60 | best week

BEST WEEK

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The road stretched endlessly beyond the windows of the tour bus, the hum of the tires a steady, lulling rhythm that filled the quiet. Outside, the sky was dark, the world painted in dusky shades of navy and silver. Streetlights blurred into glowing streaks as snow dusted softly across the windshield. Inside the bus, the lights were low, curtains drawn, the heater humming faintly as everyone settled in for the long ride to their next city.

It was their last night together.

Diana sat curled up on the back couch of the bus, tucked into Malachi's side beneath a blanket. The curtain separating them from the rest of the bus was closed, and her laptop sat propped up on the small table in front of them, a movie playing quietly. The dialogue on the screen was little more than background noise — neither of them had paid attention to it in at least ten minutes.

Malachi's fingers trailed lazily through her hair, his other hand resting on her hip as her fingers looped into the fabric of his sweatshirt. Their lips met again, slow and unhurried, melting into each other in the soft glow of the laptop light.

The bus hit a bump, and she let out a soft laugh against his mouth.

He smiled, pulling back just enough to look at her. "You okay?" he murmured, his voice low and rough from laughing.

"I'm fine," she whispered, brushing her nose against his. "Just... maybe less bumpy roads next time."

He chuckled and kissed her again — once, twice, and then deeper. The movie continued to play faintly behind them, a scene of city lights flickering across the screen. Neither of them noticed.

The kiss lingered, familiar and soft and filled with something that made her heart ache in the best way. Every time she thought about the fact that he was leaving tomorrow, it twisted something deep inside her. She didn't want this week to end — didn't want the sound of his laugh, or the warmth of his hand against her skin, to fade into something she'd have to remember instead of live.

When she finally pulled back, her breath was shaky. Her forehead rested against his, both of them smiling quietly, eyes meeting in that wordless way they always did when they didn't need to say what they were thinking.

Malachi leaned forward again, lips barely brushing hers. "What?" he murmured with a grin. "Done already?"

She laughed, her voice low. "I should probably breathe at some point."

He chuckled, his thumb brushing her cheekbone. "Fair."

For a long moment, they just stayed like that — faces close, eyes locked, the soft sound of the bus and the hum of the heater the only things breaking the silence. She traced her thumb over the hem of his sweatshirt, memorizing the warmth of him, the way his hair fell a little messier than usual, the way he was looking at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Then —

"Hey," a voice came from the other side of the curtain. "Everything PG in there?"

They both froze.

Diana blinked, and then a laugh bubbled out of her. Malachi groaned, head falling back against the couch cushion. "Ezra..." he muttered under his breath, half-laughing, half-exasperated.

"Yeah," Diana called, still laughing. "We're fine, Ez!"

"Sure about that?" Ezra teased. "Because I've seen that curtain move at least three times in the last ten minutes."

"Oh my god," she groaned, burying her face into Malachi's shoulder as he started laughing too.

Malachi turned his head toward the curtain, calling out, "Go away, man!"

But the sound of footsteps came closer, and then the curtain peeled open just enough to reveal Ezra's grinning face.

Behind him stood Britt, holding a very sleepy-looking Nikita in her arms — the two-year-old's curls were tousled, her tiny hand clutching the sleeve of Britt's sweatshirt as her head rested on her shoulder.

Diana immediately softened at the sight. "Hey, baby girl," she said gently, sitting up a little.

The little girl's face lit up at the sound of her voice. "Auntie D!" she squealed, wriggling out of Britt's hold.

Britt laughed. "She woke up asking for you, so I figured we'd make a pit stop before she demanded a bus-wide search party."

Diana reached out her arms, and Nikita ran the short distance across the couch before clambering into her lap. "Hi, sweetheart," Diana murmured, wrapping her arms around her. "You having trouble sleeping?"

Nikita nodded, already snuggling into Diana's chest.

Ezra crossed his arms, grinning like he'd just walked in on the best moment of his night. "So," he said, raising a brow, "I'm assuming this is your version of 'movie night'?"

Malachi smirked, his arm still resting around Diana. "Hey, it was movie night until you showed up."

"Uh-huh. Sure." Ezra turned to Britt, who rolled her eyes at him with a fond smile.

"We were bored," Britt explained, walking over and sitting down on the other side of the couch. "Figured we'd crash your party. Hope that's okay."

"Of course," Diana said immediately, smiling. "There's plenty of room."

Ezra plopped down beside Britt, stretching his legs out with an exaggerated groan. "Perfect. Because you two clearly need supervision."

Malachi threw him a look. "I think we were doing just fine."

Ezra laughed. "Yeah, that's the problem."

Diana shook her head, still smiling as she adjusted Nikita, who was now tucked comfortably between her and Malachi, her tiny hands gripping the edge of the blanket. The little girl blinked sleepily up at the screen.

"What are we watching?" Britt asked, leaning forward to get a better look.

"Uh...I forget the name," Diana said as she turned to Malachi who just shrugged. "We weren't really paying attention."

