Chapter Text
As Miles changed throughout the years, one thing stayed as a constant: he had the tendency to put off certain tasks in favor of ones he was focusing on at the moment. He knew that this was an issue, but he always figured that it was future Miles’s problem. Well, that was true. And now it was future Miles’s turn to deal with his lack of job experience and connections, his only friends being Hobie, a job hopper who played music in bars occasionally, and Gwen, who helped out Hobie with music sometimes and had a temporary job at this nearby cafe that didn’t even like her.
As for Miles, he had gotten a bachelor’s degree in graphic design after 4 years and still couldn’t find a job, the crippling debt of his college loan weighing on his back. He had a few internships, but none of them paid and, even if they did, it was barely enough to pay for food on the table. Miles desperately wanted to go back in time, grab his past self, and kick himself for putting off planning his future. Being in a run down apartment that was planned to be destroyed in a few months was definitely not ideal, especially since he had to share space with 2 other young adults who were finding their own way at the same time he was.
Gwen slammed the door to their apartment, groaning out in frustration as Miles looked up from the couch and Hobie nodded at her from the nearby wall. Gwen slinked into the spot next to Miles, her eyebags protruding out from her pale skin. “I fucking hate my job.” Her words came out as if it could crush anybody who even dared to tell her otherwise.
Hobie hummed, crossing his arms as he gave Gwen a nod. “It’s the government, man. It was just as bad in the UK. It’s shit everywhere we go.” Hobie’s voice soothed Gwen as she let out a strained laugh. “You’re right about that, man.” Gwen laid her head on Miles’s shoulder, Miles looking at her with pity. All 3 of them had been friends from a young age, bonding from their fish-out-of-water personalities that had been rejected from years before by their peers. As a result, they were as tight as they could be, having survived even their most awkward years as they figured out their identities.
Miles sighed, staring up at the ceiling in annoyance. “Why does everyone have to be so selfish? Can’t they understand we’re just some poor kids that barely know how life works?” Gwen laughed, her elbow nudging Miles’s gut. “We’re not kids anymore, Miles. At least, 22 year old kids would be really weird.” Miles blinked and frowned, responding with, “Well, yeah- But, still! It’s just- Oh come on, let me wallow in my self-pity!” Miles pushed Gwen off of him as she let out a cackle, Hobie chuckling along with her.
“Hey, even though we’re all about hating capitalism, or at least I am, I’ve found a job offer for you, Miles,” Hobie said, walking over to Miles as he widened his eyes. “Wait, really Hobie? Are you serious?!” Hobie nodded, Miles’s face growing a wide grin as he shot up from his seat, comparable to a cartoon character from the early 1900’s. “Hobie! This is the best news I’ve heard in…ever!” Miles eagerly fist bumped Hobie, who lightly laughed at his friend’s enthusiasm.
“My friend, Pavitr Prabhakar, is an up-and-coming model and he could use an editor for his pics to make him look prettier than he already is. He brought this up over a cup of chai and I mentioned you. Pav is super stoked, and I’d say you have a high chance of getting the job. I’ve seen your work, and it amazes an anarchist like myself.”
Miles lightly punched Hobie’s arm affectionately, his smile only growing. “Jeez, you didn’t have to do this, Hobie! I’m seriously indebted to you.” Hobie chuckled and ruffled Miles’s hair, saying, “Don’t sweat it, lil man. You can repay me by getting me a coffee tomorrow. Sound good? Now, you should send in your application right away so that you seem less like the procrastinator you actually are. The email is…”
- - - -
Miles practically leaped into the coffee store, his heart soaring as he thought back to the possibility of having a real job. No more internships, no more classes…an actual job that earned him money! Miles’s grin shone throughout the entire store, blinding the customers who envied him for having any sort of energy in the ripe hours of the early morning. As Miles waved to Gwen’s manager (who didn’t particularly like him as much as she despised seeing him every time he walked through the door), he ran into somebody, who stumbled over and let out a surprised noise.
