disclaimer: this chapter is focused around cole & kendall's relationship from the past. it is told in third person focusing on kendall. i'll resume with the rest of the story after this chapter! <3

Early March, 2017

It was just her and Kaden working that afternoon. The sky was thick with grey clouds that leaked intense raindrops onto the street. The only person that dared to go get coffee during the treacherous weather was an elderly man named Charles, who came nearly everyday for Mugs' signature espresso, that he insisted was better than any of the others he had tried "in his days."

"Hey Kendall, I'm gonna go do the dishes so we can leave at closing. Can you cover out here in case anyone else shows up?" Kaden spoke, his voice kind but monotonous.

Kaden and Kendall had been working together for nearly two months now. Though they commonly had shifts together, she felt as if she barely knew him. He had never been rude or hard to work with, just very closed off. "Yeah, I got it Kaden."

Only a few minutes passed, with nothing but the sound of continuous downpour echoing around the shop and Charles' newspaper flipping occasionally. It came as a surprise when Kendall suddenly heard the bell on the door chime, indicating someone had entered the building.

Whoever had entered had a distressed look. Even though he had an umbrella, his blonde hair was sopping wet and clung to his forehead. He was dressed nicely, in dark jeans and a black pea coat, a maroon scarf wrapped around his neck.

"Hi, welcome to Mugs." Kendall expressed, mustering up as much enthusiasm as possible.

The blonde smiled a weak smile as he approached the counter.

"Hey, can I please have a large Americano." He looked up to meet Kendall eyes when speaking, then reached for his wallet.

"That'll be four dollars exactly. Anything else?"

"Nope, that's it, I think." His brown eyes locked with hers once again, and he let out a more genuine smile. He handed Kendall a five dollar bill, than slipped the change in the tip jar.

"And your name is?" Kendall didn't have to ask for his name, even though that was protocol, the place was a ghost town. She wanted to know it, though she realized she'd probably never see his face again.

"Cole." The guy, who she know knew as Cole, gave her a knowing look. "And yours is?"

"Kendall, like it says on my name tag." She responded sarcastically, with her voice light as she wrote Cole's name on the cup in neat writing.

"Well, thank you Kendall." Cole offered her one more smile as he walked towards the end of the counter. As Kendall made his coffee, she heard rustling behind her. She turned her head for a moment, only to see Charles getting ready to leave.

"Excuse me, but do you have an umbrella? It's pouring out there." She overheard Cole ask.

"Oh, no, but that's all right. I can handle a little rain."  Charles' kind voice echoed throughout the room, followed by a small chuckle.

"Here, take mine. By the time I leave it'll most likely be slowing down." Cole offered. Kendall turned her head to see him handing the expensive looking umbrella to Charles.

"No, I couldn't-"

"I insist, please?" Giving him a smile, the same one he had given her moments ago, Cole convinced Charles to accept his offer.

Charles gave him a grateful, geniune, expression. "It's good to know there are still people like you around." With that, he exited the building.

Cole turned to Kendall, who tried to act as if that wasn't the nicest thing she has seen someone do in a very long time.

"Here's your americano." She spoke, smiling.

"Thank you." Cole said once again, picking it up and going to exit the building.

Kendall watched as he walked towards the door and felt a pit in her stomach, which she couldn't quit understand. What she did next was impulsive, and probably not the smartest, but it was like she had no control of the words that came out of her mouth.

"Do you want to apply for a job?"

--

Mid-March, 2017

"So, Cole Jennings huh? I'll admit, he's like, the last guy I'd imagine you going for." Kaden's voice was sudden and startled her. Kendall turned to face him.

"I'm not 'going for' him. I just asked if he wanted to apply for a job. I didn't know he'd actually get it." Kendall responded, her tone clear. Her and Kaden were waiting for Cole to arrive, as today was his first day of training.

"And why did you do that?" Kaden's spoke in. a teasing manor, one that she didn't hear from him often.

She scoffed. "I don't know, I was just intrigued... I guess."

"Yeah, you and every other girl at Pine Hill." Once again, Kaden had surprised her with his word choice.

"Really?"

