"Could I have a latte? Hazelnut now," the woman orders. She isn't exactly polite as she is speaking on the phone while ordering her drink. She also snaps her finger at Josh like he is a personal assistant of her's to boss around.

"I'm sorry ma'am. We cannot serve lattes right now," Josh quietly responds.

The woman pulls her phone away from her ear and groans, "why not?!"

"We're out of milk."

—

Josh: Last night we ran out of milk. Cow milk. Running out is usually rare since Pete is usually ahead on our inventory. He was supposed to go pick some up on his way to work, but he woke up throwing up and not being able to leave his bed. [bites nail nervously] Now we don't have milk, and everyone seems to be in the mood for a latte.

—

"How can you not have milk?! Do you not check your inventory?!"

Josh ducks his head, his face starts heating up as she continues to yell at him. No one really likes public humiliation.

"I-I'm sorry, I can get you a free drink! Just, one that's doesn't have milk," Josh whispers. His voice is noticeably shaky.

"No! I want my hazelnut latte and I want it now!" The woman screams causing Josh to duck his head further.

Dallon, hearing the commotion up front, runs up to the counter.

"Ma'am, how can I help you?" Dallon asks. He gently pats Josh's back and nods for him to go to the back. He knows Josh needs a breather right now because of this customer's rudeness.

Josh runs to the back and the woman turns her glare to Dallon, "you're out of milk."

Dallon raises his eyebrow, "last I checked, yes. Care to elaborate more?"

"Don't give me lip kid!" She snaps.

"Then don't yell at my coworker and I Miss. Now, we have some plant milk alternati-."

"No, I don't want that plant crap! I want my regular, normal milk."

The woman points a four week old acrylic nail at Dallon's face, and he simply would not allow that. No one yells at Dallon Weekes and gets all up in his space with any sort of retaliation.

(Ryan's slap show from last week does not count.)

"And I want to get dicked down right now, but we can't always get what we want Cheryl."

The woman's mouth gapes open and she splutters, "I-It's Karen freak!"

"Figures."

—

Dallon: It's always a Karen.

—

Ryan knew shit would have gone down if he didn't stop it.

As soon as steps into the shop and sees a woman getting up in Dallon's face, he quickly runs over to the situation. The camera zooms in on Ryan's panicked face as he squeezes himself between the two.

"What seems to be the problem ma'am?" He asks. Ryan places a hand on Dallon's chest to hold him back from jumping the customer.

The woman continues to glare at Dallon, "not only are you out of regular milk, but this freak decides to be rude and inappropriate!"

"Ryan, she started it!" Dallon complains, "you have to believe me dude!"

Ryan turns to Dallon and narrows his eyes, "go to the back. Now."

"She yelled at Josh!"

The camera manages to catch the shift of moods in Ryan's body. His hand loosens on Dallon's chest, yet it remains there as he turns around to face the lady again. His face more harden now.

As the crew already knows, nobody yells at Josh.

—

Camera Crew: Due to the amount of profanity and implied violence Mr. Ryan Ross used in the altercation, we have decided to cut out the clip for everyone's safety.

Dallon: It was f**king awesome.

—

Ryan heads to the back room with Dallon right on his trail. He aggressively rips his jacket off and throws it on the chair then turns to his coworker.

"Where is Pete?" He asks.

"Sick. Ryan that was so coo-!" Dallon starts.

"Sick?! You have got to be kidding me. On a day like this?!" Ryan groans and pulls his hair.

Josh is curled up at the desk and biting his finger. He is much more calm than earlier, but still shaken up. Ryan sighs and knees down in front of him, he rubs his knee gently.

"Let me give you some money for the bus," Ryan whispers.

Josh shakes his head, "I have to work."

"Shut up. You need to go home, okay? You are not in the right space right now."

Josh swallows hard and smiles before hugging Ryan tightly.

—

Ryan: Dealing with customers like that woman can be a handful. Especially for Josh with his anxiety. Sending him home is the best thing to do at this moment. He needs some time to breathe and think. I am sure I can handle the shop fine by myself. [eyes widen, realization] Oh God, we're out of milk. Oh f**k.

—

"Okay, you need to grab some milk."

Dallon bites lip, "yeah, problem about that."

Ryan raises an eyebrow and waves a hand for the taller man to continue.

"My car broke down. I took the bus."

—

Ryan: [glares, makes a slicing motion across his throat]

—

"Call an Uber or Lyft!"

Dallon throws his hands up, "you know I don't like Uber or Lyft!"

Ryan glares and rests his hands on his hips, "well you'll have to suck it up buttercup!"

