Chapter 10 | Back to school shoping

After talking to Pamela over the phone, an odd topic came up.

[So your in Grade 5, starting September?] a curiouse voice came from my phone.

''Yup.'' I replied.

[So your 10 or are you 11 years old?] The voice asked with even more confusion.

''Nope, 8.''

[Wait, 8!? ...Then shouldn't you be in 3rd grade?]

''I skipped 2 years.''

[How?]

''Because I'm a genius.'' I used my trusty go to phrase and it seemed to work.

[Sometime I forget how old you are because of how mature you act...] An exasperated sound came from the other end of the phone.

''That's because I'm an orphan.'' I used my combo.

[Ah! sorry...um... so did you do your back to school shopping?] Pamela quickly changed the topic due to the critical hit from my combo.

''Huh? Back to school shopping?'' Her question did get me thinking, but do I even need anything.

[Wait you didn't, then what about cloths?] Pamela exclaimed.

''Umm, I just make due with what I've got?'' I replied not putting to much emphasis on it.

[What!? How do you live like that! Fine, tomorrow I have a free day, so were going shopping!] She said with a lot of energy.

''No, you don't have to.'' I tried to say no, without sounding rude but...

[No, we are going shopping, period... or I might get a little talkative about that new vigilante.] She said and hung-up the call.

Putting my phone down, I sighed, I guess I'm going shopping tomorrow.

Noticing a message that I just got, I checked it and it turned out to be from the person who I was just talking to.

[Tomorrow 4 pm at Gotham Mall.]

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[The next day]

Checking the time, it was 3:30. So I decided to head off to the mall. Checking my cloths I was warring a pain black shirt and beige cargo pants. Putting on my white sneakers I left my apartment and walked to Gotham mall.

Arriving 10 minutes early, I saw Pamela already their. She was wearing a dark green off-shoulder blouse with a tight black skirt and black leggings. Her hair was also curly at the ends and she wore a light bit of makeup. Other than that she also had a small green purse and a leaf shaped necklace. Overall she looked stunning but she seemed a little nervous.

Ever since the kiss on the day she left one of my safe houses, she's been a little bit nervous or awkward at some times, it went down as time went on, but now in person, it seems she went back to being all nervous and awkward.

Checking the [Relationship] tab of the system I checked how she was feeling

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[Relationships]

[Pamela Lillian Isley (Poison Ivy)] - [(Guilty Crush)(Savior)(Dependency)(Denial)(Anxious)]

[Feels slight infatuation and great dependency towards you, but feels guilty for having such feelings towards an 8 year old and currently in denial. Currently self conscious about her appearance and hopping for a complement]

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Reading her [Relationship] bar, [Anxious] seems to have been added, reading the description, I realized she was feeling self-conscious and decided to try and lessen her nervousness.

''You look good.'' I said with a bit of awkwardness, not used to saying something like this. But her entier demeaner seemed to have brighten up as a small smile formed on her face.

''Really!?'' She exclaimed and I nodded, turning my eyes to the [Relationship] screen, it had drastically changed.

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[Relationships]

[Pamela Lillian Isley (Poison Ivy)] - [(Guilty Crush)(Savior)(Dependency)(Denial)(Happy)(Motivated)]

[Happy to be complimented and entirely focused on shopping!]

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As I read the notifications, I noticed the newly kindled fire in her eyes and took a steep back.

She tightly clasped my shoulders and excitedly smiled. Seeing the intimidating sight I gulped with a foreboding feeling. 

''Pamela...'' I weekly said but my words went through on ear and out the other.

''Let's go I know the perfect place!'' She said as she grabbed my hand and rushed into the mall with a happy smile on her face.

Being dragged along I resigned my self to becoming a dress up model for today...

Stepping into a shop Pamela, excitedly picked out cloths for me and had me try out a bunch of different combinations. Currently I was standing in the fitting room, in front of a mirror. In the mirror, I was wearing a black and white stripped T-shirt under a dark green bomber jacket with black pants and a black belt. I did look great, but I wondered if it was to much.

''Mer! hurry up.'' Pamela's voice came from the other end of the curtain, most likely with a new set of clothes she wanted me to try on.

''In a second.'' I replied back, before opening the curtain. 

Looking me over, Pamela nodded her head and smiled.

''It's great we'll get this one too than. Quick try this one on.'' She said handing me a new combination of clothes. Grabbing a hold of them I asked in frustration.

''Aren't you picking out a lot of clothes for someone who claims to be an eco-activist? Shouldn't you not like to many clothes since they create a lot of environmental damage to make?'' I said through gritted teeth as I scrutinized her with a judging gaze, honestly though, I just wanted to get out of this situation. Looking at me she raised an eyebrow.

''Not many people care enough to know that a lot of plastic goes into making their cloths, are you also interested in the environment?'' Pamela asked with genuine intrigue and a hopeful tone.

''No, I-'' I tried to come up with an excuse, since in this world due to the emerging of super powers and alien tech, climate change wasn't as big a problem right now, especially since it became widely talked about in my world near the 2020s. But lucky for me Pamela cut me off to explain about the clothes.

