Weeks had passed since Charlie was hired. She woke up early today. The sun wasn't up yet. Gabriel was sitting atop the cafe, smoking a cigarette with a cup of jet black coffee in his other hand. Charlie climbed up onto the rooftop and sat beside him. The horizon seemed to stretch an endless distance, with only a bus stop visible in the vast expanse of the desert.
"The constellations are beautiful... aren't they, Charlie?"
"Oh! Um... indeed they are! I always loved looking at the night sky before. It was relaxing, knowing something was watching over me. That I wasn't alone."
"Mhm... something about their gaze keeps me going." Gabriel said, seemingly reminiscing something.
"You know... I'm really glad I met you, sir. I feel safer here, with you." Charlie muttered.
"I'm glad you feel that way. Life is... a bit more tolerable with you around."
They sat there quietly until sunrise. Gabriel went down from the rooftop and clocked in, with Charlie following him shortly after. Strangely enough, a customer arrived that day.
"Hello, sir. I'd like to order a flat white."
She was dressed in a cowgirl outfit, with a hunting rifle slung on her shoulder.
"Of course, ma'am. Coming right up."
"Thanks!" She exclaimed.
"So what brings you to these parts, ma'am?" Gabriel inquired.
"Call me Rose. I've just been wandering around, looking for a home. 'Been unlucky so far. Say, mister, are you hiring?" She replied.
"Why, yes we are, as a matter of fact. We require a waiter or waitress."
"Then that's great! I'd like to apply for a job here."
"Then it's settled. Welcome to the Morning Roast."
Charlie and Rose quickly bonded. Gabriel, underneath his rough exterior, was happy inside too. He finally had people to care for. If he could just... stop time. Right there. The world would be perfect. But happiness never lasts. Two days later, a white haired man who looked to be in his thirties gently nudged open the door. Before Gabriel could greet him, Charlie's face lit up and she ran over to talk to him.
"Aradus! Where have you been?"
"Aha, hey kiddo. I had to do a few errands. Sorry I've been gone for so long."
"Oh right! Gabriel, meet Aradus. He's my friend's dad."
Gabriel looked over to Aradus.
"Greetings."
"Heya!" Aradus answered.
Charlie and Aradus continued talking while Gabriel went outside for a smoke. Once they were done talking, Aradus walked over to him.
"Hey. Charlie told me a lot about you."
"...Mhm? What did she say?"
She told me about how you protected her from creeps, and how you felt like a father figure to her."
"..."
"So... I have a favor to ask you. I know it's a lot, and it won't make sense right now. But I need you to take her and leave this cafe."
"...What?" Gabriel asked with a surprised expression.
"Please. I noticed the clock stopped ticking. I fear the worst. The cafe is about to strain."
"Strain...?"
"Timelines are about to converge at that location. So liste-"
"I can't just leave everything behind because some person told me to.
"But you don't understand..."
"Do I have to?"
"Just... think about it."
Aradus stood up, entered his car and left. Gabriel went back into the cafe and noticed that the clock really did stop working. Rose was sitting on one of the cafe seats and Charlie was at the front desk. That night, Gabriel couldn't stop thinking about what Aradus said. He was contemplating what to do when Rose approached him on the rooftop.
"Hey, Gabby! Isn't it a bit late for you to be up here?"
"I'm alright. Don't mind me."
"You seem troubled. What's wrong?"
"The customer from earlier told me something. He said that timelines were about to converge in the cafe, and it wasn't safe here."
Rose's face darkened and she frowned.
"Then we have to leave. Right now. He was right."
"Excuse me?"
"I've survived a strain before. But only barely. It sent me through time, about a year ago. I lost... everything."
"..."
Gabriel abruptly went down the rooftop and back into the cafe. The next morning, Gabriel woke Charlie up.
"Hiya, Charlie. I'm sorry, but we need to leave."
"What... why?"
"It's hard to explain. But we need to go quickly."
Charlie nodded and started getting dressed. Rose was waiting for them outside, near the car. The three of them hurriedly entered the car.
"Where do we go now..." Gabriel asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
"...I know a place." Charlie answered.