Limelight

Zach and Diaz: Party - Part 2

(And thus, Zaz is ready for their storyline!)

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It was getting late now and the party was winding down. People were leaving but Zach was determined to at least explain himself to Diaz before the night was over. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he just let this go, which just proved how real it was. He'd never been so desperate to take back what he said to someone. He had always managed to pick himself up again after a rejection; it took maybe an hour, if that, of complaining to Roz or Al before he found another victim. But this time, he couldn't stand the thought of letting Diaz believe he was, well... just another notch in his belt, like Zephyr said. He could only hope he hadn't left the party yet.

He eventually spotted him alone, most likely waiting around for Zeke and Fritz or something. Zach jogged over.

"Diaz!" he managed to get his attention and stopped in front of him, "I just- What I said earlier, I didn't-"

Diaz waved a hand, "I know you didn't mean it, Zach. You were just being you."

He started to turn away but Zach followed, "No, no, no...! I did mean it...!"

Diaz frowned in confusion, "You... what?"

"OK, not like that, but..." he stopped. He took a breath, his eyes closing for a moment, then locking on Diaz and he was stuck staring back at him, "I do like you. I'm just really, really bad at being serious about this stuff."

It was like a switch had been flipped as Diaz froze. In an instant, he changed, turning more self-conscious, smiling shyly and brushing his hair aside in an attempt to look casual, which didn't work at all.

"You, uh... You never said anything. Like, not even the stupid pick-up lines. This is the first time you..." his voice lowered, "... actually flirted with me."

"It came as a shock to me, too, trust me, but..." Diaz's eyes were fixed on him, "I didn't wanna risk getting rejected by you."

He stood searching Zach's face for any sign that he might be joking, or just flirting like always, "You get rejected by other people all the time."

Zach shrugged and Diaz had to keep from melting under his soft gaze, "Other people aren't you."

He was stunned, to say the least, looking down as he struggled to cover his smile and the blush creeping onto his face, "Shut up...!"

Zach slowly grinned at the sight, coming a little closer, "Wow... Look at you. What is going on with you?"

His head snapped back up, "What?"

"You're blushing," Zach couldn't help sounding smug, "Gaz, did I do that?" Diaz turned away, still trying to hide, but Zach brought him back with a finger under his chin as he nodded in satisfaction, "Now, this... This is really cute."

Finally regaining his composure, Diaz rolled his eyes and pushed his hand away, "Stop it."

"You like me." The smile on Zach's face was completely genuine.

Diaz's usual cockiness returned in a sudden boost of confidence, "Maybe I do, so what?" he said with a flip of his hair.

"So, the one person who does want to date me is also the one person I never hit on? You really made me work for this."

"I didn't do anything."

"Exactly."

Diaz went quiet for a moment, "... You could've just talked to me."

"Except I'd panic and break out some lame pick-up line like I did before and..." he trailed off with a sigh, "You deserve better than that."

He couldn't read the look in Diaz's eyes, but he was sure it was good.