Coffee shop

Anyone on the streets of the small town in London would have brought an umbrella with them, it was raining after all. But there was a lone figure who forgot his umbrella at his 3rd floor apartment around a 10 minute walk from where he worked. The problem was when Will had woken up on that bleak Monday morning, and just because fate had decided to be mean to him, his alarm hadn't gone off, making his ten minute walk turn into a three minute run if he didn't want to face the wrath of his adoptive father, Halt. Halt ran and co-owned a coffee shop called The Oakleaf which was on the corner of the quaint little village of Chichester. He had a grumpy personality with many sarcastic comments becoming his go-to for any situation.

His best friend, Crowley Merton who was the other owner of said coffee shop was completely and utterly different from Halt. He had red hair and a temper to match it but he also carried a sunny demeanour and smile which charmed any customers he talked to when he came round twice a week. Then there was Gilan. Gilan was tall blonde and well… slightly flirty basically. Girls fell for him within seconds and Will often found himself rolling his eyes on such occasions, however beneath the outgoing and friendly manner, he was an honest person and ridiculously loyal, especially to his little family. And of course that left Will who was currently running in the rain with no coat or umbrella and desperately flinging open the shop door, weaving in and out of busy tables where people had taken refuge from the rain and lifting the little hatch like door that separated the bar from customers.

"Ladies and gentlemen he's alive!" Gilan chided as he poured milk into several cups at once, eyeing him as he tugged his apron over his head.

"Seriously, do I need to get you a watch?" Halt was pressing buttons into the card reader.

"Jeez, I'm a few minutes late and you guys start acting like I've nearly died."

"I'll kill you if you don't start making drinks." He was scribbling down the orders people were throwing at him. He passed the paper over to Will and he began to work. Pouring coffee first then the needed amount of sugar and milk into the mugs and takeaway cups.

"Besides it's not like I'm late very often." He clicked lids on the takeaway cups and passed the lot to Gilan, who started his trek through the busy cafe to deliver orders, the takeaways, he called out.

"That's not the concerning bit." Halt continued, the trio were good enough that they could keep up conversations and do their jobs at the same time. "See the thing is, only you are late."

"So?" He retorted handing Gil another round of mugs.

"So," Gilan finished halts sentence for him. "We all live in the same building and only you were late."

"My alarm didn't go off." He mumbled, wiping hand on his apron.

"Sorry what was that." He called from the other side of the shop, Halt raised an eyebrow.

"Fine," he groaned. "My alarm didn't go off, I need to get a new clock." The tallest of the two sniggered,

"Heard that Gil," he launched a pen at his head which he dodged easily.

It's true that they did live in the same building, Halt was the flat opposite and Gilan the floor above.

They often went over to each others houses on days when all had nothing to do, or when one of them was feeling particularly low. For example when Will was sick, Gil, Halt and Crowley (who lived in the apartment block next door) came round with Chinese food and they ate it in the sofa watching Pirates of the Caribbean.

A sharp knock on the door woke Will up from his nap on the sofa. His head was pounding and world spun slightly as he groggily sat up, shielding his eyes as the bright luminescent lights only made his headache worse. He was vaguely aware of the door to his apartment opening and he lifted his head from where it had taken refuge in his hands, to see who was barging into his home.

"Wow Will, you weren't joking when you called in sick." Gilan's voice sounded from the doorway.

"Why would I joke about it?" His own voice sounded unusually horse and it hurt his throat to talk.

"We brought Chinese!" The familiar redhead held up two plastic bags which were full of plastic containers.

"The boy doesn't care what we brought for dinner Crowl." Halt walked to where Will had taken refuge under the blankets again, shivering from the breeze that was blowing through the open window. He shut the window and closed the curtain, dimming the room slightly as the one ceiling light in his living room didn't light the room as well as it should.

"Thanks," he mumbled, pulling the covers up to his chin.

"C'mere son." Halt sat down at the end of the sofa that wasn't occupied by Wills feet and patted his lap. He sat up and shifted his body so his head was lying in his lap, his knees still curled up under the covers. His adoptive father brushed some of the hair from his eyes. Crowley elbowed Gilan and pointed towards the touching scene. They both smiled at their friends until Gilan's stomach rumbled,

"Dinner time!" They placed all the containers and a couple of plates on the coffee table while Halt gently helped Will sit up and lean against Gilan while he put some food on a plate for him. Crowley sat next to Halt and grabbed the remote automatically gravitating towards Pirates of the Caribbean and hitting play. Will seemed to perk up slightly as he got some food in his system, no longer needing to lean against his friend for support and instead eating hungrily off the plate in his lap. They all fell asleep sometime during the movie, Will curled up against Gilan, his arm round his shoulders and Halts head on Crowleys shoulder in a rare show of affection, Crowleys head resting on his friends. They stayed like that until sunlight began to filter through the curtains and birds began to tweet excitedly.

As the breakfast rush slowed down, the three found time to make coffee for themselves, occupying a table in the corner of the building. They sipped their coffee in silence, the shop empty apart from a few stragglers trying to avoid the work traffic. "Since we're here, how's your girlfriend Will?" Will nearly choked on his coffee. He knew who Halt was referring to.

"I haven't seen Alyss since the gathering."

"Well we'll have to fix that."

"How? I don't think she wants to see me."

"No but she wants coffee," Gilan said. "Go serve her."

"Uh uh." He shook his head.

"Well someone's got to and it's not going to be either of us."

"Fine but if I botch this," he pointed at them. "Your fault." He wondered over behind the counter to face the beautiful lady opposite. Alyss Mainwaring. His friend and might I add childhood crush. She had beautiful grayish blue eyes and long blonde hair that was currently braided behind her back. Alyss and her mentor / mother figure Pauline worked for the government meaning they walked with grace and poise. Technically, they also worked for the government, well the police force and part time so the four men could work at the coffee shop in their off-duty hours. Of course they had others who could cover the times they were at work but they enjoyed it and enjoyed each other company.

"Alyss, looking radiant as always, what can I get you?"

"Hello Will, you have a leaf in your hair."

He felt his cheeks burn up and picked said leaf out of his curly locks.

"Thanks," he mumbled slightly flustered.

"I would like a large cappuccino and a large green tea."

"Coming right up. I take it the teas for lovely Pauline."

"Yes, she does make an effort not to rely of caffeine too much, I'm not sure what I would do without it." She chuckled.

"Me too, I don't think I could function without it. Some could say I'm addicted, I'd say I'm just reliant." He placed to cups on the counter, "here, on the house."

"You sure?"

"Of course, it's you Alyss, you're not exactly a regular customer, you're my friend."

"Thank you Will, Halt, Gilan." She nodded to where they were trying not to eavesdrop on their conversation and left, her coat billowing behind her.