I've noticed over the last past few months that life seems to fall into a routine, specifically my own life. And for someone who hates routine and thrives on spontaneity, it's quite disconcerting. I mean, seriously days and weeks pass and it feels like hours. And to better things, Scott and mines relationship wasn't getting better in the midst of life flying at a million miles a minute. Grunts were our preferred communication of choice. I was too peeved to care about it too. The fact that he walked in on Rachel and I nagged at me in the back of my head and I found myself having to shake off the look he gave me when I walked into the garage after Rachel left that day. It wasn't anger, more so disappointment. I dunno, maybe I'm just fooling myself. Anyway, where was I? Oh, time flying. Yes, well somehow in the midst of it a couple months passed and the next thing I knew Rachel showed up at my place with a duffle bag full of brightly colored clothing.

Scott and I were in our rightful places in the garage when she walked in, announcing that it was Halloween and that I hadn't been out of the garage for more than a week so she was taking me out on the town. Scott gave his usual disapproving look and grunt while I walked out of the garage, or rather was pulled out of the garage.

I shook my head and looked back towards the garage, "If he wasn't here I'd offer sex right now in thanks." Sighing I un-kinked my neck.

"Not a problem, babe." Rachel put an arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek,"You needed rescuing. I could hear your cries for miles."

"Miles, huh?" I nudged her and looked to the bag, "So, what'd you bring me?" She shook her head, "Clothes off and this on." Reaching into the bag she handed me two rather small pieces of red clothing.

Holding them out I surveyed what I could only figure was a red mini-skirt and some sort of shirt, "And I would be doing this why?"

"Costume party, you're my date. Oh here, these too." She handed me a pair of red fishnet stockings.

"Wait wait wait." I help up the costume, "And I'm going as what? A red.thing?"

"Also known as a she-devil." She offered.

Looking over the clothes again I sighed, "And I have to wear the skirt?"

"Aw," Rachel ran a hand under my shirt and over my stomach, causing me to suck in a breath, "If you do, it makes for easier access." Slowly she slid her hands to the waistband of my pants and begun to undo the button and zipper, "Much easier access."

"Now now." My hand caught hers and pulled it away, "Save the good stuff for later. I'll wear it. Even if I don't want to. When is this party anyway?"

Rachel rummaged through the bag again before she looked up, "I don't really know, midnight or something?"

I looked outside, "You do realize that means we've got quite a bit of time, right?"

"Time that will be well spent. We've got work to do." She answered, rifling through the bag again.

"What are you digging for?" I finally asked.

Smiling she pulled out a small box, "This!"

My brow furrowed, "That?"

"Yes," she nodded, "We are dying your hair."

"What's wrong with my hair?" I argued. "I like my hair."

"So do I, but for tonight, you're going to have hair that matches your costume." Rachel shot back. "We got to dye your hair first. I'm not going to risk messing up what I have in mind to cover your sweet ass."

"Well, wait, what's your costume?" I admit it, I was stalling. I was not looking forward to fishnets and a mini-skirt. I could already feel the fabric that would most likely end up in my ass crack because it was so tight.

Rachel's grin widened. "I am going to go as the innocent catholic school girl which you get to corrupt and chase with your pitchfork."

"I have a pitchfork too?" at that Rachel presented me with a bright red plastic pitchfork. "Oh god," I groaned, "You're serious?" she responded with a nod to which I groaned again and pulled my shirt off to change, "You owe me big." Had I noticed then that the skirt had a red tail attached to it, I might have called the whole thing off right then and there.

"Oh, I've arranged a nice way of payment, don't you worry." I swear her eyes practically lit up.

A bucket of water - which we will not discuss where or how Rach managed to get - and a bottle of hair dye later I glanced at myself in the mirror. The deep red swirls mixed in with my almost black hair matched the outfit perfectly And I have to say, once I got the whole costume on, I didn't look too bad in the mini-skirt.

"Shit," I looked myself up and down, "What am I going to do for shoes?"

Rachel smirked and help up a pair of shimmering, red stiletto heeled boots with zippers on the sides of them, "These should do."

"Oh hell no." I shook my head, "I am not wearing those. Kat does not do heels. Kat falls over in heels."

"Kat will have to deal with it because this is all I brought." Rachel retorted, handing me the boots. "Besides, if you wear the boots and fall down, well then you'll spend the whole night on your back," she added, licking her lips suggestively.

