The Journey Into Us
Pairing: Hiccup X Toothless
Rating: M for Mature
Disclaimer:I do not own anything HTTYD-related.
Chapter 36
=Trayden's POV=
(Friday, 1/23/2020; 5:20 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Restaurant)
Despite my disappointing and uneventful day of not having much luck with finding a job, or even just someone hiring, my evening was turning out alright. I was happy to run into Hunter at the park, and then get the opportunity to continue our meet with going to dinner together. Another surprising moment was our friends showing up and trying to turn this into a group dinner. Normally, I'd be all for it, but unfortunately, Hunter and I couldn't have our deeper discussions or talk about our hookups with the others around. However, while I thought the peaceful meal was about to be lost to a friendly hangout, Hunter stepped up and told them that his plans were already made with me, and perhaps next time they could all plan something to eat together. I hadn't expected Hunter to send the others off like that, but I wasn't complaining either. The waitress had come a few moments later as we ordered our drinks and the starter of Mozzarella Sticks, then because we already knew what we wanted for the main course, put that in as well. Gabriella, the waitress, headed off to put in our order, and returned quickly with our drinks. Hunter and I only went with soda, neither of us overly big on drinking for a casual sit down in a restaurant.
The appetizer came not more than ten minutes after our order was submitted, there were eight mozzarella sticks on the plate, so Hunter and I split them in half. "So now that we're not starving to death," Hunter began as both chuckled a bit. "What brought on you roaming around on foot today?"
I swallowed the bite he'd taken and shrugged. "Job hunting, fresh air, didn't really need the car because the weather wasn't too bad," I replied.
"How'd the job search go?" Hunter wondered.
"Slow and unsuccessful," I said. "Lot of places that aren't looking because they are fully staffed already or can't afford to give out the extra hours in slow seasons," I informed. "Same with online apps, or the few interviews where I never hear back after they take place. It's just-," I paused to find the word.
"Aggravating? Disappointing? Discouraging?" Hunter supplied.
"I'd go with annoying, but I suppose it can be those things too. I'd say it depends on how things went with each place," I admitted.
"Well, remember…You got a job at Wild Fantasies if you want it. You can bartend, serve, or work music with me. You could alternate too," Hunter smiled.
"Yeah, I've also got a guaranteed job with Andrew…" I muttered.
"Has he been trying to get you to come back?" Hunter inquired.
"Not in a harassing kind of way, but I went and saw him at the bar on Friday, right before I started feeling sick. I had completely forgotten to go Wednesday and return my uniform stuff," I explained. "I wasn't surprised or mad that he begged me to come work for him again. I honestly expected it,"
"Promising all the same stuff as before, added apologies everywhere?" Hunter chuckled some.
I nodded. "You got it. Promise of making me manager right away, at least two days off, no doubles, and he'd always be in sight on the floor or easy to locate," I sighed. "Hell, he even said I could choose my days and hours,"
"Are you considering it?" Hunter questioned.
"I told Andrew I'd think about considering it, but only that. I said I'd give if he didn't hear from me by the end of January then assume it's not happening," I revealed. "I know all the crap I went through working there, and that I was ready to quit, but it was still my first job after high school. I was there for almost six years. Yeah, six in June. It's a job I can do with my eyes closed, and basically do what I want…"
"And the situation being what it was last week makes you hesitant," Hunter mentioned as I nodded to him. "You're well within your rights to be apprehensive after what happened. You were told many times it would change, and all you saw was that it didn't. To put up with that and what went down, I'd be worried about the situations repeating themselves too." He added.
"I sort of figured on my own that things weren't going to change with the crazy hours until he got more people in there, which it appears he definitely has from what I saw last Friday," I replied gently. "My problem is what happened and how everything played out. The fact Andrew just barged into the situation without knowing what took place, and he defended that line the customer is always right,"
"That he assumed and didn't listen until the damage had been done," Hunter nodded, understanding how I felt.
