Tom wakes up in an empty bed to his surprise. He groans as he feels the side of the bed that SJ had slept in, finding the sheets cold. With a grunt, he rolled onto his side, eyes closed as he winces. His body aches, arms, back, neck. Everything hurts and he'd do anything to just be able to stay sleeping but he has to get up. Tom sits up slowly and places his feet on the cool carpeted floor. His hands fall to his knees as the burns on his back sting. Tom's stomach turns as he takes a few deep breaths, trying to ignore the pain.

Tom gets to his feet after a few minutes and grabs his shirt from the floor. He closes his eyes, head turning to the ceiling as his hand runs through his bedhead. He woke up on his stomach, blankets down to his waist. That means his back was exposed and he never wanted SJ to see those burns but now he thinks she has. Maybe that's why he woke up alone. Maybe it scared her off. He didn't think much about it, not in the heat of the moment. The second he did, he figured that as long as he could stay on his back, it'd be alright but that's just been proven to be false hope.

Tom tugs his shirt over his head, wincing and rolling his shoulders until it covers his torso fully. He ruffles his hair and heads for the door, opening it quietly as he can he hear the TV coming from the living room as well as brief talking. His heart lifts up with relief figuring that Harrison was talking to SJ. They don't really have friends so SJ is basically the only person Harrison could be talking to unless he suddenly picked up the habit of talking to himself.

"Aye." Harrison nods to Tom as Tom walks down the hallway and into view.

A gentle smile starts pulling at Tom's lips as he sees SJ sitting on the opposite end of the couch from Harrison. She's ditched the borrowed clothes Harrison loaned her and are back in the clothes from the night before. Her hair is tied in a braid falling to one side and Tom sees a few strands of blue encased in her dark hair.

"Hey." Tom says, voice still decorated with sleep and it's one of the hottest sounds SJ has ever heard.

SJ looks over and she smiles. Her heart flutters as she looks at Tom half-limping into the room. He looks like a disaster but a beautiful disaster. He kind of looks like the first clear day after a natural disaster. The first day that things aren't so horrible anymore, clean-up has started, and things just seem to be okay. That's what Tom looks like. Hope.

"Afternoon, Pretty Boy." SJ bellows.

Tom rolls his eyes but the smile remains. "Yeah, afternoon." Tom takes a seat in the chair, turning to partially face them. "Really the afternoon?"

SJ nods. "Yep," She pops the 'p'. "Just after one."

"Shit." Tom groans, a hand running over his face.

"You were up past three according to my time." Harrison quips.

A smirk comes to Tom's face. "Sorry." He mutters, catching a glimpse of SJ.

SJ shakes her head, shrugging her shoulders. "Oops."

"Mhm," Harrison hums before getting to his feet. "I'm gonna get ready and I'll run you home now that Tom's awake." Harrison nods to SJ and then to Tom.

"I can just take the bus or the train or an Uber." SJ says.

"Or I can drive you." Harrison states and without another word, he was exiting the living room and making his way down the hallway.

SJ shook her head, looking back to Tom and sending him a gentle smile. Tom returned it and the room remained silent besides the TV playing. The air stiffens with unasked questions and unsaid statements. Tom wants to talk about last night for a variety of reasons. Arthur will keep burning him if he's caught with SJ which means he has two options. He can come clean to SJ and they can keep it a secret. That's terrifying and not just for Tom's sake. If Arthur is willing to burn him, Tom can only imagine what he'd do to SJ if he found out. So, that leaves option two. He can tell her last night was a mistake and that's that. It was a one night, heat of the moment reaction. A lie but maybe it's the safer option of the two even though he's afraid it'll hurt her. She seems to trust him but if he turns around and does this, says it was a mistake and lies to her face, he risks ruining that. He wants her, wants to get to know her so fucking much he can't think straight or clearly.

SJ on the other hand, she knows exactly what she needs to do. She needs to tell Tom the same thing he's thinking. It was a mistake, heat of the moment. Her reasoning is the exact same as his. She's had the unfortunate experience of dealing with Arthur's rath and she can't put Tom through that. He might to be willing to risk that, but she won't let him. It's not about Tom distracting her or her liking him, it's just about protecting him and making sure he can make it to the end. She can figure everything else out on the way.

"So, 'bout last night..." Tom starts, forearms resting on his knees.

"Yeah, wanted to talk about that actually." SJ sighs, pulling her legs up to sit cross-legged. "I'ma one -night stand, alright? You're great, ya know? But just a one night, yeah?"