Miles quickly turned around, his cheeks heating up in embarrassment as he noticed the spilt coffee all over the man’s chest. “Ah, shoot, sorry si-” Miles shut his lips tightly as his eyes took in the sight of the man in front of him. His hair seemed as if touching it could pull Miles into a world of his wildest dreams, and his face…oh his face made it worse as Miles noticed how beautifully they looked back at him as his eyelashes hovered above the brown beauties. The smile that took over his face made Miles melt even deeper into his thoughts, dimples being one of Miles’s biggest weaknesses. God, even his jawline was perfect, and only then did Miles notice how he had been silent this entire time as the man looked at him with an awkward gaze.
“Crap, sorry! I really didn’t mean to space out like that uh…let me try to…” Miles grabbed a nearby napkin, the man trying to stop Miles to no avail. Miles frantically tried to clean up the man’s top, trying not to think about how goddamn embarrassing this was, especially considering how he was just noticing that the man was incredibly well built. The man took hold of Miles’s wrist and gave him a slight smile. “Really, it’s okay! I wasn’t watching, it’s my fault. And you’re doing me a favor, really. My manager has been telling me to get rid of this top for ages…”
The man let out a laugh, Miles thinking of it as being comparable to an angel’s sigh. “Ah, are you sure?” Miles said, clutching the napkin as the man nodded. “I’ve got to go, anyway, but! Don’t let this get you down! Oh, and, before I go…” He leaned down to Miles’s ear, a smile on his lips as he whispered, “Close your mouth. You’ll catch flies.” He leaned back and gave Miles a wave before quickly leaving the store, drinking what was left of his spilt coffee.
Miles’s cheeks flared up, closing his mouth. If it weren’t for the fact that Gwen’s manager was handing him a mop with the same stick up her ass, Miles would be sure that whatever just happened was some weird fantasy he had after getting drunk on wine coolers with Hobie and Gwen. Especially after he made such a fool of himself… Miles reluctantly cleaned up the mess, his heart bleeding out of his ears.
- – - -
A week had passed, and Miles still hadn’t heard anything back from his job application. Gwen sighed as she stared at the sight before her, Miles pacing back and forth between their dingy living room that was combined with their kitchen. “Don’t tell me you’re still worrying about that job…it’s no big deal if you don’t get it.”
Miles frowned, continuing to nervously stare at the floor, his feet moving on their own. “I barely ever get job offers…and the fact that it’s taking this long is making me even more upset than if they just immediately told me that I didn’t get the job!” Gwen let out a chuckle and walked over, slinging her arm over Miles’s shoulder to get him to finally stop, Miles looking at her with a distressed expression.
“Listen, dude, you can’t get stressed over this. I started applying for jobs as soon as I turned 16, and I learned that people…are assholes! You’ll get denied over and over again, and the only thing you can do is get back up. So even if you don’t get this single job, that shouldn’t mean anything. This is a pretty big job to start with anyway, so-”
Hobie barged into the apartment with a loud BANG! Gwen groaned and returned her arm back to her side. Hobie gave Miles a smirk as he held up a sealed envelope, Gwen’s speech immediately leaving Miles’s mind as he ran over to Hobie and grabbed it. Miles quickly sped to the nearby dining table and ripped open the envelope, his heart racing as his mind swarmed with the possible words that the paper inside could contain. Gwen and Hobie hovered over Miles as he took in a deep breath, pulling out the paper for it to say…
Free Chinese food! Call 212-555-...
Miles’s face fell as Hobie and Gwen let out cackles of laughter. Hobie pulled out a paper from his pocket, his laughter still ongoing as he said, “Oops, wrong paper, mate! Here’s the sheet you were most likely waiting for.” Miles glared at Hobie, taking the paper out of Hobie’s hands swiftly and opening up, expecting another joke. Instead, he found a professional letter addressed to him, the first line saying…
He was hired.
Miles read the rest of the letter, his mind hazy as the possibility of it being a prank still resided in his mind. But, nope, Hobie didn’t claim otherwise and their laughs transitioned into congratulations and supportive motions, Miles slowly forming a smile on his face.
