-Ashton's POV-

"How've you been Mrs. Finley?" I said to the old woman lying on the bed in front of me.

She chuckled, "Oh child aren't you the sweetest?"

Mrs. Finley was a very nice lady and really old might I add. She was probably over seventy but she still had this quirky personality to her. She was a regular here in the hospital, because she needed to get her kidneys checked every now and then, so we were pretty acquainted since I've been doing volunteer work here for two years now.

"Anything new?" I smiled sweetly, wanting to strike up a conversation. I know she was lonely most of the time, so I came to her room occasionally in my free time.

"Oh you know Ashton, the usual. I took another cat in yesterday. There are now seventeen cats living under my roof if I'm not mistaken," She exclaimed happily, a little pinkish glow coloring her pale cheeks. "More importantly, how have you been dear?"

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. She was definitely a cat lady, but not the crazy type. Or perhaps just a tad. But she was the most lovable and pure hearted person I've ever met.

"Um... Nothing much. I'll be starting my first day of senior year after a couple of days," I said, the dread clear in my voice.

She furrowed her brows slightly but she smiled back nonetheless. "Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone dear. Life is full of surprises so don't miss out by staying safe," She stated casually, closing her hooded eyes and putting them to rest.

That's what's awesome about old people. They just throw random life inspirations around nonchalantly. I think us teenagers could really use a couple of them.

She was starting to drift off to sleep so I got up from the chair beside her bed, wanting to get back to work.

"Could you buy me something sweet from the cafeteria dear? I'm feeling a bit hazy. Oh and a bottle of water too," she waved her wrinkled hand towards the bedside table, her eyes still shut. "You'll find twenty dollars here. I hope it's no trouble," She said worriedly.

"Of course, that's no trouble at all. Anything for you Mrs. Finley. I'll be back in ten."

I rushed to the hospital's cafeteria to grab what Mrs. Finley wanted. My break was already over but I couldn't refuse her polite request. I didn't do much around the hospital anyway. Some cleaning here and there, calling patients to their appointments and reception work. It wasn't a job or anything because I wasn't getting paid, it was more of volunteer work. I actually enjoyed it too, and everyone was really nice around here.

After a couple of minutes and a hell lot of running, I made it. I'm embarrassed to say that I was actually panting, although it was just three floors below. It wasn't actually a cafeteria though; it was more of a mini market.

I walked around the tiny space for a while looking for what Mrs. Finley wanted.

Something sweet. Hmm chocolate? I grabbed a Galaxy Bar and put it in the tiny basket I snatched by the door.

Jam filled croissants? Yup a couple of those.

What's missing? Oh skittles! She loves those. I scanned the shelves but I couldn't find any. I looked around for help and I spotted a young looking guy sitting behind the cashier. He looked bored out of his mind as he used his phone, and his brows were a little furrowed.

"Um... Excuse me?" I called to him.

He lifted up his gaze to me the slightest bit and then resumed his texting.

What the hell?

"Excuse me!" I said a bit louder this time.

This time he didn't even look up but instead put a headphone in his ear.

Was he purposefully ignoring me? That is so rude! I was the only one here and he obviously heard me yet he chose to act as if I didn't even exist.

"Hey! Excuse me I'm speaking to you!" I spat angrily. I stomped over to him and snatched the headphone from his ear. He instantly looked up at me, his attention finally away from his iPhone, and annoyance lined his face.

The guy looked almost as old as I was, but I have never seen him before. His dark coal-colored hair was arranged messily on his head, a loose strand sticking out in every direction. It seemed he ran his fingers through it a lot causing it to become this wild. He definitely had strong, chiseled features. His jawline was sharp and his high cheekbones created slight hollows in his cheeks. The blackness of his eyes made me gulp. It was as if they carried thunderous seas behind them and they contrasted his pale ghostly complexion so handsomely. There was a hint of a tint in his lips but it was shown off vividly because of his light skin tone.

I took a step back, realizing how suddenly uncomfortable I was.

"Are you deaf? I said what do you want?" The Rude Cashier said impatiently. I noticed I was completely phased out for a couple of seconds and he was obviously pissed.

"Um... I was-- I mean you were--" I stuttered stupidly, not able to shift my gaze away from his face. It was so... captivating for some reason.

Damn I was pathetic.

He rolled his eyes at me and went back to his phone.

"I was calling you for like two minutes and you ignored me. That is so rude," I finally spilled the words out and I crossed my arms over my chest trying to look intimidating. I think I was failing miserably.

"Well, I was busy and decided to ignore you." He shrugged casually.

What the-

"Are you serious? You were on your phone and then you decided to listen to music! How is that busy?" I said, throwing my hands up in frustration.

"You're quite the observer aren't you?" He said sarcastically as he raised an eyebrow. "And some things are slightly more interesting than a girl shopping for her mood swings," he gave my cart a nod and I realized it was full of chocolate, chips and sweets. I was starting to blush furiously. I wanted to tell him that I was not PMS'ing and not every single thing about girls related to that, but I bit my tongue. That would be too weird, even for me.

"I'm a customer here so you have to help me whether you like it or not."

He rolled his eyes again. "Do you sometimes shut up or do you just yap all the time?"

My jaw dropped. Did he just say that? In my whole two years that I've worked here, no one has ever been rude to me. I mean it was a hospital for crying out loud! People are supposed to be nice! Not... this.

The Rude Cashier didn't even notice that he just gave me a slap to the face and casually resumed his texting. That damn phone. I just want to throw it out the window for a pigeon to shit on.

I launched for it, wanting to snatch it away but he jerked it away smoothly.

"Too slow," He said smiling cockily.