One of SJ's so-called talents is lying. She can lie about anything and everything and there's not even the slightest quiver in her voice or her story. She keeps every lie straight even when she's fifty lies in. Her voice is level and she doesn't have a single tick, knowing she has to remain casual to be believable. Her lying is almost eery. But, it's saved her ass on countless occasions so, she uses it. But, that doesn't make her feel any better, especially with the look on Tom's face.

Tom's face drops and while he's trying to pass it off with a nod and furrowed brows of agreement, he's like cellophane. Completely transparent. He's hurt but he can't say he's hurt because if he does then he ends up with option one which risks the both of them. So, he has to act like this is what he wants, like he was going to say the same thing. His heart aches and his back hurts but he needs to suck it up. She's just a girl.

"Yeah, yeah." Tom agrees. "Was gonna say the same."

"Cool." SJ gives him a forced smile and a thumbs up. "But," SJ starts again and Tom keeps his stare on her. "Thanks...for staying up with me. I'll totally kill you if you tell anyone or anything but," There's a warmth that seems to come across her eyes. "Thank you."

Tom's face softens as he looks to the floor, curls falling in front of his face. "Always be here." Tom looks back to her, bright smile showing.

"Ya know, despite my snarkiness and bitchiness and all around detachment," SJ's remark starts off sarcastic before it turns soft. "I am actually a good listener if you want to talk about anything and don't wanna talk to Harrison."

Tom's breath hitches, SJ's words catching him off guard. She did see the burns. Tom hangs his head with shame. "You saw?" SJ just nods sadly.

"I-I, uh, I don't know." SJ stutters.

She doesn't butt into other people's business, not directly. She doesn't like people coming into her life and asking a hundred questions, demanding she tell them anything so for her to turn around and admit she knows about his burns, that's big.

Tom shrugs. "Was just an accident." Tom says, lying through his teeth.

"Okay." SJ keeps her voice level, not willing to push him to admit anything. He doesn't push her so she won't push him. She gets it.

"What happened to your hip?" Tom asks, pointing to her hip in attempt to change the conversation.

SJ looks down and back to him. "What do you mean?"

"You've a scar." Tom states, raising his brows.

"Oh!" SJ exclaims eyes widening. "Hockey accident."

"What?" Tom chuckles, almost yelling. "Hockey?"

"Yeah," SJ laughs. "You've heard Mikey call me Rocket, right?" Tom nods, hanging onto every word. "It's a reference to Rocket Power. When we were younger we did pretty much everything they did on the show besides surf. Skateboarding, rollerblading, ice hockey, street hockey, snowboarding, even went dirt boarding a few times. So, you get scars and shit from that shit."

"Really?" Tom laughs, finding himself engulfed with her talking and opening up a bit.

"Yeah! Loved it all." SJ beams with enthusiasm remembering the fun she had before life took its turn. "The thrill of it all and you gotta be quick and it takes effort and I dunno, it was a lot of fun."

"Well, how'd you get the scar then?" Tom pushes, leaning in closer to her as if she were telling the most interesting story Tom has ever had the pleasure of listening to

SJ rolls her eyes. "Okay, so Matty, I love him like a brother but the dude can barely walk on solid fucking ground so why Mikey and me thought he could ice skate let alone play fuckin' hockey is truly beyond me." SJ rambles. "So, we're on the ice and he wasn't doing too bad. It's just us cause ya know, coach was chill, let us scrimmage sometimes if he could so we're teaching Matty to play. Well, I'm kinda behind him, kinda on the side, ya know? Helping him stay up and helping hold my stick. I let go, he starts skating, all is good but I stay close behind him to make sure he doesn't eat shit. Next thing I know, he slips somehow and he falls all weird, I collide into him and I fell right on the tip of the damn blade."

"You've a scar on your hip from trying to teach someone to play hockey?" Tom chuckles, brows pulled together in amusement.

"Mhm." SJ hums. "Needless to say, Matty doesn't skate or play hockey and I had to get six stitches."

Tom shakes his head, mouth partially open. "Anymore?" SJ really likes hockey by the way her voice changes pitch telling the story and Tom can't get enough.

"Check it." SJ says moving her hair away from her forehead revealing a small scar right by her hairline. "Hockey puck to the face."

"Mikey or Matty?" Tom asks, almost joking.

"Travis actually." SJ tosses her head back in laughter. "He looked so fucking scared, it was great. The head bleeds a lot more than you think it does."

"You really have a thing for people hitting you in the face, huh?"

Without hesitation, SJ quips, "Yeah, well, we all have our own kinks."

