Tom sat in his rent-a-car outside Cash's apartment building, his hands still clutching the steering wheel to the point where is knuckles had gone a shade of pure white.

You can do this, man. He thought to himself. Look, stupid - the most beautiful girl you've ever seen is up in that building waiting for you to grow some balls and date her! So date her!

A hand waving in front of his face took him away from his thoughts, as the building concierge stood to the side of him with a knowing smile.

"You picking up a date, pal?" The older man asked, tipping his hat to him and gesturing towards the bunch of flowers that laid on the passenger seat.

Tom gulped and nodded, unbuckling his seatbelt and making his way out of the car, "I'm here to pick up Cash Downey, sir?"

The concierge smiled, "so you must be young Tom, huh?"

Tom looked confused, had she told her concierge about me? Oh my god I must look pathetic.

"Yes, sir. That's me," he said, putting his hand out which the older gentleman accepted.

"Please," he spoke, "call me Bert. The way Miss Downey speaks about you, I think we might be seeing each other again,"

Tom smiled the first genuine smile he'd managed to muster up all morning, and sighed with relief, "lovely to meet you, Bert."

The older man nodded his hat again, and led Tom into the building where security lined the modern lobby.

"For Miss Downey, you need to go to the sixth floor and find apartment 32," he said, directing him to the elevator.

Tom felt relieved he'd first met Bert and not the scary lady that perched herself at the front desk, and took his directions.

"Thanks, mate. I look okay?" He asked, gesturing down to himself and the flowers he held in his right hand.

The older man chuckled, "that other punk she dated, he's got nothing on you pal."

Tom smiled, as the elevator doors shut behind him. After clicking the button for the sixth floor, he let out the breath he'd been holding and his shoulders began to relax.

He looked into the elevator mirror, smoothing down his t-shirt and checking he had everything - phone, check. Wallet, check. Keys, check. Flowers, check. He was ready.

Once the elevator stopped on the sixth floor, he found it easy to make his way to Cash's apartment - number 32.

Standing himself outside her door, he took a final breath. Snap out of it, bro. Like he said, you look great! He knocked on her door twice, and heard the muted voices of the three girls inside the apartment.

The door rushed open, and he saw Liz approach from behind the door, a shit-eating grin covering her cheeks.

"Woah," she said, raising her eyebrows and gesturing to the flowers, "you went there."

Tom looked down at the bouquet of lilies he'd picked up from a florist on the way, now slightly unsure on whether he'd gone too overboard or not.

"You do know lilies represent death, right?" She jested, making the blush run its way up Tom's neck.

"I didn't-" before he could finish Casey appeared from behind her friend, stepping next to her.

"She's messing with you," she informed him, "come on in, you look great!"

Tom blushed once again, as Casey ushered him into the apartment. Cash's apartment was huge, if he was being completely honest. It was modern and clean, but the framed AC/DC poster in the entryway just gave it the perfect touch. She was definitely a Downey, he thought.

"Cash is just getting her shoes on," Casey spoke, "you want some water while you wait? Looks like you need it."

Tom nodded, "that'd be great."

Liz turned her head to the side, looking Tom up and down.

"Hey, you seen high school musical?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow. If he says no then he stands no chance with me or Cash, she thought.

"Yeah," he spoke after taking a sip of his water, "all three, my brothers and I love them."

A smile made its way onto Liz's face, "educate Harrison for me, will you?"

Tom had no idea what she was talking about, but was soon taken out of the conversation once Cash arrived from what he assumed was her bedroom, pulling a sneaker onto her foot as she came into her kitchen.

"Will one of you remind me to send these out for dry cleaning? They smell a littl-"

Cash had no idea he was already here, so when she looked up she immediately wished that the ground would swallow her up. Well done, Cash she thought. You've just told the guy you like that the sneakers you're wearing on your first date smell. Perfect.

"Um-not these ones!! Well these ones, but the ones in black! Yeah, black."

The two girls chuckled under their breaths at their friend, whilst Tom on the other hand couldn't draw his eyes away from her. She looked so effortlessly casual yet still incredibly beautiful, it was like his mind couldn't comprehend how someone could be both of those things combined.

"Hey," he started, "I got you some flowers, I mean I didn't know which ones you liked so I asked my mum and she said these ones and-"

Cash cut him off with a laugh, and walked towards him, "they're beautiful, your mom's got great taste."

Tom smiled to himself. He'd felt like an idiot at the flower shop, having to FaceTime his mum to make sure he got the right ones. The pink lilies he'd settled on were definitely Cash, classic with a little bit of edge. If he was being honest, his mum was just happy that he was getting out onto the dating scene - she'd even added how much she loved Cash's music.

"Shall we get going?" Cash asked, breaking the silence in the room, Tom nodding his head.

"Let's go," he replied, as she turned to Liz and Casey who were sat at the kitchen counter.

"If you guys are staying please keep the place clean," she begged, "and Liz - don't even try to find my snacks, they're hidden somewhere you'll never find them."

This made Tom laugh, but Liz just scowled.

"Guarantee I'll find them in the first ten minutes," she replied, "but whatever you say, cashmere."

