Shopping ♥

[Karrissa Michaels]

Kris walked through the mall, almost wandering aimlessly. She had just moved to the city of Drakesville and hadn't really met anyone noteworthy in the city. Her blue eyes looked over the stores as she walked through the mall, her heels clipped over the tile of the walkway through the mall. There were that many people around the mall, or at least no one that really caught her eye. Actually, there were that many stores that caught her eye either. Her small hand ruffled through her hand, her small lithe body stopping off to the side. She finally saw a store that caught her eye and walked through the doors.

American Eagle. It was like her second home back in Seattle. She walked inside, the clothing automatically catching her startling blue eyes. She walked over to the jeans, her fingers running over the fabric, a soft smile running over her small lips. She took a step back looking up at the shirts on the upper rack and then turned around and started looking at the jackets. That was what she really needed. It wasn't cold enough to wear the winter jacket that she had brought from Seattle, which was a thick down jacket. She was used to snow and wind and below 0 weather, but it wasn't cold here. It was actually pretty warm, but she would still prefer a small jacket she could drape over herself.

[Taro Mizeal]

Another great, exciting day at work! He wasn't even sure why he got a job here. He'd applied for so many and this was the only one that accepted him, he guessed. But of all places for him to be, why the mall?! He hated mall shopping. The busy, loud crowds. The crappy music they played in the long halls and the foods center. He shuddered at the thought. Fast food was okay, but it was so unclean, and loud with anxious, crying children. Taro liked the quiet. It was a wonderful sound to be filled to the top with. But than again, too much silence could be rather frightening.

His grey eyes caught site of someone coming towards him. Another happy customer, ready to buy. He through on a bright smile, "Did you find everything you were looking for alright, Ma'am?" he asked, his dark voice, soft and polite, as he rang in the items she was planning on purchasing.
"Yes, thank-you." she responded, taking her wallet out from her overly-sized, bright red purse.
"That'll be $65.52." he said. The lady quickly whipped out a few bills and some change, "Thank-you," he punched in some button on the computer, putting the money in the cash register, "Would you like the receipt in the bag?" Taro asked, tilted his head to the side slightly. The girl nodded her head, pulling the large purse back over her shoulder, "Have a good day!" he said, giving a small wave as she quickly walked away.

All customers were the same. Always in a hurry. Always anxious to get out of the stores. Then there were the younger ones that traveled in groups who got excited about everything they saw. Their high pitched squeals where just about loud enough to break through glass.

Taro shook his head, laughing a bit. He watched as another person came into the store. She walked around examining the clothing closely. Her delicate figure seemed to be walking with interest and slight contemplation in the clothing she saw.

He heaved a sigh, sitting back in the chair behind him. It was definitely the best chair he'd ever sat on. It was a cushiony, stool-like chair, with wheels on it. It was a simple black colour, and grey for the cushion. But, it was entertaining if anything. No chair could beat a wheelie chair! He smiled, spinning on the chair a bit.

[Ashley Merek]

Ashley had been browsing for about twenty minutes by the time she found something she actually liked. She had so little money nowadays that she really had to be careful with what she spent. Unfortunately, her jeans had ripped the day before and she didn't like wearing skirts so here she was. She sighed, holding the jeans against her and looking in the mirror. She knew she was a perfect 4 so there wasn't an issue about the size. They just weren't really wat she liked. She'd seen some in another shop which she'd fallen in love with but they'd been way too expensive.

She sighed and looked around for the checkout. When she spotted it she made her way over and lay the jeans on the counter. "Just those, please," she said glumly to the boy behind the checkout.

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[Taro Mizeal]

There was another shopper that he hadn't seen come in the store at all. Her expression seemed sad. Whether she hadn't had any luck shopping, tired or was just in a depressed sort of mood, Taro was unsure.
"Just those, please," the girl said rather glumly.
He grinned, confused by her glumness. "Did you find everything you were looking for?" his tone was casual, as he scanned the jeans. He put them inside a bag that would advertise their store as she walked around the mall. It was such a discreet way of advertising, and sadly enough it worked.
"That's...$29.00, did you want the recite in the bag?"