"Rachel" I said forcefully, "As tempting as that is, I refuse to wear those. You're lucky you got me into the damn skirt."

Smirking, Rachel sided up to me, running a hand from my torso to chin, "Please, for me?"

"No," I argued.

"You know I'll make it worth it." She pressed up against me.

Shaking my head I stepped back, "No, no, and no. This is how you got me into the damn skirt. And you already owe me big on that one. Besides, tonight you're my bitch. Remember?" I looked at my outfit then looked meaningfully at her, "So I get to make all the decisions. And I say no."

"How am I supposed to argue with that?" Rachel's smirk never left her face as she turned to the bag she'd brought, "I actually figured you'd kick and scream before wearing those, so I brought an alternative." Rachel leaned over the bag reaching in and wiggling her ass in my direction a bit. I smirked, that girl knew exactly what she was doing. She was going to put up a fight about me being the decision maker tonight, even if I was supposed to be in charge. And if she kept that up, I was so going to lose. "Here we go." She announced, turning and presenting me with a pair of red and black skater shoes.

"Nice." I grinned, "These are definitely more my style."

"Yes, well, I figure I either got the skirt or the shoes out of this occasion, and there's no way I'm going to pass up your ass in that mini- skirt for a pair of boots."

I smirked and took the shoes, "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Please do." She answered, looking me over and licking her lips.

I winked back and examined the clothes she held up as her costume, "This may end up being a fun party after all. Especially since Mr. All-work-and- no-fun will be absent."

I realized a few seconds too late, or maybe it was a few words too late, that Scott had just walked in from the garage. Now, there are a couple things I could elaborate on here. The look on his face at seeing me dressed up, and in a mini-skirt no less, or the other look that seemed either jealous or disappointed, I'm not quite sure which. Either way, he shot me a glare that made me want to go stand in the corner for what I had said. Thankfully Rachel came to my rescue.

"Well, we could always bring him along. I don't think he'll have to worry about anyone else dressing like a grubby mechanic."

I sighed, some rescue. I looked at Scott warily, "You're not interested in this party, are you?"

"Well,' He started, rubbing his chin, "business is slow tonight. And the chances of some spur of the moment work needing to be done is low. And I did get this sharp suit a while back when one of my big clients wanted me to have a real meeting at his office.

Rachel and I could only stare at him, our mouths agape.

"What?" He asked, shrugging uncomfortably. "I get out every now and then."

"Sweetie," Rachel walked over to him and rested a hand on his arm, "Once every few months is not every now and then. Face it, you are a typical cave man in your own little hole."

I have to say, I was impressed. Scott was now determined to go to the party. He had just been duped and he didn't even know it. He seemed determined to prove Rachel wrong today, and hey, who was I to object if it meant getting him out of the garage and into a social setting. I could count on one hand the number of times I had seen him talk to someone for non-business reasons. "Rach," I sighed and pulled her away from Scott. On the other hand, I didn't know if I wanted him watching me all night and giving me that look of disapproval. "Leave him be and go get yourself dressed. We're going to be late."

Rachel gave a laugh. "Hardly. We are the party, baby."

I gave a dry smile and nodded towards the garage. "Just go."

"Fine fine." She called, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder, "But if clothes start to come off, you better call me or else I'll be severely disappointed, Scott."

I glanced at Scott, his jaw was clenched. Great. He's not even out of the house yet and he's already about to snap. "Look." I crossed my arms over my chest, "You don't have to go. I know how she can be. Don't let her get to you."

"Thank you for giving me your permission," Scott snapped, raising an eyebrow, "You going to hold my hand while we're crossing the street too?"

"Hey!" I defended, 'I was just saying."

"Well don't say." Scott cut me off. "If I want to go, I'll go."

I raised my hands giving up, "Fine, we're leaving in a couple hours, so if you're coming, be ready."

Scott nodded curtly, "We'll see."

Shaking my head I muttered curses while entering the garage to see how Rachel was coming. And, I might add, she seemed to be doing quite well. I mean, I never would have thought that someone could make a gray toned catholic outfit look sexy, but she had managed to pull it off. The outfit was complete, with the gray, white, and black pleated, plaid skirt, a button up shirt with a gray sports jacket, and knee high black socks with matching shoes. I gave a low whistle as she finished pulling her hair up into pig tales on either side of her head. "Well, I like what you've done with it."

Batting her eyelashes she sided up to me, "I do it all for you, girl." She twirled around, making the short skirt flare up and, I realized, she wasn't wearing anything under the skirt or under the thin white shirt.

