No, he lets it naturally defuse itself.

Cassie maintained her standing. "I know. And?"

With her own share of folded arms, she chewed on, the opposite pair sliding their eyes to look first at each other, then back to the clerk. Finally, after a longer stretch of spaghetti-western time than it no doubt actually was, Gina tossed the snack she'd been holding back into the metal shelving.

"Come on, Jennifer, let's go." Gina grabbed her friend's arm. "We'll go spend our money somewhere worth the price."

Eventually, Jennifer let out a smirk of her own before twirling backward and marching away. Josh watched as her pretty head swished past the aisle card, though not before shooting a sly wink in Josh's direction. "See ya babe," she called out, waving a freewheeling arm. The jingle of the door signaled their departure, and he heard a sigh not long after.

"What would you be without me, Josh?"

"To be honest, it wasn't like they were trying to -- " Before Josh could finish, though, his arm was gripped by one of Cassie's hands. She gave it a quick squeeze, smiling innocently.

"Oh. Been working out?" she said, sneaking another squeeze in for good measure. Josh blinked, and threw her hand off as a reflex. "Easy," she assured, though clearly she was prepared for the response. "I did just help shake those two creeps off your tail, you know."

Josh blinked. She wasn't exactly being that much better. And didn't she just slap his ass a few minutes ago?

He wondered what, in the normal world, this would be equivalent to. If he was coming on to someone like her, what would her reaction be? Would she say nothing? Would she chew him out? Would she reciprocate?

Whatever it was, he doubted his hardness quietly straining against his trousers was it. He had to admit -- he enjoyed the attention somewhat, even if he could see how overbearing it might get later on. Maybe, to alleviate potential karmic wrath, he should play the fool for the time being. Then subtly nudge things without anybody knowing. Not like they'd believe him anyway. But it beat sounding crazy.

A single man, determining the unquestionable reality of a world that's known no different (or better) all their lives? Now that was hodgepodge.

"Anyways," Cassie went on, Josh apparently missing his turn to speak, "nice to see you getting some muscles to fend off the nasty girls out there, though. One clean uppercut should do the trick, am I right?" She went for a playful punch on his arm, but Josh withdrew it in time for her to blush, then laugh nervously and hold up her hands in surrender.

Josh was glad he wasn't drinking anything at that moment she finished her sentence, too, lest he choked on it. He totally forgot about that change.

Eventually, the two shuffled over to the counter and Josh pulled out his wallet, taking out a wad of cash. Cassie twiddled a strand of light brown hair all throughout their transaction. When she finally gave him his change and wished him a nice day she also gave him a smile. This time, though, it felt anything but routine. "See you around, cowboy."

Josh took his slurpie and began heading out. Then, he hesitated, shoulders locking.

"Cassie." Turning back, he looked at her firmly, thinking back to the girls at the street. Couldn't hurt. "Do you want my phone number? I could give it to you right -- "

Cassie blinked, chewing paused. "Your... number?" Then, after barely a second without either a yes or no, she broke into a shit-eating grin Josh had never quite seen on the likes of her before. "Fuck yeah! I, um, I mean, of course, yeah, totally."

She tossed her hair over her shoulder as Josh took her phone and typed his into her contacts list. When he was done, he passed it to her, still not able to believe this was happening in real time before him. Getting the attractive convenience store clerk that before had never given him two rats' worth of ass practically preening at his random show of interest now... was incredibly ego-boosting.

Walking away with a cocky set of steps towards the door, Josh nearly felt something tangibly come over him as he looked over his shoulder, locked eyes with Cassie, and suggestively said, "Call me."

Only as he pushed open the door and felt the rushing air did he catch her muffled utterance, "Fuck yes."