[Ashley Merek]

Ashley glanced up at him. "I just wish I could afford more. I hate seeig things I like then not being able to buy them..." Urgh, he was probably sick of hearing people's tales so she shut up. Her large bag was over her arm and it took her a few minutes to find her purse in amoungst all the paper and debris. When she did she pulled out her credit card and handed it to him, thinking to herself, 'Even more bills to pay.' With her mom away so much, it was left to her to pay for the upkeep of the flat and it was piling so much pressure on her. Teenagers were supposed to be out enjoying themselves, not making payments on a morgage.

[Taro Mizeal]

<sup>The girl seemed to glance up at him before saying, "I just wish I could afford more. I hate seeig things I like then not being able to buy them..." her voice trailed off and Taro gave a nod of understanding. But he never knew what it was like to not have enough money to buy something. His parents were filthy rich and it disgusted him. Sure having money was great and all. But to be so focused on work and not spend any time with your family, that was a bit much.
He sighed, in a way he did know what she was feeling. He never had enough time with his parents. That's the same, right?

He took her credit card and swiped it through. "Hey, not that it's any of my business...but are you okay? You seem stressed..or frustrated about something. I dunno..." his voice vanished, for he thought that perhaps he shouldn't have said anything. She could jump to conclusions and think he was some creep or something. But he wasn't! He was just worried. He hated seeing people like that. Of course people came through the malls frustrated all the time, but this seemed different.

His face burned a bit. He wasn't even used to talking so much. It was usually the normal Hello, how're you. Did you find everything....have a grand day. He wasn't one for conversation at all. Yet here he was, asking if there was something wrong with this person. Great! Just great! His mind scowled for his careless actions. But he hoped it wouldn't turn out bad. He could lose his job for being rude to the customers or something rash like that!</sup>

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[Ashley Merek]

Ashley sighed before deciding to just say. "Things are really tough at the moment. I live practically on my own and...well, it's just really hard." She looked down at her hands. Maybe she shouldn't have said so much. No one was supposed to know her mom only visited on Sundays. She might get take into care or something which she didn't want. She looked up at him and smiled faintly. "Thanks for acting like you care." Not may shop assistants would. most just wanted you out of the shop so they could put their iPod back on or get their phone out or something.

[Taro Mizeal]

^{The girl before him sighed a bit before she said anything. It kind of caught him off gaurd too, since he hadn't been expecting her to react in that way.
"Things are really tough at the moment. I live practically on my own and...well, it's just really hard." She finished looking down at her hands.
"Oh," he muttered, stuck on what to say, "I guess I kinda live on my own too. My parents never have time for me," he frowned, "Never have. Never will." he shrugged, "It could be worse off though, I suppose." he said, handing back her credit card.
The girl looked up at him, smiling faintly. "Thanks for acting like you care."
"Uhm, no problem I guess." he said with a shrug, "I wasn't really acting though." he through the receit in the bag.
"Hey, what's you name," he asked handing her the bag, "I'm Taro." he said with a small laugh, pointing to his name tag.}

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[Ashley Merek]

Ashley felt a little better hearing about his misfortunes in the parent department. She felt mean for thinking it but she was glad her mum had a legitimate reason for not being there. It must be soul destroying to have parents that don't care. She smiled again, a little brighter this time, as she took her credit card and slotted it back into her purse. She dropped the purse bag into her bag which immediately engulfed it, as if snatching back it's treasre.

"Ashley," she said, smiling as she took the store bag he handed her. She looked at his name tag and grinned. "Taro's a really cool name..." Oh christ, now she sounded stupid. It was a 'I wish the ground would swallow me up' moment. What a pathetic thing to say. She gulped. "Right, well, er, bye...." she said awkwardly, half turning to face the exit.

