Chapter Text
Working the cash register was Tanya’s least favorite part of her job at the grocery store. Sure, it was less physically demanding than stocking or cleaning. But having to deal with bitchy customers and the slowest computers known to man made the task downright infuriating at times.
Not that Tanya ever let her personal grievances prevent her from being the best cashier in the whole damn place, of course.
On one particularly hot day, Tanya stood behind the register, fanning herself with a newspaper. The influx of shoppers was slow, as expected for a Tuesday morning. Since the store was less than a block away from MU, most of its customers were the students living in the surrounding dorms. As such, it was always much less busy during typical school hours.
Since Tanya didn’t have classes on Tuesday mornings this semester, she had added an opening shift into her work schedule.
Just then, a painfully familiar voice caught her by surprise.
“Heyyy, Tanya ~ slow day? You gonna ring me up or what?”
Scarlet was standing on the other side of the register, holding out a single bottled coffee drink with that insufferable smirk on her face.
“Scarlet. Of all the open registers -” Tanya paused, regaining both her composure and professional tone. She took the coffee from Scarlet’s hand and scanned the barcode. “Ahem. Will that be all for today, ma’am?”
“Do you see me holding anything else? Obviously.”
“Alright then. Do you have a loyalty number with us?”
“You think I give a shit about saving like, five cents whenever I come here? No.”
At this point, Tanya’s patience was thinning. Her voice was getting higher and slower with each word she spoke, her face flushed with irritation.
“Okay. Your total will be $5.47.”
Scarlet rummaged through her purse, feigning an expression of shock.
“Oh noooo. Looks like I forgot my card back at home. This is all I have - I hope you don’t mind.”
Scarlet pulled out a $100 bill and handed it to a fuming Tanya. Instead of raising her voice, Tanya lowered it to a soft, deep whisper.
“Are you serious, Gwon? You think I have time for this bullshit?”
“Would you rather I walk out without paying? Because I’d be more than willing to -”
“I’m getting it.”
Tanya opened the register and began to count bills and coins. Scarlet’s smirk only widened. To say she was entertained was an understatement.
“You know, at that pace, maybe you’ll be done by tomorrow.”
“If you don’t shut the fuck up, I swear -”
“God, you’re threatening your customers now? How would your manager feel about that?”
Tanya exhaled and pursed her lips, holding back the slew of profanities she wanted to scream at Scarlet. How does this girl always know exactly how to set her off?
“$94.53 is your change. Thank you for shopping with us today, valued customer.”
Scarlet took the money from Tanya’s outstretched hand, but didn’t leave yet.
“Hold on. Just gotta make sure you gave me the right amount. $94.53, you said?”
Slowly, Scarlet placed each bill and coin into her wallet, counting under her breath. Tanya didn’t think that it was possible for her to get more frustrated. Of course, Scarlet would prove her wrong.
Always the overachiever.
With the willpower of a saint, Tanya remained silent. She merely stared with wide, unblinking eyes, a tight-lipped smile plastered onto her face.
“…50…51…52…94.53! Competent as always, Tanya!” Beaming, Scarlet grabbed her coffee and receipt. “My most sincere apologies for wasting your time. Have a great day!”
Tanya just caught the glimpse of a credit card between Scarlet’s fingers as she strutted out of the store, disappearing behind the automatic doors.
“That little-!”
The newspaper crumpled in Tanya’s fist, the only acceptable outlet for her anger at the moment.
“I swear to God, does she really have nothing better to do - Oh, hello, sir!”
Another customer had come to check out, immediately bringing Tanya back to reality.
Of course, no matter how upset she was, she would never let her personal grievances get in the way of her job.