Tom leans back in his chair, filling the room with laughter. SJ laughs with him and she wants him. She laughs but the thought of how unfair life is crosses her mind because this man laughing about a simple joke is so pure and happy and good, he is so good and he deserves everything good. Everything in SJ is just pulling at her to toss everything away and say fuck it, just risk it all but he's just a boy with a pretty laugh.

"Ya know," Tom leans up again. "You're funny when you're not snarky and all around detached." Tom puts air quotes around SJ's previously-used phrased.

"You forgot bitchy." SJ gestures finger guns with one hand, squinting an eye.

Tom scoffs. "Nah, I don't think you're bitchy."

A blush starts to creep onto SJ's face with Tom's words. "Thanks."

Before Tom can say anything else, Harrison comes back in. "Ready?" He asks.Harrison quietly hates himself for having to reak up the conversation. They look happy together, like they understand each other in ways Harrison doesn't grasp, can't grasp. 

"Yeah." SJ nods, standing up, Tom following her lead. "Pretty Boy." SJ smirks up to him.

"SJ." Tom mocks.

SJ glances to Harrison and he shrugs, moving to put his shoes on. Harrison said that while they're in that apartment, what Arthur doesn't know, can't hurt anyone. And SJ is having a little trouble with impulse control about Tom so, she moves forward and clasp her hands around his neck, pulling his lips to hers. Tom's hands immediately tug at her hips, pulling her flush against him.

One of the problems that comes with addiction is that it's dangerous. It doesn't matter what people are addicted to, the addiction becomes dangerous because it's hard to live without. It's hard not to have that thing. It's dangerous for one's physical health and sanity. Tom and SJ are already hopelessly addicted to each other and the way their mouths move with each other and the way it feels like electricity flows through their veins and keeps their hearts pumping with only the simple touch of each other's fingers, solidify it.

SJ pulls away, biting her lip. "One-night stand." She reminds him before pressing a chaste kiss to his cheeks.

Tom's eyes widen with infatuation. "Wish it wasn't," Tom mutters, pulling her closer, desperately wishing she didn't have to leave because if she leaves, it'll be like he woke up from his favorite dream.

"Do you need a room?" Harrison quips from behind them.

SJ wiggles away from Tom's grip. "I'm coming. Bye, Tom." SJ bites her lip before making her way to the door.

"Need anything?" Harrison directs his voice at Tom.

"Nah. I'm good." Tom responds, taking a seat on the couch, a smile still splitting his face.

SJ and Harrison head out to Harrison's car. SJ's mind is occupied with thoughts of Tom and she knows she needs to up her game. She needs to put aside what happened last night with Ian and not worry about Arthur catching her. Her focus needs to be on figuring out a plan to get everyone out of the mess that's been created. It's not going to be easy but she needs to. Tom's clouding her thoughts and she knows there's no getting rid of the smile embedded in her memory or his dark curls and eyes so deep she feels like she could drown peacefully. She has to take Arthur down. 

They reach Harrison's car and Harrison starts the drive to SJ's house with the help of her telling her actual address, not Mikey and Matty's. The two had work and she'd rather be in her own home where maybe she'd be able to think of something. It's easier to think in a place she's more comfortable and that would be her bedroom.

Harrison glances over to SJ as they drive through the sunny city streets. "Hey," Harrison breaks the silence, his eyes moving back to the road. "Overheard you with Tom, why'd you say you were a one night stand when he's the reason for it?" Harrison asks, brows knitted together.

SJ shrugs a shoulder, not looking over to him. "He'd feel guilty."

"You don't?" Harrison glances back over. "Feel guilty, I mean."

"Oh, no," SJ shakes her head looking to him. "I do but I initiated it last night so."

Harrison lets out a frustrated sigh. "Do you care? Seemed like you do this morning, now it doesn't. Are you fucking with him?" Harrison glances back over with a squared jaw. She's too nonchalant about it but what Harrison doesn't know is that it's just a defense mechanism.

"If I didn't care, I wouldn't have told you about his fucking back." SJ glares at him, teeth clenching before she looks out her window.

"Sorry," Harrison mutters. "I just got him into this and," He pauses for a few beats. "I dunno."

"Well, I might have a plan. It's half-assed and solely relies on an incompetent drug addict slash drug dealer but it's better than nothing, I guess."

"I'm listening." Harrison urges.

"There's a fight, about a month from now, it's a throw-away. Boxers enter to get more money but it doesn't affect the outcome of the actual matches. It's just, extra I guess. But, there's a kind of poll where the people betting get to pick who they want against each other." SJ pauses, watching Harrison and gaging his reaction.

