801 Words, this chapter

Chapter Seventeen, Just a Costume 2: Redressed

The next day Jess was in Joe's shop but with Abby and Emily. No guys were allowed. Jess led them through the many aisles.

"I have a few ideas, Emily," she said.

"Wait," said Abby. "Shouldn't we be going in here?"

She pointed to the small locked adult room.

"Oh. I don't think so," said Jess. "They have tamer stuff outside."

"I wanted something...alluring," said Emily.

"I know," said Jess. "Trust me. That room is a bit...um, naughty."

Abby grinned. "I've never been inside."

"Joe set it up after last Halloween," said Jess. She blushed. "He says I had nothing to do with it, but I wonder sometimes."

Abby laughed. "You get a lot of admirers."

"And Joe's gotten more risque costumes in. His demand for the couple costumes has gone up," said Jess with a laugh. "I have no idea why." She smirked.

"Yeah, no idea why," said Abby, laughing.

"Let us go inside," said Emily.

"Fine," said Jess, waving to Joe. "Prepare yourself."

Joe came over and unlocked the door. "No men today?"

"No," said Jess. "We had a bit of a bad night with the costumes."

"Is there a problem with one of them?"

"Oh, no, nothing like that," said Jess. "The problem is her fiance."

Abby chuckled. "Yes. He's grounded. No costumes for a week."

"Poor thing," said Joe.

"I know! She's so mean! I would die," said Jess.

Joe laughed. "Help yourselves. Let me know if you need me." He handed Jess the key. "Lock up when your done."

Jess nodded. "Thanks. So...Emily?"

Emily stood, looking over several costumes. Her mouth was open. "They are all extremely..."

"Bold?" suggested Abby.

"Risque?" asked Jess.

Emily closed her mouth and turned away. "Scandalous."

Abby laughed.

"I am sorry," said Emily. "You were perhaps correct in leading me away from here."

Jess nodded. "I thought this room may be too much for you," she said. "No worries. They have some costumes out in the store that I think will work."

She and Emily began to leave. "Abby?"

"Oh. I think I'll...stay here...for a bit."

Jess laughed. She handed her the key. "Lock up when you're done and give the key to Joe."

Abby nodded. "Will do."

Jess led Emily out. "Joe put some slightly more mature costumes just outside," she said. "Nothing too revealing or..."

"Scandalous."

"Yes," said Jess. She started looking at a row a few aisles away from the adult room. "OK. See this one? It's a Voodoo Priestess."

"Voodoo?"

"Oh. Yes, it's an African religion. Kind of. There are lots of different versions. Anyway, this takes liberties I am sure."

Emily frowned. "It looks like it is Occult."

"Yes! Exactly. Voodoo is known for witchy stuff: curses, hexes, potions. It's actually fairly stereotyped. Real Voodoo isn't necessarily bad."

"May I see it?"

Jess handed her a package with a long brown dress, black lace and a high slit on both sides. The dress was decorated with skulls, iron crosses, and dark beads.

"It doesn't look to low-cut on the bodice," said Jess. "The slits may be too high on the leg."

"They could be altered," said Emily.

"Yeah. Should be easy to sew them up."

"I shall try this."

Jess smiled as she put the costume in their cart. "Good. Let's see what else we can find."

Emily looked at the priestess costume and smiled. "I think I like the wickedness this implies."

Jess giggled. "Yeah. Wickedness is a temptation, for sure. Becker likes bad girls, apparently."

Emily raised her eyebrow. "Does he?"

She nodded. "I bought this evil queen costume. He really likes it."

Emily smiled. "Perhaps he likes good girls who dress as if they are bad."

Jess giggled. "True. That I can accept." She dug threw a few more costumes. "Oh, I see one I'll have to buy for the Captain."

She held out an Ice Queen costume. It was a long white dress, with a high, scandalous slit in the leg, it went up to the waist, but from the waist to the thigh, it was lined with a sheer, white lace, embroidered with snowflakes.

"Indeed," said Emily. "You would look quite 'bad' in it."

Jess laughed. "Bad? Or good?"

"Wicked," said Emily, smiling.

Jess giggled. "Wicked. Oh, I'm too good to that man," she said, as she put the Ice Queen in her basket. "I'm supposed to be shopping for you."

"Do not turn inspiration away when it comes along, Jess."

"No," she agreed. "I never do, Emily, but I'm finding you costumes. I am. I promise."

Emily smiled as they resumed browsing.

End of Chapter Seventeen