''See this sticker here, it means these cloths are eco friendly and made with environmentally friendly means.'' Pamela explained as she pointed at a green leaf sticker on the price tag. Looking at it now, the sticker was actually on all the clothing she'd picked out.

''Actually, this shop is known for it's eco-friendly clothing and brands. She said pointing to the name of the shop, which had a leaf on the logo... Ok I see it now.

''As expected from a eco-terrorist.'' I whispered, acknowledging her dedication to the environment.

''What?'' he with asked back with a confused look, not quite catching my words.

''-I said, as expected from an eco-activist!'' I quickly fixed my statement.

''Oh, I thought you said eco-terrorist for a second.'' She exclaimed and snickered at how she miss heard my words.

''that's crazy, ha ha ha'' I replayed and laugh back awkwardly.

''OK! lets get everything and head to the next shop!'' Pamela excitedly said grabbing a bunch of different clothes.

Heading to the cash register, I took out my card and was about to pay.

''Nope, it was my idea to go shopping so I'll pay for you.'' Pamela said as she reached into her purse.

''No you really don't have too.'' I said to her, even though she had said she came from a rich family when we where messaging, I still didn't like the idea of someone else paying for me.

''No, I insist.'' She countered, but I was backing off.

''It's fine really.'' I say as I reach my card over to the machine, but suddenly a hand grabs my arm.

''Seriously, it's fine'' I say as I control the force in my hand as not to hurt her.

''Hahahaha''

Suddenly however a laugh interrupts us, turning our heads to the side we both stare at the cashier.

''Sorry, I couldn't control myself.'' The cashier says apologizing, while wiping a tear.

''No it's fine.'' I reply back, honestly our antics where garnering a few gazes. But the cashier smiled warmly and spoke again.

''You too are really close, is he your brother?'' The cashier aske Pamela. Slightly takin aback Pamela tries to explain it.

''No, no, he's not my brother.'' She says.

''Then are you baby sitting him, for his parents?'' The cashier asked.

''He doesn't have any, parents-'' Pamela replied but turned her head towards me seemingly guilty for saying that.

However, the cashier seemed to interpret it differently.

''Wait so you took a little boy, who doesn't have any parents and your not related to go shopping?'' The cashier asked with a skeptical gaze. Pamela began to panic at the wording but was having trouble denying it. Realizing what the cashier was implying I sighed.

''No, um... it's...'' Pamela tried to explain, but their was no way she could explain it.

'She thinks I'm being kidnapped...' Shaking my head I decided to deescalate the situation.

''My big sis was busy, so she asked her friend, Pam to take me back-to-school shopping.'' I said in a childish voice while pointing to Pamela. Pamela, taking the hint played along.

''Ya, that's it. I'm just taking him back-to-school shopping for my friend.'' She said trying to explain herself.

''Ok...'' The cashier not looking fully convinced decided to back down at least. Taking this chance, I scanned my card and payed for the clothes.

Hearing the beep noise, Pamela turned her head towards the card reader and saw me finish the transaction. Taking back my card I smiled at her while waving it to her. Seemingly upset, Pamela walked out of the store with me, while hulling around a few of the bags.

After that me and Pamela went to a few more shops, again fighting to pay the bill. In the end I'd payed four times and Pamela three, I let her have it one time since she seemed to be on the brink of crying, but she caught on and used it to get two more wins... wait weren't we suppose to be shopping? When did it become a weird pay fight?

Well neverminded, half way through me and Pamela got hungry so we decided to get a snack from the food court. I got a burger and soda, while Pamela had a creaser's salad. Curious about something, I decided to ask.

''Are you a vegetarian?'' I asked with interest, hearing my question Pamela raised an eyebrow, but after turning her gaze down and seeing the salad and blushed.

''No, I'm just watching my diet...'' She said as her voice became quitter nearing the end. 

Seeing her reaction, I couldn't stop my self from laughing and burst out laughing. Seeing my reaction, Pamela kicked me in the shin, though it didn't hurt.

''Sorry, sorry, I'll stop.'' I said in mock pain as she continued to glare at me.

Finishing our meals, we went on to actually get school supplies and I actually had no idea what I'd need for school supplies, maybe a pack of pencils and an eraser?

  Like before, Pamela lead the shopping and we headed to the register. After getting everything me and Pamela decided to walk to my house. In my home, I set everything down by the door, wiping the sweat of my forehead I looked at the bags in front of me. It had not been the most extreme work out I had done by far, but it was the most tired I've ever been.

Suddenly, Pamela cleared her throat and I turned towards her, looking at her she didn't seem tired, but I decided to offer anyways.

''Want some water?'' I asked, but she shook her head.

''No, it's um... I was wondering, since it's still pretty early... If... you... wanna go get a bit?'' She spoke with a little difficulty with a hopeful gaze, checking the time it was still 7:00 pm and nodded.

''Sure, I don't have anything to do.'' I say with a teasing smile and she although a bit embarrassed nodded happily.

Leaving my house we went over to a restaurant, it wasn't overly fancy, but it was still good. Once again, though they assumed we were siblings and this time I just nodded along.

Ordering some Chinese food we happily ate and talked for about an hour and a half, until she had to head back. Overall it was fun.

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