"Name?"

"Uh.. Matt"

"It'll be with you in a couple minutes"

"Yup, thanks"

He made his way back to his noisy table.

"Matt, it's your turn"

He sighed

"What did you order?"

"Long black"

"Jeez Keith. Just sleep."

"Nah, fuck off. It tastes good"

"That's your third today"

"And?"

"It's 10am!"

"Yeah, I'm not seeing a problem"

"I don't get how you can be one of the smartest people at school. You never sleep"

"It's not that hard if you pay attention in class"

"Yeah James, too busy doing sports to focus in class?"

He scoffed

"Okay but, I do actually try to focus in class. I can just never get all of it."

Keith sighed and turned towards the window, his head resting on his chin.

"And besides. Both of you excel at academic stuff while both of you have extra curricular activities as well."

"Yeah as hobbies, you're trying to have it as a career"

"Don't lie to me. I've been to your house, that music thing is way more than a hobby. It's just so unfair how you guys are two of the top 5 in a school of over a thousand, where I'm stuck in the 500's"

"Oh poor you.."

"I'll pour your coffee down the drain."

"I don't even have it yet"

"Gah! When it comes you dumbass!"

Keith snickered and grinned.

"A long black for Matt!"

He sighed and rolled his eyes before pushing himself up and walking over the counter. 

He huffed as he sat down and slid it over the Keith. His fingers wrapped around the handle and he just left it on the table for a bit.

"What happened"

"Just 'Oh, um.. You're a different guy than who ordered this.' I had to explain that Keith is my friend and Matt is my name and that Keith is just lazy."

Keith sighed

"James. Can you hit him for me?"

"Yeah sure"

He heard the contact and Matt started whining.

"Ow! What was that for!?"

"Matt. Its not that I'm lazy. I just don't trust myself with bringing it back here without spilling it"

"Why? Are you hands really shaky?"

He groaned and slid his head onto the table. He made a barricade with his arms.

"Dude. Are you serious?"

"What?"

"Didn't you say he's in the top 5?"

"I am!"

"Currently, I think it's more likely for James to be in the top 5 than you"

"Hey!"

"Matt. Think for a second. Why are you so dumb all of a sudden?"

His lips pouted and his eyes squinted. He tapped his chin and pinched his eyebrows. He tried switching positions and standing up to walk around. Keith heard his footsteps clomping and raised his head. James scoffed

"What is he doing?"

"I'm pretty sure he's thinking. I've never seen it before. It's weird"

"He seriously doesn't know why he's so dumb?"

"Apparently not since it's taking him this long"

"Matt. Sit down"

He huffed as he plopped into his seat.

"Okay fine, just tell me"

"I'm blind? Ring any bells?"

He snorted and paused a little before cracking up laughing.

"Idiot"

He brought the mug up to his mouth and sipped.

"Ew, do you have to do that so loud?"

He lowered the mug so that James could see him grin. Then raised it back up and slurped it with an obnoxious grin lingering on his face. James explaimed and pressed his hands against his ears.

"Guys we're gonna get kicked out"

"Hey did you only bring us here today to bring your coffee back for you?"

"Eh more or less"

"Keith!"

"But hey, got you away from chores didn't I?"

"I don't have chores"

"Really? Lucky."

"Your parents actually trust you to do stuff around the house?"

He scrunched up his nose and wiggled his hand in a 'sort of' way.

"I mostly just get cleaning rooms or putting things away. Sometimes I have to clean dishes but there's a lot of criticism so it's easier for everyone if I just leave it to the rest"

"You have to put things away? Is that easy to do?"

"More or less. We've lived in that house my entire life."

He chuckled

"I don't even think you could call it a house, just a shack that my parents built"

"Hey! Your house is better than mine, so don't insult my family by insulting yours"

"Are you kidding me? There's actually a house worse than mine? No way. I don't believe it. Doesn't exist"

"Cut that out. A log cabin is really cool. Plus there's all that space. Heck! You have an entire room just for drums!"

"Well yeah, because I'm not the only one who plays. If I was then it would have to be cramped in the corner of my bedroom"

"Still bigger than mine.."

