"Grace, I am not going out there in this!"
Grace looked herself up and down in the mirror. She and Zoe were standing behind a large red, velvet curtain, trying on the bridesmaid dresses Jessie and Katie had picked for them.
They were especially….horrible….
An almost magenta colour, strapless corset top and long skirt. Grace's corset was too small, and her breasts were spilling over the top, whereas Zoe's corset was far too big for her 'underdeveloped' chest, and she had to keep pulling it up so it didn't slip all the way down.
"I could wear the top as a cute little skirt I guess?" Zoe said, examining the top in the mirror with a glimpse of hope.
Grace rolled her eyes, "I don't think even that would help,…" she murmured under her breath, as she tried to push down her emerging boobs.
"Hurry up ladies!" Jessie giggled outside.
"Grace!" Zoe stomped her foot again, and Grace turned around, cracking a small smile as Zoe struggled with the corset again, pulling it up practically to her chin.
"We just need the tops adjusted is all, Zoe…they'll look…." She thought for a moment, biting her lip "nice…that's it…they'll look nice…once the corset's are adjusted!"
Zoe rolled her eyes, "mine is done up as tight as it will go, and this was the smallest size!"
"Mine is the largest size they had!" Grace murmured, turning back to the mirror and raising an eyebrow at her bulging chest.
"You wanna lend me some of that?" Zoe asked, meaning Grace's breasts.
Grace rolled her eyes again, "you never know Zo…maybe you'll grow yourself a pair before the wedding…?"
"Ha! Ha!" Zoe said, sarcastically, "in 5 days time?…doubtful…very doubtful!"
"Are they on yet?" Jessie called out again, "can I come in and see?"
Grace hissed at Zoe to shut-up, before Jessie heard their sniggering, "No! Its ok! We'll come out and...err…parade?" she called, and Zoe punched her in the arm.
"I am not going out there in this!" she said, sternly.
Grace grabbed her arm, "yes you are…for Jessie and Katie!" she ordered, and pulled Zoe out from behind the curtain, dragging her out to the store where everyone was waiting for the girls.
Jessie lit up immediately, jumping to her feet and opening her arms to the girls, who awkwardly embraced her- well…not really embraced…Zoe was busy pulling her top up, and Grace was trying to push her breasts down.
"You look gorgeous!" Jessie said, becoming tearful as she released the girls.
"Radiant!" Karen added, standing up and circling them both, looking at the magenta dresses from all angles.
Lily remained silent, trying not to laugh as her poofy-dressed daughters stood before her.
"Lovely!" was all she added to the compliments. Grace and Zoe both scowled at her as she sat quietly giggling at them.
"My top needs to be smaller…" Zoe said, pulling it up to her chin again.
"Just a bit!" Karen said, trying to tighten the straps at the back.
"And mine is just a smidge too small…" Grace added.
"Nonsense!" Jessie exclaimed, "You look beautiful!"
Grace's face dropped…Jessie didn't seriously expect her to walk down the isle in a magenta dress that exposed her tits to all the guests!
"Just…one size?" she tried again.
"I think Jess is right!" Katie chimed in, "you look great!"
She walked to Jessie, slinking an arm around her middle and planting a quick kiss on her forehead.
Grace gave a small nod, "great, huh?" she said, looking down at her chest; her boobs practically hitting her in the face.
"Well…if you say so,…" she murmured, unconfidently.
By now, Lily was in stitches.
"E, does this look right?" Rick asked, turning to his son.
Eli examined his father's tie, "let me have a go…" he said, reaching up to adjust it.
Eli squinted and poked his tongue out as he tried to concentrate on the loops and knots, "I think that's how it goes,…" he murmured.
"No….that looks wrong…" Henry chimed in, watching as Eli fumbled with the black tie.
"Now go over and under…" Henry tried explaining to Eli, who still fumbled.
"Look at this….three grown men who cant even tie a knot…" Rick said, gulping for breath as Eli pulled it tight.
"Sorry, dad" he murmured, loosening it.
"You know…it's much sexier when a woman does it…" Henry smiled.
"Yeah…maybe Lily can work it out…" Eli agreed, stepping away.
"Thanks for the help!" Rick said, rolling his eyes and stepping out from the red curtain.
"Lil…can you help with this….?" He called.
Henry and Eli both laughed, and turned back to the mirror, adjusting the collars on their own black suits.
"Am I looking good?" Henry asked.
Eli nodded, "not as good as me…but you're up there…" he smiled, and Henry elbowed him in the side.
"Gentlemen…. please come out…" Karen called.
"Coming!" Henry replied, and he and Eli stepped out from behind the red curtain, and walked to the front of the shop.
"Oh! Savvy!" Karen beamed, leaning in for a kiss from Henry.
