"Thanks again Mumbo. I should start paying you as an employee considering the number of times you've fixed this for us."

"It's no trouble Cleo, really. But seriously, you guys need to buy a new one of these."

"We'll never have to buy another if you keep fixing it Mumby!" Grian joked, elbowing Mumbo lightly.

"I'll consider it payback for helping with my cinematography class yesterday. But I don't know how many more fixes this can withstand before it just collapses, you might want to consider an investment in a new one."

"I'll look into that eventually." She said with a shrug.

"Ohh! When we do buy a new one, we should have a party with all of our friends to celebrate!" Scar exclaimed.

"That's a horrible idea, Scar."

"That's a perfect idea, Scar."

Cleo and Grian said at the same time.

"Well if there is a party, I think I deserve a personal invite." Mumbo chuckled, "I best be off now. I have a practice test scheduled in about an hour, and I'd like to get into something with less coffee stains."

"Mumbo, you are officially the nerdiest person I know." Cleo said.

"Well I'm a nerd who's about to ace the hardest practice test I've ever done."

"Want a free drink for fixing our beloved caffeine machine again?" Scar asked, and Cleo didn't object.

"I think I'll pass on the caffeine before I have a test- it makes me a bit jittery -but do you have any leftover cake pops?" Mumbo asked hopefully.

Scar opened the display case and fished one out, plopped it into a paper bag, and handed it to Mumbo.

"Maybe don't get a new coffee machine then, if I get a free one of these every time I fix this old one!"

"Aww but what about the party?" Scar slouched his shoulders.

"We're not having a party over a coffee machine-" Cleo said, but no one was listening.

"We can convince Ren to throw a party over anything Scar, maybe we'll have a catching up party? Start of the year party? Yay we survived a whole week party?"

"You guys will figure something out I'm sure. Pet Jellie for me Scar, bye!" Mumbo called out, turning with his free cake pop to what the others assumed would be hell, aka, the practice test room.

"Bye!"

"See ya!"

"Have fun suffering!"

"Cleo!"

The bell rang and the door closed behind Mumbo. They all saw him grin and pull the cake pop out of the bag through the windows, and quietly snickered.

---

"BUBBLES GET UP!"

"Wait, he's still asleep? I told you we should've knocked first-"

"Whaaa..." Bdubs sat up drowsily to see who the intruders were. At least part of his mind should have been considering that he was sure he locked his door yesterday, and now people were barging in, and he probably looked stupid waking up, and they could possibly be very loud murders, and probably something else worth thinking about-

But all that he cared about was that his bed was still cozy, and he was a little mad that something had interrupted his peace.

"Bubbles!" That was a voice he recognized. "You're not even out of bed yet?! We need to get you a better alarm." His friend scolded, while he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Whaaas going' on?" Bdubs asked as his eyes refocused and he tried to make out who the two people were exactly. One was Keralis at least.

"We're sorry, Bdubs. Keralis here said it would be fine to walk in and was already in your living room before I could object." Bdubs recognized the British voice, and realized it was Xisuma.

"'S fine Zooma. Just caught me off guard, by a lot-."

"Well get up now then, and we'll wait in the living room." Keralis nodded firmly. "Then we can get breakfast on the way."

"On the way to where?" Bdubs looked at Keralis, and then at Xisuma, who still looked embarrassed to be here.

"A fun day out after our first week finished of course! Now hurry up, you can sleep in tomorrow."

"I regret giving you my house key." Bdubs sighed as he flipped his legs over the bedside to get up.

"You love us!" Keralis called as he left the room following X.

"Yeah yeah, get out of my room." Bdubs chuckled, waving them away faster.

----

"Keralis, you really don't have to pay every time. We can split the check easy, or pay back after if the restaurant can't split cards, or-"

"Shush shishwammy. If I minded paying I would say something, instead of tackling the two of you for the check."

"Xisuma, you fix enough of our electronics and safely back up everything we own as pay back." Bdubs chuckled. "Free food one way or another is the least we can do."

Xisuma sighed, but with a smile tugging at his lips. "Alright then."

