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A loud thump below the counter was followed by a groaned, "owww". Somewhere below the lip of the counter top someone unseen had been surprised by the presence overhead. There was the sound of something like metal on tile and a rusty-red head appeared as the lean man rocked back onto his heels. One hand was rubbing delicately at the back of his head as the other braced him against the ground, giving him balance while he slowly pushed himself to his feet.

That had hurt like a son-of-a-b***h, but all Ellis did was muster up his best smile and -

"Oh!" The forced smile brightened even though there was an obvious squint to his left eye. It helped the pain when he tried his best not to look at the low-hanging ceiling light just over Shiloh's right shoulder. Despite the pain he was obviously trying to ignore, he seemed absolutely thrilled to see him standing there - 9:16 or not.

"I didn't realize that was you, Shy." Ellis brought his hand down from his head and leaned a bit more casually against the counter, letting his proper employee pose die in the face of familiarity. It had been so long since he'd seen Shiloh - honestly, much, much too long. Ellis had been working so hard since they'd graduated that he hadn't even had much time to think about anyone but Kavinsky and all of his school problems. With a sudden guilty heart, he tried not to let his smile waver and even managed a pleased laugh to couple with his surprise.

"Did you want something? I'm sorry, I guess I'm supposed to ask that."

Ellis felt his own anxiety flaring internally when he realized that Shiloh, true to nature, was spiraling out of control mentally. The bleeding heart in him ignited his over protective nature and before he could even stop himself, he had hopped up and slid over the counter in one quick, fluid motion until he could plant both feet on the floor next to Shiloh. Both of his arms reached out and caught him in a hug, squeezing him with all the happy surprise he felt at suddenly seeing him here.

Sometimes people needed to know they were loved a little more than others and that was okay. Kavinsky always did, too.

When he pulled away, he kept both hands on Shiloh's shoulders and stared into different colored blues, genuinely happy. The smile on his face was as honest and bright as Ellis ever was, even if he felt guilty suddenly not just for leaving Shiloh alone but also for forgetting that he had until this moment. He had to know he'd never meant to forget, right? Life was just so busy (and complicated).

"Don't be silly, Shy, I wouldn't ever turn you away. It's really not as difficult a process as it looks, anyway, we aren't a fully functioning kitchen or anything." He shrugged and let his arms drop finally, so that he could lean into the swinging door built into the counter. It creaked a little on it's hinges as Ellis craned his head around to look at the clock, then announced plesantly: "It's only 9:17. That's thirteen whole minutes, so what'll it be?"

Shiloh's stammering only made Ellis smile, so used to it as he had become over the years any time Shiloh wasn't expecting an extravagant gesture - which was always. Some things never changed. He let himself fade into the backdrop for just a moment, choosing silence while Shiloh read through their menu, and leaned his hip into the counter while he waited patiently for his friend's decision. Or indecision, as it happened. That, too, made Ellis laugh pleasantly.

"I should've just picked something out for you anyway," his smile was bright and pleased even as he teased him, making his blue eyes crinkle at the edges. By the time he turned and headed behind the counter, his laughter had faded to the easy smile he always wore in Shiloh's company. Encouraging, bright, honest. He set about pulling out different ingredients - coffee, syrups, sugars. In his mind he was considering how much caffeine Shiloh might need for an overnight shift - even if he got decent sleep, Ellis knew that night hours still seemed to drag on more slowly, like the soul didn't perceive things properly without the guidance of sunlight.

By the time he had gathered everything together and set it out along the counter, it was 9:20.

"How long have you been working here? I'm surprised I haven't seen you but, I guess, I usually also work mornings here. Not always, but usually." Depending on his bar schedule and how many of his co-workers were calling out at each establishment. This time of year, with the flu rampant and colds sprouting up like weeds, he was often working 70 hour weeks. Good for the money, bad for friendships and stress levels. Shiloh was a bright spot in his week that he wouldn't believe even if Ellis tried to explain it, so he didn't.

While he made his small talk, Ellis was busy putting all of his skill into making a drink for Shiloh - but he made sure to peak up every few seconds to make eye contact. You're not bothering me, I'm glad you're here, those bright eyes said.

As Ellis busied himself at different types of machines behind the counter, he listened to the half-mumbled story of Shiloh's friend with pride. He was, in fact, very happy for the other redhead - it wasn't often that he got close enough to anyone to find out how they drank their coffee. It made him toss an amused smile up at him as he poured all of his hard work into a cup already decorated for Valentine's Day.

