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BRIXTON COULDN'T BE happier, than he was in this moment. He sat in between Ari and Honey, his leg anxiously shaking up and down as he stares at the female sponsor for Blu Gravity.

He never expected to get a sponsor so quick, it seemed like his life was falling in line and he was fulfilling his mothers dreams of him becoming big and succeeding. He felt even better to be making such an achievement next to his long time friend.

Brixton was sad that he couldn't be with his father, or that the male wasn't sitting next to him, but it was fine. He was fine and he was not going to let anyone ruin his moment. He couldn't.

"Straight off, we'll set you both up with some Blu Gravity threads, new wetsuits." The sponsor smiles. "Help you guys make a serious splash at Nationals."

"Forget the add-ons, Loopy. Let's talk moolah." Honey speaks up before anyone could. Brixton chuckles, wrapping an arm around the girls shoulders as she talks again. "How much are they getting paid?"

"Good question, Honey." She gives Honey an amused look. "Yeah, there are some great cash incentives for even placing in comps—."

"So, if Ari or Brixton have an off day, then they get nothing?" Thommo cuts in, placing his knife down.

"Dad, that's the way it is." Ari tells him.

"It's the same for everyone and if anything, it pushes to be on our A-game all the time, not that we always aren't, but money is money." Brixton says, earning small laughs.

"And what obligations would the boys have on signing up?" Abbie asks.

"I've got this one." Honey gathers their attention again, moving from under Brixton's arm. "Mr.Gibson and Mr.Lennon have to post three times a month to their grid and twice a week to their stories."

"So, they get a wettie and you guys turn them into walking billboards?"

"Thommo."

"Sorry." Ari gives the sponsor a sympathetic look. Brixton keeping an amused smile on his face.

"Reception down here's pretty bad, so posting to grids, might be difficult."

Abbie scoffs, having enough of her husband. "Sorry. Too many cooks in the kitchen. Love, I think I hear the tomato vines screaming your name."

"Look, we're pretty flexy on the socials." She speaks again, her eyes moving off Thommo who left the room and to the two
boys in front of her. "Have fun, try things out with your mates, you never know what's gonna blow up online."

"Ari doesn't have social media. He just uses Mum's account to lurk." Honey states, a smile on her lips. "Brix does though, he has almost 800K."

"There's always a perfect time to get on there." Loopy chuckles at the child. "And there's always a way for you to gain more followers."

Brixton nods as the looks down at the contract in front of him, from the corner of his eye he can see Ari already signing it, eager to join the club.

"Is something wrong?" Loopy asks, Brixton, making him shake his head.

"Just taking in the moment." Brixton says simply before taking the pen from Ari and signing his signature.

I did it, Mom.

"Welcome to the Blu Gravity family, you two." The female sponsors crosses her. hands in front of her, smiling.

Abbie and Honey squeal as they bring the two boys into hugs, embracing them. Loop speaks again. "Quick photo to mark the occasion?"

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"How does it feel?" Baxter asks Brixton as they walk side to side, towards one of the many surf shops in Shorehaven.

"Amazing. I feel accomplished. I know my mother would be proud, right now." Brixton says, feeling the weight on his shoulders get lighter.

After taking more photos with Ari, Baxter came over and decided to take him on a shopping spree, which Brixton found hilarious, but he would take any moment he gets to spend with the Radic male.

"She is proud." Baxter gives him a small nudge. Baxter may not know the full story about his mother, but he knows enough to know that she wasn't there with them. "You are making your dreams come true, I can imagine that's all she ever wanted."

Brixton knew that Baxter knew somewhat of what happened to his mother and when he was ready, he would tell him everything. "She always wanted me to be apart of Blu Gravity. I feel like I can breathe and catch a break now."

"Because you can." Baxter holds the door to the surf shop open for him. "You need to stop stressing yourself so much, Bri. Let loose, relax."

Brixton smirks at him. "You just called me Bri."

"What does—."

"You said you'd never call me that because you wanted to be original." Brixton continues.

"Nicknames take time, my love." Baxter lets the pet name slip through his lips. He smirks widely, seeing how Brixton wouldn't meet his eyes and light pink blush rushes to his cheeks. "How's that for original?"

"It works." Brixton brushed it off with a simple shrug, butterflies in his stomach. Baxter gasps dramatically, he knew the effect he had on the male.

"Hey guys." Ari's voice from behind them breaks their little moment as they turn to face him and Marlon, who stood behind Ari, eyeing the two in front of him.

