Chapter 5 : Getting ready

The girls used to get ready together for events and outings. Most of the time, they did this at Elisabeth's house, which had a large bedroom and a spacious bathroom. Often, one of them would shower while the others chose the outfits. Many of Alicia's and Julia's outfits were already at Eli's, in addition to the new ones they brought with them. Julia, being slightly shorter than Elizabeth, often shared her clothes with her, and vice versa. It was not uncommon for Julia to buy a t-shirt or dress and for Eli to wear it, and vice versa.

Julia went to shower first, leaving the bathroom door open so they could chat.

"What should we wear tonight? Is it going to be hot or not?" asked Julia as she turned on the shower.The water began to run.

"Ouch, that's hot! Eli, you take your showers way too hot! What are you, a crawfish?" cried Julia.

"I like hot showers, Julia, and there's no need to shout, we can hear you just fine," replied Eli.

"You might be able to hear me, but I can't hear a thing over running water," Julia replied.Alicia laughed.

"It's always the same with her, she screams instead of talking.

"Eli smiled and consulted his phone to check the weather. It was going to be nice tonight. She asked the girls what they wanted to wear, knowing it would be mild.

"A leather skirt, a little shirt, and if it's cold, we'll take our workout jackets. They're pretty," Julia offered, shouting from the shower.

Alicia nodded. "All three of us have gorgeous leather skirts we bought last week. We've got to try them on. I brought one just in case."

"Um, we're often dressed like this, but I like it," Eli said.

"Perfect then! Julia, hurry up! We don't have all evening to wait for you to wash your bottom," joked Alicia.

"Oh that's okay, I'm almost done. Let the next one start undressing. She can join me and start showering while I dry off," Julia replied

."Do you want to be next, Eli?" asked Alicia."No, you go ahead. I'll get our outfits and my things ready."

"Okay, I'll go then," said Alicia as she gave Eli a quick hug. "Coming, Julia!"Alicia stepped into the shower as Julia dried off.

Once dry, Julia went back to the bedroom to get dressed. Then she returned to the bathroom to start putting on her make-up. Alicia finished her shower and told Eli she was done.

Elizabeth then entered the bathroom and began to undress. Alicia stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. Just before Eli stepped into the shower, Alicia jokingly slapped his buttocks: "What a magnificent butt! I couldn't resist." Eli sighed, used to Alicia's teasing, and stepped into the shower to wash up quickly.Alicia dried off, got dressed and joined Julia in putting on her make-up. Eli, for his part, took a quick shower, dried off, dressed in a flash and joined the others in putting on make-up.

Alicia and Julia, already ready, waited for Eli to finish.All that remained was for Eli to apply lipstick. She searched for her lipstick but couldn't find it. Coming out of the bathroom, she asked if any of the girls had seen it.

Alicia and Julia exchanged knowing glances."Listen, Eli, Alicia and I have been thinking," Julia began.

Eli looked at them both, frowning.

"It's our last year, and obviously you seem to be interested in boys, or maybe girls, we don't know," Alicia said with a wink.

"So we decided to play rock-paper-scissors to see who would be first," Julia added.

Eli looked at them, puzzled. First at what? Alicia stood up and kissed Eli. Alicia's beautifully red lips met Eli's full ones. Dismayed, Eli let herself be kissed, then kissed back.

The two exchanged a passionate kiss. Out of breath, Eli recoiled in shock. What had just happened?Alicia, all smiles, declared, "I'm the first one to steal a kiss from you."Julia rose to her feet and embraced Eli, exchanging another passionate kiss.

When she stepped back, a puzzled Eli asked, "What on earth are you doing? Why are you kissing me? And especially, so passionately?

"Alicia replied innocently, "You needed lipstick, now you don't. Besides, you seemed to enjoy it the way you returned the kiss.

"Julia burst out laughing.Eli walked over to her bedroom mirror and saw that her lips were covered in her two friends' lipstick. She didn't know what to think. They both loved to tease her, but here... Eli had strangely enjoyed it.