Skylar works as a server at a restaurant, named Brandy's Bistro, part time. To be honest, he doesn't mind it all that much. Jessie told him that getting in the service industry would suck, but he's found himself to be quite decent at it. Add on the fact that he bar backs some of the time, and he makes decent money for an eighteen year old.

At this rate, he might just end up doing this the rest of his life.

One would think he'd suck at any sort of customer service, what with his horrible personality and even worse people skills. Still, it's somehow become one of the only things he's good at.

The only downside of this place, is the fact that he has to work with Ashton Rivera.

The guy bartends part time at Brandy's, to pay for his college. He only works once or twice a week, but it seems like every time he does Skylar is scheduled with him. When it comes down to technicalities, Ashton got Skylar this job-at the request of Jessie, of course. Skylar was having a difficult time nailing any interviews, and ten guesses as to why.

Exactly! His personality. It sucks.

The fact that Ashton is the entire reason Skylar works here is cause for more than a few arguments. The guy likes to act like Skylar owes him for it. Which, sure, it's appreciated, but he's not the entire reason Skylar is employed. Ashton got him the interview, and to some extent the job, but Skylar being amazing and cooler than everyone in every way is why he still has it.

Anyway, it's nearing the end of the night and Skylar has been cut from rotation, the only people still on right now being the closers. He has one table left, and they've ordered a last round before they said they'd close out.

So, here Skylar is, waiting on the server side of the bar-by the to go area-for two beers. Except, Ashton is taking his sweet time. The ticket is still attached to the printer and everything, the guy hasn't even looked at it.

He's too busy talking to a middle aged woman at the bar about the football game taking place on the TV above him. Skylar is growing impatient. He checks the time on the ticket once again.

Six minutes. Doesn't sound like a lot, but it fucking is.

"Ashton!" Skylar snaps, watching as the guy glances over at him after a few seconds. The woman also looks at him with a raised eyebrow, and Skylar doesn't give a fuck if he's being rude. She isn't his customer, he won't make money off of her, not his problem.

"Make my fucking drinks." Skylar orders, pointing at the ticket for emphasis. Ashton holds up a single finger, and goes back to talking to the lady. This, of course, pisses Skylar off to no end.

Skylar has to tip this fucking guy out at the end of the night, and he can't be bothered to do what he's being paid to? Skylar finally gives up, slamming the table's check onto the bar top in irritation. He doesn't get Ashton's attention until he's actually walking behind the bar.

He grabs two glasses out of the cooler, turning around and setting them on the drain. He pours each of them, then turns around and walks back onto the floor. He puts the check back in his apron, stabs the ticket, and doesn't even spare Ashton another glance-despite the fact that he can feel the man's eyes on him.

So, despite the fact that Skylar is a bar back, he's still not supposed to go behind the bar when he's serving. He doesn't really give a shit, though, especially when Ashton won't do his goddamn job.

Eventually Skylar's table leaves, and he gets his manager to run his check out. Unfortunately, to get his money he has to go to the bartender. It's basically his least favorite part of his shift.

Skylar takes a seat at the bar, across from the register. The lady Ashton had been talking to has since left, and there are a few men sitting at the other side, as well as a couple tables. That's all, though, and Ashton is clearly not busy. Doesn't stop him from taking forever to finally come up to Skylar and grab the receipt.

Skylar got a lot of cash payments tonight, which is why he isn't surprised that he owes money.

"You owe the drawer 46 dollars," Ashton notifies him, grabbing Skylar's small stack of receipts. "And me 10."

Skylar has to pay the bartender ten percent of his tips for tip out. So, owing Ashton ten dollars would mean that Skylar made 100 dollars tonight. Except, he didn't. He made about eighty five at most, due to it being slow.

"Fuck off," Skylar says, handing over the drawer money. He knows that Ashton knows he doesn't owe that much. The guy just wants to piss him off. "I'm not giving you shit, I had to come back here and pour my own beers."

"Yeah, illegally." Ashton says, dramatic as always, "what about the other 15 drinks I made you?"

Okay, Ashton has a point there. Still, Skylar doesn't give a fuck. He grabs a one dollar bill from his stack of cash, and slaps it on the bar. Ashton just raises an unimpressed brow at him.

