It's all fun and games until a rabid dog shows up

It was Saturday, no better day to hang out with your best friend! Am I right? So there I was enjoying some much needed caffeine.

“*Sip* Yum! The new Matcha Frappe is actually pretty good! I’m still shocked by how I can taste the cocoa and yet it looks green.”

I decided to go in for another sip, this flavor is absolute heaven! This is just what I needed: no school, no annoying boys, and most importantly no sudden need to break out into dance. I’m sure she feels the same way, why wouldn’t she. I decided to see how my friend was doing.

“Hey Stacy, how’s the strawberry smoothie! It’s your favorite right?”

“Hmm, Oh! Sorry, I guess I don’t have much of a sweet tooth today.”

“Stacy…”

She didn’t even drink a sip of her smoothie, she really must feel bogged down by what happened yesterday. Dammit! Stacy you really are too sweet, you know that right! That loser probably got roughed up, but why does that matter? What matters is that you’re okay right? However, after we got away you immediately wanted to run back and check on that guy. Despite me trying to stop you, you ended up running back to where Bernard was hitting on you. What we found was no one there. I thought seeing that would alleviate your guilt, but instead you felt worse. Poor stacy, there’s gotta be something I can do to-

“OH! I know what you need, a nice change of pace!”

“Huh? Nina what are you-”

“Follow me princess!”

I immediately grabbed Stacy’s hand and dragged her at high speeds to a different spot. This was met with Stacy screaming and begging me to slow down.

****

“Here we are, sorry for the bumpy ride Stacy.”

“Nina, you’re trying to kill me aren’t you?”

We finally made it to the place I wanted her to check out, Stacy looked stunned for a moment.

“Cold Subjects, why on earth would we be here?”

“Come on Stacy, I know how much you like the accessories this place has! On top of that, you love Goth stuff right!?!”

“WHA- Nina! You promised you wouldn’t say it out loud!”

Stacy has a strange love for Goth styles and all sorts of weird things. That’s why whenever she’s down I bring her here.

“You always said you wished you had the courage to create a goth outfit right, well maybe today is the day to face your fears!”

“Nina! You’re a real bully, you know that right!”

Stacy said that, but I could tell by the smile on her face that she was starting to feel better. Now then, let’s go and take a look-Eh? Hold on, that can’t be right can it?

“Uh, Nina? Is everything alright?”

“Stacy, am I seeing things correctly?”

“What?”

“Look over there.”

I pointed to the place I was looking at, when Stacy saw the area in question she made an expression similar to a certain electric mouse. I couldn’t help but turn red with fury, Stacy turned red but for a different reason.

“That little punk! He has some real nerve doesn’t he, and to do this in broad daylight no less!”

“Wait! Maybe this is some big misunderstanding!”

“I’m not gonna wait here and find out!”

I immediately started walking towards him, Stacy tried to motion me away but I kept going. Once I got close I decided to break my silence.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THERE!”

The idiot threw up his hands and turned to see me and Stacy standing there. This was supposed to be a peaceful day without idiots, so why is stupid boy Tom here!

****

I’m dreaming right, there’s no way that Nina and Stacy are standing there. I decide to blink, and upon opening my eyes, their still there and Nina is getting more pissed by the moment. No, no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no! NO! THIS IS BAD! Why are they here!?! What’s even worse than that, I look like a total pervert right now! I know, maybe I can talk to them!

“Wait, I can explain-”

“STUPID BOY TOM! WHY ARE YOU NEAR THE PANTIES SECTION!”

“You’re making me look like a degenerate!”

This is no good, Nina is in her rabid dog form! I’m unable to flee from battle, and even the priestess Stacy can’t lift her berserk status-WHY AM I USING RPG SPEAK! I got to find a way out of this!

“Wait Nina, maybe he has a good reason for being close to the underwear.”

“Don’t give him an out Stacy!”

Like an angel, Stacy comes to the rescue! Just what I needed, maybe I can survive this after-

“Before you say that Stacy, look at what’s in his left hand.”

