Another shopping trip!!

[junkuroki]

this happens after the ball and before the sequel...(happens the day after Stella and Rayden's first date ^.^).



From: [e-mail]
To: "Stella" <[e-mail]>, "Gemma" <ridean1047@tgarden>, "Blaze" <[e-mail]>, "Stardust" <[e-mail]>, "Polaris" <[e-mail]>, "Vanesse" <[e-mail]>, "Jaime" <[e-mail]>

cc: "Reese" <[e-mail]>, "Zacke <[e-mail], "Jax" <[e-mail]>, "Hadrian" <[e-mail]>, "Lawric" <[e-mail]>, "Deo" <[e-mail]>, "Rayden" <[e-mail]>


Hey girls!

"Mommy" Xu gave me a letter from the Merchant's Association of Balamb Town. They've presented us with 50% discount card applicable to all the shops in Balamb, to thank us for getting rid of Adel's tyranny...those were the exact words. But it's only limited to one day. So now I'm proposing a shopping trip tomorrow for all of us, and we can get what we need all at one go to save all that money. And it's about time we girls go shopping together!

And guys, if you are willing to play caddy, you're welcome to tag along too ^.^ The discount applies to everything there including equipment upgrades.

So interested people please reply asap (prefably 7.00pm today). We will meet at the lobby at 1.30pm, so make sure you have lunch before you go. I know...naggy...I'll sign off now.


Lotsa love,

Jun

-------------

Jun clicked the send button, hoping that at least a few would turn up. It wasn't just the cost savings thing, she thought it would be a good way for team bonding. She liked team bonding, it made her feel warm inside.

The next day, Jun was the first to arrive at the lobby. She looked at her watch. 1.20pm She was ten minutes early, as usual. Sweeping her gaze around, she couldn't see any familiar face. She sat on one of the benches waiting for someone to turn up.


---

(her shopping outfit ^.^ We're going mad with outfits in this section. i58.photobucket.com/albums/g272/waterlily43/shoppingoutfit.jpg

...except for the boots...which would be beige coloured instead of all those flowery stuff.)

[stardust]

Stardust Infinity plopped beside Jun and sat still. She was freshly showered, wearing her usual tank top and black pants.

"D-don't misunderstand," she said indignantly, furrowing her eyebrows. She locked her eyes at the SeeDs passing in front. "I just want a new pair of dumb bells." She crossed her arms.

"You didn't have to inform all those people though."

[Stella]

Stella paused just outside the lobby spotting only Stardust and Jun there. If everyone else bailed and it was only the three of them then this was going to be one hell of an interesting day. Taking a deep breath she put on a smile and walked up to them.

"Hey Jun, Stardust" Stella said as she sat down in one of the chairs across from the two girls.

"Thanks for inviting me Jun." She looked over at the entrance to the lobby wondering if anyone else was going to show up.

[waterlily43]

Jun was delighted that Stardust had turned up. She was actually a little apprehensive that the pinkhaired girl would decline, since Stardust didn't usually mingle a lot with others.

"Oh but it'd be rude to exclude anyone, Stardust. They all deserve to have the same perk."And what's there to misunderstand? There's nothing wrong with going shopping together." She gave her a warm smile, hoping that it would put Stardust at ease.

Stella appeared and sat across after greeting both of them. Jun was pleased that she'd get to know this new teammate better. With the flurry of events that had escalated since her introduction into the team, she hadn't exchanged many words with her, which was a little weird considering they'd gone through the Adel slaying and a ball in between.

"Oh don't mention it." Jun flashed the same warm smile at her. "So is Rayden coming along?" She grinned slightly showing a hint of her nosiness. "I noticed you guys seemed to have hooked up."

[Stella]

"Um yeah, he'll be here. I told him he could leave if it ended up just being the girl's but he wouldn't listen" Stella responded to Jun's questioning with a blush. She had figured someone would bring him up today but not so soon.

"I guess you could say we hooked up... he's my boyfriend now" she said a bit shyly looking anywhere but at Jun. Might as well get the truth out now, no reason beating about the bush.

[junkuroki]

"Ohhhh?" Jun lengthened the end of the word, a quirky grin widening her mouth. Stella was behaving shyly and Jun found it cute...which wasn't something she'd have associated with her before this. "That's nice. It's about time somebody hooked up in our team." She said, giving a little nudge at Stardust's arm and gazing innocently elsewhere.

"He must be eager to impress you if he insists on tagging along." Jun nodded approvingly.

[Stella]

Jun's reaction only caused her to blush more. It was something that she was getting used to these days. That constant flush creeping up and taking over her cheeks. It was all Rayden's fault.

"Yeah, I guess so" Stella said with a little shrug biting her lower lip. He definitely wanted to impress her that had shown on their last date but she didn't want anyone else to know that. She had noticed the slight nudge Jun gave Stardust but decided it was best to ignore it in this situation.

[raydensharpola]

Rayden dashed towards the lobby, fearing that he would be late, but when he reached, he caught sight of only Jun, Stardust and his Stella.

