How Could This Be Real?

72. Uncle Jim Bob

Eventually, we made it down to the cities. I didn't come here often (to be honest I rarely left North Branch and it's surrounding towns), so seeing all the tall buildings and crowded streets was a pleasant change. We soon pulled into a parking ramp and started walking along the skyway.

"How do you know where you're going?" I asked him as he weaved through the halls like he owned the place.

He shrugged, "I just have killer navigation instincts." I raised an eyebrow skeptically and he smirked, "Oh, alright. Maybe I'm just following the signs."

I glanced around and saw labeled arrows pointing in different directions. Once we turned a corner, I knew where we were going and smiled. "The Mall Of America?"

He nodded, "You been here before?"

"Yeah, a few times. Why would an Englishman such as yourself want to come here?"

"Well when I heard Minnesota had the largest mall in the states, I just had to check it out." His voice changed to a horrid American accent, "Plus, I'll get to see what you Muricans do for fun."

"Oh god, don't speak in that voice ever again."

"Why would you say a thing like that?" he asked, still with the annoying accent. "Do you not like the way I speak?"

I put on an even worse British accent, "No, no I really do not."

He grimaced, "Okay, I'll stop if you stop."

"Deal."

"Seal it with a kiss?"

"Mmm, I think I can do that." So we stopped right there, in the middle of the skyway, and he pulled my lips to his. I smiled and kissed him back, hearing people walk by us and not caring one bit. I pulled away and smirked, "Oh, that was lovely dear."

He frowned, "Hey, we just made a deal!"

I pulled my crossed fingers from behind my back and grinned mischievously, "Nope." I skipped down the hall a ways and called back to him in my accent, "Look at me! I'm British! Would you like some tea and crumpets love?"

"Ugh, stop!" he laughed and ran after me. He chased me around for a while and we were both laughing our heads off the whole time. We got loads of funny looks from the people around us, but I just ignored them. Eventually, I couldn't run anymore so I hid behind a pillar to try and catch my breath. When I thought he had gone by, I peeked my head around the corner and was immediately swept off the ground. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed proudly. "Now, promise you'll stop pretending to be British."

"Never!"

He set me on my feet again and wrapped his arms around me, "Fine, I guess I'll just have to keep you prisoner then."

I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder, "I think I can live with that."

He chuckled and whispered in my ear, "I like to torture my prisoners with tickling."

My eyes widened and I tried to pull away from him, but he held tight. "No! I'll do anything! Please!"

"Say you'll stop with the accent."

"Well, anything but that." His fingers started to move on my waist and I quickly said, "Alright! Okay! I promise I'll quit the British accent!"

"Your fingers aren't crossed this time?" I held up my hands to show him that they weren't and he nodded, "Good. I think I'll keep you hostage a little while longer though..."

"As long as you don't tickle me, that sounds just fine."

He leaned in and brushed our lips together. I sighed happily and we made out for a little while before heading off again. Finally, we were standing inside the mall, looking out over what we could see of the three massive floors.