Chapter Text
The soft, almost quiet buzz of the fluorescent lights overhead was nearly enough to put Van to sleep. It was 3 pm on a Monday, and if Van knew anything after working at this video store for a year and a half, 3 pm on a Monday meant the place was practically dead. Normally it'd be fine, Van could watch some movies on the old TV their coworker had set up. But Van had watched almost everything in the place, and after browsing around couldn't find anything new that was interesting. It was a good job, as a film major and avid cinephile Van couldn't ask for a job more made for him. But by God, it could get boring.
He had already done all his normal chores and busy work, so with not much else to do he sighed and resigned himself to his recent favorite pastime when at work, people watching. He stared out the giant glass pane windows and out into the busy streets of the city. He enjoyed trying to read people, figuring out the kind of person they were, where they might be going, and what kind of life they might have.
A businessman in a suit looking stressed as he talked hurriedly into a phone, late for a meeting maybe? Someone fucked up a spreadsheet at work?
Two people across the street near the park, one flailing their arms around desperately while seemingly yelling, another biting back with tears in their eyes. A breakup, public and messy. Wouldn't wanna be them.
Some guys from the Frat back on campus shoving each other playfully and laughing loudly. Off to cause some public disturbance for sure, someone might be getting hurt or arrested later. Not Van's problem.
Van's eyes scanned the crowd, searching and searching. Every now and then someone would really stick out. The kind of person you could look at and just tell they had something special about them. Or they looked particularly interesting. Just as it looked like they weren't going to find that person today, there she was. Van blinked once, then twice, just to be sure the heat haze from the sun outside hadn’t made him hallucinate her.
She was walking with purpose, maybe a little overdressed for how hot it was, but somehow still looking good doing it. Her backpack was slung low on one shoulder, and her hair was pulled back into a curly high ponytail, the kind that was meant to appear messy and last minute but was far too clean and flawless to fully pass off as such. Her low-rise blue jeans clung low to her waist, and Van couldn't help but stare just a tad longer than he probably should've. Her green shirt rode up just slightly, and a loose brown jacket fell off her shoulders and hung around her elbows as if it had nowhere else to be.
Van knew he was staring too long. But how could he not when a living goddess was casually walking down the block? His gaze followed her like a hawk, he was so enthralled he barely noticed that she was coming into the store.
The bell above the door chimed, sharp and sudden in the quiet space, dragging Van out of his not-so-subtle staring. She entered the store and took a quick glance around. Van wondered if they should say something, customer service and all. But as he opened his mouth it seemed nothing wanted to come out. The girl looked like she was on a mission though, eyes scanning until they stopped on the giant black sign that read "ANIMATED"
She headed towards the section and her eyes lit up when she saw a certain title. She murmured something excitedly before she picked it up and headed straight for the counter. Suddenly Van's chest was beating just a tad bit harder than normal and his throat felt unusually dry. He scolded himself inwardly, don't make an ass out of yourself. She's just another customer, just do what you normally do.
The girl let out a long tired sigh as she placed the DVD onto the counter. Now that Van could get a good look at her, he felt breathless as he took in her beauty. Her eyes were slightly tired, but she looked flawless nonetheless. Beautiful eyes flicked up to meet his. Sharp, but not unkind.
"You gonna ring me up, or keep staring?" she asked, lips curling in a lazy sort of smirk. There was humor in her voice, the kind that could cut you clean if you let your guard down.
Van blinked hard, heart thudding in his ears. "Right. Yeah. Sorry," he apologized. Smooth, Palmer. Real smooth. He shook the thoughts away as he looked down at the DVD and began to scan it. He couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face as he registered what the movie being checked out was.
"Lady and the Tramp?" Van asked raising his eyebrow jokingly, "That's a little-"
The mysterious beauty cut them off, "Childish?" she finished with a smirk. Van shrugged playfully, "You said it, not me"
"Well, I normally go for films of a higher prestige" she joked, "But midterms have been kicking my ass lately and I'd rather turn my brain off for two hours than go insane studying" She shrugged. Van nodded in understanding. "To be honest I'm just glad you have it at all. Blockbuster wasn't any help at all"
"We try to go for the exclusives around here. You know it was only released on DVD for 60 days back in 99. Real lucky catch you got there."
She sounded impressed as she complimented, "An expert huh?"
Van chuckled, leaning casually on the counter and hoping the girl couldn't get a glance into his brain and see that he was on the verge of malfunctioning the longer this conversation went on. Though a small part of him was proud he was keeping the fire going for this long.
"Perks of being a film major and certified cinephile."
"Film major huh?" the girl replied, "What college?"
Van scratched the back of his neck. It wasn't a loaded question exactly, but he wasn't unaware that here in D.C. those things kind of mattered.
"G.W" he replied finally.
"Fancy," she said not unkindly. "You from here?
Van shook his head, "Jersey". He didn't want to go too much into his home life. "And you?" he replied changing the subject, "What college?"
“Howard,” she said simply, voice laced with a quiet pride “Pre-law.”
"Sounds intense," Van replied. The girl shrugged, but there was no hiding the pride and pure confidence humming underneath.
"Nothing I can't handle". Van nodded in response.
“So how much do I owe?” she continued.
Van glanced at the system. “You’re in luck. This week’s special. First rental free if you can name three Studio Ghibli films in under ten seconds.” He might get fired for doing something like that, and the tiny part of his brain holding onto rationale and not short-circuiting was telling him he shouldn't be. But he decided at that moment it was worth it.
The girl raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “You just made that up.”
"Maybe,” he said, resting his chin in his palm. “Maybe not. You game?”
She narrowed her eyes, then rolled her shoulders back like she was stepping into the ring. “Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle. Boom.”
Van made a show of pretending to check an invisible stopwatch. “Seven point eight seconds. Damn. Honorary cinephile status granted.”
“About time someone recognized it,” she said, slipping the DVD into her bag. She looked up at the clock before muttering a curse. "I've got to go" she murmured. As she finished stuffing the DVD into her bag she paused just a beat before turning. “Thanks… Van.”
"How'd you-" Van began dumbly. As if he wasn't wearing a giant tag that read 'VAN" in all caps.
"Name tag," she said with a smirk, halfway towards the door. "See you around". Van couldn't help but call after her, "Wait, what's your name?"
The curly-haired beauty looked back with a smile that could rival the moon, "Taissa. But my friends call me Tai" she responded. Then she was gone, swallowed again into the bustle of sidewalk traffic in the city streets. As Taissa vanished, Van let out a sigh. A swing and a miss. What were the chances she'd have time to stop by again? Maybe if you spent less time gawking you could've gotten her number…such a dumbass. Just as Van was finishing that thought something caught his eye. He looked down to see a white piece of paper sitting on the counter. All it had written down were 10 simple digits.
‘202-786-5928'
Simple and to the point. No hook or extra words needed, as if Taissa knew she didn't need to persuade Van to call her. Like she knew Van was putty in her hands the moment she walked through the door. Van let out a sigh of disbelief. He had been read like a book.
"Bested at my own game, huh?" he said as he picked up the piece of paper. "Checkmate Tai"
Van stood there, a dumb grin plastered on his face, wondering how in the hell a Monday afternoon in a dead-end video store had just become the most interesting part of his entire week.