~Written by the talented Kira.~
*Typed by the frustrated Celeste*
(So now you know who to blame for the type-os and who to celebrate for the cool story.)
Lita: There's so much stuff to buy...
Rei: And so many cute guys to check out?
Lita: I was coming to that.
Rei: I need some new skirts.
Amy: I'm looking for a copy of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Kamarazov for my Russian Literature class.
Serena: Russian Lit?
Lita: Um...I'm just here for the cuties.
Mina: I'd take a cute guy over Russian Lit. any day.
Serena: Shall we go? *holding out an arm*
Mina: Of course. *takes Serena's arm*
*they enter the mall through Sears (okay, forget for a moment that we're in Japan)*
All: Mall trawling!
Mina: Hey, look at that! *she darts off to a far off rack*
Serena: Ooooh! Bunnies! *runs off to a display of stuffed animals*
Lita: Check him out! He looks just like my old boyfriend! *sneaks off to find a better guy-viewing vantage point*
Amy: Um...guys? *stands in the middle of of the aisle*
Mina: *bursting out form behind a nearby rack* Amy! Come here! You'd look great in this! *holding up a baby blue mini skirt*
Amy: I don't know...
Mina: Aw, c'mon! *drags her off towards the fitting rooms*
Serena: I found the cutest bunnies! *bursts into the aisle grasping an arm-load of stuffed rabbits* ...Guys? Where'd you go? ....Oooh! Pink! *shoves the rabbits onto a nearby table and darts for a rack of pink sweaters*
Lita: Drats. Lost him. Hey! I like! *rushes towards a certain dark greeen v-neck 3/4 sleeve shirt*
Serena: Lita, look! It's cute! *beaming, holding up the sweater to herself*
Lita: How 'bout this? *holding up her find*
Serena: Let's go try 'em on!
*they make their way to the fitting rooms, gathering extra garments on the way*
Rei: ...and this, and this, and this, and...oh!....no. *checking out every rack and finding a potential keeper at almost every one* Now I need shoes! *heads to the fitting room*
*FITTING ROOM*
Amy: I don't know, Mina...
Mina: At least let me see! * Amy enters the hallway with the mini skirt on* Oh! It's cute!
Serena: Very! *enters booth*
Lita: And so you! *enters another booth*
Amy: Really?
Rei: Yes! *enters third booth*
Amy: Fine, I'll get it. *enters her booth*
Mina: Yay! *Phallin sneaks out of clothing booth unoticed*
Phallin: What? Nothing for yourself?
Mina: Yipe! *turns around* Don't scare me like that!
Phallin: Heh heh. Sorry.
Mina: I'm sure you are... *rolls her eyes* Hey! You're in Sears with me! Men's department, here we come! *takes his hand and drags him off*
Phallin: What?!
*okay, in best interest of the reader, we'll just skip ahead to when they leave the store*
--2 HOURS LATER--
Mina: Definitely a fruitful trip.
Serena: Yeah, but now I've spent all my allowance!
Rei: Well geez, Serena! If you hadn't bought all of those stuffed bunnies, you wouldn't have this problem!
Serena: I know, Rei, but they were so CUTE!
Amy: I'm still not sure about that skirt, Mina. But I kept the receipt, so just in case--
Lita: Aw c'mon, Ames. You can't return it! Not until you've worn it.
Amy: But then it's non-returnable. It says right here on the receipt.
Lita: Well, then you can't return it then, can you?
Serena: Hey, can we make tracks for the food court? I could really go for a burger and shake!
Rei: But I thought you spent your allowance.
Serena: You mean you won't treat me?
Rei: Serena....
Mina: Phallin!
*Phallin, who is, of course, still following Mina, is now dressed in a nice black button-down and gray slacks. Very stylish. Mina's choice, of course. He also isn't looking too comfortable with these new clothes, of
course.*
Phallin: Yes?
Mina: My bags are really heavy. Could ya carry them for me?
Phallin: Um...okay. *takes Mina's bags*
Lita: Mine too?
Rei: And mine?
Serena: And mine?
Amy: Mine, as well, please?
Phallin: Um...
*the girls hand Phallin their bags all at once. Now he looks even more uncomfortable*
Girls: *with great, big, sunny smiles* Thank you!
Serena: Now on to the food court!
Girls: Right!
Phallin: Um...okay.
*they all walk off in the direction of food, leaving Phalllin to find a balance for the bags. He finally situates himself and trudges after them*
-THE FOOD COURT-
Serena: There're so many choices! Where do I eat?
Amy: I'm heading to Au Bon Pain for a sandwich!
Serena: That sounds yummy....
Rei: Where's the oriental place?
Serena: Ooooh, that would be yummy, too...
Mina: Taco Bell! C'mon Phallin!
Phallin: Actually--
Serena: Tacos? Yum.
