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A staple to the mall, Jada was hauling a few bags towards the food court, intent on getting a pretzel. By a few bags, her arms were almost lined with them, and she was looking almost annoyed with them. Gucci blue jeans, A Prada shirt, and Jimmy Choos were giving her all the confidence she needed to brave the mall again. She was getting more comfortable shopping by herself, without latching onto someone else. Audrey, Eve; every time she'd been to the mall since the stalker incident she'd latched onto someone out of sheer paranoia.

Not today!

She'd found some items she simply had to have in her room. After all, she had to replace everything! Her sheets had been slashed, every piece of clothing in her closets mutilated. Statuettes had been smashed, mirrors flung to the floor... it had been a mess. So now, her bags were filled with bedsheets, curtains, some adorable pillows; she had picked up a gorgeous little black dress by Givenchy.

And shoes.

All in all it was a heavy load of bags that she was hauling as she stood in the line in front of the pretzel place. All she wanted was one darn pretzel! Why on earth did it feel like everyone else in the mall wanted to get something to eat at the same time she did? Maybe, Jada decided, she was just getting more irritable than usual from the bags chafing her wrists. Reluctantly, she joined a few other heavily-loaded patrons in a half-crouch on the floor, letting the bags rest while they waited.

Jada really, really wanted her pretzel. Maybe she could buy off everyone in line in front of her? She was about to check in her purse for a wallet (maybe she had a $20 for everyone in front of her?) when familiar voice made Jada glance up from her partial crouch. "Marlo!" her face brightened from the annoyance that had been quickly creeping over it.

The black-haired young woman tried to push to her feet. Failed, the bags lagging her back down from the quick pop-up she'd tried to do. Finally, she decided to leave the bags. Right as the line moved.

Ooooo, someone up there was being a real douche today.

She nudged the bags forward with her foot before turning back to Marlo and reaching out, intending to give the taller young man a hug. "I need a lot of help." she kept it cheerful. "You always seem to show up right when I need you, Mr. Xanis." She brushed a black curl out of her face, then frowned up at him. "I didn't really think about going anywhere else, not with all these bags."

Plus she was looking at the person in the pretzel stand like he was the Messiah.

It wasn't strength. It was practice.

With a grateful look, the dark-haired young woman picked up the other half of the bags. She was slightly embarrassed by the fact she'd so startled her companion.

"Actually, I am. Buying a new wardrobe." she looked away from him, licking her lips nervously. "So I'm really grateful that you're here." And so chivalrous, too. She patted him on the arm with asmall hand, giving him a bright smile. "You don't need to look so worried." she said finally. The smile faded.

She didn't answer his question.

"I've been at the mall for all my free time over the last week or so." she said finally. "My sisters just turned 13, and then I had to replace some things that were broken. And once you buy one thing, you just..." she shrugged, giving him a shy grin and a shrug. "You can't stop."

Marlo had a serious face on. "I believe you." she said finally. Nudged him slightly with her shoulder, ignoring the curl that dropped over her face. "And you're right. They're looking for him though." After what had happened with... she shook her head.

"Elzo seems like the type to whine about it. Shopping requires a certain mentality. He seems a little too physical for it." Her smile was quick. "If you aren't a shopper by nature, Mr. Xanis, just what are you?"

He glanced at her bags and turned red and she flushed as well, suddenly remembering where some of her more... personal... items had gone to. "Oh, right. Umm... No, they weren't- you can throw them away." Or something. "I got replacements. Well..." she was beet red now, and ducked her head.

"Anyways." she shook her head again. "I don't need them returned. What brought you to the mall today?"

The line moved.

Jada couldn't stop her laugh. "I guess it would. I've never been to the Hillworth campus, so I don't know what entertainment opportunities they have, but I imagine it isn't much." For that matter, she wasn't completely sure of the entertainment opportunities at her own school. She was only there at night! "I'll let you count yourself as a shopper," the young woman agreed finally, "But only shopper lite."

".... I mostly only buy the things I need to." she said, looking thoughtful. She needed a new wardrobe every month or so! It was important to stay stylish.

One thing she couldn't disagree with was Marlo's assessment of the pretzel line. The man behind the counter glared and she scowled at him for taking the time to bother glaring at people when he could be working on cutting down the line. "No second run. I couldn't carry any more bags if I tried. I was going to get my pretzel and then find a place to put these things in my room."