"Fuck you." Skylar says elegantly. He turns around, ready to hop down from the bar stool and go home, but then his wrist is being grabbed. He jumps at the contact, because he hates it when this guy touches him. Honestly, Skylar should've known what was coming even before he turned his irritated gaze to Ashton' dark eyes. Before the guy ever opened his mouth.

"Again?" Ashton asks, giving Skylar the look.

Skylar's eyes widen, cheeks immediately filling with color. He feels tingles in his arm where Ashton is holding it, and the way that he's looking at him reminds him of...

Ashton' eyes, darker than usual, gazing down at Skylar as he works. Skylar's never seen his brother's best friend like this, head tilting back in pleasure when Skylar does something different with his hand. His eyes flutter closed, hand reaching down to grasp Skylar's hair and guide him up and down and-

Skylar jerks his arm out of Ashton' grip, trying to remember how to function with the memories clouding his mind.

Skylar just glares at him, and Ashton has this half smile on his face. No way he isn't thinking the same thing Skylar is. About that night that Skylar tries to forget, the one time mistake that will stay a one time mistake.

"No idea," Skylar says, finally jumping down from the bar stool. Still, he's staring at Ashton's mouth when he continues. "What you're talking about."

That's basically the way he's always dealt with this. He just pretends it never happened, at all costs, and Ashton seems to think it's the most amusing thing ever. For Skylar's own health, he just can't allow himself to think about it. He regrets that night so fucking much, and not for the reasons he should.

He hears Ashton chuckling behind him, because he's always found Skylar's reactions-specifically to this-amusing, and Skylar wants to hide. He wants to never see this guy again. This is why he wastes no time escaping through the to go door and running-but-not-quite to his car.

It's only after he's seated in the driver's seat, that he releases the breath he hadn't noticed he was holding. He closes his eyes, willing his heart rate to go down.

It never happened.

-

"Okay, no, it's because you have a dirt bike?"

"Yeah, but you're not using it for god knows what stunt."

Skylar sighs, running a hand down his face. He will never tire of having to convince Lily to use any of her things every damn time. "Charlie got me the vans, though."

"So?" Lily replies with attitude.

"So do you know how long it took him to convince his dad to let him borrow the work vans?"

There is a silence, and Skylar hears some noise in the background. It sounds like children yelling, but that's to be expected since Lily has a lot of siblings. Skylar listens as the sound gets fainter and fainter, until eventually he hears a door shut. He assumes Lily got away from the noise to better talk to him.

"I don't care. Why do you even want to do this?" She asks, and judging by her tone of voice, she's starting to give in.

"Because Wes said it'll be sick if we record it from a Go Pro."

Skylar will not tell her any more details, because she does not need to know they are lining up vans to jump over a dumpster with a dirt bike, which is kind of a similar stunt to the one that lead to... nevermind. Anyway, there's no way she would agree if she knew that, and honestly Skylar wouldn't be bothering her with it if she wasn't his only option. Nobody else he knows has a dirt bike, or any sort of off-roading anything. At least, not one that's high enough.

Skylar elects to ignore the fact that Ashton and Jessie's ATV's would likely work just as well.

He winces at the thought of that douchebag. Ever since their conversation yesterday, when the guy referenced... The Event from months ago, Skylar can hardly focus. Ashton comes to mind at random times, he can't escape it.

This happens every time Ashton randomly brings that night up. It doesn't leave Skylar's mind for days, even weeks. Then, once he finally has it out of his head, the asshole just has to remind him of it again.

"Whatever, you said tomorrow at six? I'll need it back by nine. I promised my brother he could ride it in the woods before the neighbors come back from vacation."

Success. Skylar feels so accomplished, an emotion he feels every time he's able to convince Lily of anything. She's difficult to sway, but they've been friends since before they could color inside the lines. Therefore, she tends to make an exception for Skylar.

Also, she's the only one that knows about The Event. Aside from Ashton and Skylar, of course.

Ah fuck, now Skylar's thinking about it again. He quickly starts talking again in hopes of distracting himself.

"Okay thanks." Skylar says, some of his excitement leaking into his tone. This is awesome, he can't wait to tell Wes.

They hang up not too long after that, and it's been a while since Skylar has tried any stunts like this. A few weeks, which is rare. He's typically doing shit like this on a weekly basis.

Skylar spends the rest of the day planning with Wes, before falling asleep at about two in the morning. He's hoping he won't dream at all, because he knows exactly what he'd dream about.

Sadly, that wish is not granted.