A/N: So I've never written a piece that's omnipresent and from the point-of-view of both protagonists. If you guys find this difficult to read, please let me know. I am trying to give each of them different and recognizable styles, but it's not coming out too defined. Have fun with this chapter!

"That guy? Seriously?"

I really don't appreciate my sister's tone of voice. I frown at her. "Yes. What's wrong with him?"

"Aside from the fact that it's a guy?" Leah mutters scathingly under her breath. It's what she's been on and on about for the past week. So what if he's a man? "And he's way too old for you," she adds. So what if he seems closer to thirty than twenty? "He doesn't even look that nice," she finishes. So what if he looks like he's bitten a lemon? "You're in trouble, Seth."

"No way," I huff. He is perfect. "I'm gonna go talk to him." I start to make my move…

…when I'm pulled back by Leah.

"What?" I whine.

"What are you going to say to him?" she quizzes me.

Like I know. It's not like I imprint every few months or anything. I growl at her and shake her off. I'll figure it out. Right now I just want to talk to him.

Leah and I are in the local video rental place. It's a crappy store with narrow aisles of pirated DVDs, scuffed video games, and nearly expired microwavable popcorn. The scraggly haired clerk behind the counter's been there for as long as I can remember. There is peeling brown linoleum on the floor and scraped yellow paint on the walls. There are sun-faded posters of movies with scantily clad women tackily placed against the back wall. A quiet buzz of the radiator and soft, scratchy rock music is playing overhead.

This place definitely does not suit the most wonderful person in the world.

He looks different when he isn't wearing green scrubs. Now he has on a blue rain jacket over his plain black tee, dark denim jeans, and a long grey umbrella hooked over his wrist, dripping water onto the floor. He looks rich…

I sidle over to him, noting the mystery films he's been staring at for the past few minutes.

He's been staring at me for the past few minutes. I recognized him the moment he walked into the store. The dramatic younger brother of that giant. At first I thought nothing of it. But now I'm not so sure what his matter is.

Especially since he is sidling towards me in a 'stealthy' manner.

"Hello," he says from behind me.

I don't acknowledge him.

"Excuse me?"

Usually people are too embarrassed to greet me a third time.

Not him.

He taps my shoulder.

Since I didn't expect that, I start and spin around in shock.

"Hello," he repeats himself while smiling sheepishly.

"Hello," I give a clipped response. Then I arch a brow and wait with faked patience.

"Um, I don't know if you remember me," he goes on to say obliviously. "A week ago? At the clinic?"

"Hmm." I always find it best to be indifferent when trying to avoid conversation. As soon as the other party realizes that I'm not engaged, they usually mumble a quick excuse and let me be.

"I'm Seth." He sticks his hand out, expecting a shake. As much as I am irritated by this formality, I detest making an unnecessary scene, so I reluctantly reach forward and shake his hand. Rough and warm. "Have you worked at the clinic for a long time?" he asks intrusively. "I've never seen you before."

For someone who can't possibly be older than eighteen, he asks a lot of questions to a stranger. "Not long," I respond. I like keeping things vague. It stops persistent questions.

"You're trying to choose a movie?"

So observant. I resist rolling my eyes. Barely. "Yes."

"Do you like movies?"

I purse my lips. Something's up. I look around him at the sour girl leaning against the display case. She had been glaring the whole while. This is all very suspicious. Are they taking a piss on me?

Seth looks back, following my inattention. "Oh!" he exclaims. "That's not my girlfriend."

I pull back in astonishment. "I beg your pardon?"

He turns to me again, his wonky grin once again in place. "That's just my sister. Gross." He pulled a face.

"I-I thought nothing at all," I falter. Merlin, why does he have to talk so loudly? It's mortifying. "Did you need something?"

"Are you from England? You have a cool accent."

He doesn't respond for a second, like he's searching for the right answer. All the while, I am still buzzing from the feel of his cold, smooth palm against mine. Everything about him is sophisticated. Like the Cullens… But he isn't a vampire. He feels just as human as the next guy. He stands tall, nearly my height. His eyes are pale, just like the rest of him. When he talks, his voice is effortlessly soft. Although he doesn't have a warm outward appearance, he still looks at me frankly when he speaks.