"I'm really glad that you have someone to talk to, Shy, that's great. Don't apologize to me, though." Ellis was shaking his head in unison to a can of whipped cream. "I know I'm the forgetful one. It's all my fault, okay?"

It was weird, the difference in the self-loathing Shiloh and Kavinsky carried on their shoulders. Shiloh was the little flame that needed to be coaxed to life and Kavinsky was the angry, raging forest fire. Shiloh returned smiles and shied at his compliments, making him feel like he was actually helping someone for once. He'd nearly forgotten what that was like.

"Buuuuuut," he drew the word out as he finally capped the drink and put a topper on it. In no time he had a sharpie in his hand and was making his way back around the counter so he could hand it to Shiloh. Below his name was a phone number, printed carefully. "I finally got a cell phone, so no more missing out on each other, okay? I missed you too."

Ellis smiled again - then remembered the drink in his hand. When his bright eyes looked over Shiloh's shoulder, it said 9:24. That was a huge chunk of time but he had wanted to make sure it was just right. If the difference between Shiloh making a close friend and being too afraid to talk to him was confidently having a drink to order, he was going to make it perfect.

"Caramel Macchiato, it's sweet and has a spot of espresso - good for a night shift. If your barista makes it right, it won't be bitter. It's probably hot though."

Despite the way that Shiloh began to immediately stammer and them immediately stammer through apologizing for stammering, Ellis found himself smiling in the most honest, happy moment of his night. He had entirely forgotten how easy it was to see the pure moments of joy in Shiloh’s face, from his over-excitement right down to the blush in his cheeks. It made Ellis realize how unrestrainedly adorable he was and, for once, his own cheeks tinged with their own bit of rouge.

“You don’t have to apologize about anything, Shy, let’s just agree not to forget each other again. Okay?”

A hand reached out and squeezed his old friend’s shoulder lightly as he began fishing for bills and, for a moment, he almost considered refusing them - except that he knew it would have made Shiloh even fussier and quite possibly might create some form of guilt for him. So, instead, he just took them and rounded the counter to the register so he could ring him up properly. It took only a few breaths for him to punch in the order and, in no time, the drawer slid open with a ‘ching’. Ellis concentrated on fitting the bills in their slot and pulled free a few coins with an ease from practice. He rounded the counter again with the shiny silver coins held up for the other boy to take, never letting his smile falter.

“Just don’t forget to text me your number. I’m off tomorrow night and again on Thursday.”

The clock over the door read 9:28 by the time he had finished ringing him up, each minute ticking by more quickly than the last. Ellis knew that Shiloh must be on his way into work and, too, he knew that he was obligated to lock the door by 9:30. He wasn’t overly worried that guests were going to wander in, though he could hear some rowdy teenagers heading for the exit. Very few people wanted coffee so late in the night.

Few people, apart from Shiloh.

“And let me know how it goes with your friend too, okay?”

Ellis walked quietly behind Shiloh as he began to see himself to the door, listening with that same, patient, pleased smile that he had been wearing since the moment he realized his old friend was standing in front of his check-out counter.

"I know you won't, Shy. I swear I won't either."

His words were the last spoken between them as Shiloh finally opened the door and slipped away, heading to begin his shift as Ellis came to the close of his own. The bright, baby blues followed the redhead's shrinking form as he rounded the corner and disappeared down the side of the cafe, finally slipping out of sight of the large, open windows. The clock overhead ticked finally to 9:30 and Ellis reached up to twist the lock on the door, bolting it closed and stopping anyone else from entering.

Shiloh had not only helped the last fifteen minutes of his shift fly by but, too, he had given Ellis something to smile about. Something easy and simple, like making an old friend a good coffee. As he turned his back on the door and headed toward the small working area behind the counter, he couldn't mentally help ticking off all the little things that had led to the pair of them crossing paths again - Prissy had been generous enough to give up a shift and some friend of Shiloh's had made him curious enough to enter a coffee shop in the first place. It seemed an awfully odd coincidence, but he wasn't going to question it. The universe had been giving him a lot of awfully odd coincidences, lately.

Ellis began humming to himself, chipper despite the hour's worth of work he still faced before he could head home, and set about prepping the cafe for the crew that would be in come morning.