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When Bell had flipped her calendar over to October, she was reminded of something very important - an old friend from Crystal Academy. The girl was a few grade below the now graduated Bell, but they had been good friends just the same. The girl had always been there to see Bell perform, and was disappointed when Bell stopped acting. Sadly, the reason for that was something she couldn't share with just anyone.
The two of them were as different as could be - where as Bell was somewhat technologically challenged, her friend was an avid gamer, and a tomboy of sorts. She would have given anything to have gone to Meadowview, where such would have been viewed as normal, but like bell she came from a rich family who wanted their daughter out of their hair. The girl stood out amongst the other Crystal girls, and she was met with much scrutiny. Bell, soft hearted as she was, wouldn't stand for such as thus, had made it her personal mission to befriend this girl.

That was some years ago. A distance had formed between the two since then, but just weeks before her friend called to ask Bell to her birthday party. Bell was glad that she hadn't completely been forgotten, or that there were any hard feelings, and vowed that she'd be there. They'd event spent a day catching up with one another. Bell had taken notes of the things in her friend's room to get an idea of what to get her. Now the day was drawing nearer. Bell still didn't have a gift for her friend.

She did have some idea though, and that was videogames.

Bell exited her new apartment on that blustery October day with a mission in mind. Bell was somewhat fond of this weather when she could wear her fuzzy boots and a long knitted scarf. It wasn't cold enough to need a heavy jacket, but a light sweater, leggings, and a skirt completed her outfit for that day. Additionally, tucked neatly in her purse was her henshin pen and senshi phone. You never knew when a monster would jump out at you now-a-days.

--

Bell entered the Gamestop and was immediately wide-eyed and lost. A few steps in found her walking in small circles taking in the walls full of games and posters of up-coming games and gaming sys- wait, there's more than one kind of gaming system? Well, it was no surprise she was behind - she'd gotten her first computer half a year ago, if that explained anything.
Biting her lip, Bell thought she might could remember what her friend's system looked like. Ummm....she remembered the colors black and green. Ugh....help?

Bell jumped a bit and turned to face Xavier with a sheepish smile, "Oh, ah, yes. I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with games, but I have a friend who's birthday is coming up, and she loves them."

The dilemma was obvious. If this had been music, it would have been another matter entirely - Bell listened to just about anything, unless if was country or rap. Here, however, she was totally out of her element. It was rather embarrassing being a part of the technologically savvy generation, and not having a clue about any of the things her peers were in to.

"Thank you," Bell was grateful. The task have probably taken well over an hour if she were left on her own. At the explanation of the different games for different systems, Bell decided that made since. What didn't was why there were all these different game systems. Guh, it probably had something to do with business and some crud like that... "Ummm,..the console was dark," Bell began explaining, "and, oh!" Bell 'hopped' over to where there was a rack of xbox controllers, "The controllers looked like these!"

The discovery, so simple though it was, made Bell's face light up. It was easily the simple things that made Bell happy.

Bell hadn't exactly gotten a good look at her friend's game collection, but if there was one thing Bell did know, it was that her friend was a real history buff. She took every opportunity to explain important historical facts, and had actually helped Bell pass US History. In return though Bell had to help her with her petition to get an ROTC program going. Sadly they had failed, but hey, that was Crystal Academy for you!

"Well, she is a real history and military buff," Bell supplied. Looking at the covers of the games displayed, Bell felt there would be no shortage of games to chose from, but which were the best? Bell bit her lip and held her hand delicately to her temple as she read title after title. She was no good at this. She couldn't have told you the difference between the Navy and the Marines, much less....any of this stuff.

Indeed, Bell was more likely to be nice to the hard working people you actually saw at the store than people of more corporate prestige, like her father. They had to work for their lot in life. Her father had inherited the business and grown up in money - the most work he ever had to do was sign his name on some papers! (or so Bell assumed..) Maybe it was just her petty dislike of her never-there father, but for every dark there was a light.

After xavier explained the gist of the game, immediately the mental image of her friend laughing maniacally with flames and wreaked buildings in the background and a controller in her hand came to mind. Eheheheheh, "Yep," smile, "Sounds just like her!"

Bell was glad to have come across such a helpful person. She had been a little unsure on her way here about whether or not she'd have to come up with a plan b for her friend's birthday gift. This, however, was a pleasant surprise.

Bell thought for a moment, casting a quick glance around. Behind her was a rack of cards. Bell had never seen the sense in spending money on a birthday card, but these weren't those kind of cards. Some advertised 'credits' for online games, and that sort of stuff, then there was a few that looked like they were for the same system that her friend owned.
"What are these for?" She asked, sliding one off its little metal hook.

It read 'XBox Live' and something about Microsoft points. It definitely wasn't what one thought of when giving a birthday card, but if it was more useful than one, then all the better.

That was all Bell needed to know. Hopefully this way even if her friend already had the game, she wasn't left totally bummed. (Sometimes the little phrase "it's the thought that counts" goes forgotten.) With this information Bell smiled and gave a nod, "Alright then. This and the game should do it then!"

Ah, the wonders of used. Bell had recently discovered the wonders of Goodwill, and had been an avid fan ever since. It certainly beat wearing some of the more outrageous things in stores. The fashion world didn't seem keen on conservative and practical.
Rich she was - prejudice she wasn't.

"Thank you," Bell said as she rummaged through her purse to grab her wallet, which had somehow nestled itself under her black and gold henshin pen. Wallet procured, she proceeded to pay via debit.
"You've been a wonderful help. I'm not sure how I'd have managed by myself - L lean more towards the world of music and theatre myself... Err, granted I still use a walkman rather than this newfangled gadgetry but-" She trailed off in a bit of a chuckle.