"Obviously," Ezra muttered under his breath, earning him a nudge from Britt.

Diana reached forward and adjusted the laptop so everyone could see. "There," she said, leaning back again.

Malachi's arm found its way around her shoulders automatically, and she rested her head against him, her hand resting protectively on Nikita's little back. The toddler's eyes were heavy, her breathing soft and steady as she nestled closer.

For a while, the only sounds were the quiet dialogue from the movie and the occasional rumble of the bus on the highway. Britt and Ezra whispered back and forth, occasionally laughing at the screen. Malachi absentmindedly played with Diana's fingers under the blanket, his thumb brushing slow, lazy circles over her skin.

It was peaceful. Easy.

Every so often, Diana would glance up at him — his profile lit by the bluish light of the screen, his eyes soft, his lips twitching into a smile whenever she caught him looking at her.

At one point, Ezra leaned over and whispered something that made Britt snort out a laugh. Nikita stirred slightly at the sound, her little head lifting as she blinked around the dimly lit bus.

"You okay, sweetheart?" Diana whispered.

Nikita nodded slowly, rubbing her eyes. "Movie," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

Malachi smiled softly, leaning forward so he was at eye level with her. "You like movies, huh?"

The little girl gave a tiny nod. "With Auntie D."

Diana's heart melted. "Aww."

"She's obsessed with you," Britt said with a laugh.

Diana kissed the top of Nikita's head, "She's perfect."

Malachi glanced down at the toddler, then back at Diana. "She's got good taste," he murmured quietly, just loud enough for her to hear.

She gave him a look — half amused, half fond — and nudged his knee with hers. "Smooth."

He grinned. "Always."

Ezra groaned dramatically from across the couch. "You two are ridiculous."

"Jealous," Malachi shot back immediately, the teasing evident in his tone.

Ezra just rolled his eyes playfully, pretending to focus on the screen.

The movie continued, though no one was really watching anymore. It was one of those moments that didn't need much talking — where laughter came easily, warmth filled the air, and everything felt simple and still.

By the time the credits rolled, Britt had leaned her head on Ezra's shoulder, half asleep, and Nikita was fully out, her small hand still resting against Diana's arm.

Diana shifted slightly, careful not to wake her. "I think it's bedtime for her," she whispered.

Britt nodded, gently sitting up. "Yeah, definitely."

Diana went to stand up, but Malachi was already moving. "I got her," he said quietly.

He stood, scooping Nikita up effortlessly. The little girl stirred for a second, mumbling something incoherent before settling back into his arms.

Britt smiled. "You're a natural."

Malachi chuckled. "She's too cute to say no to."

Diana watched him, her chest tightening a little as she took in the sight — Malachi, holding Nikita so gently, the warmth in his expression as he carried her. There was something about it that made her fall for him even more, something soft and steady and full of quiet love.

When Britt and Ezra finally headed off to their bunks, the bus fell into a calm silence. The hum of the road filled the air again.

Diana exhaled, leaning back against the couch. Malachi sat back down beside her, the blanket still draped over them.

"Last night," she murmured softly, almost to herself.

He nodded. "Yeah."

She turned her head to look at him. "You ready?"

He smiled faintly. "No."

She let out a quiet laugh, even though her throat felt tight. "Me neither."

They stayed like that for a while — no more jokes, no more teasing, just the quiet comfort of being close. The laptop screen dimmed and went black, and the only light left was the faint blue glow from the streetlights passing outside.

Eventually, Diana stretched, yawning softly. "We should probably get some sleep."

Malachi hummed in agreement. "Yeah."

They both stood, still quiet, still wrapped up in that feeling that always came before goodbye — heavy but full of love all the same.

Diana climbed up into her bunk, pulling her blanket around her. She peeked over the edge, finding him in the bunk just below hers. He looked up, a sleepy smile on his face.

"Goodnight," she whispered.

"Goodnight," he whispered back.

There was a small pause. Then, slowly, she reached down, her hand slipping over the edge until her fingers brushed his.

He immediately reached up, lacing his fingers with hers.

Neither of them said anything after that. The sound of the road filled the silence — steady, soothing, like a heartbeat.

And as the bus carried them through the dark, their hands stayed connected — a quiet promise in the space between sleep and goodbye.

The first light of morning was soft against the frost-speckled streets of the city as the tour bus rumbled to a stop. Diana stepped off, shivering slightly in the cool winter air, her breath visible as tiny clouds before her. The excitement and nervous energy of a new city hummed beneath her skin, but it was instantly overpowered by the knot of anticipation and melancholy in her chest.

There he was, standing a few steps away with his suitcase by his side. His coat was slightly dusted with frost from the early morning, and his hair caught the light, messy in that way she loved. He looked at her with that familiar mixture of warmth and mischief, but Diana could see the same bittersweet tension in his gaze that mirrored her own.