"And for all the time I've worked there, and he's trusted and valued my opinion when it didn't matter. He couldn't do the same when something did matter. I've already forgiven him for what happened, but I don't know if I can bring myself to work for him again," I sighed some. I did love that job, despite saying I used to love it. I was just mad, tired, and not feeling well that night. I was annoyed with everything. "I'm not sure it's worth it to go back, even with the promises. I do see there are more employees there, Tristan and some of the others said Andrew had interviews all last week and hired a good portion of them. But still," I shrugged.
"It's your decision at the end of the day, handsome," Hunter smiled. "Just like with everything else, its always your choice,"
I nodded to him, knowing that fully. I was just torn on what to do. I've accepted that I'm probably not getting a job anywhere other than with Hunter and Gregory, or back with Andrew. It was a bad time of year to be looking for a job because small businesses were running slower, meaning they didn't want to payout extra money when they weren't making much money to fund more staff. And other places were already at full staff, so they didn't need the help. A few places I tried stopped after the interview, and some businesses I've submitted applications to said they'd get back to me, but I haven't heard anything back, even when I call to ask. Returning to work for Andrew meant I ran the risk of problems starting again, and I already had a good feeling of what issues would come up. Then I have the job offer with Hunter and Gregory, working at Wild Fantasies as a bartender, server, or assisting with the show. Hunter said I could alternate jobs and at least I know I wouldn't have any issues there, hopefully.
I didn't see how. I knew how to bartend and serve thanks to the experience working for Andrew the last nearly six years. I didn't know what Hunter would have me do for the show, probably music help so that he could join in more dances or the hotseats thing. It seemed like Wild Fantasies was well staffed and everyone worked together to ensure they got out at a reasonable hour. I was suddenly pulled from my thoughts feeling a hand on mine, I looked to see that it was Hunter's.
"You okay?" Hunter asked. "You went all quiet and zoned off," He smiled.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I went off in thought about the job thing, I'm fine," I replied cheerfully.
"Thinking about what other places you could apply to? I know there isn't much this time of year," Hunter stated.
"That's what was on my mind. Despite all the looking, applying, calling, and few interviews; I've gotten nowhere and I know it's because of where we're at in the year. Summer seems to be prime hiring time," I nodded. "I guess I was weighing my options," He added.
"Between?" Hunter invited me to go on.
"The only two places I know I'd probably get anywhere. Working with you or going back to Andrew." I responded as Hunter and me were still working on our appetizer knowing the main meal would be out in the next five to ten minutes.
"Going over pros and cons to make a decision?" Hunter inquired.
"Yeah, I guess," I answered. "The choice is more based on do I want to take the risk of having repeat problems with Andrew or clean slate with you and Gregory. It's not so much about the promises Andrew made because he left a lot of gray area on the offer of making me manager, and choosing my own hours,"
"What's the gray area?" Hunter wondered.
"He didn't specify what kind of manager he planned to make me. Am I manager of the bartenders? Servers? All staff? Am I managing the floor through operations while Andrew does owner tasks regarding inventory, schedule, orders, and finances," I explained. "With picking my own hours, as cool as it sounds, I'm sure there are limits and certainly no guarantee those hours stay what they should be if, as manager, Andrew calls me that he's running late or he ends up sick. Again, the also depends on what kind of manager he intended on naming me,"
"So the assumption would be he makes you a bar manager in the definition that he'll call on you to fill in where he is essentially needed in two places at once?" Hunter offered. "That he'd have you handling staff and customers while he does actual business-related tasks?"
"That's the idea. I didn't ask for details because I didn't believe I'd to consider returning. I felt I shouldn't inquire further or he'd get his hopes up," I shrugged.
"Probably true," Hunter agreed. "Your main concern is that you could end up getting more work than you bargained for. Despite promises, if you became any form of manager, the job requirements increase, as does your availability, and reliability in the example you gave of Andrew having a crisis or ends up sick and needs you to work in his place,"
"With how things had been since last June, it's not out there to say things won't be crazy again as a manager when college kids go on their school breaks or holidays. There's always the possibility that people end up quitting and we become short-staffed again," I mumbled. "It's a lot of what ifs and uncertainty, which makes me believe that I'm going to end up with problems again and be right back where I am now as unemployed because I'll end up quitting under the reasons that I'm not dealing with it again,"
"It sounds to me that you've subconsciously already made your choice. While the offer Andrew gave you seems great, your decision sways from accepting it because you know that while the opportunity to become a manager, choose your hours, and what not sounds incredible…It's actually not. I feel like Andrew's idea is to make you the, entire bar itself as a business, manager. Meaning he wants you to have a higher position to teach you how to run the place, so you can work in his absence." Hunter remarked.