"Well we have a few hours until me and Bubbles have to go to work, and I refuse to waste our first weekend of this year. Because summer weekends don't count as weekends when we're on break all of the time anyway." He rushed the second part. "Any ideas?"

"Well uhm-" Xisuma mumbled, and Bdubs and Keralis went quiet so they could hear him. "The aquarium has a new axolotl exhibit." He chuckled nervously and glanced to the side. It was no secret that it was his favorite animal at the moment, with his favorite hoodie now embroidered with a mini one on his sleeve alongside every animal he had picked in the past. Each year was a new animal, and the patterns of animals showed up and down his sleeves.

"Then of course we'll go and see it!" Keralis cheered, and hugged Xisuma's side. Bdubs nodded along with his arms crossed.

"Fine fine, but I'm paying for the tickets at least." X added.

Keralis groaned, but didn't argue. His wallet could probably use the break.

---

"He's still asleep?"

"Shhh shh, don't wake him. This is the best sleep he's going to get in his life."

"How late was he up last night? Did he crash at 3 or something?"

"Not sure." The German voice continued. "I got home late last night, stubbed my toe, and just crashed."

"Pfft- well what should we do? I don't want to wake Sleeping Beauty before he wakes up naturally."

"I already used that joke, Beef."

"Aww dammit! But still, the weekends are the only days he doesn't have an alarm, he should sleep in."

"He doesn't have alarms on the weekends? That sounds unlike him." Doc mumbled curiously.

"I turned them off and he hasn't noticed yet. Don't tell him."

"Wouldn't dream of it. How about we make breakfast and the smell can get him up instead of us."

"You can cook?" Beef raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"No, but you're taking that cuisine class, can't you?" Doc retorted.

Beef paused and smiled confidently. "Right, where are your frying pans?"

Etho woke up with his hair sticking to his face and his clothes wrinkled underneath him, and slowly smelled something wafting into his room.

"Huh?"

As much as his bed was comfortable beyond belief, (writing this part in bed lol) the smell of eggs- and something burning? -peaked his interest more. He shuffled out of bed, and grabbed his mask on his desk. The burning probably should've been a sign to hurry up, but the sprinklers hadn't gone off, so Doc was probably taking care of it.

"Or he's the cause of it."

Etho took a second to straighten his clothes and put a comb through his hair, and opened his door.

He could distinctly hear yelling, or more like panicked hushed whispering coming from their small kitchen now. Doc was obvious, and after a second, he recognized the second voice as Beef's.

"I thought you were taking a cooking class!?" The German accent whisper yelled.

"3 days Doc! I've been in the class for 3 days, because there's no class on Wednesday. 3 days, with 2 days of satefly and supplies, does not mean I'm an expert!"

"Guess you fell asleep for the safety part then!" Doc growled back.

Etho just stood and watched, not really sure whether to intervene or see how this would play out. They were still arguing about the burnt, what Etho assumed were eggs, and weren't paying attention to the pan still on the heat, or the burnt mush starting to smell significantly more than before.

And then there was fire.

"Yeah, I should help now." Etho reasoned, running towards the fire extinguisher on the far wall.

He sprayed it all over the kitchen, and over the two idiots as well.

"Good morning to me I guess!" Etho chuckled.

"Thanks Etho..." Doc sighed, using his hands to part through the foam.

"I'm sticking to meat. It's way easier than whatever the hell I tried to make." Beef said.

"Hey, it almost smelled like eggs, Beef; You'll get there eventually." Etho encouraged, only a little trace of teasing in it.

They cleaned up the foam pretty quickly working together, and threw away the attempt at breakfast. Now they were back to where they started.

"Well this was fun, but I'm going to go work on-" Etho started.

"Oh no you don't!" Beef grabbed his arm before he could turn around. "You are not sitting in your room all day to do homework due in 6 years."

"Me and Iskall are behind-"

"Well tell them you're being forced outside today. You can spend tomorrow indoors all day if you need to but I swear you're going to be paler than snow if you don't get some sunlight." Beef argued.

"It's the middle of fall. The clouds are literally covering the sun right now." Etho deadpanned.

"You're not getting out of this Etho." Doc chuckled.

"History seems to be repeating itself." Etho said. "Fine, but only if you two pay for coffee, that coffee shop you showed me will work."