"I don't like where this is going." Harrison sighs already gathering what she's about to say.

"Yeah, you won't." SJ sighs, freehand tapping the center console. "Arthur will pay a lot of money to see Tom fight me. I know I can make it to the final match and he does, too. He's going to have Tom fight me because that's his best chance at winning or he'll do it to fuck with me."

"Won't that fuck with Tom?" Harrison points out the obvious.

"You bet." SJ points. "But, Arthur won't care because it's a throw-away. It happens on Wednesday and the following weekend doesn't contain a match. Tom will have over a week to recover. So, my half-assed, thought out in only two-minutes plan is that I fight Tom."

"Right..." Harrison blinks in a state of dumbfounded.

"But, I tell him beforehand that he needs to fuck me up. I mean, make sure as shit I can't fight the following weekend."

"How does that help?" Harrison interrupts her. SJ doesn't make any sense right now but he hates the idea of Tom having to actually hurt her. 

"I'm getting there, chill." SJ scolds. "Tom, yeah he'll feel guilty and all that but I'll be fine and it's my idea. No biggie. The problem is that I need to get Ian, the dude I owe money to, in on this."

"Wait, wait, wait." Harrison shakes his head. "Why? And why do you owe money to a drug dealer?"

"Do you want my plan or do you want to know how I got here because you're only getting one." SJ's eyes narrow as she watches Harrison.

"Plan." Harrison nods.

"If I can get Ian in on this, I'll get a few extra weeks to come up with some money to pay him back and he won't come after my ass. In that time, I can work my own fucking angle to fuck Arthur over because I know how but I can't do it while I'm fighting. Not working two jobs, trying to keep my friends safe, keep my brother safe, keep my ass safe, which we can see how fucking well I am at that. I gotta keep my shit together and I can't do what I need to if I'm getting my face beat in every weekend."

"Okay," Harrison lets air out in a shallow breath of uncertainty.

He doesn't want her to do it. Harrison's been there, getting beaten so bad he can't fight anymore. It's a mess, literally and figuratively. It can fuck with someone mentally and physically. It's just, not a good situation and that's not fair that SJ is willing to just put herself in that position to help Harrison and Tom, two people who just barely aren't strangers anymore. But, there's also the bigger point.

There's Tom. Harrison knows Tom will be completely against it even if they tell Tom exactly what's going on. Tom will never want to hurt her, it's who he is. Sure, in the ring it is him against his opponent and he gets lost in it, but that's completely different than him knowing ahead of time that he needs to actually cause enough damage to knock someone out of the competition completely, especially someone he cares about. And if for some reason he does agree to do it, he'll never be able to live with the fact he hurt SJ. It's crazy.

"What if Ian doesn't agree to it? Or Tom? Or what if he doesn't hurt you and you just make it look like he did?" Harrison rambles the questions off.

"Everyone has beef with Arthur." SJ chortles. "Ian will likely agree if I promise to take Arthur down. And I don't know. And I'm not an actor. I'm a liar."

Harrison groans, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "What if it doesn't work?"

"Well, for right now, we have to make that work. We have a month to see if it will and during that month, I'll have to time think of a few more plans."

Harrison hates this more than almost anything but it's what he has. "Alright, fine." Harrison agrees as he turns onto SJ's street. "Should we tell Tom?"

"Not yet." SJ shakes her head. "He's gonna be pissed at us both, ya know?"There's a quiver in her voice, once Harrison didn't expect. It's a quiver that says she doesn't want Tom mad at either of them. She really, really likes him.

"I knew that when I agreed to ask you out." Harrison shrugs with reassurement. "When should we tell him?"

"I don't know." SJ whispers as Harrison pulls the car against the curb. "I'll let you know and you can tell him. I won't tell him a thing. He should hear it from you when the time's right."

"Okay." Harrison nods, eyes sad yet determined. "Well, you alright?" Harrison asks, the change from snarky to sad worrying him plus, he has a very unfortunate view of the bruise on her neck.

"Always." SJ says as she reaches for the door. Harrison's mouth starts to open but SJ cuts him off before he can get a word out. "Thanks for letting me stay." SJ rushes. "I owe you."

Harrison huffs, the corner of his mouth pulling up. "You don't owe me. We're friends."

SJ smiles gently. "Alright, well, thanks, still."

"You're welcome." Harrison says.

"I'll catch ya later then." SJ nods and exits the car.

SJ makes her way up her walkway and into her house. The door creaks open as she steps inside, taking in the cool atmosphere. She swears under her breath before shutting the door and turning towards the kitchen. She's immediately met with Travis seated at the table flipping through the mail.

