As the sun leaked into the Grant household through the windows, Ian Grant woke up and turned off his alarm before sitting up in bed. He checked his phone on the way downstairs and saw a couple of messages from his parents saying that they had already left for work and wouldn't be home until late tonight. He wasn't surprised, as that's how he had grown up. He entered the empty and chilly kitchen, briefly considering making breakfast before deciding against it due to the uninviting atmosphere. Instead, he returned upstairs and took a short, warm shower, which always made him feel better in the morning regardless of the season.

After his morning shower, Ian wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back to his bedroom. He stood in front of his closet, scanning through his clothes that all looked nearly identical. Eventually, he decided on a black shirt and black trousers. Once he was dressed, he returned to the bathroom to meticulously comb his dark hair before heading downstairs.

Ian spotted his bag, which he had left beside the door the previous night, and picked it up. With his bag in hand, he exited his house and made his way to college.

As Ian walked down the deserted streets, his tiredness from skipping breakfast made him crave coffee. He spotted a coffee shop and decided to step in. Just outside the door, he saw a guy sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarette. Once inside, he noticed only a couple of people seated, sipping their coffee. He approached the counter where he saw only one employee.

“Good morning, what can I do for you?” the worker asked with a forced smile.

“Just a black coffee to go,” Ian replied briefly. He glimpsed at the employee's face and noticed the dark circles under his eyes and overall exhaustion. "He must have had a rough night," Ian thought to himself.

“Here you go,” the worker said, placing the coffee on the counter. Ian left the money beside the coffee before grabbing it. “Have a good day,” the worker said as Ian turned to leave.

“You too,” Ian responded, pausing briefly to glance at the worker's name tag. "Logan," he read aloud before heading out the door.

***

Logan watched as the client left. He had seen him a few times before, always ordering the same thing. "Drinking too much black coffee can't be good," Logan thought to himself as he sat down on a chair behind the counter. He wasn't supposed to do that, but he couldn't be bothered to stand up the whole morning. Mornings were usually slow, and there were barely any customers.

As Logan sat there, he saw the only two customers leave, leaving the coffee shop completely empty. "I shouldn't have come today," Logan thought, rubbing his eyes to stay awake. Just as he was about to nod off, the bell above the door chimed, making Logan jump up from his chair.

"Good morning, what can I--?" Logan started to say in a monotone voice until he looked up and saw that it was Kyle. "Kyle?!" he exclaimed in surprise.

"You don't need to look for anyone else," Kyle said cryptically. When he saw Logan's confused expression, he pulled a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and showed it to him.

"Personnel needed," Logan read aloud, realizing that Kyle had taken the sign from the door a few days before. "Did you take that from the door?" Logan asked incredulously.

Kyle gave a triumphant smile as his answer. "You know you could have just given me your CV, right?" Logan said, picking up the now-wrinkled sign to throw it away in the trash can under the counter.

"Yeah, but I thought you could just put in a good word with your manager," Kyle replied with a cocky smile.

"How did you even know I work here?" Logan asked, still in disbelief.

"I've been here a few times and I saw you," Kyle answered, as if it was obvious.

Logan was still in shock at how ridiculous the situation was. "Sorry to break it to you, but I'm the manager and I can't hire anyone. You'll have to talk to the owner," he said, forcing a smile that only a person who worked with the public could fake.

"You're the manager?" Kyle said, his expression alternating between disbelief and excitement. "Then if you put in a good word with the owner, they'll believe you," he said, his cocky smile returning.

Logan paused, putting his hands on his temples as if to clear his thoughts. "I'll talk to the owner," he said, with a tinge of regret in his voice. "I get off at 6 pm. Call me then, and I'll let you know if she's willing to speak with you."

Kyle smiled again, this time a genuine expression of appreciation.

"Oh, and don't smoke before coming in," Logan added, reaching below the counter for an air freshener. "It stinks up the whole place," he said, spraying the air freshener in Kyle's direction.

Kyle left with an annoyed expression, although deep down he was grateful that Logan had decided to help him out, despite being complete strangers before yesterday.

***

Ian walked onto campus, sipping his coffee, when he collided with a guy running past him, causing him to drop his coffee. "I'm so sorry," the guy quickly apologized.

Ian looked down at the guy, who was a couple of inches shorter than him. "Don't worry, it's okay," he replied in a monotone, almost bored tone of voice.

"I'll buy you another," the guy offered apologetically. Ian was about to decline, but after seeing how sorry the guy felt, he agreed.

"I'm Ian Grant," Ian introduced himself as they waited for the coffee to be ready. The other guy looked at him with confusion but quickly realized Ian was presenting himself, so he said his name too.

"Max, Max Miller," Max said before handing Ian his new coffee.