"You're saying he's trying to split his work, to make it easier on himself? Give me a manager position so he can take days off and know everything is under control with me?" I asked.
"Seems like that's the case. Making you a manager means you are basically a second in command. And what happens when the leader can't lead?" Hunter smiled gently.
I understood his point. "The second steps up," I sighed. "Andrew wants me to come back because he knows he screwed up and to help himself. He didn't just lose me, he lost Nat too. We were two of three senior workers. With us three, Andrew could afford to come in late, run errands and everything because he knew we could handle the place ourselves. If one of us was manager, he could have days he didn't have to come in at all since we could make executive decisions as managers," The more I realized the severity to returning to work for Andrew, the more I saw that it wasn't a good choice. I'm only going to give myself more work, and as Hunter said, despite promises made; there were no guarantees I'd get what I was looking for out of returning.
"Does that help make your choice for you?" Hunter questioned.
I nodded a few times as the waitress delivered our food to the table, and took away the used appetizer dishes. Hunter and I got the same thing, honey barbecue chicken wraps, both without tomatoes. That was another thing Hunter and I had in common, not liking tomatoes. Hunter got onion rings for his side, and I did fries, but we did this to combine the two and share. Once we got situated with mixing the fries and onion rings on one extra plate, then a space for the ketchup, we took our first bites.
"I'm glad I went with your suggestion," Hunter chuckled. "This is really good," He praised.
"All the food here is good. It's been one of my favorite places since moving into the city a few years ago. The wrap is always in my top five," I smiled.
"What are the others?" Hunter wondered.
"Alfredo Penne with grilled chicken and broccoli, bacon burger, grilled chicken sandwich, or club sandwich," I informed.
"Oh, all of those sound fantastic," Hunter beamed. "I'm gonna have to kidnap you for lunch or dinner dates when I come here. I've only been a few times despite how long I've lived in the city,"
"You don't need to kidnap me, I'll join you willingly as long as you give me a heads up. They do to-go/pick up as well," I mentioned with a little laugh at his comment about kidnapping me.
"Awesome," Hunter replied. "So, can I ask why you didn't bring your car to the park, at least?"
I swallowed my food and took a drink first. "It was a nice day, and I figured the walking wouldn't kill me. My feet hurt and my legs are sore…But that's what I get for walking all day when I haven't exercised in months, maybe a year or so," I shrugged a bit.
"Warm bath for pain and soreness," Hunter offered. "Heat should help," He took another bite from his wrap.
"Probably will later tonight. Likely shouldn't have attempted walking so much right off the bat," I munched on a fry afterward.
"Yeah, it's best to ease into physical activity when you don't do it regularly or haven't for a while," Hunter chuckled. "You mentioned not exercising for a while, any reason why you stopped or just busy?" He wondered.
"It was a mix of work, trying to see family and friends, and ex-girlfriend," I sighed some.
"Was she one of those lovers who demanded all your free time?" Hunter blinked. "I've never been with a girl, but I've heard stories," He stated.
"There were several causes besides that. The demanding, I'd say, didn't start til towards the end," I said softly. "I used to go for jogs every other day, and find someway to push-ups or sit-ups every day. When I got with my ex, she used to meet me at the park and we'd go together. I always did it for the sake of staying active and in shape, I know she started joining because she wanted to lose some weight she put on while with her ex. It was good for a bit, then it was excuse after excuse of why she couldn't meet me, or didn't want to do it. There were times she'd say she missed breakfast due to waking up late. You know where I'm going with this," I informed as Hunter nodded to me. "I think after we'd been together for about four or five months, it just stopped all together in going running. I tried to keep up with basic exercises at home, and she'd call wanting to talk, or text and tell me I could do it later. So on and so forth," I mumbled.
