Thursdays were always slow, Karkat had noticed that. Even in the big city where the world seemed to be at the fingers of most people, most of them didn't seem to have time to stop and sit around, drinking a coffee and relaxing. He'd arrived in the city two years ago with his best friend, eager to make a real life for himself. At twenty years of age, he worked in a coffee shop downtown that did okay for itself, lived in an apartment pretty far away from anything decent and owned a motorbike so he could squeeze through traffic during rush-hour. He was doing fine, but it was a boring life.

So, at 15:39 on a Thursday afternoon in October, Karkat found himself sitting on a chair behind the counter, scrolling through his Facebook new feed on his crappy old iPhone. It'd been a gift from his older sister, Kanaya, two years as a sort of congratulatory gift for moving to the big city and going his own way. He hadn't convinced himself to part with it yet, especially since it's only flaw was it was a little slow and there was a tiny crack in the glass screen in the top-right corner.

There he sat, oblivious to the world around him as he glared at a photo of his ex and her new boyfriend. He hadn't really got any feelings for her anymore, their relationship had ended like a trainwreck and all feelings between them had gone out like a flame. In his mind, it hadn't been his fault at all. Terezi, with her bright teal eyes and short red hair, she'd captured his attention and kept him there like he was in a prison cell. It was all about the passion, the screwing about and knowing they wouldn't get caught since it was hardly a crime. He was a mediocre guy, living a mediocre life. She was a year younger, busy finishing up in law school so she could continue as a lawyer.

But she had always been the reckless type. As mature and relaxed as she was, when she completed the hardest part of her exam to become a lawyer, Terezi had gone partying. Karkat, knowing his girlfriend would wake up the next morning, hungover, sick and probably pissed off as hell, had gone to her apartment to look after her. However, he walked in and left immediately, greeted by the sight of her naked in bed with the DJ from the party. That had put out their relationship like a bucket water to the flame they ignited within one-another.

In fact, Karkat was so busy recalling their relationship that he barely heard the shop bell ring as somebody walked in. So, when the girl coughed to gain his attention, Karkat jumped right out of his skin. Jumping straight up off his seat, his phone flew into the air and landed straight in a bowl of water.

"Shit." Karkat cursed, turning to glare at the girl who had startled him so. "What the fuck did you do that for?"

The girl looked horrified and Karkat remembered that he wasn't supposed to swear at or around customers. Stunned by himself, he quickly apologized and fished his destroyed phone out of the water. He put it on the side and tried to turn it on, though it emitted a flash of light before dying completely.

"Dear pawed, I'm so sorry!" The girl said suddenly, running to the side and behind the counter to look at his destroyed phone.

"It's fine. Haven't got the money to buy a new phone but that's not my fucking fault." Karkat muttered beneath his breath.

"I'm so sorry, I nevpurr meant to!" The girl said and Karkat turned to look at her.

Admittedly, his anger cooled a little then because, being male, he couldn't stay mad at a pretty girl. And this girl was past that. She was probably no taller than 5'3", making his 5'7" look much taller than she. Her hair was a honey-blonde and a mass of messy waves and curls surrounded her face whilst the rest was pulled back into a bun. Eyes like olives in a martini glass, they looked like tears were about to cascade from them and her ivory skin made her resemble a doll or fairy more than a human. A tiny smattering of freckles had been painted over her petite, pixie nose and there was a tiny blush on her cheeks. Her body was even more to marvel at, slender but curvy beneath the black skirt and olive jumper. Her waist looked to be tiny, putting Terezi's slender one to shame.

"Whatever. Guess I'll have to deal with it." Karkat muttered. "Now, if you want a drink you have to stand on the other side of the counter."

The girl gasped, probably realizing her mistake, then scurried around the wooden counter. Her movements were small but lithe like those of a dancer. She smiled, her glossy pink lips tempting Karkat to take his chances and press his against them. Feelings like these were rare to Karkat and the idea of experimenting made him think.

"Sorry. Um, could I have Cappucino with extra foam and chocolate powder on top?" The girl asked, blushing still.

"Sure. Whatever." Karkat said before busily fixing up the drink. The girl sure was precise.

When the drink was made, Karkat turned to look at the girl who was smiling. She took the drink from him and sat down at the nearest table before pulling out a newer model of his phone. Muttering a few words beneath his breath, Karkat turned to look at his destroyed phone. He hadn't got the money to buy a new one and since all his money was fixated on his rent that month, repairing the thing was out of the question as well. Fuck.

"Excuse me, um, may I ask mew something?" The girl asked, blushing slightly.

Karkat turned to look back at the girl who had promptly put the phone back in a designer bag. Rich chicks, Karkat wasn't a fan since they always seemed to want the best of the best. He'd only ever dated one back in high school and that had turned sour pretty quickly. So, nowadays, he steered well away from them. But this girl didn't seem to fit the stereotype. She seemed kind, sweet and a little shy. Nothing like the rich chicks he knew.

"Shoot." Karkat sighed, picking up a mug from the washer and drying it.

"My brother is really great with electronics. I could take your phone to him so he can repurr it and then I'll bring it back." The girl said with a small smile.

Rather than replying, Karkat said, "What the hell is up with your speech?"

"Oh, sorry. I have a tendency to use cat puns every now and then..." The girl said, blushing and suddenly looking awkward.

Karkat sighed, realizing he'd done it again. So far he'd humiliated a customer, swore at her and around her, were there any rules he hadn't broken. The fact that the girl was simply offering to get his phone repaired stunned even Karkat. Had he done anything nice for this girl yet?

"So, um, want me to get your phone fixed?" The girl said, a blush on her cheeks.

"Sure. Good luck with it." Karkat finally sighed, giving the girl his soaken phone. She finished off the small-ish mug of coffee then switched for the phone.

"Will mew be here tomorrow?" The girl asked, smiling.

"Yeah. Open till eight." Karkat sighed.

"See you then!" The girl chirped before hurrying out the door, a large smile on her lips.