Mikey was finding it really difficult to stick by the whole anonymous thing that AA said was important to do — especially when you were stood in front of him, looking so damn pretty.

In his defence, he’d never really wanted to be anonymous to you anyway. The only reason he went to those AA meetings was to see you. He would never speak to you, of course, he’d just admire from afar. Sure, it might be a bit creepy, but you never noticed — or if you did, you didn’t care.

But now, you were here — in a queue for a sandwich, at his sandwich shop, and it’s like you didn’t even notice he was here. Or if you did, you didn’t care.

You eventually got to the front of the queue, ordering your sandwich while looking at Mikey. There was a brief flicker of recognition in your eyes, but you were keeping to the anonymous rule better than he ever could. It’s at this moment he realises he’s seen you at your lowest and your highest — naturally, he preferred you at your highest.

He observed the way you kept to yourself, trying to make yourself smaller than you were while in the busy shop. He’d seen you do it before: it’s how you acted at all those meetings. Quiet, shy, keeping to yourself, avoiding all eye contact.

While waiting for your sandwich, he decided to make small talk. If you never wanted to speak to him after this, thanks to the anonymity, he’d accept it — but he had to at least try.

“Hey, uh… you go to those AA meetings down the block, right? Don’t mean t’be rude, I’ve just… I’ve seen you at a few of ‘em. Thought I’d say hi.”