Dallon shakes his head and paces around the room, mumbling under his breath.

"There has to be another way!"

Ryan shakes his head and raises his hand from his hip to point his own, more clean with no falling acrylic, finger in Dallon's face.

"Anybody here?"

Ryan and Dallon's heads snap towards each other. A slow smirk slides across Ryan's face while Dallon shakes his head.

"Ryan Ross don't you da-!"

Ryan dashes up front, "Brendon!"

Brendon steps back from the counter, worry is on his face at the frantic boy's appearance. He gives him a small smile.

"Hi Brian. Um, I'm just here for some tea," Brendon says.

Ryan ignores the name mistake, "We need your help. Dallon needs your help."

Dallon runs up behind Ryan and collides into his backside. He quickly scrambles up and steps back an inch before holding his hand up in front of Ryan's mouth.

"Don't listen to him! We are doing just fine Brendon," Dallon assures the confused boy.

Ryan rolls his eyes and licks Dallon's hand. He shrieks at the wet, slobbery sensation on his skin and rips his hand away from Ryan. He wipes it on his shirt, nosing scrunching in disgust.

Ryan ignores his blabbering and turns back to Brendon, "we are out of milk, and Dallon needs a ride. Can you take him?"

The boy bites his lips and rubs his hands together, "oh, I don't know Brian."

Dallon nods, "yeah Brian, he is very busy!"

Ryan ignores, "Brendon please. We really need milk."

Brendon looks between Ryan and Dallon, he slips his hands in his pockets and contemplates. Ryan watches him nervously while Dallon chews on the nail of his thumb.

"Fine, I'll drive him."

Dallon kicks the back of Ryan's knee.

—

Dallon: When the news reports Ryan's death tomorrow... [holds up a fork] ...you all will know who was behind it.

—

Dallon bounces his knee and stares at the window of the beat up car. Brendon keeps side eying his passenger, tapping his fingers against the wheel to fill up the awkward silence in the car.

"So..." Brendon starts.

Dallon sighs, "so?"

"Want some music?" Brendon asks.

Dallon just shrugs. The driver sighs and turns on the radio.

"Ain't got no tears in my body I ran out, but boy, I like it. I like it, I like it..."

The pop song continues blast in the car. The boys remain quiet though, Dallon only tapping his finger on his knee and Brendon only humming.

"Comin' out, even when it's rainin' down. Can't stop now, can't stop so shut your mouth."

Brendon mumbles softly to the lyrics, Dallon looks over once his ear catches a bit of the boy's singing. He tilts his head to the side as he watches Brendon slowly lose himself the song.

"Shut your mouth, and if you don't know then now you know it, babe. Know it, babe, yeah," Brendon sings softly.

As the chorus plays, Brendon's voice slightly gets louder. Dallon continues to watch, a small smile slips on his face as his voice continues to grow even louder.

Brendon looks over and raises amy eyebrow, "do you want me to shut up?"

Dallon shakes his head, "no. I uh... I like it?"

A blush, "you do?"

"Yeah... Yeah I do, sing louder."

Brendon laughs, "no. I think the volume I am at is fine."

"I'll join you. Come on."

Dallon leans forward and turns the radio up louder just as Grande is about to start the last round of her chorus.

"Ain't got no tears left to cry," Dallon sings and raises an eyebrow at the laughing driver.

Brendon shakes his head and sings, "Oh yeah, oh yeah!"

Together, they sing, "Oh, I just want you to come with me! We're on another mentality! Ain't got no tears left to cry. So I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up. I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up."

Dallon stops singing and lets Brendon finish. He smiles as the younger finishes up the song, lost in his own world.

—

Dallon: Brendon has... wow. He has an amazing voice. Better than I have imagined really. [bites lip, smiles] Wow.

—

Ryan slams his head down against the counter as another angry customer storms out of the shop.

"Maybe I should quit. Would save my brain from losing all it's cells," he mumbles into the counter top.

"But I would miss my favorite employee!"

With a squeak, Ryan shoots up from the counter and fumbles to fix his hair. His cheeks turn a light red and he smiles at the new customer.

"Hi Jon," he whispers.

Jon grins and pushes his hair out of his face, "hey Ryan. How are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Just a little stressed at the moment."

Jon leans forward and rests his arms on the counter. He waves his hand to signal Ryan to continue.

Ryan leans forward to meet Jon's level, "we're out of milk."

The older man winces, "yup, that would hurt you. What about any plant milk?"

"We have that. People are just too damn picky."

