You know that it would be untrue, you know that I would be a liar..

Six am. Thank god. Wearily Nick scrubs at his face and gathers up his books. He can leave the library, pick up some coffee at the corner and stagger home to finish the chapter and collapse for a few hours of sleep before he’s up and at it again. Medical school isn’t easy on anyone, but when you’re the only deaf student in the class? It’s worse. But Nick wasn’t giving up. He had fought hard to get in, earned scholarships and he was working hard to maintain his grades and keep those scholarships. Deaf-mute orphans were pretty textbook hard luck cases, so he could always count on a few foundations who were willing to pony up some additional money to help keep him afloat.

The coffee shop is practically his second home and as he shuffles in, Nick offers a tired grin to the big man behind the counter. Zach is attractive, with shaggy blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a smile that sends his stomach into complete freefall. What he’s never been able to resolve is the odd mix of scents in the shop. Coffee and warm spices.. and smoke. Which is odd. A fit guy like Zach? Nick wouldn’t have pegged him for a smoker. He tries to mind his own business, but it’s a welcome relief to talk to someone else who knows sign and after a week or two, he can’t help himself. He starts bugging him about quitting. Zach never takes offense, in fact he just smiles a little more, teases him and gives him his coffee.

He’s just being friendly, that’s all. It has nothing to do with the quiet crush he’s had on him since the very first day Zach signed hello to him.