Cappie's POV

The party was in full swing downstairs. I could hear the revelers even with my door shut tightly. I was still in my room, preparing for my grand entrance.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I had a flash of self consciousness. My mind flashed to a time in Dobler's right after my third year started. I'd shown up in nothing but boxers on a bet and I remember seeing Casey at the bar.

When I came up to her, she looked me over and asked, " Have you no shame ?"

At this moment, standing here in a black, leather, lace-up corset, a pair of black panties, garter belt and sheer nylons, a pair of heels and a huge strand of pearl, Not to mention the ultra heavy eye makeup and bright red lipstick, I had to admit that apparently, no, I had no shame at all.

But it was Halloween. My favorite holiday. I chance to step away from who you really were and be something else, be someone else. And I was embracing that someone else, full on.

I smiled at my reflection and wondered how the hell I was going to make it down the staircase in heels and not break my neck.

Heath had done an outstanding job on my makeup. My blue eyes popped like twinkling sapphires from the black eyeliner.

I reached to the table beside me and grabbed Casey's garter. As I slid it up my leg, the memory of her wearing it flashed again and it occurred to me that this outfit could be dangerous. And embarrassing.

I would have to keep Mr. Happy on a very tight leash tonight. The black, leather panties were skimpy after all and accidents did happen, especially with her around.

Somehow I didn't think that my sporting a hard on for his girlfriend would endear Max to me very well. I was pretty sure it would end our bonding very fast.

And that was my purpose tonight. I wanted to get to know Max. Make him see that I wasn't a threat. That Casey and I could be friends without it affecting their relationship at all.

In this outfit, I was pretty sure I had that covered. No man would really see me as a threat to their girlfriend. Themselves maybe, but not there girlfriends.

I snatched up the black feather boa from the foot of the bed and went for the door.

It was time for my entrance.

As my hand hit the knob, there was a knock on the other side.

"I'm coming." I answered as I jerked it opened to find Casey standing there instead of Heath or Rusty like I expected. " Wow." was the only word that made sense to my brain.

She was dressed in pink and red. A Genie costume. Sheer pink material, basically draped around a red bikini. God, why couldn't she have dressed as a school teacher or a nun. Did it really have to be a skimpy little genie costume.

Although I had to give points to Max. He was the one that picked the thing out and just the fact that he was letting her parade around at the Kappa Tau house like that said he was fairly secured in his relationship. Either that or he was stupid.

She was still holding her side and laughing loudly when I managed to pull my eyes back up to her face.

" Okay, that's enough." I told her, trying to quiet her uproar.

" No," She continued, " It won't ever be enough." It was several moments later when she quieted enough to actually talk to me. But every time her eyes left mine, she was laughing again. " I just came to see where you were."

" Yeah, well, I was up here contemplating the best means of torture to use on Heath and Rusty since this whole thing was their idea." I said.

She held her hand up. " No, don't kill them. Its great. I love it. You guys have done an amazing job with everything." She said, through giggles. " The downstairs looks wonderful. They have the ' Time Warp' playing on a continuous loop at the front door and the movie is playing on the big screen in the game room. Its wonderful. You've outdone yourselves this year."

I smiled. " Thank you. The Tri-Pi's have been here all day helping, too. So they deserve a little credit."

She took a step back, taking herself out of the doorway and appraised me again. Her eyes fell to my thigh and she reached a hand out like she was going to touch me but thought better of it and dropped it at the last second. " Is that my...?"

I nodded and smiled again. " I found it in the back of my closet. I hope you don't mind. It just went so well with the costume."

Her eyes seemed far away suddenly and so did her tone when she spoke. " No, I don't mind. I just can't believe you kept it after all this time."

I shrugged and she giggled again. " What can I say ? I'm a pack rat. You don't want it back, do you ?"

She shook her head. " No, you keep it. I still have the rest of the outfit to remember the night by ?"

I gulped and Mr. Happy twitched. Shit, this was going to be a hard night.

I needed a drink.

Casey's POV

It was hilarious. He was hilarious. I couldn't believe that I was standing outside of Cappie's bedroom looking at him dressed in drag, wearing my garter and thinking that he looked so unbelievably sexy I just wanted to run my tongue over one of his brown nipples that were peaking out above the top of the corset.

God, how had he managed to make dressing up in women's underwear sexy ? Because it was Cappie and everything he did was breathtakingly, mind-falteringly sexy.

I thought maybe I was bias, but a second later a girlish squeal from behind me was soon followed by a cute little Tri-Pi that launched herself into his arms.