She crossed the short distance between them quickly, letting her arms wrap around him tightly. He returned the hug immediately, pressing her close, his own hands holding her firmly, as if he could keep her from drifting away with just this embrace.

"I'm going to miss you," Diana murmured into his coat, her voice barely audible over the soft hum of the city waking up around them. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her chest, and it was almost cruel how comforting it felt.

"I'll miss you too," he replied, voice low, steady, and full of sincerity. He shifted slightly to press a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "You've got this. The rest of the tour — you're going to be amazing."

Diana pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, her fingers brushing against his jawline. She smiled softly, but it was tinged with sadness. "Promise me you'll be safe," she said. "And let me know when you get to the airport... and when you land in Vancouver."

Malachi nodded, his eyes softening. "I promise," he said. "I'll text you the second I get there." His hand cupped the side of her face, thumb brushing lightly across her cheek. "And you," he added, "you're going to be incredible tonight. The audience doesn't even know how lucky they are yet."

Diana's lips curved into a small, affectionate smile. "Thank you," she said, leaning forward to press a light kiss to his lips. It was tender, fleeting, but carried all the weight of the affection and longing they had built up over the past week.

"I love you," she whispered against his mouth, her voice shaky.

"I love you too," he replied, his forehead resting against hers as their arms lingered around each other. The world felt impossibly small in that moment, and impossibly large all at once — the bus behind her, the frost under her boots, the quiet hum of early morning traffic — nothing else seemed to exist but the two of them.

Finally, Malachi shifted, letting go slowly but still keeping a hand on her back. He grabbed his suitcase, and took a step toward the parked Uber waiting a few feet away. Diana stayed rooted, watching him move, her chest tight as the reality of this goodbye began to settle.

Malachi paused and turned back, his eyes locking on hers. A small, wistful smile tugged at his lips. He raised a hand in a wave, brief but full of warmth, and Diana mirrored it, holding her gaze as long as she could. The connection between them was electric, holding all of the unsaid words, the longing, and the love that they had shared silently over the past week.

The Uber driver honked softly, and Malachi let out a quiet laugh, a mix of resignation and affection. He waved one more time, then slid into the car, leaving Diana standing on the sidewalk, her eyes following the vehicle as it pulled away. She didn't blink, didn't look away — not until the car disappeared from view, leaving her with the cold air and the memory of him.

A small sigh escaped her lips as she turned, feeling the weight of absence settle into her chest. She leaned against the bus, letting her hands rest on the metal railing, still feeling the warmth of him lingering on her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment, holding on to the memory of his hug, his voice, the way he had looked at her just before leaving.

"Hey, Auntie D," came a cheerful, teasing voice, breaking her reverie. Diana opened her eyes to see Dani stepping off the bus, her coat zipped up against the cold. She smiled immediately, the presence Dani bringing her back to the reality of the day.

Dani wrapped an arm around Diana's shoulders, giving her a firm squeeze. "Come on, we've got a show to do," she said, the humor and warmth in her voice grounding Diana.

Diana chuckled softly, leaning into Dani's side for a moment. "Yeah... yeah, we do," she said, her voice quiet but determined. She let herself savor the lingering warmth from Malachi's goodbye before pushing it down and shifting her focus to the day ahead.

Together, the two women walked toward the theater, the crunch of the snow under their boots and the soft hum of the city around them blending with the anticipation of the show. Diana's heart still ached slightly from the farewell, but it also swelled with affection and pride. She had Malachi cheering her on from afar, and she knew that even across miles, that connection would sustain her.

As they neared the theater, she glanced back toward the street where Malachi had disappeared, imagining him in the Uber, heading toward the airport. She smiled softly to herself, knowing that soon they would be together again, and until then, she would carry the warmth of his embrace and the echo of his words with her.

"Ready?" Dani asked, glancing at her with a teasing smirk.

Diana laughed lightly, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease. "Yeah," she said. "Let's do this."

Hand in hand with her best friend, she stepped through the doors of the theater, leaving the frost and the morning light behind, carrying Malachi's love and the memory of their goodbye like a secret warmth that would keep her steady for the show ahead.

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liked by freyaskye and 674,922 more

dianasinclair best week of my life 💋(slide 5 is me when mal told me he was joining us for the week)

user they're SO CUTE

freyaskye my favorite couple 💗     dianasinclair i miss you frey 🥹

user brushing their teeth together?? adorable 🥰

user hand placement      user the cheek kiss 😩

malachibarton i love you      dianasinclair i love you          user awwwwww

malachibarton was the last photo necessary      dianasinclair very 😁

user cuties 🥰

daniellakaragach kiki's gonna miss her malachi 🥺     malachibarton i'm gonna miss her      more          user this is so cute!!!

user the kiss 🥹

user if they break up i will never believe in love again

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wattpad is still loading weirdly for me but we push through anyways

malachi is gone again😢but he will be back soon!

also i started writing my victor book and i am actually so excited!!!my plan is to publish it once this book is complete

😊