With a grin he walked up to Stella, snaking an arm around her waist and peered at her face. She was blushing deeply, and immediately it piqued his curiosity.

"Woah, what happened?" He asked grinning between Stella Jun and Stardust. "Were you girls talking about something with age-restrictions? How do you explain this?" He gestured at Stella's cheek, almost wanting to plant a kiss on her. It was just too cute for words.

[Zacke]

Hands shoved in pockets and friendly smile ready, Zacke paced over the marble tile path surrounding the new elevator, following it into the lobby area of Balamb Garden.

/Like, totally shopping with the girls, hmm?/ Iris' dry monotone filled his mind.

Who says I'll be the only guy that shows up?

Iris snorted.

"Yo," he rounded the corner, meeting with the group. Stella, Rayden, Jun, and... No way. Stardust. He grinned broadly at her for a moment and fiercely resisted the urge to say something obnoxious. For once, his mature side won over, and he glanced at Rayden, who was standing curiously close to Stella.

See! Not the only guy.

/His girlfriend dragged him. You, on the other hand, chose this fate./

Bah. Of course there is an exception. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, brushing Iris out of his thoughts and looking to Jun. "So Ms. Bargain Hunter, how will we be getting there? Train?"

[junkuroki]

"Zacke." Jun greeted him with a grin. "I see you're not the only guy volunteering your bicep strength." She rolled her eyes at the lame joke...no it wasn't even a joke. But it was lame.

"So Ms. Bargain Hunter, how will we be getting there? Train?" Zacke asked looking over at her.

"Well we have two choices. We could go by foot, I have the enc-none bracelet on, or by train." She smirked. "Since not many of us can drive on an acceptable level I don't think I wanna risk renting cars." She looked away, the little smirk quirking the ends of her mouth.

[Stella]

Her rescue from futher embarrassment came in the form of Zacke. Thank Hyne. She had all ready been blushy enough and Rayden had only made it worse. This was going to be one long shopping trip.

She leaned a little agaisnt Rayden giving him a small smile as she looked at the others more then happy to let them decide how they were getting where they were going.

[Jax Ridean]

If he could recall correctly, the last time someone held his hand and dragged him to go somewhere, he was ten years old. And that was because his mother insisted on taking him to buy thermal underwear for the summer season.

"Ow! Lemme go!" he yelled as loud as he could. Maybe if he attracted too much attention, his sister would get embarrassed enough to release his arm from her death-lock grip. Not that having your sister tow you through the main hallway in front everyone wasn't humiliating enough. He could feel the burning stares and hear the snide comments as they passed by.
"Awww look at the liddle baby!"

"I'll hold your hand if you're afraid!"

"Hey Jax! I didnt know yor sister was yor mama now!"

"Gemma, gimme your digits!"

At that last comment, Jax tried to give the guy one of his most fiercesome glares. Unfortunately, that look was lost on most people who only saw a guy being hauled away by a 5ft girl.

"Hey Norg, where the hell are we going?" he whispered harshly at his sister. She didn't even bother to face him, she was that determined to get him out of there.

---

"I told you a thousand times already Jax."

"Yeah well tell me again."

She let a loud sigh.

"Didn't you read Jun's email?"

He scoffed, "No. I never check my email. I happen to have better things to do then to correspond with stuped Nerd Clubs."

Not rising to the bait, she exhaled and curtly replied, "Well then, if you HAD read it. You would know that we are going shopping."

The response was instantaneous.

Gemma thought her arm was going to be yanked off with all that twisting and squirming going on back there.

"WHAATT?!!! FUCK THAT!!!! FUCK NO!!! LEMMO GO! FUCKIN' HELL!! ARGH-- WHEN DID YOU BECOME SO FUCKIN STRONG?? FUCK!!!!"

"Language darling." she tugged on his hand sharply, in order to indicate to him that he wasn't going anywhere "Besides, you need to buy some new jeans. You're old ones are completely ripped at the knees."

"ITS-MMMMARGH! --MORE FASHIONABLE THAT WAY!"

"Yeah well the rest of your clothes seem to have this permanent moldy stain on them."

"YOU'RE A MOLDY STAIN."

"Incredible Jax." she retorted dryly. "You're wit never fails to astound me."

Judging from the subsiding soreness in her arm, she seemed to be getting less resistance.

"....Where are we meeting them..?"

Ahh! It admits defeat.

"Well little brother, " she said, smiling with satisfaction, "Jun said that we're all meeting up outside the main lobby. Here we are!"

Sitting together on the bench was Jun, Stella, Rayden, Stardust, and...Zacke! Waving at them, Gemma quickly released Jax's hand and skipped towards them.

"Hey guys," she grinned trying to catch her breath. "Sorry we're late. We had some...complications."

---

That's right we had complications..

Jax rubbed his arm. There was a permanent red welt in the shape of a hand on his forearm. He groaned inwardly. What was up with his sister and bonding? She tried so hard to be friends with everyone it was almost pathetic.

Trying to see everyone's faces, he noticed that there were still many people missing. "Hey...who else are we waiting for?"