Chapter Text
Drift absently blew hair out of her face, brown strands quickly pushed away from hazel eyes. She topped off the drink she was working on with a suitable amount of whipped cream, the smell of coffee filling the air.
She didn't bother scribbling on a name, turning to the counter to meet familiar blue eyes. "Latte for our resident asshole" she quipped, holding it out for him to take "If you ask me for a friend discount again I'll actually kill you".
Scott Goldsmith, notorious prick and their resident rich guy, just laughed, blue hair ruffling at the movement "Thank you dear" he said pleasantly, accepting the coffee from her with a wry smile.
Avid popped his head out from the back room, arms loaded with paper cups and ashy brown hair a mess as he prepared for the morning shift. He blinked, noticing who Drift was talking to, purple eyes immediately lighting up. "Oh!" he said breathlessly, nearly dropping everything in his hands "Hi Scott!".
Scott's smile softened into something sickeningly domestic at the sight of his boyfriend "Hi, love" he greeted "Good morning".
A tan coloured hand suddenly darted out from behind Drift, landing on Scott's arm with a reprimanding tap. "No flirting over the counter" Elle warned, brown eyes stern "If you distract Avid and he breaks something again I can and will ban you from the shop for real".
Scott frowned petulantly "You can't possibly deprive everyone in this poor store from seeing my beautiful face every day" he chided.
Elle didn't budge, brushing a strand of ginger hair out of her face "Don't worry" she deadpanned "I'll put up a poster with you on it as the banning notice".
Avid snickered from beside her, kissing Scott apologetically before shooing him towards one of the many empty tables.
Not that it mattered, there was never a queue at the counter this early.
Elle, Avid and Drift had opened up their own coffee shop fresh out of college. Avid and Elle, being childhood friends, had apparently always wanted to own their own little cafe; and Drift, as Elle's college roommate, had tagged along.
It wasn't the most profitable business, but they made enough to get by. They had a couple of regulars who showed up at least once a week. Viking showed up once every two months, Apo hadn't visited in a while.
She looked up from wiping the counter, noticing that Elle's hair had come loose from her bun again.
Drift was about to point it out but Avid beat her to it, tucking away the strand with an easy familiarity that made something in Drift's heart hurt.
He walked into the backroom afterwards, not uttering a word. Like it had been the most natural thing in the world to him to brush his friend's hair away from her face with gentle care.
They never did that with Drift.
She loved them, she really, really did. But sometimes it felt like she was just intruding on their friendship.
She was close with them, true. She had sat with Elle on countless nights just talking when neither of them could sleep. She had helped talk Avid through a sexuality crisis, then a gender crisis, and then an overall-life crisis (he had a lot of those). She had helped draft up plans for their shop, gleefully buying furniture for their apartment building upstairs.
She's part of the group, she knows that.
But Avid and Elle were… well, they were Avid and Elle. Best friends since childhood. Inseparable to a point people often mistook then for siblings. There was a rhythm to their dynamic that she lacked - she had only known them for a few years compared to the lifetime they had been each other's everything.
She shook her head, not wanting to go down that road. "Is your hair getting too long?" she asked instead, turning back to the counter. It was spotless. She cleaned it anyway.
"Maybe" Elle huffed "I'll go get it cut soon".
Drift had always thought long hair looked prettier, but she knows better than to say that to a person who prioritised convenience over appearance.
Besides, no one had asked Drift for her opinion.
She idly brushed a hand through her own chin length hair, maybe she should grow it.
"Have you considered dyeing it?" a voice interrupted, making Drift jump.
Scott was leaning against the counter again, looking directly at Elle. Of course, for a moment Drift had thought he was talking to her. "Because seriously, black would go wonderful with your skin tone".
Elle rolled her eyes, brushing away a lock of ginger hair. Personally, Drift thought she was beautiful as is. With fiery hair and tanned skin making her shine like a well-loved bronze statue under the warm lights.
Her eyes shifted to Scott again. Although - maybe the hair dye suggestion wasn't a disagreement. She knows he likes to express himself that way.
Elle didn't seem to take any offence to it, at least. "Go back to your seat, Scott" she scolded lightly.
"I'm bored" he griped "There's nothing to do but scroll social media while I drink coffee. Entertain me".
Elle snorted "Dude, we're working" she argued unconvincingly.
Scott raised an eyebrow, looking around the empty shop "You don't get customers until like, seven am" he deadpanned "I think you can spare five minutes to talk to me".
"Avid!" Drift called absently "Come get your boyfriend he's being annoying!".
"Nope!" her best friend yelled back from somewhere "He's your problem now!".
Elle jabbed a finger towards the storage room behind the counter "Avid's changing that bulb that was flickering" she explained.
Drift's eyes widened "Oh thank god, I was actually going to kill someone if it burnt out in the middle of the work day" she sighed.
Avid walked out of the storage room, dusting off his hands performatively "Good news! Drift isn't committing murder today" he announced.
