Ripped Jeans -open-

[Ann Hudgins]

"Of course." Ann agreed with a small tittering laugh. It was obviously something she hadn't used in a while and she cut it off prematurely and cleared her throat with a surprised chuckle. A new friend and genuine laughter? Ok, their was something wrong about to happen. That was just too good. She wished she could stop being wound so tightly about this, but she was walking across ice here (at least she thought she was) and she had no idea if she was about to break through it or not. She wanted to constantly back up several steps even though there wasn't a need for it. Ann was never one to be paranoid, but she knew she was definitely being it now.

Ann was pretty glad Devin decided not to tell her she was kidding, because Devin was right, Ann would know when she was kidding, or being insincere, or had a question, or was nervous, and all those other billions of things she could be. Ann would always know, until she found out how to turn it off. Ann would hate to have to keep saying 'I know' every time Devin or another friend (God willing) made a joke like that. And Ann was also, once upon a time, a smart ass just like every other thirteen year old girl out there. She knew the tones and the body language that represented sarcasm, even if it had been a while, it was all coming back to her now. Slowly, in bits and pieces.

As they arrived at the food court, and looked around for the ice cream place, and upon seeing a Dairy Queen and a Baskin Robins, she glanced between the both of them wondering which was the better choice. "Which one, Dairy Queen, or Baskin Robins?" She wasn't really sure which on could quell her oreo ice cream fix that she needed.

[Devin Sykes]

"Dairy queen." Devin decided after a moment's thought, then flashed a grin "With Baskin Robins to follow if we're not full up by then."
It was unlikely they'd actually make it through two ice cream places, but Devin was more than happy to plan for that, it sounded like fun - besides, she was having a good time and she she didn't want it to end any time soon, suggesting they spend enough time to visit both places was Devin's very subtle way of sharing that.

"That way you get your money's worth for having to put up with my company." She added jokingly.

((Little short I think, sorry))

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann nodded, appeased with her suggestion. If that was the case, she would probably get a shake from Dairy Queen, because yum. And Baskin Robins had better ice cream selections, so if after the shake, Devin was still up for more frozen snacks, Ann would be willing as well. Of course, if both of them decided one place was enough...well then, what afterwords? Ann had already extended the boundaries of her knowledge of things like this so she was just...well out there and completely lost.

She floundered over to the line for Dairy Queen and looked over the menu, even though she knew what she wanted...but what else was there to do in a line? When it was her turn, she ordered her medium Oreo shake with whip cream and paid for it by sliding the exact change across the counter. To avoid another awkward question and look. She stepped out of line from the register and then waited for her drink from heaven. "You think we should go somewhere to sit down?" Ann asked Devin, not really knowing if that was what one did. Did the sit or wander around? Ann was partial to sitting, though. It was less likely for someone to touch her there than walking in the corridors.

[Devin Sykes]

Devin was deliberating what to get herself when she heard Ann ordering a shake, and it was another point for her new friend because Devin decided that, actually, a shake sounded really good right about now, so she ordered one herself (though it wasn't an oreo one, she wasn't a complete copycat).

"Sure, sounds good." Devin agreed once she'd paid for her treat, turning to look around for an empty table. "We'll need to sit down after all that shopping we've done, it's enough to tire anybody out." She said with faux-seriousness, laughing slightly almost as soon as she'd finished.

She never understood the whole 'shop 'till you drop' thing, she just never seemed to actually spend long enough shopping to be even remotely tired by it, and just strolling around carrying a few bags hardly seemed like exercise to her.
Mind you, most of the girls that did it seemed to be stick thin and hardly ate anything, so maybe their bodies just didn't have the energy to burn.

[Ann Hudgins]

The only time Ann every got completely exhausted was at a martial arts tournament, or when her parents worked out with her. Ann had never in her life been fatigued by shopping. She giggled at Devin's comment and as they both sat down, she rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, everyone knows shopping is a leading cause of stress, exhaustion, and empty bank accounts." Ann couldn't help but laugh a little more at it.

