Don't Know What You See in My Negativity

Chapter 1 - Record Stores & Rock(?) Bands

Brian grunted.

It was the highest amount of interest he could manage to express for the rows of music messily displayed before him.

The Coral Square Mall was not high on his list of 'favorite destinations'. In fact, he'd only been there on a couple different occasions.
So, it was his first time visiting this particular record store.

He couldn't recall the name. Nor did he really care to.
The store in itself was underwhelming; messy stacks and disorganized shelves, tapes and records out of order.
The only thing he'd seen that piqued his interest at all were some old KISS records (Ones he, of course, already owned).

Overall,
He was unimpressed.
But his own opinions of the facility didn't matter.
He was here for one thing and one thing only,
Presents.

Chad's birthday was approaching quickly, and some cheap tapes or records seemed like an easy gift for his beloved cousin.
On the off-chance Brian did spy something he fancied, he would just come back some other time and attempt to shoplift it.
Or bribe someone else to shoplift for him.

He released a soft sigh, hastily grabbing the first few Judas Priest and Mission U.K. tapes his eyes came across, eager to leave.
He'd already spent a good eight minutes in the 'music store', and that, in itself, seemed far too long.
Alas his escape wouldn't be so easy.

Just as he had gathered a reasonable amount of tapes to appease his cousin, Brian's peace was disrupted by an approaching employee.

The employee had stumbled out from a backroom in the midst of Brian's browsing, coughing and dragging along with him a peculiar scent.
He'd closed the backroom, subtly fanned his hand around the area, and then spun to the desk, grabbing some random cleaning solution from the counter.
He'd spritzed it carelessly in the air and then once on the back of his neck, rubbing it in lethargically like cologne, perhaps convinced that smelling like walking chemicals would be less suspicious than smelling like weed.

Regardless, the employee had emerged, and while standing behind the counter, he couldn't help but notice the one customer that was shifting about the store; Brian.
A quick, sweeping glance left the employee with a vision of a skinny figure and fluffy, blonde hair, of which, he automatically assumed belonged to a woman; Ignorant, on his part, considering his own dark, coffee-colored hair hung well past his shoulders.
He was the only staff member in the store, and yet, rather than staying behind the counter as he was probably supposed to do, he bounded out enthusiastically, to offer his oh-so-helpful assistance to this.... tall, gangly "lady".
Only as he took a closer, more focused look did the employee realize that the figure perusing through the music was, in actuality, just a long-haired man.
Disappointing to say the least.

The store worker had slowed his pace, but seeing as he now stood only a few short feet away from Brian (who'd already noticed him), it was too late to return to the counter, lest he look like an idiot. Exhaling quietly, having seemingly lost his spark of enthusiasm, the employee strode forward once more.

"Can I help you find anything?" He asked politely, trying to maintain some form of professional friendliness.

Brian, who thought continuing to stare at the music would prompt the employee to go away, finally turned his head to acknowledge the other male, trying to force a fake, at least semi-present grin upon his lips.
Brian gently shook his head.
He thought this would bring an end to the casual interaction, however as he looked back down, the worker did not budge; just stood there idly, not a care in the world.
After about thirteen seconds of awkward silence had passed, Brian turned to look at the other man once again, raising a brow as if to ask why they were still there.