Jon laughs and shakes his head. The camera zooms in on Ryan's smile. Probably the biggest smile that camera has caught yet.

"Well, I'm sorry you're stressed. Is there any way I can help?" Jon asks once he's calmed down.

Ryan just waves his hand dismissively, "no, it's fine. Dallon is heading to pick up the milk."

Ryan doesn't miss the way Jon's shoulders slump slightly, nor does the camera. Neither miss the disappointing frown that replaces his bright smile in only a few seconds.

"Dallon isn't my boyfriend."

Jon looks up and clears his throat, "I'm sorry, what?"

Ryan just smiles, "Dallon isn't my boyfriend. He's just very clingy when he's high."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh."

—

Ryan: What? I'm just trying to clear up any confusion. [small smile]

Jon: [starts doing a victory dance, whispers] Yes! Yes! Yes!

—

The two are walking out the store when Dallon speaks up.

"Listen, Brendon... I'm sorry."

Brendon looks over at Dallon and raises an eyebrow, "about what?"

Dallon awkwardly shifts his feet and stuffs his hands in his pockets. The camera zooms in on his face, showing how uncomfortable and bad he was at this.

"Well uh... for being a jerk to you," he mumbles. "You have really been nothing but nice to me and the people at the shop, and yet I am a complete ass to you. So, I'm sorry."

Brendon shrugs, "Dallon, it's fine. Really."

Dallon shakes his head, "no it's not. It's really not, and I want to make it up to you."

Brendon blushes and fiddles with his car keys. He isn't really used to this side of Dallon. Seeing his calm and un-annoyed side was very nice and even more attractive to him.

"You could uh... you could come see my show," Brendon whispers. He bites his lip as he prepares for the same old rejection.

"Sure, what time?"

—

Dallon: We had a fun time in the store, okay? He's not the annoying, hyper active bunny I thought he was. While he is very jumpy and very touchy, he's also pretty funny. [grins] Really nice and genuine. Really, really genuine.

Brendon: Oh my f**king god, Dallon Weekes is going to see my show! I think I just creamed my pants.

—

"Why did the sperm cross the road?"

Ryan takes a sip of his water and shrugs, "I don't know. why did the sperm cross the road?"

Jon grins and leans in closer, "because I put on the wrong sock this morning!"

A snort and them Ryan is spitting out his water all over counter. He laughs hard and grabs his stomach as Jon grabs the cloth and wipes the counter down.

"Okay, okay that was good. Yet, I think my joke about the IT teacher was better," Ryan comments and wipes his lip with the back of his sleeve.

Jon snorts, "oh really? The spitter thinks their joke is better?"

Ryan gasps and reaches over to playfully punch Jon's body repeatedly. The other man laughs and let's the abuse continue.

"No one calls me a spitter!" Ryan yells.

"Really? Tell that to the water on your counter."

"That's because it was your fault!"

Jon just laughs more and shakes his head. He grabs his own water and takes a sip then looks over at the front door.

"You sure your boss won't mind that you closed early?" Jon asks.

Ryan shakes his head, "after the whole milk fiasco, he owes me instead. Besides, we hardly get any work done. How would this hurt us any more?"

"Fair point."

It's quiet then. Yet, the silence is not uncomfortable for Jon, Ryan, or the crew. They just continue to film as Jon and Ryan continue to eat today's leftover pastries, Ryan with a cinnamon role and Jon with a butter crescent.

When Ryan takes another bite of his roll, a piece of crumb sticks on the corner of his mouth. Jon chuckles as the employee remains oblivious to the mess.

Ryan looks over, "what is it?"

Instead of responding, Jon leans over and wipes the crumb off of Ryan's mouth with his thumb. Ryan sits there like a statue as Jon is caressing the corner of his mouth. He does not miss the way Jon's thumb slowly slides further up his cheek. Ryan leans in to the rough thumb stroking patterns on his cheek. It was calming and gentle to the young boy.

"Jon?" Ryan whispers.

Again, no verbal response from Jon. Instead, he lets his whole hand rest on the side of Ryan's check and leans in. Ryan closes his eyes and shivers as he feels Jon's breath hit his lips.

"Jon..."

A rough banging on glass rips the pair out of their moment.

Ryan pulls back from Jon and looks over at the door. He glares at the one person who always ruins something good for him.

Dallon Weekes.

Dallon smirks at Ryan then waves before he holds up the milk carton and points.

Ryan just flips off his coworker when Jon isn't looking.

—

Dallon: [innocent grin, bats lashes] I was just bringing the milk like Ryan asked.