He stumbled slightly on his heels when her body impacted his but he recovered well. It would be funny to watch him try the stairs, though.

She was wearing a French maid's costume, through the top was a corset that matched his own and black wig of wild, curl hair, ala Magenta from the movie.

I wished I had known about the theme. I would have worn my best white bra and half slip and shown up as Janet.

As I glanced down at my own outfit, I couldn't help but feel a little self conscious standing beside the curvy woman in the outfit that was a lot skimpier than mine.

" This is Beth." Cappie told me in way of an introduction.

" Hi," I held my hand out to her. " I'm Casey."

" Hi," She smiled sweetly though the heavy, heavy make-up through it off a little. Then she turned back to Cappie and kissed his cheek, leaving a bright red mark over it. " Isn't he just scrumptious ?"

I nodded and forced a smile. I didn't like her. I wasn't sure why, but I definitely didn't like her. " Oh, he's a dreamboat, alright."

Okay, so I knew why I didn't like her. But I wasn't going to admit that even to myself.

" I think I need to find Max and get a drink." I told them as she continued to hang on him like he was the only thing keeping her upright. God, some women had no shame.

" So, he came ?" Cappie asked.

I nodded. " Yeah, he was downstairs with Ashleigh last time I saw him." I turned to leave, then turned back as I reached the stairs. " Everything really does look great. Its a wonderful party. Congratulations."

He beamed a smile at me and, I might have been imagining it, but it looked as if he really wished 'what's her name' would get the hell off him. " Thanks. We'll see you downstairs."

I passed Heath on the stairs and couldn't help but laugh at his gold satin underwear and boots. That was all he was wearing and it took me a moment to get the outfit. At first I thought Flash Gordan. But that didn't fit the theme. Then I realized who he was supposed to be. He was Rocky, the creature that Frankenfurter made in his lab. The perfect specimen of masculinity, custom made to Frank's tastes. Heath didn't quite make it, but he was close. Close enough to make anyone give him a second glance.

" Is Cappie ready ?" He asked as I passed.

" He looked pretty ready to me. If you can manage to remove the appendage he suddenly has growing out of his side." I answered.

He raised a blond eyebrow at me.

" His date, what's her name ?" I explained.

" You mean Beth ?" he asked.

" I don't know. She's a trashy little thing that attached herself to him like a suction cup."

He laughed out loud and I blinked at him in confusion. " If I didn't know you better, Casey, I would say that sounded like jealousy."

I bristled at him. " I'm not jealous. I just wish he had better taste in women."

He nodded and gave me disbelieving eyes. " Of course, that's it. But don't worry, I won't tell a soul. You're secret's safe with me."

I wanted to tell him that there was no secret to keep safe, but he was gone up the stairs before I had the chance.

I found Max standing beside the punch bowl in the backyard. The entire space had been transformed to impersonate Frankenfurter's lab. I was impressed. The Kappa Tau's really had gone all out in their efforts this year.

" What happened to Ash ?" I asked him after placing a soft kiss to his cheek.

" She took off with some guy dressed in a button down shirt and a pair of tightie whities." He answered.

Ah, Brad. I was guessing it was either Beaver or Wade that had opted for that costume.

" Are you having a good time ?" I asked him as I took the cup of punch he handed me.

" It's a little weird. But then I haven't seen the movie, so I guess I'm out of the loop." he told me.

I was stunned. " You haven't seen ' The Rocky Horror Picture Show' ?"

" No, I guess I missed that one." he admitted.

" Wow, then I bet you really don't have any idea what's going on around here. This must all seem a little strange."

A girl in black sequined short, shorts and a matching black corset ran by. She was wearing a short, blunt cut bright orange wig and far, far too much makeup. Columbia, I guessed.

Max's attention was glued to the girl. " Yeah, it's a little weird." He nodded.

" Let's go find Ash and see what she's up to." I suggested, hoping that being around someone familiar and not dressed like a freak might help him feel more at ease.

We weren't that fortunate. I knew Ashleigh was dressed as a fairy when we arrived at the party, but apparently the atmosphere had gotten to her and when we found her she had changed into a fair different costume.

She was in a white bra and half slip just like Janet in the movie. Wade was beside her in his Brad costume. I took them in for a second, wondering what was going on between them. I hadn't ever imagined the two of them together, but I supposed anything could happen on Halloween.

I just hoped she didn't regret any decisions she made in the morning.

Max was as uncomfortable as ever, not knowing where to look as he tried to join Wade and Ashleigh in their conversation.

