The Cahill Reunion (The 39 Clues)

Chapter-12

They finally reached the Mall and Amy wasn't kidding about it being more fancier than the one half an hour away. It was definitely bigger, there were huge fountains decorated at each entrance and exit, a whole floor was dedicated to a movie theater as Dan could see, and somehow the Mall just screamed "FANCY!" Thankfully, his itchiness had gone away so he was able to focus on other things. The first thing that caught his eye was a huge banner declaring a new shop opened in the Mall. A Joke Shop. Oh, this was going to be good.

     "Come on. Let's go inside and figure out where we're gonna go," Amy said to the Cahills. 

     "Man, this mustache is, like, so not fly. It's itching like crazy. Couldn't you get, like, a better disguise, Amy?" Jonah asked. Amy had said that a mall could not be rented so there were gonna be people there and therefore, Jonah had to wear a disguise.

     "No, I couldn't. Now stop complaining and let's go!" Amy insisted. Everyone walked into the Mall. The interior was even more impressive than outside. There was a huge swan statue with water coming out of its wingtips in the middle of the floor. And all around were the most fanciest stores Dan had ever seen. Chanel, Gucci, Forever 21 etc. Simply put, everything that could make the girls faint with happiness and Dan faint with boredom and disgustion. Dan looked around for the joke shop but it must have been somewhere on the upper floors since Dan couldn't see it anywhere.

     "Where're we gonna go first?" Hamilton asked.

     "I'm going to that clothing shop over there. Their dresses simply look marvelous!" Natalie said and then she started walking towards it. Amy shrugged and beckoned for the others to follow. The Holts and Dan didn't look so keen to go to the shop.

     "How about we just . . . umm . . . go to the food court?" Reagan asked Amy.

     "Nope. They sell clothes for males too, and we're gonna shop together," Amy replied firmly. "Now go."

     Dan and the others grumbled and followed Natalie into the shop. One look into the shop, and Dan was sure he was gonna puke. The maniquens were mostly dressed in girl's gowns and frilly dresses — the things that Dan hated most. And finally, Dan's eyes laid on a manniquen wearing a bikini.

     "Aaargh! My eyes! They're burning!" Dan shouted shielding his eyes. Amy rolled her eyes and dragged him, Jonah, Phoenix, Ned, Ted and Hamilton to the upper floor where the Men's section was. Ian had already gone up as soon as he entered the store.

     "Now go and pick something," Amy ordered them.

     "Aren't you going to buy anything?" Ted asked her.

     "No, I'm already happy with my clothes," Amy replied.

     "No fair! Amy, you're gonna have to buy some of those clothes or I'm gonna run right out and go to the food court!" Dan said.

     " . . . Fine. Go, and don't think of escaping from here," Amy called after them as they dragged their feet to the most simple clothes they could find. Just then, Ian came out of the changing room dressed in a prim perfect suit. He looked really . . . really . . . wow! Amy caught herself thinking that and scolded herself. He is a Cobra! The one who tried to kill you multiple times! Yes, he's cute but underneath that is a . . . a basilisk just waiting to kill its enemy!

     Ian noticed Amy staring at him, possibly having an internal struggle. He walked up to him, flashing his most dazzling smile.

     "So, how do I look?" Ian asked her, gesturing towards the suit.

     "Okay, I guess," Amy answered trying to keep herself from stuttering.

     "Okay? You don't think I look stunning?" Ian asked, putting on a fake sad face.