"Yeah, Cole has a bit of a reputation."

"I thought you were 'Mr. Heartbreaker'." Kendall laughed, trying to cover up her expression filled of surprise. From what Kendall saw of Cole, that was the last thing she'd imagine.

"We share the title."

Before she could reply with a some sort of clever comeback, Cole entered the building. He looked slightly more put together than the last time Kendall had saw him. His blonde hair was dry and lightly styled, while he was dressed in navy jeans and a grey t-shirt opposed to drenched formal wear. "Sorry I'm late, there was an accident which created really bad traffic."

"No problem, five minutes doesn't make much of a difference." Kaden replied.

"Wells! I didn't know you worked here!" Cole was quick to recognize Kaden, which made Kendall uneasy about whether or not Kaden was correct about Cole.

"Yeah, for about two months now." Coles look of shock got a laugh from Kaden.

"Hey Kendall." Cole now turned to me and waved slightly.

"Hey, we should probably get to training, we're already down five minutes." Kendall kept her voice kind, though she was a little thrown off by Kaden's previous words.

She didn't know Cole, therefore she didn't have any feelings towards him other than curiosity, but how he was described didn't fit with how he behaved when they first met.

"Yeah, of course, sorry again."

"Don't be sorry, it happens to the best of us."

During the rest of the week, Kendall began to see little things about Cole that convinced her that she should stay away, that maybe he was bad news.

Although, unfairly, most of them were in her head. Kendall couldn't afford to like someone like Cole. No matter how much interest she had in his character, she shouldn't have asked him to apply.

She watched as he casually flirted with the customers and made comments towards Kaden about the plans they shared over the weekend, most of which included partying.

Maybe he was just another high school douche.

On the following Friday, Kaden had left Mugs early, something about his dad arriving home a day before expected, leaving Cole and Kendall alone to close up the shop.

"So, my first week... and a half. How did I do?" He asked her as they each wiped down tables.

"Good, you're a fast learner." Kendall replied in a kind tone, though her words were rushed.

"I have some experience in the restaurant business." He responds easily.

She gave him a smile, but made no attempt to continue their conversation.

Deep down, she knew she was being unfair to him. He hadn't done anything to her that gave her reason to dislike him, but she worried that if she didn't, her feelings could go in the opposite direction. Even if Cole was a good person, she couldn't afford to feel anything for him, she was guaranteed a broken heart.

"So, have you been working here as long as Kaden?"

"A bit longer actually. I'm a little older, I got a job here on my birthday. He started two weeks after I did, right before he turned sixteen I think?"

Cole smiled, as if he caught onto the fact that's the most she'd said to him the whole time he has been working a Mugs worker. "How'd Kaden get to work here before he was sixteen?"

"I don't know, some connection with Helen I think..." Kendall trailed off, taking her eyes away from Coles and focusing all of her attention on wiping the table in front of her, though it was already sparkling.

"Why do you keep doing that?" Cole quit wiping his table and looked towards Kendall, who hesitantly met his gaze.

"Doing what?" She asked, as if she didn't already know what he was referring too.

"That. What you just did. One second we'll be having a normal conversation and then it's like you're avoiding me or something." His voice wasn't loud nor angry, but more confused and frustrated. "You've been doing it all week."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Kendall's voice faded towards the end of her sentence.

"Yes you do, and it's okay if you don't like me. You just,  don't have to make it so obvious."

"Cole it's not that I don't like you."

"Then what is it? Because I'm at a loss."

"It's just that... I guess you're just not who I thought you were." As soon as the words left her mouth, Kendall immediately took back what she had said. She wanted nothing more than too apologize and forget this conversation between the two had never happened, but she couldn't find the words.

"Who you thought I was? What's that supposed to mean? You don't even know me." Cole's tone immediately got defensive.

"You're right, but I know guys like you. They're everywhere, generic."

Stop talking Kendall, please. Stop talking Kendall.

"Jesus, we just met and you're already writing me off as a 'generic,' bad person. Thanks. Really appreciate it. I haven't done anything to you. It's funny really, because you didn't seem to feel this way at all when we met." Cole sounded offended as he spoke, which made Kendall feel even worse.

"I was wrong."

"Well, Kendall. I guess I was wrong about you too." Cole quickly threw his rag in the bin, before grabbing his coat and heading towards the door.

"Since you're so quick to assume that I'm not worth knowing, guess I better prove you right." With that, Cole was gone, leaving Kendall to feel extremely guilty.

--

Late March, 2017

Though she knew it was just to spite her, Cole was in fact, proving Kendall right.

The following two weeks had been nothing but chaos between Kendall, Cole and Kaden.

Kaden was usually the one to break apart Cole and Kendall's bickering, although he would occasionally choose sides.

It wasn't long before Helen interfered as well.

"Well, I don't think I have ever had a set of employees that work together as awfully as you three do. Every time I walk in there's something going on, and I won't have the customers seeing it."

It was natural for the trio to assume one of them was getting fired and due to Kaden's connections with Helen, it was most likely Cole or Kendall.

"But, I know potential when I see it." Maybe it was in her head, but Kendall could've sworn Helen looked between her and Cole after that sentence.

"And I have a solution. Twice a month, you three will stay after hours. I grant you access to what you please and no curfew, however, it's mandatory. Perhaps without the pressure of taking orders and whatnot, you three will find your rhythm."

Kendall was the first to speak up. "How long do we have to be there?"

Helen dramatically tapped her chin. "An hour."

The three nodded for the sake of their jobs, but none of them looked thrilled.

"You'll start tonight, hope you don't have any plans." Helen could be very intimidating when she wanted too despite her caring old lady appearance. The three didn't dare to go against her.

It wasn't long before the afternoon sky shifted into a deep, starry blue. The shop had closed no more than ten minutes ago and everyone had already fled. After Kaden, Cole and Kendall were done cleaning, it was time for them to have their first 'bonding time'.

"I'm gonna make myself some hot chocolate, do you guys want some?" Kendall offered to the two.

"Sure." Kaden replied politely.

"I'm good, thanks." Cole replied without much emotion. Kendall sighed.

In a few moments, their beverages were finished. Kaden and Kendall sipped on hot chocolate while Cole drank water.

"So... what do we do now?" Kendall asked in an attempt to break the awkward silence.

"You tell me, you're the reason we're stuck doing this." Cole retorted.

Kendall huffed, sitting up straight. "Really? Me? That's rich. You're the one that acts like a twelve year old ninety percent of the time."

Cole matched her posture. "That's just how 'guys like me' act, Ken."

"Don't call me that, and seriously? That was weeks ago, what do you want? An apology?"

"Yeah, actually I do."

She tilted her head, than began to speak in an obviously fake, sincere tone. "Then I'm-"

Cole cut her off. "But I want you to mean it."

She prepared to return what was expected to be a snarky comment, with one of her signature sarcastic ones, however, something stopped her.

Cole's reply was unexpected, and oddly sincere. His tone reminded her of what he had done for Charles.

How she did this to them.

"You guys are forgetting why Helen is having us do this. We're supposed to come together as a team, so we don't... you know, lose our jobs. So can you guys at least attempt to get along?" Kaden sounded unamused and irritated. His discipline towards Cole and Kendall was enough to get them to back off and attempt to accomplish what they were there for.

After ten or so basic questions which were followed by shallow responses from the three, the hour was up.

Kaden was first to clear out, quickly followed by Kendall, leaving Cole to lock up Mugs.

As March approaches April, the dumping rain wasn't something abnormal to residents of Maine, Kendall just really didn't feel like dealing with it at that moment.

Quickly grabbing the slippery keys out of the pocket of her rain jacket, Kendall rushed towards her silver Ford Explorer. As the door clicked indicating that the doors were now unlocked, she slipped onto the brown, leather seats immediately.

Her first attempt at starting the car didn't work out. The lights flickered for a second and the engine roared, but it quickly faded away. The second try didn't provoke any reaction other than the engine attempting to start, but failing.

It wasn't long before Kendall realized the problem, and laid her head against the steering wheel in frustration.

The light was on in the backseat. The car's battery had died. "Why me?" Kendalls defeated voice echoed through the cold, dead, vehicle.

