LAYERS

No Use Crying Over Spilled Coffee

"And..."

The café door rang twice as a customer exited the small restaurant. A thrum of excitement pulsated through the employee closest to the door.

"...That was the last customer!" Ashley called, a smile splitting his cheeks as he looked over his shoulder to face Mint.

"Okay!" Mint called back without looking up from where he was wiping down a table. "Could you flip the sign, please?"

Months had passed by with a pleasant rhythm, trees bursting with green and the July sun swelling the air. Despite it only being a few months after Ashley's and Mint's first interaction, it felt as though this has been the dynamic their entire lives.

Ashley complied, flipping the sign on the door accordingly. "Closed" faced the public.

The café became his place of employment almost immediately after he'd given his application to Renee. He worked as a host, and was positive the only way he lucked into his position was through Mint's recommendation.

Ashley made his way towards his locker to grab his bag so he could change out of his uniform in the bathroom. When he emerged, he found Mint waiting for him by the front, sipping from a to-go cup.

Definitely iced coffee; Ashley had learned that it happened to make up most of her liquid intake.

"Wanna walk around the mall for a bit?" Mint suggested, gesturing towards the clock on the wall. "Mall closes in a couple hours."

Ashley hummed his agreement, an excited smile lining his face as he opened the café door for Mint.

Over the last few months, they'd grown to be rather close. Of course, that was to be expected when living together, but close felt far too much of an understatement sometimes. Especially with the newest case of accidental sleep cuddling still fresh on their minds.

It was a secret they kept from each other and close to their hearts, unaware of the other's knowledge.

Dinner was the course of discussion they both migrated to as they wandered the mall. Soon, dinner teetered off to what they might do on their next day off.

They almost passed a chain clothing brand when Mint blurted an, "Oh!" She turned to look through the clear glass of the clothes presentation stand, past the mannequins. It was one of the few stores that were still open, and she walked closer to the entrance, tossing Ashley a look over her shoulder.

"Let's go in here," she suggested, in a way that didn't feel like a suggestion at all. "I need some new shoes anyway."

Ashley followed her without

Ashley complied as he followed behind Mint who of which was extremely eager.

He didn't like shopping that much but some joe he always enjoyed it when he was doing so with Mint.

They first went to the men's clothing section, with more intent to look around than to buy anything.

Mint dressed more masculine than feminine, even more so than Ashley, so she tended to get her clothes from there.

"Hold my drink." Mint said as she shoved her cup into ashley's chest. "What do you think of this?" she held up a white t-shirt with black stripes lacing each sleeve.

"For me or you?" Ashley asked teasingly, tilting his head while taking a sip from mints drink.

Iced coffee for sure.

Mint let out an ugly laugh which made his heart squeeze.

"For me of cour-" her words stopped abruptly as a panicked look spread across her face.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Ashley asked concerned, taking a step closer noticing her hands begin to shake ever so slightly.

Mint was quiet and still, staring terrified straight through Ashley, as if he wasn't even there.

He turned around scanning the store, a mere ten or so feet behind him stood a tall man, he had dark green eyes and long brown hair, his right arm was poorly wrapped with old bandages.

Ashley and the man made eye contact, registering in both minds they shared a resemblance.

Only few differences being that ashley had glasses, and the strange man had facial hair.

"Hey!" Ashley said playfully, pointing at the man, not paying attention to the atmosphere.

"We kind of look the.. same.." His words trailed off as he felt Mint wrap her hands around his arm, her nails digging into his skin.

"T-that's.." Her voice shook as she spoke.

And then it clicked.

"Gene."

"Mint? is that you?" Gene had said with a smile spreading across his face.

The iced coffee slipped from ashley's hand, splashing on the ground, though he payed it no mind.

"I thought I recognised that voice"