Pete: Holy crap! How long has it been since we have filmed? Fifty weeks? Fifty months? Fifty years?

Patrick: It has been a year and eight months, honey. Also, mask above your nose.

Pete: Right! Right! My bad! [lifts up mask over nose] There we go!

Camera Man: How has business been since the pandemic hit?

Pete: Hasn't been too bad, but of course we were hit pretty hard in the beginning when lockdown had happened.

Patrick: Because Pete and I own small businesses, it's really scary to have to close up shop for a while. Our shops are where we are able to collect our money and provide for our home.

Camera Man: "Home"?

Patrick: [grins] Pete and I moved in together. Good thing it was before the pandemic has hit. I would have been worried if Pete wasn't by my side.

Pete: [fond smile] You do care.

Patrick: [fond smile] Of course. You're my boyfriend. Also, I know you would forget your mask and hand sanitizer. By the way, where is your hand sanitizer?

Pete: [searches pockets] Uh...

Patrick: [pulls out Pete's hand sanitizer from his bag] You left it next to the lube.

Pete: Oh yeah... [nervous laugh] Uh, sorry about last night again...

Patrick: Don't apologize to me. Apologize to my a*s and your d**k.

—

Adjusting the flower face mask, Ashley grabs the coffee cup and hands it to the neon green boy in front of her.

"And you have their donuts as well?" She asks.

"Of course! Have more faith in me Ash."

"Last time you said that, the donuts were in your engine."

"...My car was hungry?"

"Go."

—

Ashley: Well, what can I say? A lot has happened the last year and eight months. The shop had to hire new employees after its sudden popularity increase last year. They pretty cool. Well... some of them.

Awsten: MY NAME IS AWSTEN KNIGHT. I AM 22 YEARS YOUNG, AND I LIKE SHARP THINGS.

Camera Man: Uh... okay. What do you do for the shop?

Awsten: I DRIVE A CAR AND DROP ITEMS OFF FOR PEOPLE.

Ashley: I'm still questioning if Awsten driving is actually a good idea.

Hayley: Hey! I am Hayley! I am 23, and I work part time at the shop. I usually help up front at the register.

Beomgyu: [waves] Hi! I'm Beomgyu! I'm 19, and this is my first job ever actually! I just want to try and do my best. [sunshine smile]

Camera Crew: [coos at Beomgyu] Awww, how cute!

Ashley: [fond smile] Ah Beomgyu, all sweet and innocent. [small smirk] Just wait till he gets comfortable with you. That is when he turns into a menace.

Beomgyu: [sunshine smile, innocent wave]

Camera Man: But he looks so sweet and innocent!

Ashley: [raises eyebrow] He's Dallon's favorite.

Camera Man: ...huh. [turns to crew] Keep an eye on the kid. Do NOT leave your wallets lying around.

Beomgyu: [giggles]

—

"Standing at 6 feet and walking like a limp noodle, it is Dallon Weekes everyone!"

Dallon raises an eyebrow at Awsten before throwing his bag and jacket in the back, "aren't you supposed to be delivering orders right now?"

Awsten chuckles nervously, "uh, don't tell Ashley but... my car may have eaten the donuts again."

Dallon whistles, "oh you are so screwed when Ash finds out."

Awsten whines, "please don't tell her!"

"I won't have to. The angry customer will when she reads the reviews later."

"I'm so screwed."

"I'll make sure to find you a nice casket."

With a chuckle, Dallon heads up front. Grabbing a magazine from his usual hiding place (Ryan would throw his magazines out and call him out for not working, so he had to hide them), and plopping down on the stool behind the counter.

—

Dallon: Uh, it hasn't really been an eventful year and eight months. Besides the pandemic, nothing much has happened.

Camera Man: How are you and Brendon?

Dallon: Oh, we are done. [leans back, places hands behind his head] A*shole cheated on me. [shrugs] It's fine though. Not going to waste my life crying over someone like him. Besides, he has a tiny d—

—

Pete grins in satisfaction at his latest attempt of latte art. It is a cute and simple heart, but the art makes the boss puff his chest out in satisfaction.

Hayley, with Ashley by her side, stands on her tip toes to take a look at his latest creation, "...what is that supposed to be?"