"Sure, but we're not going until this afternoon." Doc said.

"What, why?"

"It's a secret, Slab." Doc shrugged. "Get dressed and I'll make a coffee here now. Then we'll, dunno, go to the park? Do people still do that?"

"We can figure it out on the way." Beef said.

Etho sighed and went to his room to get ready at least.

Knock off ice-man: Doc and Beefers dragging me out of the house. Can we work on the project tomorrow?

The real ice-man: sounds good. The architects are dragging me out too in a couple hours once they get back from the cafe G works at.

Knock off ice-man: Have fun then

The real ice-man: you too dude

Etho put his phone back down and walked over to his mirror, avoiding eye contact with his eyebags and pasty pale skin. He adjusted his mask better and looked to the side where the rest of his clothes were.

Now, should he wear the silver headband, or the light grey one?

----

So the park was nice, and fairly empty, but honestly that was a plus. Now the three were walking to the coffee shop, waiting for safety inside from the chilling air outside.

Beef opened the door, and did his usual dramatic bow to let the other two in.

"Are you going to do that every time we come here?" Doc sighed as he walked in.

"And every other door I can find as well!" Beef grinned, following Etho inside.

Etho just chuckled silently. He felt the warm inside air bringing feeling back to the tips of his fingers and releasing the sting of the cold from the part of his face not covered by the mask.

"Well the deal was you're paying." Etho reminded them, glancing back at Doc.

"We forced you out to help you and you still demand free food?"

"A deal's a deal! Maybe Beef could get out of it, but you ...."

"Yeah yeah, I lost the rock paper scissors. Stupid rock wouldn't be beaten my a measliy paper in real life."

Doc stopped, and looked forwards, his pose softening. Before Etho could see what he was looking at, a voice caught his own attention.

"Etho! Is that you?" A surprised voice was in front of him, near the counter, and he turned his head forwards.

"Huh- Xisumavoid?" Etho smiled under his mask, "How long has it been man?" He walked closer and so did X so they wouldn't have to shout across the room.

"Well you came by to back up your laptop at the end of last year, but that hardly counts now does it?" Xisuma smiled.

"Yeah, might want to back that up again soon..." Etho chuckled nervously.

"The automatic backup is still giving you trouble?" Xisuma sighed a little. "I'll be free in two weeks if you want to stop by and back it up on my setup, or your's if you'd prefer."

"Thanks X, and either works with me."

"What do you want to drink Slab, since you're so insistent that I have to pay-" Doc asked, interrupting their conversation.

"I'll pay you back one way or another." Etho brushed him off. "And uh... I'm not sure..."

"You had all of this time to think and-"

"Get the cinnamon latte, trust me." Ren butted in, winking at Etho with some finger guns.

"Yeah sure, that." Etho shrugged.

Doc creased his mouth into a line and nodded once, walking up to the counter with the orders.

Ren fell into conversation with Etho and Xisuma, and Etho found it really nice to catch up with old friends.

"Wow, there's actually a lot of people I know here." Etho mumbled, looking around the room. "I should talk to people more..."

---

More people were walking in, and that meant more orders to keep track of and people to greet. Scar was at the front counter to take orders, which helped with the load more than Bdubs wanted to admit, because if he did, the fame would go to Scar's head.

Plus Scar was known as the best at greeting customers, and definitely had the most charisma, which is something that Bdubs would not admit, especially when Keralis was probably the second most, leaving him...

He was good too!

Bdubs didn't even register the bell ringing as he made Xisuma's chamomile tea with extra honey, which was probably the easiest order so far.

A group had come in and ordered like 4 drinks at once, with more specifics than Bdubs could remember alone.

And they were loud, very, very loud.

"Get decaf for this one." The tallest had added the last second, pointing to one of the other's orders, which didn't screw with the total price, but now Bdubs had to remember that one himself since he couldn't change the order on the screen.

"WHAT!? No, I'm perfectly capable of having caffeine, Ranboo."

"Big man," The one in green said. "Last time you had this much caffeine, you nearly blew up our rocket!"

"Well it was supposed to blow up, wasn't it Tubbs?"

"Not before it took off!"

