Wow, chapter 50… HOLY SHIT! Sorry for shouting but I both can and can't believe we've gotten this far! This series has been such a blessing of a journey in my hobby as a fanfic writer and I am so glad I got to take and continue this adventure with all of you. We still have a couple more chapters to go before the end, but… Thank you all, seriously. :) This chapter opens on Claire later in the night after her and Diego had their first kiss/make out session in the chapter before last. And this is a long one so grab a snack, beverage, and/or a blanket to get comfortable. Hope you all enjoy it! :D

(Claire's POV)

I was just sitting on the edge of the bed in my usual guest room at the Burromuerto's, slowly wringing my hands (almost like I was trying to weirdly take my skin off from anxiety) as I kept trying to think over everything.

Diego and I really haven't talked much since earlier in the media room. Well considering Matt walked in on us making out as the biggest mood killer in the history of time and I just felt so painfully embarrassed about it that I didn't want to even talk to anyone (not even Diego… ugh, ESPECIALLY not Diego).

Somehow I managed not to run (probably because the embarrassment was so painfully paralyzing for me that I hardly had the ability to move) and Diego and I just awkwardly sat next to each other and finished the movie as Luz brought us dinner (that I totally forgot we ordered earlier).

At first I had no idea what Diego was even thinking and I didn't want to make him think he did anything wrong (Ugh… because he was doing everything SO right) and just reached out and held his hand after we finished eating, or trying to eat dinner since all I wanted to do was rip my stomach out after what happened.

And I felt slightly more relieved when he held my hand back and I looked over and just saw him give me a slight smile before I immediately looked away… and then also immediately hated myself for doing that since I just keep being hot and cold for no other reason than being an awkward nervous wreck.

I tried to 'save it' by squeezing his hand, I guess?

UGH! THIS IS A FUCKING DISASTER! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! WHY DO I KEEP MAKING THINGS WORSE?!

There's no reason why I should feel uncomfortable around him. He's my best friend for FUCK'S SAKE! We've known each other our whole lives and I suddenly lose my mind just because I have a 'crush' on him now?!

I tried so hard to close my eyes and take a deep breath to calm down again.

Well, then it became slightly less awkward (weirdly enough) when our parents got back and we stayed up and visited and things like that with them before we all went to bed.

At least at that point Diego and I were able to look at each other. But… we still really didn't get a chance to talk.

Since the guest rooms Matt and I stay in are on the opposite end of the house from Diego's and Matt luckily decided to go back out to go to the city after dinner, Diego asked me if he could walk me to my room. I said yes, but the entire short walk to my room all we did was make the most awkward small talk in the history of the world instead of talking about what we should talk about.

Which even to me is kind of ridiculous to feel weird about that in my opinion considering we were all over each other and had our tongues literally touching earlier.

And even now I still can't stop thinking about how right everything felt with him.

My… GOD! I am so damn pathetic.

Seriously, I'm such a nervous wreck, but I also feel like some sick freak since when he was just being sweet saying goodnight to me outside my room and just gave me a cute peck on the lips, all I wanted to do was pull him into my room and rip off my clothes and just tell him he could do whatever he wanted to me like some insane, desperate weirdo.

UGH, WHO AM I?!

I feel like I'm almost as bad as that creepy Marta girl from his fan club that stalks him (still glad she's officially 'detained' right now after her stunt on Diego's mom's show since even I was getting worried about Diego). He talked to me a lot about Marta ever since she almost jumped that barricade on him and shook him up for a few months after that.

I mean, yeah I like Diego and I've been sexually fantasizing about him to the point that it drives me crazy these past couple months, but… yeah, even I'm not that crazy.

I'm just trying to keep my cool and put things in perspective.

Putting aside my 'physical feelings' for him now that continue to fluster and confuse the hell out of me... Diego's still my best friend and I respect him more than just treating him like a 'piece of meat' or something.

Because as much as I want him and that I trust him enough to be my first at this point, but… I also don't want to rush into it at the same time and make sure everything is 'okay' and 'talked out' between us. I just need to stop being weird and just talk to him about it.

Slowly I looked over at the clock in my room: 10:32 PM.

He might be sleeping, but I need to do this before I change my mind… and because I literally can't sleep right now.

