Erika is such a bad influence.
She doesn't earn much money. I mean, she's doing ok. She's a nurse. But I earn a lot more in financial consulting. So anyway, she doesn't have the money to splash out on really expensive things. So when I dropped hints that maybe we could go clubbing, and she started telling me how much we would need to spend on clothes, shoes, makeover, and everything, I told her not to worry about the money. I'd cover it.
So that's how I ended up trailing around behind her at the mall, multiple bags on each arm containing shoes, makeup, and handbags, and my credit card cowering in fear.
"Ooh, those are cute!" she lunged toward another dress shop, admiring the bodycons in the window. I had to admit they were really nice.
"Come on. Try that one on!" she gestured towards the shortest of the three on display. It was very short, and had a rounded opening at the cleavage but not a plunging neckline, but the back was way open. It was a teal color, which doesn't sound like much, but the material was sort of shimmery, and it was super slinky. Erika had me by the arm, driving me into the shop.
Erika would look amazing in anything. She was several inches taller than me, legs a mile long, a smoking hot figure, and a vivacious smile. She was naturally attractive, photogenic, and bubbly. Me? I was a pretty normal gal. I mean, I can wear a tight dress and get away with it, but there's nothing spectacular about me, but you wouldn't know it the way Erika was gushing about how hot I was going to look in this dress.
Presently, I was bustled into a small changing booth, Erika was still fawning and showering me with compliments about my body, and about what I would look like in the dress as she took my bags, then she took my own dress as I shrugged it off, and lay it over her arm, handing me the new garment to try on.
"Give me the bra," she instructed. She was right. The dress was backless, and so unforgiving. I'm not that big anyway, so braless in a bodycon is fine. I shook it off and gave it to her, quickly pulling the dress over my head and down to cover my now naked breasts.
I got it on, but it was a bit tight. Erika tutted, and said, "I can see your knickers right there through the dress. You'll have to wear a g-string with this. Take those off and let me see."
She wasn't asking, but telling me what to do. When she was in a mood like that I wasn't going to try to argue with her. After all, I promised I would let her be the boss, and I would buy whatever she said I needed, so I had to do as she said. With a quick check that the curtain was closed properly behind her, I dropped my knickers. She had her hand out expecting them, so I handed them to her as well.
"Hmm..." she pondered. "Do a spin", she ordered authoritatively.
I spun.
I came back to facing her, and I waited. She was thinking.
"Whip it off. I'll see if there's another size up," she instructed, and held out her arm.
I bugged my eyes open at her. Didn't she know I would then be completely naked?
She simply stood, arm outstretched, expecting compliance.
"Fine," I caved. I wriggled the dress up and over my head, rendering myself naked in front of her. "Happy?" I impudently asked.
She ignored my snark, and said, "I'll be right back." And just like that, she was gone.
And my clothes were gone with her.
And I was naked and alone, with the store's slightly too loud pop music probing around my nakedness. All that stood between me and the shop, which had several customers poking around in it, was a thin curtain that anyone might choose to yank open at any moment.
I looked around. There was a small stool on one side of me, and oh god! There was naked-me in a full-length mirror. My only companion in this awkward moment, and she made me less comfortable, not more. I helplessly moved my arms to shield my nudity from... well, from my own gaze in the mirror. It was weird. But I felt both totally exposed and barely concealed, all at once.
I looked away from the mirror. I waited.
When forever had gone by, I couldn't stand it any longer. I decided to peek out and see where Erika was. I had to hold the curtain against the side of the booth, and pull back the fabric above where I was holding it so that the bottom didn't gape open. I peeked out, and I could see Erika talking and laughing with the sales girl, over the other side of the shop. She wasn't looking my way.
Blast that girl! How could I get her attention? I didn't even have my phone, or anything. I couldn't do a "psst", because there were other people closer than she, who would surely hear.
"Can I get you something, dear?" an older shop assistant suddenly appeared, and I almost shit myself. I was so shocked I really did almost drop the curtain, which would have ended up gaping open and who knows what would have happened then!
"Oh, um, no. Thank you," I managed, in an attempt to end the encounter immediately.
"All good," she sang, as she bustled away into the noisy pop music.
Shit! Shit, shit, shit. What an idiot I was. She literally would have brought me any garment in the store. Heck, she would have got Erika for me if I'd even thought to ask! But no. Silly me just sends away the only person who could help me. fml.
I carefully put the curtain back in place and went back to fretting quietly. I sat down on the little stool, which wasn't particularly comfortable as a seat, especially with a bare bottom, but at least I wasn't standing. After a time, I had to stand and stretch my legs. I had no idea how much time had passed, but it felt like a long, long time.
Zoop! The curtain whipped open.
I lurched around to give Erika a serve, and found myself face to face with a middle aged lady who had three dresses over one arm, staring at me in the sudden realization that she had blundered into an occupied booth, and more than that, it was occupied by a naked woman! "Oh, my! Oh, I am sorry, luv. I thought it was empty. I'm so sorry."
She must have seen the horrified look in my eyes, and my sudden blushing and impotent cringing to hide myself, as she was closing the curtain over, because she stuck her head back around and whispered, "Don't be ashamed, honey. Just this summer I've spent about a year's salary on boobs alone, and I still don't look anywhere near as good as you. Enjoy it!" And with a wink, she was gone.
And once again, I had sent away someone who could have got me out of my stupid predicament. Curse my stupidity.
