Claire POV
When we pulled into the shopping center parking lot Prussia was looking way less "awesome" than normal, somehow he had gotten even paler and looked ready to be sick any minute. The minute Romano parked he leapt out of the car like he was on fire and ran off somewhere. So, yeah Romano drives like a bat out of hell, but a very skillful one! I thought we were going to get into a dozen near wrecks from the way France looked at me, but Romano turns out to be a fantastic driver!
"Well I don't think we'll be seeing him for a while" I laugh. "Humph, well he should be grateful he didn't ride with my fratello, even I won't let him drive" says Romano. "Why's that?" I ask "You'll see in a minute" he says shortly.
"What do you mean-" I'm interrupted by Italy's car tearing into the parking lot and screeching to a halt right next to Romano's car. Italy hops out of the car and bounds over to me and Romano "Aww, you got here before us" he says sounding disappointed. "It wasn't a race idiota!" says Romano glaring at Italy. "Ve, but it more fun that way!" says Italy with a grin. "Roma, why did you run off like that? I wanted to ride with you!" says Spain running over and glomping to Romano. "Ugh, this is why" grouses Romano. I guess Spain must be used to the Italies driving he seems fine!
That doesn't seem to be the case with France though, when he finally pulls himself out of the car he looks pretty out of it, but he puts on a determined face, walks over and starts to pull me towards the entrance saying "Come on Claire, we don't have any time to lose!" Why is he treating this like some battle plan? I think to myself as he pulls me into the mall. Wow, this place is huge! I grew up in a little town out in the sticks and only ever went to small strip malls a couple towns over, I don't think I've ever seen such a big mall!
"Mon ami what are you doing all the way over there?" calls France looking at Prussia who is looking into a pet store window. "Waiting for you guys to catch up, you shouldn't keep the awesome me waiting" he yells back.
Well he sure recovered fast! I walk over to see what he was looking at and see a big cage with different sorts of birds in front of the window.
"I should get some food for Samantha while we're here" I say walking into the shop. Italy and Spain follow me inside, Spain heads straight for the reptiles looking for turtles I guess and Italy goes over to the kittens on the far wall. After I grab some food for Samantha I walk back over to Italy who is stroking the head of a kitten who's purring up a storm. "Aww she's so cute!" I say going to pet her too. "I wish I could bring her home" says Italy, "Germany won't let me keep any cats I find because he says they distract me from training" he says sadly. "He's no fun, the meanie!" I say still petting the kitten. "Ve, but it's ok because I'll be able to spend time with you now!" says Italy. Oh my gosh, he is so adorable, I can't believe he said that! "Oh, yeah I guess" I mumble blushing. Italy straightens up and says "Well come on bella, we have a lot of stores to go to!"
"Oh yeah! Just a sec I have to go ring this up..." I trail off realizing I have no money to speak of. "Oh, I'll pay for it Claire don't worry!" says Italy taking the turtle food from my hand and walking towards the registers. "Oh I can't possibly-" "Hey it's our fault that you're here in the first place so it's the least I can do!" he says sounding serious for once. "He's right chica so don't worry about anything!" says Spain coming up from behind me. "Alright then, thank you!" I say as Italy pays the woman at the cash register.
We walk out of the shop and France is waiting out front, "We didn't come here to play with kittens, we must get some fashionable clothes on you!" he says grabbing me by the hand and leading me into a store. I basically follow him throughout the store while he grabs things and hands them to me to carry, after about fifteen minutes of this he ushers me into a dressing room and orders me to come out once I've tried on the almost twenty outfits he picked out so he can critique. To my surprise the stuff he picked out is mostly normal, a bit frillier than what I usually wear but nothing too weird. The first thing I try on is a mint and pink striped long sleeved dress that comes down a couple inches below my knees. I come out and do a little twirl to show off the skirt, "You look stunning ma cherie! Much better than those drab clothes you had on before" says France looking proud of what he picked out. I repeat this almost a dozen more times with various results, about half the outfits get tossed aside by France even when I couldn't find anything wrong with them. When I get to the bottom of the pile I find a black slinky looking dress with a plunging neckline that looks like it would go down to my waist! Nice try, no way in hell am I wearing that, I think holding up the skimpy dress.
I walk out leaving the dress in the changing room and walk over to were all the guys are waiting. "I think you've forgotten one of the dresses Claire!" says France seeing that I've changed back to my regular clothes. "Yeah I saw your "dress", I think Italy is going to be in charge next shop" I say, France looks disappointed and waltzes over to Prussia who is looking rather crestfallen too, France must of told him about the dress while I was changing.
The next shop we go to is a shoe store, Italy helps me find some flats to go with my outfits, and a pair of sneakers. He tries to get me a pair of some killer heels but I put them back because me + heels = disaster waiting to happen. I remember shopping for heels with my mom to go with my dress for prom, after nearly taking out an entire display trying to walk in some stilettos we settled on a very low pair of wedge heels that I could sort of walk in. I must of looked a bit sad because Italy asked me what was wrong, "It's nothing, I was just remembering how I went shopping with my mom, I guess I'm just a little homesick" I say.
"Aww bella" he gives me a ginormous hug and almost lifts me off my feet, surprisingly I feel much better. "Thanks Italy, you always seem to be there when I need it!" I say smiling and hugging him back.
"Hey guys I'll catch up with you in a couple minutes, I'm going to go grab a few things real quick" I say and start walking further down the mall. "Ve, ok bella come meet us by the car when you're done!" says Italy. France starts to follow me, apparently knowing what I'm off to do but he gets sidetracked by Spain who drags him off saying something about some cute thing his "tomato" is doing.
Italy had handed me the change from the shoe shop so I have a bit of money in my pocket, there is no way I'm letting them come in the store while I shop for bras! I pick out some cute lacey ones and ask the cashier for a paper bag so I won't have France or Prussia seeing what I was buying. After I get my purchases all wrapped up I walk back out to the parking lot and see Spain chasing Romano around the parking lot yelling something about getting him to wear some BFF bracelets he bought. And as you can guess Romano is having none of that.
"Ve, we should probably get home soon Claire! Germany will be wondering where we are!" says Italy getting into the car. It doesn't look like Romano is going to calm down enough to drive anytime soon so it looks like I'm stuck with Italy. "Italy you drove up here you should let your ni-chan drive us home" says France pulling Italy out of the front seat. Thank god! I think relieved. France slides into the drivers seat and I slide into the back with Italy. I never thought I would be thankful for France coming along! I think incredulously.
Yay for shopping, kittens, and shoes! And distracting prussians! R&R!