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Michelle was not judging her tired friends in front of her, just observing... They had been at her job for a while now, practically her entire shift and they have been interesting.
Betty had struggled with the door for a while until someone else opened it for her, then she nearly tripped as soon as she walked in.
Peter and Ned had been normal, coming in and staying at the door arguing, "you can go in first," and the persistent, "no, no, you can, I insist." They eventually made their way in and sat down.
"Hey," Betty said with a snap that turned into a point, getting everyone's attention, including Michelle's.
"Do you guys ever find someone who is just perfect?" She asked, looking around.
"What?" Michelle asked, and Betty turned to her.
"You know," she gestured, moving her hand in a circle a few times, "when they're just I guess, just really cute and adorable, like just them existing is distracting?"
She paused to take a sip of her coffee, "And every time you see them all you wanna do is kiss them" she yawned her way through saying, "but they don't even know you exist."
There were a few nods and with a sudden burst of energy, she shouted, "Or worse! They do know you and you're close!" She lowered her voice again when she saw she got a few more eyes on her that weren't her friends, "but you can't tell them because their friendship means more to you than your own personal happiness?" Peter and Ned nodded.
She had a finger up, saying wait, as she took another sip of her coffee and asked, "Or am I just really sleep-deprived," she definitely was, "and I think love and romance are everywhere again?"
She looked at Michelle for that confirmation. Before she could finish saying, "Yes." Peter had spoken up.
"No, I know what you mean." He said looking intensely at his coffee. If there weren't so many eyes on him he would have spared a glance at Ned.
Speaking of which, "So do I." Ned said, giving Peter a reason to look at him. He smiled softly at him until remembering that doesn't necessarily mean him. His face soured which he tried to hide behind his cup.
"I don't know about these two," Michelle said with a particular look, she for sure knew about their crushes, "But Betty," she paused, "you're on your fifth cup of coffee and it's only ten a.m." Betty looked down at her coffee frowning. Trying to inspect it as if it would tell her if that's true or not.
"Is it?" She asked.
"Yep," Michelle replied, "when was the last time you slept?" Because there was no way it had only been an all-nighter. The dark circles spoke volumes.
"I don't know?" Betty shrugged, "What's the date?" She'd ask what day but they've all blurred at this point. She wouldn't be able to figure it out by saying it's Wednesday or Sunday. It's probably the weekend she thought to herself, because they weren't at school, or they ditched. She couldn't remember.
"The fifth," Peter answered and Betty's eyes widened, she took out her phone to confirm.
"We're in a new month?" She exclaimed and Michelle reached over taking her coffee. Betty was too busy trying to inspect if that was truly the date.
"Okay, yeah, that's enough coffee for you." Michelle said, with a mumbled, "Forever probably," and set her hands on the counter, "you need to sleep." Betty couldn't argue against that as much as she wanted to.
"Sleep is for the weak!" Flash suddenly shouted, making everyone turn and stare at him. They let him sit in awkward silence until he laid his head back onto the counter like before.
Michelle scoffed, "Says the guy who fell asleep walking in here."
He was the most interesting entrance, as soon as he was through the door he collapsed on the floor. They went over to confirm he was okay and then he refused to get off the ground. Peter had to pick him up and carry him to a chair.
"I never said I wasn't a part of the weak," Flash muttered, he wondered if he could fall asleep here without falling off the chair this time.
"So, coffee?" Peter asked in his nicest voice he could muster. Michelle shook her head sternly.
"You are all cut off until you sleep." Which got a cue of no's and "aw, come on!" from the group.
Ned raised his hand, "Hey, I'm not sleep-deprived." Michelle shrugged.
"Yeah, but you'd share it with Peter." She said and Ned nodded with a "true," while Peter said, "He would not." Which everyone ignored knowing Ned definitely would.
"I'm not even sleep-deprived," Peter whined.
"Uh-huh," Michelle replied unconvinced, "as much as I believe you, you don't need coffee to be jumping around everywhere. So, you are cut off regardless."
As soon as this shift was over she was going to escort Betty home, the boys can handle Flash. Okay, maybe she'd circle back to help Ned. Peter definitely needed some rest.
At least it's been an entertaining shift.