Ashe couldn't help but blink at the yellow lined paper taped to the door of his World History class. Bubbly handwriting done in vibrant blue ink was difficult to read underneath glaring white light, but the message could be seen clearly enough.

HIS 215- Tu: 6:45pm canceled

It was unclear if another student wrote the note, or if the professor came to campus simply to say they weren't going to stay. Either way, Ashe found the situation a bit annoying seeing as he skipped dinner to make it to class on time—which wasn't really his fault; falling asleep while looking at a textbook kind of just happened sometimes.

Staying awake when having to read extensive passages about mathematical equations, historical moments of importance from the 1600s, and dense passages from poetry written during the Romantic Era was... difficult, to say the least.

Ashe was lucky he even woke up at all because his hardcover biology textbook had never felt more comfortable as a makeshift pillow.

But, seeing as class was canceled, scrambling to get his shoes on and running across campus made him feel silly. As did carrying a heavy messenger bag and walking around with half-untied laces.

Uncertainty coupled that sensation, however, because now the question begged: what was he supposed to do?

World History usually kept Ashe busy until roughly 9pm. He'd follow that by going back to his dorm room, taking a shower, studying a bit more, and falling asleep to nature soundscapes on his phone. Since there was a break in the normal routine, he didn't know how to fill the time.

Ashe's friends had other classes when he did, so hanging out with them wasn't an option. Last time he went back to his dorm room early, he accidentally walked in on his roommate spending time with their girlfriend; so that also wasn't an option. He could go study some more, but chances of falling asleep again were more likely than not; so that wasn't an option either.

The only thing Ashe thought to do was possibly get some food since he had a chance to eat now.

Maybe it was a good time for him to try the café in the middle of campus.

Honey's Delights was a well-known staple at the university by both faculty and students. The business doubled as both an eatery and a cat café, so loads of people frequented the space pretty often. It was labeled as one of the most comfortable, intimate places patrons had ever been; and their menu selections were nothing to sneeze at either.

Even though Ashe had never gone himself, he'd heard from multiple cliques how Honey's had the best drinks and pastries—not just on campus but in town.

Spending an evening with a nice cup of tea, some snacks, and a cat or two sounded lovely. And seeing as student-life was a lot less active at night, it'd probably be pretty easy to get a seat without having to wait.

A leisure pace was taken away from the wooden door, quiet steps moving toward the wide elevator down the hall. The boxy, metal structure made a sluggish descent from the sixth floor down to the ground floor. Sleek doors pushed open and silence permeated through the hall, pointing to other classes being in session.

Ashe burrowed himself further into his scarf as soon as he walked outside.

With November having rolled around, autumn was in the middle of shifting between pleasant weather and vibrant leaves to frigid air and bare trees. Small patches of frost blanketed sections of grass thanks to random spritz from automated sprinklers. Ice crawled down the edges of concrete banisters. Dead leaves flipped and skidded across cobblestone pathways in between buildings.

Even with the looming presence of winter hanging around, the sunset was still mesmerizing.

A glowing half-circle of yellowish gold gave way to a pink sky shifting to deep purple. Thin, wispy clouds floated around in sheets of pale orange. The occasional white speck of light pushed through the sea of colors, and an almost full moon was beginning to awaken.

Artificial light came down from tall green streetlamps and through the windows of inhabited buildings. Yellow squares danced along brick pathways, causing shadows to morph whenever someone walked in front of them.

Ashe gave a passing glance to the large football field where the marching band was rehearsing drill in one section, and the freshmen members of the cheer squad were rehearsing their tumbles in a different section. He gave a quick wave to his younger team members and coach before pulling his gaze to the left.

Honey's Delights was written in large, beige, script font on an orange awning sign. A brick exterior was illuminated by small spotlights. Tall, wide windows acted as front walls, giving passersby a chance to peek inside. The glass door let out a high pitched bell chime when it was pushed open.

Light hazel eyes immediately fell to the floor to take in the sight of multiple kittens.

There was a collection of different breeds playing together in spread out sections of the café. Some were interacting with seated customers, whereas others were messing around with each other. The occasional feline was lying on the floor with only their ears and tails moving. A few were simply looking around, surveying the room for new faces or new toys.

Ashe walked along red terracotta tiling in order to get to an unoccupied floor table near another set of windows. He leaned his bookbag against the wooden surface and left his jacket and scarf on top of the padded floor chair. The font on the overhead chalkboard menu was big enough for him to see without his reading glasses. Not wanting to be in the way, a select number of items were skimmed through from his spot.

After figuring out what he wanted, he approached the line of registers.

"Hi, welcome to Honey's Delights. Can I take your order?"

"Hey. Can I get a, uh, medium Irish black tea- hot, a strawberry and granola parfait, two pumpkin loaves, and an egg and cheese sandwich with... I'll go with turkey bacon."

"How would you like your tea?"

"Light and sweet, please."

"Of course. Any other additions to it?"

"Uh- honey would be good."

"Light and sweet... honey... add turkey bacon... All righty! Your total will be $16.87. How will you be paying?"

