As much as I hate the way Paxton was portrayed in 2x10. I think it was very realistic in a way. Devi learnt her actions had consequences. Paxton not feeling comfortable to be in a public relationship with her was also very realistic and very valid. He is also a teenager. He was cheated on.. in public. All this led to him getting run over by a car. This incident was the talk of the school. Aneesa mentions it in episode 4 as well. Everyone knew Devi and Paxton dated. Everyone knew Devi cheated on Paxton with Ben (vice versa too, but wasn't talked as much because Ben isn't popular). Everyone uploaded or saw clips of Paxton being run over because of this cheating drama. He was all over social media. Everyone thought Paxton is a dumb boy who can't get into college without swimming and Devi cheats on him with someone smarter than him and someone with lower social status... more fuel to the gossip. Paxton's friends weren't being of any support either. They were just making fun of him. For those Anti-Paxtons who sympathize with Ben and Ben alone and said Paxton wasn't hurt because he was cheated on or he had a support system... he didn't, his friends made fun of him. I don't think his sister and parent's are aware of what happened. He set his emotions aside and decided to fix something else which he lost. His scholarship and swimming. Paxton seems like a shy or an introvert. So publicly getting back together with the same girl who cheated on you would expose him to ridiculous gossip. As an introverted and a shy person myself, the last thing I need is to expose myself to ridiculous gossip again. In my personal opinion... he was also cautious. Valid. She used him for a sex rumor. Cheated on him in public. He couldn't trust her easily but he made up for it and showed up at the dance as her public boyfriend. I just wish the show did a better job portraying and tackling his reason instead of making him look like a jerk.
Extra note: I've never seen a teenage male character be this invested with a girl in any rom-coms or teen films. This isn't Devi's fault. But it's become a packaged deal lol. Being involved with Devi has him yelled at or publicly humiliated in both seasons. He is the only one to check up on her after the coyote incident. Stayed with her, but Devi's mom verbally attacks him and kicks him out. He stops by Devi's bestfriend, Eleanor and tells her mom his cool. She publicly yells at him in the hallway, calls him a racist.
Devi uses him for a sex rumor and I quote Paxton "Millions of people have been texting me.. asking me if I've been having sex with Devi Vishwakumar" He was again the only person who who pulled Devi out of the pool when her life long bestfriends walked off and the boy who tried to kiss her twice walked away to make out with his girlfriend. Helped her sort herself and drove her home.. asked her if she was okay and listened to her and he ended up getting yelled at on the streets when he was just being nice. Nalini sexualized (boy who knocks up girls and gets them pregnant comment) him and insulted his intelligence.
He still ran back to her, then got cheated on in public. Got run over by a fucking car. Get's yelled at like stupid child. Is continuously blown off.. she did give him good advice in the end and this idiot (affectionately) thought "oh it's pouring, I must go see Devi right now. I just recovered from an accident and I don't care if I slip and fall of her roof and break something again or if her mom attacks me again and she could hurt me again. I don't care I need to see her"
It's crazy how he had just met her, he didn't even know she existed until she pulled him aside told him that he is out of her league, will never be her boyfriend but asked him if he'd hook up with her and has just signed up to get himself hurt over and over again. He is THAT invested.
