Sorry I'm late updating, I have no excuse. Hopefully this will be the last part of this ONE shot 😂

Nope, still another update to go. Maybe I'll write it later today.

Outside is cold, and also so much darker than when I entered the shop. I forgot the spoons! The whole thing with guy with a girlfriend who's probably really mean made me forget all about it. I spin on my heel and push the door to get in the damn shop again. I can't believe I forgot! It was the easiest gift! Damn him.

I pull my hood over my head and stride into the shop. As weird as it may look, I can't risk seeing him again. I know I'm over reacting but it's not even about whether he's mean, I can tell he's not, I just don't want to stare at something I can't have. It'll just make me feel lonelier. I make sure to make my steps fast, shuffling towards the escalator, and eagerly stepping onto it.

I run to the spoons and grab the first colourful set I can find, then scurry to the till where the guy I was going to flirt with still stands.

He recognises me and gives me a questioning glance, but also a wave. Maybe he thinks I've come back to see him. I get to the front and place my item on the counter.

"Forgotten something?" He asks, in a friendly manner. I simply nod my head and he prattles on. "Yeah, i'd totally do the same thing. I constantly leave my keys in the door and my door has automatic lock so I always get locked out." He's kind of annoying but it's probably just my mood, so I should really try to be nice.

"I do the same thing" I reply, conversationally, but not wanting a response.

"Yep, I know you're the type to. Hey, where's your friend from earlier?" I freeze.

"Oh no, he's just a stranger who helped me decide on something," I explain.

"He was kinda staring at me like he wanted to stab me or something", the shopping assistant says, laughing. Oh, that's kind of odd.

"Anyway, I gotta be quick, so..." I tell him, hoping he'd let me go.

"It's a real shame you aren't friends. He seemed to like you." He states, like it's simple.

"How do you know that?" I ask, kind of demandingly.

"The way he was staring at me. Seemed like he was jealous." He suggests. I splutter at his words and shake my head.

"He has a girlfriend."

"Oh."

"Yeah." And with that, I take the spoons and leave, thinking of what the shop guy said. Why did he stare so angrily at the shop guy? Maybe he knew him outside of this shop, and thought he was bad. It can't be because he's jealous. He has a girlfriend.

~~

Hold up, is it.. is it snowing?? Oh my frikkin yeah! I look up, and its like someone threw a bucket of snow, and it hits my face full pelt. It's surely too hard for snow, maybe it's hail stones. I can't really tell what it was.

By the time I'd finished trying to figure out if it was snowing or not, it had gone, just as quickly as it came. I can't help thinking of the stranger I keep bumping into today. The first time we said goodbye it was him that left as abruptly as this snow. The second time I was the one who ran out. He was also difficult to figure out, like this snow. Okay, maybe Im pushing it a bit, but it does make sense. One minute he's really assertive, the next he's all cute and shy, then he closes off and says things that make me unsure of what I think of him.

I'm realising that it isn't a bad thing. Many people have a problem with changing their mood quickly, and being difficult to understand, but that doesn't mean they're difficult themselves. Usually they're really nice people who are easily hurt and eager to fit in. Anyway, the confusingness just makes me want to know more not less, it's only my doubts that make me jump to conclusions.

Despite the fact I know all this, and want to see this stranger more, find out what his true self is like, I know I can't. I've jumped to a fantasy far too quickly. I've convinced myself that this, strangers meet more than once and get on well scenario, will lead to romance. I always do it, but it's not what I've planned in my head, as I'm uncertain, and he has a girlfriend. How did I ever expect it to go any differently? Why am I even considering romance when I've only talked to him for about thirty minutes? Well, I'm lonely, that's why.

I chuckle to myself at my own thought, as it's just so true. I'm not saying it as a bad thing, even though it is, but just a fact, a reason why I actually so desperate. I just need the sweetest coffee I can find and I'll be fine, I'll forget the guy I thought I would be with, have a connection with. It's all my own doing. Plus, Im super cold here, I could really do with I coffee nestled into my hands.

