5AM// Stanlon

0.3

COFFEE AND GLASSES •

Mike picked up his bag and clocked out, it was his lunch hour and he intended to actually use it this time. He liked being in the library, it was quiet and it was comforting. It was how he was able to remain so calm whenever he had to interact with Stan, calm was what they needed.

Mike never had to stay in the library considering he was the head in charge but he always felt he should. Besides, being in a dusty old library with people was better than being in a clean home on his own. He liked the sound of flipping pages and the small snickers of an adult reading something funny on the comic section of the morning paper. He appreciated the smell of new books, old books, and everything in between.

Sure, not everyone liked him and he understood that, but not everyone hated him either. He was nice and in turn people were sometimes nice to him. The people who hung out in the library for example, they didn't mind the color of his skin. That may be the reason he loved this job, books can bring people together. Also, Mike doubted the knuckle heads in this town could read anyway.

"Maria, I'll be back. I'm gonna head down to the coffee place," he smiled softly at the old woman behind the desk, her hair was greying a pretty silver and her bifocals stayed at the bridge of her nose.

"You be careful out there, Michael." She was wagging a finger at him playfully.

"I doubt I can get myself into trouble in forty five minutes," he chuckled, the crinkles beside his eyes showing through.

"My statement doesn't change."

"I'll be careful, I promise." He patted the desk and began to walk out.

"Michael.."

"Yes, ma'am," he suddenly felt like a child again and was reminded to call his mother when he got the chance.

"Why don't you take the rest of the day off. You're too young to be cooped up in this dingy old place all the time. I can manage." She nudged her glasses up.

"Oh, Maria. That's nonsense, I'm almost thirty years old."

"Be that as it may, you're in your prime. Go on, relax, go get a drink or something like a normal adult. You work too much." She may have been smiling but she showed no signs of giving up.

"I have nothing better to do..." That was not a lie.

"What ever happened to that pretty little boyfriend of yours, the one with the curly hair and expensive taste in clothes?" Maria may have been a white woman through and through but she loved people no matter what. She supported Mike and Stan, even if they were an interracial gay couple.

"Husband- but we're not in the best place right now and I think I'd bother him too much if I popped up at his job. "

"You two will work it out, don't let this break you two. Now, go before I shoo you out myself." She hit his arm with a small hand and he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Have a good day, Maria."

"Same to you sweetheart, and tell those crazy friends of yours I said hi, and tell Ben he needs to renew his library card."

Mike gave a nod and with that he was outside. As he had planned to do, he drove over to the coffee place in his old pick up truck. Old Betsy, as he liked to call her.

Upon entering the shop, he was attacked by the prominent smell of coffee beans and different flavors of creamer. Hints of Carmel here, dashes of mint there and the light warmth of baked bread.

"Oh look who came to visit, little old me."
He smiled at the voice and turned to grin at his favorite ginger.

"Good to see you too, Bev." As he said this, the woman was already dusting her hands off on her apron. She grabbed his face in both hands and planted a kiss on each of his cheeks.

"I'm guessing you're on your lunch break?"

"Eh, Maria said she could handle it today..so I'm off."

"Well lucky you, but I know you can't be two minutes away from work without getting anxious. I'll fix you some tea and then you can help me bake some muffins, how does that sound?" She scrunched up her nose, one that was spray painted with freckles.

"Fine, as always. I'll just head into the kitchen for now though, I have urgent news from the library for Benny Boy." Mike wiggled his eyebrows and Bev jabbed a thumb behind her.

"He's in the back, is it his card?"

"As always."

"Of course, he can't remember that library card to save his life."

•••
"Richard, will you please!" Stan was massaging his temples softly, trying his best to put off the growing migraine.

"Hey! I'm just saying, I come to visit you out of the kindness of my little heart and you aren't even paying attention to me." Richie had pulled up chair and kicked his feet up on Stan's desk. Stan then pushed them off.

For some reason, Richie had wanted to come pester Stanley at work. He just barged in- without knocking- in his ripped jeans and godawful band tee shirt.

"I'm working."

"Work and talk."

"Don't you have a job?"

"Didn't feel like going. Anyways don't forget we have dinner tonight, the losers need a reunion since you and Mike-n-Ike are working all the fucking time." He was touching stuff on Stan's desk, pulling everything out of place. Stan had always had a slight case of OCD but Richie seemed to ruffle his feathers up every chance he got.

Richie was just hyperactive and that wasn't his fault, most of the time, but Stan couldn't help but be agitated.

Stan paused and sighed, he had forgot all about that dinner. He honestly didn't want to go but he did miss his friends.

"Okay, but can you please go home before I slam that stapler into the back of your head." He was glaring at the messy haired trashmouth. He frowned when he noticed Richie's glasses were dirty and began to open his desk drawer to pull out his eye glass cleaner and microfiber rag. He kept it in there for Richie purposes.

"Stanward...I thought we had something," Stan took the large glasses from Richie's face as the male spoke and began to clean them.

"I have a strong disliking for you...does that work."

"Nope," he popped the P, "you love me." The lanky male kissed Stan's forehead as he stood and Stan handed him his glasses back.

"Take these and see your way out of here. Please and thank you." He wasn't trying to be funny but of course Richie laughed.

"Stan the man gets off a good one." And he was gone.