Keith scoffed and rolled his eyes. He turned back to the window and closed his eyes.

His fingers fell against the table and tapped along to a tune only Keith could hear. Matt's eyes fell to the table when his fingers were.

"New song?"

He sighed

"It will be but its giving me trouble and I'm stuck."

"And that's why you called us here"

"Mmm"

"When did you get the idea for this song?"

"Like last night or something, I don't know"

"Maybe the problem is that you aren't sleeping"

"No, it's that I can't just wake up and go on the drums instantly because it's 3am and people value sleep."

Matt snorted

"Did this happen?"

"What makes you say that?"

"How'd you know it was 3am?"

He huffed

"Axca came into the room yelling 'Go back to sleep. It's 3am!"

"Ha!"

"I mean, I didn't. I just got off the drums"

"And now you're downing glass after glass of coffee"

"Yup"

A phone buzzed with a notification. Obviously whoever it was, was impatient because after a couple seconds the phone continuously buzzed, signaling a call.

"Keith its yours"

He fiddled around in his bag and picked out the phone. It tilted towards Matt and he pressed 'accept' for Keith. He moved it to his ear.

"Yeah?"

A pause, then he sighed.

"Right now?"

"Mmm"

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'll come back"

"Yeah, bye"

A click pinged in his ear and he shoved it back in his bag. He slung the strap over his shoulder and stood up.

"Mum wants me back home"

He shrugged

"More school stuff"

"You good getting back? I'll give you a ride"

"Sure"

James slid out of his seat. Matt fumbled around for some cash and left a 10 dollar note on the table. He moved after the two and thanked the server.

__

He stepped inside the house and slid out of his shoes.

"I'm back"

He heard the soft padding of footsteps running towards him at full speed. A cat leapt at him and climbed up his shirt to sit on his shoulders. It pushed its head into his cheek and purred. He chuckled and scratched its head. His sister came around the corner after it.

"Hey, sorry. You good?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Just surprising is all"

"A cat just running up to you?"

"Well yeah, I get inside and the first thing I hear is feet running towards me at top speed"

"This is Red, and she's a handful."

"At first it seemed like she was running away from something, what have you been doing?"

She sighed

"Yeah, I don't know. She's just a ball of energy that's doesn't stop moving"

"Mum said she needed me for school stuff?"

"She's in the lounge"

He walked forward

"Here, let me take her from you"

"Nah, leave her be. It's fine"

"You sure?"

"Yes."

__

"You needed me?"

"Hey Keith, the holidays end in a couple days and I don't think you're taking this whole seriously"

"And by that you mean?"

"Just that.. You went out again without your walking stick"

"I'm fine without it"

"Yeah I know, but I just worry that.."

"You say that you know but its not showing."

"Well yeah, it happened 2 weeks ago and you're acting like nothing happened"

"As long as I stay in this town I can walk anywhere. I can follow the routes in my head and its all fine"

"Honey, I just think that you should get used to the walking stick for school"

"I don't need it"

"I'm going to have a talk with your teacher and make things easier for you, yeah?"

"No, everything can just be the same. It's fine okay, this isn't my first time going to school here"

"Everything won't be the same.. You can't pretend like this isn't happening. That won't make it go away"

"I know! I know. But what do you want me to do? Burst into tears because I can't do half of the things I could? Think about how my future is going to end up? Wallow over the things I'll never be able to do? Throw away all my sketchbooks because they won't be any use to me anymore? I can't do that! Because that would mean admitting defeat. Maybe if I just act like nothing happened, then I'll fell normal again. I'll fell like myself again."

His voice broke from the strain and tears slipped down his cheeks. His mum came over and wrapped him in a hug. "Everyone keeps acting like I can't do anything. Which doesn't help at all."

"But it's not all bad, you found a new hobby and pretty much mastered it really quickly"

He let out a wet laugh.

"I'm still terrible at guitar"

"Hey. There are so many other instruments that you can play. You're even better at the drums than your dad."

"It not a high bar, he's terrible"

"Yeah, I know. He's the reason we bought earmuffs. Don't tell him I said that"

He laughed again and the cat on his shoulder licked up his tears. He pushed away from the hug and sighed.

