Mordecai was feeling up to stop moping two days later. Moping around wouldn't bring Margaret to him. To him, it was better that they were friends. He hoped to visit her that day and apologize for making her feel so uncomfortable.
"Morning," he said as he grabbed a bowl out of the cupboard. Rigby was already at the table, eating his own cereal; the box and milk were still on the table.
"Morning," Rigby answered back skeptically, watching his friend pour himself cereal and milk. "I'm surprised you're down here."
"Hmm? Oh, yeah," Mordecai said with a full mouth. He swallowed. "I thought it'd be better to quit my moping. It's not healthy for one not to live."
"Who told you that?"
"Pops. He came into my room last night while you in the bathroom. He gives pretty good advice. Though he also told me that lollipops are the cure of illnesses."
"Huh."
"Wanna come with me to the coffee shop?" Mordecai asked.
"You really want to?" Rigby asked, raising an eyebrow, the spoon halfway to his mouth.
"Yeah. I need to talk to her."
Mordecai and Rigby quickly downed their breakfast, thankful that today was their day off.
They rushed to the coffee shop. As they were about to enter, Mordecai froze up.
"What's wrong?" Rigby asked.
"This may not be a good idea," he muttered.
"Come on!"
Mordecai let out a deep breath and opened the door.
"Welcome, I'll be with you in…" Margaret started, but her sentence was never completed as right at that moment she met Mordecai's eyes. She turned her face away, busying herself with dishes. Eileen, however, skipped to them, trying to keep a cheerful face.
"Hi, you two!" She chirped.
"Hey," Mordecai said, keeping his eyes on the back of Margaret's head. "Margaret, can I talk to you?"
"I don't know. I'm pretty busy, Mordecai!" She called back. The dishes were finished, but she couldn't face him, not after what she did.
"Well, I'll be waiting." He and Rigby sat down.
"Can I get you guys anything?" Eileen asked, holding her notepad.
"I'll just have a coffee," Mordecai told her.
"Same for me," Rigby said.
"Okay. Two coffees, then!"
Eileen scurried off to get their orders filled.
Margaret glanced at Mordecai every few seconds, but his eyes never left her.
Eileen came back, holding two cups.
"They're on the house," she told them, setting the cups on their table.
"Oh, thanks," Rigby said; this made her smile.
Mordecai finally tore his eyes off Margaret. "Dude, you like her," he teased; it felt nice to tease his friend.
"Shut it," Rigby growled.
"She's cute, isn't she?"
"No. Be quiet."
"Haha."
"STOP TALKING!"
Mordecai found himself laughing, something he thought would take weeks or even months.
Margaret peeked at him again. She knew she would have to face him sooner or later.
She straightened her uniform and began walking toward them.
"M-Mordecai?"
"Huh?" Mordecai's smile faded when he came face to face with her. "Hey, Margaret."
"Ready to talk?"
"Yeah. Sit down."
Margaret sat down across from him.
"So?"
"I'm sorry," Mordecai told her. "For making you uneasy the other night. I wasn't planning on telling you, but it just happened. I just had to."
"If anyone should apologize, it's me."
"No. Don't apologize; it's not your fault you don't reciprocate my feelings."
"I'm still sorry. I know I put you through a lot." A lot was an understatement.
"I don't want this to destroy our friendship, Margaret. Can we still be friends? Without it being awkward?" He chuckled.
"I would like that," she said, smiling back.
They got out of their seats, facing each other.
Margaret stepped forward hugging him. Mordecai was taken aback, but he hugged her back, his blood pressure no doubt rising.
"I'm so sorry," she cried into his chest.
"Don't cry, Margaret," he told as gently as he told her at the movies. She looked up at him. He wiped the tears from her eyes. "Alright?"
She nodded. "I better get back to work." Margaret broke away from him and followed Eileen behind the counter.
"So, is everything good?" She whispered to Margaret.
"I hope so. Being friends is better than anything," Margaret whispered back. "Now, all we need to do is get you with Rigby."
Eileen blushed scarlet. Margaret laughed.
"I'm getting out of here," Rigby said. "I have a date with the television."
"Aw, are you seriously going to watch that dumb show?" Mordecai asked.
"It's not that bad!"
"It's horrible!"
"You're horrible!"
"Fine, go and watch your bad TV."
"Okay then, I will!" Rigby shouted. "Pay for the coffee?"
"It was on the house," Mordecai reminded him.
"Oh, yeah. Well, bye!"
Eileen was about to say something before Rigby left, but her nerves got the best of her. She kept her head down as he walked past the counter. Margaret kept nudging her to say something, but she couldn't form the right words.
"Stop it, Margaret!" Eileen whined.
"Come on, Eileen; you need to ask him out."
"Every time I ask him out, he always has something to do. And I'm too shy."
"You'll get over it," Mordecai said suddenly, causing her to jump. "Shyness? It'll go away when you really want it to. Here." He put some money on the counter. "For the coffee."
"But, it was on the house," Eileen said.
"I know, but I feel kinda bad. So, take it, alright?" Eileen nodded, taking the money.
"Eileen, can you cover for me?" Margaret asked, looking at her cellphone. "Angel wants to meet me in the park."
"Oh, sure," Eileen replied .
"The park?" Mordecai repeated.
"It's not a problem, is it?" Margaret asked, half expecting him to tell her to ask Angel to pick somewhere else to meet.
"No. I'll walk with you."
Her eyes widened in surprise, but she accepted his offer. They said goodbye to Eileen and made their way out of the shop.