I grunted and smoothed my clothes, trying to hide my failure. "Why do you work here anyway if you're unwilling to help? That is plain stupid. You know you're just rude and I think you need major life lessons because--"

"Oh my god, spare me the torture of your voice. What do you want?" He put his phone down, for once giving me his attention.

I let out a heavy angry sigh, "Where are the skittles?"

Rude Cashier raised both eyebrows stared at me like I was some mental patient. "Seriously? Wow, you're deaf and you're blind," he pointed to somewhere behind me and I turned around to find a shelf full of the red plastic sachets of Skittles.

How did I miss that? I could have actually avoided all this meaningless irritating mind-torturing conversation.

"Aha yea whatever," I mumbled childishly. I snatched a couple of Skittles bags and dumped them in the cart. "Just do your job please and tell me how much I need to pay so I can leave."

At the same moment, a tall lean woman entered the cafeteria. She looked young too, probably in her early twenties. She mostly worked here as a receptionist or a secretary of some sort. She took a couple of sodas from the fridge by the door and proceeded to place them in front of Rude Cashier. Her caramel eyes lit up when she spotted him, so I was guessing she knew him.

I opened my mouth to speak, "Excuse me I was here first-"

She cut me off like I didn't even exist. What's with disrespectful people today?

"Oh hey you're still working here? I thought by now you would've been long gone," she chuckled at her own statement.

Rude cashier though didn't even crack a smile. "Yea I still need the hours."

"Really? How much left?" She said, resting her elbows on the counter across of him.

He didn't look slightly amused and possibly a little irritated.

"I don't know. I don't graph my progress on a timetable before I go to sleep."

The woman let out a highly exaggerated laugh at Rude Cashier's reply. The voice deafened me and I felt the urge to stick something in my ears to prevent them from bleeding, but her laughter soon died out.

Sticking one headphone back into his ear, Rude Cashier totally ignored the obvious attempt of grabbing his attention.

This is getting too awkward for my taste.

"Aha..." The woman with the caramel eyes twirled a blonde strand of hair between her fingers, apparently trying to look flirty. "So...how've you been?"

"Good," He nodded curtly and grabbed his phone, probably indicating that he was done with her.

Perhaps she was awaiting something along the lines of 'what about you?', because she looked slightly disappointed.

I was just standing there awkwardly debating whether I should grab some Haribos from the uppermost shelf.

"That's great!" She exclaimed happily, masking her true emotions. And yet, he kept using his phone.

This boy is unbelievable.

"Anyway... You wanna hang out or something? Maybe a cup of coffee...? Tomorrow I'm getting off early at about two so-"

"Two forty"

"Oh-two forty- okay that's awesome then! Where do you want to meet up?" Her eyes flared with enthusiasm at his response.

"No," he stated abruptly, motioning at the cans of soda placed in front of her on the counter. "I meant that'll be two dollars and forty cents."

I cringed at the awkwardness of this situation and I honestly felt bad for her. I guess I'll just go grab those Haribos.

The look of disappointment and shame was now evident on her face, although I was standing several feet away she was obviously offended but he didn't even look slightly concerned whatsoever. Shuffling in her purse, she pulled out the money and placed it on the counter, murmured a sad 'see you around' and left the place.

I'm surprised he didn't get slapped. Maybe if I was brave enough I would've done it a long time ago.

Let me just act busy so I wouldn't appear like I was shoving my nose up their business, even though I clearly was.

Hmm okay. Apple flavored Haribos, strawberry flavored, or mixed?

"Are you going to camp out here or something? Or are you just trying to break a record for how many hours one can stay in a mini market?"

I grabbed the Haribos with so much force to mirror my annoyance. "Ha ha you're hilarious."

I dumped my stuff in front of him rudely and he just looked amused for some reason.

He grabbed the stuff and lazily scanned them one by one.

"So tall and sexy isn't your type?" I suddenly asked, unable to stop myself.

"Huh?"

"Don't huh me. You know what I'm talking about."

"What's it to you, shortcake?"

"Shortca... I'm not short! What the hell!" I spat back in shock. I was actually on the shorter side being only five foot four, but he didn't have to rub it in my face! I was already insecure about it.

He just scoffed. "Yea right, I saw you struggling to reach those Haribos."

"Well they shouldn't put them up too far okay? Who's the giant who can easily reach them anyways?"

How can this boy make me infuriated just by a single word he said? It takes a lot to anger me but he just does it so carelessly. Okay, never-mind, it doesn't take a lot. I have anger issues.

The scanning was taking forever and I was a hundred percent sure it was on purpose. My blood was starting to boil but I decided to stay cool. He wanted to piss me off again but I won't give him the satisfaction.

Yeah, stay strong Ash.

After several long minutes of watching him inspect a Bounty bar, he said "That'll be six fifty."

I handed him Mrs. Finley's cash and he snatched it roughly. Handing it back to me with annoyance plastered on his face he said, "Sorry, no change."

"You don't have change for a twenty?"

"Is that a problem?" He raised an eyebrow arrogantly.

I want to stab this boy so much.

"It's the end of the day," I said trying to keep my anger at bay which was proving tremendously difficult.

"Congratulations, you have a watch," he flashed a half smile which was meant to provoke me. And yes, it was working.

"I mean,"

Inhale. Exhale.

"That you must have some change because it's the end of the day and a lot of people surely bought stuff from here today."

"Nope, your detective skills are a bit lacking, shortcake."

Is it illegal to strangle someone?

"You know what? If I should stay here for another second I'll blow up so," I rummaged through my purse, collecting any loose change I had, "Here you go."

I placed the dollars harshly on his outstretched hand and stomped out the door, managing to take a final look at the rude, cocky guy arranging the money I just paid with, over other several stacks of dollars in the cashier drawer, with an amused smirk on his arrogant face.

Ugh I knew it.