"Guys just-" The tall one sighed. Bdubs almost felt bad for him, he looked tired. "Sorry about them-" He said to Bdubs.

"If you get decaf, you can have a cake pop too." He offered.

"You're treating me like a child." The blonde one crossed his arms.

"You are."

"Well so are you!"

"I'm not the one acting like it."

"Well I'm the oldest-" The shortest one said, and Bdubs sort of doubted it. "So I should choose."

"I'm paying, and ya know what, decaf for you too. Both decaf, and both of you get cake pops. I'm already starting to forget Wilbur's order."

"Deal!"

"Fine."

The tallest, who Bdubs pieced together was "Ranboo", looked back at him apologetically. "Can I just redo the order?"

Bdubs nodded, putting on his customer service kindness face. "Yes."

They had left after that, thank goddess, and now Xisuma was just waiting for his tea to brew while he hung out with Keralis between orders.

He recognized the next person when he looked up, and for a split second, wondered where Grian was.

Grian usually did mornings on Saturdays and afternoons on Sundays, and had the most mixed schedule on the weekdays that Bdubs didn't even try to keep track of. It wasn't that he expected him to be there, but the gremlin had a wild conspiracy that Doc and Ren always showed up at the same time every other day, Ren first, then Doc, and they supposedly didn't plan it when he asked Ren.

Bdubs almost wanted to note that Ren was now here and Doc wasn't, and rub it in Grian's face later, but after Scar had taken Ren's order, the bell rang again, and low and behold who stepped through.

Docm77, and two others behind him.

"Maybe G's more observant than I thought."

They talked a bit before ordering, but Bdubs wasn't really paying attention. Etho and Xisuma were having a conversation while Doc ordered, and Beef was talking to Ren. 

"Yeah, Etho told me he and X knew each other a little when we talked. Maybe we can all do something as a group sometime." He wondered in his head. While he was looking around at everyone, he caught sight of Scar, who seemed a little distraught.

Scar took a deep breath and leaned back more in his wheelchair. He looked a little winded, and his smile faltered when no one was looking.

"Ok Bubbles, you can do Beef's and Docs and I'll do Ren's and Etho's cinnamon spices." Keralis's voice snapped him out of it.

"Etho...?- wait, the cup!"

"Wait uh-!" Bdubs paused, feeling slightly awkward as his friend raised an eyebrow, "Can I do Etho's and Ren's?" He asked.

"Uh, sure Bubbles? They both ordered cinnamon spice lattes." Keralis explained, shrugging it off and going to make the other two instead.

"Thanks Ker."

Bdubs started to make them, putting an extra dollop of whipped cream on both for his friends.

"Wait, if they ordered the same thing, then they might not really care who gets which cup..." Bdubs realized with growing dread. "If I write my number, Ren might get it, and then mention it-" The idea of that embarrassment was enough to throw away the idea for him. "I'll have other chances to talk, maybe I won't even have to write my number on his cup."

Bdubs looked at the two drinks in his hand and put them on the delivery counter, right as Keralis walked up behind with the other two.

"Thanks."

"Thank you."

"Thanks!"

"So what was that about, Bubbles? Do you really like cinnamon spice or something?" Keralis asked from behind. Bdubs turned around half way, but did break his stare at the friends who just ordered.

"Uh yeah.." Bdubs breathed out, staring at specifically Etho as he talked with everyone else.

"Well you can do all of the cinnamon spice ones from now on if you want." Keralis said.

"Thanks!" Bdubs snapped out of it, and looked at Keralis. "Yeah uhm, it's not super popular, so we don't make them often and all." Bdubs came up with that on the spot, and while it was true, and served the excuse, it sounded really freaking dumb from an outside view.

"Alright, I'll tell G so he leaves those orders for you too."

"Thanks."

"So why did we have to come in the afternoon again?" Etho asked Doc, pulling down his mask to take a sip.

"I said it's a secret, not a surprise. You don't get to know." Doc smirked, and looked to the distance.

"Doccy has a secret?" Ren asked. "I'll have to ask you about that next time you're drunk."

"Oh shove off Ren, you're more of a lightweight than me." Doc teased, getting ever so close to flirting.