Pete scoffs, "a heart of course!"

She chuckles, "you sure? Cause it kinda looks like the poop emoji."

Pete pouts and crosses his arms. Ashley coos at the taller boy and pats his arm.

"Not everyone can be as talented as Hayley and I, it's okay Boss Man."

The younger male glares at both women and storms off to the back, words being mumbled under his breath. Both girls could take a guess that he was cursing them to hell, but just laugh it off.

—

Ashley: [grins] That's the great thing about hiring another girl, she just understands the suffocating male atmosphere.

Hayley: [smiles] You know, the workplace was in need of another woman to put these kids in there place.

Ashley and Hayley: [high fives]

Pete: I did this to myself when I hired Hayley. I realize that now... [sighs] Is this Karma for losing Patrick's dog and telling him he is with my mom or...?

—

In the coffee shop, there is mostly paintings that add character to the walls. Abstract, realistic, and even silly cartoons. Besides the few paintings on the walls there hang a few pictures.

One picture captures Dallon's attention.

A simple picture of a lanky brunette male with his usual ugly scarf smiling brightly with the rest of the staff. He was pressed against Dallon, and his head laid on his shoulder.

It's been a year and eight months since that picture was taken.

It's been a year and eight months since Ryan had walked out of the shop and went to New York.

A year and eight months since—

"You know it's okay to miss him, right?"

Dallon sighs and turns away from the picture, "don't know what you are talking about."

Pete crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow at his employee, "I think you do. You miss Ryan."

The taller man scoffs and flips open his magazine. He ignores his boss's teasing and continues to read the latest celebrity news (something about Kardashians again, it's getting kinda boring at this point). He knows what Pete is trying to do, and Dallon Weekes will NOT fall for it.

"Ryan? I don't know which Ryan you are talking about. Gosling or Reynolds?"

"Ross."

"Never heard of a Ryan Ross. Sounds like a fake person."

Pete groans and plops down next to him. He pushes the magazine out of the other's hand and turns him back to the photos. He points to the lanky boy Dallon stared at earlier.

"Come on! You need to get over how angry you are and just admit that you miss him!"

—

Dallon: I'm not mad. I'm not! I just feel a negative emotion when I think about He Who Must Not Be Named because he left for New York without saying goodbye and hasn't said anything else to me otherwise that f**king stick looking b*stard. [tight smile] I'm not mad. Just don't feel very positive about him at the moment.

—

"Shouldn't you be annoying your midget lover or something?"

Pete rolls his eyes, "fine, but you'll admit your feelings sooner or later!"

Dallon rolls his eyes and just mumbles under his breath, "feelings? Don't have any stupid feelings. For the weak, and Dallon Weekes is NOT weak."

Everyone knew better though.

The camera crew are always able to catch the man staring at the picture at least once a day (three times on a good day). The employees catch him staring at the message screen with Ryan's name pulled up, debating on what to text the other man.

Yet, he continues to live in denial.

Dallon sighs and steals one more glance at the picture, underneath his mask a small smile graces his face.

—

Pete: So, when is Dallon going to admit that he has a hard-on for Ryan? [places hand on chest] A hard-on in his heart, of course.

Beomgyu: I know it should be best to stay out of people's business, but is it just me or does Mr. Dallon seem to be in love with that guy in the photo?

—

As the day nears its end, Beomgyu wipes down the counter and grins in satisfaction as he sees his reflection in the clean surface.

The bell rings and signals the entry of a late customer. Beomgyu looks up and smiles brightly at the tall man in the doorway.

"Hello! What can I get you today, sir?"

The man smiles gently at him, he walks up the counter and unwraps the strange looking scarf from his neck. He runs a hand through his hair and leans against the counter.

"Hi, is Dallon here?"

"He's in the back. Who is asking him?"

The man smiles again.

"Ryan. Ryan Ross."

—

(okay, this is DEFINITELY NOT MY BEST CHAPTER. it's been a while since i have written this story, and i need to refamiliarize myself with the stories and characters. also, i need to and have the new characters adjust as well. please bare with me everyone! otherwise, i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to more chapters!)