"Mikey and Matty stopped by." Travis mutters, not looking to her.

"Okay." She says, making her way past the table and towards the stairs.

"That's it?" Travis looks up, eyes boring into her back.

"Yep." SJ starts as she goes for the stairs. "I have a phone."

"Jules!" Travis yells after her but more with concern than anger.

SJ turns on the stairs to glare at him and he gets a look at the bruise. His jaw drops and the hardened expression turns to one of pure concern. "I'll text them later, alright?"

"What the fuck happened to you?" Travis asks.

"Tied a scarf around my neck a little too tight, what do you think?" SJ's eyes narrow with the snarky remark.

Travis sighs and maneuvers around the table and to the foot of the staircase. "Was it the person that dropped you off?" The protective brother side starts to make an appearance.

"Travis," SJ's voice is warning. "Leave it."

She goes to turn but Travis's voice stops her. "I know it's hard but you have to learn to move past it. I have." He knows why she's snippy today and he knows her well enough to know it's not the bruise.

SJ laughs dryly turning and looking down at Travis. "I have to learn to move past it? Move past what exactly? Your fuck ups? Mine? Mom's? Dad's? Everyone's? How 'bout the fact this fuckin' house is fuckin' freezing, huh? Wanna explain where the hell the money for that bill went or are we gonna pretend like it ain't shit? Because I'm not." She huffs, almost hovering over him, jaw clenching and fist balled at her sides.

"How many times do I have to apologize?" Travis asks through gritted teeth.

"As many times as it takes to fix this shit." SJ says with a scoff.

"I'm sorry, Jules." Travis says with sincerity.

"Leave me alone." SJ says, her voice turning calm.

"I can't do that. You do for family, remember?"

"Yeah," SJ shakes her head.

"Did you go out last night because of mom?" Travis asks. "Just be honest, c'mon, just me and you."

SJ looks away. "No," She looks back to him with the rolls of her shoulder and raise of her brows. "Nothing to do with her. I didn't go to Mikey and Matty because of mom and I didn't come here because of mom. I called a new friend."

Travis nods. "I'm here for you, Jules. You can always come home. "

"The first thing you did was yell when you saw this. What would you have done last night?" SJ challenges. "I'm just--" SJ pauses and licks her lips. "It's a bad fucking day, okay?"

"You can't take out your bad days on me, SJ." Travis says with the gesture of his hand.

"Yeah, well, I'm working on it." SJ mumbles. "Look, I'll get you the money for the heating and you can run the money tomorrow. I need to nap."

"I'm here if you want-"

"I don't." SJ cuts him off, turning up the stairs and this time successfully making it up all of them and to her room.

SJ shuts the door to her room and leans against the old wood. She takes a few deep breaths and shuts her eyes, allowing herself to just breathe. She can feel everything riding on her, like she's literally holding the weight of the world on her shoulders. Travis has to rely on her, he doesn't have a choice thanks to Illinois's bullshit system. Mikey and Matty rely on her to just be a friend and be the brains whenever either of them get into form of a situation they can't get out of. And now Harrison is relying on her to get him and Tom out of the mess and she might have set herself up for that but that is not the point, not right now. The only person who doesn't seem to be relying on her is Tom himself which, ironically enough, makes him seem like the easiest person to communicate with and SJ can't for the sake of his own health. It sucks.

With a groan, she pushes off of her door and goes to her bed, plopping down. She digs her phone out of her pocket, holding it above her face and her fingers hover over Mikey's contact. He's working so it's not like he can talk very much and Matty is also at work and he can't talk so SJ types the quick 'I'm home' message and tosses her phone to the other side of her bed. SJ decides she can just spend her day in bed, thinking and sleeping. It's better than dealing iwth people.

----

The next day comes around and Tom is leaning over the wall of his cubby in the office, talking to Harrison. When Harrison had returned the day before, Harrison confronted Tom about the burns on his back. Tom was a little more than defensive over it but did eventually calm down to tell him what had happened. Now, Harrison wants a minute alone with Arthur, to give him a taste of his own medicine, not that Tom would ever let that happen. Harrison's just disgusted and he blames himself and he feels completely helpless. His friend is being burned and there's nothing he can about it. It's a bit crushing.

"Holland." Arthur's raspy voice pulls Tom's attention. "Office, now." Arthur states before walking away and allowing Tom to follow.

"What's he want?" Harrison asks.

"Fuck if I know." Tom shrugs, moving away from his cubby. "Be back." Tom states before he starts walking to Arthur's office.

