Chapter Text
All Adrian needed was a summer job in his stupid small town. That's the only thing he needed and it was really the only thing he wanted. He could drive, so he could go out of town for a job, but he didn't want to. There wasn't an actual reason, he just didn't want to.
In the last few days of his sophomore year, Adrian was stressed. He couldn't find a job, and he was starting to think he'd have to spend the summer helping on his family farm, which he did not want to do. Adrian hated spending hours every single day on a tractor, taking a break to eat something, and then going back out every single day. It got kind of boring after the second week of doing it.
Adrian was relieved when his father told him of a job offer at Higgs Acres. The Higgs were stupid rich and owned way more land than anyone else within a thirty mile radius. Adrian liked to think that his family had a decent amount of money, but the Higgs put them to shame.
"Flea?" Adrian could never tell if he loved or hated that nickname. His father had always said they called him that because his mother's favorite color was Puce, which went well with Pucey, and the word Puce came from the French word Flea. Adrian is, or was, his mother's favorite and only child so it made sense that she'd call him Flea, since it's the origin world of her favorite color. Adrian didn't actually know how they ever found that out, probably because his father is a former intellectual, but the name stuck. Now his nickname for sports and literally everything else is Flea.
"Yeah?" Adrian put down his fork and looked at his father. "The Higgs have a job offering for someone willing to look after their farm everyday for two months. Some of their children will be there, but their second oldest doesn't know shit 'bout farming and the other two are really young. They're taking their eldest to some sort of business meeting. Rich people shit. Anyway, I think you'd be good at it." His father said.
"Yeah, I'll look into it." Adrian said. Even though he didn't want to spend his summer on a three hundred-fifty acre farm, that's what he had his farm for, though his was significantly smaller and easier to manage. Regardless, even if he doesn't want to, it seems like it's his only choice.
"I already told Mr. Higgs you'd do it. He's expecting you Monday, eight in the morning."
Adrian's mouth hung open in shock, "Dad! That's, like," Adrian checked his phone, "tomorrow!" His dad just nodded. "You'll be ready, I promise. It's just like working here. He will give you a list of chores and how often to do them. His son is in your grade, maybe you'll become friends."
--
It is Monday and Adrian is closing the door to his truck and walking up to the Higgs' front door. He knocked once, twice, three times, before someone opened the door.
"Hello! Are you Adrian?" A polite and small woman opened the door, probably Mrs. Higgs. "Hi, uhm, yes. I am." Adrian rang his hands together nervously. How was he supposed to act? These people are the definition of rich. I'm definitely overthinking this, just act normally.
"We've been anticipating you! Welcome! Come on in, we'll explain everything to you!" Mrs. Higgs smiled brightly, which Adrian returned, still nervous. Adrian followed the smaller woman around, taking in the interior of the house. God, it's beautiful here.
"You can sit here while I go get Andrew. Could I interest you in some coffee or tea?" Mrs. Higgs asked. "No, thank you." Adrian politely declined, not wanting to seem rude on the first day.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Higgs chuckled, "So proper. Please, call me Josephine."
"Mom!! Are you and Papa going yet?" A little girl ran down the grand staircase and launched herself in Josephine's arms. "Not yet, Esmee. Why don't you ask Phillip if he's ready to go?"
"I already did! He told me to get the fuck out! He said a bad word!" Esmee seemed very proud of ratting her brother out, it made Adrian smile. Adrian had always wanted younger siblings, but it didn't work out well when his mother died from a failed second pregnancy, taking Adrian's unborn little sister with her.
"Esmee! Do not swear like that. We have a guest!" Josephine gently lectured, gesturing toward Adrian. "Oh no, it's fine."
"Sorry, mister! You're really pretty, Terence would like you!" Esmee ran the short distance over to Adrian, grabbing his hand with her smaller one. Adrian smiled wider, not at the prospect of Terence liking him, he didn't know Terence, but at how sweet this little girl was.
"Esmee!" Her mother sounded exasperated. "I'm so sorry, Terence is our second oldest, around your age." Josephine explained, pulling Esmee away from Adrian.
"It's quite alright. This doesn't bother me at all." Adrian said softly.
"Adrian! Perfect! So glad you're here!" An older man, who Josephine assumed was Andrew Higgs, stuck his hand out to Adrian. This is a very overwhelming experience.
Adrian stood up and shook the man's hand. He was definitely a business man, very experienced too. "Nice to meet you, sir." Adrian made sure to breathe and not pass out. He's never been around this many rich people, and they were slightly intimidating, knowing that if they really wanted to they could run his family name into the dirt is a scary fact.
"Please, call me Andrew. So, now on to business."