Phallin: I have to...make...a...phone call. *he dashes off, with the bags, in the direction of a pay phone*
Mina: Okay...
Lita: I'm going for a burger and shake. Hmmmm...Burger King, I think.
Serena: A BURGER? Yeah! I'm going with you!
Rei: I'll head off, then. Meet you back here to find a table?
Girls: Okay!
*they split up, making beelines to their respective fast food vendors. Meanwhile, Phallin has found a phone, in
view of the food court*
Phallin: *into the phone* Chad, man, you've GOT to help me!
Chad: What's up, dude?
Phallin: Well, you see, I'm at the mall--
Chad: Why are you at the mall?
Phallin: Um, I took a walk.
Chad: To the mall?
Phallin: And I was in Sears--
Chad: Dude, why were you in SEARS?
Phallin: Uh...it's my Mom's birthday, man.
Chad: I thought your Mom's birthday was two months ago.
Phallin: I'm, uh, shopping way early for next year. Anyway, Mina and her friends were there, and now I'm stuck with carrying their stuff!
Chad: Geez, man--
*Phallin, at this moment, sees the girls sitting down to lunch with none other than our fave makeup gurus...
Catzi, Bertie, Avery, and Prizma! Yay!*
Phallin: Total meltdown! They've found friends! You've gotta get here fast, man! I can't carry any more!
Chad: Woah, dude! You sound really desperate! I'll get over there, pronto!
Phallin: Thanks, Chad! We're in the food court.
Chad: Anything for a buddy, Phallin! *click*
*Phallin hangs up, and picks up the bags one by one. He manages to get them balanced again and makes his way
cautiously over to the table*
Phallin: Uh, hi?
Mina: *looking up* Phallin! Catzi, Bertie, Avery, Prizma, this is Phallin.
Four Sisters: *knowingly, as if they've been told about him already* *which, actually, they have* Ohhhhhhhhh....
Catzi: *to Phallin* Hi. Grab a seat. *to Mina* I see what you mean.
Phallin: *dropping bags (gently)* Um, I'm gonna get a taco. *glances around nervously at the girls one more time, and then dashes off in the direction of Taco Bell*
Prizma: Well!
*the girls look at each other, and then burst out laughing*
Bertie: He is kinda cute.
Mina: I guess, but he follows me EVERYWHERE!
Lita: Totally! I mean, once, we were at the temple, and he was up on the roof, watching us!
Rei: He's even shown up in trees.
Amy: I wonder sometimes about him. He has a perfectly normal family. I've met them.
Serena: *between mouthfuls of cheeseburger* Really? Where?
Amy: Well, his dad's a doctor. He works with my mom sometimes. And they were all at the hospital Christmas party.
Avery: Who's "they?"
Amy: Doctor Hayes and his wife, and Phallin's grandmother. Phallin wasn't there, however.
Mina: Course not. He was following me.
*they all laugh*
Lita: I don't think he lives at home anymore, though.
Serena: What? Why not?
Mina: You're kidding.
Lita: Nope. Remember when I came over last week?
Mina: Oh yeah. To bring me cookies.
Serena: Hey. How come I didn't get any cookies?
Lita: I just treated you to lunch.
Serena: Oh. Right.
Lita: But I'll make you some anyway.
Serena: Thanks, Lita. You're the greatest!
Mina: Let's get back on topic, guys! So why don't you think he lives at home anymore?
Lita: Well, as I was saying, when I was heading up to your apartment, I saw him moving some stuff into the door at the end of the hall.
Mina: Wait, you mean he's in my building, ON MY FLOOR?!?!
Lita: Yep. Looked like a pretty small apartment.
Mina: I can't believe it! He's practically right next door to me!
Catzi: Sounds like you have a stalker.
*at this point, Phallin returns to the table with a Taco Bell bag*
Phalllin: Excuse me, may I squeeze a chair in here? *motioning to a space between Bertie and Mina*
Bertie: Sure! Go ahead! *winking at Mina*
Phallin: Thank you, ladies. *drags a chair over from another table and sits down*
Avery: But at least a cute, well-mannered, harmless stalker.
Mina: *shrugs* True.
*all the girls laugh*
Phallin: What?
Bertie: Nothing.
*all sit quietly for a moment, eating*
Mina: *slamming hand down on table, and whipping around to face Phallin* Do you really live right down the hall from me?
Phallin: Actually, yes.
Mina: Why?
Phallin: My parents decided it was time for me to learn independence, so they got me a small apartment.
Mina: At the end of the hall.
Phallin: At the end of a hall.
Mina: At the end of my hall.
Phallin: It's a very nice building, and that unit happened to be within my budget. I wasn't intentionally moving in right down the hall from you.
Mina: *skeptical* Really?
Phallin: Um...ahem...well...
Mina: I thought not.
Serena: Look at it this way Mina: If you're ever in trouble, yell, and he can rush to your side like a knight in shining armour rescuing his lady. *sigh* How romantic.