Last time he was in Arthur's office, he left with burns down his back so to say Tom was nervous would be an understatement. His paranoia escalates with every step. Maybe Arthur is completely insane and he's bugged their house. Maybe bugged the car, their phones. Who knows? Maybe Arthur is just fucking with him. Tom doesn't have a clue about anything and the more he thinks, the worse it all gets. Sometimes, his thoughts are worse than reality.

Tom walks into Arthur's office, closing the door behind him. He walks in front of the desk where Arthur was standing and he's hoping that he just gets it over with. Whatever he has to say or do, maybe he'll make it quick.

"I do believe I owe you an apology." Arthur starts.

"What?" Tom's face contorts in confusion.

"I shouldn't dictate who you can and can't talk to." Tom just stares at Arthur as if Tom's missing an elephant in the room. He was burned for talking to SJ and now Arthur is apologizing. What. "If you'd like to see SJ, I think it'd be a good idea, actually." Tom's confusion and fear immediately drops with Arthur's words. He's not stupid.

"That's not a choice, is it?" Tom asks.

Arthur grins with a gentle huff. "What do you think?" Arthur turns to grab the unlit cigar from his desk before turning back around. Tom just glares and it's like Arthur's just relit the fire in Tom.

"No." Tom says. "No."

"Funny," Arthur gives a dry chuckle as he grabs the matchbox to the side of him. "Osterfield said you like her. I thought you'd be okay with this."

Tom hesitates. He hesitates because SJ hasn't left his mind in nearly twenty-four hours. She's at the front of his mind like his favorite song playing on repeat. He connects with her unlike anyone else and he can't even explain it. So, yeah, Tom should be happy he's free to at least speak to SJ but he's not because Arthur isn't giving him the choice which means there's a sinister reason behind it. It's not about how Tom feels. There's more to it and it doesn't sit well with Tom.

"What do you get out of it?" Tom asks, arms crossing his chest.

"I get a focused fighter." Arthur grins, putting the cigar in his mouth and lighting a match, disregarding the Illinois law.

That's not exactly his reasoning. Arthur is twisted and similar to SJ, he'll do anything he has to to make sure he comes out on top. But, he crosses the lines SJ won't. So, if Arthur can get Tom to start in on SJ knowing full and well she likes him, Arthur knows she'll get attached. He has complete control over Tom and with the snap of his fingers, he can rip Tom away with her without a second thought. With the past SJ and Arthur have, he knows that she won't be distracted because Tom was taken away, but she'll be distracted because she'll be worried about him with Tom working with Arthur. She'll slip and do something stupid. Arthur gets his revenge and a winning fighter.

Tom's eyes are narrowed and he hates Arthur so much more now than he already did. "What'd SJ ever do to you?"

Arthur pauses, catching Tom off guard. Arthur is always at the front of his game, no hesitation. He's quick with responses as if he's answered every question Tom has thrown at him a hundred times and he can respond to any remark like he's been doing this for twenty years. But, that one question caught Arthur off guard. SJ's a new denominator he needs to account for. He didn't expect anyone, especially Tom, to ask about what happened with SJ, not after the first time. Arthur thought the burns would be enough and they are, for a little while.

"That doesn't concern you." Arthur lights the cigar, puffing on the end a few times.

"She'll tell me if I see her." Tom states, keeping his voice confident despite his actual lack of confidence. SJ won't tell him anything other than her interest in marine biology, she isn't going to turn around and tell him her shit with Arthur, but it's a good lie.

"Are you sure about that?" Arthur asks and he has a smirk that's taunting.

"Positive." Tom says without hesitation.

Arthur shrugs, puffing on the cigar a bit more as if to be silently threatening Tom. "Good thing there's nothing to tell."

Tom shakes his head. "I'm not fucking with her because of you."

"You'll do as I say or your back will be the least of your problems." Arthur pushes off of his desk, closing the distance between him and Tom. Tom would normally back away, but he doesn't. He doesn't stand down this time and instead, he stands toe-to-toe with Arthur. Arthur blows smoke into Tom's face and the most Tom does is blink. "Understood?" Arthur asks with venom in the single word.

"Got. It." Tom says through gritted teeth.

"Good." Arthur pats the side of Tom's face as Tom jerks away. "Get back to work."

Tom glares up at Arthur, disgust and fury running through his veins. He backs away and goes for the door, shutting it behind him as he leaves. Tom hates that he's here. He doesn't even know how he got here but he did and now he has to actually try and date the girl he likes otherwise he'll get the full rath of Arthur. So, he has to try and date her just because someone said so. Surely, that's not going to end well.

