Mutual (A TheSyndicateproject/Tom Cassel)

Escalation

@TheCataclysm are you dating Tom? Really? You? XP

I rolled my eyes at yet another one of the twitter storm's latest additions. Hate was nothing new for me, as a "youtuber" I'd gotten pretty used to people telling me I needed to lose weight or that my voice was annoying. It wasn't something I didn't deal with on a daily basis, so having it happen wasn't a big deal. Though it was starting to get irritating to see it every single time I opened twitter.

I tossed my phone onto the bedside table, ignoring the loud clattering noise it made. Twitter wasn't my biggest concern at the moment, nor was the drama it came with. I turned on my side, snuggling back into the pillow. Regardless of the hate I still had to get up, a thought that was almost painful.

It was nearly impossible for me to get up and throw on a sweatshirt, not noticing if it was mine or Tom's. Next came throwing my hair up into a pony tail after running my brush through it. I idly put my phone in my pocket and headed for the stairs, vaguely ignoring my sleeping boyfriend.

Tucker was in the kitchen with Brennan, eating some kind of peanut butter toast. Grizz laid happily at their feet, hoping for some sort of scraps. I gave him a sharp look when he laughed at me as I walked in.

"Just keep stuffing your face, Tucker" I said, grabbing an apple from a bowl on the counter.

"You look worse for wear" Brennan said, taking a bite of his toast.

"It's hard to sleep when Tom is determined to do other things" I shrugged, sitting across from him at the table.

"You poor thing. How did you ever survive" Tucker laughed at me again.

"Har Har" I rolled my eyes, taking a bite of my apple. "I forgot how late he sleeps."

"Yeah. He won't be up until at least noon" He nodded. "You're going to have to find other sources of entertainment until then"

"I'm sure I'll manage" I frowned as my phone buzzed, pulling it out of my pocket. It was a message from Emma.

From Emma: Were you going to tell me that you're helping Ze?

"What's up?" Tucker asked, clearly confused.

"I have no clue" I lied, typing in a quick response.

To Emma: Um what?

"Emma starting shit again?" Tucker asked, finishing the rest of his toast.

"I guess. She's been trying to push me into her drama since it started" I shrugged, opening her newest message.

From Emma: YOU HELPED ZE TALK TO ERICA HOW COULD YOU

To Emma: Um hyper much? All I did was take you out to lunch.

From Emma: To get me away from Erica? I knew you were being weird about it but I didn't think you'd be this big of a bitch Ashley.

I could feel a headache coming on as I typed in a "whatever" and set my phone on the table. My head was really starting to pound. I rubbed my temples idly, biting my tongue.

"you okay?" Tucker asked.

"Just a headache" I shrugged.

"You sure? You don't look so good" Brennan frowned.

"I'm fine" In truth my vision was starting to get a little blurry. "I need one of my iron pills"

"Where are they? I'll get one" Tucker stood up.

"Tom's room, front pocket of my bag. It's sitting right next to the door" I said.

"Give me a minute" Tucker headed for the door.

Brennan went to the fridge, getting out a water bottle and sitting it in front of me. "It's Tom's but I doubt that bothers you much"

I gave him a dark look as he snickered, opening the bottle and taking a drink. Tucker came stomping back down stairs with my pills in hand, struggling with the bottle. He finally got it open and shook a pill into his hand, holding it out to me.

"Tom's up. Just to warn you" Tucker said, setting the bottle on the table.

"And he didn't comment on you digging in my bag?" I said, swallowing the pill with a big gulp of water.

"He was more concerned as to why I ran up there so fast. He's probably getting dressed" Tucker took his seat again, still looking at me concerned. "What is Emma's problem?"

"She's got her head too far up Erica's ass to care about anyone else" I looked up, along with Brennan and Tucker, as Tom came into the room. His hair was still messy and he hadn't even bothered to change the shirt he'd gone to sleep in. It was a miracle he was wearing sweat pants if I was being honest with myself. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine" I said, looking up at him. "I forgot to take my pill when I woke up this morning."

I frowned as Tom's fingers brushed my hair, as if he was petting me. My hand flew up to catch his wrist, earning a grin from Tucker.

"Don't touch my hair" I smiled up at him.

"And don't get weird in the kitchen" Brennan groaned as Tom ducked down to kiss my forehead.

"Am I twelve now, jeez. You're not tucking me into bed" I reached up to push his head away as he tried to kiss me. "We've been over this. Morning breath is nearly as bad as garlic breath"

"You're high maintenance woman" Tom groaned, moving to the fridge.

"And yet you're still sticking around" Brennan said as he checked his phone. "I'd better go. See you guys later"

"Bye" I said along with Tucker and Tom.

"Don't you have to go pick up Sonja" Tom asked, leaning against the counter.

"Yeah. I should probably get going" Tucker grabbed his keys. "Don't do something weird in our kitchen please"

"No promises" Tom laughed as Tucker walked out the door. Once we heard the door firmly shut he turned on me. "Upstairs. Asleep. Now"

"Tom" I gave him a look. "I'm fine. I don't need to be asked to go back to sleep"

He set his glass down on the counter, pulling me out of my chair in the same movement. "Who said I was asking"