Remy's POV:

I rolled over in my bed, blinking sleepily at the morning rays shining through the window. I yawned and stretched languidly. I had stayed up way too late last night.

My bedroom was large, with orange walls and circular windows with brown curtains. There were two side tables and a storage cubby built into the wall, where I usually kept my coffee cup and sunglasses. I had a big bed with several large pillows and a weighted blanket I got as a birthday present I got from my brother, Patton. 

Unwrapping the heavy blanket off me, I scooted off my bed and landed on the shag carpet on my floor with a soft thud. 

I glanced at my clock. 6: 34. I smiled in satisfaction and opened my closet door, scanning my choices for the day. 

I slipped into a mousy grey hoodie with cream accents and a pair of black leggings. Grabbing my signature sunglasses and putting them on, I scooped up my cup and walked out of my bedroom in time to watch the sunrise. 

Patton was sitting in his seat, a chair made from woven tree branches, and sipping a cup of some sort of tea. I grimaced. I don't like tea, I much prefer coffee. It has more caffeine and I need it to get through the day. 

"Hey Pat," I greet him as I rifle around for the toaster in our appliance cabinet. He gives me a nod. He was never really a morning person, so it isn't rude. 

While my toast is being made, I flopped into the seat beside him and gazed out the window at the sunrise. As I leaned on my hands, my eyes drifting around, I noticed it was really pretty. The clouds were dyed a nice shade of pink and orange that goes with the indigo shaded sky, floating lazily past on a light breeze. 

Patton took another sip of his tea and turned to me. "Hey, kiddo."

I smiled at him. "Mm? And Pat, please dear, I'm a few months older than you. You don't exactly get to call me 'kiddo'. Mkay?"

"Sorry, Remy," he said. "Anyway, I heard through the grapevine--"

I groaned. "Roman told you something, huh?"

"Anyway, I heard from Roman, yes, that you have an eensy-weensy crush!" Patton's face lit up as he knocked over his cup. I yelped and grabbed the nearest towel as I mopped up the spilled drink. I smelled the fragrance and realized it's chamomile. 

I smirked. Time to turn the tables on my younger brother. "Aw, you're drinking Logan's favorite tea?"

Patton flushed bright red from embarrassment and ran to the counter to grab another towel to help me. I stuck out my tongue playfully and he shoved me into the table. 

I held my injured shoulder dramatically and whined loudly. "Oh, how I have been hurt! The pain, the betrayal..."

 "Oh come on, I didn't push you that badly," Patton said, crossing his arms. "You and I both know it."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, pushing my chair back. "Whatever, whatever. You can stay here and ignore my mortal wound, I'm going to go and get myself some coffee."

Patton smirked. "The first of many, huh? Bye, kiddo. See you later."

"Bye Pat." I stepped out of the kitchen and pulled on my boots, tied the laces and walked out of the house.

The air was crisp and chilly, a slight breeze blew my hair in my face as I began to walk down the sidewalk. I glanced around at the other houses, all of which were quiet. Understandable, considering the time, I thought to myself. 

I blew out a breath and watched with satisfaction as it turned into a puff of white air. I loved it when that kind of thing happened. Fall was my favorite season, it was crisp and cool and gave me an excuse to wear his hoodies and jackets. Also, it meant caramel and pumpkin everything.

I usually walked to the local coffee shop around this time, during sunrise was one of the only times the shop wasn't filled with college students other than myself. I took a detour leading into downtown. The coffee shop was my second favorite place to be, first being at home, in my room, alone.

I ducked inside and waved hello to my friend Virgil Storm, the barista of the place. Stepping up to the counter, I placed a five-dollar bill down on the counter and smiled. "Can I get the--"

"The pumpkin spice latte with extra whipped cream, two expresso shots and a drizzle of milk chocolate?"

"Uh--"

"Oh sorry, I forgot the cinnamon on top," Virgil teased, smirking. "I've worked here for five years and have known you for longer. I know your favorite fall drinks. And your favorite spring drinks-- a white chocolate mocha with two expresso shots and extra milk. Winter drink-- mint chocolate latte with whipped cream and a sugared violet. Shall I go on?"

I scowled at Virgil. "Smartass." 

Virgil raised his eyebrows. "Can this smartass keep the change?"

I let myself glance at the money, then dragged my eyes back to Virgil. "Sure, I don't care. You can keep it."

"Oh, believe me, I will," Virgil told me, his eyes following mine and passing over the money. "I get paid much too little here."

I laughed. "Yeah. Well, always here to help."

I glanced around before settling on a table in the far corner. It was close to the back end of the room, where I liked to sit. My anxiety wouldn't let me sit in the middle of a room or with my back facing the room. If I did, my 'They're All Looking At Me' instincts, or so I called them, would flare up.

"Just put it under the name 'R', alright?"

"Mhmm," Virgil mumbled, already scribbling on a cup with the red sharpie he kept in the pocket of his uniform. I smiled and walked to my seat, sitting down and gazing out at the coffee shop.

It had dark brown walls and glossy wooden tables scattered around. Numerous coffee stains were on each table, along with some sugar packet wrappers and plastic spoons. The sun was shining in from the large windows, so the shop didn't even need interior lighting, the sun did it for them.

I yawned and leaned back in the chair, stretching. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through some notifications and posts.

The sun rose further in the sky as the early morning fog set in. Windows brightened, curtains were drawn, and people began to fill the streets. More cars drove by. I watched two women drag four children and a stroller past the window. The city was waking up before my eyes.

This was my favorite time of day, where I could be alone in the coffee shop, with no-one to bother me. I came here a lot, so I could feel like the first one to wake up in the entire city. I was sure I wasn't, but it was a good feeling nonetheless. 

Soon, my coffee was ready.

"Latte for the smartass in the corner," Virgil called.

I sighed and stood up, rolling my eyes. I walked to the counter to take my latte and raised my eyebrows at Virgil. "Don't call me that again," I said, swiping my coffee and tromping dramatically off to my table. 

The bell above the door rang just as I sat down. Glancing up, I saw a man with pasty white skin and dyed blue hair walk in. He glanced around the room and I froze midway to taking another gulp of my coffee. I slowly set my coffee down, not believing what I was seeing. 

Not wanting to believe it. 

It was Andy. He was-- he-- he came here?

I was stuck to my seat. Frozen. Surely he wouldn't try anything while in public, right? I mean, Virgil was here and everything.

But he had tried shit in public before. That was nothing new. I just had to hope he wouldn't notice me. 

Please, please don't notice me.

He yawned. "A black coffee. No sugar. Three creams."

"Uhh... okay," Virgil slowly replied. He wrote it down on a cup and glanced back up again. "Er, name?"

The man blinked sleepily. "Andy Mae. Just put down Andy."

Yup. Suspicions confirmed.

This looks bad.