Fragments of Us

Chapter Thirteen: Challenge

The familiar hum of Brewed Awakenings wrapped around Milo and Jason as they settled into their usual corner, coffee cups warm between their hands. The cozy, amber-lit space was filled with the sound of low conversations and the soft clang of cups against saucers—a place of comfort for them both, though Milo couldn’t help but think that it felt different now that Atlas owned the place. The scent of roasted beans mingled with the faint sweetness of pastries in the air, making the café feel like a retreat from the world outside.

Jason took a sip of his coffee and grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. “Remember that time in college when we all thought it was a good idea to pull an all-nighter, but you ended up falling asleep in the lecture hall?”

Milo chuckled, rolling his eyes. “I was trying to be responsible, okay? Plus, I didn’t think that last espresso shot would backfire like that. One minute I’m all hyped up; the next, I’m out cold in front of the whole class.”

Jason shook his head, barely containing his laughter. “It wasn’t just that you fell asleep. You were snoring. Loudly. Professor Eldridge stopped mid-sentence, and the whole class just stared at you. Poor guy probably thought his lecture on ancient civilizations was too riveting.”

Milo burst into laughter, holding his coffee cup steady to avoid spilling. “Yeah, I woke up to half the class filming me on their phones. They put that clip in the graduation slideshow, too! I’ll never live that one down.”

They continued swapping stories, letting their shared memories carry them back to those carefree days of late-night study sessions and impulsive road trips. It was as if they’d unlocked a vault of old memories, each story more ridiculous than the last. Their laughter mingled with the gentle background noise of the café, filling their corner of the room with a warmth that could only come from years of friendship.

After a while, Atlas approached their table, a tray in hand with a fresh pot of coffee and a few pastries. He set it down, glancing at Jason and Milo with a slight smile. “Thought you guys might need a refill,” he said, sliding into the seat beside them.

Jason grinned. “Perfect timing, Atlas. We were just talking about Milo’s infamous lecture hall nap.”

Atlas chuckled softly, giving Milo a sidelong glance. “Oh, I remember that. You were convinced that coffee was your superpower.”

   “Yeah, well, turns out it’s my kryptonite too,” Milo replied with a smirk, taking another sip of his coffee.

As they sipped their coffee, Jason leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin lighting up his face. "So, Milo," he began casually, "don’t you think it’s about time you got back out there? I mean, you’ve been home for a bit now, settled in, reconnected... When are you going to start dating again?"

Milo chuckled, shaking his head. "Trust me, I’ve thought about it. And yeah, I do want to date again. But I think I’ll give it a real shot once I’m back to work, you know? For now, I’m just focused on Dad and getting him back to his old self."

Atlas tried to keep his expression neutral, but his eyes flickered with surprise. "You’re leaving? For good?" he asked, his voice softer than intended.

   "Yeah," Milo replied, glancing between Jason and Atlas. "Once my dad’s better, I’ll head back to work. Just like everyone, I have to move on too."

Jason, noticing the tension, leaned forward with a playful smirk. "Aw, Atlas, are you going to miss Milo?" he teased, nudging Atlas's arm.

Atlas forced a small laugh. "Of course I am. Who else is going to remind me that I still can’t make a decent cup of coffee?"