Eventually, I finally just bit my lip and stood up as I started to make my my down the hall to Diego's room. Although, right as I got to the door and tried to knock… my hand paused.

Ugh, get it together, Claire! Stop wussing out!

Like dad said, I don't have to wait around for an answer when I could get one myself.

And considering I let my hormones get the best of me earlier and completely cut him off from trying to talk to me just to relieve my own flustered sexual tension with him and then totally ignored him the rest of the day out of embarrassment… I knew it was kind of on me now to make things right.

I took a deep breath before knocking on his door.

Well, or tried to knock since right before my knuckles could even touch the door, Diego opened it almost abruptly.

We stood there almost looking like each other's mirror images for a few seconds as we both just froze and stared at each other with our eyes wide in shock (making me realize at this point we were probably both in the same frame of mind). T

hen it was almost like Diego confirmed what I was assuming as he started, weirdly sounding nervous which I'm not used to from him, "Oh, uh… I was actually going to see you."

This is weird.

Well, aside from the 'obvious' of the fact that we made out earlier, it was just weird for me to see him act like this since he almost never does.

Just seeming unsure, nervous… scared?

Yeah, Diego has his 'moments' and he can be VERY insecure sometimes, but… he's also usually so confident.

Sometimes so confident to the point of being pretty cocky and arrogant, but (and not that I'd ever fuel his ego with it) he also kind of has more reason than most to be that way honestly.

I mean, he's top of his class at his school, a gold medal Olympian, and is talented in so many different things that even I question it sometimes and used to let it internally frustrate me that I feel like I'm not half as talented.

I'm on the honor roll but I definitely not 'valedictorian material', I'm first string and captain on all my high school sport teams but definitely not professional/Olympic team athlete material (even I know I'm probably never going pro and nor do I really want to honestly), and I am not musically talented at all since I tried piano lessons as a kid and hated every second of it since I had absolutely no talent for it and usually spent most of my free time reading books for fun or just hang out with my friends.

But, as insecure as I think I am… I've seen exactly how insecure Diego can be.

Seriously, when I keep saying Diego and I can talk about anything, I mean literally anything. Because whether it's his crazy fan club, his relationship with his mom (which only recently got better), or whenever he got upset or angry whenever he and Natalie disagreed about literally anything.

Again, I'll even agree with Natalie totally that Diego can be very insecure, high-maintenance, and WAY too dramatic about things that upset him most of the time, but… he's also a really loyal and great guy, especially to me.

After the amount of venting and complaining I did after me and my boyfriend broke up last year to him… I owe it to Diego even more now in my opinion, especially after earlier.

I didn't even give myself anymore time to hesitate as I took a step closer (REALLY trying not to back out) and grabbed his hands. I don't know, it's like… I just need something to 'ground me' right now. And even though he makes me flustered right now, it's like just being with him and reminding myself that I'm with 'him' also just makes me feel… safe.

I finally looked up at him slightly as I said, trying not to sound as nervous as I feel and probably totally failing honestly, "Hey… can we talk?" He was looking right back at me and eventually I felt him close his hands around mine as he just nodded.

Yeah… I think both of us are in the same place.

I walked into his room and he shut the door behind him as I looked around. Even though I'd been in his room many times before in my life… it was like now it really felt different despite everything looking the same.

His trophies, his medals, the weird number of pictures he had of himself in his room (then again I've seen his mom's dressing room before too and his dad's study so… I guess I shouldn't be surprised, right?)... all of it was the same.

Eventually my eyes went wide as I heard music start playing. I turned around and saw Diego set his phone down and I was surprised to see him smirk at me before he tucked the hands in the pockets of his pajama pants as he started, "I think at this point… we should avoid sitting and talking, if it's all the same to you?"

He did a slight bow before holding out his hand toward me, holding that teasing smirk. I let out a slight laugh before I decided to take up his 'invitation'.

He took his hand and immediately got into first position before we started dancing.

We were quite, but for once this whole time since I got here… it wasn't awkward. If anything (and despite us dancing in our pajamas in the middle of his room at 10:30 at night), this was the easiest things have felt between us the whole time since I found out how I really felt about him a couple months back.

We got through a whole song just smiling and going through our sequences and by the second one it's like all we were doing was some variation of slow dancing mixed with hugging somehow. I had my hands on my shoulders and my head resting against his chest as we kept rocking in our steps slowly in a circle, even though I could hear his heart pounding in his chest.

