prompt: we both work really late shifts on friday nights, and you gave me a ride home so i don't have to walk alone in the dark.

word count: 1475

...

tyler's pov:

i work in a bar on weekends. it's quite popular and i'm new to the job, so it can be quite exhausting.

i started around a month ago, therefore haven't worked that many shifts. but, i have worked enough to get the gist of how things are with different co-workers.

for example; hayley and ashley are always quite fun to work with. they keep the night alive, and most importantly - fun.

jenna is also great to get along with, and pretty much always has that beautiful smile on her face. but she has much less energy than the other girls, and is not forcing me to constantly be super hyper.

but then you have the guys.

i haven't mentioned, but i'm gay.

i don't know if that makes them feel awkward or not, but they seem to avoid me as much as they can. i seem to have only ever had one conversation with one of the guys that work here, and that was only because i needed to know where they kept some things.

but apart from those little things, i love my job. it pays well, i have fun, and i guess one day a cute guy could come in and i could have my happily ever after...

back to reality.

its 4:30pm and my shift starts at 5. i decided that since the walk wasn't that far, i could still get there on time. so i walked. it only took about 15 minutes to get there, so i waked in and waited for my co-worker to arrive.

talking about co-workers - i walk to check who i'll be working with tonight.

14/5 - joshua + tyler

great. one of the guys that i don't talk to. tonights going to be a long night. especially since we have the late shift, and don't get to leave until 2am.

as i'm waiting i decide that i'm thirsty, and i make myself a drink.

non-alcoholic obviously. i'm working.

i grab a small glass and one of the lemonade bottles, pouring some for myself. i lean my back against the bar - back facing the door - and slowly sip my drink.

i'm there for a few minutes, and i'm slowly zoning out until-

"hey, tyler" i jump around in shock, facing him with wide eyes. his face contorts into one of confusion so i start to explain myself.

"oh uh, hi joshua. i didn't hear you coming in" he smiles lightly and shakes his head.

"well you're lucky it wasn't someone other than me then, huh?" he walks around the bar and places his jacket on the rack.

"yeah, ahah" i awkwardly scratch my arm averting my gaze away from him.

this is so strange. of course we've worked together before, but he's never talked to me. and if i'm honest, i'm definitely not one to start conversations with others unless they come to me.

i take another sip of my drink before placing it atop the bar. i grab the sign-in book to log the start of my shift, and i write my name under todays date. as i turn back around i see josh now holding my glass of lemonade up in front of his eyes, swirling it around.

"uhm, sorry. what are you doing?" i ask, genuinely confused as to why he is handling my beverage.

"just checking you're not drinking on the job" he replied before taking a sip. my eyes widened in shock at the gesture. he just shrugged and placed the glass back down.

for a moment i was stuck in complete confusion, when i suddenly felt angered at the accusation.

does he really think i'd do that?

i look up at him, an angered expression now spreading across my face.

"you thought that i was drinking alcohol? while working? is that really what you think of me?" i stutter out quickly, slightly nervous now that i'm actually talking to one of the guys - and i must admit though his eyes are really pretty.

"what? no. i was just kidding tyler, geez. i thought you were supposed to be one of the fun ones around here" he spoke in a defeated tone, looking down at his feet.

"o-oh, i uh. i'm so sorry, i just never really-"

"tyler, really it's fine. i was joking" he chuckled, lightly hitting my shoulder and placing his hand there.

i looked at his hand and then up at his face. a blush now covering mine. i smiled back at him, trying my best to hide my face - but it was clear that he'd already seen it as his smile didn't leave. i was confused on why he was acting so weird. i mean sure, maybe he was just being nice, or normal even - but he'd never spoken to me prior to now.

and it was making me act weird.

"we should probably open up now. i can see a few cars pulling up out there" he spoke, walking over to the doors to open them. i sigh, internally wishing that i could go home already and not have to deal with a bunch of drunk people. but i need my pay, so i'll get over it.

...

the time was now 1:20am. we close at 1:30, and this guy is still here, and totally trying to hit on me in his drunken state.

"let me get you a drink, and maybe later you could take me home" the guy slurred, trying to wink subtly but failing.

"that's very sweet of you but i'm afraid i have things to do at home, and you should get home now too. it's very late" i smiled sweetly at him, gently encouraging him to leave the bar.

"but i don't wanna go on my own. please baby, come back with me. i'm real fun i promise" the guy carried on, beginning to whine and grabbing at my arms that were leaning atop the bar.

i stepped back, removing my arms from him and feeling slightly angered.

"sir, you need to leave. we're closing now, and i'm not coming home with you" i continued in a calm voice, but it was laced with annoyance. and i think josh could tell, as he made his way over to the guy from cleaning some tables.

"excuse me, you'll need to leave now. follow me" he gently grabbed the guys arm and pulled him out the doors. i could hear him shouting from the outside, but when josh came back in, he locked the doors so that the guy couldn't come back.

"you alright? did he hurt you?" i looked up at josh, concern filled his eyes.

"yeah i'm fine. he just grabbed my arms and tried to get me to go with him" his eyes flicked down to my arms and he pulled them up, gently rubbing over them.

"what-" i began, but he cut me off. dropping my arm.

"let's close"

...

after everything was cleaned and put away, we went around shutting all the lights off. after all of them were off, i pulled my phone flashlight out so we could go to the backdoor.

exiting the bar, i began to walk down the sidewalk in the direction of my house when joshua's voice called my name.

"tyler, where's your car?"

"oh, i walked to work. it's only a short walk anywa-"

"you can't walk home alone at this time. let me give you a ride"

"oh no it's fine don-"

"get in, ty" my heart stopped for a moment. he called me ty?

"o-ok" i walked over and opened the passenger door, getting in.

i gave him directions to my address, and the ride was only a few short minutes before he pulled up to my apartment building.

i felt awkward still after the nickname he gave me prior, so i turned slightly thanking him for the ride before grabbing the handle to get out.

"i'll uh, see you soon i guess"

"yeah- actually tyler, before you go" i turned back to him and walked closer to the car window, that was open.

"yeah?" i answered quietly.

"would you maybe want to hang out before our next shift together? i know we don't really talk much but, you seem really cool and i'd like to get to know you better" i was taken back by his statement? was he asking me out? or just to hang out?

"uhm, like to be friends or-"

"like a date, if you want?"

"oh!" my eyes widened and my face felt really hot. i definitely didn't expect that.

"yeah, i'd uh, love to. a date, yeah" josh just laughed lightly, also blushing a little.

"great. i'll text you tomorrow then. goodnight, ty"

"night, joshua" i smiled before turning and entering the building.

i'm going on a date!

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hii!

this isn't one of my favourite things i've written for this book. but! like i said in the
a/n some are better than others since a lot of them are practice writing.

i hope you liked it a little, and maybe stick around to read some more either way (: