Mr. Sandman

Snow gently fell outside his house as Ray wrapped a plaid scarf around my neck, plopping on a beanie and stretching black gloves over my fingers. He was to work again at the counter at the record store he worked at, which wasn’t the worst there was but he didn’t really take a liking to it. Ray preferred actually going out into the aisles and sorting the records, but that position had already been filled.

Ray soon exited the warmth of his house into the cold winter of New Jersey, feeling a smile climb up my lips as he glanced at the white snow all around him. Heading down to his car, he scraped off the piles of snow atop it, opened the door with much difficulty, and with a twist of the key in the ignition and the shuddering of the vehicle slowly coming to it’s senses he was off to the coffee shop Frank barista-d at. Ray always went there before work, it was a quaint hole-in-the-wall place that was filled with odds and ends the owners have collected over the years. It was actually because of his liking to this place that he met Frank.

Trying his best not to swerve off of the road due to the ice coating the streets, he safely made his way towards the coffee shop and parked in his ‘special spot’ in front of said coffee shop’s building. Sighing happily, he got out of his car, throwing a glance at Frank’s dark car to make sure he wasn’t sick or something and he was actually here, which he indeed was. Obviously.

Hearing the little tinkling of the bell on the door as he walked in, Ray instantly felt comforting heat wrap around him as the sweet smell of coffee and various other baked delights assailed his nostrils. The twinkling of festive lights decorating the counter and menus hanging off of the back wall filled his vision, and he could feel his smile grow as he saw his friend working hard behind the counter.

It was surprisingly bustling in here, as normally it wasn’t this full of people. Ray figured it was because of the biting cold and fresh snow littering the outside that people came here, seeking the warmth and community-feeling of a place like this, that caused it to be full. But nevermind, time to get his drink before the inevitable drag of work.

He made his way to the counter after waiting in a long line, again, for this place, to be immediately greeted with the already sweating face of Frank.

“I take it you’re having your usual, Ray?” Frank said, a smile growing across his face as Ray clicked his fingers and slid over a $5 bill towards his friend.

“You know it.” Ray said with a laugh, Frank shaking his head as he entered the order in to the teller, giving back the usual change of one dollar and nine cents to Ray and writing his name on a cup.

“It’ll be ready before you know it.” Frank said, calling out the order to his coworkers as Ray politely moved aside, Frank giving him a little wave before he moved on towards the next customer.

Taking one of the only empty booths left in the cafe, Ray shrugged off his stuffy jacket, beanie, and scarf onto the booth table, preferring to keep his gloves on because his hands were rather cold. Reaching for one of the more interesting looking magazines strewn over the table in front of him, Ray began to half-read one of the articles, ears alert for the call of his name.

It wasn't before long until Frank called out his name, and Ray gently stood up and walked over to the counter where the drinks were being served to people, grabbing his own, and shooting a pitiful look at his exhausted friend leaning on the counter.

“You okay, man?” Ray asked, knowing that the answer was pretty damn obvious. He wasn’t.
“Uh, fine now that I have a few minutes of a break, so I can go and sit with you and shit. Andy’ll fill in for me, he’s a good dude.” Frank said, gesturing to another guy with long black hair and the general eighties-rocker kind of look working the counter who looked pretty tired and sweaty as well as his deep voice called to his coworkers for orders. Frank shook his head and sighed, exiting the kitchens and sitting down in Ray’s booth, gesturing for Ray to do so as well on the other side of him, to which he did.

Ray chuckling, stirring the drink absentmindedly as he watched Frank use some of the napkins at the end of the table to wipe his sweaty forehead. “Busy day, huh?” Ray asked, taking a glance to the long line of people waiting to get their orders.

Frank nodded. “Definitely.” He said, running a hand through his greasy black mohawk. “Much more than usual, and the heat in that damn kitchen really gets to you, you know. I find it to be a miracle that I’m short, and not someone like Andy who’s like six foot something, so I get to avoid the real heat up top.” Frank said, rambling a bit, a frown evident on his lips. Ray nodded, reaching over the table to give Frank and strong pat on his shoulder.

“You’re doing well out there.” Ray said, smiling at his friend for encouragement. Frank yawned and took another napkin to wipe off his neck and throat area, stuffing the used napkins in his apron pockets.

“Glad I had this few minutes of break, though, I would have actually died. Or, at least, that’s what I like to think.” Frank said with a laugh, frown finally lifting into a slight smile. Ray watched as his hazel eyes eventually flitted from Ray to the window next to the two, only to grow wide with surprise. “Holy shit, man.” Frank said, gesturing to the window and for Ray to take a look for himself, to which he did.

And holy shit indeed, it was absolutely dumping out there with snow. Snowflakes were whirling around in a harsh winter wind, coating the windows with a thin yet ever growing layer of snow. Ray could see the blurry shapes of people running past, surprised at this sudden blizzard-like weather.

“It never snows like that here… weird…” Frank said, shaking his head as he looked back at the counter to see Andy gesturing at him wildly to come back on. “Alright, Ray, sorry but I have to go. See ya!” Frank said, waving goodbye to Ray, who was doing to same back to his friend as he watched Frank ran back over to the counter to attend to customers.

Ray sighed, being alone now, and kept his eyes from wandering around the cafe to keep this slight loneliness from getting out of hand. Couples were everywhere, sitting in booths and talking cutely to each other. This is what he hated about Christmas time, everyone was out with their significant others and there Ray was, all alone. The only time he felt more alone was around Valentine’s Day, and Jesus, that was even worse.

But what brought him out of his sadder thoughts was the dying down line and the sudden crash of somebody flinging the door in, snow running in after a taller looking man bundled up with warming clothes bursted into the cafe. It was at this moment that a general good feeling began to lift up his heart and his mood, spreading throughout his body, right from the tips of his toes to each frizzy and curly hair on his head, and Ray found himself smiling a little as the strange man shut the door behind him and began to walk up to the counter, and that’s when Ray noticed his rather… strange knees.

Flashbacks of the equally strange dream he had the night before came running back to him, and he wondered, is this the guy? He had glasses as well… Ray shook his head as soon as that thought crossed his mind. It couldn’t be. This is some coincidence. Things like that don’t happen to someone like Ray.

But a little part of his mind bugged him, saying that Ray could not see his face for the red scarf that was covering his mouth and parts of his nose and the beanie that hung over his forehead. And the glasses covered with ice and snow that were on the tip of his nose covered his eyes as well, so that little bit of Ray’s mind kept bugging him with seemingly ‘more evidence’ that this dude could be the guy from his dream.

But no. Impossible.

Although, Ray kept a keen and interested eye on the strange man as he shed himself of the snow stacked upon him, Frank, at the counter, giving him a weird but amused look all the same. As the man approached the counter, Frank let out a chuckle as he manned the teller. Ray perked up his ears to catch the words his friend were about to say to this weird man.

“Wow, you’re really wrapped up in that, aren’t you?” Frank said as the man stood in front of the counter, fishing what Ray could only assume to be a wallet out of his many pockets as he nodded. Ray could also hear something from him as well, but it was so muffled by the clothing covering his mouth that Ray simply couldn’t hear him.

“Ah well, looks pretty cold out there, so I don’t blame you. Now, what would you like?” Frank said, giving the man a soft smile, but eyes flitting over to an intrigued Ray sipping his own cup, almost knowingly, actually. Which only confused the elder more. But he kept on watching as Frank took the man’s order, taking the bill he slid over to the punk and entering it into the teller, sliding back the change and yelling the order over his shoulder to his coworkers once more.
“It’ll be out soon!” Frank said, and the man politely stepped aside to let the next customer through.

Ray, despite the (now melting) snow and bits of ice covering the man’s glasses, could almost see them scouring the area for a decent place to sit, and could feel them on Ray himself as he could almost hear the debating going on in the man’s mind as he argued with himself if he should sit with this near stranger.

But soon, to Ray’s surprise actually, the man awkwardly approached him with his eyes now glued to the ground, gloved hands being wrung nervously as he gestured to the other side of the booth.