"With cash."

Ashe reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill, plus an additional five. The money was passed to the friendly clerk, and any remaining change was given to her as a tip. After handing over the receipt, she let him know that one of the baristas would bring the order out when it was ready. A nod was given alongside a small grin, and he walked back to his table.

A curious kitty was caught in the process of sniffing at his belongings.

Ashe's expression softened at the sight. He made sure to walk quietly so as to not accidentally startle the feline. His movements remained careful when piling his jacket and scarf on top of another free seat beside him, presenting the opportunity for him to settle down.

The cat seemed to take the gesture as permission to do the same because she took refuge in the space between his crossed legs.

Vibrant orange eyes stared into light hazel ones in a silent greeting. A hand gingerly wove through soft, shiny black fur. Satisfied purrs made faint vibrations run along his palm, and the feeling moved to his lap as well when the cat snuggled against it.

Ashe was in paradise.

He had always been interested in Honey's because of how popular it was, sure, but his main point of interest came from the establishment being a home to multiple cats. They were his favorite animal, and he had quite a few of them back at his parents' house.

Unfortunately, the dorm buildings were strict when it came to rules and regulations about pets. If anyone had something more than a simple goldfish, they could be removed from their housing arrangements.

Honey's was such an important staple to him—not for the food; but for the warm, calming, relaxed atmosphere that came about with being around cats. They gave him comfort. And he frequently chased after that level of reprieve when trying to get through the long, daunting days full of studying and homework.

He couldn't help but think the universe was granting him a break because of how hard he'd been working as of late.

"Thank you for waiting so patiently, sir- here's your order. If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask myself or another barista. Enjoy your meal."

Ashe gave an excited thanks to the employee before they walked away. He shifted closer to the table, scouring the contents of the tray that had just been brought over.

The parfait consisted of vanilla yogurt placed between alternating layers of fresh strawberries and glazed bits of granola. Both pumpkin loaves were stacked on top of each other and dressed with an off-whitish frosting—most likely a cream cheese icing. A crispy fried egg was sandwiched between two slices of provolone cheese, glistening turkey bacon, and two halves of a steaming English muffin.

He could tell everything was going to taste amazing simply based on the way the food looked.

A free hand reached out toward the tall disposable cup housing the Irish tea. The beverage was still hot, so small currents of air were blown through the rectangular shaped opening. Ashe's test sip was small but rewarding.

On top of the rich, bold flavor that came from black tea, hints of delicate sweetener and delicious cream danced along his tongue. There wasn't as much honey as he was expecting, but the drink as a whole was lovely.

Setting the cup back down on the table, a passing glance was made at the swirly design crawling up its length. Ashe paused, however, when he noticed something written in large, lowercase lettering.

It was his name.

Immediate confusion overcame him since he hadn't told the cashier who he was, nor was it common for people to spell his name correctly—most doing so without the 'e'.

A familiar voice kept him from further contemplating the strange detail. "Mind if I take a seat?"

Ashe couldn't help it when the blood in his face pooled in his cheeks, red also spreading across the bridge of his nose.

He knew who was talking to him without having to look.

He could already picture those black, fluffy curls; green eyes that morphed to a goldish-brown toward the middle; and a set of pronounced dimples that came to life whenever a breathtaking smile was thrown his way.

That same feature was seen when Ashe turned around. He caught sight of a handsome face, the person wearing a black apron and carrying another disposable cup.

He was the first chair saxophonist in the school's marching band, king of the winter and spring formal for two years running, the friendly seatmate in multiple classes, and well-known sweetheart: Benjamin Moore. 

Oh- holy crap- it's Ben! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill- it's the real deal! Oh gosh, is my hair okay? Gah, who cares about that- don't just stare at him, you idiot- say something!

"Ben? I- hey. Didn't expect to see you here."

Real smooth, me.

"I got a job here a couple weeks back because one of the workers changed campuses. Just started working the evening shift recently."

"I... don't remember seeing you when I came in."

"Was making something for myself for my break. I saw you sitting over here with Zucchini and thought I'd join you guys. Also wanted to know how your tea came out since I was in charge of that one."

"You definitely know what you're doing, I'll give you that." Ashe fiddled with the hem of his sweater, fluttering warmth pooling in his stomach. "Please, sit. I'm always happy to have you around."

"Same here."

Ben moved to the other side of the table, claiming another floor chair. A small wave was given to the black cat—now known as Zucchini—before the same hand was used to keep his face propped up. A matching disposable cup stood beside Ashe's, both flimsy lids touching.

"I thought you had class tonight?"

"Ms. Aguilar canceled. I didn't have time to eat beforehand, so I figured I'd give Honey's a shot since I finally had the time. Certainly made my evening."

"Well, seeing you here has made mine too."

Ashe tried to hide his growing smile behind his cup when taking another sip. 

Ben chuckled, glancing between both hazel eyes. "How do you like it? Honey's, I mean?"