"I'm gonna go back to the cafe, okay?"

He picked up the cat and placed her on the ground.

As soon as he straightened up, the cat had shot up his leg and was back on his shoulder. He tried again but struggled to get the cat to stay off. The next time he tried was also as difficult because he was laughing so much.

"Axca come in here!"

She poked her head around the corner

"Yeah?"

He put Red on the ground and this time she didn't even wait for him to straighten. Just jumped straight onto his back. She burst out laughing. He had a huge grin on his face.

"Wait, wait. Try holding her"

She walked closer and picked Red off his shoulders. She held her as she squirmed around, trying to leave. When Red realised she was stuck, she just howled like there was no tomorrow. They both giggled uncontrollably and Axca set her on the ground and she shot off towards Keith. On his shoulder she pushed her head against his cheek again. "Looks like I'm going with Red"

"Just don't loose her"

"I actually think that's impossible"

"This isn't fair. I got her but she is obsessed with you"

"Maybe she'll grow to like you"

__

The bell chimed for the door and he looked up to see a guy enter for the second time today. He walked up to the counter.

"Are animals allowed in here?"

"Uh.. Yeah"

"Something wrong?"

"I've just never seen a cat do that before, you two must have a good connection if it trusts you that much"

"Maybe but I wouldn't know. I just met her today, I tried putting her on the ground but she just jumped straight back up"

"Really?! Wow"

"My sister's actually super jealous because she bought her but she instantly ran to me when I got home."

"I think my cat favours me over my siblings but she only comes running for food."

"Yeah"

He moved his hand near his shoulder and Red instantly shoved her head against it.

"I don't know what it is but she really likes me. Keeps shoving her face into me. Anyway could I have a-"

"Long black, right?"

A small smile played at the edges of his lips.

"Yeah actually, how'd you know?"

"You were in here before, kept coming up to order. Matt, no wait, Keith, right?"

"Uh, yeah I'm Keith"

"Matt said you were lazy"

He scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah I know"

"Oh! Sorry, that was rude to say"

"Nah, nah. Matt just forgot something. That's totally on him. Oh, hey. Instead of a mug could I get a takeaway cup"

"Sure thing. You going anywhere?"

"Nah I think I'll stick around for a bit, it's easier to drink from. Less chance for spilling that way"

"Yeah I get that"

He moved to the side

"I'll just wait here for it"

He slid it onto the counter

"Here you go"

Keith tried grabbing it but missed. Fuck. His arm reached longer this time and made contact with the cup. His hand wrapped around it and he pulled it towards him.

"Yeah, thanks"

He sat down and took off the lid. He offered it to Red and he could hear her purring. Lick, lick, lick, filled his ear and he smiled. He brought the cup up to his lips and took a sip. The cup hovered with his hand. Red shifted and he heard her licking again. Her ears tickled his chin. He picked up her head and moved his cup away.

"This is mine"

Maw 

No. You can't have it"

Maaaw 

Maw. Maw. Maw. Maw He raised his cup back and she started purring. He moved it away and she started pestering him again. He sighed. He stood up and scratched her head.

"Just wait"

"Hey, is there a bowl I could borrow?"

"A bowl?"

"Yeah she keeps trying to drink my coffee and I don't want her getting stuck in the cup"

"Um.. Sure, just hang on"

Keith heard his footsteps walk away. He felt her sandpaper tongue on his cheek, then she shoved her nose into it as well. He poked the top of her head.

"You're a weird cat"

She licked his finger.

"Here's the bowl you wanted"

"Thanks"

His hand moved upwards and gripped the bowl. The weight bobbed so he knew the guy had let go and walked away.

He walked back to the table and sat down. He laid the bowl on the table and reached for his drink. He stuck his finger in the bowl and poured some coffee in. His finger was offered to Red which she licked happily, then jumped onto the table. He heard her lapping up the coffee and drunk his own. His cup was placed on the table, empty. His fingers fell to the table and drummed. Red scampered up his arm and sat on his shoulder. He laughed and scratched her head.

"I'm trying to think here Red"