𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 || 𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

12. Job Hunt

-Your POV-

"What are you doing here?" I turned around

I looked at Ross wondering why he was even talking to me in the first place

"I need to ask you something" I rolled my eyes. I just hope it wasn't anything about Tom

"How did you know I lived here?" His eyes landed onto the ground

"I live across the street. A few weeks ago, I saw Haz and some girl on the roof. This morning when he said that you had a thing for roof tops, I put the pieces together and I presumed it was you" All you could do was nod your head

"Haz said that you guys lived in the same building so I assumed you'd be here after school."

"Why are you here?" I finally got around to saying what was on my mind

"If you're looking for Harrison, he said he had somewhere to be and-"

"Actually, I didn't come here for him. I came by to talk to you"

"About?"

"Are... are you going to look for a job?" I scoffed

"No, why the hell would I do that?"

"Because... the teacher said so" I was surprised that he was considering doing the punishment

"Why would you, out of all people listen to what the teacher says"

"Aren't you the goody-two shoes? Why aren't you listening to Chris?" He added

"Why don't you ask your friends to tag along."

"Like you said, Harisson isn't here right now, and you know that Dylan doesn't have to do it."

"Just go by yourself. I'm not in the mood to go right now, and most certainly not with you"

"I know we just met, but please." He started to beg.

"Wasn't it just this morning you were threatening me?"

"Okay, yeah but that- it's different okay." He was stuttering.

"Why do you have to do it anyways?" I started getting curious. He didn't seem like one to do punishments willingly

"He, uh, mentioned calling our parents" He started to scratch his neck. You remembered Chris's words about what would happen if we didn't do the punishment. Now you understood his intentions.

In order for us to do the punishment, he needed to make one of us give in, and then the rest would follow. It was a domino effect, and Ross was the tipping point

"Uhh, so, umm, can I go with you" His eyes moved up from the ground to meet yours.

"Fine, I do it. But we don't speak of this to anyone"

"Thought that was implied" He laughed a bit. He seemed different. He wasn't arguing with you or making himself more dominant. He was just your equal, and he liked it.

+++

-Ross's POV-

Y/N and I walked into a cafe a 10 minute walk down from the apartments. It was a small cozy place filled with lots of people since it was sorta busy.

The manager sat us down in the back corner of the store, ready to interview us. I'm not going to lie, my heart was racing and I'm not sure why. I looked over at Y/N who was also visibly nervous. Her leg was bouncing up and down

The manager finally spoke up.

"Highschoolers looking for a job.You do realise how much responsibility waiting tables is, correct." He was intimidating, he didn't seem like the nicest.