Page 16 of Hot Mess

The first person bumped into Nick. He wobbled but kept his balance. The second person fully crashed into Nick’s back, and then someone else ran into them. Completely knocking Nick off his feet.

The chase of people didn’t stop but kept going. As they fought to get back on their feet and continue the chase, Nick put his hands out toward me to catch himself. I flinched away from the melee, throwing my hands up.

That’s when Nick’s hands landed on my breasts and grabbed hold of the fabric front of my dress. The fashion tape was not strong enough. The ties around my neck snapped and the entire front of my dress fell away.

If I thought the actions leading up to this had been slow, time froze. I stood there in complete shock, my breasts fully exposed with bits of tape still stuck to my skin. Nick was on his knees in front of me, looking up at my nakedness. His eyes were wide with horror.

Nick launched himself at me and grabbed my breasts. He had big hands, but I had bigger boobs. He stared at me, and then at his hands on me. He actually flushed. “Oh shit, I’m sorry.”

But his hands stayed put for a few more infinite seconds. He released me and then grabbed me again.

“Turn around, I don't have anything. I’m so sorry. Fuck, Kayla. I don’t know what…”

I wrapped my arms around myself and turned into the wall. Nick stood next to me, his back to me.

“My dress is ruined,” I squeaked. I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t help it.

“I know. I’m so sorry.” He started fumbling with his costume. “My wrap isn’t big enough. Let me think.”

“Is there like a couch blanket or something?” I asked. I pressed my entire front against the wall, trying to merge with it in my mortification.

He was quiet for a long moment. I thought he had left me. I hated the way tears burned the back of my nose. I wasn’t just going to have streaked make-up; I was going to be red-nosed and snotty now. If my cousin had thought I had been an embarrassment being a complete dork while talking to Marci Wolf, then Gabe had no idea what embarrassing was. I wanted to curl up and disappear.

“Nick?” I really hoped he hadn’t abandoned me.

“Still thinking.”

“Don’t leave me alone like this,” I pleaded.

“Fuck no, Kayla. I’m not going to leave you. I just need... Hold on. I’ve got it.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see what Nick was doing. He balanced on one foot and pulled a boot off, the other one was already off. He slid his pantaloons off.

“What are you doing?” I gasped.

“I’ve got long shorts on. And a hip wrap. I’m covered.” His muscles strained as he began to pull the legs apart.

I turned back toward the wall but looked back when I heard the rip of fabric. His legs were completely exposed. The hip wrap didn’t cover much. He hadn’t lied, he wore black shorts that came down his thighs a bit. It didn’t look like a costume anymore.

“Here.” He shoved the pantaloons at me.

“What good are these going to do? They are pants.” I was having a very hard time not crying.

“You slip your arms through the legs like sleeves. I tore the seam out, so you can wear them over your head like a shirt. It’s a trick I learned from an ex-girlfriend. She would turn old fishnet stockings into sleeves this way.”

I blinked away tears and stared at him before giving in and nodding. I took the pants. They were scratchy and on the smelly side. But I was able to pull them on like a strangely fitting top. My breasts were compressed, but I was covered.

I took the ruined front of my dress and tucked it into what had been the waistband of the pants. The drawstring helped me to cinch it in place.

“Kayla, I am so sorry.”

“I think I need to go home now,” I managed to say.

“Let me call you a car.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t bear the thought of him being seen with me while his pants were around my neck. Gabe had been right. I was a fucking embarrassment. I couldn’t get out of that place fast enough.

8

---