*Mina still looks quite peeved at the fact that her living shadow currently abodes next door* *Mina obviously doesn't consider Serena's example very romantic*
Lita: Aw, c'mon Mina. Ya gotta admit. It is pretty romantic.
Mina: Hmph. *folding her arms and looking sidelong at Phallin, who is pretending not to notice and is eating his lunch*
Serena: Well, I'm done. Everyone ready for some more shopping?
Rei: Serena, you spent all your allowance, remember?
Serena: Right... window shopping then.
Catzi: Sure. *dumps the remnants of her lunch in a nearby trash recepticle* * the rest follow her example*
Serena: Shall we then?
Phallin: Wait! *stalling for time* Do you all want... *mentally checks the amount of money left in his wallet* *Ah, good. He hasn't spent it all on high-tech surveillance equipment yet* ...some ice cream?
Bertie: *Wrapping her arm around Phallin's* You're treat, handsome?
Phallin: *blushing* Yes.
Bertie: Let's go then.
Avery: I'll stay behind and keep an eye on our bags.
Prizma: And your figure?
Avery: *sticks her tongue out at Prizma* I just don't feel like ice cream today.
Catzi: That's good. You don't look like ice cream either.
*the sisters grin at each other*
Betrie: Suit yourself, then. C'mon guys! And Amy--
Amy: Yes?
Bertie: I promise I haven't had anything to do with the Dairy Queen in the food court.
Amy: Thank you. That's very reassuring.
*they all laugh*
*All leave and soon return with ice cream cones... except for Serena, who has ordered a double-chocolate-marshmellow-strawberry-mint sundae.* *Yum.*
Phallin: *pulls out a chair* Mina?
Mina: *looks at him and takes the chair* Thank you.
Lita: Thanks for the ice cream, Phallin!
*a chorus of thank-you's from all around the table follows*
Serena: Mmm. 'Ank oo ve'y mu'.
Phallin: Excuse me?
Serena: *swallowing* Thank you very much.
Phallin: Oh. No problem.
*they finish their ice cream, and get up again*
Rei: How about that window shopping then?
Serena, Lita, Amy, Mina, Catzi, Avery, Bertie, and Prizma: Okay!
*Phallin starts looking frantically around for Chad, having correctly anticipated more bags to carry.*
Mina: Oh, Phallin?
Phallin: Ye - es?
Mina: Would you carry my bags for me again?
Phallin: Um...okay... *takes her bags*
Serena: And mine?
Phallin: Okay... *takes bags*
Lita: And mine?
Phallin: Right... *takes bags*
Amy: And mine?
Phallin: Sure... *takes bags*
Rei: Mine, too?
Phallin: Um--
Chad: *who has finally shown up* Allow me, Rei. *takes her bags*
Rei: Chad! What are you doing here?
Chad: Well, I figured if Phallin was gonna be carrying bags, I could too. It's my day off.
Amy: How did you know...? Oh... The phone call.
Rei: Alright, Chad. Thank you.
Bertie: What gentlemen! Would you carry mine too?
Prizma: And mine?
Avery: And mine?
Catzi: And mine?
Chad: *taking their bags* Sure... Hey! You're that crazy lady from the karate class!
Catzi: Well...
Chad: What're you doing here?
Rei: Cool it, Chad. It's okay.
Chad: What do you mean?
Rei: Take my word for it, Chad. She's a different person now.
Chad: If you say so...
Catzi: Does this mean you won't carry my bags?
Chad: Nah... I'll take those too.
Catzi: Thank you.
Chad: Yeah...
Rei: Chad? Trust me.
Chad: Alright, Rei.
Amy: Can we continue our trawling then? I still haven't found a copy of The Brothers Kamarazov.
*collective groans*
Lita: Amy, I still can't believe you're taking Russian Lit.
Amy: It's a very interesting subject.
Lita: I'm sure it is.
Serena: Personally, I like Home Ec best.
Lita: Me too. For the cooking.
Serena: For the food. I'm always hungry by thrid period.
Rei: You're always hungry. Period.
Serena: No I'm not.
Rei: Yes you are.
Serena: Why are you always picking on me, Rei?
Rei: I wouldn't if you weren't such a pig.
Serena: A pig?!
Rei: I've never seen anyone eat as much as you do!
Serena: Oooh, Rei!
Prizma: There they go again.
Avery: The tongue war.
Bertie: The inevitable argument.
Catzi: They fight like sisters.
Chad: They do this all the time at the temple.
Phallin: Yeah--
Chad: It's weird. Those four are always visiting the temple. Kira and Celeste, too. And sometimes that kid Michael, and Serena's boyfriend, Darien.
Phallin: *who of course knows why they're always at the temple* They probably have a good reason. Maybe they like the lovely view.
Chad: You mean the one from the roof?
