A/N: Next chappie is here! XD And a new OC. I thought him up for Tori cuz she asked. Lawl. She almost got paired with Alistar, that jerk. Lawl. Read, review, and enjoy.
Chapter 10
(Ashley POV)
"How about that one?" she asked, pointing at a blond guy walking past the coffee shop.
Tori rested her chin on her fist. "No, he's a total bottle job."
Ashley nodded, "Touché." Hallam looked at them curiously. She shook her head. "Never mind then… Why don't we just go? Check out the pub a little?"
Tori gave a nod and pulled her pink wallet. She made a sour expression and looked up at Ashley. "Can you get the bill? I'm running on empty."
Ashley shook her head. "We've used the card way too much. We've got like twenty-five bucks left." They both turned and gave Hallam a pleading look. "Hal, can you…?" she asked.
Hallam pulled out some cash and dropped it on the table. "Okay. Maybe you should think about getting a job or somethin'."
Ashley looked at Tori unsurely. Tori had the same look on her face. "See thing is…we're supposed to get plane tickets to get home in like another week." Tori made a frown at him as she spoke.
Hallam's face dropped. He instantly looked to Ashley. "An' you didn't bother to tell me?"
She grinned nervously. "Surprise?..." 'Aw crap. Don't be angry… Don't be angry…'
Hallam scoffed and shook his head. "Why don't you stay at the apartment longer until you get some cash then?" he looked at Tori as he spoke.
Ashley pouted slightly and looked at Tori. "We did pay for a month. We could talk to Mr. Hume about it or something. Find out about something a bit more permanent." She bit her lower lip, thinking of options.
Tori tilted her head and nodded. She looked to Hallam. "Where's your place? You mentioned it when you were drunk."
Hallam looked down at the tabletop. "Uh, see I live a ways off with my dad and stepmum. Kinda been bunking with a friend."
Ashley looked at him, a little surprised. "So stay with us then."
Tori gave a nod. "Yeah. Just pitch in a bit and we can make it," she smiled.
He looked at Tori and his eyes wandered to Ashley. "I guess." He suddenly pointed to a guy, waiting at the cash register of the shop. "There's one."
The two girls whipped around and watched the guy until he turned around. Ashley glanced to Tori, whose eyes had lit up when she saw his face. Ashley stood up. "Be right back," she said. She turned and walked towards the guy, who was on his way over to a booth near the door. "Accidentally," she bumped into him. "Oh shit. Sorry," Ashley said in a worried tone.
"It's alright," he said with a tight hold on his coffee, which had a lid thankfully.
"I was actually wondering if you would mind sitting with my friend over there," she said as she pointed quickly to Tori. "My boyfriend and I don't want to leave her alone."
He gave a slow nod and held out his hand. "I'm Oliver."
Ashley shook his hand and giggled. "Thank you Oliver. I'm Ashley. Let me introduce you," she told him smiling. They walked over to the table and Ashley motioned to her old spot between Tori and Hallam. "Tori, this is Oliver," she told Tori as she pointed at Oliver.
Tori's eyes glimmered as she said, "Hello," in a dream-like voice.
Ashley winked at her as she said, "Hallam dear, we can go now." Hallam looked at her curiously and she made wide eyes at him, tilting her head towards the door twice.
He finally understood and got up. "Nice meeting you Oliver," Hallam said as he and Ashley walked out of the coffee shop. "That was a nice thing for you to do," he said casually as they walked down the sidewalk.
Ashley took his hand. "You're not mad?"
Hallam shook his head. "No. Just surprised. What'd you say to him anyways?"
She shrugged. "Just that we didn't want to leave her alone when we left."
"And where are we going?"
"Mmm…dunno. How about we go back to the apartment and watch a movie?"
Hallam nodded. "Can I pick?"
Ashley pretended to think about it. "Sure. Although anything you pick from our collection I'll wanna watch," she grinned. Hallam let out a small laugh as they began back to the apartment.
---
(Tori POV)
She watched Oliver's muddy brown eyes as he spoke. They were discussing books they loved. "But my all time favorite book is a manga called Higurashi," Tori told him with a bright expression.
"You read manga?" he asked before taking a drink of his coffee.
Tori nodded. "You know what it is?"
Oliver nodded. "A friend from overseas showed me one. I quite like them."
Tori grinned from ear to ear. "That's great." She looked at her phone. "I'd better get going."
Oliver stood up when she did. "But it's only two."
She shrugged. "Can't leave Ashley alone for long. Might throw a party or something," she joked. "Why don't I give you my number?"
Oliver gave her a nod and pulled out a grey cell phone from his jeans pocket. They exchanged cell numbers and she gave him a wave as she swiftly walked out of the shop. 'Well that went better than I expected.'
---
(Ashley POV)
Ashley was lying close to the edge of the couch with Hallam behind her. 'This couch isn't meant for two to lie on.' The movie was halfway through and she heard the door opening. She craned her neck a bit to see Tori walking in.
"You two better be fully clothed," she said in a slight grumble.
Ashley pushed herself up and looked at her. "We are Torence, don't worry." Tori went into her room and tossed her bag down, then returned to the living room. "How'd it go with Oliver?" she asked as Hallam paused the movie.
Tori smiled. "Well he likes manga and gave me his number."
Ashley beamed and got off the couch, bouncing around to Tori. "Celebration is in order then," she said in an excited tone. "And you'll have to give me his number, too so when you hang out I can find ya."
She saw Tori glance at the television screen. "Are you watching Transformers?" she asked. Ashley nodded and Tori walked around the couch, sitting on the floor in perfect view of the television. "Unpause it then," she shouted.
Hallam unpaused it and Ashley went back to her spot on the couch with him. "Bumblebee, stop lubricating on the man," she quoted as Optimus Prime spoke. The trio's laughter echoed around the darkness of the room.