Never Have I Ever Season 3: an alternative theory

Chapter 11: Part 3

Paxton rolls his eyes as he lets out an disgruntled, irritated laugh. His eyes pass over Ben briefly, watching as he stands there uncomfortably clutching his hurting hand.
"Oh well- shit." He mumbles quietly, briefly looking away and shaking his head in annoyance.
He irritatedly sucks in some air, and rips out a paper hand towel from the towel dispenser to dry his hands.
Ben's eyes dart over Paxton gently... his muscles clamping up, and mind freezing from how fast it were racing...
To say that he hadn't expected this would have to be a serious understatement... and... and the way Paxton had dressed... like... like he were attending some other impressive formal event after this?- in a dark navy slim fitted chino and a crisp white button down shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows the only thing he were missing were a tuxedo bow to fit the look... he were the literally picture of some type of fairytale prince charming... and not to add, he had smelt great?!- it was irritating for Ben for sure, even if he knew he shouldnt feel this way... or that he had no right to feel this way- but! I mean, Devi would for sure sense Paxton were around and Ben could possibly risk loosing her to Paxton all over again, right?- his thoughts couldn't feel more clouded...
And... and not to mention the hair... Paxton's hair!- was more perfectly gelled up and groomed than any runway model Ben's seen, it would even bring out the envy in Gigi herself ...
Ben coughs, clearing his throat-
"Y-yeah... yeah I mean, your here." Ben chokes out, no enthusiasm, and an awkward laugh escaping him. "This is awkward... and nothing I would have expected or... anticipated." Ben takes a minute to look away, gain his confidence and breath in, sliding his fidgety hands into his pockets. "Funny, right?" He continues dryly.
He feels his throat tighten and coughes again to help himself, prepare to gain some of that confidence back... the one he had before Paxton came into the picture... because... he can face Paxton again, right?... I mean, he practically had too- they go to the same school... so it was inevitable- he had no choice... even if Ben cant seem to help how his mouth feels as dry as a desert... or how his palms sweat profusedly?..
He scrunches his hand down in his pocket, wishing for the throbbing pain to go away- the pain reminding him once again his hand was still hurt.  At this point his sure his right hand will blotch out a darker shade of purple by the days end from the blow it had taken.. 
Paxton has moved closed to the door, bunching up his shoulders, scrunching up his paper towel in his hands into a small fine paper ball... and tossing it straight and effortlessly onto the other side of the room and landing it easily into the bin...
His eyes divert back to Ben.
"Guess your here on a date... with Devi, right?" He shrugs his shoulders, then folds his arms in front of him.
Ben doesn't know how to reply to that... at least not in a way that he thinks he may get punched... so he stands there tensely... not knowing what to say... and his choosing his words wisely... carefully... and his brain not functioning quickly in the way he wishes... But he manages to pull himself together and get an answer out.
"W-w-well... we're... ahhh... watching Spiderman... No Way Home." He admits, clearing his throat, and ducking his head away not sure if it were safe to meet Paxton's gaze.
Paxton assesses him, eyes twinkled with suprise...
"Your watching the 2.30 session?-" he scoffs, suprised and dissappointed. Ben could sense some nervousness leaked in his tone. And how Paxton had to cast his eyes away as he said it... "Yeah, me too... well, us too."
Ben's eyes grow and slowly drift back to Paxton.
Did he say "us"? As in "we"?
The hotpocket, maybe? Or most likely... his on another date?  Its unlikely Paxton would feel nervous about a date- his on one almost every week... and almost always with someone new... so why had he sound nervous?
Anyway- that did not matter- moving on and the fact Paxton and... and whoever he were referring to as "us/we"- were watching the very same movie Devi and he had been watching- on their first date!... he cant help how this makes him irritated and uncomfortable... so uncomfortable it sort of drives and fills his veins with some sort of annoyance he cant explain... but he drives those feelings aside the best he can... 
"Yeah... oh. Right." Ben exhales quietly, planting his hands to his hips and looking away.
Paxton tilts his head, biting down his lip, stifling a laugh wanting to slip out... and Ben's eyes come back up to him, wondering what he could possibly find funny about any of this...
"Wow." Paxton huffs out, amusedly, his face turning a tinge pink. "I'm here with your ex-" He says, brightly and bemused, sliding his hands into his pockets easily. "-...and your here with mine." His grunt low, but amused.
Ben's eyes widen, tilting his head, eyes glistening... and they become enlightened... and surprise... like a puzzle had been finally solved.
His eyes flittering away, still astonished... but then return to Paxton glistening with understanding.
In actual truth... he hadn't known that Paxton had been dating Aneesa... Devi had mentioned a couple of things, but none of what had seemed like they had been dating... so it was somewhat of a suprise, but... why had he not caught on sooner?
I mean, yes, he had his suspicions... but had he put much thought on it?... no...
Paxton reads Ben's questioning look and  rooving mind... "Aneesa and I are seeing each other." He says simply. Then he laughs. "Hope it doesn't upset you?-"
Ben's face instantly contorts into a shocked suprised smile.
"No, no. She's all yours- I mean, I'm happy for you guys." He swallows, then huffs out a small laugh, confused as to why Paxton even cared how Ben felt.
"Well, then... funny how things worked out." He cracks a smile. "Devi Vishkumar- the girl always flauting her grades, constantly burying her nose into a book... constantly making awkwardly big scenes- especially at school may I add... and not to mention- one of the biggest nerds I have ever known... that's all for you to take on now, buddy."
Ben was ready to refute something somewhere along the line of what he had just said- he wasn't himself quite sure where, it had all seemed pretty spot on?... when he realises Paxton's eyes were dancing with humour and then he knew he had just been playing around with him...
Paxton smirks at Ben as he continues.
"Now Aneesa... she is cool. She is fast, agile, and her sportsmanship is just..." he sighs contently... "beyond me." His expression changing to become more serious. "There is something about her... I don't know... I guess that makes me feel... really happy. Like I havent in a while I guess..." then he smirks at Ben again... "like I'm not going to find an explosively big surprise around the corner with her at point in time." He laughs. "Like we just seem to click or something- Wait- why the am I even telling you all this?" He snorts as he maneuvers towards the door.
Ben feels a little relieved smile curl his lips, and it begins to emerge a little like a sun peering from behind greyish clouds... Paxton had seemed lighter in mood than he'd assumed... maybe all thanks to Aneesa?
"Wait." Ben says, stopping him.
Paxton takes time, but he finally turns around to face him. "Paxton... I'm sorry... you know, for..." he pushes himself on... if he were going to say it it felt like it needed to be now... "I don't know... for what I did. I guess, for kissing Devi while she was still with you-"
"Oh, you are you?" Paxton blurts out, then snorts with sarcasm, stepping over toward Ben with his hands tightening at his sides. "Why are you saying that? You want me to forgive you, is that what you want? For pressuring my girlfriend to go behind my back while I was with her? What you did was so fucked up!"
Ben steps back, feeling as though he had just summoned or pulled out the beast in Paxton... "If you say another word I'm going to knock you out cold, so you better shut your trap-"
Ben's eyes dart over him, nervously... he swallows, his heart in his throat.
"I-I'm still sorry." 
Paxton's eyes dart on him angrily... but after a short while, they somehow slowly soften... and his fists slowly come undone at his sides. 
Something about what he thinks on seems to calm his angered mind.
"Aneesa told me something..." he swallows, and licks his lips as he thinks- his heart pounding heavily still. He takes a moment to breath before he continues. "She said... that all this... that it wasn't actually only you... that ahhh... it was just as much Devi as it were you..." he takes a couple of breaths before he continues again... because it couldn't of been easy for Paxton to say what he had to say. "That Devi... that she hadn't chosen me first, apparently... That she had wanted to choose you for some reason- I dont think I was ever clear about as to why?..." he shrugs his shoulders in confusion. "That her friends had made the choice for her- to choose me... that she went ahead and listened to them... and that Eleanor had explained all that to you at the Winter Dance? And..." he looks away, planting his hands to his hips in a way to keep his feet stable... "And... the way she looks at you- it's not the same... she's not thinking about me... she likes you. And I... I could never make her feel that way about me."
Ben watches him... eyes saddened... slightly reddened with emotions...
Ok... so maybe... he had felt guilty... he cant deny that... but also and now... he had to come to terms with the fact Paxton was not a bad guy... something his tried to refute for a long time...
He had to submit to the realisation that maybe Paxton was actually... a pretty decent guy... not as bad as he had originally thought...
He knew there was nothing else he could basically say... he was struck for words... but when Paxton scoffs and turns to him with the smallest of faint smile, wavering from saddened to peaceful... Ben's eyes widen waiting to hear what he were going to say.
"None of it matters anyway... at least not in the ways she looks at me. Because... Aneesa is something else. You let a good one go, dude. Aneesa is lit... I think Ive never been so in love with the way someone plays soccer before either." He chuckles softly. "So... thanks alot bro... for letting her go." He snorts.
He winks at Ben at the door, then opens it. "Just don't come back for her, or I'll bury you-" He warns sternly.
Ben blurts out a nervous laugh.
"Nah-" he, responding quickly. "I swear, I promise. I'm happy for you guys. She's real lucky to have you."
Paxton dryly smiles, and disappears through the door, back out into the foyer.  
... and within moments later, as Ben still stands there trying to take in all that had happened and all that had been said... Trent strides in through the door, with such gusto... then freezes upon sight of Ben... his look changing to appear oddly confused.
Ben watches him, eyes narrowed... then widened with suprise... his brows furrow and face contorts to confusion.
"Was that ahhh-"
"Paxton? Yes."
"Oh."
"Let me guess, your here with Eleanor?" Ben says flatly, and showing not an ounce of suprise.
"We're watching Spiderman." Trent replies gleefully, a widenned grin spreading across his face.

------------------------------------------------------

Happy Easter everyone!! Hope you guys enjoy this part as much as you enjoy chocolate hehe well, at least close 😜 haha but anyway, I may need to go through it again! Check for spelling mistakes and all... and I tried, and hope I did ok and got the atmosphere right? Anyways, thanks guys for reading always ♡♡♡♡ xxxx all♡♡♡♡