"So guys, want to go to the mall after school? I need some new shoes." Mina proposed.
"I'm in!" Rei said, as she punched some numbers into her calculator. Of course Rei was in. She was always in when it came to shopping. Mina shot Amy and Lita a 'You better say yes!' look.
"Sounds fun." "Yeah." Good girls.
"What about you Serena? We can get you some cute clothes." said Mina, putting on a sweet smile.
"I can't. I'm broke." Serena said, looking upset about missing the fun.
"No problem. I'll pay for it." Mina said.
"Really? You've already done so much."
Rei's head snapped up. "What do you mean she's 'done so much'."
Serena began to answer when Mina cut her off. "She means I gave her a dollar for lunch. It wasn't a big deal really."
"Hmm…" was Rei's only reply before she turned back to problem 23 out of 25.
"Um… okay. I guess I'm in…" Serena could tell she would need to keep her mouth shut.
Mina fumed. How could Serena allow herself to get so close to letting the cat out of the bag! Didn't she realize how crucial this was? The bell rang signaling the end of lunch. As each of the 5 girls headed to their next class, Mina grabbed Serena's arm. "What did you think you were doing back there?" she hissed making sure Rei was out of ear shot. "I thought I told you not to let Rei know!"
"I'm sorry, I forgot!"
"Well, remember next time! I can't let this go down the drain because you 'forgot'." she released Serena's arm so she could put air-quotes around the word forgot.
Serena could feel herself tearing up. She hated when people were mad at her. "I'm really sorry Mina! I'll be more careful next time."
The dragon inside Mina softened and she out her arm around Serena's neck. "It's okay. I know you're trying. Just… remember next time okay?"
Serena nodded and the guilt washed away. Mina wasn't angry, she was just worried. Serena still didn't know what was going on, but whatever it was meant a lot to Mina, and Serena would do her best to help her friend. That's what friends are for right?
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After school, the five girls piled into Mina's car. Rei, of course, was shotgun. She wouldn't let herself be caught dead sitting squeezed in the backseat, where Serena was fastening her lap belt between Lita and Amy.
"Hey!" called a voice from across the parking lot. All five girls turned in unison toward the shouter. Yura now stood, in all his floppy-brown-hair-hanging-in-his-gorgeous-blue-eyes glory next to Mina's sleek red corvette. "I can see you're on your way somewhere, Rei, but call me when you get back, alright? We have something important to talk about." Without another word, the Roman god made his way back to his beat up, old Jeep. It wasn't much of a car, but anyone from miles away could see it was well loved.
Lita raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"
Rei rolled her eyes, and snapped her seat belt into place. "Ugh, I don't know. He can be such a drama king sometimes. I'm sure it's nothing."
"Whatev." Mina said, backing out of her parking spot, careful not to brush against the SUV that was parked dangerously close to her right side. Anyone would have believed Rei's brush off of Yura's cryptic statement if she hadn't spent the ride to the mall silently biting her nails. Maybe the raven-haired beauty wasn't as confident as she appeared. Or maybe it was a ploy for sympathy from her followers. Only Rei herself knew for sure.
The Juuban mall was truly a site to be seen. The ceilings were sturdy, yet every few feet a skylight allowed shoppers to stop and admire the weather if they so chose. The center of the mall was a white marble fountain with a black marble basin which constantly let crystal clear water flow down it's three layers. Serena paused as she entered to stare up at the 30-foot-high ceiling.
"It's not going anywhere. You can admire it later." Serena found herself looking into Lita's bright green eyes. The brunette winked, to let Serena know that she was only joking. Serena smiled and followed Lita and the rest of the ground into the first store on the left. The walls of Gadzooks were lined with various print tops and pants, but the group only seemed interested in tops.
"Ooh!" Rei help up a red top featuring an abstract design of a fairy surrounded by white and red swirls. She turned and held it up to her torso in the mirror. The red color made her long black hair even more noticeable than it already was. "Cute! I'm getting it!" Rei walked up to the counter and slapped down a credit card, not bothering with any of the other shirts in the store.
Mina shifted through the racks, but all the shirts she liked only came in medium and large--far too big for the petite blonde. "Well, I'm ready to move on. What about you guys?" Her comrades agreed and they made their way past the kiddie stores and Lane Bryant into the nearest shoe store.
"Ah yes! Here I find my passion!" Mina shot through the store trying on every pair in her path… the shoes never stood a chance. Finally settling on a pair of white ballet flats with red stitching designs and a pair of strappy, orange, iridescent heels, she led the brigade out of the store. The other girls, not having had much enthusiasm in shoes today, were more than relieved to leave the store.
A cart with a green and white striped cover stood in the middle of the giant East wing.
"Let's go check it out you guys!" exclaimed Amy, eyeing the jewelry.
"Okay, okay. Maybe I can find something to go with my new top." Rei mused.
The small cart was loaded down with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and all other types of jewelry.
"This is cute." said Mina, holding up a silver bracelet with a toggle clasp and an orange crystal heart dangling from it. "And there's one for each of us!" She held up for more in blue, green, pink, and red.
"Let's get them!" exclaimed Rei. "That way, everyone will know we're best friends!" Rei was so into the idea that she didn't even care if she'd included Amy, Lita, and (ugh) Serena, in her friends circle. Besides, every great ruler had a great army behind her.
The girls paid for their bracelets and clipped them on. Serena needed a little help with the confusing clasp, but eventually got it on.
"See? Don't they look great?" Mina asked holding her left wrist into the air to admire the sparkling heart. Her friends nodded in agreement.
Lita, Amy, and Serena walked in front of Rei and Mina, leading the way to the next store.
"Hey, Rei-chan!" Mina whispered.
"Hm?"
"This is for you." Mina pushed a small wad of white tissue paper into Rei hand. At first Rei grimaced thinking the blonde had given her a used tissue, but finally realized there was something in it when a sharp corner from inside scratched her palm. She discreetly unfolded the paper to reveal a silver necklace. The pendant was circular with an "R" imprinted in it and a small faux-diamond placed under the top loop of the "R".
"Thanks, Mina-chan!" Rei smiled and fastened the necklace around her neck, letting the pendant rest on her breastbone.
"You're welcome! The others may have bracelets, but only we have necklaces." Mina reached up and pulled a chain from under her shirt, on it was a pendant just like Rei's, only with an "M" on it. Sometimes Rei was in awe of her blonde counter-part, even if she'dnever let on.
"Brilliant."
"I know." Mina winked.
"What are you guys talking about back there?" Lita asked, turning back.
"Nothing, just gossiping about you." Mina said with a jokey smile.
"Ha ha, very funny."
Rei and Mina giggled. Even if Mina wanted to knock Rei off her high horse, a part of her still wanted Rei to like her. It was a sort of bizarre Rei-effect, that affected everyone. In fact, if Yura hadn't stopped by her car that afternoon reminding her of how hurt she was, Mina might've almost reconsidered her plan for Rei. Almost.
Okay guys. Thats the next chapter. I know, I know long time, no see. But I'm back and that's all that matters. Anyway, for those that don't know what a toggle clasp is (I didn't know either until recently) it's the kind with a circle anda bar that goes through it. Catch ya later!