That would take half an hour or more.

"You said there were other food options around here?" she looked up at him, bit her lip. "Wanna take me?" she gave him the most hopeful look she could muster. She took such advantage of his chivalry.

The pretzel maker flipped the bird at Marlo's back.

Jada lifted up what bags she could before Marlo grabbed them up, stepping out of the line. "What kinds of things do they actually have at Hillworth?" she was curious about this school for degenerates. "A fencing team, what other teams? Do you have a gymnasium?"

At his nod, she started towards the door to the mall, half a step in front of him, pausing only to tap her heel against the floor ,pushing it on more firmly. "I don't mind a walk. A little exercise won't kill me, even if it isn't in an air conditioned environment." they were outside the mall, and she paused so that she could walk beside him.

She licked her lips, thoughtful. "They have food carts with french cuisine?" her voice was almost a wibble. And then she laughed. "Mr. Xanis, I have the unfortunate tendency to be a food addict. I'll try anything once." her skin flushed a little pink. "I'll admit a certain weakness for Italian, however. Maybe we can save the oriental for another time?"

It was her shy way of saying that maybe she didn't mind his rambling.

"Why don't you know if the pastry cart will be there?" she frowned, delicately.

"Track." she sounded interested. Who knew, maybe she'd rope into jogging with her sometime. She knew how hard it was supposed to be to get off the Hillworth campus (almost as tough as Crystal!) and yet students were always out and about. "I do most my jogging outside of the track. I go to a gym a few minutes away from the school almost every night for an hour or two. And... I can't say I like any guys who like Spandex, you're right." Jada's eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled at her companion.

It was something else he said though that made her pause, giving him a wistful look. "You cook? Real food, not restaurant food?" Not restaurant food equaled 'like the stuff Cook used to make?' "If that's true, you'll have to cook for me sometime." she flushed. Keep talking about food, Mr. Xanis, you'd have a fan. It was an almost masculine trait that went straight to her hips- Jada loved food. "I can't believe they would have so many carts for different types of ethnic food." she shook her head, then glanced up at him. "If the pastry cart is there, we'll definitely be stopping by."

Her head tilted at him again, something else registering. "Now, you said I'm looking at all natural Italian. You don't look much like lasagna, so I'm going to assume your family is from that area?" she bit her lip at her little joke, giving him a wry, embarrassed smile. Money didn't save you from a strange sense of humor.

"I think I'd heard some rumors about Killingworth. The Beast of Hillworth, recently tamed by his Beauty if the wedding announcements were any indication?" Jada reached out boldly, lacing her arm through Marlo's without asking. She'd done a little more touching than this the last time they met and he hadn't seemed to mind that; hopefully the more innocent touches this time wouldn't put him off. "You do need to know that the fact you can cook now makes you one of my new best friends." she gave him a bright smile. "My friend Fallon cooks, but I haven't had the time to ask her to try and teach me to do anything." Forget the fact that during those times she could have asked Fallon, she was too busy stuffing her face and worshiping Fallon. Even more, forget the fact that she could burn water if given the chance. But she could find the most adorable kitchen accessories.

"Oh, this is wonderful!" the black-haired young woman looked quite delighted to see the pastry cart. WAS quite delighted to see it. "So do you speak any Italian?" she tugged the young man gently (rather tugboating him, still, she really needed to stop doing that) over towards the cart, peering into the glass and admiring the various treats. She let the bags she was carrying drop to the pavement while she pondered over the small cakes and sweet treats. "Isn't this cupcake adorable?" There was a snowflake-shaped decoration on the top. She pointed out a few other little treats that looked delicious. "Is there anything in particular that you would recommend from them?" she didn't look back at Marlo when she asked the question, bent over to peer into the cart's glassy sides.

She supposed it could have been due to responsibility, but unless Jada loved a man, she couldn't- she wouldn't!- see herself leaving her home nation. "May I assume that even though you were born overseas, your mother obtained you American citizenship? Your mother must have loved your father very much to move to Italy to be with him." her voice was thoughtful, and she turned to look back at Marlo, violet eyes inquisitive. She couldn't imagine his parents being any other way than what she assumed. "Forgive me if I'm being too nosy."