Chase's POV 

“The way the screenwriter crafted the dialogue to accurately pay homage to our current times even though it was set in the early nineties was incredible! The transitions between scenes were flawless, not to mention the actors! Where did they find such talent! And the best part is that the whole thing was dripping with emotion!” I gush as I swing Diego’s arm and skip by his side. 

We just finished the screening of the last movie at the film festival and it was absolutely fantastic! I loved it so much! In fact, it is arguably the best movie that I’ve seen to date. This is the type of movie I’d want to make, one that leaves audiences satisfied yet begging for more. One with impactful, emotive dialogue and seamless directing. 

Diego gently tugs me closer to him so that I avoid colliding with the man surrying towards me. I didn’t even see him! I’m just so happy right now! It feels like I’m a cloud, light and free. My smile is wide and it feels like it’s taking up my entire face. I turn around, now skipping backwards as I face Diego, gently swinging our still interlocked hands.

Since I asked Diego to be my boyfriend and told him that I was comfortable holding hands, I haven’t let go of him. I've felt the need to cling to him and Diego has been very receptive and let me do whatever I wanted to! Somewhere in the back of my head the thoughts of the trial are still there but Diego has a really great ability of helping me stay focused on the present. 

“Did you enjoy the film that much?” Diego asks, pulling me a little to the right which I realized was to prevent me from crashing into a pole. 

I giggle and nod enthusiastically. “It was beautiful! I wonder what their inspiration was!”

“We can meet the screenwriter and the director if you’d like?” Diego responds with a chuckle. 

My eyes widen and I let out an embarrassing high pitched squeal that Diego seems to have a knack for eliciting. "Seriously!" I yell, coming to a dead stop in front of him. I've smiled so much in the last few hours that my cheeks hurt, but I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Diego chuckles and nods before responding. "Yes! I sent a message to the organiser of the event, he owes me a favour, and asked if we could meet the director and screenwriter of the last movie!" 

"Really!" I squeal again, too excited to be embarrassed by the noises coming from my mouth. I giggle and tilt my head, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Is that why you were texting during the last movie?" 

Diego gives me a sheepish look and rubs the back of his neck. "I thought you were too engrossed in the movie to notice. But yes, that's when I messaged him." 

"Are we going to meet them now? Which way is it?" I ask, looking around for any indication of which direction we should head in. 

"We're almost there! We've actually been walking in that direction," Diego replies and I hop back to his side and we set off to meet the creators behind the film. 

Unable to contain my excitement, I monologue about the film the entire way while Diego smiles continuously and guides me away from approaching people and objects. 

"Diego!" A middle aged man calls as soon as we enter the room, causing the four persons sitting around him at the table to focus on us. He rushes towards us and I tense at his speed and try to let go of Diego so that he won't accidentally touch me. 

Diego gives my hand a gentle squeeze but doesn't let go. "Marcus! Long time no see!" He replies, matching the other man's enthusiasm. Diego holds out his hand for the man to shake and this causes him to slow his approach. 

They shake hands and Marcus' gaze shifts to me causing me to squirm from all the attention. "Who is this fine young man?" He says and reaches out his hand for me to shake. 

I involuntarily flinch at the sight of his hand coming towards me but Marcus doesn't seem to notice. "Hands off," Diego scolds, playfully slapping Marcus' hand away from me, causing Marcus to chuckle in response. I release a sigh of relief and look towards Diego, my Knight in shining armour, who winks when he catches me peeking at him. I giggle and my gaze drifts away. 

"This is my boyfriend, Chase," he says and my heart flutters at his introduction, not only because of the words, but also the pride and joy in his voice when he calls me his boyfriend. "Little Lamb, this is Marcus, the organiser of the film festival."

I move my other hand on top of our already interlocked hands before meeting Marcus' gaze and responding. "Hello Marcus, nice to meet you." Diego gives my hand a reassuring squeeze before turning his attention back to Marcus.

"He's certainly quite fetching and y'all are so cute in your couple shirts!" He exclaims and beckons for us to follow him. I giggle, happy I got these T-shirts because now we really are a couple! 

