>It was a time consuming drive but you finally made it to the mall
>You found a space to park and walked to the entrance with girls
>You walked in and was presented with a board displaying a map of the entire mall
"Okay, so we are here and the food court is near the center of whole building."
>"Where is the nearest clothes shop?"
>Adagio really wanted those bathing suits
"It says there's one along the way to the food court."
>"Perfect. We'll shop for the clothes first then continue to the food court."
>"Aww man."
>Sonata didn't sound too thrilled
>You all began walking past all the other stores
>Some sold electronics, books, toys, until finally arriving at the first clothes store
>The girls ran in there and started to look through all the shelves and racks
>You chose to stay near the entrance and wait for them to finish
>It didn't take long but Aria was the first to make a selection

>You saw she had a few different articles on hand
"That's everything you're gonna get?"
>"Yeah, I just chose what fits and looks okay."
>Guess she wasn't too heavy on worrying about what she was wearing
>The other two seemed to be taking quite a while though
>"You mind if we go looking around the other shops while they finished?"
>You were a little shocked at this request of hers
>'She' wants to spend time with 'you'? 
>'Alone'?
"Sure."
>You went over to the cashier and payed for Aria's clothes then both of you went exploring the other shops

>You ended up following close behind her as she walked around inside the nearby shops
>You weren't doing much browsing
>You mainly stayed close as she looked around
>She had a fair expression on the entire time
>Not grumpy nor happy
>You weren't doing or thinking about anything but the warmth started growing inside you
>You came to the electronic shop and they also sold phones here
>You thought of the idea of buying one for them
>At least one of those prepaid ones
>This way they can call you if they need you for anything
>Aria continued to look around while you rung up the phones
>You completed the purchase and whatnot and walked over to Aria
"Here."
>You hand her the phone
>"What's this for?"
"In case you need me for anything or stuff."
>She replied with such sarcasm
>"Yeah, I'll be sure to call you next time I need someone to grope me without permission."
>She still doesn't seem to accept it was just an accident
>She kept the phone though so that made you feel glad
>You already put your number into Aria's phone so you started putting it in the other two as you both made your way back to the clothes shop
>Sonata was near the entrance waving at you two
>"Why'd you guys leave? You didn't get to see us try our clothes?"
"Sorry, we wanted to have a look around while you two got done picking something out."
>"Well come on, I want to go eat already."
>You chuckled and followed her with Aria back into the shop

>Inside the shop you see Adagio standing next to the cashier with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face
>Maybe she was upset you left
>Normally her reaction would cause the chill to return but you remained unaffected
>You hear Aria huff before brushing past you
>Now the chill did come but why from her
>The first thing that popped into your head was to pay for the clothes
"Oh right, right. Sorry about that."
>You walk over to Adagio and see a pile of clothes sitting on the counter between her and the cashier
"I'll pay for those."
>The cashier gave a puzzled expression
>The chill faded as you handed her your credit card
>Her expression changed to a 'whatever' and completed your purchase
>She bags the clothes and hands them to you
>You were about to hand each of them their bag but a rising chill made you decide against it
>You held onto Sonata and Adagio's bags as all four walked out of the shop

>You followed behind the three of them as you headed to the food court
>You look towards Aria and notice she's been holding her own bag the entire time
>There was no chill but you still felt bad you didn't hold it for her before you left to explore the other shops
>The lack of a chill left you with the next decision
>You scurry close to Aria's side
"You want me to hold your bag?"
>"What!?"
>Her reaction was not the one you imagined
"Your bag. You want me to hold it for you?"
>You point to the bag in her hand
>"Oh 'bag'. I thought you said . . ."
>She turned red and immediately stopped her thought
>What did she think you said?
>She began raising the bag towards your outstretched palm
>She gives a quick glance at the other two girls behind your shoulders before moving the bag to her other hand
>"No thanks. I can carry it myself. I'm not some prissy little princess who needs a slave to do things for her."
>You weren't insulted when she called you a 'slave' but felt put down by her response
"Oh, okay. Sure, I was just wondering . . ."
>"I don't need you to do things for me unless I ask you to, okay?"
>You nod and fall back behind them again
>You should be upset but that conversation created a warmth inside you

