Stronger Together (bxb) ✔

Chapter 64 - Chase

Chase's POV

I'm exhausted, both mentally and physically. I've had too much human interaction and too much attention in the last few hours. On top of that, I also didn't get to eat my chocolate covered strawberries.

"Yes, I made the animation from scratch, basing the characters and the places off photos," I say for what must be the millionth time, glancing towards the food tables where the vultures have surrounded them. There's no way I can get my strawberries now, I'd be picked apart by those people with their greetings and well wishes. I suppress a sigh and refocus on the person in front of me.

"Wow! It was such a beautiful video! Do you think you can make a video for me? How much do you charge?" This question comes from what seems to be the hundredth faceless person asking the same thing.

"Thank you, but I'm sorry, I won't be able to make a video for you. It took me a really long time to complete it and it isn't profitable to do on a small scale," I reply, giving the same generic answer that I have been giving for the past, I glance down at my phone, five minutes?

I've only been talking to these people for five minutes!

After the video finished, some of Shawn's friends came up to me to tell me how talented they think I am and how great the animation was. A few of them asked if I'd be willing to make similar videos for them or if I can make different style films for weddings or upcoming special events and how much I would charge.

However, animation takes a really long time to make, it took a few months to make Shawn's video and it was only about fifteen minutes long. I had a lot of fun making it, but it was also very time consuming. If I want to start an internship and continue working on my script, I just won't have time for it.

"Oh alright, great short film anyways!" Shawn's faceless friend says, and I give them a tiny smile and thank them again.

I almost groan when someone else walks up to me with a huge smile. "Dude, that video was really cool!"

Someone save me. Why isn't Diego back yet? "Thank you, I wanted to make something special for Shawn," I reply, trying not to sound like I would rather be napping than having this conversation.

Before the faceless goon can reply, I feel strong, secure arms wrap around me and I shift in my seat to see Diego, my Knight in shining armor. He pecks my lips and brushes his nose against mine and I release a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry that took so long, little lamb!" Diego whispers before addressing the guy I was talking to. "Hey, Brody right?"

"It's okay," I mumble, ignoring Brody's response to Diego, opting instead to straddle Diego and snuggle into his arms.

Diego needed to use the bathroom and Jesse, Shawn and their boyfriends moved to talk to a group of Shawn's friends nearby. I just wanted to sit and relax, alone, in the corner, but then people started coming up to me and telling me how great the film I made for Shawn was.

Of course I'm grateful and happy that they loved the short film but I'm exhausted. I've always needed alone time after being in large group settings and I really pushed myself to interact with others today, so right now, I feel like an engine that's about to run out of fuel.

Brody and Diego are still chatting about who knows what. "DiDi, can we leave?" I whisper in Diego's ear before returning my head to rest in the crook of his neck.

There is a gentle kiss in my hair before Diego's voice sounds. "Of course, honey bee."

He wraps up his conversation, and a tiny shriek escapes me when, a few moments later, I feel myself being lifted upwards. Once Diego is standing, I wrap my feet around his waist and his hand tenderly rubs my back.