"I'm not even gonna go there," she spoke pointing a finger at her friend, and sent Casey a small pleading smile.

"I'll make sure she stays snack-free," Casey said, patting Liz on the head.

Cash smiled, and held out her hand to which Tom, even in surprise, took. The two walked to the door together, Cash grabbing her bag from the hallway table.

"Have fun guys!"

"But not too much fun!"

"Liz!"

As she closed the door, she turned to him beside her. Wow, he looks good she thought. I mean I thought seeing him in a tux was good, but this Tom is definitely my favourite.

"I'm sorry about those two," she broke the silence, "they're kinda my live-in embarrassments."

Tom laughed as they approached the elevator, making sure that he let her enter first as his mum had told him. Be a gentleman, Thomas.

"Well I think they're pretty funny," he replied, pressing the button for the lobby, "and they seem a lot more tolerable than Harrison."

Reaching the lobby floor, Cash looked back to Tom before she walked, "I guess you drew the short straw on that one."

Her smile is infectious, he thought. It was so incredibly cheeky that Tom could feel blood run to his cheeks whenever she said anything even remotely funny.

They saw Bert in the lobby talking to the receptionist, and his face lit up once he saw the two of them approaching him.

"What a fine young couple," he said, making Cash tuck a piece of hair around her ear in embarrassment. "Miss Downey, I called the restaurant and they're on top of the paparazzi issue, should be smooth sailing."

Cash smiled in return, "what did I ever do to deserve you, Bert?" She teased, and the old man smiled.

"It's my job, Miss Downey," he replied, "he brushes up well, doesn't he?"

Tom laughed, and shook hands with the concierge once again, Bert patting him on the back.

"He does," she replied squeezing his hand that was still caught in hers, "and Bert I've told you, call me Cash."

Bert smiled, and ushered the two out of the building, nodding his hat to them as they approached Tom's car.

"Woah," Cash started, "nice wheels! You tryna impress me, Spidey?"

Tom laughed, and opened the car door for her as she hopped in, her denim jacket brushing the top of her shoulders.

"That depends," he replied, "is it working?"

Cash laughed, throwing her head back and relaxing into the passenger seat.

"Honestly?" She asked, "kinda."

Tom started the engine with a grin on his face, taking them from her apartment complex on the Upper East Side down to Orchard Street in Brooklyn.

"You know I like this look on you," Cash said as they drove through the New York City streets, only ten minutes from Orchard Street.

Tom turned to look at her once they hit a red light, laughing as he spoke, "what look?"

Cash hummed her answer, "relaxation."

Tom realised that his heart was no longer beating a thousand miles a minute through his chest, his knuckles were no longer white clasping the steering wheel and his inner monologue had somehow shut up.

"I think it might be Bert," he replied, "you know, all the compliments must've chilled me out."

Cash smiled, to the point where Tom could make out her dimples in his peripheral vision.

"He is a charmer. Although I think he might be right," she said, "I mean I thought you looked great in a tux, but I think I like relaxed Tom a little more."

Tom smiled to himself, and reached over at the light to turn on his playlist. Elvis Costello's 'Alison' began playing out of the stereo, making Cash turn herself to face him.

"You like Elvis Costello?" she asked, turning up the stereo from the hum it was to the point where she could make out the lyrics.

"Correction," he replied, "I love Elvis Costello."

Cash smiled, leaning her head back and singing along to the music.

I'm not going to get too sentimental

Like those other sticky valentines,

Cause I don't know if you've been loving
somebody.

I only know it isn't mine.

Tom began to sing along with her, and before they knew it the pair were singing at the top of their lungs together through the streets of New York.

Tom almost forgot that they'd arrived at Orchard Street, lost in her. Her voice. The way she nodded her head as she sang. Everything.

"Looks like we're here."

"Whatever you say, Mr Costello."

______________________________

Liked by hazosterfield, lizthepope, caseyrimestime and 5,305,293 others
cash: grabbed a little HOLLANDaise with my brunch this morning 🍳🥓🥞
tagged: tomholland2013

View all 108,405 comments

username: i a m n o t r e a d y

username: it's a date people THIS IS NOT A DRILL

lizthepope: could you BE any more subtle??
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cash: step back chandler

hazosterfield: hey that's my hollandaise😢
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tomholland2013: you don't own me
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hazosterfield: you've changed since you got your balls back man

username: omg TASH STANS RISE

zendaya: spiderboy becomes spiderMAN🥰
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tomholland2013: zendaya i always was, wasn't i?
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lifeisaloha: debatable

username: is this them making it official cos oh boy iM READY
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cash: username hold your horses girlfriend

username: guys it's brunch not their wedding
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cash: username thankyou🥰
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username: although when will that be??

username: oh god this hit me like a TRUCK

anthonymackie: you ain't funny downey that pun was weak
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cash: anthonymackie like your arms 💁🏻‍♀️

username: shaded

username: he deserved it don't come for tash anthony

caseyrimestime: um cash, liz found the snacks 😬
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cash: how?!?!😰
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lizthepope: i'm gay meaning i'm like 50% more intelligent that you complicated straights
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lizthepope: you might have to find a new hiding place...and buy more snacks 🤫

username: liz once again providing us with the content we deserve