“Man, bruv, I’m so stoked for you. Pav is a delight to be around and he’s your type, I know it,” Hobie said, giving Miles a smirk. Miles lightly laughed, pushing him away. “My type? I doubt we’ll even talk that often. It is a work relationship after all…” Hobie ruffled Miles’s hair, a light tone to his voice as he said, “Pav isn’t that sort of guy…trust me.” Miles raised his eyebrow at Hobie, unsure of what he meant.
It didn’t stay that way for long.
- - - -
Miles took in a sharp breath as he walked inside of the room, his thoughts rambling. Who even was Pavitr Prabhakar? Would he even see him today? Why did this place look like an office? Was he even in the right place? The stillness of the hallway outside of the room abruptly transformed into a loud and overwhelmingly busy modeling show with, what Miles could only guess, multiple models that had just started out, not being able to afford their own personal photo shoots.
The loud cameras and people created a loud pounding against Miles’s head. The place was so lively that Miles couldn’t make out any faces, everybody constantly moving as if keeping still would kill them. All Miles needed to do was to meet with Pavitr’s manager and leave. He did not even need to meet Pavitr himself.
Miles let out a deep breath and scanned the room, his eyes not finding the manager but, instead, a different person. Miles widened his eyes as he realized what he saw: it was the guy from the coffee shop. Was he an intern? Miles couldn’t tell, but once he saw the man look towards Miles’s way, he knew it was over. Please don’t tell me he recognizes me. Maybe if I’m lucky, he’ll disappear into thin air.
“Ah! Clumsy guy!”
Ah.
Miles slowly turned to him, a forced smile forming on his face. Did he seriously have to call me that? “Heyyy, man. I’m just looking for someone and I’ve really got to go soon, so you should lea-”
The man gave Miles a bright smile, Miles thinning his lips together. “Oh! Then I can help! I know basically everyone here.” Miles gave him a quick look of annoyance before his obligatory smile came back. “No, really, it’s okay…”
“Trust me! Just tell me who it is and I’ll get you there in a jiffy.” The man stared at him with expectant eyes, Miles letting out a nervous laugh. Figuring that they might be here all day, Miles reluctantly said, “Well…do you happen to know Pavitr Prabhakar’s manager? I need to fill out some p-”
The man’s eyes lit up as he let out a gasp. “Are you the graphic designer?” Miles stared at him with an incredulous look, letting out a skeptical, “Yes?” The man smiled and pointed at himself. “Of course I can take you to him! He is my manager after all.” Miles widened his eyes as his shoulders stiffened. This was Pavitr Prabhakar? The man he spilled coffee all over? Miles’s cheeks turned red as he looked the other way.
“Ah, so you’re Pavitr?” Pavitr nodded. “And you’re friends with Hobie! Your work is incredible, by the way! Mark Morales, was it?” Miles looked at Pavitr with an expression that seemed as if he had just gotten hit by a truck. “No, it’s uhm. Miles.” Pavitr snapped his fingers and lightly laughed. “That’s right! Sorry about that, I’ve got way too many things to remember, like meetings and what to eat for dinner…”
Miles nodded, feeling his emotions boil. Am I being patronized right now? As Pavitr rambled on, Miles simply gave him a subtle glare, focusing on his perfect hair , his perfect eyes , his perfect voice , and even perfect life . Yeah, he definitely didn’t trust this guy. Even if he was friends with Hobie.
Miles cut off Pavitr with an annoyed look, saying, “So can I talk to your manager now?” Pavitr blinked and smiled, Miles wanting to punch himself in the heart after feeling it flutter. “Of course! Sorry, I got off track!” Pavitr took Miles’s wrist and led him to a secluded photoshoot that was being set up. “His name is Miguel O’Hara. He’s a bit mean, but I can tell he has a soft heart.” Miles nodded, his skin flushing against Pavitr’s touch. Perfect hands.
Pavitr let go of Miles’s wrist, turning towards him and shaking his hand. “It was nice to meet you! I trust you’ll make me look amazing.” Miles nodded, his cheeks red from how incapable he was at responding. Pavitr left, waving goodbye as Miles stayed silent.
He was going to hate this job if Pavitr kept this up.