The windows were foggy, condensation dripping down the inside in uneven rhythms- streaking across the glass and revealing the outside world for a brief second. Not that it was anything to look at- the storm that the weather report had promised was raging in the skies and torrents of water were peeling from the skies relentlessly.

The coffee shop was a salvation. and sat in the window seats with their warm mugs and content smiles, sopping umbrellas left by the radiator to dry off slightly before they ventured back into the deluge. They were the only two customers this late at night, in fact- they were the only two in the building. Nobody else was insane enough to venture into the weather and since was the owner… well, she didn’t have to lock up until she felt like it and since her best customer and friend had dropped in she wasn’t going anywhere soon.

They’d been sitting in the window drinking hot chocolate and watching the dark night for nearly an hour in a happy silence, something that can only come with years of friendship. Or a bet.

“I give up.” huffed, almost like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. In all fairness an hour was a bloody long time and was surprised her friend had lasted ever half that long. They both descended into a fit of laughter and rose from her seat to go get the pair of them a cake each from the counter- the forfeit of the bet. She returned and gave her friend the last chocolate muffin- another forfeit and slumped back into her seat.

“Did you sell all of your cakes today?” broke their silence, taking a big bite of the muffin once she’d finished. nodded, she’d just opened a bakery a few streets away that specialised in cupcakes for occasions.

“Yeah I just put these two aside for tonight.” She waved her hand towards the half eaten muffins on the table. “That guy from the butchers came in again today and I had to agree to make thirty chicken leg cakes. Not really sure what he wants them for but I’m thinking it’s a fetish.”

screwed her face up and snorted a laugh,“Chicken legs?”

Her friend nodded and they both fell into another bout of giggles, almost laughing too hard not to notice the door to the coffee shop swing open. Almost. They bother looked up and saw two men stumbling in, the rain pouring from their clothes and onto the big mat that had for bad weather days.

She rose to her feet and headed to the counter with a smile, one of the men following after her whilst the other hovered closer to . “What can I get you?” asked with a warm smile.

“Two hot chocolates please…” The man looked up from his phone and flushed pink when he saw the brunette eying him curiously. “Have I got something on my face?”

She copied his blush and shook her head quickly, busying herself with the drinks machine. Once she’d made the two hot chocolates she added some whipped cream and marshmallows to the top and pushed them across the counter towards him.

“Four twenty, please. And I was looking at your hair- I love the colour.”

He smiled broadly, remembering that just yesterday he’d dyed his hair blue, only he couldn’t imagine what it would look like now- completely wet and straggly.

He handed over a note and nodded to the tip jar. “Keep the change. I like your hair too.” Hazel to her shoulders then electric blue to her waist, shouted a silent thanks to for dyeing her hair. “Mind if we sit with you and your friend?”

She blushed and ducked her head. “Sure… if you tell me your name. I’m .” His smile turned up slightly more.

“Mikey.”