It's early, the water for his tea has yet to boil so Josh enjoys that calm moment. Josh stares out his window with tired eyes, gazing at the dark sky. The morning is gloomy. Grimy clouds roll lazily across the sky, no sign of sunshine on the horizon. Josh watches as tiny water particles form on the glass of his kitchen window. It's raining.

The boy sighs, his tender thoughts are dispersed by the obnoxious shriek of his electric kettle. Josh pours water slowly, the steam coming out of the kettle with a subtle hiss. Josh stirs the tea agonizingly slowly, his eyelids drooping down. He is tired.

After making his tea, Josh slides to his chair, a dashing plate of scrambled eggs right in front of his nose. The brunet takes a whiff, admiring the meal. He managed not to burn it this time. The food in Josh's mouth is being chewed slowly, Josh glances at the clock wishing time would stop. He has no energy to get up from his chair, let alone leave for work. It's just one of those days when he wants to crawl under the blankets and howl at the world.

Finally, Josh rises from his seat with a defeated sigh, his figure sways lightly as if he was just a spirit pushing across the air. The air inside is heavy, Josh stares out the open window breathing in the cool air. He's so weak, physically exhausted. He senses the smell of his herbal tea that he hadn't even touched. The scrambled eggs lay on the plate barely picked at. If he had the energy to lift his hands up he would close the window to prevent the wind from spraying tiny droplets onto his face.      

It's time to leave and Josh hadn't even brushed his teeth. His feet slide across the floor as he walks, the friction from the socks and the wooden surface giving out a quiet rustle. The clock keeps ticking, the time in Josh's head is going so slow compared to the clock. Josh groans, another obnoxious beeping reaches his ears. This time it emits from his wristwatch. Josh struggles but finally turns it off.

Josh is ready and dressed. His hair still wet from the shower. He already knew that he was going to be late so rushing would be pointless. The sad boy creeps across the hall, he slips on his shoes and walks through the front door. The cold morning air is like a punch straight to his face. Josh inhales deeply hoping to find the energy he was lacking. There's a spark, the boy widens his eyes with belief but soon his head dips down. False alarm, he's going to be miserable the whole day. It's only Tuesday, the week is going so slow.

Josh's weak hand pushes the door shut, the key slides into the lock and twists halfway. Josh frowns and tries again. The key is stuck, his front door won't close. Josh shoves the door rather aggressively, this motion uses up all of his energy and the brunet is left an empty blue shell.

"Shit," Josh hisses, he's too tired to think of a more creative curse word

He rattles the handle more and more, forehead pressed against the broken door. He grips the key with both of his hands, twisting violently. Something inside breaks. Josh's foot swings in the air, the front door rattles, so does the whole house. The brunet grits his teeth: damn this old house. Josh sighs, it's his own fault, he knew the house was old and should be handled with care.

The boy twists the key for the last time, the lock is completely broken. Josh has no idea how to fix it. The boy pushes it one more time to close it and drags an empty clay pot in front of it to keep it temporarily closed.

Josh walks away in an even shittier mood than before, cursing under his breath. He rarely cursed but this shitty morning was the last straw. His day is ruined.

♢♢♢

Josh pushes against the cold glass door of the small cafe. The curly haired boy sighs in relief as the warm air from the building welcomes him, unlike the pouring rain outside. He carefully takes off his heavy rain-coat, trying not to get water droplets on his simple tan uniform. A small puddle immediately starts to gather on the smooth wood floor as Josh hangs his jacket.

"Dude, where the hell have you been?" Josh hears a familiar voice as he makes his way around the corner of the granite counter. "You're late!"

"Don't you think I already know that?" He grumbles, trying not to let his bad day get in the way of everything. Dal doesn't deserve to be shouted at for a reason that wasn't in anyway his fault.

"Sorry..." The taller guy slowly replies, dragging out the end of the word.

Josh turns to look around the small area, groaning rather loudly at how many customers were in the shop. The sound of chatter reaches his ears forming a dull ache across his forehead. Josh leans back against the counter, slightly sitting on it as he slouches down. He knows he isn't supposed to do this and piling negative stuff up would result in him losing his only chance of income, but he didn't care at the moment.

