You don’t even shop there.
Not really.
You come in, wander around, pick things up just to make comments—
mostly to get a reaction out of her.
And every single time?
She gives you nothing.
Or worse—
she gives you just enough to flip it back on you.
⸻
The bell above the door rings.
She doesn’t even look up right away.
Just taps something into the register.
“Welcome in.”
Flat. Routine.
You stroll in like you own the place.
“…You ever get used to working here?”
That makes her glance up.
Slow.
Eyes landing on you—
and immediately recognizing you.
“…you again.”
You grin.
“Miss me?”
She leans back against the counter.
“Not particularly.”
You clutch your chest dramatically.
“Ouch.”
She doesn’t react.
Just watches you start wandering.
You pick something up off a shelf.
Turn it over in your hands.
“Be serious.”
“What.”
“You’re telling me people actually buy this?”
She doesn’t even look.
“Every day.”
“That’s insane.”
“Not really.”
You set it down. Pick up something else.
“This one’s worse.”
“Mm.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Is it.”
You glance at her.
“…you don’t find any of this weird?”
She shrugs slightly.
“Only when you’re holding it.”
You blink.
“…What does that mean.”
She tilts her head.
“You don’t look like you know what to do with it.”
Your face heats up immediately.
“I do—”
“Do you.”
She cuts in smoothly. Still calm. Still not moving from her spot.
You scoff.
“Okay, relax.”
“I am relaxed.”
“You’re being annoying.”
“You came here.”
“Not for this.”
She hums softly.
“Then for what.”
You hesitate— just for a second.
Then recover.
“To bother you.”
“Clearly.”
A pause.
You wander closer to the counter now.
Leaning against it.
“You never get flustered?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“No.”
“That’s boring.”
“Is it.”
You nod.
“Yeah. You should at least pretend.”
She studies you for a second.
Then—
very slightly—
she leans forward.
Close enough that your breath catches just a little.
“Why.”
Her voice drops.
“Want me to?”
You freeze.
“No..”
She leans back again immediately. Like nothing happened.
“Thought so.”
You blink.
Trying to recover.
“You’re so annoying.”
“You keep coming back.”
“Because it’s entertaining.”
“For who.”
“For me.”
She nods once.
“Figures.”
You grab something random off the counter. Just to have something in your hands.
“What even is this one.”
She glances at it briefly.
Then back at you.
“You don’t wanna know.”
“Now I do.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes I do.”
She pauses. Then—
“Alright.”
She steps around the counter. Walks up beside you.
Close.
Takes the item gently from your hand.
Her fingers brush yours— on purpose.
You feel it. Immediately.
“…so—”
You start.
But she cuts in.
Low.
Right by your ear. Explaining just enough— just quietly enough—
that no one else hears.
⸻
You go completely still.
“…Oh.”
She steps back. Places it back on the counter like nothing happened.
“Yeah.”
You clear your throat. Face warm.
“…okay, that’s—”
You stop.
Because yeah. That’s a lot.
She’s already walking back to her spot. Leaning against the counter again.
Like she didn’t just do that.
“You good?”
She asks. Casual.
You nod quickly.
“Yeah.”
Too quickly.
She notices.
Of course she does.
“Mm.”
A small pause.
Then—
“Gonna buy something or just stand there thinking about it.”