"Ah, I got it," Hunter smiled. "She worked her way up to just straight taking all your time and the less you were able to get the running or small exercises in, you fell out of habit. Once you stop break routine, it's hard to pick things up again. I assume she and work were a main cause because you probably had that cycle among seeing friends and family,"
I nodded to him to confirm. "You assumed correctly," I replied. "After a while, the only physical activities I took part in were fast-paced job, grocery shopping, and cleaning the apartment,"
"Which can be useful in staying active, but not entirely as effective as actual exercise," Hunter mentioned. "Sounds like you had a lot of problems with this ex while you were with her. I couldn't help but notice the immense sarcasm in your voice when you told me that the demanding didn't start until near the end of things, so it makes me wonder what else she did," He took another bite from his wrap afterwards.
"If I start that story now, you'll be stuck here with me for a bit," I responded gently.
Once Hunter swallowed his food, he smiled. "I never have objections to spending time with you," I couldn't help but blush a bit. "And I wanted to see you again anyway, so definitely no issues with sitting around to understand your life before we met,"
"So you want to spend the time we get together talking about my past girlfriends?" I arched a brow, but kept my smile.
"I don't care what we talk about, Tray," Hunter smiled. "I don't even care what we're doing," He added, then paused. "I hangout with you because I genuinely enjoy your company. I like that we connect so easily and don't have to try and make this friendship work. We're similar in many ways when it comes to interests, likes and dislikes, some hobbies, and even thought process." I looked at him. "I find you not only good-looking, but quite intriguing. As I told you from the beginning, I want to get to know you better, all that I can. It's a bonus that you're different from the others, and I mentioned this to you last time we hung out,"
"Yeah, I remember," I recalled Hunter telling me that he knew his school friends, and also his coworker friends really well, but he didn't know me, Hailey, or Ethan since we weren't around until recently.
The three of us joined the school friends group after Hunter had been kicked out of his parents' house. I assume that Hunter probably knows Ethan fairly well now since Ethan works as a stripper for Wild Fantasies. Hailey is a friend, but evidently, Hunter isn't as interested in getting know her as much as claims to want to know me more. I wondered if that's because Hunter finds me attractive? He wasn't itching to see Hailey, and likely only learned more of her when she was hanging out with the others as a group. Hunter actively seeks to see me in and outside of the group get togethers. Last time Hunter and I got to see one another was last week on Tuesday when he came over while I cleaned, and helped me. Hunter confirmed that he enjoyed we could have real talks about basically anything while the others were apparently limited to only certain subjects. Now, I'm learning that he's intrigued by me and wants to know everything he can.
"I just enjoy spending time with you because it's different every time. New topics, information, and it's always fun. You're someone who keeps it fresh…Real, I guess. I never have to make the invite to hang out and know exactly how it's going to go," Hunter admitted.
Okay, can't deny that's it's kind of nice to hear that I'm different from others in a non-bullying way for once. I've been picked on before over it. I knew I was different, but I never thought that it would draw someone in more. "I could tell you more about it if you want, but I think we should do it after dinner and away from the curious crew," I motioned my eyes over to where our friends sat, unable to hear us, but definitely watching and trying to maybe read lips.
"Agreed," Hunter laughed a little. "Are you opposed to continuing to hang after dinner?"
"Nope. I was gonna message you once I got home from the park and see if you wanted to hang during the weekend, or sometime next week," I chuckled a bit.
"Guess fate decided we haven't seen each other in over a week, so clearly need to make sure we ran into one another before leaving the park," Hunter remarked.
"Can't argue with that," I nodded.
"My place? Your place?" Hunter wondered.
"Yours," I answered as he beamed. "Haven't been since the New Year's party, and I desperately need a change of scenery from my apartment or the city sights,"
"Well, I can definitely fix that for you. We'll finish up here and head to my house to relax and chat over a couple drinks. You look like you need it," Hunter stated.
"Probably do," I smiled as we both laughed some and went about continuing to eat dinner and talk about random things. My very dull, disappointing day was turning into what sounded like a relaxing, but fun night.
