Dismissed ⤯ Tom Holland

12 | All Over Apple Juice

Y/N

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"So tell me," Tom asked, "what brought you to Francis?"

I was sitting beside him at the bar counter, twirling my straw around my apple juice cup. We hadn't been here long, but I already felt consumed by the pub's environment.

"My parents," I shrugged, "they pay for my tuition so I just go wherever they want me to."

"Sounds boring," the boy said bluntly.

"Hm, that's rich coming from you."

He gasped, his eyes lightening up with interest, "you think I'm boring?"

If I was any other person, I probably would have said no. But comparing him to my other missions, this was about as boring as it could get. I'd definitely trade drinking apple juice in Glasgow for skiing down the alps.

"And what about it?" I smiled, taking another sip from my glass.

He looked amused, and ran a hand through his messy hair. The top buttons of his uniform had become undone, and his tie was hanging lopsided.

"Fine," he suggested, "how about this?"

"How about what?"

"You cut me off."

I laughed, "I know."

"Anyways," he grinned, "since we're starting off fresh, why don't we try to get to know each other?"

I furrowed a brow, thinking about the proposition. I didn't know everything about Eliza's persona, but I could always make some things up. Or.... I could just be myself for a moment. In all the years I've been working at BIC, I never once had a mission that didn't require being someone else completely.

This could be nice.

"Sure," I nodded, "I'll start. What's your favorite food?"

"Sushi. There was this one restaurant I went to in Tokyo, and it's hands down my favorite place to go."

"You've been to Tokyo?"

"Yeah, I went last summer," he said, tilting his head, "my turn. Tea or Coffee?"

"Tea!"

"Same!"

"What's your lucky number?"

"Lucky number 3," he nodded, before raising an eyebrow, "what's your boyfriend's name?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but I didn't have an answer. Dating was strictly prohibited in the BIC, so my response should have been I've never had a boyfriend before. Would that be normal to say?

"I don't have one," I shrugged, tapping the side of my glass, "what's your girlfriends name?"

He chuckled, placing his elbows on the counter, "I don't have one."

"That's surprising," I mentioned, "aren't you popular among the ladies and gents?"

He looked off to the side, as if he had thought about this question a lot. I didn't really understand Tom, and that threw me off a little bit. I'd been trained to read people through thier actions, but with him it was different.

At first I thought he was a rude, self-centered jerk, but now I realize he isn't. He's just like anyone else, if not even a little bit better. I just didn't understand how I missed it, I never miss those things.

"Yeah, but it's not like that," he continued, "they only hang out with me when they have something to gain."

"To gain?"

"Getting in with the Headmaster? They think they'll get immunity from detention or whatever the hell they want."

"Oh."

He paused for a second, before turning to look at me again. I wasn't sure why he was staring at me, so I just stared back in blatant confusion.

"That's why I like you," he said bluntly, "you're not like that."

"Not like what?"

"You hated me the first time we met," he explained, "it didn't matter who I was or whatever my last name is."

"So you like me, because I hated you?"

He nodded, "exactly."

I turned my head, trying to hide the small smile inching onto my face. I didn't really think about it that way, and I felt a little proud that something that small mattered so much to him.

"Well," I laughed softly, "you're welcome, then."

Tom glanced down at his watch, before letting out a sigh, "it's time to go."

"Already?"

"Yeah, dinner starts in an hour."

I stuck out my bottom lip, hopping off the barstool. Placing a five dollar bill on the table, I waited for Tom to pay for his drink. We walked out of the bar, making our way around the sidewalk.

"I should be heading back to the trolley," I sighed, "you coming?"

"I take my dad's car."

"Oh."

"I'll see you later, though," he smiled, waving his hand, "bye."

I waved, heading towards the trolley that was parked across the street. Tom disappeared down a different sidewalk, veering out of sight. As I crossed the pavement, I stared at my feet in thought. I had only known Tom for six days, and yet I felt like I knew everything about him.

Weird.

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Hi! Sorry I haven't updated in so long, I wanted to finish my other two books first :(

but now they're done, and I should be more focused on this!

thanks for waiting <3