“Uh, could I…” He had mumbled something else as well, but honestly it was so quiet that Ray couldn’t pick out what it was.

“What was that?” Ray said, raising his eyebrow as he cocked his head, noticing how nervous this dude was. The man cleared his throat and pulled down his scarf.

“Sorry, uh, do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is kinda… uh… full.” The man said, and there it was again. Flashbacks to the dream, and god damn! This guy’s voice was so similar to the one from his dream, that it almost freaked Ray out. But he kept it pinned as a coincidence, because again, these things don’t happen to a guy like him.

“No! No, not at all.” Ray said, grabbing his stuff off of the table so the other man could sit. The man sighed in relief as he plopped down on the other side of Ray, and slowly but surely peeled off the excess layers, shrugging off his coat and taking off his hat to reveal - long golden brown locks of hair.

Exactly how they were in his dream.

It was then that the man took off his glasses to clean them of the snow, and that’s when Ray let out an audible gasp as he saw this man’s eyes.

There was no doubting it now, no pinning it on pure coincidence, absolutely nothing. This was the guy. Ray could see the almost glow in his beautiful, soft amber eyes, and the twinkling of festive lights native to the holiday season lit them up like a strand of Christmas lights. It was magical. This man was absolutely beautiful.

“Uh, hey, um, guy?” The man said, putting back on his glasses as Ray realized he was staring. His cheeks tinted a rosy pink as he quickly looked away, letting out an awkward laugh as he scratched at his hair.

“Um, sorry.” Ray said, letting out a sigh as he tried to calm himself down. This really was the guy, the voice was the same, the face was the same, the eyes were the same… there was no denying it now.

“So, uh, new person, might as well get to know you. You look like a cool- oh my God.” The man said, eyes widening as he stared at something on Ray’s chest. Looking down, Ray realized he was still wearing his Joy Division shirt from yesterday. “Joy Division? Really?” A smile graced the lips of this man, and again, Ray felt like he would faint as he slowly nodded.

“Yeah, uh, they’re pretty good.” Ray said, and the man’s hands to began to shake in excitement.

“Okay, you’re my new friend now. There is absolutely no escape.” The man said, staring right back at Ray with ecstaticism welling in his eyes. And honestly, Ray wasn’t complaining. He was entranced by this dude already, that he had absolutely no complaints whatsoever to being friends with this guy.

But soon, at Frank’s yell of “Order for Mikey!”, the man’s head perked up at the counter and with a quick of whisper of ‘be right back’, the man trotted off to get his drink.

Mikey. Huh. Is that his name? Ray thought, eyes following the dude as he got his drink and had a couple of words with Frank. Mikey… cute. Fits him.

Ray smiled as the man - Mikey? He’ll have to ask about that - plopped back down in the seat across from Ray, the steaming cup of warm coffee held tightly within his gloved hands, the steam clouds traveling up into the air and misting up the lenses of his glasses.

“Mikey? Is that your name?” Ray asked with a smirk, the man nodding.

“I guess so, now. My actual name is Michael, but I much prefer Mikey.” The man - Mikey - answered back, taking a little sip of his coffee as he cocked his head at Ray. “What’s yours?”

“Ray.” Ray answered, and Mikey smiled and held his hand out for Ray to take hold of and shake, to which he did.

“Nice to meet you, Ray.” Mikey said, tone light and friendly as he reached up to push his glasses, which were previously tipping precariously off of the tip of his nose.

It was then that they both struck up a conversation, getting to know each other from their talking. Ray learned that Mikey was 25, three years younger than the elder, and worked as an intern at a local record label called Eyeball Records, which Ray was especially excited about because as said, he worked at a record store and definitely has heard about Eyeball.

He also got to hear some slight rants about large bodies of water and how surprised he was that his brother hadn’t gone bald yet because apparently he dyed his hair much more than should be healthy. Ray didn’t mind all of this, because he simply enjoyed hearing this guy’s voice and how passionate he got about his rants and opinions. His eyes would get big, voice grow a little louder, and he would talk half out of his mouth, and the other half with his hands. And Ray loved every second of it.