"Thanks for the coffee," Ian said before heading to his first class. As he walked, he suddenly realized, "Maxwell Miller is the son of Dean Miller." He looked back to see if Max was still there, but he was already gone.

Upon entering the classroom, Ian searched for a free spot in the first rows but settled for a place in the middle. When the teacher walked in, the whispering sounds in the background abruptly ceased. This teacher was strict, but that was what Ian appreciated about him. While listening to the lesson, Ian's eyes kept wandering to the empty coffee cup on his table. "That barista looked like he had a rough night," he thought, recalling the coffee shop worker. "Maybe he knew Aaron too. The coffee shop is only a couple of blocks from campus," he pondered, scanning the classroom. Some of his classmates who seemed to be friends with Aaron were absent.

Sighing at his own thoughts, Ian focused on typing on his laptop what the teacher was writing on the board. He couldn't let himself get distracted by other people's problems and feelings.

***

When all of Ian's classes were over, he debated whether to go home or stay in the library to study. After a few minutes, he decided on the library. Before entering, he stopped at a coffee machine and bought another cup of black coffee. Although he knew many people didn't like it, he enjoyed its bitter taste, and the warm cup helped to combat the mid-September chill.

Once inside the library, he sat at an empty table in the middle of the room. As he opened his books, he allowed himself to bask in the library's warm atmosphere, which felt like a mother's embrace after a child gets hurt.

After a couple of hours, he left the library and headed home, his steps heavy on the now-busy streets. Upon arriving home, he didn't bother announcing his presence to anyone since the house was empty. He left his bag beside the door, as he always did, and went to the kitchen. Despite the cold and unwelcoming atmosphere, he knew he couldn't skip dinner like he did breakfast.

As he cooked his dinner, the sounds and smells in the kitchen made the house feel less lifeless, and Ian even found himself smiling a little, if only to himself. Once halfway through his meal, he heard the sound of the door opening.

"Welcome home," he greeted his parents. "I can make you dinner if you want," he offered, waiting for a response that never came.

***

"Thank you so much," Logan said to the owner as he stepped out of her office. "I'll have to call Kyle," he thought to himself, realizing it was already 6:30pm and Kyle hadn't called him yet.

Exiting the coffee shop with his phone in hand, Logan spotted Kyle leaning on a motorbike, eyeing him. "You were supposed to call me," Logan feigned annoyance, masking his amusement. "What are you doing here?" he asked, hands on hips, mimicking a mother scolding her child.

"I came to find out if I got the job and to give you a ride home," Kyle responded with one of his trademark cocky smiles.

Logan was amused and impressed. "You got the job," he said with a gentle smile. "And I'll be training you," Logan announced excitedly, pointing at Kyle. "Be here at 7:30 in the morning," he instructed with a chuckle.

"Here you go," Kyle said cryptically, handing a helmet to Logan. Seeing Logan's confused expression, he clarified, "I said I came to take you home, so put on the helmet, hop on, and let's go."

Before putting on the helmet, Logan teased Kyle. "Would you have given me a ride even if you didn't get the job?" he asked with a grin.

Kyle was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure. "I knew I'd get it," he said confidently, snickering.

Logan smiled before putting on the helmet and climbing aboard the motorbike. "Hold tight," Kyle cautioned before speeding off. As Logan gave directions, he felt a warmth he hadn't experienced in months. For a few brief moments, he wasn't grieving his friend's death or feeling like he had to sneak around with guys who only wanted sex. For a few minutes, he felt truly alive.

In no time, they arrived at Logan's grandmother's house. "Thanks for the ride," Logan said as he handed back the helmet. "And be punctual tomorrow," he added sternly. As Logan walked to the front door, the heaviness he'd temporarily shed during the ride with Kyle returned.

"I'm home," he said loudly so his grandmother could hear him.

"Are you home, dear?" she asked with worried eyes. "I was worried because it was getting late and you weren't home yet." She gave Logan a kiss on the forehead, to which he had to come down to her level because of the height difference.

"Sorry for worrying you," Logan said gently while embracing his grandmother.

"Dinner is almost ready," she said while heading to the kitchen. Logan followed her.

"Let me get changed and then we can eat," he said, eyeing the pots his grandmother had on the stove before leaving the kitchen.

When Logan reached his room, he closed the door and leaned on it. After a few seconds, his legs gave up and he slid down the door until he was sitting on the hardwood floors. After a few minutes of staring at his walls, he composed himself and changed into comfier clothes. As he was about to leave his room, he looked through the window that overlooked the driveway, and his mind drifted away to the ride he had just shared with Kyle. He wondered if he could ever feel that free again. He felt a couple of tears threatening to come out, but he forced them back. "Not today," he thought and left his room.

***

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27