A/N: Hey everyone! Long time no see, eh? I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year (if you celebrate those things) and... Welcome to 2009! This is my first drabble for the year (incidentally, it's also my first for about a year ^_^), and I am really looking forward to publishing lots more in '09 (and possibly also getting around to my other writing, which is also sadly neglected!!) Anyway, just because it's been so long, I made this one extra long for you =]. Okay, so it's actually because I really need to learn some self-control when writing... On that topic(-ish), thanks as always to Ala Verity, my legend of a Beta, and to everyone who may or may not have been hoping in the backs of their minds that I would publish something soon. And if you like it, or hate it, or don't have an opinion on it at all, please send me a review telling me so!!
Thanks!
Sol
17. Ice cream
"Welcome to Seaview Ice Creamery. Free sample?" a girl in a white apron asked, holding out a spoonful of ice cream.
"Oh, yes please!" Usagi reached for the spoon.
"And you, Sir?" the attendant asked Usagi's companion, another spoon already in hand.
"Uh… No, thanks…" Mamoru replied, looking doubtfully at the murky brown slush. To Usagi, he asked reluctantly, "What flavour would you like?"
"I think I'll have a triple scoop with chocolate, caramel and strawberry in a waffle cone, please. Oh, and could I have M and M'S in the bottom of my cone? And a Flake stuck in the ice-cream? And do you do milkshakes?"
"Take it easy, Odango! I said an ice-cream, not the whole shop!" Mamoru retorted with an amused glint in his eyes.
"You said I could have anything I wanted!" Usagi pouted, apparently on the verge of tears. "You said…"
"Okay! Just don't make a scene! Stop crying!"
That startled everyone in the shop, which Mamoru noticed comprised mostly of couples holding hands.
"How did she manage to talk me into this?" he wondered aloud, staring at the over-excited blonde.
"Actually, it was your idea, Mamoru Baka!" Usagi said sweetly, with a smile to match. Cursing, Mamoru realised that she was right.
"Hey, Odango! Is that a test there behind your back? What on Earth is it doing there?" Mamoru asked with a wicked grin. "You couldn't be trying to hide it? No, that would imply that you failed, which isn't possible, is it Odango?"
Usagi fumed as she ordered her milkshake.
"Don't you think you're a little harsh on that girl?" Motoki asked as Usagi stormed over to a table. "Couldn't you be a bit more… encouraging?"
"Encouraging…?" Mamoru sighed. "Hey, Odango!"
"What?" Usagi yelled from across the arcade.
"I bet you can't get more than 50% on your next test!" he bellowed. Everyone turned to watch. These two were infamous for their shouting matches…
And sure enough, Usagi came running over, but instead of an angry look, her face bore a look of excitement.
"What do I get if I do?"
"Get?" Mamoru sneered. "How about… an education?"
"Not funny, Baka. There has to be some incentive!"
"Incentive? Big word for you, Odango! Did you have to look it up in the dictionary especially?"
Mamoru glanced at Motoki, who was silently mouthing a word. 'Encouraging.'
"I'll buy you an… ice-cream" Mamoru said quickly.
"From anywhere I want?" Usagi asked.
"I guess…"
"Anything I want from any ice-cream shop I want?" Usagi repeated. "No catches?"
"If that's what it takes to get you to use that neglected muscle in your head." Mamoru sighed again, thinking, 'am I really so cruel to her that she doesn't believe I will hold up my end of the bet?'
"OK, fine!" Mamoru muttered. "Just what she ordered, thanks," he said to the attendant, and handed over the money. He wasn't surprised when he didn't get much change back.
As the attendant prepared the order, Usagi dragged Mamoru over to a table. He observed that all the tables were set for two only.
When her order came, Usagi slurped her milkshake eagerly. She had earned these treats fair and square, and it hadn't been easy!
"Ami-chan! Please could you help me with my Math work?"
"Usagi-chan, I know you aren't exactly mathematician material, but…"
"But what?"
"But we only just had a math exam yesterday, and all likelihood says that we won't have another one for at least two weeks!"
"Exactly! Only two weeks!"
"Errr… Ok… What do you want help with?"
"Everything! I need to get at least 50% on the next test!"
"Usagi? Are you…feeling alright?" Ami asked. She could only imagine what would cause such a turn-around in her friend's attitude.
"I'm fine!" Usagi replied. "Now can we get to work?"
Mamoru started getting sneaking suspicions about Seaview Ice-Creamery when he noticed the paper serviettes on the table were covered with little pink hearts.
"Odango, what is this place?"
"It's an ice-cream shop, Baka!"
Mamoru indicated the serviettes. "And those?"
"Well…" Usagi squirmed in her seat, eyes on the floor. "It's sort of… renowned for a romantic atmosphere, buttheyhavegoodicecream!"
"And why didn't you tell me this before now?" Mamoru's face had taken on a hue reminiscent of the new 'Very Very Berry' flavoured ice cream adorning posters around the shop.
"I just… wanted a nice ice-cream…" Usagi stuttered, although it wasn't very convincing, even to her own ears.
I only just realised this (sort of) but this one really does feature a lot of dialogue, doesn't it? Make sure you tell me if you like it or don't like it, so that I can change things for the future!!! Also, I'm not sure about the format. Is it a bit too 'massive block of writing'? The alternative is a line break in between each line, which I've always thought made it look too spread out, but now I'm thinking it could be the way to go...