Kendall quickly dug her phone out of her jacket, only to realize that she had absolutely zero battery left.

"You've got to be kidding me." She mumbled aloud.

Well aware of the time, Kendall wasn't thrilled with the idea of walking too a mechanic, and she had left her wallet at home. Being a small town, Runswick didn't have a whole lot of cabs, not at the late hour at least. Therefore, her last resort was to walk home, which would take at least forty-five minutes. That's without being totally drenched.

She slammed her door and locked it, no longer shielding herself from the rain, as it was inevitable that she'd arrive home sick and sopping.

"Kendall!" Whipping her head around, she noticed Cole walking towards her, an almost angry expression covering his face.

"What the hell are you doing standing in the rain? I thought you left like ten minutes ago?" He was definitely angry, though his voice was slightly muffled by the undeniably poor weather, Kendall could tell.

"My car battery died. I'm walking home. Have a nice evening." Kendall's tone was entirely different from Coles. She was tired and cold, she didn't feel like arguing.

"You're out of your mind. I'll give you a ride home."

"No." Kendall's answer was immediate, and she began walking. Cole followed behind her.

"This is seriously not the time to be difficult Kendall. It's eleven o'clock at night, freezing and pouring. Just please, let me drive you home." Though she didn't want too, she couldn't help but turn back to look at him.

His hair clung to his forehead. Much like the night they had met. Though it was only three weeks ago, she felt as if it had been months since that evening. So much had changed since then. She was so intrigued by his kindness and persona, only for that to fade into a pointless rivalry.

"Okay. Okay... thank you." She answered. Cole didn't hesitate to grab her wrist and pull her towards a glistening black Porsche Cayenne.

"Jesus can you slow down a bit?" Kendall scolded has she scurried to catch up with his much faster pace.

"Sorry, but I really don't feel like standing in the rain any longer." He mumbled, letting go of her abruptly and gesturing Kendall towards the passenger side.

"I'm sorry that your cars so nice..." Kendall started, "and I'm sitting here like a wet dog."

Kendalls words brought laugh out of Cole, and he turned to her. "You don't have to be sorry, I'm just as soaked as you are."

"Yeah, but you wouldn't be so drenched if I hadn't left a light on in my car, then killed the battery, than decided to wal-" just as Kendall was beginning her rant, Cole interrupted

"Do you always blame yourself for everything? You know... except for the stuff you actually did wrong."

"Cole I-" She began, only to cut herself off.

"Kendall I would prefer you didn't spew out another fake apology." His tone was deflated and tired.

"Can you just tell me what I did? How your mindset changed so quickly? Why you immediately wrote me off as an asshole..." Cole voice was hard to decipher as he spoke, his eyes locked on the road ahead of him.

"You... didn't do anything. Not really at least. It was just... I couldn't-risk? No, not risk. I-" Kendall attempted to choke out a full sentence, but none of which came out as she had planned.

"Kendall, English."

"I know, I know. What you did for Charles that day, it stuck with me. That was really nice, you know. I thought things like that only happened in movies and on camera and stuff... I couldn't just let you leave! But then Kaden said some things and it got in my head and I was a jerk. Like a major, judgmental jerk." Kendall knew she still wasn't making any sense, she just hoped that Cole could pick up what she was trying to spew out.

To her dismay, Cole remained silent. The darkness that surrounded them made it difficult for her to read his expressions, it was nearly impossible to collect his emotions.

"What I'm trying to say is... I'm really sorry. Genuinely sorry. Forgive me?"

The car came to a stop as it approached a red light, Cole finally turned to Kendall, bright red reflecting on his features.

"I forgive you." He grinned slightly, dropping his façade completely. She felt like she could finally see him again.

"Really?" She asked hopefully.

"Really."

--

May, 2017

"No."  Kendall stated.

"Come on Kendall! She's cute, and funny!"

"She's twenty years old, you're sixteen." Kendall and Cole were the only ones at hot chocolate hour during mid-May. Over the last month and a half of working at Mugs, Cole had accumulated more girls numbers than even Kendall saw Kaden receive.

Being his close friend, and a