"Oh, it's adorable. I really like the rustic, homey vibe- it kind of feels like the chaos of school leaves once you walk through the door. I haven't had anything to eat yet, but everything looks fresh and smells really good. I can only imagine how packed this place is during the lunch rush."

"It definitely gets crazy," Ben admitted, moving his own cup to take a sip.

"What're you drinking?"

"Same as you. I don't normally go for tea, but you like it. So I figured I'd give it a try- y'know, get a taste for something you enjoy. I'll admit that I've been missing out."

Ashe inwardly melted at the sentiment. He knew Ben was the type to drink black coffee; either straight or with a small splash of creamer. He normally wasn't into foods or beverages on the sweeter side.

But the fact that he was trying something different simply because Ashe liked it was... endearing.

"That's kind of you, Ben."

"Kind is my middle name."

"That so? Because I remember a little birdie telling me it was Wreath."

Ben's face flushed, and he tried to hide an embarrassed glance to the side by faking a cough. "Hey now, we both agreed to forget that conversation because I was drunk."

"Aw, c'mon- we talked about so much fun stuff though. Like how you take baths with your cats so they don't get scared of the water. Or how you once ran down the street barefoot, in the rain, because you thought you heard the ice cream truck. Or-"

"Okay, I get it, your memory's a little too awesome."

"As long as you know." Ashe laughed, placing a hand near his chest to keep his heart from thumping even more erratically.

Ben leaned against the table, sitting a bit closer. "I don't think I've heard you laugh this much before."

"Kind of hard to find joy during our three hour long lectures about statistics and trig functions and ack!" Ashe portrayed his genuine distaste for math by shivering in an exaggerated manner. "I don't know about you, man, but the fact that the professor hasn't caught on that people sleep for ninety percent of that class is beyond me."

Ben let out a hearty yet quiet snicker, his eyes crinkling at the edges in genuine delight. "Suppose that's true. But still- I see you on the field a lot when I'm running drills and you're with the other third year cheerleaders. You smile a lot, yeah, but I've never really heard you laugh so openly."

"Is it dorky? I know I tend to snort sometimes when something is really funny."

"Not at all. If anything, it's cute."

Ashe didn't bother shielding his face because he knew his blush was covering every visible portion of skin. Habitually, he tucked a piece of sandy blond, shoulder length hair behind his ear. The hand that was initially running along Zucchini's fur was brought up to his chin. The pad of his thumb gently brushed across warm skin.

He couldn't help it when his eyes darted down to a pair of slightly chapped lips.

I wonder if he tastes as sweet as he acts. Like honey...

"You're getting awfully red. Am I making you nervous?"

"Not- not in a bad way."

"Oh?"

Ben smirked. Scooting their drinks over to a free section of the table, his index finger began twiddling along the wooden surface—purposely brushing against Ashe's other hand.

The action caused dormant butterflies to erupt out of their cocoons, flying through his stomach with excitement and vigor. Electricity ran up his hand. The connected arm felt tingly all the way up to his shoulder.

Across the table, green and gold eyes lit up in clear amusement. A single finger was used to trace the rough skin of Ashe's knuckles, and he nearly gasped at the delicate sensation.

C'mon, dude—if you're going to tease, at least hold my hand properly.

As if the thought had been heard, fingers ghosted across rough skin until loosely wrapping around the connected wrist, a larger palm resting on the back of his hand.

Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod-

"Hey, Ashe-"

"Ben! I'm sorry, I know you're on break- but could you help me with the milk frother? I think I jammed it."

Both men glanced at a particularly distressed barista holding onto a metal device covered in what could only be steaming, bubbling, foamy milk.

"Got it, no worries." Ben brought his attention forward again. "Seems I've gotta get back to it. While I'm up, would you like anything else?"

"Uhh- maybe a little extra honey for my tea."

"Gotcha, honey."

It took all of Ashe's self control to not scream in response to the nickname. 

That same restraint almost shattered completely when strong fingers gingerly tousled his hair, carefully weaving through wavy strands.

The only thing he could do was offer a shy grin when Ben moved to walk back behind the bar.

Oh my gosh- that just happened. That really just happened. We basically held hands! He ruffled my hair! Our lids touched! Does that count as an indirect kiss? Man, he's cute when he blushes. He's just cute in general. What a sweetie-

"Here you go, honey. You can just leave the container on the table when you're done with it and I'll grab it later."

Ashe mentally facepalmed for not realizing he was daydreaming. Shielding one of his cheeks with his hand, he offered a quiet thanks.

Ben gave his own large, heart-stopping grin before walking away.

When light hazel eyes moved to look at the table, the first thing they saw was matching disposable cups. The second thing they spotted was a tall jar of the requested condiment standing next to a small honey dipper. The last thing they noticed was a sticky note that had been left on the jar's lid.

Ashe leaned closer to get a better look at the note.

xxx-xxx-xxxx

I get off in 20

If you're still free, let's go do something. If not—call me when you are ;) <3

Ashe clutched the sticky note to his chest, doing his best to not squeal too loudly. He looked over his shoulder and was met with a quick wink and lengthening smirk.

He had never felt more thankful for a class being canceled.