You enter Tom's apartment and glance around as you make your way to the table where Harrison was still sitting. It didn't look much different than your apartment really. It was a bit messier, dishes by the sink and a stray hoodie and here and there with beer bottles decorating the top of the end table in the living room instead of water bottles. It was a bit messy but not too bad. However, it was quite homey, something you didn't quite expect. Along with a few stray hoodies, there were a few throw blankets on the couch with an extra pillow. The walls were decorated with random pictures, him with presumably his family. A smile tugged at your lips.

Maybe he did have a soft side.

"Oh here," Harrison gets up and pulls out a chair for you.

"Thanks." You give the cute blonde a shy smile, getting a good look at him. Tall, blonde curly hair with bright blue eyes. He's stunning to say the least.

"Harrison." Harrison offers you his hand and you take it gently.

"Y/n." You feel heat rise to your cheeks.

"Water?" Tom asks as he walks to the fridge, interrupting the pleasantries.

"If you don't mind." You send him a sweet smile, taking your seat and move your attention back to Harrison as he sits beside you.

Tom hands you the chilled bottle of water while he looks over the piece of paper containing his hours for the next two weeks. His face scrunches while you take a sip of water, awkwardness filling the air as if you'd just intruded on something.

"Was this a mistake?" Tom scoffs, pulling his eyes to you.

"Probably not, why?" You ask, capping your water.

"I'm only off two days."

"Yes. You have Wednesdays off."

"He's not used to actually having to work." Harrison chortles, sipping from his beer.

"I work." Tom mumbles with narrowed eyes.

"You his boss then?" Harrison looks to you and you can't help but smile. His eyes are like entering another world.

"My dad is but it's like a tier. So, I kind of watch him, show him the ropes."

"I'm so sorry." Harrison chuckles, gaining a giggle from you.

"Fuck off." Tom groans.

"Just taking the piss." Harrison states, proud smile on display, looking back to Tom.

"Yeah, yeah, alright." Tom shakes his head.

"So," You take in a breath. "Was I interrupting something? Or do you guys just hang out in your kitchen?"

The two boys exchange looks, before nodding. They really didn't do much when they'd have a night in. If they had a few other people other, they might play a game or two of poker or some other card game. But, when it's just the two of them, they usually bum around with a few beers and watch something that holds their attention.

"No, 'course not." Tom says, a charming smile replacing the annoyed expression. "I've got an idea."

"Do share." Harrison quirks a brow, leaning back in his chair.

"Bullshit."

"There are three of us, now. What're the stakes?"

"Lunch for a week?"

You look between them, trying to follow exactly what they were on about. By the sounds of it, they usually had some type of bet with what they're doing and if you had to guess, it's because of Tom, hence your deal.

You're deal.

That just made you look at Harrison a little longer. Did he know? Did he Tom tell him? Part of you was hoping he hadn't and you couldn't quite figure out why. It doesn't matter if Tom tells anyone. He could shout it from the rooftops and it wouldn't make a difference. It won't change him or your deal. But, it still ate at the very pit of your stomach. Maybe it was guilt. Was it so wrong to have this deal?

"You ever play bullshit?" Harrison asks.

"No." You say with furrowed brows, your hands wrapping around your water bottle nervously.

"Wanna play? Loser buys lunch for the week." Tom asks.

"Been doing this for years when we can get a third person to play." Harrison explains.

"There has to be three people?" You ask.

"It's better if you have more but yeah, gotta have three at least." Tom answers.

Lunch? That's it? That's easy, but a bit weird if you lost and had to buy for someone you don't know. At least if it were just Tom, you'd at least be at work together but Harrison? You don't even know what he does. All you know is that he's Tom's best friend and he's the one that's always nagging him about money. Well, that's what you gathered from the night Tom spent on your bathroom floor. Then again, if Harrison is the one nagging Tom, looking out for him, he can't be too bad. He's already off to a better start than Tom.

"How do you play?" You shrug it off and decide there's no harm. Plus, this will give you an excuse to talk to Harrison and see if Tom can behave himself. You have to hang out for Tom to prove he's not what you think.

