"My plan stopped at donuts. Lets loiter!"
As much of a lame plan as it was, nobody present seemed to mind. Especially since that was what the teenaged trio tended to do on any given day anyway. It was Summer in Daven's Port, and that meant that the city was more alive than ever. There were plenty of things to do and plenty of sights to see. New people coming in for the beach, shops and stands unveiling their newest tourist traps, and most importantly—food out the wazoo!
All across town, but especially in the pier and surrounding areas, local food vendors always went all out when Summer time came 'round. Ice cream trucks slashed their prices, cotton candy stands offered extra curly wigs for no extra charge, and grills could be heard sizzling all around. The salty air of the sea carried the smell of burgers, hot dogs, and even the sweet tangy scent of the Barbecue Hut. Everyone from Bongo's Burger Shack to House of Wings was crazy about peddling out free samples to wrangle in customers, and Piper was just the sort of girl to know how and where all the best spots in town were.
"Oh my god... so full..." Zack groaned as he leaned against the warm brick of an old building downtown, "I think I'm gonna spew..."
"No more..." Dakota cradled her full belly with one hand, the rim of her mouth sticky with cotton candy, "No more free samples..."
The afternoon sun hung low against the horizon as Piper led her feeble-kneed friends up the road and into downtown. Piper had led them on a crusade against common sense, and had insisted on hitting every stop in Daven's Port there was to hit. Starting with the sliders from the burger shack, then onto the big blue "ocean-side extravagance" cotton candy cones, then trying a free sample of every flavor at Carly's Creamery, and on and on and on. Around the time they'd stuffed down a few boneless bites, (in flavors ranging from honey-mustard to New York Mild) from House of Wings, Dakota and Zack were looking a little green around the gills. Their eating escapades had only been broken up by mild interference of kitschy tourist shops, but even Zack didn't mind going into Porter's Apparel so long as it meant he didn't have to eat another something for the next fifteen minutes.
"Oh come on, guys." Piper trudged forward, hardly worse for wear, "It's only a little further!"
Whereas Zack and Dakota had found it harder and harder to move with every approaching stand, shop, or stall, Piper seemed unencumbered by the bloated food-baby she was carrying around. The distended pooch of her gut looked uncomfortably full—for all that Zack and Dakota had eaten, Piper had easily led the charge. She was a little sweaty after having spent all day out in the sun, her long black hair starting to frizz, but that was about it. The fact that she wasn't doubled over in gastronomic agony was what worried her friends; she was just going to make them eat more!
Piper's insistence on taking advantage of every free food giveaway on the east side of town meant {i]every stop had to be made. They'd strategically made their way up and down the pier, through the beach, and into the city. She had promised that this would be the last one.
Steak n Shake was giving away free small milkshakes for another hour! Their all-day promotion was about to end, and Piper was going to be damned if she didn't get to wash her mighty meal down with a cool, refreshing strawberry milkshake!
"You've been saying that for hours." Zack moaned, "I'm friggin' beat..."
"It's been like fifteen minutes." Dakota cut her eyes in frustration at Zack, "But I'm with Zack... can't we just go home?"
"What? No way!" Piper piped, despite the fact that even she was struggling with the slight incline of the street, "I swear it's like... five more minutes, okay? Then we can be done."
Dakota and Zack rolled their eyes and kicked off of their respective stopping spots, making mental notes to never let Piper decide what they would be doing for the day ever again. They had literally been eating all day; starting with D's and ending with Steak n Shake. How many thousands of calories had Piper made them ingest for her own amusement?! At least with all this walking there was no worries about burning them all off.... hopefully.
And Piper was happy to lead them! Up the street, to the right, and then Steak n Shake was the first place on the right. Right next to that place that used to be the fancy Italian restaurant... what was it called? Papa's! It's right next to Papa's.
Hmm... come to think of it, was Papa's giving out free samples? She might have to check that out.
But as she continued onward, leading her reluctant friends behind her, something caught Piper's eye. Something that, thankfully for Zack and Dakota, wasn't food.
"What's that?" Zack asked, following Piper's line of sight.
It was an old shop, standalone from the rest of the buildings. It had its own little lot and a cute little canopy over the glass door. On first glance it looked to be closed. However, Piper could clearly make out a faint light inside. Maybe they just used dim bulbs? The sign on the door said open...
"Abida's Eclectics, huh?" Piper mused out loud...
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