Diego and I follow Marcus to the table where he introduces us to the director, producer, screenwriter and one of the actors from the film that we just saw. We join them at the table and Diego talks to Marcus who is seated on the other side of him, while I talk to everyone else. 

I subconsciously fiddle with Diego's hand as I gush about the movie, asking question after question about them and the film. A few times throughout the conversation I catch Diego looking at me with a soft smile and that smile always grew whenever our gazes happened to meet.

They answer all of my questions and they're all so impressed by my unique inquiries that I get all of their business cards! After they insist that I can reach out to them at any time, Diego and I say our goodbyes and head back to the car. 

"Do you want to go back home? Or would you like to go on a date with me?" Diego asks, sliding into the driver's seat next to me. 

A wide smile spreads across my face and a warm, fuzzy feeling settles in my stomach. Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, I notice that it's only eight thirty in the evening. I'm not tired and I really really want to go on a date with him. As a bonus, if I stay out longer Jesse and Bryan can have more time alone. 

"Yes! Without a doubt!" I reply, echoing his earlier response when I asked him to be my boyfriend. He chuckles and starts the car. My hand once again drifts onto his knee, like it did the last time he was driving. I think this is now my hand's permanent spot whenever he transports us. I release a tiny giggle at that thought and I see Diego's lips quirk up into a smile.

"Where are we going?" I ask, playing with the hem of my T-shirt. 

Diego chuckles and from the corner of my eye I see him shaking his head. "It's a secret." 

"I want to know," I whine and pout, shifting to face him. The sight of his muscles flexing as he turns the steering wheel sets off a weird heat in me and my pulse quickens. I bought his pizza shirt a size under so that it hugs his body in all the right ways. My tongue involuntarily flicks across my lips and that weird heat increases as I watch Diego's muscles bulge when he turns the wheel. 

I shift in my seat, trying to adjust my pants that are starting to get unusually uncomfortable. What is happening? 

I push that thought aside for now and continue to stare at my smoking hot boyfriend. "You'll find out soon," Diego replies with another chuckle. The vibrations of the sound make me shudder and the heat intensifies. I ogle his buff arms and imagine what they would feel like around me; holding me, touching me, stroking me. My breath speeds up and I lick my lips again as my eyes drift down to his pants. I wonder what he would look like naked-

I gasp, immediately tearing my eyes away from Diego and snatching my hand from his leg. I try to get my haphazard breathing under control and pull down my shirt to hide my growing erection. 

"Take me home. I don't want to go on the date," I says, in a voice barely above a whisper. 

"Chase what's wrong?" Diego asks and I can hear the worry in his voice. "I can tell you where we're-"

"Take me home," I say in a firmer voice and see Diego nod from the corner of my eye. 

I suck in a shaky breath and lean forward, putting my head in my trembling hands. That was the first time I've been aroused since everything happened. Not even in my more provocative dreams about Diego did I wake up with an erection. 

I know I'm still terrified by the thought of actually having sex. So why is my body contradicting my mind? Worries that I've tried to suppress for the past few weeks come bubbling to the surface. 

What if I get lost in the moment and end up having sex with him before I'm fully ready and I regret it later? What if I get scared halfway through but Diego doesn't notice and he ends up unintentionally hurting me? What if I hate every moment of it and never want to do it again? More importantly, would Diego leave me if I don't have sex with him?

I scurry out of the car as soon as Diego stops in front of my house and run to my doorstep. The keys, of course, fall since I can't seem to get my trembling hands to cooperate. 

I go to bend down to pick them up but Diego is already there. He selects the house key and unlocks the door. "Can you please tell me why you suddenly changed your mind?" His voice is pleading and when my gaze meets his I can see the confusion and concern there. 

Instead of talking to him like the adult I am, I hurry past him into the safety of my house. Without stopping, I quickly make my way to my bedroom and slam the door, leaning against it momentarily before collapsing onto the floor. 

My body is shaking like a leaf. Too much happened today. Too many changes. Too many emotions. Confusion, worry, happiness and sadness overwhelm me, fighting to see which emotion will prevail. It's too much for me and I feel them bursting out of me in the form of loud sobbing. I crawl towards my bed and curl up in a ball.

My last thought before I drift off to sleep from my exhaustive crying is that I owe Diego an explanation. 

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