Death on Campus (Acexreader)

2

You sat on a couch in the common area of your dorm building. There were more students today, going back and forth from their dorms and their vehicles to bring their stuff up. Nami had been one of those students earlier. You had helped her move her stuff up into the dorm, and now she was unpacking while you waited for Ace.

He was going to show you around campus. You wanted to learn where all your classes were before classes actually started. You didn't want to be wandering around campus, confused as to where your classes were.

"Hey, I hope I didn't keep you waiting long? You look terrible." Ace said as he came up to you.

"Gee, it's nice to see you too." You frowned up at him.

"Sorry, that came out wrong. You just look like you didn't get much sleep." Ace apologized. He sat down next to you and brushed a stray strand of hair behind your ear.

"I didn't. I kept hearing strange noises." You yawned.

"What kind of strange noises?" Ace asked. He moved you, so you were resting your head on his shoulder.

"I guess they aren't really all that strange. Just animals outside and other people in their dorms." You replied. Your dorm building backed out onto a forest, and your bedroom window faced it. All night, you could hear twigs snapping, owls hooting, and animals snarling. Not to mention, you could hear people in their dorms above yours stomping around. They were all perfectly normal noises. You just weren't used to them living back at home with your dad. The most you ever heard was the neighbors cat yowling in the alley.

"It's still strange when you're not used to it. It'll start to sound like background noise. And if you need help sleeping you can always come over to my place." Ace offered. It was a simple offer, but it had a blush rising to your cheeks as all sorts of different thoughts ran through your head. He noticed the blush on your face, and one quickly spread across his. "I didn't mean, I uh, not that I wouldn't want. I mean, umm, do you want to get a coffee? It might help wake you up."

"Uh, yeah. Coffee is good." You nodded. He held your hand and walked with you out of the dorm. The campus cafe wasn't that far from your dorm, and it wasn't too busy either. It was quaint little cafe made out brick and had a concrete floor. There were plants hanging from the ceiling and on each table. A fireplace was unlit and took up one of the walls. It had a sectional in front of it with people who looked exhausted from moving sitting on it.

You and Ace walked up to the counter where a tall, blond employee was standing on the other side. He wasn't frowning at you guys, but he did have a look of complete disinterest on his face.

"Welcome, what can I get you two?" The employee asked.

"Get whatever you want. It's on me." Ace smiled at you.

"Okay, umm..." You stared up at the menu. It was small with basic coffees on it, along with a few specialty drinks. You wanted something that would wake you up, so you did feel like passing out while Ace was showing you around campus. "I'll get a caramel cappuccino and a cheese Danish."

"I'll have the strawberry dragon fruit juice." Ace ordered. He didn't like coffee all that much and always went for something sweeter. He paid for your orders, and the employee got to work making them.

"Excuse me." You called out to the worker. He paused in making your drinks and turned to face you. "I saw the help wanted sign in the window and was wondering if you were still hiring?"

"Oh, yes. The position is for a barista. It would be for three days a week, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  It would be four hours in the morning. If that's okay?" The employee explained.

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Then fill this out." He handed you a form to fill out and pen before going back to make your drinks.

"You want a job? When are we gonna have time to hang out?" Ace dramatically whined.

"We'll still be able to spend time together. You said your classes were all in the afternoon and that you sleep in anyway. And all my classes are in the afternoon too, except on Friday." You chuckled.

"I guess it works out. But I thought your dad was paying for everything?" Ace stopped pouting.

"He's paying my tuition and for my dorm. And giving me money for food. But he said if I want money for anything else, I gotta pay for it myself." You explained. Your dad is a successful businessman and could easily give you money. But he wanted you to know the value of money and not just give it to you every time you asked for it.

"My name is Hawkins, by the way." The employee cut into the conversation. He placed your finished drinks and pastry down on the counter. He took your filled out form from you and quickly glanced over it. "You'll probably hear back from me later today or tomorrow."

"Thanks, I'm (Y/N)." You told him your name, realizing you didn't introduce yourself. He just nodded and turned to help a customer that just walked in.

"Someone doesn't seem too friendly. Sure you wanna work here?" Ace whispered. You nudged him in the side, his whisper wasn't much of a whisper, and you were hoping Hawkins didn't hear him. You both grabbed your drinks of the counter and left the cafe.

"I'll be fine. What do you do for money?" You asked. You took a sip of your cappuccino delighted by how bitter and slightly sweet it was.

"Pops gives me a monthly allowance. But I do odd jobs every now and then." Ace replied.

"Odd jobs?"

"Helping people move or putting up fences. Simple jobs around the house, really." Ace shrugged. He took the pastry you were holding and took a bite from it.

"Hey! Why didn't you get your own if you were hungry?" You quickly took your pastry back from him.

"I thought you'd share with me." Ace playfully pouted and leaned in closer to try and grab your pastry back.

"You eat too much. There will be nothing left for me." You took a few quick bites from your Danish.

"True. I'll go get something." Ace chuckled and ran back into the cafe. You waited outside, eating your pastry and taking sips of your coffee. You started to hear faint music in the distance, it sounded like drums and trumpets.

You looked down the sidewalk and saw what looked like a small marching band making its way down. They were handing out fliers to anyone they passed by. As they got closer, one of the members broke off from the group and walked over to you.

"Hey, pretty lady. My name is Apoo. Are you interested in music?" He held out of a flier for the music club. In big bold letters, it said new members wanted.

"Oh, no I-"

"Don't worry, I can teach you how to play anything." Apoo smirked and flipped his braided hair over his shoulder.

"I'm not-"

"Or maybe you'd like to play me." Apoo adjusted his glasses and leaned in closer to you. You took a step back and bumped into someone. You looked up and saw Ace glaring at the guy in front of you, he put his arm around your waist and moved you behind himself.

"She's not interested." Ace grumbled.

Apoo stared back at Ace for a minute before shrugging his shoulders and walked back to his group. "I guess music's not for everyone."

"You okay?" Ace turned to look at you.

"Yeah, I'm fine. He just wouldn't let me get a word in." You huffed.

"Some guys are annoying like that. Now, c'mon, let me show you around school." Ace smiled and wrapped his arm around your shoulder.