Tom Holland : My big break

Chapter 10

My eyes grew with confusion as I tilted my head at his question... not knowing quite how to answer it. In the whole six weeks I'd known Tom this was certainly the most personal question he had asked. It made me wonder why he was suddenly so curious.

"How'd you know about that?" I said while swinging back and forth on my feet feeling kind of nervous.

"News travels fast in this place Y/N... and ...erm... Haz told me!"

"Bloody Harrison!" I thought carefully about what to say. I know Tom doesn't particularly like Bentley. He's the only person he is kind of not on good terms with. It started when he crossed Tom with the drinks at the club a couple of weeks ago. But even whist filming has been going on, you can sense the testosterone in the air when they are together, despite being best friends on screen.

"Erm, he... he just asked me out to dinner. It was when you were shooting your scene with Jess... he started off by being a little strange, you know some of the one liner's he does... and well he got to asking me out to dinner." I felt like I really rambled on and explained far more than I should of. I look at Tom in the eyes with a hopeful expression on my face... but he wasn't speaking... clearly formulating his thoughts in his head. I didn't really understand how this was his business anyway.

"Hmm" Tom almost growls. "You know, he's not a nice guy Y/N."

You roll your eyes in disbelief and let out a small puff of air.

"I know you won't care what I say... but I honestly don't think it is a good idea to be alone with a guy like that... H..."

"A guy like what" I shouted as I flung my arms in the air. "A guy who is nice to me? A guy who seems interested in me and tries to make an effort to talk to me? I really don't understand you, Tom? It's none of your business who I go on a date with." I could feel the tears forming in my eyes, but not because I was upset... but because I was angry. Angry that this man thought he had any say in my life.

"Y/N! you don't understand at all. This man has a bad reput..."

"And what... you don't?" I hiss. I could see Tom tensing his muscles, standing where he was, clearly angered by the comment I made... something in me made me push deeper. "Everyone talks so highly about you Tom... about how much of a kind-hearted man you are, frankly, I've never seen that. You never really speak to me unless it's work related and I thought we had a breakthrough in the office that day... but no. Fuck you, and honestly, I should have said this a long fucking time ago. You are a nasty piece of work sometimes!" Your brows twisted, you felt a drop of sweat slowly drip on your forehead... you analysed Toms body... his stance strong, and muscles tense... his face screwed up like a knot.

He violently swung and slammed his fist on the desk beside him which made you jump out of your skin simultaneously shouting "GOD DAM IT Y/N." He turned to look at you, but you didn't at all fear him. It was a strange feeling... he walked towards you with his hair loosely floating up and down. You took a step back until you were on the wall. He was literally an inch away from your face. His musky cologne sending your brain into overdrive... you analysed every line on his face feeling more curious than frightened.

"I might be all those things... gosh, you deserve to call me all those things, I was a dickhead to you from day one for no reason." He said in a harsh, piercing tone with his warm breath hitting my skin. There was a long pause... we looked directly into each other's eyes, for a moment I swear he looked at my lips... he leaned in slightly closer, me really not know what the hell was happening.

"But at least I'm not a nasty piece of work that assaults women" he softly whispered into my ear pulling back to look into my confused eyes.

"W- wh... what?" I could barely get my words to form.

He leans back and puts both hands on the walls next to my head. His biceps clenching as he holds himself up and swings his head to look at the floor for a moment... he lets out a sigh.

"After that weekend at the club, Haz and I... well, we did some digging... there are all kinds of stories out there on him. Some as bad as sexually abusing women... more psychologically... at first but there were also some articles that claimed he did physically too!"

"No... your lying, he wouldn't be allowed to work here if that was the case."

"He hasn't actually been convicted of anything. Apparently, there is not enough evidence to support these claims... One person's word against another. It seemed to only be two girls that had made accusations, but in my book that's enough for me. One of them also has a restraining order against him, which the production is aware about... but that's not a big deal in this industry."

Your brain was frazzled trying to collect your thoughts together. Surely, Tom wouldn't lie to you about this. Was he really trying to protect you? A wave of guilt rushed over your body remembering that you had just screamed some horrible things to his face that were just trapped inside of you. Tom pulls away from you completely and walks away, running his fingers through his hair, acknowledging you are gathering your thoughts.

"Look Y/N, believe me or not it is true. Go ask Haz. You trust him more than me, right? I'm not saying don't go on the date, I'm just saying watch yourself, I don't want a scumbag like that to ruin your life... I'm sorry I got angry. I know things will never be great between us because I fucked up at the start... but please just be careful." With that he strides towards his trailer door. Clearly upset by the whole situation. "I'm goanna go grab some lunch... want anything?"

"Ha, I think it should be me asking you that." You stated with a Shakey voice.

"You just take some time... I'll see you later on."

You slowly slide down the trailer wall you were frozen on, unable to move your legs after they felt like jelly. You bring your knees close to your head and start to sob. Your head was so baffled. A million and one things running around it. You believed Tom. Something in you knew he wasn't lying, and you never once felt like he was angry at you or what you said. That all just got glossed over. You felt as though he really cared, as though he was protective over you. Which you had never ever felt before from Tom. It made sense as to why Haz shot daggers at you too when he asked you out in the first place. A subtle hint.

You sit there not knowing what to do. Bentley never seemed like a bad man, and it's just dinner. What harm could he do?