My Bubblegum King - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

"Did you make it?" I asked into the phone, signing out of the library.
"Yeah, I am in a queue with a number," Ryder said, she sounded chirpy. "Can you imagine the crap prof actually gave number to every one that was here by 7am sharp. If he didn't count you, he's not taking your work, even if you come a minute later. How fucked up is that?"
"Very fucked up," a yawn escaped me. "Do you want me to get you coffee?"
She chuckled, "nope already got some. A course mates shared but you need some."
"Some?" I scoff, dragging my feet and falling slump on my ass on the stairway down the library. "I need a truck load. At this stage I can inject myself with some caffeine."
"Don't," she sounded concerned. "What time did you say the class you had today is?"
"Noon."
"Great, go get some sleep, I feel so guilty."
I yawned again, "don't. I read too and I wanted to stay up all night. It's not on you."
"Fine, get your ass to your bed already. No coffee until maybe noon."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'd see you tomorrow."
I open my eyes that were almost closing. "Tomorrow? Why not later today?"
"Because after this submission I am going to go bury myself under my blanket and I ain't waking up even to an earthquake until tomorrow."
"Right," I laughed, pulling myself up. "Got it. Bye."
The call ended and I stretch my bones getting the pleasing cracks and calming relief. Exhaling, I start walking again. Ryder and I literally stayed up all night, she napped for 30 minutes while I brainstormed and then I woke her up and we continue. The assignment had to be some kind of punishment to them, it wasn't easy at all and I don't think it's even freshman appropriate. That's some final year shit.
Anyway it worked out eventually and we were able to finish up around 5:30 am. Again Ryder slept while I stayed awake flipping through my books. I couldn't sleep because— 1) we were on the ground for Christ sakes, I'm never gonna get comfortable. 2) Sebastian planted paranoia in me and if I slept who was going to watch over us. 3) there's no pillow— Ryder had no problem with all these and passed out quickly enough. I woke her up again by 6:20 am and she set off to go submit her work. I had to finish what I was already reading before leaving hence why I'm leaving now... 7:20 am.
I was searching Google map looking for the closest place to get coffee around the library when a truck pulled up beside me. I didn't even notice until the loud honk made me jump and drop my phone to the ground.
"What the-" I narrowed my eyes at the truck and the glass lowered down to reveal none other than Diego Royal. He had his teeth showing and clenched together in a sheepish apologetic look. "Wha--"
"Shit, I'm so sorry. That wasn't supposed to scare you like that and I didn't know it'll be that loud, totally took me off guard too."
"Yeah, tell me about it." I pick up my phone and a quick inspection tells me that nothing happened to it. I sigh in relief and glare up at Diego. "Good morning Diego."
He still had the sheepish look. "Is it okay? Your phone?"
"Yup, all good."
He exhaled in relief. "Thank God, I was already thinking about how to spend my savings on a new phone."
That made me chuckle, "lucky you then. Poor me, I could," a yawn crawled out again. "D-do with a new phone."
"Uh-huh, I didn't expect to see you out here so early."
"Neither did I."
He slanted his head to look at me and I had to blink at him, silently wondering how he can manage to still look so good by this time. I'm a hundred percent sure I look like poop.
"Where are you off to?" He eventually asked.
I shook my phone, "I'm looking for where to get coffee." Yeah, I know Ryder said to not get coffee anymore but I don't think I can even make it to the dorm without a drop of caffeine in my system.
"I know a place down the road," he smiled at me. "Need a ride? Let me make up for scaring you."
I scoffed, "do I look like I'd say no to a ride? For whatever reason?"
He grinned and leaned over to open the door for me from the inside. I thanked him and got in, shutting the door. The car was really warm and smelled like fur, his cologne and more fur. Or more specifically, dog. It wasn't an uncomfortable smell, I sank into the seat, curving my body together like a ball with a sigh and facing him.
Diego looked at me, chuckled and started up the car again. "Getting comfortable I see."
My eyes go wide, "sorry, is it okay to have my legs here?"
"Yup, sure. Have your legs anywhere, as long at you're comfortable."
I smiled, folding myself some more. "Thanks."
He didn't start driving, turning to look at me. "You look so tired."
"Really?" I yawned again— gosh, the more yawns I get out, the more tired I feel. "How can you tell?"
He smiled, "the yawns are a big giveaway and," he leaned in, his thumb reaching out to touch underneath my eyes. I nearly shivered at his touch. His was really warm against my cold skin. "This."
"Bags?"
He nodded, sitting back right. "Yeah and your lids look a little red."
I sighed, shutting my eyes. "I didn't get a wink of sleep."
