Nicki smiled and returned Nika's tight hug. Okay, so this whole thing seemed a little goofy to her, it was well worth it to see Nika so happy and at ease. What were some ears and tail when it came to making someone feel at home?

Nicki smiled as Nika brought up food. "Oh my God, ice cream would be so amazing right now" Nicki smiled, looking over to Nika. "I'm a bit of a sugar fiend, don't mind me..."

"Oh really?! So am I. I love sweets. I never really got them when I was younger so now I indulge myself when I can." Nika hooked Nicki's arm again as they stepped out of Claire's and made their way to the food court. They were definately getting some interesting looks now that both of them had ears and a tail.

A couple girls walking the opposite direction smiled at Nika and Nicki. "That's soo cute," said one. "I want one now," said the other.

Nika turned to Nicki and smiled brightly. "We're popular."

When they got to the food court Nika head straight for Dairy Queen. "I'd like a banana split with extra fudge sauce please. What are you gonna have girlie?"

Nicki chuckled as Nika pulled her to the Dairy Queen. Good to see that sugar-fiendishness can bring people together.

Smiling brightly at the two girls who walked back, Nicki was amazed when Nika uttered the p-word. The P-word was something Nicki had never been and it never would have crossed her mind to think anything like that: Nicki had assumed the girls were being sarcastic.

"Oh, I'll have the same and one of the those sundaes with the cookies and the sprinkles and stuff?" Nicki smiled, turning and grinning to her comrade.

"Careful you're gonna make your teeth hurt sweetie," Nika said with a playful smile. "Oh, and can I get a milk too please? I think that's it for me. Are you all set Nicki?" The woman behind the counter waited to make sure she got the order correct before ringing everything up.

Nicki smiled as Nika made the teeth comment. Nicki's mom always told her she was shocked Nicki's teeth hadn't rotted out of her head with all the sweets she ate. Nicki smiled and turned to the cashier, elbowing Nika playfully.

"And a coke please. No ice" Nicki smiled and handed the girl behind the counter some cash. "I got it Nika" Nicki smiled, took her change, and grabbed her food, moving over to the counter where they kept the straws and spoons and stuff.

"Aww thanks sweetie." Nika smiled as Nicki offered to pay for their treats. She waited for her banana split and followed her roommie to get a spoon and some napkins. "Let's sit over there." Nika pointed out a small table with two chairs.

She sat her treat and milk on the table and pulled out the chair and sat down. Nika then scooped up a spoonful of icecream and let it melt in her mouth. The cold ice cream felt good on her tongue and the creamy sweetness made her smile as she enjoyed the moment.

"Ice cream is the best invention ever. God bless all them ancient people who figured this stuff out" Nicki smiled as she started on the split. Junk food was the best kind in the world. She let the scoop of the split melt down her throat before turning and taking a bite of the chocolate chip sundae she had also got. The cookie was freshly made and the warmth of it made the vanilla ice cream melt rapidly. Heaven.

"You want a bite?" Nicki offered the sundae to Nika.

"Sure I'll try some." Nika scooped some of the sundae with her own spoon and savored the taste. "That's pretty good stuff right there." Nika took another spoonful of her split and looked around a bit as she sucked the ice cream off her spoon. "Food courts are pretty good ideas too," she said with a slight giggle. It was obvios the two of them were enjoying themselves.

"What do you wanna do after this girlie?"

Nicki smiled as she kept shoving food down her throat. This was a really great idea. Nika's light attitude must have been contagious: crowds and malls were usually the last things on the list of fun for Nicki but she was surely enjoying herself this time around.

"I don't know. You said you needed some clothes right? Maybe you want to hit another store or something. I'm mostly just here for the moral support or whatever" Nicki laughed. spooning some more ice cream into her mouth.

"Yeah, but I think I'll just grab some stuff from places I already know like Hot Topic and PacSun." Nika spooned another bite of ice cream into her mouth. "You seem like you're having a decent time though."

"Hot Topic doesn't sound too bad" Nicki smiled as she sipped her soda after finishing off the split. She turned her full attention to the cookie sundae she had left.

"I'm actually having a lot of fun Nika. More than I thought I was going to. Thanks for pulling me out of the room and away from the books" Nicki smiled. This was easily the first time she had thanked someone for getting her away from books.

Nika smiled brightly as Nicki thanked her. She was happy that her roommate was having a good time. "You're welcome hun. What are friends for if not to have fun with and help each other?"

Nika finished her banana split and downed her milk. "Ok, let's go check out Hot Topic then." She got up and threw away her trash and placed the tray on top of the trash bin while waiting for Nicki to do the same. As soon as Nicki was done Nika hooked her arm again and started for the store.

When they got there they heard some pretty heavy beat music playing. Nika couldn't help but bop her head a little to the beat as they entered the store. The sales lady who greeted them had three piercings in her lower lip, one in her right eye brow and several in each ear, but she was very friendly.

Nicki felt a small amount of culture shock as she entered the Hot Topic. While she had bought shirts and such from the store, Nicki had only bought them online: they didn't have a store in her hometown. Nicki was shocked to see so many piercings on a single girl but she shook it off, not that shocking after a couple of days in New York.

Nicki stepped over and started walking a little, seeing everything from fishnet shirts to Spongebob sweaters. "This place has multiple personalities..." Nicki shook her head a little and turned toward the more happy-go-lucky side. "This your kinda stuff?" Nicki asked.

Nika looked over in Nicki's direction and spotted some shirts with faeries and others that said stuff like "Rock Star" and "Bad Kitty". "Yeah those look cute."

Just as she had finished her comment to Nicki a boy spoke up to Nika. "Hey that's a great collar." She turned to see who was talking to her and saw a guy dressed all in black with red hair. "Thank you," she replied politely. The guy nodded and went on looking through the store.

Nicki looked at a rack of shirts that had soda names on them and turned to Nika as the guy said something about her collar. Nicki dropped her voice considerably.

"Dude, he was flirtin" Nicki smiled, elbowing Nika playfully.