I was trying to figure out what to say until I heard him say lowly near my right ear, "How long have you felt like this?"

After a few seconds of silence I bit my lip before finally just going for it, "Not as long as you."

Finally I got it in me to look up and just saw him looking at me in shock.

Well, I already put it all out there. Might as well go for it, right?

Somehow, I straightened up as I got out, "Natalie told me." He immediately scrunched his eyes and pursed his lips together and let out a long sigh as he looked off to the side and strained out, "Carajo… Should've seen that one coming."

Okay… that sounds like a 'whole other thing' I need to ask him about, but I don't care about that right now. I just need to know something right now.

Somehow I got brave enough as I put my hand on the side of his face to make him look at me as I started, still not understanding, "Diego, just… why? I thought we could tell each other anything so, just… why didn't you tell me?"

My eyes went wide and I felt my face flush for a second as he put his hand over mine that was resting on his face as he let out a deep sigh before admitting, "I didn't want to tell you because… because I was scared."

At this point I thought my eyes were going to fall out of my head after hearing what just came out of his mouth. My mind felt just… well, fucked right now. I never heard Diego say he was scared of anything, not even his mom.

So… why the hell was he scared to tell me?

I immediately expressed it out loud as I kept looking at him and told him in all out confusion, "But… why? Did you think I was going to laugh at you or something if you told me?"

He scrunched his eyes shut again as he admitted, looking like he was trying to painfully force things out, "No, it's just… I just thought… I didn't think you would feel the same way and every time I wanted to tell you, I just got scared that you'd never want to talk to me anymore after I told you. And… I didn't want to lose you, even if it meant just never telling you."

I couldn't help myself as I took that in and smoothed my thumb over his cheek as I started, "Diego…"

Finally he looked at me again and started, "Claire, I know things are different now and I know it probably won't be 'like it used to' with us, but… I care about you so much. I know if we 'date' it won't be ideal or easy, but… I want to make it work. I'll try to spend more time with you when we visit Toronto, I'll make more time to video call you, I don't care. If it means we can be together… I'll do it."

I never thought there would be a moment in my life we're I would be literally 'speechless' since I thought it was always just some cliché exaggeration. But… I seriously had no idea what to say right now?

Mostly because I felt just… gross and disgusted with myself.

Seriously, this whole time I was flustered and have been thinking about nothing but wanting 'him' physically and then he says that?!

He's the one being genuine and sweet right now and I'm the one that's thinking about sex despite the fact that I know deep down I'm not ready for any of that yet?

Ugh… I'm seriously a total disaster.

Finally I smoothed my thumb over his cheek as I finally responded, still trying to comprehend how all of this was actually happening, "Look Diego, you're right. It's not going to be the same, but… I don't care. Because I'm just tired of this. I hate not being able to talk to you about anything or holding things back. I just want us to be able to talk again and never be afraid to tell each other something. Boyfriend or not… you're still my best friend. And I feel like I've been without him for too long to talk about stuff that's bothering me. So, just talk to me, okay?"

It was quiet between us as the music from his phone kept playing softly in the background.

He looked me right in the eye and said, straight forward but smooth as possible to the point I couldn't hold back a blush, "Sí, I will. I promise." He smirked at me and I couldn't stop myself from smiling back.

It was almost like both of us were on a one track mind as we slowly leaned in kissed for a few seconds, a very huge difference from the sloppy and borderline desperate-feeling make out session from earlier… at least in my opinion.

But, I could feel both of trying to escalate it and I immediately tried to pull away as slow as I could, trying to stop me from giving mixed signals to him and also just to keep my self control and not let my body do what I mentally know I am not ready for.

Because… yeah, I'm still a virgin and I'm not really sure if Diego is or not (it's one of the few things we've never really talked about), but I just want to make sure if I do 'go there' that I am really ready for it with him.

But, I didn't really want to get into it with him right now since today was just a lot for both of us to figure things out.

I decided to finally just say it as I let out a sigh and said, "Look Diego, I… I just don't want to rush into anything. This is all really 'new to me' right now and, if it's okay… I kind of want us to take things slow. I don't want to seem like a killjoy here but… I just want to make sure we do things right."