Of course, Ray got his own portion, but it wasn’t really in detail like the other’s. He told him the basics, like how he was 28, moved here to Belleville a while back from somewhere else in New Jersey, and how he worked in a record store. The last one Mikey replied with an eager “Oh, that one? Surprised you haven’t recognized me, I’ve been in there so many times.” Which Ray found really strange, because for as long as he could remember working at that job he’s never seen a man remotely like Mikey.

But he just shrugged the weird feeling he got from thinking about it, and replied with a “I don’t have that great of memory, so I would be surprised if I did.” And quickly changed the subject.
Alas, not before long, their conversation was cut way too short in Ray’s mind by Mikey suddenly stopping mid sentence, after which he reached down and pulled out his little Sidekick, and his smile fell to a slight frown as he shook his head and shoved it back into his pocket.

“I’m sorry but I have to go. Apparently one of the more important guys got sick all of a sudden so I have to fill in for him.” Mikey said, reaching for his discarded articles of clothing and slowly but surely slipping them back on, downing the rest of his cup of coffee and throwing it in the trash bin. “Ugh, I doubt it though.” Mikey said with a laugh, giving Ray a pitiful look as he let out a sigh.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, you are one of the most cool people I’ve had the chance to meet lately.” Mikey said, giving Ray a smile as he waved an awkward goodbye along with a verbal one as well. But, he looked at Ray weirdly for a moment, before he gasped. “Oh, deary me!” He said, patting the sides of his jacket and jeans, a worried expression overcoming his features.

“What is it?” Ray said, and Mikey looked towards him with a majorly concerned expression.

“Fuck I- I lost my number.” Mikey said, and Ray gave him a puzzled look. “I lost my number, Ray, could I borrow yours?”

Realizing what this was, Ray let out a mixture between a snort and a laugh (sexy) and set his chin against his palm, putting his elbow on the table. “Really? That was bad, you know.” Mikey shook his head and laughed, a twinkling noise that seemed to carry the magical sounds of Christmas ornaments clinking together on a Christmas tree. An odd description, Ray knows, but it’s the only way he could describe such a sound.

“I know, I know, I tried to be smooth but whatever.” Mikey said, and even beneath his red scarf Ray could see his cheeks dust with pink. “But the question still stands, could I have your number?” He said, hand over his mouth in a way that told Ray that he felt embarrassed to ask this.

Seeing no reason to say no, Ray responded with an enthusiastic “Of course, man.” And pulled out his own Sidekick, unlocking it and handing it over to Mikey. Said person quickly took it and with flying fingers quickly entered his number in, soon handing it back over to Ray with excitement evident in his voice.

“Text me, alright? As I said, you’re a really cool person and I’d be more than happy to get to know you more.” Mikey said, and under his scarf he was giving Ray a million wattage smile. Ray could feel the warmth from earlier coat his insides as it flared up, causing Ray to sigh in content as he put his phone away, eyes following after Mikey as he gave his goodbye and walked out the door.

Honestly, this was like a dream. Ray could feel something well up inside him that he hasn’t felt for a very long time, truly felt, and it was almost like a crush in a way. But no, he couldn’t have it lead to something like that, nevermind love at all. He had only just met the guy, for God’s sake!
But his eyes eventually flitted over to Frank, who was looking at him with a Lenny face-esque expression upon his features, fingers flying over the keyboard on his phone as Ray felt his own phone buzz in his pocket. Frank gave him a knowing wink as he went back to work, Ray majorly confused as he pulled out his phone to read the message that was from his friend.

And he shook his head and felt an urge to flip off Frank as soon as he did.

“I ship it.” Read the message, and Ray felt his cheeks heat up in a blush as he replied with a classic-

“Shut up, you punk.”

And stuffed his phone away, ignoring a look from Frank as he downed his drink, put on his extra clothes, and made his leave of the place, waving goodbye to Frank before he was plunged back out into the freezing temperatures just outside out of the coffee shop.

Notes

a ittle choppy at the beginning i know i know i just had to get ray out of there lol

hope that you are having as much fun reading this as i have writing it!