Drift rolled her eyes, jabbing at him with her elbow when he got close "Awesome. Your next job is to get your clingy boyfriend to leave us alone" she joked.
Scott just watched them, a pathetic-looking pout on his face. "Avid they're being mean to me" he complained.
Avid snickered unsympathetically, pulling himself up to sit on the counter before wrapping his arms around Scott in an enthusiastic hug. He looked down to say something and suddenly paused, one hand absently coming up to play with his boyfriend's hair. "Oh" he muttered, barely loud enough for Drift to catch it "Baby your roots are growing out".
Scott stilled in the middle of returning Avid's embrace. "Ugh, I know" he grumbled "I have to redye it".
"Sticking with the same blue?" Drift asked curiously, not batting an eye at their PDA at this point.
Scott shrugged "Maybe, I'm open to suggestions" he said.
"I think you look handsome no matter what" Avid chimed in.
Drift and Elle both rolled their eyes "We know Avid" they droned almost in sync.
Scott ignored them, smiling demurely up at his boyfriend "Thank you darling" he cooed. He brushed a hand through his hair absently "Maybe I'll ask my new roommate for suggestions too. They have fun taste" he mused.
"Oh yeah, how's that going by the way?" Elle asked curiously "Are they decent?".
Scott nodded "She's nice" he confirmed, he looked down at his phone "You might meet her soon, I asked them to drop by the shop if she was free…".
As if summoned, the bell over the door jingled, signalling a new customer.
The trio all looked up, gaze locked on the door. Drift felt her breath catch in her throat.
Curly red hair, bright amber eyes, enthusiastic grin. Her cream coloured sweater was practically hanging off of her like the assorted crocheted mushrooms attached to her side satchel.
It looked like the light itself had crafted a person, sunbeams woven into a bright smile as she cheerfully waved, coming to stand behind Scott with a skip in her step. "Hi! I'm Scott's new roommate!" they chirped enthusiastically "It's so nice to meet you guys!".
Scott smiled, Drift was almost surprised at how fond he looked, even being gay he clearly wasn't immune to the charms of the dazzling angel next to him. "Everyone, this is Shelby" he introduced, waving a hand in her direction.
Shelby's eyes sparkled, intently observing her roommate, and seemingly only then noticing the person clinging to him like a particularly stubborn koala. "I take it this is the boyfriend?" they asked, clearly holding back laughter. Drift wished she wouldn't - their laugh must be as beautiful as she was.
Scott rolled his eyes, undeniably fond "Yes" he grumbled through a smile "Do you see this Avid? You're ruining my whole image. She thought I was cool until this".
"Good thing she knows better now" a mirthful voice intervened "Hey, nice to meet you, I'm Elle". She offered a hand to shake, and Shelby accepted it with vigour.
"Hi Elle! Scott's told me lots about you!" she gushed. Those amber eyes suddenly turned on her, and Drift felt her face flush.
"So then you must be Drift!" they enthused.
"Y-yup!" Drift stammered out "That's me!".
Oh she's dying- dying. Someone go dig a hole in the backyard. Cause of death: An angel just said her name in the most perfect way possible.
She noticed Avid watching her, eyes flitting between her and Shelby. Oh, he had definitely clocked her immediately. Which meant Elle had also figured it out. Which meant they were absolutely going to tease her about it
Damn it.
"Can we get you a drink?" Elle asked, leaning over the counter. Shelby's eyes darted to her toned arms crossed over the other before quickly looking back up - Drift couldn't blame her.
"Maybe not" Scott interrupted, looking down at his phone "Shelby we have to get to class soon".
Shelby tilted her head quizzically, peering down at her watch, eyes widening at the time "Oh- shoot! You're right".
Elle glanced at the clock, Drift following her gaze. Almost eight, yikes, they really were late.
"We'll both get something another time" Scott called smoothly, quickly shepherding his roommate toward the exit.
Elle and Drift both called out a quick goodbye, both getting back to setting up - customers would start showing up any minute. Drift held out a towel under the tap, she had to wipe down the tables still.
Avid waved goodbye to his boyfriend enthusiastically, purple nail polish shining under the lights. "Bye Scott, love you!" he called.
Scott waved back, eyes unbearably soft "Love you too". The bell jingled as he left.
Drift's grip on the towel tightened, drops of water squeezing out sluggishly.
Avid and Scott were good for each other. They had their hardships and their obstacles but they pulled through it. It's just… They were one of those couples that made people around them feel painfully single; and Drift doesn't need another reminder that she hasn't had a girlfriend in five years.
She considered throwing the cloth in her hand at him - but no, it was still soaking wet and he'd done such a good job on his makeup, she didn't want to risk hitting his face.
Avid, apparently, didn't care about her impressive self restrain. "So" he said, grinning wildly "Shelby, huh?".
She threw the soaking towel at him.