"You beat me one time and you never let it go. Knew I shouldn't have challenged a German man after my second drink." To empathize, Ren tilted his drink towards Doc before taking a sip, letting the whipped cream give him a moustache. Doc started at it for a lingering second, before pulling a confident grin at the statement.

"I'll keep that in mind." Etho chuckled.

Bdubs wanted to start up a conversation with them, despite the knowing teasing from Doc to come up as normal, but he glanced at Scar, who was unusually quiet, and walked over there instead.

"Hey Scar, you alright?"

"Yeah Bdubs, just more tired than normal." Scar waved it off, "Bad sleep or something."

"Alright then, if you're sure...." He said warily.

"Just the cold weather getting me sleepy and all."

"Scar, you're not a hibernating bear." Bdubs chuckled.

"I can be who I want to be, Double O!" Scar laughed along. "And sleeping all fall and winter sounds like paradise."

"Well get to sleep early tonight ok?"

"Me and Jellie will have a sleepover for a million years!" Scar laughed, and sounded better too. He was probably just having an off day, especially with the first mixed up weekend schedule of the school year.

"I'll be back to 100 tomorrow after sleeping." Scar assured him.

Bdubs nodded and smiled.

X started to talk to him and Keralis.

"Well it was a nice day hanging out with you two again, but I think I better be off now. Exy needs help with Calc homework, and I really don't want him to pass with a D+ again."

"Have fun then, Calc work sounds like a party." Ren said sarcastically, sipping his drink and standing near the side.

"You have no idea..." Xisuma mumbled, taking another sip of his tea. Calming and caffeinated, perfect for a study night, even if he wasn't the one studying.

"Speaking of a party, Ren, Grian said we should have one when we replace the caffeine machine." Scar mentioned.

"Sounds like a good excuse to all hang out," Ren shrugged with a smile. "I'll see what I can do in the next month."

"Ooh that sounds like fun! No more alcohol parties though, Ren." X warned. Ren put his hands up in defense, one hand still holding the cup awkwardly.

"Well goodbye everyone!" Xisuma smiled and turned towards the door.

"Bye X!"

"See ya Shiswamy!"

"Bye Xisuma!"

Voices rang out as he left, until the little bell rang as the door shut.

"I should get going too." Ren looked at his watch. "Nice hanging with you dudes!"

And the chorus of byes followed again.

Doc, Beef, and Etho left soon after and Bdubs let out a silent sigh. He didn't even get to talk to any of them really, and watching them go- he hoped they visited the same time tomorrow, then maybe he could strike up conversation. Etho looked more talkative too, a silver headband and shimmering white hair making him stick out even if he mostly kept to himself.

Bdubs swallowed and turned towards his friends. The three of them were alone now in the store, a rarity that no one else was studying in a corner or waiting for a drink.

"If we get a new coffee machine, do you think Cleo will let me keep the old one?" Keralis asked hopefully, breaking the silence.

"Why would you want that dusty ol' thing?" Bdubs asked.

"It's the sentiment in it!" Keralis defended.

"Isn't sentiment gravel? That's what it means?" Scar asked.

"The word could be either I think. But I want it for the memories." Keralis said, "I can put it in a glass case or something at home.

"I'll be sure to put in a good word to Cleo." Bdubs laughed.

"And tell everyone you like to make the cinnamon drinks." Keralis added. 

"Yeah Bdubs, what was that all about? You've never been that excited about making drinks before."

"It was nothing! I just like the smell of cinnamon."

"Yeah right, I'll find out your secret plan to destroy the cafe with cinnamon Bdubs." Scar squinted at him, but had a clear joking smile too.

The three laughed, and there was an unspoken sigh as the bell rang and a new customer came in, cutting their conversation short.

"What can I get you?" Scar asked, and Bdubs paused.

Scar didn't say the cafe name.

---------

(4079 words above the line, LONGEST- (autocorrect changed it to lowest and I didn't notice lol) so far!)

And because you guys are nice in the comments, here's a doodle of Xisuma in his hoodie with favorite animals on it!

Thank you for reading! Comments and votes keep me going for stuff like this, so thank you for those too! Have a great day or night!