Tom goes back to his cubby, plopping down into his seats, arms back to being crossed over his chest. Harrison stands up and looks over to him.

"You alright, mate?" Harrison asks.

"Fuckon' prick is what he is." Tom mutters. "Wants me to date SJ."

 Harrison raises a brow. Why would Arthur have Harrison date SJ just to turn around and have Tom date her? But, Harrison can't ask that. He promised SJ.  

"Why'd he change his mind and why're you pissed?" Harrison asks instead.

"Dunno." Tom shakes his head. "And 'm not." Tom looks to his computer.

"Tom--"

"It's fine, Haz. I'll explain later." Tom cuts Harrison off and Harrison simply sighs before sitting back in his seat not wanting to push Tom, not at work. But he has full intentions on holding Tom to his word of explaining later.

While Tom and Harrison spend the rest of their workday working in silence, SJ is at the gym working. Maurice had a few choice questions about the obnoxious bruise SJ couldn't completely cover with makeup but Maurice didn't badger. The less he knows the better so SJ basically just kept to herself throughout the day. That was until Mikey and Matty strolled in.

She hasn't seen them since Tuesday which is completely out of the ordinary and the two boys are worried. SJ doesn't just stop hanging around unless something's wrong and their thoughts were confirmed when they came face to face with her.

"What the fuck happened to your neck, Rocket?" Mikey raises his voice, his hand grabbing her chin to turn her face.

"Get off me, dammit." SJ slaps his hand away.

"What happened?" Matty's voice is soft and sweet. "Who did that?"

"No one, okay? Don't worry about it, I'm fine." SJ says, walking around the counter.

"Is that why we haven't seen you in two days?" Matty asks and his voice is so innocent it just fills SJ with more guilt.

SJ hangs her head slightly. "I just needed some time, okay?" SJ says.

"Yeah, so the bruise will heal. You never spend that day alone. Ever." Mikey edges in, voice harsh and unapologetic.

"I wasn't alone." SJ retorts, leaning her elbows on the counter. "I told you. I stayed with Pretty Boy and Pretty Boy 2.0." She states nonchalantly.

"I meant with people you can actually talk to." Mikey narrows his eyes. He's not into playing SJ's games and round-about answers today. Someone literally strangled her and he wants answers.

"Who says I didn't tell them?"

Matty and Mikey look to each other and then back to SJ, looks alone calling her bluff. "Did you?" Mikey asks, already knowing the answer.

"No, but you didn't know that." SJ mumbles.

"Who are you protecting?" Mikey asks and he's not going to budge.

"Mikey," SJ warns. "Leave it."

"Ian, right?" Mikey asks. "Why're you protecting that piece of shit?"

"Leave. It. Alone." SJ leans closer to Mikey, trying not to lose her temper.

"Fuck with you, he fucks with me." Mikey hits the desk with his palm a few times before heading for the door.

"Mikey!" SJ yells after him but he's leaving and nearly running into Harrison and Tom as they come in. "Oh, you're fucking with me, right?" SJ looks up as if to be cursing the world.

"Do you want me to go after him?" Matty asks.

"No," SJ sighs. "No, no point."

Matty and SJ's attention is pulled to the side when Harrison and Tom approach, both holding expression of worry. They know SJ better than Mikey but Mikey looked ready to kill anyone who got in the way so it's only fair they're a little worried.

"He alright?" Harrison asks.

"Yeah, it's nothing." SJ says with a shrug.

Tom's heart weighs heavy in his chest with the sight of SJ. He has to ask her out but there's something else gnawing at him and seeing Mikey storm out brought it to the front of his mind. She called herself a one-night stand which he brushed off at first but now that he suddenly has to convince her to date him, he's overthinking. People don't call themselves one-night stands, they call other people one-night stands. SJ is someone who's careful with her words so she wouldn't incorrectly word something. And with Mikey running out and just the overall look of how exhausted SJ looks, Tom has questions and worry. And guilt. Lots of guilt.

"Uh, hey." Tom says.

"Hey." SJ responds.

Tom looks to Harrison and then Matty before looking back to SJ. "Can we...talk for a minute?"

"I'm gonna...." Harrison trails off, pointing his thumb in the direction of the locker room. "Go that way."

"I'll come with." Matty says, the other three snapping their attention to Matty. "In case a locker gets stuck or something."

"Good idea." Harrison chimes, walking up to Matty and jerking his head for him to follow.

Harrison and Matty make their way to the locker room leaving SJ and Tom to themselves. SJ grows nervous, wondering what Tom has to say that he can't just speak in front of Harrison or Matty. Her first thought is that it's something about the burns on his back. Maybe there's more now and he doesn't know what to do. Maybe Harrison didn't tell Tom that she told him so Tom'sjust relying on her. Relying.

