《Queer Coffee》 She’s not my wife The door to thecoffee shop jingled open as I lifted my head up from cleaning the counter, a smile creeped onto my face as I saw who it was. "Hey." she said shyly as she stood in front of me, smiling. Gosh she looked beautiful. " Hello M''lady," I grinned and bowed, tipping my hat down, a goofy grin on my face. "Who is it?" Angel, our manager called from the back. " it''s Cameron''s Wife, Emily!" Elliot responded. " She''s not my wife!" We both said in unison. "Yet," I muttered under my breath as I smiled and then asked.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "So, what brings you to our little lovely establishment this fine afternoon?" "Wanted to see when my lovely girlfriend got off work." Emily replied, smiling, how pretty she looked. "You guys are so adorable." Elliot cooed as he took a chair from one of the tables and sat on it watching us, looking content, happy. "I get off in half an hour love," I responded as I finished the table and leaned against the counter, unbuttoning my purple flannel shirt as I left the white T-shirt exposed. "Hot.." I heard Emily mutter and I turned my head towards her as I reached behind the counter to grab my water bottle. "The weather," she blushed." It''s hot outside." I merely hummed and nodded, chuckling at her expression, as Angel walked back out from the back room, herblackhair in a high messy bun,wearing a yellow and white flower dresswithaccompanying light yellow shoes, a tabby cat with white patches on its fur followed behind her. "Does Ellie have to be here?" Elliot said, annoyed at the cat as he turned the AC higher, while I fawned and petted the cat. "Yes Elliot she has to, you know my parents are in town," and she sighed looking sad for a moment. Elliot didn''t complain about the cat again, we all knew the situation with our boss and her parents. "So," I pipedup, picking up Ellie and stroking her fur." Any plans for the afternoon?" "Yes, in fact..." she glanced at the watch on her wrist." I should get going, I have a few errands to run andI don''t want to be late." "Go ahead." Elliot smiled. "Yea, me and Elliot will clean up and lock the store." I added, as Emily played with the cat . "You guys are lifesavers." She smiles at us as she noddedbefore hurrying out, leaving us three in the store. Sneak peek- Caller ID: Brother. "I''ll be back in an hour." Emily waves as she left the shop. I smiled as Elliot came beside me and patted my shoulder. "You two are so cute." I smiled at that and headed for the back room. "Hey, Elliot," I called out from the back room, as I walked into the small door to the side.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "Is this room available for me to use?" I asked as I gestured around, light blue walls, a bed in the left corner, a small drawer and desk. With a small window above the bed. "I think so,"Elliot replies, standing next to me. "Why?" I stayed silent for a few moments. Opening my mouth to reply my phone rang, interrupting my answer. Caller ID: Brother. I picked up immediately. "When are you coming home?" Joe, my younger brother frantically asked, yelling could be heard in the background, I frowned. "Well hello to you too, everything ok? My shift ends in a few minutes." "It''s getting bad..."Joe mumbled. "How bad?..." I asked worriedly, leaning against the wall as Elliot looked at me worriedly. The sound of glass breaking was heard and Joe whimpered. "Very, Hurry home please.." and he hung up. Chapter 2- Caller ID: brother full "I''ll be back in an hour." Emily waves as she left the shop. I smiled as Elliot came beside me and patted my shoulder. "You two are so cute." I smiled at that and headed for the back room. "Hey, Elliot," I called out from the back room, as I walked into the small door to the side. "Is this room available for me to use?" I asked as I gestured around, light blue walls, a bed in the left corner, a small drawer and desk. With a small window above the bed. "I think so,"Elliot replies, standing next to me. "Why?" I stayed silent for a few moments. Opening my mouth to reply my phone rang, interrupting my answer. Caller ID: Brother. I picked up immediately. "When are you coming home?" Joe, my younger brother frantically asked, yelling could be heard in the background, I frowned. "Well hello to you too, everything ok? My shift ends in a few minutes." "It''s getting bad..."Joe mumbled. "How bad?..." I asked worriedly, leaning against the wall as Elliot looked at me worriedly. The sound of glass breaking was heard and Joe whimpered. "Very, Hurry home please.." and he hung up.