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BRIXTON GLARED AT POPPY as he stood only feet away from her. It was the next day and the team were all at the beach, getting ready for their parings and heats against each other. There was too much on his mind.

"Love." And then their wasn't. Baxter's sweet, gentle tone making him forget all his problems. Baxter finds his place next to him. "You are far to into your head."

"You weren't here to see how it went down." Brixton snaps at the Radic, but catches himself and sighs. He walks closer to Baxter. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"I know." Baxter takes his hand. "Instead of thinking about the bad, think about the good. The good being us."

Brixton smiles up at him. "You're my only good thing."

Baxter grins at him before leaning down and placing a gentle peck on his lips before moving back just a bit. "If only we didn't have to train."

"I bet you're quick." Brixton says back, laughing at Baxter's playful hurting expression.

"I can't believe you just said that." Baxter gasps. "You know, I can show you just how skilled I am."

"If only we didn't have to train." Brixton huffs, using his line back on him, kissing his cheek before grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the other boys.

"Nice of you two to join us." Elo greets them, eyeing their hands, Baxter only holding on tighter, silently giving Brixton all the reassurance he needed. "I want Griff and Tommy versus Brixton and Baxter and when they're done, Ari you will go team up with Baxter."

"That's the best thing she has ever done. Ever." Baxter dramatically states. "Like in her whole life."

Brixton rolls his eyes playfully. "Let's get ready, pretty boy. We have to win."

"Winning comes naturally to us." Baxter unlinks their hands and wraps an arm around his shoulders. "We're the best."

Brixton rolls his eyes, leaning into his boyfriend's side. His boyfriend. He still didn't know how to feel about it. He was so scared and ready that something would go wrong, but it hasn't, yet and Baxter is giving him all the reassurance he needed.

"Howdy, partner number 2." Baxter greets Ari, his arm still around Brixton who only eyed Ari. "Let's talk about the game plan, okay. Do you want to go first? Or are you more of a finisher?"

"'Cause we can't tell which tent you're in these days." Brixton finishes for Baxter. His eyes hard, as he stared at the Gibson. Baxter told him all about how he caught Ari leaving Summer's tent. Then, Summer told him what went down in the tent.

Summer who was on the ground waxing her board looks up at them, making slight eye contact with Ari before he looked at the two boys next to him. "Oh, mates, last night, me and Summer had some stuff to work out."

"Which involved your lips on hers?" Brixton tilts his head. Ari's eyes go wide. "You say all these things that hurt her, only for you to go and kiss her. Pathetic, don't you think?"

"If you don't tell Wren what's going on..." Baxter starts, his fingers drawing circles on the side of Brixton's arm. "I'll go first."

Brixton pats Ari's arm before allowing Baxter to move them away and closer to the water as they get ready for their heat.

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The team now stood in the middle of the beach, each wearing their new uniforms as they wait for Elo and the photographer to stop talking, so they can take the picture already.

"Let me fix this." Brixton reaches up, taking Baxter's hat off his head and turning it around so it was placed on his head backwards.

Brixton was so into fixing his hat, he didn't see that way Baxter was staring at him, simply admiring him, taking in every feature that was now his, until he put his arms down to look his boyfriend over. Brixton tilts his head. "What?"

"Nothing." Baxter smiles, moving his hands to Brixton's waist. "You're just so handsome. I never felt so safe then when looking into your beautiful eyes."

Brixton felt his heart skip a beat. Baxter never failed to make him feel good. To make him feel like he was worth something. Worth everything to him. He's never felt this way before.

"God, you make me so happy." Brixton huffs. He brings Baxter closer to him, placing their lips together. The two ignoring the eyes on them as they relish in the moment.

"I can never get tired of that." Baxter grins as they separate.

"Neither can I." Brixton pulls away, releasing a dreamy sigh. Baxter really was changing his life.

"Alright, Team Vic." Elo grabs their attention. "Let's show off our new uniforms!"