At first I thought I was going to massively disappoint him since I'd have to be really stupid if I didn't think he thought about us having sex a million times before now if he's had a crush on me for years like Natalie said.

But, even though I saw his expression look almost thoughtful, he smiled and looked me right in the eye again as he said just as smooth and to the point as before, "For you…I'll wait forever."

Oh… fuck.

UGH! Why does he have to say it like that?!

But, I was still trying so hard to keep myself under control until I smirked and joked, "Hey, I'm not going that crazy here, casanova. I just want us to slow down from earlier. I know it'll be rough with distance and everything like you said, but… I want to date you and actually see where things go from there. Sound fair?"

He looked up and seemed like he was playfully 'thinking about it' as I gave him a look.

He is so full of it sometimes.

But… it's also just him and it's better to see him acting like himself with me right now. Even if that is him being a total tease, but… it's him.

He looked at me and smirked before taking one of my hands in both of his and kissing the back of it as he looked me right in the eye still (further proving my point that he is such a teasing flirt) and backed off before saying, "Fair enough, mi ángel."

I just rolled my eyes and shoved him on the shoulder, making both of us laugh until I noticed a sudden shift happening with him and got a very serious look as he said, "So… you really are sure about this? Between my fan club and everything else?"

I stopped for a second too, knowing what he was 'talking about'... or who mostly. Despite the 'who' currently being locked up right now and getting more legal action taken against her because Marta is literally insane.

But… I wasn't scared and I'm still not.

I just want to be with him.

I smirked wrapped my arms around his neck before saying, "I'll take my chances. And… speaking of, I have something I want to ask you while we're talking about us here."

He tilted his head and quirked up an eyebrow as I asked, "I know it's not until early May, you're under more security restrictions because of your dad, and it'll be an extra trip, but… would you go to my Prom with me? Again, I know it's asking a lot, but…" I was kind of surprised he cut me off almost immediately as he started, "No, I think I can do that! I'll have to ask Padre, but I think I can pull it off. And honestly… I was planning on going back to Canada anyway for something else around that same time. Can you keep a secret?"

At first I was confused but then I countered, teasing him about my ability to 'keep a secret' after how long he's known me, "Does a bear shit in the woods?"

We both just laughed it off until he said, "Okay, it's kind of unofficial right now, but… I'm going back to help Natalie's boyfriend do something for her."

I quirked up an eyebrow, not even knowing that Natalie was even dating anyone period, as I waited for him to elaborate.

And the amount of people discovering Natalie and Felix's relationship continues! Well, you know with the exception of Kelsey and José, but who is surprised by this? Lol. For real, I know Diego and Claire's relationship seems almost 'muted' or 'normal' by comparison to a lot of the relationships in this fanfic series. But again and as I've talked about before… this was intentional when it comes to Diego and his relationship with Claire as friends and now something more. Because as much as Diego is like his parents, he himself is not really like them because of how he was raised. Heather and Alejandro both grew up and developed 'survival instincts' based on manipulation for one reason or another. Alejandro had an older brother who bullied and picked on him unmercifully to the point of even sleeping with Alejandro's ex just to get into and destroy his younger brother's life and self-esteem. And Heather almost had it worse by being in a family with little to no allies and developed a harder shell and doing anything and everything to get what she wants and survive. Diego; however (and despite his parents very dramatic relationship in their younger years), had a much less toxic and more wholesome childhood by comparison having parents and a nanny who cared about him and being an only child. While Heather unfortunately made her son develop a deep and painful personal insecurity problem by her lack of showing motherly affection toward him out of her own unsure approach to being a parent, Diego as a result (and being a romantic much like Alejandro) craves intimacy in his relationships even more so whether they are platonic or romantic. He likes to feel safe and secure… and Claire is one of the people he knows he can count on in his life he can trust to make him feel that way. Yes while he is also VERY physically attracted to her as well, he still values her as a person and confidant in his life who knows always has his back. So, now that Diego and Claire seem to be on a solid track to start dating, what will happen from here? Stay tuned and see what happens next time on Total! Drama… sorry, not me trying to do Chris's usual outro in the cringe worthiest way possible. Lol. Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and constructive feedback is always very much appreciated.

Stay classy everyone!

Dexter1995