~~

I meet the Starbucks sign yet again, this time determined to walk in. I deserve it. I've bought three presents, technically four because I bought two money boxes, and that's a good start. I still have the rest of the early evening to buy more. Starbucks looks so warm as well, and I can spy the comfy red sofas, and the fireplace. Oh, imagine warming my hands and feet up with that. I smile a little and barge into the shop.

When I get in the queue I look at all the different things I can get. There are so many! I see a poster for the festive drinks and figure that'd be a good thing to get me into the christmassy mood.

I get to the front of the queue and order my drink, then wait for my drink to be made by the collection bit. Two cups are placed down and I rush to check which has my name on, but on top of my own hand holding the cup is another hand. I open my eyes wide in surprise and jerk my head to the side to look at the stranger I bumped hands with, and am met with slightly familiar brown eyes, and a tentative smile.

"Hey" he says quietly, our hands still touching. I look at our hands. His hands feel so warm, and they're only slightly bigger than mine. We still stay there, making everyone wanting to get their coffee probably impatient.

"Didn't expect to see you here," I finally say, softly.

"No, neither did I. I only went here to ge-, get out of the cold."

"Oh yeah... Me too." There seems to be some weird tension in the air, but I don't know why. We both have the same regretful, pained look on our faces and look so uncertain, when we really shouldn't be, because it's good to bump into him again, and I hope he feels the same.

"Mm, but it's good to see you again, you kind of..."

"Ran away?" I suggest, chuckling. We finally let go of the cup, only to face each other properly.

"You could say that." He says, obviously trying not directly say I'm right.

"Yeah, I- I realised I had somewhere to go?" I explain, half-heartedly.

"Starbucks?" He questions, raising one perfect eyebrow. His eyebrows complimented his eyes, both in colour, as they were both brown, and in making his face more beautiful. It made him look just so... Soft? But there was more in his eyes than that, an air of distrust and guardedness, and I wanted to replace that look, yet it also intrigued me. I realise I have failed to answer his question while gawking at his eyes. I search for some kind of coherent response.

"No, it's been ages since I left that shop." I then remember the fact I went back to get the spoons, and know i've got good evidence. "I managed to get another present in a different shop, and I really needed to get everything done so I-"

"Okay, you had somewhere to be" he says, stopping me from rambling. I smile at him gratefully, and we pick up our, slightly less hot drinks. I look at his cup as he picks it up, studying it for a name.

"Dan." I exclaim aloud, accidentally. The stranger, Dan opens his mouth in surprise, facing me yet again.

"What?"

"It's on your cup. Sorry for being weird." I explain, cringing slightly at my mistake. Dan then giggles, and yet again, I am entranced by the sound, it's so light.

"Okay, I'll forgive you, as long as you tell me your name." I smile in agreement.

"Phil." I stick out my hand, ready for a hand shake, not realising i have a coffee in my hands, and the coffee begins to fall. I suddenly hear extremely loud laughter, kind of like a hyena, I notice it's Dan making the incredible sound, and start laughing myself, my tongue, once again sticking out as I laugh. We stay like this for a good few minutes, with me eventually clinging onto his arm for support as I double over with laughter. It wasn't even that funny, but it's like when the tension broke, everything just broke, into laughter, I don't know. But even though the tension seemed broken, I was still holding back.

"I'll get you another one" Dan says, gesturing to my now empty cup. Did I mention how much I love his name? It really suits him, and, it also suits our names together. Dan and Phil, that just sounds right... Damn! I've done it again. Why does he have to be so attractive?

"No no! You don't need to do that!"

"I want to." I immediately think back on when he said that before, saying he wanted to know me. I look at him then, and he looks at me with the same sincere look. It's enough to make both of us blush. He turns around, giving me his own drink to hold, so he can go queue up again. I look at his cup, and notice it's a festive hot chocolate, not coffee, I try to remember this fact, as any fact about this man is important, if I ever see him again. I then proceed to ask someone for a towel, to clean up this mess.

So yeah, I couldn't manage to end this "one shot" this time. Maybe tomorrow. Or later today.

My sister saw me writing this and asked what I was doing... I need to be more subtle.