"Handsome!" Katie nodded at Eli, and Jessie agreed.
"Jessie…this one isn't much better…" Zoe called out, as she and Grace both emerged from behind the red curtain again, Zoe wearing a slightly smaller top, and Grace forced to wear the same sized too-small corset.
Eli's eyebrows shot up when he got an…eyeful of Grace…who turned instantly red when she saw him look away, and she started pushing her boobs down furiously.
"It'll do!" Jessie said.
"Ok….so I'm gonna take mine off…" Grace said, turning away from everyone, and ducking behind the curtain.
"Oh no Grace! We need measurements for the skirt!" Jessie called, running after her and pulling her back out.
"You look…." Eli said, looking her up and down, trying to avoid making direct eye contact with her hard-to-miss boobs, "nice!" he finished, unable to think of another word to describe the magenta dress.
"You too!" Grace murmured, crossing her arms over her chest.
Eli leaned in, so that Jessie couldn't hear him, "she just doesn't want you to take anything away from her on the big day…that's why she has stuck you in that pink up-chuck…."
Grace let out a small laugh, and Eli smiled; "but you pull it off…it doesn't look half as bad as you think it does!" he added, and gave her a quick wink.
"Miss…. come here please miss…" the sales assistant said, waving Grace over.
She turned to Eli with a small smile, "thankyou" she murmured, and then walked to the lady, who started fussing around her skirt, tucking it up here, loosening it there…. Eli watched as Grace twirled when the lady ordered her to, and sucked in when asked.
"You like?" Jessie whispered, creeping up on Eli.
He turned to her, a little startled; "I think maybe the top is a little too…err….revealing?" he mumbled.
Jessie let out a small laugh, "nonsense! She pulls it off fabulously!" she said, smiling.
Eli gave a small nod, "yeah…. I guess she does…" he murmured, and headed back behind the red curtain to get changed.
"Ok, I only have room for four people!" Lily announced as everyone headed outside.
"Zoe, Rick, Jessie and Katie are coming with me, right?" she asked.
Karen nodded, "Henry and I have a lunch date with some friends…"
"I promised dad and Tiffany I'd go out with them for lunch today!" Grace said, Eli instantly turned to her, "no problem….I'll drop you off and then drive myself home!"
Grace wanted to decline…she remembered what happened the last time she and Eli spent time together, but there was no one else.
"Take my car, Eli!" Rick said, throwing him the keys.
Eli caught them and turned to Grace, raising an eyebrow. "Ok" she murmured, "thankyou"
"So…I was thinking we should go out…." Eli started.
Grace turned to him, jaw dropped; what was he talking about?
GRACE err….ummm….pardon?
Eli turned to her, suddenly realizing what she must be thinking. He turned away, "out one night with Jessie and Katie….the night before the wedding or something….what do you think?" he ended quickly, and Grace relaxed…sort of.
Grace let out a small, embarrassed laugh; "oh! Go OUT!" she said, a little nervously.
Eli gave a small nod and flicked his indicator on, "yeah…to a restaurant, bar…anywhere…just to celebrate…"
Grace nodded aswell, "I think Jessie and Katie would really appreciate that!"
"It doesn't have to be too big…just a few drinks…. bit of dancing…." Eli added, turning into a street
"Eli wants to get down and jiggy with it?" Grace giggled, looking over at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Hey! You know me, I was a partier…."
Grace laughed again, "that was a while ago, Eli….I don't think you're capable of 'partying' like you used to?"
He turned and looked out her, "I can still par-tay!" he said, smiling.
Grace winked at him sarcastically, "I don't know…" she said, examining him in his sensible black pants and light blue shirt (tucked in), not to mention his boring shoes and slicked back hair, "you don't look like the kind of guy that knows how to let loose and have a good time anymore!"
Eli scoffed at her remark with a smile, "I've got moves you aint never seen before!…" he said, slowly, trying to sound deep and cool.
Grace nodded, unamused, "Oh….I'm…err….sure you do….Mr. business man with you're sensible shoes…" she said, with a laugh.
"What's wrong with my shoes?" Eli asked, feigning hurt.
Grace laughed again, and Eli pulled into her father's driveway.
"So, don't tell Jessie and Katie…but we'll take them out on the town the night before the wedding….ok?" he said, just before she got out.
Grace nodded, and opened the car door, "you better buy yourself some dancing shoes, Eli….cause us three know how to par-tay!" she said, mimicking how he'd said it before.
She closed the door and started walking towards the front door, Eli watching as she went, making sure she got inside ok, then he pulled out and started down the street again, heading home.
"I can still party…" he murmured to himself, going over their conversation in his head.
ELI cant I?
"Par-tay!" he corrected, with a small grin.
ELI sure I can!