"I'll get the cards." Tom smirks and exits the kitchen.

The kitchen falls silent as Harrison looks over to you. You're pretty as hell making Harrison understand exactly why he applied for the job. But, you seemed nice, sweet, innocent even. What the hell would make you hire Tom let alone actually be okay with spending some time with him and his best friend? Most girls that want to spend time with Tom, they're intentions are the same as Tom's. At least, to some extent. Some want more but mostly, they're in for a one-night stand. You seemed different and Harrison's been sitting next to you for all of five minutes.

"Okay, really, how's it like working with him?" Harrison quirks a brow.

"Can I be honest?" You ask with a very slight grimace. Harrison nods with curiosity. "He's horrible." You say through gritted teeth and wide eyes. "Are you sure he's worked before?"

Harrison bursts into laughter. "I figured so much." Harrison says. "He'll quit in two weeks or you'll fire him for being late so damn much."

"If he's that bad, why do you get him jobs?" You ask, your voice is soft and innocent, nothing but genuine curiosity in your words.

Harrison shrugs. "He's my-wait." Harrison stops mid-sentence. "How do you know I get him jobs?"

"He mentioned it." You whisper looking away from the striking blue eyes. "Uh, he was really drunk though so..."

"Won't say anything." Harrison shakes his head. "But, you've got to tell me this story on what led you to hire him because he hasn't told me anything."

"I don't think it's my place." You give Harrison an apologetic smile despite you desperately wanting to tell him.

Tom, as far as you knew and everything he's said, made you think he'd have told Harrison something but he didn't. Nothing. Sure, he did tell him what you put him through at work but that's it. Shouldn't Tom be bragging about how simple it was for you to see him drunk and get him a job with the snap of your fingers? Now with your deal, with someone as arrogant as Tom, you'd think he'd assume you were wrapped around his finger already. But, nothing. His lips were sealed.

"Just tell me you didn't hook up with him b-"

"No!" You cut Harrison off. "No, no, no. I'd never hook up with him." You mentally kick yourself for your comment but Harrison seems amused and relieved.

"No? Most girls are all for it."

You shake your head. "I mean," You let out a deep breath. "He's cute but he's not very nice and...I'm not setting myself for up that." Your voice is as soft as velvet with the words, showing your innocence. "You seem nice though so, um, why do you put up with everything?" You switch to Harrison, not wanting to linger on talking about Tom, not with his best friend who very well might relay everything you say to Tom.

Harrison lets out a chuckle and sits up in his chair, turning to face you. His arms rest on the table beside yours, the heat from his bare skin radiating to you. "Been best mates since we were little and moved here together. Sure, he can be a fucking twat half the time but he's not all bad." Harrison has a cute smile but it quickly vanishes and a sort of honestly falls into every line on his face. "It's not my story to tell."

Your eyes locked with his and you swore your heart stopped in your chest for a second but you push it aside as you processed Harrison's words. "There's a story as to why he's...the way he is?"

"There's always a story, y/n." Harrison has a cornered smile but his eyes are sad, confusion seeping through your veins.

What the hell could have happened to make Tom treat people as if they were objects to just use at his own demise? Especially girls. Curiosity itched the back of your head but you knew better than to push. Harrison's right. Everyone has a story and some people want to read it out loud, others like to keep it to themselves. In either situation, it's always the writer's choice on if they want to tell it or not, not the readers. You understand that more than anyone.

Harrison changes subject, careful not to start saying too much and you hang onto every word. The two of you are completely oblivious to Tom who was standing in the hallway, listening to your soft conversation and laughter.

One thing Tom doesn't do is get jealous. What's he have to be jealous of? He can get any girl he wants. Hell, if he tries, he can get anything he wants and he's well aware of it. He's only known you for just over two and a half days but there's a ping in his chest and fire rushing through his veins with the sound his friend and you getting along so well. You're not his and you're not going to be his with his horrible attitude and life decisions but it hurts. It hurts in a way Tom swore he'd never let anyone hurt again. Never again.