[Taro Mizeal]

^{Taro sat back down in the oh-so-comfortable chair behind him. The girl seemed relieved for some reason. Probably because she got to go home now. She wouldn't have to stand around and talk to some fool like him.
"Ashley," she responded, a smile forming on her lips, soon stretching throughout her entire face. It was beautiful. He caught her eyes looking to his name tag, as he pointed to it. Ashley smiled saying "Taro's a really cool name..."
"Oh..uh..." he almost laughed, but kept it in. He'd never gotten an actual complement before. Nobody cared to pay him much attention like that, "Thanks?"
"Right, well, er, bye...." Ashley said before walking away.
"Bye," he waved, "Hopefully everything gets better for you, Ashley."}

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[Ashley Merek]

She heard him speak as she was walking away and something made a connection in her brain. She didn't want to be alone right now. She wanted someone to talk to, someone of her own age to communicate with. She stopped walking just by the door and stood there, battling with her instinct. Soon she was blocking the door so had to step aside. She decided to just go for it, so took a deep breath, turned around and walked back to the checkout. "Do you, er, later, would you like to grab dinner with me? I'm not being weird or feminist by asking you out, I..." She really was starting to sound like an idiot. She took a breath and slowed down. "I just really don't want to be at home on my own tonight..." She waited tensely for his reply, her high heeled feet shifting awkwardly.

[Taro Mizeal]

^{He sat back in his chair, doodling on a peice of paper next to him. He looked over to the doorway to see that Ashley was standing there. He raised his eyebrow in confusion.
What is she doing? he thought, turning his head back to the paper, but keeping her in his preferal.
She turned around, coming back to the counter. Coming to him!?
Oh no! he thought, nervously, What did I do?
"Do you, er, later, would you like to grab dinner with me? I'm not being weird or feminist by asking you out, I..." She said this all rather fast and he just barely caught any of it.
Something about later...dinner and being weird. Right. Okay.
What?
"I just really don't want to be at home on my own tonight..." his mouth was open slightly, ready to say something, but no words came out. He could feel his face burning up again as he realised what she was talking about. She wanted to go out for dinner with...him!
He closed his mouth, re-opening it a moment later, "Naw, I'm not doin' anything. I guess I could," he laughed, "Beats going back to an empty home." he looked down at his watch, "I'm done at 7:30," he thought outloud, "So...about a half hour and I'll be done. Is there somewhere you'd like to meet?" he asked her.}

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[Ashley Merek]

Ashley went bright red as he spoke. "Well, if you finish that soon I might as well hang around here...." It wasn't like she had any nice clothes to change into or anything. These new jeans and denim skirts were about all her wardrobe consisted of. She glanced back at him, butterflies zooming around her stomach. Why the hell was she doing this to herself? She should have just gone to McDonald's on her own and stayed there until they kicked her out.

[Taro Mizeal]

<sup>He nodded slowly, "Yeah, you could hang around here, if you wanted," he sighed, "It's not that interesting though." he stated, looking around the place, "Heh, Monday's are even better!" he laughed. He rarely worked on Monday. And that was for one simple reason, nobody ever came. Thus, the three days he said he'd work wer tuesday, thursday and friday.

"You could...draw? If you wanted to." he said with a smirk, showing her his random doodles, "I dunno. Just lemme know when I'm talking too much." he said under his breath, grabbing a pen from his pocket. He began to draw deformed circles and oddly placed zigzags, then shaded it to make it look three dimensional.

"So I take it you go to the Highschool around here too then?" he asked casually, briefly looking up at the girl.</sup>

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[Ashley Merek]

Ashley grinned and leaned against the counter, glad he hadn't just told her to get lost. "Yea, last year there," she said, looking at his doodles. She traced the lines on a 3D pentagon. "This one looks like a little dog," she said, giggling. "You draw good though."