She walks towards them as they all gather in, Brixton in between Baxter and Summer. The photographer speaks up. "Everyone get in nice and tight, scooch in a bit for me. Give me something that's cover-page worthy."

"Everyone say 'winning'!" Elo exclaims.

"Winning!"

The photographer takes the picture, before looking it over. "Alright, great, got it."

Brixton and Baxter intertwine their hands as they go to walk away, but stop when Baxter's name is suddenly called. "Bri! Wait up."

"Poppy, I don't want to talk to you." Brixton turns to look at her. "Not now."

"I'm sorry, Bri. I wanted to tell you."

"But you didn't so, there's that." Brixton gives her a sarcastic smile.

"Let me explain myself." Poppy tries.

"I'm trying to enjoy today. Let me be, Pops." Brixton tells her before pulling Baxter who gave Poppy a small smile, to walk.

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"Poppy is your best friend." Baxter starts as the couple walk down the beach, hands intertwined.

"Best friends fight." Brixton says back. "Especially when someone keeps a big secret from the other and they have to forcefully get it out of them."

"Let her explain herself. Give her that chance." Baxter tells him, swinging their hands. "She was trying to protect you."

"You're supposed to be on my side, you know?" Brixton raises his eyebrows.

"I am, you know I am." Baxter nudges him. "But are you mad that she didn't tell you or are you mad that Marlon is giving her what he didn't to you."

"You're giving me what Marlon didn't. I'm
not mad that he's giving his all to Poppy. He should be. I'm mad that she felt like she couldn't tell me and I'm mad that I made her feel that way." Brixton explains, his eyes looking out at the water.

Baxter makes a sudden stop, making Brixton stop with him. "Then talk to her and tell her that. You need Poppy and she needs you."

Brixton wraps his arms around Baxter's neck. "You can be wise, you know?"

"I try." Baxter teases with a small shrug. Brixton let's out a laugh before it turns into a shout, when Baxter suddenly lifts him and rushes towards the water, throwing himself into the water.

"I hate you." Brixton says as soon as he comes up from under the water, wiping the salt water out of his eyes.

"You love me." Baxter smirks, pushing his pink hair back. Brixton rolls his eyes, allowing Baxter to pulling him into their,
probably 100th kiss of the day. They just couldn't get enough of each other.

Taking advantage of this moment, Brixton pulls away and pushes Baxter back, making him fall into the water. He laughs. He felt himself falling even deeper for the Radic boy. He never would've thought this would have happened. He was falling in love.

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Brixton stood next to Summer, both of them holding paint in their hands as they threw different colors at the glass canvas. The two were at the Gibson's, Ari having threw Wren a birthday party. The two may or may not have been tipsy. Well, Summer was. Brixton knew how to hold his liquor.

After coming back from the beach, Summer stole Brixton away from Baxter and after ranting about how Ari was putting off telling Wren about the kiss, they found themselves half way through a pitcher of Margot's special punch.

"This is so therapeutic." Summer throws paint at the glass.

"You can be smart sometimes, Torres." Brixton nudges her before he, himself throws paint.

"So, are you going to use the board Baxter made you?" Summer questions, glancing at him.

"No idea." Brixton meets her gaze. "It's such a beautiful board and I love it with absolutely everything in me. No one has ever made me a board, but I'd feel like I'm betraying my mother in a way."

"You aren't." Summer shakes her head. "That board was hers and yes it was passed on to you, but she knew and you know how old it is. It wasn't meant to be used forever. I mean the fins came off. He made you something ten times better. You aren't getting rid of the board, you're just retiring it for a little bit."

Brixton runs his paint brush down the glass before speaking. "You think she'd want me to use it?"

"I do because she wouldn't want your board now, stop you from winning and messing you up again, even though you still pulled through." Summer adds at the end, getting a chuckle out of Brixton.

"Heard great things about art therapy." Baxter's voice cuts in, stopping Brixton from cutting in.

