Natsumi: Hello everyone, sorry it has taken me so long, but I have explanations!
Logan: You better have...
Natsumi: Between graduating high school, stress of loosing friends, work, and my future in general AND family tragedy there hasn't been enough me and writing time. But I am trying, really I am! So without further delay the Willows Chapter 9!
9
Kanaan found the game room easy enough. And as Logan said the red-head telekinetic was there, playing pool with the boy she assumed was Scott.
Jean looked up as she entered. "Hello Kanaan." she greeted.
"Hi." she paused in the doorway, and watched as Scott took his shot. "Am I interrupting?"
"No, we're just about finished." Jean leaned over, and murmured, "Eight ball, left corner pocket." she hit the Q ball, which struck a striped ball, which in turn gently tapped the Eight ball into the pocket.
"I still say you're using your powers." Scott said half jokingly.
"And I still say you're a sore loser." Jean replied with a flirtatious smile. She turned her attention back to their new housemate. "What can I do for you?"
"I was actually wondering if you were free." Kanaan asked.
Scott got an astounded look on his face, and Jean's was surprise mixed with embarrassment. Kanaan only then realized how that sounded.
"Wait, wait no! I mean I… for the afternoon! Shit, no, now it sounds like a date. Lemme try again." Kanaan took a deep breath, then started over. "What I meant was, are you busy this afternoon? Because I need someone to take me to the bank and then to a mall for clothes shopping."
"Oh, I see." Jean nodded. "No, I'm not doing anything. I'll be glad to take you."
"Thanks. I'm going to ask Kitty if she wants to come too, will that be all right?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Great! Can we leave in about… fifteen minuets?" Kanaan suggested.
"That's fine, I'll go ahead and start the car. See you in the garage."
"Look at this one Kanaan!"
Kanaan looked at the top Kitty was holding up, exasperated. "Kitty, that's the same top we looked at thirty minuets ago."
After going to the bank and starting an account for Kanaan (which took over an hour to set up), the trio went to the mall, and had been there for over three hours so far. Kanaan was ready to burn the building down. She could tell that even Jean was getting tired and frustrated. But Kitty was an endless supply of energy when it came to shopping.
"Tell me what color it is, Kanaan." Kitty demanded.
"Um…" Kanaan placed a hand over her blue eye, helping her better see the true color of the top. "Pale blue?"
"Right."
"Kitty." Jean interrupted. "The last one was pale blue."
"But not the same shade of pale blue. The last one was more sky blue and this one is more purple blue."
"Whatever. I'm starving, let's get something to eat and get out of here." Kanaan muttered.
"Aww… do we have to?" Kitty pleaded.
"Yes!" Jean and Kanaan said at the same time.
"Geeze, bite my head off why don't you?" Kitty held up her hands in surrender.
"Sorry Kitty." Kanaan apologized, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It's been a trying day, and I'm ready to get back. Besides, I think I have enough clothes to last me 'til Armageddon."
"Let's go to the food court and eat, then we'll head home." said Jean.
"Best plan of the evening." Kanaan murmured.
They ate some greasy food court food, which made Kanaan grimace. She was used to good old fashioned, hearty home cooked meals. Speaking of which…
"What's your favorite foods?" Kanaan asked aloud.
"Huh?" was the confused response she got from both women.
"When I go food shopping I want to know everyone's favorite foods, and least favorite, and if they're allergic to anything."
"We're not going food shopping today, are we?" Jean gave her a wary look.
"No! Definitely not!" Kanaan took a sip of her shake, and began to ponder. "I'll probably take stock after I put away my clothes, and get a list going. Would you care to take me tomorrow, Jean, if you're not busy?"
"Sure." Came Jean's reply.
"Kitty, would you like to go?" Kanaan offered.
"Uh, no. Grocery shopping is nothing like clothes shopping." Kitty said with a grimace.
They all three had a good laugh and polished off their food before grabbing the bags and heading out. The drive home was spent getting to know each other, and gradually becoming more comfortable and more at ease with one another.
When they arrived at the mansion, they were greeted by Hank and the younger mutants who were going inside after an afternoon of outdoor training.
"I take it that you came back with many spoils of war?" Hank joked, noticing the many bags and boxes in the open trunk of the car.
"They say that to the victor goes the spoils." Kanaan looked at the contents of the trunk with a rueful smile. "I waged battle long and hard so… yeah, I've totally won and got my just desserts."
"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad." Kitty rolled her eyes, grabbing some bags.
"Oh to be a teenager who loves shopping." Kanaan sighed wistfully. Hank laughed and said "Allow me." before grabbing the vast majority of the bags and boxes.
"Are you sure?" Kanaan asked.
"Yes, a few boxes and bags won't hurt me." he smiled.
"In that case…" Kanaan turned to the other two girls and took the bags from them. "You two go on ahead and enjoy the rest of the day, since I've got strong man Hank here to help me with these."
The two younger women looked at each other before shrugging and saying "Alright." before heading in. Kanaan and Hank carried the 'precious' cargo up to her room, where they promptly dumped everything on the floor.
"What on earth did you buy? The entire mall?" Hank asked, scratching his head in confusion as he looked at all the bags before him on the floor.
"Kitty doesn't believe in the bare necessities." Kanaan explained, opening the closet door.
Feeling a bit awkward, Hank finally asked, "Do you need any help or anything?"
"Um… sure, just reach into a bag and start pulling tags off of stuff. That way I won't have to do it when I go to wear them." Kanaan murmured distractedly, hanging up her first article of clothing which was a lavender day dress.
Doing as she bade Hank reached into the first bag he came into contact with, not reading the label, and pulled out a hand full of lace and silk and cotton… underwear…
Kanaan chose that precise moment to look over, and seeing his mortified expression plus what he was holding, turned her tomato red.
"Uh… maybe I should just… uh… let you organize everything yourself." he said, quickly stuffing the offending yet sexy garments back into the bag.
"Yeah, that's cool." Kanaan got out.
"I mean, there may be some things you might want to take back so it's never a good idea to just rip off the tags, right?
"Right, right."
"So… I'll leave you to your, ah, devices." Hank quickly backed out of the room, and closed the door behind him. That was twice in one day that he encountered Kanaan's underwear, and… with the same outcome.
Cold shower two, Hank… zero…
Kanaan could not believe what just happened. Poor Hank… he was obviously a gentleman, no wonder he was so quick to make a B-line for the door. Then again, it was her fault. She should have made sure that she had separated her undergarments from her outerwear.
With a sigh, she went over and plopped down on her bed and covered her still red face with a pillow.
"Why do I put myself in these situations?"