Until now.

He turns away, but quietly says, "Alas… You've suffered an absolutely tragic mishap that, I see now, has left you with a complete lack of civility."

…

Huh?

His sister sputters behind us and starts cackling. At least she's gotten the message.

I whip around to Leah in bewilderment. 'What?' I mouth in disbelief.

She shakes her head at me while laughing behind her hand.

I turn to the man who just might have insulted me a moment ago. "Um… What?"

"Go away," he mutters tiredly. "I don't know you and I don't particularly wish to know you."

"B-but why not?"

He lets out an obviously frustrated breath before shuffling around. He doesn't look calm anymore. He's frowning at me, in fact. "Do you often go around getting friendly with strangers?" he mutters. "I'm standing here, minding my own, and I do absolutely nothing that invites you. Is there a reason for this venture of yours to get me talking?"

He gapes like a dumb fish for a few seconds, obviously at a loss for words. Great. I've finally rendered the talking ape speechless.

He's so mean!

For the most wonderful person in the world, I wish he would at least try to be nicer. "W-well then." I'm scrambling here. "Um, I've told you my name. It's Seth, by the way." He's just rolled his eyes at me. Shoot. "What's your name?"

"You just don't get it, do you?" His nostrils flare. "I… don't… want… a… conversation…"

"Then do you… just, like, want to look at movies or something?"

"Yes!" he blurts out in relief. "That's exactly what I want to do. I just want to look at movies."

And with that outburst, I turn towards the shelves and concentrate on the pictures on the DVD covers I hold in my hand. You know something? I don't believe I have said so many words in one go over the past year… It feels good to have unloaded on the pest behind me. He had it coming. Did he think he could yank me around just so he could have a bit of fun? Who does he think he is? I tolerated him enough to try to maintain a professional association. But if he is too much of a dimwit to realize when he's being ignored, then he deserves to be told off.

Even if he looks like a kicked puppy.

I spin around angrily. "What?" I snap at him. He hasn't moved from his spot. "What do you want?"

He looks positively terrified now. He's raised his hands in surrender, in fact. "Y-you said you want to look at movies."

I gulp when I see his lips purse into a very, very thin line. I'm in more trouble. I should just shut my stupid mouth. "I am looking for movies," he says deliberately. "What are you doing?"

"Uh, I-I'm looking for movies too. W-with you," I waver.

He drops his head all of a sudden and brings his hand up to massage his temple. That must mean that I'm giving him a headache. Or something. He doesn't speak for a long time. That's a little frightening. When he talks, it's scary. When he doesn't talk, it's scary. Is there no middle ground? I wait nervously. He's probably going to go off on me again.

Should I just kill him with kindness?

"Fine," he exhales in exasperation. Then he looks up at me, his clear grey eyes full of impatience and annoyance. "You choose." He grits his teeth audibly and holds up the two DVD cases. "Which one?"

I feel my tension leaving me in one quick go. There's nothing to be scared of. He's just a guy. Just like any other guy. Except for the fact that he is the most wonderful person. "Um… That one?" I point to the one on the right.

There he goes, grinning like a loon again. Maybe I am the one that has gone mad. I hold back my temper. It is most definitely time to make a quick exit. I put the other DVD away and move past him without another word. I stride towards the counter, practically throwing the DVD case over the scratched glass countertop.

"One week? Three dollars," the clerk drones without glancing up from his ratty magazine.

I drop down three ones without a word, grab my rental, and storm out. This town definitely has its moments.

I'm floating on cloud nine. I watch him until the door swings shut behind him. Only then can I breathe again. I can't believe that just happened. I stagger over to my sister. "Did you see that?" I gush. "Isn't he cool? Isn't he the coolest?" I just picked out a movie for him. "He's so awesome, huh? He sounds really smart, huh?"

"He just blew you off, loser," Leah sneered.

"No way." I know he didn't. Because if he had blown me off, I wouldn't be feeling this happy. "You're just jealous."