"I signed my contract today!" Ari gives Baxter an accomplished smile.

"Brixton told me, congratulations, Goldy!" Baxter brings him into a bro hug, the two high fiving afterwards. "I guess BG needed someone a bit more vanilla, you know to balance me, Sousa and now Brixton out."

"Never say that again." Brixton tells the pink haired boy, his eyes going towards the shirts on the rack behind Baxter.

"You're no fun, you know?" Baxter squints his eyes at Brixton.

"And yet, you want to hang out with me every moment you get." Brixton retorts, slapping his cheek gently. "You enjoy my company."

"I enjoy looking at you, also." Baxter says back. Brixton rolls his eyes playfully, Marlon's eyes on them making him go shy. Brixton rubs Baxter's cheek before he goes back to looking at the shirts over the rack.

Ari, looks over at Marlon who had a clenched jaw. Marlon didn't know why the sight of the two made him jealous. He liked Poppy. Maybe it was just the fact that Brixton was actually moving on and leaving the past...meaning him behind.

"What about these?" Baxter holds up a pair of black socks, showing Brixton.

"Whatever your heart desires, Bax." Brixton responds.

"It desires you." Baxter gives him a soft smile, actual meaning between the words that slipped based his lips.

Brixton once again, waves him off. "Poor heart then."

Baxter knew that Brixton shrugged him off every time because the thought of someone actually being interested in him and liking him out loud, scared him. He's never felt this before.

Baxter walks behind Brixton who was standing in front of the mirror, eyeing himself with a shirt held up to his neck. Baxter, with cut up socks as gloves, takes out his phone, wrapping his arm around Brixton's shoulder, pulling him close as he takes pictures of the two.

The two go from smiling to doing silly faces. They were enjoying themselves. Brixton was enjoying being wrapped up in Baxter's warm yet comforting arm. Baxter enjoying the way the male felt tucked under his arm.

"Guys." Ari approaches them again, watching the the two, stop taking photos and turn to him. "I was wondering if you guys had any advice on what to post on my socials."

"Yeah, man. Hell, yeah." Baxter quickly agrees. Brixton moving his free hand up to trace around Baxter's stingray bicep tattoo as the Radic spoke. "You know, just the usual kind of stuff. Skin care routines, meal plans, fitness, spiritual advice..."

Ari looks at him in distraught. Brixton chuckles, nudging Baxter before talking to Ari. "He was just kidding, Ari."

"Just be yourself." Baxter adds.

"People want to know who you are, not just on the outside, but on the inside too." Brixton pats Ari's chest. "Show them who you are. Show them the Ari we know and love. Don't doubt yourself, brother."

Ari nods slowly, taking in his friends words. Brixton smiles at him and smiles at Marlon who gives him one back with a polite wave. Him and Baxter turn to walk into the store further.

"You want to get me something?" Brixton looks up at Baxter with a grin.

"You're the one with all the money and freebies."

"But why would I spend my money, when I can spend yours." Brixton states. "It's simple math."

Baxter laughs, shaking his head amusingly, but nevertheless agrees. "With pretty eyes like those, you can get whatever you want."

"Now that's what I like to hear."

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"This is so good." Brixton moans out with a mouthful of ice cream.

"I'm glad you like it." Baxter chuckles as the two walk over to a table in front of the ice cream parlor they just came out of.

"How'd you know my favorite is chocolate chip cookie dough?" Brixton questions as he goes in for another spoonful.

"I remembered you telling me the night I stayed over." Baxter starts. "You went on and on about how it was the best flavor. I also remember you saying that getting ice cream at a parlor like this brings you back to a happy time in your childhood."

"You remembered that?" Brixton gives him a shocked look. "Really?"

"Of course I do. They way you spoke about it. It was important." Baxter explains.

"No one ever remembers or listens to the little things I say."

"I listen to everything you say." Baxter retorts. "And I will remember it because I know it matters to you."

Brixton felt his heart skip a beat at this words. No one ever showed him the effort Baxter was showing him right now. Nobody ever saw through him the way Baxter does. No one has ever saw him the way Baxter does. Baxter was slowly fixing every doubt he had about himself and Baxter could say the same about Brixton.

