“I, for one, am fucking stoked!” Jay’s face is beaming with a big smile and almost glowing eyes. Bill and Ash don’t seem to be too keen, however. “Come on guys,” Jay continues, his excitement dampened just a tiny bit. “It’s like the good old times, right?” He looks at Ash sitting across from him, then to Bill still standing next to the table, back to Ash, back to Bill. “Right, guys?”

Ash gives him this fake half-smile, lips pursed, slight nod. He’s beginning to think that maybe Ash and Bill aren’t happy to see each other after that many years apart. 

It’s Bill who breaks the awkward silence that fell over the booth amid the jolly holiday music crackling through speakers older than he is. “What are you doing here, Lee?”

“Haven’t gone by that name since high school, Billy.” Her lips blow out as she breathes out with a heavy sigh. “It’s Ash, these days.” 

High school. That would be the last time the three of them hung out together. And the sudden, unexpected reunion doesn’t seem to go over well. 

Well, fuck that. “Come on, guys. Enough with this bullshit.” He slides over on his bench, grabbing Bill’s arm as he does. “Sit down. We’re all here for a reason, right? The Boss chose us to work together on this job, so let’s just get over and on with it, ‘kay?”

That strikes a nerve with both of them. Bill forces his arm back, and sure as hell isn’t sitting down. Something’s bothering him—even more than usual, Jay thinks. Granted, those two used be quite the couple back in the day. But that was years ago, why is he still upset about it? Jay considers asking that question directly, but as if Bill could sense it, he just walks away. Walks out of the joint. Screw him.

Ash looks around, trying to distract herself from the current situation. 

“Sorry,” Jay says, “should have told you the moment you sat down that Bill’s with me. Thought it’d be a nice surprise.” He takes his paper cup from the table, slurps his drink through the straw. Then he slides his tray over to her, which is still filled with the burgers and fries he ordered for Bill. “Hungry?”

She doesn’t look at him, but she chuckles ever so slightly. Finally, she’s letting down her guard, if even just a little. “You’re still all smiles and positivity, aren’t you, Jay?” She takes a few fries.

“Better than being pissed at the world all the time, Ash.” Way he says her name, it feels weird. They used to call her ‘Lee’ back in school. Guess she grew up and left that girl behind. “Tell me,” he continues, “what have you been up to? Haven’t seen you for almost as long as Bill has.” They hung out together after Bill’s family moved to the city, even worked in the same fast food joint for a while—this very place, in fact. Had a great time, actually. Both got fired at the same time for smoking weed in the storage room during the night shift. Was the last time they hung out together, more or less. Good memories.

Ash doesn’t really eat any of the food, as much as she’s just sort of playing with it, taking small bites. Takes her forever to finish a single fry. “Well, you know. Been around town, working the streets.”

Jay’s eyebrows rise up high. 

“Not like that, idiot. More like,” she seems to search for the right way to say it, “creative networking.”

“Scamming rich assholes out of cash while showing them a good time.” Jay finishes his drink, moves on one of the two cheeseburgers on the tray. “So, how did you end up working for the Boss?”

“She’s might aunt, actually.” Her elbows on the table, she takes another bite and looks out the window. Bill is leaning against their car, finishing a cigarette. 

Jay stops mid-bite. “You’re fucking with me?” Ash just shakes her head. He thinks for a second, shrugs, and finally takes the bite. His mouth full, half admiring the tasty burger in his hand and mouth, he says, “Cool. I’ve been running small jobs for her for years. Nothing as big as this one, though.” He leans back, pushing the last of his food into his mouth. “This could be a big deal for us, you know?”

She remains distracted, though. It’s testing his patience, not that he’d ever admit that. 

So he leans in again, closer this time. “Why are you here, Lee?” A short pause. “Ash, sorry.”

“What?” Ash finally turns away from the window. “Why am I hear? That’s a long story. Don’t feel like getting into it.” Jay tilts his head, expectingly. “Okay, let’s just say I need to prove myself to my—to the Boss. She gave me this assignment, wants me to make sure you two don’t mess it up.” 

Jay’s hurt by that. The hell does she mean, “don’t mess up?” Doesn’t the Boss trust him? He decides that she’s just being extra careful, that this isn’t a reflection on his standing or capabilities. Matter of fact, it’s about time he has a chance to prove himself, as well. And this job is the golden ticket for him.

He says, “So she put you in charge, that what you’re saying?” Ash nods. “Right.” Jay withdraws, thinks about it a bit longer, then shrugs. “Works for me.” It’s not a lie, not exactly. Part of him wishes he would be the one in charge, seeing how the Boss gave him the details of the job and all, but if Ash is actually the Boss’s niece, some level of nepotism is to be expected. Besides, if she needs to prove herself just the same, they’ve got something in common. An even playing field. 

They sit in silence in the booth for a bit longer, before Bill finally returns. He walks up to the table, points at the tray. “Did you eat my burger?”

“Was getting cold,” Jay says, big smile and all. 

Bill straightens himself, quite obviously summoning his courage. “Lee—“

She holds up a hand. “Save it, Billy. We’re here to do a job. And it’s Ash, please.”

There’s something strong between the two. Jay isn’t sure if it’s sparks or daggers, though. Either way, this has to stop. 

Jay jumps up, pushes past Bill, and all but throws him on the bench across from Ash. 

“Take it easy, man,” Bill protests.

With them sat across from each other, Jay puts his hands on the table, leaning over both them like a parent or teacher or some other authority figure. “Way I see it, we’re in this together now. I’m sorry that you’re bummed out by old feelings or whatever, really am. Shit was crazy back then, and all this is fucking weird. I get it.”

Ash cuts in. “What’s your point, Jay?”

“Zip it. The Boss selected us for this job, like or not. And we all have something to prove here, no? I, for one, am happy to get a shot at the big leagues here. And you—“ he turns to Ash “—you want to make your aunt happy.”

Bill perks up. “Aunt?”

Ash doesn’t meet his eyes, but she does confirm it. “Yeah, she’s my aunt. Father’s side. You know, the guy that walked out of my life.”

“I remember,” Bill says, a hint if pity in his voice.

Jay then looks at him. “And you’re new here. I think the Boss likes you, probably cause she likes me, and I got you working for her.”

Ash narrows her eyes, trying to read something in Bill. 

Jay stands up, claps his hands. “So. We do this right, we do this well, and all of us will have a bright future ahead of us, see? You guys have all the time in the world to hash out your feelings or whatever. After the job. What do you say? For old time’s sake?”

Ash sighs, nods. “Alright. You’re right.” Hell, she might actually mean it.

Then Bill asks the million dollar question. “What exactly is this job that secures us this bright future of yours? The Boss wasn’t exactly clear.” He looks at Ash, but she seems to be in the dark, as well. That raises a flag for Jay. She’s in charge but the Boss didn’t fill her in? Strange, but he’s got both of their focus on the job right now. No time like right now.

He starts beaming again. Big smile, bright eyes. “Oh, you gonna love this!”