“Eh?”

What the hell is she talking about, the only thing in my left hand is a keych-WHAT THE HELL IS THIS DOING HERE! I noticed the sword keychain in my hand snagged a pair of panties on the wall. I must’ve snagged it accidentally when I was turning around, but that’s not the worst part. The pair of panties was the lace kind, in other words it was the paradise of boys my age. Right now I look like I got caught red handed, maybe I can-

“No way, Thomas, why do you have those!?!”

“I can explain!”

“Yeah perv boy Tom, explain a way!”

Nina kept pointing at me like a criminal and Stacy began to hold her reddening face. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Nina decided to toss in a grenade.

“What's worse about all this is the fact that those panties are your size.”

““HUH!?!””

Me and Stacy had the same expression, why would Nina say that. To tell your friend’s secret lik-WAIT STACY WEARS THE SAME SIZE AS THESE! Oh god don’t tell me Nina’s about to-

“Bastard! Imagining my friends in those, in broad daylight too! Forget about pitying this guy Stacy, he needs more punishment it seems!”

“GGGGAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!”

“WWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!”

Stacy covered her eyes and squealed, meanwhile I started crying. My teenage life is over! Nina’s totally gonna beat the crap outta me, and Stacy’s gonna think I’m a weirdo now. Why the hell is this happening to me! I blinked again, and Nina was gone. When I looked done I saw a young red-haired maiden prepping to uppercut my jaw. I prepared for the pain to come to me, but right before the punch connected...

“Hello sir, your cousin is currently-Is everything alright?”

“Hmm, Tracey?”

“Oh! Why hello Stacy, and Nina is here too!”

Wait, the employee knows them? Am I saved?

****

I’M SAVED! THANK YOU TRACEY, I’LL REPAY THIS DEBT I SWEAR IT! Nina and Stacy are currently beet red after hearing my cover story from Tracey. She also noticed the keychain stuck to the panties and that the keychain section was right next to it.

“I was planning to move the keychains away, now I have a proper excuse. Sorry for the trouble Thomas.”

“No worries, thanks for the save Ms.Tracey.”

“Well now, no need for all that! I’m just twenty four after all!”

Tracey has no idea how much of a lifesaver she is, if she didn’t appear when she did, I shudder to even think about it. Soon I heard some rustling from close by, I then turned around to see Stacy bowing towards us.

“I’M SO SORRY!”

“Huh?”

I was shocked, I didn’t expect Stacy to make such a gesture in order to apologize. She must really feel ashamed about this whole thing, before I could tell her it was fine she looked back at Nina.

“You too!”

“Huh?”

“You need to apologize too Nina!”

“HUH!?!”

Nina looked like a deer in head lights, she looked between everyone standing there. I simply stood with my arms crossed and with a smirk on my face, it’s not everyday when you get to see and hear the blood hound give an apology. Nina began blushing, and then mumbled something.

“......ry okay.”

“Huh? I’m sorry little miss, could you speak a little louder?”

“Damn you! I SAID I’M SORRY OKAY!”

Nina’s face was crimson and she had tears in her eyes, she’s completely embarrassed. Stacy sighed and then gave a soft smile, I decided to pull back since everything was settled. After that, Tracey went back to check on Eve. Leaving me to chat with the girls.

“I swear this isn’t over!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll get even for this embarrassment!”

No way, after all that Nina still wants to start a confrontation! What is up with this girl! You know what, I’ve had enough of this!

“Like hell you will.”

“Huh?”

“You heard me, here I am trying to get some shopping done for my cousin’s sake and then you decide to ruin my day. On top of that, yesterday I took a bullet for you two, and you repay that by making me look like a pervert. I guess that’s what I get for being nice right!”

Nina looked stunned and Stacy covered her mouth, I was mostly trying to retaliate if anything. I have no regrets for stepping in to help them, but I’m not gonna let Nina slide. I watch Nina’s face go through a cycle of emotions: anger, dread, embarrassment, and even sadness. Looks like I’m the winner this time Nina, but before I could say those words Stacy decided to step in.

