I'm Not Lost! - Jackie Tags Jared

[Jackie Vick]

Jackie was not a panicker.

When she got left by the school bus on her seventh day of grade school, she calmly walked back home and called her dad to pick her up. When she couldn't open the door to the public bathroom, she waited until she heard someone outside and just asked them to kindly find a custodian to open the door for her. When her cookies caught on fire when nobody was at home, she grabbed the built-in mini fire extinguisher and doused the heck out of the fire cookies.

She didn't panic, plain and simple.

So when she ventured out to the mall on her own, [Elliot was out with his friends and her dad was at the university for some seminar] Jackie found herself completely and utterly lost but she stayed calm, controlling her breathing so she didn't get a panic attack.

But she was still thirteen and she was in a very big place without adult supervision. She was a tiny smidge scared.

Chewing on her lower lip, she tried to find an information center, knowing those would usually help if she needed to find a place to be. But one sweep of the entire first level didn't help her come up with any clues as to where it could be.

Her hands tightened around the strap of her sling bag as she walked around, her eyes darting from one shop to the other, hoping to find the food court so she could get lunch.

Not looking at where she was going, she accidentally tripped on a raised floor and toppled over something kind of soft. Looking down, she realised that it was a person. "Oh no, sorry!" She squeaked, scrambling to get up and helping the other person. "I am sooo sorry!"

[Jared Park]

At least the mall was a fun place to hang out to.

The days of sulking are over. It took some time, but after a few sudden outbursts here and there plus a good talking down with ‘God’ just a little over a week ago, Jared’s finally accepted the fact that he’d be spending the summer away from home. There’s nothing he can do against the internships and classes his siblings have elsewhere, much less magically make work less strenuous for his parents. Though with Eric in Kocher, Levi with Robbie’s phaser friend and Robbie with the snotty rich boy somewhere across the globe, he’d be spending the rest of the summer relatively alone. Hohum. (He was planning on dragging AJ to watch the last Harry Potter movie with him; he had midnight tickets, courtesy of his brother – least they can do when they all left him anyway).

That being said, the boy’s trips to the mall have increased exponentially over the past few days. Back then he’d only visit the said establishment once every week; now he’s lounging about at least three times a week within the mall’s four walls. It would make him quite the mall-expert already, had he not been frequenting the same area almost all the time. The mall was relatively smaller than the ones he’s used to back home, but they still are big for someone like him.

Hot day as it was, Jared decided to grab an ice cream cone as he walked around looking at store windows, trying to look for a decent shirt to grab (his parents increased his allowance last week; it’s the only good that came out of his whole predicament really, other than the HP tickets, that is). He was in the middle of ogling at a particular cardigan when he felt something bump into him, the situation leaving him little to no room of even avoiding the inevitable thud on the floor.

“No, no, it’s ok,” grinned the boy (completely ignoring the pain on his back) as he tried to help get the girl back on her feet (she was on top of him after all, if she can’t stand, he’s doomed). At least she wasn’t heavy. “You know where my ice cream-ohshoot.” The wet, sticky feeling on his chest was enough of an answer, as it seems. “Guess I’ll just have to buy a new one. You didn’t get it on you, didn’t you?”

ooc:
THERE. I took mah time. HAHAHA. Sorry Nuala. ;3.
- Jam

[Jackie Vick]

Feeling a shade too embarrassed to say anything, Jackie simply picked herself up and softly thanked the boy she had landed on for trying to help her up. His question however alerted her to the coldness on her forehead and in her hair, one hand moving up and touching the bit that had run down the side of her temple. She brought it down to her nose and sniffed it lightly.

"Caramel...very nice."

She used her clean hand to find her wet wipes in her bag [always prepared, hence never a panicker] as her eyes travelled down to the mess on the boy's shirt. "Oh no...you've got ice cream all over you!" Jackie squeaked and quickly pulled out several pieces of wet tissue and getting out the worst of the ice cream off the boy's shirt...

...Making it that much worst.

"I'm soooo sorry." She breathed out, biting her lower lip and avoiding eye contact.

[OOC: No need to be sorry, Jammeroni!]

[Jared Park]

Jared couldn’t stop himself from laughing in amusement when the girl took out wet wipes from her back. Never mind that she was the reason why his newly-bought shirt was now wet and sticky - he could always wash it anyway; he’s mighty proud of himself for learning how to use the dorm’s washing machines on his own – who in their right mind would bring wet wipes on a daily basis? “You always bring that with you?”

And then Jackie squeaked and it sounded like the cutest thing the boy’s ever heard. Apparently he was having so much fun that he didn’t really notice how weird it looks like to see a twelve year-old wiping a fifteen (soon-to-be-sixteen) year-old’s shirt in the middle of the mall.