>Reaching the food court, Sonata dashes for the nearest vendor
>You and the other two find a table to sit at
>Adagio takes up nearly a whole bench as she lifts her legs onto it
>You sit on the other side placing the bags down on the table
>Aria sets her bag on top of the others and sits on the side you're on aswell
>The three of you sit there while Sonata blurs past each food place
>Looking at the bags you remember the phones you bought
>You reach in and grab the two remaining phones out
"Adagio, I got these for you guys so you can call me if you need anything. My number is already inside."
>You stand up and walk around the table to Adagio's side and hand her the phone
>She takes it and immediately starts texting in it
>She puts it away and looks at you with a smug look waiting for your response
>You feel your phone vibrate in your pocket and proceed to pull it out
>You open the message and read it in your head
>'You'll feel me vibrate for you whenever I want nowÂ ;p'
>You got a shiver and slowly backed away to your seat
>You didn't realize but you sat down a few inches closer to Aria
>You placed the other phone down across from you for Sonata, assuming Adagio will put her legs down so she can sit
>You put your phone away, leaving vibrations on, and waited for Sonata to come back
>It didn't take long
>She rushed down next to Aria, forcing her to move closer to you
>Aria gave her a grouchy face
>"You, guys! There is sooo much food here. I can't decide what I want first!"
"First? We're only getting one meal."
>"Awww."
>Sonata put on a frown
>Adagio brings her legs down and reaches for the phone you set down
>"Sonata, catch!"
>She slides it down, almost towards Aria
>Sonata reacts with almost cat like reflexes and moves in for the phone
>She forces Aria to bump right next you as she grabs it

>She had a shocked expression while you had a clueless one
>You notice her burning cheeks and immediately get up from your seat
"So what do you girls want to eat!"
>You shouldn't have done that
>A deep chill started to grow
>You thought she was uncomfortable and that getting up was the right thing to do
>You thought of sitting back down but that made the chill worse
>You couldn't take back your action
>Adagio and Sonata immediately stand up and walk you away to order food
>Few seconds pass before Aria snaps out of her shock and follows behind
>They stop you a few feet away from the counter
>Adagio leaves you and heads back to Aria while Sonata starts ordering
>They were whispering to each other while facing away from you
>You tried to listen before a hand on your chin turned you to face the counter
>This action seemed somewhat odd coming from Sonata
>You'd assume she would just grab your arm and throw you to the cashier
>You forget about the whispering and follow Sonata to buy the the food
>You pay and turn to see that the other two had gone
"Where are the others?"
>"Hm, I don't know. Maybe they went to the restroom, which reminds me, I should go too."
>She skips away and leaves you waiting for your order to be done
>As she turns a corner, you start thinking about the chill you got
>Usually these chills come when an action you do would be negative towards any of them
>Seeing Aria's reaction made you think standing up would be positive but was not
>. . .
>'She wanted me to stay next to her?'

>If someone could hear your heart they would hear it implode into itself then release into thousands of shards of glass that tear into your lungs
>You were taking in large gasps of air as you could feel yourself drowning in the thought of seeing them upset with your actions
>Aria displayed a very tough exterior but if you managed to break her down to tears . . .
>Now images of Aria crying poured in
>You clenched your chest for fear of your heart falling out as it grew heavy with your souring blood
>You were in full control when you decided to stand up
>You were the one who moved away from her
>You were the one who brought this unsettling feeling to yourself
>You were disgusted with yourself
>You began thinking of the warmth you felt while walking with her earlier and how you'll never feel it again
>There was a tugging in your mind felt across your forehead
>Your legs weren't running after her so your brain planned on doing it itself
>You closed your eyes and covered your ears to seal any exits
>You could hear nor see nothing
>Most of your brain was still trying to chase after her but this darkness let you hear a second thought
>A different thought
>It felt strange, almost alien, and it wasn't moving with the rest
>It lay at the back of your mind and was holding back the rest
>'Escape while they are gone'

>'Escape?'
>'From who?'
>You tried reassuring yourself that you were with them willingly
>You were only here to help them
>To keep them safe
>To make them happy
>Their happiness was important to you
>But they didn't seem happy right now
>"Sir? Your order is done."
>You open your eyes to see one of your hands gripped onto your opposite wrist
>You didn't realize your hands had moved down from your head
>"Sir?"
>You spin around to face the cashier who was waiting with your food
>Your mind went silent as you slowly moved over to pick up the food then turned to walk back to the table
>You set the food down then sat back where you previously were
>You set all of their meals in their seats then waited patiently for their return
>You stared at the empty seats before looking down at your meal
>You hungered but not for food
>You wanted their affections
>Their approval
>Their forgiveness
>You return focus to your plate and see a drop of blood
>You bring a finger up to your nose and see it's bleeding
>'Don't lose yourself. Escape!'
>It was that foreign part of your mind speaking on its own
>'Their grip is weakened. Escape!'
>You grab a napkin and wipe the blood away
"I don't want to leave them."
>'Don't fall for them again!'
>This voice was slowly fading
>Your ears perk up as the sound of chanting began to grow behind you
>You don't turn as you hear it get closer to you
>You feel like smiling
>The sight of Sonata and Adagio walking past your table made your heart come alive
>They continue to walk to the other end of the court
>You feel a hand rest on your shoulder and another one is immediately brought up to your chin
>Both force your body to turn in your seat where you are greeted with Aria's face
>You see her give a worried glance at the other two who haven't turned to face the table yet
>She moves both her hands to your head and brings your lips up to hers
>Your heart skips a beat