HOLIDAY WITH THE HOLLANDS

Questionair

"You sure you don't want anything to eat before you go?" Tom asked, clearing away some dishes into the sink already filled with hot water, the porcelain sinking down beneath the blanket of bubbles among the surface.

"Nah, I'll grab something on the way" you smiled, pulling the black signature hoodie you always wore over your head, strictly speaking, one that was actually Tom's.

The question had been lingering inside of Tom's head all morning, but there wasn't a good time just yet for him to ask. The truth was, he needed you on that trip with him. It sounded needy and desperate, but he hadn't been on holiday with you since he was a kid. It would be great to make new memories and maybe dig up some of the good ones from the past. Not to mention that now, things had changed and they weren't how they used to be. He might have the chance to fall in love with you all over again.

"Oh, and I finish at twelve today, would you be able to pick me up then?"

"Yeah, of course" Tom shot you a smile, keeping his eyes on you as he watched you shuffle your belongings around in your pockets, taking a deep breath before heading for the door. Tessa was waiting for you by the frame, wagging her tail along the wooden floorboards. You giggled, bending down to pet her small head, ruffling her ears before flicking the lock and opening the door out into the cold morning.

It didn't come as a great shock that you were late, once again. You'd arrived, as usual, stumbling in through the entrance hearing the bell ring above your head, squinting your brow tightly as eyes looked your way. Quickly shuffling your way past customers you made your way oast the till and into the staff room around back, throwing your bag into the cloakroom and sprinting into the storage room to grab yourself an apron. It was almost comical for you to stop and see Sharon standing there, lightly tapping her foot on the hardwood floor.

"There are only so many times I can let this pass, Y/N" she sighed, "there's actually something I've been meaning to talk to you about" she dips her head and immediately you knew what was coming. But now? Had it really gotten to this point? It couldn't...

"Sharon please, just give me one last chance I swear it won't happen again-!" you tried to protest, diving in front of her as she attempted to make her way past you and out of the storage room. But, that action only seemed to make it worse, and soon she was glaring up at you, your stomach dropping down towards your feet.

"Those are always your famous last words though, L/N. I'm sorry Y/N, but maybe it's time for you to find another job-"

"Please Sharon, don't do this! I need this job!"

Despite the puppy dog eyes that were most definitely legit, Sharon couldn't possibly bring herself to keep tolerating your lateness. It wasn't that it was annoying, or came under any belt as such, it was the fact that she was understaffed and relying on you just wasn't good enough. For when she had needed you most, you were never there. If only she would understand why maybe things would have been easier.

"Don't make me say it, darling, please" she frowned, gently rubbing your upper arm. Your jaw clenched uncomfortably, your mind flicking to fearing for the worst. What would Carl think?

"I understand" you nodded, voice low and cracked trying to keep yourself calm as she stepped out of your shadow.

"I'll send your bill in the mail. I'm sorry, dear"

Her soft hand departed from your arm as yours joined your cheeks, rubbing them harshly trying to bash away the tears and prevent them from endlessly falling down your cheeks. But, at this point, it was no use, you where a blushing, sticky mess tangled up in so much hurt.

Rubbing your hands together in shame, you departed from the back storage without a second glance over the place you once called a second home. You knew you passed by the booths where you had spent some nights alone when it was raining outside, sipping on some stale coffee and waiting for the final customers to leave while you drowned in your thoughts about your future that promised dismal clouds and thick fog. You caught the smell of bagels being pulled fresh from the oven, the smell that once brought warmth to your chest. Losing a job usually wasn't this painful.

"Y/N!"

Shit.

Your body froze and your mind stop flowing so fluently as the sound of your name being called was broadcast over the entire cafe. That was carl's voice, and it couldn't have come at a worse time.

"Y/N/N, baby have you been crying?" he quizzed you, turning your body lightly to face him. You shrugged, wiping your nose as you wanted, prayed to be anywhere but here with him. "C'mon darling what's the matter?"

"Nothing Carl I'm fine" you mumbled, feeling the tension in the air shift suddenly and violently. You could feel the man you once called lovers eyes boring down into the crown of your head as you looked down at your feet.

"There's definitely something wrong, tell me, c'mon" he urged, gently taking your hands into his, fingers landing in his palms. You shouldn't have, but you pulled away, and then he snapped, grabbing them back with force.

"Tell me, now."

"I got fired, alright?" you mumbled, blinking slowly as if to try and numb the pain. There was an uneven silence that made you panic, heart rate speeding up as his grip tightened on your skin. This isn't what love is about, is it?

"You... What?"

"Carl, not here, please" you begged, shooting your head up to face him. His cheeks where ruby red, hotter than the sun, he was practically glowing with pure rage.

"You're right, not here" he shook his head, grabbing your wrist and tugging you out the doors of the cafe. You were relentless to his ways, trying to drag your feet and squirm without making it too obvious as to your intentions, but he was much stronger than you not to mention taller. One of the few reasons you had fallen for him in the first place.

You wanted to be home again, out of the morning spotlight where anyone could see the pure embarrassment you were about to endure. And then your mind asked you a crazy question, for an odd reason to which you couldn't conjecture.

Would Tom have done this to you?

Finally coming to a stop against the brick wall of an alleyway, he slammed his hands down by his sides, pacing reluctantly. There was an uneasy silence between you, and you were waiting to speak up. Why was he so mad? He worked, it's not like he couldn't provide for himself. Although he had relied on you a lot...

*SMACK*

It came out of nowhere, and you certainly didn't see it coming, neither did you expect it. But he hit you... Hard and fast across the cheek making you gasp and tears rise to the rim on your lids all over again.

Yanking your hands away from your face, he pinned you up against the wall. Fear struck you like a bolt of lightning, tilting your head away from his as he got uncaringly close, breaking your personal space boundary that you praised so greatly.

"How fucking dare you bring shame upon us like that, huh?"

"Us? What us is there left, Carl?"

You should have bitten your tongue.

"I lost my job, I can get another one"

Now you're really pushing it.

"What's the big deal? Or are you just being an asshole again?"

This isn't love anymore.

*SMACK*

One more hit and you were down on your knees, palms digging into the rough pebbles of the uneven concrete.

"How dare you speak to me like that, woman? How dare you speak to a man like that?"

You dared not reply, you were too weak to take another hit. Normally you were stronger than this, but not here and now. He had bitten you unexpectedly. Injecting his lethal venom into your bloodstream to bring you to your knees in his wake. You were positive your gums where bleeding and your cheeks were red raw as his figure continued to tower over you, his shadow devouring yours.

"You will rue the day you ever spoke to me with such words, Y/N" he bowed down, gripping your neck to lift you to his attention, "stop crying, god you're so mardy all the time!"

"P-please, stop it" you sobbed, reaching behind you to try and claw his hands away but he was stronger than you.

"Find yourself another job, or you're out"

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