Josh scrambles to get off the counter when a silvery voice was heard behind him. He whips his head around and was met with the same brunet man from a few days ago. The man approaches the boy slowly, his signature smirk curving the corners of his mouth. Josh tenses up for no reason, he watches the man come closer with his lips pressed tightly. He's supposed to greet every customer but the brunet takes his breath away.

"Hey,"  Tyler rests his palms against the counter, Josh could sense the smell of rain mixed with Tyler's cologne. The scent is pleasant, it smells of jasmine mixed with something earthy, a forest scent perhaps.

A strangled noise leaves Josh's throat, it doesn't sound like a word at all, let alone a greeting. Tyler just smiles, his eyes scan the menu quickly. Josh has a little bit of time to catch his breath.

"One black coffee, please," Tyler speaks finally making Josh's shoulders flinch.

Tyler notices that but doesn't say anything.

"Sugar?" Josh asks, looking around for a black pen.

"Yes?" Tyler chuckles making Josh blush.

"I was-" Josh's throat closes, he begins to stammer "I was asking i-if you need sugar in your coffee."

"Oh," Tyler slides his hand closer "No. No sugar. Just a plain black coffee."

"Got it." Josh murmurs and grabs a white paper cup from the stack.

The pen is already in Josh's hands, shaking so much he fears that he may drop it. Tyler waits behind the counter, he could just sit down but the man chooses to wait. That makes Josh a bit uncomfortable.

"Tyler," the man says quietly "In case you forgot,"

Josh nods, he quickly turns around as an attempt to hide his blush but the man had already seen it. The cup shakes in Josh's hand, he tries not to mess up Tyler's name. He catches himself re-checking the tick-marks on the cup several times, making sure the order is okay.

The man is still standing there, observing Josh. It takes a few minutes longer than it usually took for Josh to make coffee but the cup is finally full.
"Here you go," Josh places the cup on the counter "That'll be two dollars and fifty cents."

Tyler already has the money in his hands, an exact amount with no change. Josh grasps the money, their fingers touch for a second.

"It's hot, be careful," Josh murmurs, his head tilts up to look Tyler in the eyes. The man winks, his gaze on the boy still.

"I'm well aware,"

The way Tyler says it doesn't sound like he's talking about the coffee but Josh tries shrugging it off.

"So," Tyler speaks again, Josh clutches the end of the counter, bracing himself for yet another awkward interaction.

"Mh?" Josh hums.

"How are you today, Josh?"

"Oh," the boy inhaled sharply "I-... I'm fine."

"Just fine?" Tyler smirks again, a clever glimmer in his eyes.

"Well... Um..." Josh fiddles with the edge of his apron "Today isn't the best day."

"Why so?" Tyler blows air on his coffee before taking a sip.

"Well," Josh pauses to think if he should be sharing his life details with strangers "I couldn't sleep and then..."

Tyler's eyebrows rise with curiosity, Josh sighs. There's nothing wrong with opening up a little and besides: it's just small talk.

"My front door wouldn't lock, I think I broke it," Josh shrugs.

"Oh?" a smile lights up Tyler's face "I just happen to know a guy who could help."

"You do?" Josh almost squeals, Tyler nods and takes another sip of his plain black coffee.

Josh takes a minute to process that, the boy's cheeks light up again when he realizes what the man is talking about. Josh nods his head slowly and tips it down with a small 'oh'.

"I can take a look if you want," Tyler says casually

"I-if that's okay," Josh speaks quietly

"Honey, that's my job,"  Tyler cackles and gestures at his black jumpsuit "If you haven't noticed."

Josh just smiles, he's afraid to admit that he didn't notice Tyler's uniform. All he concentrated was his eyes, dark like the coffee in the man's hand. Sparkling the same except Tyler's eyes had a sweet glimmer in them.

"Oh, okay,"  Josh agrees "I get off work at seven so I'm usually home by seven thirty."

"Alrighty, I'll come check it out," Tyler flashes the boy a toothy grin "See you later, Joshua."