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Is everything ok?" Elliot asked as I ran out of the back room grabbing my jacket and heading for the door. I paused and glanced back at Elliot who looked confused. "Family emergency, don''t close till I get back!" And with that I bolted out of the shop and ran towards home, hoping I''d be on time. I was out of breath by the time I got to the front entrance. I was too exhausted to go up the stairs, so I used the elevator. "Open the door." Sending the message to Joe, the elevator stopped on the sixth floor. Stepping out, quietly closing the elevator door, making sure it didn''t slam shut. I took the steps by two and the door to the apartment, opened slightly, the yelling now echoing down the stairway. I quickly took my shoes off outside before going in, both of us quietly closing the door, before we both hurried to my room, just as the living room door opened and the yelling increased. With the door closed Joe threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly, I patted his head and hugged him back. "What was it about this time?" I asked as I stroked his light brown hair. "Finances or something..." Joe trailed off. "Are you going to be staying here tonight?" Joe asked, looking up at me, his green eyes trying to blink away the tears. "Maybe, I found a back room with abed at my place of work so I was thinking of crashing there for the night," I replied. "What about you?" I asked, as I hugged him again. "I''ll be staying at David''s house, he said I could crash there for a few days." "Does he know... about your situation?" I asked as we both sat on the edge of my bed. "Nope, I just said that there were some family problems and he didn''t push the issue." "Sounds like a nice person." I muttered. Joe modded. My phone buzzed and I pulled it out glancing at the ID before picking up. "Hey." "Hey, sorry to call, but when are you getting back? my parents called, said they need me back home." Joe looked at me confused. "Work." I mouthed. "Hey, yea I''ll be there in a few minutes." The sound of glass breaking was heard from the kitchen. Me and Joe flinched at the sound. "Everything ok?" Elliot asked. "I heard something crash." "Yea everything is ok, I''ll drop by the shop in a few minutes." And I hung up. - The front door could be heard slamming, and then silence. I got up and opened my bedroom door and peered out. Joe went to the living room and looked around. "They went out." Joe stated,relaxing slightly. "Pack a bag, it''s best if you back now so you can leave quickly." I said as I started packing a bag myself, clothes for a few days, my laptop and charger, phone charger, toothbrush, toiletries, wallet and spare chargers, I also put a few books too. I rummaged through my closet and also packed my flag, just in case. I also took an envelope that I had hidden at the back that contained my cash from my job, I put those in the bag too. "Here''s the spare keys, I managed to get them from the clerk yesterday." "Thank you," I smiled as I took them and put them in my bag. "How much did it cost?" I asked as I pulled out my wallet. "Around 15." I handed him a ten and then a five. "Thanks for running that errand." He looked stunned. "You don''t have a job yet and that errand was important, of course I''ll give you a reward." He hugged me tightly. "Thanks, also, Im trying to find a job so I''m hoping I''ll be able to make some form of income too." I smiled and patted his head. "That''s amazing! If you need help with anything just say the word." He nodded. "Are you done packing?" I asked as I put my wallet back in my bag and closed it before grabbing a jacket and slinging the bag over my shoulder. "Yea," Joe replied, smiling. "I''ll stay here a bit, have to do a few things and then I''ll head off to David''s place. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then put my shoes on and opened the door. "Give me a call of anything happens ok?" He nodded and I exited the apartment, dashing down the stairs and made my way to the coffee shop. Chapter 3- “I’m on my way. :)” Joe pov After Cameron left I double checked that I had everything, and called David as I went to the kitchen, and found the roll of bandages I''d hidden a few days ago. Taking off my shirt I winced at the dark bruises on my arms, I''d worn a hoodie to cover it up, to make sure Cameron didn''t worry. "Hey Joe!" David''s cheerful voice came through the phone as I put it on speaker. "Hey, is it ok if I come over now?" I asked ,my legs now shaking as I wrapped the bandages around my arms. "Of course, my parents just left for their business trip so you can come over right now." I smiled slightly, the excitement of being out of here giving me hope. "Joe, is everything ok? Like at home?" David''s question made my stomach drop. "I''m asking because you seemed pretty frantic to come over here. Not that I have a problem with that, just want to make sure everything is ok." "Yep, everything''s ok, like I said things are just a bit tough at home, mom and dad are really busy, they''ve turned the apartment into their office."I replied as I finished with the wrapping and tied the bandages. A chuckle was heard on the other side. "Can''t wait for see you." I smiled as that ad I put the bandages back in their hiding spot and put my hoodie back on. "Can''t wait to see you too, I really miss you..." I trailed off, smiling slightly, despite the pain in my arms. "Strawberry or chocolate ice cream?" David asked. "Strawberry." I smiled, he always asked this, I found it cute. "Ok, I''ll go out to the store to buy some now." "I''ll send you a text when I head out." I said as I plugged my earphones into my phone, grabbing my bad from the corner. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Sure." "Hey I have to go, I''ll call you later." And I hung up, my blood running cold. The sound of the elevator door opening and footsteps coming up the stairs made the panic return. I hurried to Cameron''s room, that had plenty of hiding spots, including a walking closet, which she used as a office of sorts, when she was here. I heard the keys in the door. Switching off the lights I went into the closet, taking my bag with me. She somehow managed to get a small couch in here, and she made a makeshift fort of some sorts, putting two nails into the wall on either end of the couch, she''d gotten a wide board of some sorts and propped it on the nails and the couch that was many fully against the wall, leaving a little makeshift hiding place. I crawled into it, turning my phone wifi off, and lowering the brightness too as I stayed silent. - Cameron POV "I''m so sorry," I panted as I leaned against the door, sliding my bag to the floor, trying to catch my breath. "Did you Run?!" Elliot exclaimed as he got me a glass of water. I nodded and drank the water in one go. Pulling a chair out, and closing the door he led me to the chair and sat me down. "What happened?" Elliot asked, placing his hands on my shoulders to steady my shaking form. "Nothing." I stayed, trying to calm down. "Don''t nothing me, something happened, is it something bad?" Elliot looked frantically worried, I felt the guilt creep up. "Family stuff." I whispered. That was the only thing I could reveal, the only thing that I felt wouldn''t get me in trouble. Elliot looked sad as he pulled a chair and sat down next to me. "Do you wanna talk about it?" He inquired. I shook my head." Not now.." I trailed off. He nodded and patted my shoulder. "If you need to go I''ll lock up when I''m done here, I''ll clean up the shop." He nodded and stood up. "Thank you." And left the store. I closed the door after him and locked it, placing the keys on the counter as I walked to the back room and flopped on the bed in the corner. My phone rang and I groaned, sitting up and answering the call. "Hello.." "Hey darling." I smiled, Emily always made me smile. "Hey, could we do a rain check?" I asked laying back down. "I have the clean the coffee shop and then I have some projects and schoolwork to do." I''d finished my school work yesterday, missed my shift, and worked most of the night, I''d stayed awake with the coffee. "I also didn''t get any sleep..." "Go sleep,we can reschedule, you need rest." Emily Said sternly. "And actually sleep, no music." I chuckled. "Of course M''lady." I replied. I ended the call and closed my eyes, drifting into sleep. Joe pov. I lay on the floor,wincing in pain, knowing I''d have to reapply the bandages. They''d found me, well dad did, he was the one who came home. I''d forgotten to clean the kitchen, well it was Cameron''s duty, but she was busy enough. I''d gotten the punishment Cameron would have revived had she been home, I''m so glad she wasn''t home. He had left after he''d beaten the shit out of me, it''s a miracle he didn''t break my bones. I opened my phone and sent David a message. "I''m on my way. :)" I carefully stood up and made my way to the front door. Realizing I forgot my bag I went to get it and saw that I had a message David- "cant wait to see you.<3" I smiled and put my phone in my pocket as I slung my bag onto my shoulder. Grabbing the spare keys, I''d made sure to get another set for myself when I''d went to get Cameron a pair, I opened the door and stumbled out, slamming it behind me. My brain seemed to be on autopilot as I walked to David''s place, I''d been there so many times before. The fresh air cleared my head a bit, the sun beginning to sink into the horizon, my vision getting blurry, my head feeing light. I somehow managed to make it and rang the doorbell, the ringing seeming dull to my brain. The door opened and David stood in the entrance, dirty blond hair, green eyes, taller than me, he was wearing shorts and a hoodie, I''d worn that hoodie last time I came over. Just as I took a step forward, reached out hug him, he looked concerned, he asked me something but I didn''t hear it through the ringing in my ears, I took another step towards him and then my vision went dark. chapter 4 Joe pov I sat up, a wave of cold running down my spine as I looked around frantically. "Hey, it''s ok." David''s voice was next to me as I felt him hug me." it''s ok." I relaxed, knowing I was safe and hugged him back. I let out a shaky breath." what happened?" I asked, resting my head on his shoulder as we shifted positions so we were comfier on the couch. "You passed out.." he mumbled as he played with my hair, running his fingers through it, a small hum of satisfaction came from me as I snuggled into his chest. "Wait, did you carry me from the door to the couch?" I asked as I lifted my head to look at him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "You''re rather light so it wasn''t a problem," David replied as he kissed my head as I smiled. "Can we stay like this?" I asked as I snuggled into his chest. He hummed as I relaxed fully and drifted back to sleep Cameron Pov. I couldn''t sleep, I was physically unable to sleep. My brain was buzzing, wondering if I''d ever be able to someday not live in fear. My phone vibrated in my