Pants. Pants were something that Melody Klein knew of but didn't own any of. Skirts and dresses were always her preferred choice of clothing and if her legs got cold that was when she pulled out stockings. A simple enough solution to keeping her from getting cold.

However this winter's cold seemed to bitter and harsh, just as the world seemed bitter and harsh since the fall of Barren Pines. Stockings just wouldn't do this time around. And so the Vietnamese girl had to bite the bullet and buy herself some Selene-forsaken jeans. She wasn't thrilled and like heck she was going alone.

But she didn't have any one to really drag along, as getting in touch with Ignacio had become spotty since giving him her Christmas gift and she didn't have a way to reach Azzo. She didn't think she had Yvette's number either, so going with the shy girl from Barren Pines was out of the question. Her mother was a no, even if the woman didn't have work, and her father had another deadline to meet. Which left only one option, one person who she could call and goad into shopping with her.

And shopping was a task they both hated.

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Dark chocolate colored eyes glared as his blonde cousin came into view, the much taller boy not amused she had begged him to do such a task. "You owe me gas money," he gruffed out in such an annoyed tone it took quite a bit for Melody to not flinch. "And lunch."

"Nice to see you again too, Loki. So glad to see you've reverted back to grumpy and miserable now that Christmas is out of the way." Okay so things weren't looking all that spectacular at the moment... Maybe he'd cheer up with lunch?

"You're lucky I love you, biǎo mèi."

And with that her cousin Monroe headed off further into the mall to begin their search for pants. It was going to be a difficult search but with two people it would be easier then just Melody herself. Or, at least that's what she kept telling herself as she moved to chase after the taller Chinese boy with a resigned sigh. She was glad when she saw him disappear into a store and followed behind, curious if they would find something first off and be able to go home early.

"What kind of pants are you looking for?" he asked when she stopped at his side, an eyebrow raised.

"What do you mean what kind?" Oh she was way too new at shopping for pants for this sort of thing. She flushed in embarrassment when he sighed.

"Fine, we'll do it this way. Fabric first. Heavy or light?"

"Heavy?" she replied nervously, looking around at all the clothes around her. Some how she doubted they'd find something for her here. "I think they'll be winter clothes only."

Monroe nodded, running a hand through the top of his hair. "Not surprising, given it's you. Hmm.. Jeans would probably be best. Not too heavy but still light enough you could wear stockings with them for extra warmth." A thoughtful look and the Chinese boy pursed his lips at the same time. That was the difference between his "thinking face" and his "trickery face". He was nicknamed Loki for a reason.

"Hmm, I think style will be the hardest part. Flare might be too baggy, perhaps boot cut? We should also try some other styles, just to see."

And off he went, leaving Melody to stare at where he had been in shock. When had her trickster become a fashionable person? From what she remembered Monroe was a laid back kind of guy who wore what ever he wanted unless forced to a formal event. Who was this guy and what had he done with her trickster?

"Biǎo mèi, come on!" he called, pulling her from her thoughts. Immediately she chased after him, weaving around racks to reach him.

"Wèi lái, biǎo mèi!"


An hour and three stores later found the two finally collapsing at the food court in search of food. Between them both were only a couple of bags, two for her from two different stores and three for him from three different ones. The first store had been a bust in finding Melody jeans though by the time they left they had an idea of what styles would work for her preference so the stores after had been easy enough.

After shopping for her had been finished, and not a moment too soon Monroe had complained, they had gone to find stuff for him in payment for taking her shopping. If he had to sit through her shopping she had to sit through his. Of course most of what he bought had been horror video games and movies, including the newest in the Silent Hill series. He had also grabbed some new books for his next semester and some more clothes to replace heavily damaged or thread-bare ones.

And so it was lunch time but both felt too tired to move. Well, until the sweet scent of Teriyaki Chicken reached their noses and stomachs growled. There was a look between them a moment then the blonde stood.

"Same as me, yes?"

Monroe nodded and smiled, ushering her off with the promise if she bought lunch he'd go ahead and wave the gas money since she'd been a good sport about his horror binge. Really, it was incredible the girl wasn't squeamish at this point! There was a smile and a kiss to his cheek before she scampered off and he watched her from a distance, ever the protecting cousin though it was a side she never knew.

When he was sure she'd be okay for a few minutes out of his immediate gaze, the elder boy reached in to one of his bags and pulled out a smaller one with a smile. Hopefully, he mused as he slid the small bag into one of Melody's, she wouldn't notice it until she was home. Sitting up once it was hidden, he was lucky he hadn't taken longer because moments later his baby cousin was on her way back with their food.

The tray was set down and he grabbed for his plate, taking his chopsticks immediately after and breaking them apart so he could use them. Had they been at home something would have been said in thanks for the food, but with it just the two of them neither cared and immediately dug into their food as if neither had seen a scrap of food in months. Of course out of the two of them only Melody ate as if she had manners, but then again she was always like that.

"So I figured I'd stop being an intrusion on your day now that we've both done a bit of shopping," he began as he neared the end of his meal. "Let you go home and get to work finishing what you need to, to get back into school."

She blinked at him, head tilted. "You're being nicer then usual. What gives?"

"What, I can't be nice?"

"As the god of pranks, never." Though she was grinning.

A snort and a roll of his eyes. "Well then, no smoothie for you." It was hard not to grin when she wailed in despair. Ah, how he loved to make her miserable and then cheer her up. Contradictory, yes, but as was their relationship. "But no, really. We all know I'm not really the god of pranks. I didn't even know you knew of him when you gave me that silly nickname."

"Yet only now are you complaining?"

She got no reply as he stood to throw his garbage away, pausing only to wait for her to finish the last bite so he could take hers as well. Gathering their bags she followed behind him, not surprised when he made his way to the smoothie bar to get them each one. Green tea mango for him, strawberry for her.

"Anyway, so I was thinking of going to the gardens in a week or so. The cherry blossoms should be blooming then. Want to go?"

"I don't know. You paying?" A cheeky grin.

"Maybe, maybe not. Only one way to find out." His grin was teasing.

"I think that's a stupid question."

"Of course you do." They had reached the outside of the mall now, the cold winter's breeze blowing past them and making the smaller of the two shiver. The taller one grinned and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "I'll pick you up a week from tomorrow, bright and early in the morning so we can make a day of it."

The bus was coming, a few feet away from the stop in which they were standing at. A light pink colored Melody's tan cheeks and she nodded. "All right. I'll let mom know. I can't remember when she's wanting to move me into the dorms, but I think it's around then."

He nodded, kissed the top her of her and moved for the crosswalk. "Get home safely, wǒ de yīng huā." And then he was heading for his car before she could reply and the bus pulled up in front of her. Melody let out a sigh and climbed on board, paying the faire before finding a seat.

It was weird to think he had actually invited her to do something, Monroe had never really been too friendly a sort preferring to just stay home. It was nice and she actually found herself excited to be going. It didn't help that he had mentioned cherry blossoms, a flower that held wonderful memories of their deceased grandmother.

As the bus pulled out to head on it's way, the blonde teenager bounced a bit happily in her seat as she drank happily at the smoothie. Maybe things were looking up for the bond with her cousin after all!