The night was going from bad to worse. I needed another drink.

It wasn't long before I realized that once again, I couldn't feel my toes. That wonderful numbness brought on by alcohol was taking me over again and I was letting myself drown in the feeling.

Cappie had ushered Max away from me the moment he made it downstairs and the two of them had taken up residence in the game room as soon as Cappie found out that Max hadn't seen the movie. Cappie was broadening Max's horizon with a special showing.

I checked in on them a few times and they seemed to be bonding away just fine without me.

I wasn't sure why that bothered me so much, but it did.

It wasn't that Max was ignoring me, although I thought it was at first. No, it had nothing to do with Max.

It was that Cappie was ignoring me. That's what had me in such a sour mood. I had hoped to spend the evening with him. But instead he had stolen my date and chosen and left me alone to stew.

That really pissed me off. I thought maybe seeing me in the costume would have impressed him. I was hoping that the little pink draped, red bikini would catch his attention. Apparently I was wrong.

So I found myself sitting on the railing in the backyard, drinking punch, and feeling sorry for myself. Not because my boyfriend had dumped me, but because my best friend had.

God, that was really messed up.

They found me there as soon as the movie was over. Max looked like he was suddenly having a much better time. He was smiling and laughing as he sipped from a bottle of amber liquor that the two of them were passing back and forth between them.

Cappie was doing his best to stay upright in his heels. Actually he was doing a rather good job of it, even in his current state of near drunkenness. I was impressed.

" There you are." Cappie said as they sidled up to me, one on either side and joined me on the rail.

I had a flash of freshman year as Max slid his arm around me. Cappie, Evan and I had gone to the Kappa Tau Halloween party together as well, only it was Cappie that had his arm around me as we sat in the exact same spot on the railing and Evan was the third wheel.

Cappie's eyes met mine and I saw that he was remembering the same thing. Something sad passed through his gaze and my breath stopped for just an instant.

But his smile was quickly back in place and he passed me the bottle that the boys had been sharing.

The whiskey burned as it slid down my throat and I shook my head and made a face against the taste.

" Lightweight." Cappie muttered with a teasing smile.

" Piss off." I answered with a smile of my own. " If you didn't buy cheap liquor it wouldn't be so bad."

" If you could handle your liquor, it wouldn't matter how much it cost." He answered.

He nudged me in the shoulder and I nearly fell over, but Max held me steady with his arm around my shoulder.

" You're lucky your boyfriend's here to hold you up. Otherwise your ass would have just hit the ground and I would have laughed so hard." Cappie teased me again.

" I'm lucky my boyfriend's here so that the next time you try to knock my on my ass, he can kick yours." I countered.

Max held up his free hand. " Whoa, " he said. " Don't drag me into this."

Cappie looked down at me with a testing smile playing at the corners of his bright red lips. How he had managed to keep his lipstick in place was beyond me. I'd have to ask him later. It was something I had never been able to do. " Was that a threat, Little girl ?" he asked, puffing out his chest towards me.

I puffed mine right back at him. " No, it was a promise."

" Don't start something you can't see all the way through." He threatened.

I tried to keep the laughter out of my voice when I answered, " If you don't start nothing, there won't do nothing."

" Max," He began with the eyes darting over my shoulder. " You better get a better leash for your woman, she's making promises you can't keep."

" Ah," I said, keeping my eyes on Cappie. " You talk a pretty tough game for a man standing there in MY garter."

It must have been the whiskey. I had no idea what had me say it. I just got so caught up in the playful banter that I was thinking clearly.

I never imparted any details about my past with Cappie to Max. He knew he dated for a bit. He had no idea for how long, or to what extent. From the way he acted about the whole thing, I figured he thought it was a quick little fling that never went too far. A few dates. End of story. My plan was for him to never find out any differently.

And I had just spilled the beans. Fuck ! Me and my big mouth.

I felt him shift behind me. I didn't want to turn towards him. I didn't want to see the look on his face.

Cappie was still sitting nonchalantly, having no clue that the shit had just hit the proverbial fan.

I instantly remembered Max's reaction at finding out about Evan. I was pretty sure he won't be okay with me being close friends with him. Cappie wouldn't be any different.

Had I just ruined everything with one little slip of the tongue ? Had I blown all my plans because I couldn't keep my mouth shut ?

When my eyes found Max he was staring down at Cappie's leg, his own eyes glued the to the garter in question.

He surprised me with a smile. " It looks good on you. Definitely your color." He told Cappie.