"So," Tom sucks in a breath. "What if I don't want last night to be a one-night stand?" Tom asks bluntly.

"I told you, Pretty Boy, I'ma one-night stand." SJ says and there's a flicker in her eyes.

"But I don't want you to be." Tom says as if it were the simplest sentence that had ever left his mouth and SJ, she pivots.

She doesn't have a quip or harsh words. She doesn't have the fight to argue with him and she doesn't want to. Her problem is that she doesn't want to fight him on this because she doesn't want to be a one-night stand, especially with him. But, that's just it. If SJ chooses to be the one-night stand, the other person doesn't get to make that choice for her. They don't get to kick her out because she kicked herself out. And with the amount of shit going on, the last thing she needs is to be worrying about someone kicking her out. Tom has Arthur breathing down his neck about seeing her and she won't be responsible for his injuries.

"You don't either." Tom says after a few seconds of silence.

SJ sucks on her teeth and walks around the counter, pulling at Tom's arm. She pulls him off to the side where she can actually talk to him without anything between them. She can be close enough to him to whisper and make sure no one can overhear.

"You have burns on your back, man." SJ whispers with pain in her voice, leaving out her insecurities in her reasoning. "Because you talked to me. Why do you want to risk more of that?" SJ's eyes scan Tom's face for answers.

Tom shakes his head. "He said he doesn't care anymore." Tom says quietly. "Said I can see you if I want."

She pivots, again. She doesn't trust herself not to give into him. Tom's the addiction she's feared and she's now up against. He lights this spark in her that makes her want to do better and be better, stop just skipping by and do something. She has this ability to help people and she's sitting on it for her own safety. Tom makes her want to throw it out. He's gasoline and she's the match.

But, she knows there's more to this. There has to be. Arthur doesn't just change his mind and she knows there's a reason why Arthur is saying Tom can suddenly, not only talk to her, but do what he wants. There's an ulterior motive but he's a few steps ahead and SJ's basically seeing through a pitch black tunnel. She has no idea where he stands and now it's like walking through a minefield, anywhere she steps might set off a series of bombs. It's not good, a terrible place.

"We're friends, okay?" SJ says after a few beats pass.

"Friends?" Tom asks and there's a smile starting to pull at his lips.

"Yeah, friends." SJ says, a blush creeping onto her face.

"Okay." Tom agrees. He has one foot in the door. "As friends," Tom starts. "I think it's only fair I know your full name and....your number." Tom chuckles.

SJ gives him a hearty laugh. "You call me by my name, I'll end you, got it?" Tom nods and mockingly crosses his fingers over his heart. "Sarah Juliet."

Tom's eyes soften as her name sits with him. It fits her. "I like it." He says gently, just above a whisper.

"I like SJ." SJ laughs softly.

"Alright." Tom pulls out his phone and hands it to SJ once he pulls up the space for a new contact. "Here ya go."

SJ shakes her head but takes his phone from him. She looks at him with a quirked brow after looking at the cracked screen. "Really? Get a case, man."

"It's fine." Tom laughs, pointing to the phone.

"MHm, and when it breaks, you'll be bitching you don't have a phone." SJ mocks, typing her number in the phone.

"Should probably put your address in there, too then. In case I can't text you or call you." There's a nervous quiver to his voice but it's adorable. It makes her heart skip a beat and butterflies explode through her stomach. 

"Oh," SJ looks to him with a smirk. "You think you're smooth."

"Not at all." Tom laughs once more and SJ's heart flutters against her ribcage.

He's so cute.

"Here." SJ hands him his phone back. "Go wild."

Tom looks to his phone and smiles with the sight of her name and phone number in his phone. But, the happiness and warmth that filled his chest, slowly starts to fade with the thought of almost lying to her. Arthur's making him do this even if he wants to do it, Arthur is still behind it and he feels like he's lying.

"Thanks." Tom says with the lick of his lips as he shoves his phone back in his pocket.

"You're welcome, Pretty Boy." SJ giggles. "Now, I should get back to work so I can leave soon." Tom nods softly. "You better text me."

"Yeah, of course." Tom bites his lip, suppressing is smile. "I will."

SJ smiles and nods before she starts to walk away. Before she gets too far away, she lets herself go just for a second. What's the worst that can happen at this point? She turns to face Tom and the smile falls just a little while her brows knit together with anxiety. "You're right, ya know?" She says. "You make it very hard not to like you."