She really didn't understand how people could shop like that either. Ann had just gotten a great deal on those pants she bought, but that even hurt her limited wallet. Ann had been raised with the belief that you didn't need excess of anything. Ann had just enough clothes to make it through the week, and then do laundry on Saturday. It was just something Ann was used to and believed it was perfectly OK.

Ann couldn't wait any longer, she put her lips to the straw and sucked up a mouthful of heaven. She sighed contentedly and swallowed. "It's so goooood," said sighed around a laugh. It felt pretty great to be so relaxed, for once.

[Devin Sykes]

"Mmhmm, absolutely." Devin agreed with a straight face for all of about thirty seconds, before rolling her eyes at the ridiculousness of people who actually thought like that and laughing along with Ann.
It felt good for her, as well, to just let go and relax around another person, she'd been making a few good friends lately and it was making her feel much better, rather than people who would always be suspicious of her after how she used to act, or people like Zac - she knew Zac well, but you had to be constantly on your guard if you were hanging around with him, she had to be able to hold her own in the sarcasm department so hanging out with him wasn't always entirely relaxing.

She took a sip of her shake and nodded in delighted agreement.
"Delicious." She added, licking her lips with a grin.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann was honestly having a good time. She made a friend, she wasn't worrying about the couple that was having some problems because one of them was jealous (Ann wasn't paying enough attention to actually tell what emotion was coming from whom). She felt each of the emotions swirling around her like a strong breeze, but while she felt them there, the emotions she was experiencing on her own were actually strong enough to block them out--at least to keep them from effecting her. She was having too good of a time for other people to bring her down.

Do you have any idea how awesome that is?

Ann was beside herself with joy, and not just because of that, but because she also knew Devin was having a good time too. "I don't get how people can just...be like that. It doesn't make any logical sense." Ann said looking around, seeing those bouncing girls in scanty clothes with arm loads of bags from all the expensive stores around town. They were probably lugging around three hundred dollars of crap they'd only wear once. It was so strange to Ann that people would pay for a label.

Ann could hardly put the shake down once she had tasted it. It was just so good, to go even a moment without some in her mouth was damn near blasphemous.

[Devin Sykes]

((sorry about the fail delay in replying. Should we maybe wrap this up soon?))

"Hear hear." Devin agreed. She was usually a pretty easy going person who got on with almost everybody, but if there was one group of people she just could not find common ground with, it was fashionistas, and she was glad to have someone who shared her utterly bemused dislike.
She lifted up her cup in a mock-toast to what Ann had said, grinning.

There would be time for more mocking later, right now Ann had the right idea, and Devin set about ensuring that she drank every last drop of the delicious shake.

[Ann Hudgins]

((Don't worry about it!))

Ann couldn't really say she was an 'easy going person,' because in all past accounts of her Hammel life, she was anything but. The most she'd ever told anyone before she'd gotten better control of her powers was to not touch her under any circumstance. There usually wasn't even a polite greeting. However, at present, she was filling a lot better about her future and what sort of socializing she could handle. This was almost the perfect scenario. The two of them were getting along pretty greatly, and easily (after that first little hiccup), and Ann couldn't really think of a reason why this would turn sour.

The sad thing about having such a great drink was that it went fast. Too fast, almost. There wasn't really winning with it. Either you sipped off of it slowly, and depraved yourself of wonderfulness of it, or you drank if fast so you didn't go without, but then you are done all too fast. She pouted when she straw tried to suck up more of the shake but there wasn't any left at the bottom. So much for cloud nine. She relaxed back in the chair and glanced at Devin. It had already been a mutual decision that they liked each other, and that they were friends. But Ann didn't know what was next. They did the shopping, they did the snack...what was left?

[Devin Sykes]

Once Devin had finally drained the last of her shake, she plonked the cup back onto the table with a satisfied grin.

"I don't know about you but that sort of filled me up," She grinned a little "I don't know if I could manage ice cream on top of that, but maybe we could get one to go?" she could walk and eat ice cream, right? That sort of worked...

