I hate going to the store this early in the morning.

All the happy, peppy people are out, fresh off their yoga class, or in track suits from their speed-walk at the park, or dragging their screaming kids with them the entire time. They try to infect everyone within a twelve foot radius with their smiles, then proceed to look at you as if you're the weird one when you don't smile back.

I don't know you, and I don't owe you a fucking smile.

Normally I come an hour before closing when the store is virtually empty, get my shit, and get out. But in an insane fit of niceness, I agreed to switch shifts with Peter and now I work late tonight. I would have put off the shopping until tomorrow, but it's my turn to buy and I'm tired of listening to Zeke whine about how there's nothing to eat.

So here I am.

I toss whatever looks semi-appealing into the cart and try my best to stay the fuck out of everyone's way. It seems to be a losing battle though around every corner and down every crowded aisle. My absolute favorite is when people just leave their cart in the middle of the aisle and walk away. Nothing like a good round of bumper carts to vent out a little frustration. As I dodge a little girl running down the aisle with a box of Pop Tarts, I smack into yet another cart.

"Oh! Sorry! Let me just move a little." I look over to the chipper voice and see a tiny blonde grinning widely at me.

"It's fine," I mutter, and push past her without returning her smile. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel like smiling back for a split second. I turn around and watch her ponytail swing as she bounces down the aisle, only briefly letting my eyes fall to her ass that happens to look very nice in those yoga pants.

Jesus Christ I'm being creepy. I shake my head and decide to keep my eyes on the cart.

Each aisle I turn down though there's a brief moment where I look for that tiny blonde. I should have apologized, since I was the one who ran into her. I want to apologize, but I finish this god awful trip without a single hint of her and pick what I hope is the least threatening line.

Why the fuck does everyone come to the store at the same time? Christ…

I stare at the magazines because there's nothing better to do. Lose ten pounds in ten days! Nope. Is Joe cheating on Bonnie? Who the fuck cares? Proof that Michael Jackson is really a zombie! Well now… No. I shake my head and stare off instead.

At first it doesn't register, but as I'm slowly drawn out of my own zombie trance, I hear singing.

"All the lonely Starbucks lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane. But I've got a blank space baby, and I'll write your name."

You have got to be fucking kidding me. I don't give a shit about that song, and even I know those are the wrong lyrics. I'm actually gritting my teeth, listening to whoever is behind me repeat the same wrong thing over and over.

"Those aren't the lyrics," I growl out. The person stops singing, and the lady in front of me shoots me a look. Fan-fucking-tastic. Now I feel like an asshole. Why do I even give a fuck if they're singing it wrong? I turn to apologize, but I can't find any words as I stare down at the tiny blonde.

"Who pissed in your cheerios?" she asks, a hard look on her face as she stares up at me.

"I…no one," I stammer out. She raises an eyebrow at me. "It's just…everything's irritating in here, and then listening to you sing the wrong words just added to that. I…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

She continues to stare at me, and I slowly start to register the other people who have heard our exchange who are staring too. Fuck. I should apologize more.

"Okay then, lyrics guru. Correct me," she says before I can apologize again.

"What?"

"If it's so irritating listening to me sing the wrong words, tell me what they are so I won't irritate you anymore."

I stand there, mouth open, feeling like a complete idiot. A grin creeps across her face, and I wonder if that was her whole goal. But now it feels like a battle, and I'll be damned if I let her win.

"It's 'got a long list of ex-lovers', not Starbucks."

"I bet," she says under her breath. I shake my head.

"Look, I'm sorry I snapped at you, but that was low."

"Oh, sorry. I'm just a little irritated."

I throw my hands up and huff, exasperated by this woman already. It's finally my turn to put my things on the conveyor belt, so I do, slamming the items down one by one. God damn could this guy be any slower?

I try to ignore her stares as the cashier scans my items, but it's proving to be difficult. I can actually feel the heat from her stare, burning into my skin. I swipe my card to pay and give her one last look. I'm a little surprised to find her eyes soft as they stare up into mine.

"Have a nice day," she says.

I'm putting the last bag in my trunk when I feel a burning sensation on the back of my neck. I sigh and turn to see her standing there.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I was being a bit of an ass too. I shouldn't have made a scene."

"It's fine," I say, waving my hand. I slam my trunk and walk my cart to the return. She's still standing there when I get back.

"Bad day?" she asks, a little smile on her face.

"Not really. It's just, you know, people."

"Yeah. They can be really irritating." She smiles widely and I roll my eyes. "Can…can I at least make it up to you?" There is no way this is happening. I raise an eyebrow and look around for a camera crew, or even worse, Zeke. Only he would be crazy enough to pull something like this just to get a laugh.

"Okay… Make what up?" I ask.

"Shit," she mutters, putting a hand on her forehead. She lets out a little laugh as she turns in a small circle. "I'm sorry. I'm really bad at this." Is…is she saying what I think she's saying? My neck gets hot again, as well as my ears and cheeks. But at least I'm not the only one. Her cheeks are bright red as she pulls her hand away.

"I'm Tris," she says, sticking her hand out towards me.

"Tobias," I say, taking her hand. She shakes it firmer than I expected, but that's not what makes me want to keep holding on.

"Tobias, would you maybe like to get a cup of coffee or something? I promise I won't sing." Her eyes are bright and her smile is infectious. I feel one side of my face lift, then the other. This is turning out to be one hell of a day.

"Yeah," I say. "I would like that."

A/N:
You guys are nuts! Thank you for all the reviews and follows. You're all amazing!

And I know a lot of you keep asking for these to be longer stories. I appreciate that you like them so much, but this is all they were ever intended to be! Besides, I've already "gotten them together", so to speak. Half the fun of stories like these is getting them there, so there wouldn't be a whole lot of story left to tell!

The song Tris was singing is Blank Space by Taylor Swift.