strings // newtmas au

how far we've come

Janson treated them to lunch the next day before they had to get back on their bus. They went to a nice place, a nice restaurant with large windows and fancy chairs. Janson told them to order whatever they wanted, so Thomas got salmon, Teresa got a sandwich as big as her head, Minho got more food than he probably could eat and Newt got some type of fish that he said was popular in England.

Thomas sat next to Teresa in the booth. Minho and Newt shared the other side while Janson sat in a chair on the end.

Thomas decided that Janson was weird, he was really into his work and was oddly particular about it. He babbled on about details as they stuffed their faces with their overly priced meals.

"Your instagram," Janson started. "Who runs it?"

"Tommy's sister," Newt said.

"I think you should post some more pictures of Thomas and Teresa. At least just a few, people are going to start noticing you guys, the relationship should be established early. We can answer the question of why Thomas is on the tour before it's even asked."

Newt locked his jaw, frowning hard.

Minho noticed and gently squeezed his arm.

"Okay," Teresa said, breaking the weird tension in the air. "We'll do that."

Newt forced a forkful of food into his mouth, scowling at the table as he did so.

"Anyways," Janson clasped his hands together. "I was thinking about new music, you put your album out almost a year ago right?"

Minho nodded.

"Are you working on anything new?"

"Newt has a bunch of songs started, they're all really good. We were gonna get about fourteen and put out the second album then."

Janson nodded happily. "That sounds good. Can we aim to get it out maybe a few months afters this tour ends at the latest."

Nods went around. Janson flagged over a waiter and asked for the bill to be put on his account whatever that meant.

"Well I'm satisfied," Janson said as he stood up and buttoned his coat. "If we have anything further to discuss, you have my number." With a wave, he was gone.

For a little while it was just silence, no one spoke until Newt dropped his fork and frowned saying, "I don't like him."

Minho and Teresa both looked at him. "Dude he got us on Blink 182's tour."

"I said I don't like him."

Minho put up his hands in surrender. "Okay, just play nice, the guy knows what he's doing, he can really help us."

"Yeah," Newt said as he looked down.

Thomas gently nudged his leg under the table with his foot. That made Newt smile a bit as he kicked him back.

"I mean like him or not, he just paid for our dinner so at least be satisfied that you took his money."

Newt shook his head at that but his shoulders dropped, the tension gone from them.

"You guys want to get out of here?" Minho asked as he burped and wiped his face with his napkin.

"Yeah, I think I need a nap," Teresa said as she stretched.

"A nap? We haven't left the hotel all day besides this." Minho pointed out.

"You kept me up all night with your kicking!"