“It’s alright,” Even if it isn’t, Jackie’s panicking has entertained him enough anyways. With a (hopefully) reassuring nod, he grabbed a few more wipes from the little girl’s pack and began wiping the ice cream away on his own. “Don’t you worry. I was on my way to buy a new shirt anyway,” he grinned, pointing at the shirt

[/url] on the mannequin just behind the ones in display. “At least I have a valid reason now. It’s awesome, don’t you think?”

“Oh. I know caramel’s good, but you should probably get that off your hair,” said the boy, pointing at the chunk still evident on the young girl’s hair, “It’s rather nasty when it dries up. Believe me, I know.”[/justify][/blockquote][/font]

[Jackie Vick]

Jackie blushed ten shades of red when the boy laughed at her. She bit her lower lip from trembling as she shoved the pieces of wet tissue into the boy's hand. "Yes, I do." Jackie said quietly, hiding her face so the boy couldn't see her face turning into a tomato.

"Oh," she responded softly when he reassured her. She giggled a little before nodding. "That's...that's a really nice shirt." She gave him a small shy smile before taking one piece of wet tissue to get the caramel out of her hair. "Did I get it all?" The younger pre-teen asked, trying to see what she had missed. She must look ridiculous, she thought to herself before giving up.

"Can you help me get it out please?" She asked. "I know I shouldn't even ask on account of it's actually my fault that you have it all over your shirt. But...could you?" She asked, handing him a piece of wet tissue.

[Jared Park]

“You like it? Awesome!” The said yellow shirt is one of the few that he owns that’s earned quite the number of compliments from people, which made him extremely proud and relegated the relatively new shirt to ‘favorite shirt’ status within just a few days. (It usually takes at least two months for a shirt to be considered a ‘favorite’). It was the last one in stock too, when he bought it, so he was so happy when it fit him exactly.

He was just about to thank her for the wet wipes when he saw how red the girl was becoming. “Hey, don’t feel bad. It’s totally all good.” Not exactly, since such a disaster means he has to go home early to wash his shirt else he risk it being ruined for all eternity, but considering how embarrassed the girl seemed at the moment, lying seems reasonable. “Like I said, I’d have a perfectly plausible explanation for buying a new shirt now. My brother can’t get angry with me.”

“You just missed a spot here.” He smiled warmly, hoping to get the girl’s discomfort off her, and promptly grabbed a napkin from the girl and wiped her hair from the back. “It’s quite the clump really,” laughed Jared, showing her the ice cream portion he got from her hair then throwing it to a nearby trash bin. “You’re officially clean as a bee now. If bees are clean anyway.”

Despite it all though, Jared could still feel that she’s still a bit uncomfortable. “Well fine. Accompany me to the store to buy that shirt and we’re even. That enough for your conscience?”

[Jackie Vick]

Jackie smiled a little and nodded when the boy asked for some validation about his shirt. She really did think it was awesome and that just made her feel that much worst for getting it dirty.

His reassurances that she wasn't doing anything wrong was met with a wider smile. She recognised that he was trying to make her feel better and that was more than enough for her to try and feel better. "You have a brother too?" She perked up slightly, immediately thinking of Elliot. Although she knew Elliot wouldn't actually care about what clothes she bought, if it was enough to get him angry, she wouldn't do it.

She giggled a little when she saw the ice clump. "Oh my." She ran her fingers through her hair to find that it wasn't sticky, which is a good thing. The wet wipes, they were a good thing!

Jackie's lips parted slightly in surprise when the boy asked her to follow him to the store where the shirt was. "O...okay. I can do that. But...you kind of have to help me find my way to the store I'm looking for later. Would that be okay?" She asked, her eyes round and pleading.

[Jared Park]

“Yup. Lucky for me I only have one, considering how he acts more like an overbearing mother than a brother most of the time,” chuckled Jared slightly as he buttoned the cardigan he has with him in an effort to hide the stain. Luckily it did the trick. “And yes, he’s nags a whole lot more than my mom.” He teases Jasper a whole lot for it, but truth be told, he wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s rather thankful Jasper isn’t the stereotypical big brother who cares not about his siblings really – heaven knows what might happen if he was left in Jeraiah’s ‘capable hands’. “I know, I have weird family dynamics. It’s ok to be surprised,” said the boy with a shrug.

And no, talking about seemingly personal stuff to a total stranger doesn’t faze him much. It’s not like a little girl who seemed to be rattled out of her mind just as him would be using such information against him, right? Besides, as far as he’s concerned, he hasn’t said anything too personal to her. At least not yet.