"And you should." I teased, slowly running my hand up her button up blouse; "you should dress up for me more often."

Her head cocked to the side and her eyes shone at the suggestion, "Just wait till I show you my little nursing outfit."

I smiled and glanced at her mouth. Her lips were close to mine, practically taunting me with their presence. So I did what anyone would have done in my situation. I kissed her. And it was a damn good kiss. We were both charged and the party hadn't even started. I was more than ready to get out of the garage, and Rachel was, well Rachel. Always up for some fun. I'm not sure if it was good or bad that Scott walked in, cleared his throat, and then cleared his throat louder, causing Rachel and I to break from our trance and turn to him.

"Yes?" Rachel asked, slightly annoyed.

Scott looked at me, my eyes moving away so I didn't have to make direct contact with his. Don't ask me, but it was odd. I didn't like it when he walked in on Rachel and I. Call me weird, but it made me feel uncomfortable. As if he was my parent walking in or something.

"Well.' He started, giving up on getting me to look at him, "I need some help." He paused and sounded miserably uncomfortable. "If Rachel wouldn't mind giving me a hand."

My eyes quickly darted his way before darting back to the wall. He needed help? From *my* girlfriend? Oh, this was going to be good.

Rachel simply beamed, "And how can I be of service?"

Scott shifted uncomfortably, and tried to catch my eye again. Giving up on the invisible spot on the wall I looked at him, "What?"

He nodded towards the doorway, "Do you mind?"

I couldn't believe it. He had the nerve to ask me to leave? "Yes I mind." I snapped before turning and leaving, "But just because I mind doesn't mean I can't take a hint."

"Sugar?" Rachel called in the middle of my rant. I looked over my shoulder, my eyebrows high in question. She tossed me the bag, "In the side pocket, there's a little surprise for you."

"Alright." I nodded turning to go, "I'll be outside. By myself." I didn't know why Scott needed Rachel's help, and I didn't want to know. We were having a perfectly good moment before he came in. He just had to ruin everything, didn't he? I sighed, tossing the bag onto the bed before grabbing the empty hair dye box and tossing it next to the bag. I paced the floor a couple times before I sighed and began searching through the side pocket. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but I knew the second I found it. I smiled, and opened the small package. It was a new barbell for my tongue piercing. It shone a metallic red and the little balls on the ends were supposed to flash red when they were screwed on tight. I was decked out in red, and knew I was going to be a sight to see. Part of me hoped Scott would come just so he could join the crowd of droolers. Or at least so he might lighten up.

I went to the mirror and replaced my barbell with the red one, experimenting with it a bit before glancing at the garage again. What was taking so long? Finally I gave up on mentally trying to get one of them to appear and sat on the bed. Out of boredom, I dug through the bag and found some nail polish in the that was red, then I painted my nails, then I sat on the bed some more, and then finally I had grabbed my dictionary and was looking up words that might substitute for "Why the hell are you taking so long?" when out stepped Rachel from the garage. "Now don't you dare laugh," she ordered firmly.

"Sure." I answered automatically, looking up from my dictionary. I didn't think there would be anything that could have made me do anything but sigh in annoyance, but the moment Scott stepped through the doorway my jaw dropped and my dictionary landed on the ground. Now, I won't deny that Scott is good looking, but the way he was done up, he looked down right sexy. He had on a sharp looking dark blue, pin-stripe suit with a matching tie. His hair was actually combed and for once didn't have his usual "Just- rolled-out-of-bed-and-ran-my-hands-through-my-hair" look. Every hair looked to be in place and I think there was even little bit of gel too.

"What do you think?" he asked, rolling a dark blue fedora up his arm, catching it with two fingers of his other hand and then dramatically sliding it on his head.

"You look.fine." I managed, grabbing my dictionary from off of the floor.

Scott smiled, "Fine? You dropped your precious dictionary when you saw me. That's got to be better than fine."

I nodded and got up, walking towards him, "Yeah. Well, you might have some good looks under all that grime after all, Sparky. It took you long enough to look like, what are you, anyway?"

"A gangster." He explained, "I saw it in a movie based way back in the 1920's. When they tried to made beer illegal. Guys used to dress like this every day. Figured it'd work."

I glanced at the mirror and then to Rachel and Scott, my arms linking through one of theirs. "Well, now that' we're all done up, what are we waiting for? Let's blow this joint!"