The bell on the door of the shop clanged and Isadora looked up to see a boy of around her age enter the shop. He had messy hair that fell over his face, obscuring his eyes from view and it seemed as if he had just woken up from a heavy slumber.

He made his way to the counter, taking the notepad from Isadora without even looking up as he scribbled down his order and returned it. Steph had gone to check up on Alex in the kitchen so she was alone at the counter.

"Would you need anything else?" she asked politely but he just shook his head.

Though before he went off to sit on one of the tables in wait for his order, Steph had returned and seeing him a wide smile spread on her face, "oh look, Sleepyface is here at last." Then turning to Dora, she added, "meet Timmy, the coffeeholic we had all been waiting for since morning."

She gestured Dora to take the order to Alex while she stopped Tim in his tracks, flinging an arm around his shoulders. He groaned in irritation, trying to pry her away, "no, Steph. No... Not now."

"Aw Timmy, feeling sour without your coffee cup?"

He flinched, "shhhh, you're louder than a cranky old grandma... Stop shouting in my ears, it hurts."

Dora had returned from the kitchen so Steph spoke up, still not releasing Tim who was struggling under her hold, "look I made a new friend today who's way nicer than you are even when you've had your full coffee dose."

"I could hardly care less, get off me."

"Oh you would because she owns this coffee shop and you won't be getting any if you ignore her. Say hi to Dora."

Isadora on the other hand was almost laughing at seeing the two of them while Tim honestly looked like he was wishing to die at the moment.

Then without any warning, he shrieked in such a loud voice that everyone paused and turned to look at them, "ALEXAAAANDER!!!"

Steph finally let go of him, laughing hysterically, "you're such a baby, Timmy Turner."

The rest of the people had gone back to what they had been doing before as if it was a very normal occurrence at the coffee shop. 

"And you're such an irritating babysitter, Vicky," he mumbled, head dropping onto the counter as he got to Steph's stool beside Dora first and didn't let her sit on it.

Steph made no attempt to push him off though it seemed as if she was considering the option, "I'm impressed you got the reference considering how awful your withdrawal symptoms have gotten."

He ignored the remark, leaning back a little as he called out to Alex in the kitchen again, "Al, can I have my order please? Your helper's being a bitch today to be honest."

Isadora was simply observing the antics, an amused smile playing upon her lips.

Steph interjected, "Well, I'm not the only helper now so..."

He looked her dead in the eye, "but I was talking about you, you're being a bitch."

"Woah that's rude..."

"Good afternoon, Tim, there you go," Alex emerged from the kitchen at last handing Tim a cup and placed a tray in front of him which had about four more cups.

"God bless you, Alex, you're an angel... Pray release me from the binds of this demonic babysitter, I would be forever grateful," Tim downed the first cup in one gulp despite the fact that it was burning hot. Dora's eyes widened at that but she chose to keep silent.

"Steph, let him be. He's not in the condition to handle this," Alex turned to her and spoke in a slightly firm voice though he too was holding back a smile that was threatening to break out on his features as he retreated to the kitchen again seeing a group enter through the door.

"Well, if only you say so. Or else I had planned to tease him for at least an hour more."

Dora took the orders from the customers who had just arrived and seemed to be Steph's classmates as one of them handed Steph a timetable and a pile of notes which she accepted sheepishly before hiding it away in her backpack.

By the time she returned to the counter after pasting the order in the kitchen, Tim had downed all four cups and finally his hair were pushed back from his face revealing clear blue eyes that still looked a little sleepy. "Hi," he mumbled for it seemed as if he had noticed her just then, "I'm sorry for all the ruckus I caused earlier... I was just a little dysfunctional."

She nodded as she took her seat on the counter beside him, checking if there were any other customers waiting for their turn but there were none.

"I'm Tim Drake."

"Isadora Beaumont," she replied, shaking the offered hand.

"Oh so you're the Dora this place is named after," he spoke, "pleasure meeting you."

"Yup. And you're the Tim who consumes more than half of our coffee."

"Guilty as charged," he chuckled and it seemed as if his mood had started to improve as he consumed more coffee. "So I reckon it's your first day here, how's it going so far?"

"Great so far," she replied, "Alex and I had planned to run a coffee shop together years ago and now that our dream is coming true, I feel really happy and excited at the same time."

He finally got off the stool for Steph was standing in front of the corner, glaring at him pointedly. Soon as he had left the stool, Steph conquered the stool, shooing him away, "now go find a seat somewhere else."

"I will but only if you fetch me two more cups."

"Good heavens, Tim, someday you'll die from an overdose," Dora spoke up.

"Can't wait for that day to come soon," he remarked casually.

"I can't wait either," Steph went along as if it was a very normal conversation between the two, "I've written a eulogy and all..."

"And I have selected a coffin too, just so you know."

Isadora was slightly taken aback at their conversation, "you didn't mean that, right?"

"Forget it Dora, he's a nut case," Steph shrugged it off and turning to Tim she added, "fine I'll bring your two cups of coffee. But don't you dare try to steal away my friend in the meanwhile." Then facing Dora she spoke, "and if he tells you anything about me, don't believe a single word. He's a terrible liar."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are. Don't believe a single word, Dora, and remember you're my friend first."

Isadora smiled as she replied, "of course, you don't have to worry, the coffeeholic can't steal me away from you."

Tim chuckled, his head resting on his hand as he had propped his elbows at the counter, looking sideways at her, "I have no such intentions, rest assured. Though Steph is absolutely right in getting worried, I'm not someone to be underestimated."

"Oh really? Looks like you're in for a challenge then."

"I'm very competitive so yeah."

"Alright," Isadora had a mischievous smile on her face, "let's see how long you can act normal without your coffee dose."

His blue eyes widened, "what...?"

Steph brought out two cups but Dora took one herself and gave the other to her, eyes still focused on Tim, "so what happened to Mr Competitive? Are you backing off or accepting the challenge?"

Steph had no idea what had happened but she enjoyed seeing the look of pure regret on Tim's face, "yup, tell us. Are you backing off like usual, Mr Scaredy Cat?"

His gaze flickered towards her, eyes flashing a little, "fine. I'm so going to regret this later but you two will be responsible for whatever hazards that will be caused as a consequence."

Dora nodded, "remember you have to act normal. Or else you'll fail."

"That's so not fair..."

"You know the rules. No coffee until it's closing time."

Steph finally got the hang of the whole deal and dissolved into laughter, "goodness, this is going to be fun. I didn't know you could think of that, Dora. We truly are destined to be besties."

"I hate you," Tim mumbled in a low voice so that only Steph could hear then turning to Dora, he spoke, "I hope things go so wrong that you'll wish you never make me accept a challenge again."

"If things go wrong that means you'll lose," Isadora remarked giving him a sweetly sarcastic smile.

"And I can't even say I hate you because it's the first time we met and it would be impolite... That's so unfair."

"Yet so terribly hilarious," Stephanie remarked completely enjoying Tim's irritated expression, "now chop chop, we have other customers to deal with and you're only wasting our time here. I don't want to see you anywhere near the counter before the clock strikes eight."

***