When Jackie promptly agreed, he happily wrapped his arm around hers and skipped to the store. “You’ve gotten yourself lost? Ok. I’ll help you, don’t worry,” reassured the boy as they stopped on the mannequin that has the shirt Jared’s pining for. After looking at the shirt from top to bottom, he grabbed one of the folded ones below it and pointed to the bench not far from them. “You can sit there for a while-what’s your name again?” She’s going to be his shopping buddy for the day anyway, might as well call her by her real name. “Don’t worry, I won’t take long. I’ll just look if this fits.”

Don’t trust him Jackie. If the shirt he grabbed on the way to the dressing room is any indication, this’ll probably take a bit longer than a History test loaded with two essays. Just saying.

[Jackie Vick]

"Oh no. That does not sound like fun." Jackie frowned sympathetically. Though her brother usually avoids spending time with her, she knows he cares. Sometimes, she liked to bug Elliot just for the heck of it and though he grumbles, she always sees a little smile that he hides by the end of it. She wouldn't have it any other way.

The arm around her shoulder came as a surprise but she didn't wince away or anything. Elliot does it all the time, it was nothing new for Jackie but it was another guy so she giggled out of sheer awkwardness.

"So lost. I wanted to go to the shop that sold Disney merchandise but I went in through a different entrance than I usually do with my dad so I...got lost." Jackie shrugged with a little sheepish grin. As they walked into the store, Jackie looked up at the boy when he asked her for her name. "Oh. I'm Jackie! Jackie Vick." The little girl enthused and offered her hand, her previous metldown seemingly forgotten.

"Okay. I'll sit over there. Oh so wait! What's your name?"

[Jared Park]

“It definitely isn’t. Especially since he obviously goes out of his way to embarrass me by asking in front of my friends if I brought toothbrush and some change of underwear,” said Jared, pouting at such a recollection. It happened far too many times that he’s actually lost count. At first, he actually believed that Jasper was just concerned; he only realized that his brother was actually playing a trick on him when he started complaining to him and he still didn’t stop. A meanie really. “But despite it all, you’ll find that it’s one of the things you’d miss so much after a year or two of being away.”

The Disney store? Jackie’s in luck then – Jared’s been to the said shop dozens of times before, if only because he adores the Phineas and Ferb merchandise they have. “Oh there? It’s not far from here really. Just go down the stairs, walk straight until you see Urban Outfitters-Oh never mind. I suck at giving directions,” he shrugged, sticking his tongue out in a mix of amusement and embarrassment. “I’ll just guide you there. I’m planning on buying that Perry the Platypus shirt anyway.” Oh how he wishes he had such a pet too.

“Jared. Jared Park.” And with that he vanished into the dressing room with more than three shirts in his hand.

A few minutes later he emerged from the cubicle, wearing but a different shirt from the one he told Jackie he’d try on. “You think it looks good on me? It’s supposed to be big for you, I think.” He was mighty pleased with how he looked, grinning widely as he looked in the mirror. “I think I’ll get this one too.”

Sorry Jackie. Disney’ll have to wait as it seems.

[/blockquote]

[Jackie Vick]

"Oh man. You have a weird brother. If Elliot ever did that to me, I'd kick him in the butt." Jackie frowned and pouted slightly. And she knew Jared was right. Even when Elliot went to camp for two weeks, she whined to her father about how much she missed him. "Oh wait, one or two years? You don't live here? Where you can go home every day?" She asked, not knowing the boy was in the same school as her own brother.

The light haired girl's eyes widened as she took in the direction the older boy was giving her...until he stopped and told her he would accompany her over. She tried to make the connection between a platypus named Perry to Disney and frowned slightly until she realised that while yes, Perry the Platypus was indeed Disney, it had nothing to do with Princesses therefore it didn't even come up as a blip on her radar.

She tried to remember the cartoon Perry was from and finally got it. "Phineas and Ferb!" Jackie laughed and nodded, the thought never crossing her mind that she must be the only kid who didn't know what Phineas and Ferb was about.

"Jared. Nice to meet you...!" Jackie called out before huffing when he disappeared. "...Jared." She deflated and looked around the shop. Everything was so big. She could probably making a circus tent for herself out of at least three of the shirts and a pair of jeans.

Her mouth drew open in an 'O' when Jared re-emerged with a new shirt. "Wh...what happened to the one you saw?" She asked, confused at why the boy didn't like his original choice. "It...it looks nice but I...yeah it looks nice." Jackie nodded sheepishly, remembering that not everyone actually liked to hear her opinions.

[Jared Park]

“Oh I already did. I kicked him in the butt three or four times already. I also jumped on him while he’s sleeping. Took his towel while he’s taking a bath and refused to give it back until my Grandma intervened. Hid his books so he can’t study. And so much more.” Jared’s not really a prankster, but he can get rather ‘crafty’ if he wants to get even with someone. And yes, he refuses to call such tricks ‘petty’ and ‘immature’. Because they’re perfectly valid. At least in his world they are. “But still he doesn’t stop. In fact, it’s like they got even worse after those things I did. It’s irritating.” Nope, the boy doesn’t realize that such antics are his brother’s way of getting back at him.

