Unseen Strings

Chapter 3

"It will be great!" She beamed at me as she rushed out of my room, leaving the door ajar.

I hated it when she was right...I'd previously been a recluse, dreading the possibility of confronting my little problem for real. In the past 6 months, since he had been gone, I found myself slightly comfortable with the outside world. Yet as soon as I saw that envelope and the rose on my bed, a large part of me wished to return to my cocoon. My room was safe...At least it had been...and I desperately wanted to avoid any outings. Laci insisted I join her in the kitchen. Reluctantly, I pulled up a chair and eyed the strange pasta dish she'd prepared. The aroma was off-putting, and I regretted letting her loose in the kitchen. With a forced smile, I managed a few bites of the unappetizing meal as she ate heartily.

"Alright, let's go!" Laci chirped, quickly finishing her meal. She grabbed my arm and pulled me from my chair.

"Wait, what?" I protested, caught off guard by her sudden enthusiasm.

"We need to find you something decent to wear!" she laughed, dragging me into my room and pushing me onto the bed. "Let's see what we can find." She began rummaging through my closet with a mischievous grin.

"I can pick out my own clothes, Laci," I chuckled, amused by her determination.

"Oh, please," she scoffed, her back still turned. "Last time we went out, you looked like you were attending a funeral! No fun, no drinks, no dancing...you were practically asleep by nine! You act like you're fifty, not twenty!"

"Laci..." I qualled.

She disappeared into my closet, emerging moments later with a triumphant grin. "Aha!" she exclaimed, brandishing a small box. "Angelina Rosalinda, you sneaky little thing!"

My body jolted a bit as she ripped the box open and pulled the dreaded gift.

It was her black with red accents; the bodice was a-lined and trimmed with lace, the sleeves fell down into puffs, and the skirt was slightly poofy. I'd never even worn it, like many of his other...gifts...I just threw them into that box.

"What else is in here?" She put the dress to the side.

"Nothing!" I yelled as I leapt forward and closed the box. "That dress is fine!" I smiled widely.

Had Laci delved deeper, she would have discovered a more sinister side to my admirer's gifts, ones I'd kept hidden from her.

"Good!" she smiled. "Now hurry up and change into that dress!" With a wink, she dashed out of the room, the sound of running water and upbeat music following her.

Laci had a strict routine before every outing, a stark contrast to my more relaxed approach. I shoved the box back into the closet, the dress seeming to glare at me from the floor. I picked up the dress and held it against me, anxiety rising. The dress barely covered my knees, and I wondered how it would look once I put it on. I knew my curves would push the hem higher, making it even more revealing. Laci's humming grew louder, a sign that she was almost ready. I panicked and stripped off my clothes. I struggled to pull the dress over my head as it was clinging to my body in all the wrong ways.

Laci burst into the room, her eyes widening. "No, no, no!" she exclaimed, "Granny panties don't go with this dress!" She snatched the dress back and tossed it onto the bed. "You need something sexy, something that matches this outfit." She disappeared, leaving me to contemplate my choices.

I rolled my eyes, sighing at Laci's well-intentioned but overly dramatic fashion advice. I knew she meant well, but her enthusiasm could be a bit overwhelming.

I dug through my drawer, settling on the only bra that might work with the dress. It was black, of course. I struggled to adjust the straps, trying to provide enough support without sacrificing style. As I was about to pair it with my trusty granny panties, Laci's voice boomed through the bathroom door.