A few hours later, most of the boxes were taken care of, the floor now littered with empty takeout boxes. The three worked steadily, too tired to waste time. Conversation between them had been fun with Onua teasing Numair relentlessly and Numair responding the same. Needless to say, Daine heard a lot of embarrassing stories that night.

They were now finishing the last box. "Done!" Onua cheered. "You should help out all the time…"

"Ha! No thanks… I definitely did learn my lesson though," Numair replied, sretching as he got up to put the last box away.

"Well, guess it's time to get home," Onua said, getting up with Daine. "We deserve a good night's sleep."

"Yup. Can I get a ride, Onua?"

"Course! Got a place to stay, Numair?"

"Yeah! I booked a room at that hotel by the beach. I'll drop by some time tomorrow," he said, picking up his jacket and heading towards the door. "It was nice to finally meet you, Daine!"

Daine looked up from packing her bag and flashed him a quick but tired smile. "Likewise! Have a good night! And thanks for the help."

"Of course. Good night! Night, Onua!" he called, stepping outside.

"Night! Come on Tahoi! Got everything, Daine?" Onua asked, grabbing her car keys and Tahoi's leash from the counter.

Daine nodded.

Numair was really nice. Nothing like the way Onua described him.

"So! Got any plans for the weekend? And I do expect you to take tomorrow evening off."

"I think I actually might be doing something! Miri wants me to get out more, have some fun tomorrow night... How about you?"

"Alanna 'n George are in town! I just spoke to them today and we're probably going to have dinner or something on Sunday. Wanna come with?"

"Oh I haven't seen Lanna in ages! I wouldn't be butting in or anything right?" Daine asked hesitantly.

"No, of course not! They said they would've called you too today but I told them you would probably be busy."

"Ugh yes, today was insane! Of all the days for you to leave me all alone."

"You could manage it! Plus I had to. Numair may be a genius but he sure is absentminded… Bit nutty too. I couldn't just leave him out in the middle of nowhere all by himself!"

"Onua, the shining knight in armor," Daine said sarcastically. She picked up her bag as her apartment approached.

"That's right! Have a good night, Daine." Onua pulled up to the curb in front of the building.

"You too," she said, giving Tahoi one last ear rub and exiting the car.

She listened to Onua drive away, the only other sound the ocean's waves. Daine walked up the stairs to her home. Gosh, I hope Cloud didn't rip anything up today. Cloud, her smoky grey cat, had the habit of ripping up what little furniture Daine had whenever she felt like Daine had taken too long to come home. Daine checked the sofa as soon as she opened the door. Oh thank the gods. Safe. Cloud was sitting on the windowsill, looking at the street below.

"Hi Cloud."

No response. The true Grumpy Cat.

"Well, I'm going to bed. Good night."

Daine slung her bag in the closet, closed the door halfway and promptly walked over to her bathroom. A few minutes later, she collapsed in her bed. Just as she was falling asleep, she felt something furry burrow itself next to her. She smiled at her cat's act of forgiveness.

The next morning found Daine at the cafe bright and early. It was surprisingly empty for a morning. Guess everyone's just sleeping off Friday night. Farant was with her, switching through channels on TV. He finally settled on Adventure Time? Wouldn't have expected that from him…

He looked at her from the corner of her eye. "I babysit my niece and nephew and they got me hooked," He muttered.

Heh… Who would have thought?

It was incredibly empty. The door jingled when Evin came in for his shift a couple of hours later, dark circles under his eyes and his hair and ruffled up. He just walked up to a table and collapsed in the chair. A few seconds later she heard him lightly snore.

Argh. Where is everyone?

A few minutes later, the door jingled again. This time it was a sweet old couple. Customers! They hobbled up to the counter and ordered two teas, two tea bags each.

She took her time ringing them up. Farant, on the other hand, had their drinks ready in record time, attention on the tv. The Ice King had just kidnapped some princess or another… again.

"Oh you youngsters and your television. No one takes the time to just sit back and appreciate life anymore," the woman said, a small smile on her face as she eyed Farant.

They left soon after, holding hands and murmuring to each other. They're adorable… Imagine loving someone that much after so many years.

The café fell silent again. Daine looked over at Evin. Is he drooling? Poor guy. She checked the clock. It was only a couple of hours before Miri was supposed to come in. I could just send him home… Him and Farant.

"Farant, you could go if you want," she said.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He finally nodded and just picked up his stuff and left.

"Hope you have a good day too, Farant," Daine grumbled as she walked over to Evin.

"Evin," she said, shaking his shoulder. "Go get some sleep."

He turned his head the opposite direction. She poked him.

"Evin!"

"But I am sleeping," he slurred, eyes still closed.

"No go sleep at home! In bed! You know that nice comfy thing with lots of fluffy pillows and cozy blankets?"

He groaned some more but finally sat up. Oh gosh he's probably just going to fall asleep in his car.

"You want some coffee? To get you home?"

He nodded with his eyes still shut. Daine got up and made a quick cup. He looked a bit more awake when she put it in front of him. At least his eyes are open.

He drank it all in one gulp then opened his eyes as much as possible and shook himself.

"Alright. I'm awake now!" He shot her a tired smile and got up.

"Drive safe," she called after him as he stumbled towards the door. He waved back and a few seconds later she heard him drive off. And then there was one.

She grabbed her laptop and sat down on a table. Onua would come in soon but she could still get some work done. Wasn't like the place was overflowing with customers or anyone really.

She was about to get to work when the door opened. She looked up. It was Numair.

He looked around confusedly, head poking through the door.

"Um, can I come in?"

"Oh no you couldn't possible fit in with all these customers here."

"Ha ha," he mumbled, walking through the door. "I guess everyone's sleeping off the opening of that new club."

Oh right. Miri mentioned that…

"Oh wells. I'm not complaining. Yesterday was packed." She got up and got behind the counter. "Coffee?"

"Sure. Just black please! Is Onua here?"

"No she comes in a bit late on Saturdays. She'll be here soon."

"Ah." He looked around. "Looks a lot better without all those boxes!"

"Oh yes, definitely." Uh oh… Awkward conversation coming up.

He ambled over to the counter and leaned against the edge.

"So…"

She smirked, her back to him. You can feel the awkward.

She finished the cup and set it in front of him.

"Oh no! You don't have to," she said, noticing him pulling out a credit card.

"Hm?"

"Any friend of Onua's is a friend of free coffee!" Wait, that was stupid.

"How does she manage to keep business up with that policy? She knows practically all of Corus…"

"Right? That's what I asked her! Then she just shook her head and started wailing about business schools killing the personal aspect of being successful."

"Oh gosh did you get the whole 'Do you want to be a heartless vending machine?' speech too?" Numair asked, a dramatically sad look on his face.

Daine nodded laughing. The sad look morphed into a smile.

"So you're in business?" Daine questioned a couple of moments later.
"Yup! I'm an advisor of sorts. You?"

"I just finished business school last year. I was working at this one company, Carthak Co., for a few months but that didn't work out."

He froze halfway to taking a sip, his face an emotionless mask. Umm…?

"Do you know the place?" she asked hesitantly.

He looked up at her. Relaxing a bit he gave her a wry smile.

"Yeah I interned there as a student… So what are you doing here?"

Alright. So no more mentioning Carthak.

"I'm between jobs. I used to live with Onua while at university and when I came back here she offered me this lovely position while I get back on my feet."

"Ah I see. It's still kind of hard out there. Onua mentioned you were working on something on the side?"

"Yeah actually. I'm trying to start a clinic for the underprivileged."

He looked up interested.

"That's a huge commitment… Why don't you tell me about it?"