I’d skipped my last two classes of the day and gone shopping for a new outfit at the local outlet. Finding clothes that highlighted my maturity while emphasizing the feelings I was slowly discovering was difficult, but eventually I purchased what I hoped would work. I tucked the bag into my backpack and I was thankful they’d built the stores so close to school.
I pushed the front door open and called for dad.
“It’s not time for you to be home already, is it?” he asked, sprinting from the hallway. “I just got off the phone with mom. She said she misses you and loves you and wants me to make sure you’re keeping up with the college registration deadlines.”
“I am, I am,” I groaned, rolling my eyes.
“And David called; looks like he’s spending the weekend at Jason’s again. His band even has a gig next week, too,” dad added. I hated my brother’s music, but at least it kept him out of the house.
“So it’s just you and me tonight, huh daddy?”
“Guess so, princess,” he beamed, looking pleased. “What did you want to do?”
I thought for a moment, trying to think of something perfect. “Hmm, let’s stay in, watch movies all night, and order a pizza!”
“Sure thing, I’ll call for delivery. You want anchovies, right?” he joked, picking up the phone and dialing.
I pretended to choke, gasping for air at the thought of greasy fish covering the cheesy dish and he laughed.
A little while later we settled in to watch the first movie, a teen-comedy-spoof. We ate pizza, made fun of the villain, and groaned at the obvious puns. As the film finished, night had fallen and the house darkened.
I suddenly remembered the outfit I’d left in my bag and forgotten to wear. “Daddy, I’m going to go change,” I called into the kitchen as he cleaned up the mess.
“Okay, pumpkin. Hurry back and we’ll watch that new thriller.” I bolted to my room.
My heart was beating fast as I thought about what I was doing; I tore open my backpack and grabbed the clothes. I left my bra and panties on, but stripped everything else off.
I stepped into the skirt. It fell at about my mid-thigh and was much shorter than anything else I’d worn around daddy. Black with hot pink stripes crisscrossing the front, and three snaps on each seam to hold it around my hips; the sales clerk guaranteed me it looked amazing. I didn’t really believe her, but it was different than my normal attire.
I added the bright pink shirt with short ruffled sleeves and buttons up the back. Next, black, chunky, Mary Jane heels adorned my feet, posing in stark contrast to my light skin. I tied a black satin ribbon around my neck as a choker, fashioning it into a small bow on the side. My hair was left down and straight, and my long bangs were swept to the side. A quick make-up check and I was ready.
The mirror showed me a girl I’d never met before. She looked brazen and exotic, not a mouse who hid in the corner. “You look fantastic,” I repeated the sales girl’s words, trying to convince myself and rationalize my insecurities.
With a shaky hand, I opened my door and headed downstairs.