Two hours, one meal, and numerous stores later, he was feeling - for what he assumed was the first time in his life - completely shopped out. Even for a guy with multiple superpowers, keeping up with an American teenage girl in a mall had proved to be a draining task. Still, he was actually having fun...it was nice to just be a normal person for awhile, in the company of a friend, and allow himself to temporarily forget all the craziness of his life.
They continued to wander around the mall, now somewhat aimlessly. There were really no more stores either of them seemed interested in. And besides, he would have felt embarrassed to ask her for any more money, after she had already been nice enough to buy him some new clothes, which he repeatedly said he would pay her back for if and when he got a job. Of course, the idea of him actually going out and getting a job had led to some good-natured joking between the two about what he was actually qualified for, and as they laughed at the different scenarios he took a moment to enjoy how ordinary this all felt.
As they started to make their way to the exit, he thanked her again, but not just for the clothes. "I just want to say thanks for getting a hold of me and asking me to come out. It was fun. I know I haven't really kept in touch lately. I've just been trying to process everything, you know? But you and Gabriel have been great, and a big help. In fact, after Gabriel told me about what powers I have...well, I've actually been practicing them, trying to figure them out. It's going OK, although it's still taking some getting used to. But none of it would even be possible if not for you be willing to take a chance on me. I appreciate it."