"Don't interrupt the master's at work." Summer jokes, placing her paint brush down. She grabs the pitcher before looking at them. "I'll see you guys."

Baxter waits until she leaves the shed before talking again. He points at the purple board that was lined up in the surfboard rack. "And here I thought you somehow got rid of it. It's been sitting in the back shed."

"I could never throw such a masterpiece out." Brixton walks towards him. "You could've told me it was for me, instead of randomly surprising me."

"I wanted it to be perfect for you. That's what you deserve." Baxter admits, his hands running over the side of the board. "Though, I might have to thin out the rails on the next one."

"No, next one." Brixton shakes his head. "I don't need another special gift."

"You're special and my boyfriend, meaning I get to shower you in all the special gifts I want." Baxter reaches forward and pulls Brixton into his chest.

"I never asked. Why did you make me the board?" Brixton asks, his voice low as he stares into his lover's beautiful green eyes.

Baxter felt his heartbeat skip before he went to answer. "I wanted to make asking you to be mine special. I wanted it to be different. You only deserve the best."

Brixton stares at Baxter for a couple of more seconds before placing his head into Baxter's neck. The Radic boy wrapping his arm around him, holding him tight as he swayed them. They wished they could stay in the moment forever.

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Night has fallen upon them and Summer and Poppy had brought the party into the shed, meaning Brixton and Baxter were roped into dancing, but they weren't complaining.

The two stood to the side, in their own little world as they danced and sung to each song that played. At this point, it was no longer Wren's party, but simply just a celebration. The girl definitely wasn't enjoying the fact that the attention no longer was on her.

"Come on, get up." Brixton tries to pull Baxter up, only for the boy to pull him back.

"I-I, um, I gotta tell you something." Baxter tells him. Brixton stays silent, letting him continue. Baxter didn't want to do this. He didn't want to ruin the o my thing that brought his happiness, but he had too. "Remember how I said I owed my little sis?"

"Mhm."

"Well, a few weeks ago, she demanded payment." Baxter runs his thumb over Brixton's knuckles. "I loosened yours and Summer's fins at the Talent Search comp. That's why they fell off the board."

Brixton's body came to a halt. He was frozen as he stared at Baxter. His eyes filled with nothing but disbelief and betrayal. His heart starting to ache. "You what? T-Tell me you're joking, Bax."

"Brix, I know I've done a bunch of stupid stuff throughout my life, but this is by far the dumbest. I'm sorry. I kooked it." Baxter felt his eyes water. "I never wanted to hurt you. I just—."

"I'm so stupid." Brixton mumbles, pulling his hand out of Baxter's grip. Baxter goes to reach out to him, but he pushes Baxter back. "I can't believe you. I-I was falling in love you. I gave you a chance! You lied to me."

"Brix—."

"You told me you'd protect my heart. You lied to me!" Brixton pushes Baxter back into the table he was sitting on.

"I had to do it. I owed her and—."

"That's why you made me the board." Brixton mutters. "I wasn't special to you."

"Yes you were. You are. You are the only good thing I have. You have to believe me." Baxter pleads. "I'm sorry."

Brixton moves back away from him before running off. He ran off, stopping in front of the house, tears streaming down his face. How could he be so stupid? How could he believe that he actually meant something to Baxter. How could he not see the signs. How did he fall in love with someone and not see the signs?

"Brixton?" Such a deep and familiar voice called out to him. A voice he never expected to hear anytime soon.

Brixton looks up, his teary eyes meeting the person soft ones. "D-Dad?"

"My boy." Mark takes a step towards him.

Brixton then let's out a sob as he falls into his fathers embrace. "It hurts, Dad. My heart hurts."

"It's okay." Mark whispers, holding his son. He hasn't done this in so long. "Everything is going to be okay."

"No-No." Brixton cries out. "I love him."

At his son's words, Mark only held onto his boy tighter. He should've been there for his son. Maybe, just maybe he could've helped
his son avoid this heart ache.