Seems the two brothers are caught in quite an infinite loop then.

“Well, my brother’s in university and he stays in the dorms, so I didn’t see him for about a year. Then I got enrolled to the school on the hill on the start of the school year-” thank goodness he remembered to be discreet “-so I haven’t been home ever since.” He turned away momentarily to sneeze, and after sniffing three times and rubbing his nose, he continued, “I’m Canadian, if that’s not obvious.” It’s not like he has a different accent, or does he? “And I came from the West Coast. It’s so far away.”

Times like these does he wish he has super speed so he can easily cross the country.

“Oh it’s still there,” answered Jared as he pointed to the open dressing room when he saw Jackie’s surprised face, “I just saw this and told myself that I had to try it on.” The boy gave Jackie a huge grin when he heard her say she liked it, happily twirling about as he looked at himself in the mirror. But then she had to add that ‘but’ in the end, making the boy stop abruptly in confusion.

Pouting just slightly, he approached Jackie and asked, “But what?” His voice had no malice or irritation in it, just plain confusion. “It makes my butt look fat, doesn’t it?” he said with a chuckle.

[Jackie Vick]

Jackie giggled at Jared's response and shrugged in delight. "Brothers, what can ya do right?" She replied, patting his shoulder.

"School on the...Hammel? Oh dude, Elliot's there too! I'll be sure to let him know I know you!" She enthused, eager to have something to talk to Elliot about later at home. She was sure Elliot knew everybody so if she mentioned Jared, Elliot was sure to know who she was talking about!

"Canadian? Oh! That's cool! I'm a local here. The farthest I've been is to San Francisco when I was like...a year old. I've never been to Canada, how is it there? Any different from here?" Seemed that Jackie was finally getting comfortable with the older boy and so her guard was down and she was starting to ramble.

"Wh...what? No!" She exclaimed when Jared asked if it made his butt look fat. "That's not at all what I was thinking!" She blushed and looked to the floor, laughing nervously. "I just...I wouldn't have changed. The other one's kinda cool. This one is too! I didn't know you were going to change your mind about the other shirt." She replied, once again laughing nervously.

"Are you going to get that shirt?"

[Jared Park]

“Elliot?” he tilted his head slightly in confusion. He wasn’t sure he’s encountered an Elliot before. “He’s not in my class, isn’t he?” Hopefully not, then he’d feel bad and stupid and embarrassed and all those nasty things, making his cheeks go red as a beet. Not really something he’d like to be seen as.

He simply smiled and let Jackie finish her plethora of questions before answering any. It’s the polite thing to do right? And besides, she look rather adorable when he goes barattattattattat with her questions. He just wants to pinch those wittle cheeks of hers! “Well, it’s not that different really,” he mused, rubbing his chin as he tried t think of the differences. The fact that Canadians are usually mistaken as Americans in an international setting says a lot already, at least in his eyes.

But then, a rather impish idea came to mind.

“Well, it’s a bit colder. Not to mention you can see moose and elk all around all the time.” Yes, he went there. “Beavers are the common pets, not dogs or cats. They’re not much popular up North. We don’t live in igloos but we use Polar Bears as buses. It’s awesome. I have a cub back home. I call him Rufus.”

Bad Jared, playing on a girl’s innocence like that.

The boy couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Jackie blush and feel a bit embarrassed. Not that he likes seeing her like that, but now she really seemed like a lost sheep. Was he like that when he was like, what, ten? “Ha. It’s all good. At least now I know my butt doesn’t look big on this one.” As he answered that, two more shirts came into view. “Yup. I’m buying the two. Along with these as well.” Apparently black shirts are the rave for him at the moment.

Jackie, you have to stop him. Now. Unless of course you prefer to stay in a store shop for the rest of the day.

[Jackie Vick]

"I have no idea. But...you're fifteen right? Elliot's fifteen too. So...maybe?" She gave Jared a sheepish grin, not helping at all in that department. She really didn't know who Elliot was friends with and just assumed everyone who went to Hammel would automatically know him.

"Oh! That's cool. I've never been to Canada before." She said, wide-eyed and innocent. Her eyes grew even wider when Jared started to talk about the pets in Canada. She gasped when Jared even said he had a cub Polar Bear named Rufus. "Really? That is so cool!" She paused before realising she was meeping all over the store. "Um...wait. Polar bears can be tamed? How cool is that?"

Jackie nodded when Jared showed her the t-shirts he was going to get. They were both really nice and would probably hang off her shoulders if she tried them on but Jared was a boy so everything probably just fit.

"Okay. They're really cute." The little girl beamed. "Are you going to pay already? I can wait outside for you."