Ryder's POV
I honestly felt bad.
I woke up this morning to an empty and cold bed.
For a split second I thought I was back and camp and that Jax was in the bathroom and Callum and Liam were off to get breakfast but when I peaked an eye open, that dream washed away.
Jax and Callum were at work and Liam was at his session at Andrew's house, not his office back at camp.
I was the only one who hasn't moved forward yet.
Andrew had asked me what I wanted to do job wise before we graduated but after I told him about the guy at Town Day, he told me not to worry about it for now.
That stupid fucking guy. I wish we had never even gone in there. Everyone else was already starting careers or going to school and I was here, barely being able to go outside without someone else being with me.
Even with someone, going outside made my anxiety worse.
I had Andrew come over yesterday with the excuse of I needed help with the apartment but when he got here we ended up having a session. I had pretty much told him about everything that had happened since we left camp but he mostly just shrugged it off.
'You're going to be stressed and that stress is only going to add to the anxiety,' he had said. 'You went through a trauma that happened to do with a stranger and now you are surrounded by them.'
'Yea I get that but how am I supposed to stop it? I want to get a job and get used to things here. How am I supposed to do that if I can't go outside without a boyfriend attached to my hip?'
Andrew had frowned at that.
'Take things slow, there is no reason to rush. Only go out with people you trust and don't stay longer than you are comfortable with. Keep doing this every day, staying out a little longer every time, and eventually everything will just click.'
'Why is this different than Town Day though? I went to those all the time and was never this anxious.'
'Because this is new. You've never been to this side of town and the guy at the last Town Day only made it worse. I know you are tired of hearing this but it will just take time.'
'How long?'
He didn't have to answer that for me know it was going to be a while.
Now I just had to sit here and play housewife while the others got to live their lives. I honestly felt bad that they had to work their asses off to help make ends meet while I was here, not doing shit.
I felt useless and I honestly hated everything about it.
Callum's POV
"Don't forget to get your tips before you leave," Tanner called out from the kitchen. "Only half though. The rest is mine."
"Thanks for reminding me," I say with a small eye roll. He had calmed down today but it was still a lot.
I did pretty good tip wise today, making about 20 bucks so I'd consider that a win since I only words for a few hours today but we used most of yesterday's tips on food yesterday and I doubted 20 bucks would get us very far for food today.
At least we still had some camp money left over so we could dip into that if we needed to.
I can't help but let out a small sigh as I walked out of the coffee shop, letting the fresh air wash over me as I walked back to the apartment.
"I'm back babe," I called out when I stepped into the apartment. Ryder came running down the hall only a few seconds later before jumping into my arms.
"I missed you," he said as he looked up at me.
"I missed you too. Liam should be on lunch, do you want to go bring him lunch and visit him?" Hesitation flooded his eyes before he shook his head.
"I don't think that would be a good idea."
"That's fine. Do you want to come with me to lunch or do you just want me to bring back something?" I expect him to say no but I can't help the smile that works its way onto my face when I hear his answer.
"Can we go to like a fast food place and get it to go?"
"Of course," I say as I pull him into my side and walk towards the door. "Where do you want to go?"
"I'm just along for the walk. Where ever you want is fine with me. How was work by the way?"
"Colby is starting to drive me crazy and Tanner isn't much better but I get to work with new people on Friday so that might be a little better." Ryder hummed at that as he shut the door behind us while his other hand clasped around my arm.
"You think Jax is doing okay?"
"I'm more worried about Liam to be honest," I say with a frown. "He was too quiet yesterday."
"I noticed that too. I thought it was just because he was tired though."
"He might have been but still. We really need to be looking out for everyone before they bottle it up and explode later. That needs to be applied to you to. You don't have to tell me or the rest of us, but at the very least, promise me you will talk to Andrew still."
"I promise. What are we going to do about Jax though? If he says he doesn't want to go, we shouldn't force him right?"
"We shouldn't but if he's not going to talk to Andrew then we need to make sure that he's talking to at least one of us."
"I just hope he hasn't killed anyone yet."
Jax's POV
"Did you bring something for lunch today or are you going out to find something again," Dayton asked as he stepped into his station.
I had been hiding out in here pretty much all day.
When Dayton asked to see the sketches I made I had handed him the ones of Ryder. He seemed impressed with them but seemed a bit disappointed when I told him that was all I had and instead of having me do all the boring stuff, he sent me to draw.
"I'll probably go out for something," I say with a shrug as I looked up from the sketchbook for the first time in several hours. Dayton looked down at the book. He didn't have to say anything for me to know he wanted to see it so I toss it to him.
"You draw this boy a lot," Dayton noted as he looked over it.
"He's my boyfriend," I said as I stood up. "Is it decent at least?"
"Yea it's very good. When you get back from lunch try something else though. As much as I love seeing your boyfriend, I want to see if you can do other things."
I only nod as I stand up.
"I forgot my lunch at home," Dayton said just as I was about to walk out of the shop. "Would you mind if I joined you? I'll pay for your lunch."
"Why," I spit out before I have the chance to stop myself.
"Because I also want to eat," he said in a duh-like tone with a small chuckle. "I didn't realize it would be such a bother."
'Are you okay with him coming or should I tell him no?' Carter huffed.
He still didn't like Dayton. He didn't like how big and unpredictable he was. One second he was hard to read and the next he was joking with Kate nearly non-stop before he went back to being unimpressed.
He can come but I'm not going to play nice.
"I'm not one to say no to free food but just so you know, Carter is the only one who eats and he doesn't like you," I say as I open the door, walk out, and try to find some place to eat.
"What do you mean Carter doesn't like me? What did I do?"
"Mostly nothing," I say with a shrug. "He doesn't like most people."
Stop talking about me like I'm some dog.
'Sorry.'
"He also doesn't like how you flip from being happy to stoic." Dayton frowns at that but says nothing else as he opens a door to some fast food place.
The smell of the food alone was nearly enough to make me gag.
"Go find us a seat, I'll get us something," Dayton said almost as soon as we got in line.
Let me in front before you throw up on a table, Carter huffed out as he began pushing forward.
I don't fight him and soon enough I am sitting on the hard couch.
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