pocket, pulling it out I saw that Joe had messaged me, opening the message I saw a photo of him and David smiling together. Smiling I put my headphones on and put some music on. Apparently I had sad music prepped for some reason so now that was blasting through my ears. Feeling unsatisfied just laying on the bed in the coffee shop, I decided to go for a walk. Taking my things I left throught the back door, the clouds a haze of red and purple. My legs seemed to be on autopilot as I walked in the directions of Rins house, my feet stopping at the front door, the song coming to an end. Glancing to the side I saw the white bench on whic we had our many talks, my brain seeming to now be on autopilot, Shuffling my feet over to the bench I law down and closed my eyes. Chapter 5- Gay Fluff Joe Pov Feeling myself being shaken my eyes shot open as my body continued thrashing, still trapped in that nightmare. Hey hey, youre safe, Joe youre safe. Davids voice brought me back to reality, his arms stroking my hair, as he held me tight, my heavy breathing ringing in my head. I sighed as I sat up, Davids arms still around me, the ringing finally subsiding. Sorry I mumbled, burying my head into his shoulder as I clung to his shirt as he stroked my hair. After a few minutes, he got up and draped his jacket over me. Out of instinct, I grabbed his sleeve. Im going to make us hot chocolate, Ill be right back. He smiled and kissed my forehead before heading to the kitchen. Feeling uneasy after the repeating nightmare I dragged my feet to the kitchen, pulling Davidss jacket tighter around me as I leaned against the counter. He looked so handsome, tall, chocolate hair, wearing one of my T-shirts and shorts, just perfect. Youre drooling, David said, causing me to jump slightly, blushing. Smiling, he continued to make the hot chocolate. Sneaking up behind him I hugged him, standing up on my toes to try and rest my head on his shoulder, and failing because of my height. I ended up just resting my head on his back as I hugged him tightly. Putting down the mugs, David turned to face me, my arms still wrapped around him, and hugged me, resting his chin on my head. Im not a pillow, I pouted as the blush returned to my face. He merely hummed and ran his fingers through my hair his hug tightening.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. I miss you. He mumbled. But Im right here. Yea, but I still miss you, I want you to stay here, David mumbled as he pulled me closer, I could smell his shampoo, vanilla, and flowers. I want you to stay forever. Me too, I mumbled. After David somehow managed to make the hot chocolates with me still clinging to him, we ended up back in the living room, the mugs on the table, still hugging. I need to get something, David hummed. I still clung to him. Its something for you, David said as he stroked my cheek. its a surprise. Reluctantly I let him go to get what he needed as I wrapped his jacket around me, wondering If I could somehow sneak it home with me, to add to the other jackets and hoodies Id borrowed. Still deep in thoughts on how to sneak the jacket back home, I heard the couch shift its weight as I felt arms snake around me, causing me to flinch as my eyes darted to see who it was. You ok? David asked, worry evident in his eyes, his arms loosened slightly as he shifted to sit closer to me. Youve been having nightmares more often he trailed off I merely nodded, knowing that hed worry if he found out, I was surprised he hadnt already, with me waking him up after wed fallen asleep chatting with my screams of terror and him having to comfort me every time, I was starting to feel guilty. Yea, I muttered. Still cant find the cause. Lies If you want to talk about it, you know Im here. David smiled as he ruffled my hair lightly I hummed, resting my head on his chest, wincing at the pain that decided to return, knowing Id have to change the bandages again at some point. Theres a surprise for you in my room. My mood perked up at that news as I stood up, heading for his room. His room was relatively small, kind of like a closet, yet it felt calming, from the paintings on the brown wall adorned with fairy lights, to the fluffy brown carpet on the floor, to the bookshelf where a few of the books that Id given to him as a gift stood propped up. I smiled, as I sat onto his bed, wincing as I immediately sat up, taking off his jacket and my shirt, glancing down, the bandages were soaked as I sighed slumping down the foot of the bed. Are you ok in the- Davids voice cut off, directing my gaze to the door I saw him standing there, a look of horror and worry on his face Author update Not exactly a chapter but more of an update on a few things. Currently working on chapter 6, should hopefully be ready and published by the end of the week, if all goes well.
I will be posting updates on my Kofi Page: https://ko-fi.com/katashi_k including ; possible future plot points. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Previews of upcoming chapters, short side fluff and more. I also plan on hosting discussions about the chapters and characters. Might do a Q/A soon if you guys send in questions.
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