It took me way too long to get moving, frozen in the bed and still speechless because Lizzie had deigned to kiss me, even if it was just on the cheek.Still, I’d agreed to this, so I needed to get ready, regardless of being trapped in the definition of bi panic—a likely truth about myself that I refused to acknowledge.Not with my mother and years of homophobic classmates haunting me.
I sighed again, pushing myself up off the mattress.I still hadn’t started getting ready, and Lizzie was already onto the black lipstick and fretting over which earrings she wanted to wear.The sweater I wore certainly wasn’t cutting it if I was going to be going to a carnival with my undeniably attractive stepsister, so I wandered over to my closet at last to find something to wear in my collection of modest, no-frills attire.
Again—and unsurprisingly—I stood there, not moving or making a decision as I looked over my clothes.I hated all of them.I always had, but they were cheap, covered me up, and a majority had been given to me by my mother.Aside from that comfort sweater, I didn’t pick any of these out really.
I didn’t know how, which sounded pathetic.But I wasn’t sure what I liked.
“Are you going to stare at your clothes until they magically pop off the hangers and dress you all by themselves?”
Dropping my head, I grumbled only loud enough for Lizzie to just make out.“I don’t know what to wear.I…I don’t have stuff like you.”
There was a beat, just one, and then Lizzie was at my side, draping her arm over my shoulder.“Oh, hun.I can help, and we’re basically the same size.You could wear something of mine?”
I whipped my face to her, gaping at Lizzie as she smirked at me.“You want me to wear something ofyours?Are you nuts?I don’t have the…assetsto pull that off.”
“Oh, sweet, sweet stepsister of mine,” Lizzie pulled me along after her toward her closet, “I beg to differ.”
“Lizzie,areyousureabout this?I feel—”
She yanked away my hand as I pulled down at the black miniskirt she’d put me in.It was the twelfth time at least that I’d been caught doing it.
“You look fabulous.Stop fidgeting.”
Her classic smile hit me, and my cheeks warmed despite the crisp autumn air.We’d determined that the carnival wasn’ttoofar of a walk, at least by college student standards, so we were crossing through the dimly lit streets of the Old Downtown portion of Rockport.I was exceedingly grateful that I persuaded Lizzie to let me wear a flannel over the black tank top she’d grabbed for me, especially considering it was tight as hell and showed the barest sliver of my midriff.I’d also beengraciouslyallowed tights beneath the skirt, which I was happy about, even if they did have a few strategic holes in them.
“How much further?I’m freezing.”
I glanced around us, eyeing the dark streets and alleyways for any sign of danger.It was just my luck that some psycho would come popping out of the shadows to mug us or worse.
“A few more minutes, freeze baby.”
We walked in companionable silence for a few more moments, and I did my best to resist the urge to pull down the skirt with each step.At least I had my comfort boots to make me feel a bit better.Lizzie had said they actually went perfect with the outfit.
“I think it’s going to rain.We should hurry up.I won’t see those curls sacrificed to the water gods.”
Lizzie had taken the time to actually curl my hair a bit, which was damn hard considering the stuff had a mind of its own.Wavy it could be, but not in any sort of smooth, uniform style.
Pulling me along after her, we rushed down the streets toward the glowing lights that we could start to see poking out through the gaps between buildings.We zigged and zagged through the alleys to get there as quickly as we could, and then Lizzie pulled up short as we passed by a building that was stuck in the back of the street, seemingly purposefully out of sight.There was a single, glowing neon sign over the door that read, “The Knotted Broomstick.”
“What?Why are you stopping?”
Snorting to herself, Lizzie shook her head as she chuckled.“Well, would you look at that.It’s the sex club I was threatening you with.”
My stomach sank, and I stepped backward instinctively, my eyes as wide as saucers, no doubt.“Lizzie, did you—did you do this on purpose?!”
I was still shaking my head as I backed up, eyeing Lizzie with horror.She turned around, though, also shaking her head.
“No!It’s just a funny coincidence.You need to—Temps!”
Flinging out her hand, Lizzie’s eyes went wide, and I was a few seconds too late in realizing that she was telling me to stop walking.Instead, I plowed right into someone behind me, making us both grunt as I stumbled and began to pitch toward the ground, face-first.
“Shit!”
All I could see was the asphalt coming up to greet me when a hand wrapped around my bicep and pulled me back onto my feet, saving me from making a total ass out of myself.
“Professor?”
My pulse was still racing when I heard Lizzie, and it just got worse as I swallowed hard and began to turn around, seeing the impressive blue eyes of Professor Harkert locked onto me.He let go of my arm since I was capable of standing on my own at this point and stared between me and Lizzie, his brows down in a deep furrow.