"Every single weekend, my mother would take me to my surfing lessons and then right after, whether I had a good day or bad, she would take me here to get ice cream." Brixton begins. He motions to the ice cream in Baxter's cup. "She would get that flavor, Mint Chocolate Chip every single time. She would tell me 'always be yourself and don't let one bad thing, no matter what it is set you back because then you'll never truly go forward.' At so young I understood every word she said."

"Seems like she adored you to no end." Baxter smiles softly, reaching over to place his hand on top of Brixton's, shiver going through their bodies at the touch. "If you don't mind me asking. What happened?"

"Breast Cancer. She-She couldn't beat it and then my life went to shit." Brixton admits, not meeting Baxter's eyes. "The first month I, um, I didn't know if I could live without her. I wanted to be with her so bad. Then, I was so alone and I had no one, especially when my dad moved us. I hated myself. I pushed through though because I knew that's what she would've wanted, but it was a scary process."

Baxter reaches over and places his fingers under Brixton's chin to make him look at him. Brixton allows him to do so, his touch making his body go light as he stares so deeply into Baxter's beautiful green eyes. "You are not alone anymore. I am here for you, the others are here for you. You just have to allow us to be. Allow me to be. Your mother is watching over you, only wanting what's best for you. She wants you to be happy, so give yourself that."

"I am." Brixton says softly, placing his hand around Baxter's arm that was still beneath his chin. "It's because of you."

"You have no idea how those words make me feel."

You have no idea how you make me feel.

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"Everything is going to shit over here." Poppy sighs as she sets up her phone, so that Brixton could properly see her.

"What happened?" Brixton asks leaning back into his pillow, phone in hand.

"Bodhi and Summer got into it and Wren isn't helping." Poppy runs a hand through her hair. "She's making Bodes go all weird. It's like they're besties. It's messing up our whole dynamic. I feel so uncomfortable."

"Well, Wren has a thing for turning people against others." Brixton states. "You, my dear best friend, need to stop stressing yourself though, okay? If Bodes want to act weird, let her. Don't stress over anything you can't control, Pops. You're gonna give yourself grey hairs."

"And that's the last thing I need." Poppy huffs. She should tell him...right? No. Not yet. "I wish you were here, Bri. It'd be so much easier."

"I wish I was there to help you." Brixton replies. A smile forms on his face. "But things are pretty good over here."

Poppy chuckles. "You mean with Baxter! Tell me! Tell me!"

"I told him about my mother." Brixton starts. "He makes me feel good, Pops. He understands me, he sees me, you know? I never felt this way before."

"He's what you deserve, Bri." Poppy speaks honestly. "He makes you feel normal again. I see it."

"I never thought this would happen." Brixton sighs, thinking about Baxter. "He just takes over my mind, Pops."

"Sounds like your in loveeeeeee." Poppy sings out.

"Whatever." Brixton rolls his eyes playfully, the thought of him being in love scaring him. "I'm gonna go to sleep, Pops."

"Always a early sleeper. Love you, Bri."

"Love you more, Pops."

She couldn't tell him yet. Not only did she not know how he'd react, but she didn't want to ruin her best friend's happiness, that he's been waiting for, for so long.

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Brixton woke up to shouts coming from the kitchen. He groans hearing Summer and Ari going at it. He knew what it was about, Summer sent him a text last night about how Wren framed her for destroying the camera man's room, but of course Wren would tell Ari about it and he would believe her lying words.

"I'm pretty sure your girlfriend deliberately framed me!" Summer shouts back at him.

"Oh, my god, seriously." Ari groans. "You can't actually think I'd take your word over Wren's? This is not out of character of you, Summer."

"Are you serious, Ari?" Brixton scoffs as he enters the kitchen. "This is exactly what Wren wants. She's so jealous of Summer, that she'd do anything to rip you guys apart and you are the only one that can't even see that. She's gotten so into your head. If Summer did it, she would have the balls to admit it, unlike your little girlfriend!"

"Wren isn't jealous." Ari declares.

"Look, I don't care." Summer pipes in, looking to Ari. "I can't believe you don't believe me, we can't be friends anymore."

"Fine." Ari shrugs. "Make my life a whole lot easier."

"You tearing up life long friendship because of a girl that can't handle not being the only one in your life. That's actually sad, Ari." Brixton says, Ari shakes his head and walks out of the room, Brixton words now roaming in his head.

Summer roughly pushes the bowl in front of her away before laying her head against her hands. Brixton goes over to her and brings her into his embrace. "It's all going to be alright, Sum."

"Thank you." Summer clings to him, holding on to her childhood best friend as right as she could.