Andrew sat down across from him. "At around eight in the morning, feed the cows and horses, let out the chickens and if you could feed the cats that would be great. At nine, go into the horse stables and feed them and just make sure they are okay. If you notice anything wrong, the number to the vet is on the fridge, and that goes for any animal. The pigs need to be fed at around ten, and they should have enough food to last them through the day, if they finish it, don't worry about it. Of course, water everything when you feed them. Let the horses out and they can roam around in their pasture until they need to be fed, and they know their schedule. Feed every animal again at 6 PM. Are you following?" Andrew asked.
Adrian nodded, "Yes, sir. I got it all memorized." Thank fuck I can remember things. Andrew Higgs talked fast, and with his accent it was almost hard to understand, but Adrian managed.
"If you could, feed the cats just outside on the porch, otherwise Terence can do that. Or, Terence can make Bambi or Esmee do it. Make sure you do a head count every night for our cows, they like to get mixed in with the neighbors' cows. We have fifty-six, and I counted myself this morning so it's an accurate number. If we're missing one, just call the neighbor, his name is Lucius Malfoy, his number is also on the fridge. He'll get all the sorted out. There is a large part of the fence that needs fixing that I never got around to doing, so please fix that so our horses stop getting out. And-"
"Dad! We gotta go now or we'll be late!" A brunette boy came running down the stairs, many suitcases in hand. "Oh shoot, I forgot. Everything else is written on the post-it notes on the fridge in the kitchen, you are welcome to come in whenever you'd like. If you could just come in and check on my kids every now and then, that would be great. I'll pay you extra every time you do if you just mark it down in the notebook by the microwave. Terence is not too responsible, and you seem like a responsible and respectable young man. Thank you so much for doing this!" And just like that, Andrew left, along with Josephine and who Adrian assumed was Philip.
Adrian stood in the large dining room for a moment, confused at the encounter he just had. He didn't have time to be confused for long before a small girl was barreling into his legs.
"Can I come with you to feed animals?" Esmee asked excitedly, practically jumping up and down. Adrian smiled, "Sure."
--
It has been a little over a week since three members of the Higgs family have gone away and Adrian has started working.
Adrian and the two youngest children, Esmee and Bambi, are all very close. Esmee is just happy to 'have another brother' and Bambi is so very interested in all the farm chores that Adrian lets him help with. He says that he doesn't get to help often, because his parents and Philip are too scared that he'll hurt himself.
Adrian hasn't seen Terence yet, but Esmee and Bambi say that he's still alive, but he just doesn't come out of his room often. Esmee still says that Terence would love Adrian, since Adrian 'is so pretty. He really likes tall guys.' Adrian just laughed it off every time.
It was Tuesday and it was really hot. Adrian's father had tried to make Adrian say home, but Adrian couldn't let down Esmee and Bambi. Maybe he'd even catch a glimpse at the mysterious Terence Higgs.
Adrian was already sweating by the time he pulled into the driveway and walked to the front door to check on the two kids, and he knew today was going to be hell on Earth, and he couldn't let Esmee and Bambi help him for fear of them having a heat stroke and the Higgs suing him.
He knocked on the door, still not wanting to intrude in their house. "Coming!" He heard a male's voice yell, followed by shuffling down the stairs. A blond teenager, definitely around Adrian's own age, opened the door. He had short, curly hair that looked so soft. His brown eyes looked tired, and the dark spots under his eyes confirmed it.
Adrian took a small step back, feeling like he was looking down on the boy. It took a few seconds for Adrian to realize that the blond was not wearing a shirt, and Adrian's heart did not start beating a little faster.
"You must be Terence." Adrian finally said, "I'm just here to check on Esmee and Bambi, and get the number for y'all's farrier." Adrian bit the inside of his cheek out of embarrassment. Y'all? God, I really sounded Southern when I said that. All yee-haw and shit.
"I am. Es' and Bambi are fine, you can, uhm, come in for the number. I don't know what it is." Terence stepped aside and it was only then that Adrian realized their height difference. Terence was by no means short, Adrian was just tall. Terence was a solid 5'10 at least, meanwhile Adrian was standing at 6'5.
"Thank you." As soon as Adrian stepped in the door, ducking slightly to fit in the door, his legs were immediately attacked by two much smaller bodies.
"Ter finally came out of his room and fed us! Ade, can you believe it?" Esmee asked, smiling widely as Adrian picked her up like he always does. Bambi didn't like being picked up unless he needed help reaching something.
"Yes, I can!" Adrian smiled back at Esmee. Adrian leaned down to talk to Bambi and see what he had to say, but he could still feel Terence's eyes on him. It kind of made Adrian nervous, what if Terence didn't like how close this random guy and his little siblings were? What if he already didn't like Adrian?