"Why not?"
"Spent all night at the library."
The car started moving. "Assignment or you just felt like torturing yourself?"
With my eyes still closed, I cracked a small smile. "Both."
"Aha."
"What about you, where are you off to?" I asked, I could already feel myself floating into the peaceful darkness that is sleep.
"I'm off to get animal food. We're all out."
"Oh," I drawled, "this is your pets car. Smells like it."
He chuckles, "eh, I guess you can say that."
"Belongs to Go?"
"Nope, it's mine but I use it there so much that it could be for Go at this point." Pause. "Is the smell that bad?"
Now I didn't even have the strength to talk so I just shook my head in response.
I can practically hear Diego's smile, "are you sleeping off?"
To that I just nod. And that's that last I remember.
---
Ringtone.
Argh, that's mine.
With little to no strength I reached out my hand and started searching for my phone that was blaring loudly. The surface feels weird and what's that's smell? My eyes snapped open when my hand lands on a protruding stick that happened to be the useless gear stick.
"Looking for this?" A voice asked, making me almost shriek. Diego burst out laughing, "wow, I gotta stop doing that."
"Yeah," I placed a hand on my beating heart, trying to push myself up from the lying position. I was in Diego's truck still and the seat was in bed position. "You gotta."
"I don't do it on purpose."
"Yeah, whatever," I twisted my neck getting a painful satisfying crack. "The hell?"
"You slept off, I tried to make you as comfortable as I can."
"Yeah," I blushed. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"What's the time?"
"10 O'clock."
Then I remembered what woke me up. "My phone..."
"Oh, yeah," Diego handed my phone to me. "Bubblegum Prince heart emoji called."
"Yeah..." My face was on fire and I avoided looking at Diego as I opened up my phone and called Sebastian back. He picked immediately like he was staring at his phone waiting for me to call back. I couldn't help the smile that creeped out, "Hey."
"Flynn," he groaned and I bit my lip.
"Sorry."
"For what?" He asked and I shrugged, then remembered he couldn't see me.
"Whatever it is."
He chuckled, "okay, what is it that you did?"
I glanced at my feet and the leather seat I was on. Well... I shrugged again. "I didn't call after leaving the library."
"Yup, but it's fine. Did you go straight to sleep?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Kinda."
"Okay, nice to know."
"What about you, did you get any sleep?"
"Yeah, I'm already out again," he chuckled. "You're dating a Superman."
I smiled, "I already knew that. But even Supermen need rest you know."
"I know and I'd get it."
I glanced at Diego and he was drumming his finger on the steering wheel, seeming absent-minded. "Seb, I'll call you back okay?"
"Sure, later."
"Later."
The call ended and I was blushing like crazy for no reason at all.
"I slept for more than three hours?" I found my voice to say making Diego turn to me. "How?"
He smiled but it seemed forced or maybe I'm seeing things. "You practically passed out the moment you got comfortable."
"Oh God," I face palmed. "Hope it wasn't an inconvenience? You should have woken me up."
"It wasn't. I got the feed I needed, brought it back to Go and even ran a few errands as I was supposed to."
My eyes widen, "Wow, I guess 'passed out' is really the word. Thank you, Simba."
He smiled at the nick name, "you wouldn't have even gotten up if... Bubblegum... didn't call. What name is that even? Should I be worried about how you saved my contact?"
That made me laugh. "No, it's not like that. There's a story behind this name and he's my boyfriend. So you shouldn't be worried, you're just Diego."
Diego placed a hand over his heart, "First, 'just Diego'... Ouch."
I blushed and shrugged as my response.
"And boyfriend, wow. Never knew."
"Never asked."
"Hmm."
I slanted my head at him. "What? Is it unbelievable?"
"No, it's totally believable." He shook his head to himself. "I was being dump not knowing. Of course you have a boyfriend, look at you."
Blushing seems to a norm for me now. I try to distract myself by turning around to raise the seat back to it's normal position. "I guess, I should say thanks."
"So you're off the market, huh?"
I nodded, "I've been since junior year of high school."
"Whoa, two years."
I nodded again, "what about you?"
"I'm very single and searching," he added with a wink.
"Now that's unbelievable."
"Yeah," he drawled. The he looked at me, bit his lip and turned back to the steering wheel. "So where are you going now? I'll drive you."
"I can go myself, don't worry."
"I want to worry." He started driving. "Tell me where already."
I sighed, "to the dorms, I need to wash up for my class by noon."
"Okay."
"Thank you."
"Sure, just don't sleep off again. Although watching you drool was cute, I rather hear your voice now."
"I didn't drool!"