The Rendezvous // Thomas Sangster

Buy a Cheap Date (It May Be Disturbing, but it's For a Good Cause)

I meander up and down the aisles, grabbing any food I think I might want for the fundraiser. I've never been a fantastic cook, but I can at least make a couple sandwiches for a charity picnic.

I grab, chips, bread, sandwich meat, cheese and anything else I can think of. I don't understand why Thomas would not want me to go to a fundraiser that's for a good cause. He must really hate me, although I don't know why. I mean, I guess I am on his precious lot twenty seven, but it's not as though I've done anything hurtful to him. How can he be so hurtful to me?

Hopefully, I'll find out one day.

I'm not really sure what to expect from this picnic, seeing as I've never been to one of these things, and I buy a little more than I probably should.

As I'm picking out a bag of chips, I hear a voice right behind me that nearly makes me jump out of my skin.

"Fancy meeting you here."

Making a small gasping noise, I turn around quickly to see Thomas' smug grin.

I glare, snapping, "Why did you scare me?"

"Because you're very unsuspecting." He half smiles.

I grimace, looking away with a scowl, "What are you doing here, Thomas?"

"I could ask you the same thing." He smirks, "What are you doing here all alone, Stephie?"

I whip my head around to glare at him, "Don't call me that."

"What? Stephie? Or do you prefer Steph?"

Of course he would know my old nicknames, they had to run a background check before they let me rent a lot, so he has some of my old records. Damn him.

"Stop." I clench my teeth.

"I personally like 'Stephie.'"

"Go away."

He smirks playfully. He just likes getting under my skin. "It's Fred's. This is where everyone does their grocery shopping. And it's only five miles from the campground." He pauses, "I saw your truck out front. I guess it's working now?'

"How observant of you. No, it's not working. It just magically appeared in front of Fred's shopping mart."

"Someone is wearing their sassy pants this morning, I see."

I huff, trying to move around him in the aisle, "Could you get out of my way?"

"I dunno, could I?"

"Why do you always answer questions with questions?"

"Do I?"

I roll my eyes, turning my attention back to looking at the stocked shelves. Thomas peers into my basket, looking at the contents, "So, what are you buying?"

"None of your business. Leave me alone, you jerk." I snap, tossing more chips in my cart just so I don't have to look at Thomas's smug face.

He gestures towards the chips, "Those are very good."

I avoid looking at him as I say, "Well, hopefully whoever buys my basket at the picnic will enjoy them, then."

I can see him stiffen a little bit, uncomfortably. He keeps his expression reserved, but I can tell he isn't at all relaxed. "So, I suppose you're still going to that?"

"Yes, I am," I say, indignantly. "And you can't stop me."

He slowly releases a breath, running his hand through his hair. "You're right." He says.