office making the final decisions on a contract they were trying to close up. In a week, she will be announced as the official CEO of the company even though she had already taken over, her relationship with Paxton was officially public and every 1 out of 6 articles about them was either calling out the fact that this was a business strategy or expressing their envy that another eligible bachelor was off the market.

Alexandria rounded up the work and called her P.A - Holly to get the file faxed to the other company so that a meeting wouldn't have to hold. Paxton usually brought her lunch around this time but he hadn't shown up. She tried calling him but it went to voicemail. Their relationship was in a good place right now so she decided not to worry or jump into conclusions. Her afternoon was free but she didn't want to have to drive home just to come back to get Ava, so an afternoon of boredom awaited her. She ordered food from the Chinese restaurant down the street and ate alone something she hadn't done in weeks. She considered calling Hermione to join her but she had her own work to do so loneliness was the way to go this afternoon.

After lunch she doodled a bit but was saved when her bro - Edward graced her with his presence. "How is newest CEO fairing this fine afternoon"

"Bored out of her mind"

"Well we can't have that, come on. It's been some time since we last spent some brother-sister quality time"

"I would love to but I need to pick Ava up in a few hours"

"There are at least 30 other people that can do that and don't you think the child is tired of seeing your ugly face by now?"

"If the face is so ugly why do you wanna spend time with it?"

"I'm around attractive women all day, I need someone with no appeal"

"How flattering"

"Really? I was going for the opposite"

"You win, what did you have in mind"

"Remember broken rubber?"

"The band from college?"

"Yeah, They are having this party to celebrate releasing their album. It also kinda serves as a reunion"

"And why would I want to go to that?"

"Because, I want you to"

"Don't you have anything better to do than disturb me"

"You already agreed to go with me"

"You should have made me promise"

"Fine, I bank in 600 BSF now"

"800 and we have a deal"

"750"

"Deal"

"Casual?"

"If I said formal would you wear it"

"For another 200 I might consider it"

"Good thing it's casual or I would go broke"

""What time does it start"

"In about an hour so we'll take your car"

"Okay, let's hit the road"

-QUICK NOTE FROM BEYOND THE 4TH WALL-

('BSF' it stands for brother-sister favors. Its a form of monetary exchange between siblings for favourite. To begin each siblin agree on a starting amount like monopoly, if its 5000 then each sibling has 5000 BSF. When a sibling needs a favourite they can bank BSF but they both have to agree on an amount so if they both still have 5000 and one needs a favourite and they agree on 500BSF then 500 is subtracted from the one in need of the favourite and added to the one who is giving the favour)

Sorry for the late update. I'll see u guys again next week Monday or Tuesday. Stay awesome. Peace ✌️.