“Sorry about that Thomas, also how are your injuries? I’m sure Bernard must’ve pummeled you yesterday, are you doing alright?”

“Yeah that’s right, shouldn’t you be in a hospital bed right now! Why is a patient on the loose!?!”

“Am I really that pathetic?”

I simply told them I’m a durable guy and left it at that. Stacy breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that, is everything alright? After that she reached into her bag and put something in front of me.

“This is for you, take it!”

“Huh?”

It was a chocolate bar, I took it from Stacy and she gave me a light smile. The dog’s response to this was to be expected.

“Stacy! Why’d you give him some of your sweets! That’s your favorite bar too! Wait, didn’t you buy fiv-”

“Nina, I think you’ve told enough of my business for today!”

Wait, Stacy bought five of these bars! Oh, so she just gave me an extra, I guess that makes sense. Stacy gave me a nod of approval as she covered Nina’s mouth and dragged her away from the store. Jeez, talk about a way to get my blood pumped.

****

“I swear Nina! One of these days you’re gonna be the death of me!”

“You say that when you just carried me to the other side of the mall in like two minutes!”

“Wait, did I really bring you that far?”

Nina made a smirk at me and began laughing, I began to pummel her playfully. After a while I began to snicker a bit, I’m glad he’s okay. I thought for the worst when I left him behind that day, at least he’s okay.

“Hmmm?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know why, but I finally feel thirsty all of the sudden.”

I pull the straw from my bag and finally start drinking my smoothie, hehe it’s so sweet!

****

“Now then the moment you’ve been waiting for, TA-DA!”

“So, I kept you waiting didn’t I!”

Tracey presented Eve like a show man, as for Eve she came out the dressing room in different attire. She was wearing a T-shirt over a dark red long sleeve with a black skirt and stockings to match. Eve had her hands on both her hips and puffed her chest out with pride, I simply went over and patted her on the head. As a response to this Eve jabbed me in the ribs, I thought you wanted me to coddle you? Tracey began snickering at us while we had our moment, and soon we found ourselves at the register. Luckily the items weren’t that expensive, Eve even got some undergarments out of the deal. Although the moment I heard that get mentioned, I broke out into a cold sweat. The result being both the gals laughing at me and my plight. After that we left the store and I carried Eve’s bags, however our journey was halted by another discovery.

“THOMAS! THOSE TWO MEN ARE FIGHTING ON THE TV! THEIR PUNCHES LEAVE ELECTRICITY BEHIND!”

“It’s a fighting game Eve, oh right you’ve never seen videogames before.”

“Vi-D-O game? No way, you trap people inside the TV and force them to fight for entertainment! Wow and I thought I was evil!”

After that I decided to fill Eve in a bit about the technology we have now, after a while our clock rang. That clock being Eve’s grumbling stomach, however instead of being embarrassed by that-

“Boy, feed you master this instant!”

“You really love bossing me around don’t you?”

I decided to take Eve to the Chinese spot close by, she was intrigued by the menu and in the end decided on some Roast Pork Lo Mein. Upon getting her food, Eve examined it with glee. I couldn’t help but chuckle watching her like that.

“I’ve never seen spaghetti like this before!”

“It’s not spaghetti, it’s a different noodle dish. I can’t wait to watch you try ramen eventually.

“What’s ramen?”

“It’s food that an orange wearing ninja loves.”

Eve decided to give her food a bite, and immediately started to chow down. I don’t know why but I feel happy seeing her eat like this, maybe I was lonely since I never had anyone to talk to. Speaking of talking to someone, I pulled the candy bar Stacy gave me out of my pocket. I couldn’t help but stare at it with glee, i think any guy would be happy getting chocolate from a girl.

“Hehehe”

“What’s up?”

“You got that from some girl while I was away?”

“Huh!?!”

How did she know? Eve started laughing at me, so I retaliated saying I wasn’t sharing. The result was Eve apologizing and begging for half of it. I’ll need to write this in my guide for how to tame a dark lord.