"Or we could just head off, it's up to you... you were done shopping, right? I'm not trying to cut you off or anything, I just figure we both want out of this place as soon as possible." she grinned.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann slid the cup between her fingers, as if by staring at it and enough wishing it would refill itself. She was truthfully full of the cold treat, but it just tasted so good. She looked up when Devin started to speak and she grinned halfway, it seemed the two were thinking along the same trail. Ann was full, but she still wanted more. She leaned back as well and let her hands slide from the table and into her lap. However, Devin had the genius idea of getting one to go. That would be fine if she got it and then drank it the entire walk back to campus. Brilliant. "That sounds doable."

At Devin's suggesting of hitting the shoeleather express, Ann nodded her head. It was about time to head back to school, not to mention the mall was starting to fill up with people. "Yeah, I'm up to leave, and it's not like we aren't going to the same place or anything." Ann agreed. Okay, so maybe she didn't need to get another shake, but she eyed the soda machine over by the bathrooms. After that drink she needed something to clear her throat and a cold bottle of water was what the doctor called for. "Though instead of a shake, Imma head over to the soda machine..you want anything?" Ann asked because she felt it necessary to pay the girl back in some little way for being so nice to her--for being her first real friend at this place.

[Devin Sykes]

"Exactly." Devin agreed, it would be a bit silly at this point to leave separately when they were both finished and heading the same way, plus Devin wasn't ready to give up on the company just yet.

"Soda sounds like a great idea actually, I like the way you think." She grinned "Can I have a coke?" She dug into her pocket and pulled out some change, holding it out for Ann to take. It wasn't so much that she didn't want to accept any charity, simply she didn't like to assume that Ann was offering to pay, and didn't want to put her friend in the uncomfortable position of having to ask for money if she hadn't intended to.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann was glad Devin agreed with her, because then they didn't need to share a few awkward glances that would end in Ann scuttling away to some dark corner of the mall, or just running on back to her dorm. Instead, the two of them could continue their...whatever-ya-call-it and have some more fun. Or something of the sort.

At Devin's question, she couldn't help but jibe the girl a little, in just good fun. "Psh, no. You'll get a water and enjoy it." She grinned and laughed. "Naw, coke is good." In moderation, she continued in her mind. Her parents had raised her on a pretty strict diet, and soda didn't make the health cut. As Devin held out the change, Ann held up her hand, palm towards the girl. "Nah, I got it." She smiled sheepishly before she retreated for the machine. After sliding in the bill for the coke, she got herself a water and then returned just as quickly as her retreat.

"Chef's finest. He tells me it was blessed by a priest and a reverend." Ann snorted, feeling a bit proud of herself, not only for her jokes, but also because she was actually comfortable enough with Devin to say them. She then nodded towards the general direction of the exit. "Time to get to steppin' right? That's the word for it, isn't it? Or uhm, something like that...I..heard it in a movie once, I think. I dunno." Ann rambled, and with each word she felt a little more stupid.

[Devin Sykes]

Devin tucked the money back in her pocket with a smile, laughing a little at Ann's joking. She gathered up her stuff while the other girl was at the machine, standing up to wait for her.

"Glad to hear it, I would accept nothing less." Devin joked, sticking her nose up in the air and taking the coke, taking a sip with a thoughtful air and then finally nodding "It will suffice." She announced grandly, only keeping the straight face for a moment before she started laughing - laughing that only increased at Ann's rambling. She didn't intend it meanly, but she couldn't help but find it funny.

"Well, we won't get very far without any stepping." She agreed with as straight a face as she could manage, before laughing again and shaking her head "C'mon." she waved Ann to follow and headed for the exit.

[Ann Hudgins]

"Good. The line was monster." She dragged out and put emphasis on 'monster' just for Devin to get the point...of her joke. She really hadn't stood in line at all, and Devin knew that, but that was what made it a joke. Ha ha.

She nearly snorted when Devin told her it would suffice. She stepped one foot back and did a little curtsy. "I'm forever glad it appeases my Lady." She also didn't forget the little humble head bow. She grinned a bit at herself, not just because she had managed to not think deeply about what Devin said, but also because she had managed to keep a joke going between the two of them. It was no mere feet, I tell you, for Ann it was near miraculous.

Ann didn't need to be called twice. Her stay at the mall was definitely over so she followed behind Devin without further ado.