Page 66 of Knox Academy Omnibus
I get up at the arse-end of night - or the butt crack of dawn depending on how you look at it - to run with Onyx. I’ve come to cherish the quiet time I get to spend in his company. It seems weird to say that a bond is growing between us when we rarely talk, but it’s there nonetheless.
After, I head back to my room just as it’s starting to get light, to shower and get ready for school. I don’t know if I’m distracted as I race into the bathroom, or if I receive a delivery whilst I’m in the shower, but when I return to my room a garment bag iswaiting for me on my bed, a coffee in a to go cup on my bedside table. Kalen. I smile and snatch the coffee up first, before turning to the note pinned to the bag.
Happy Halloween, sis! Here’s your costume for tonight’s party. I’ve included everything you need - and I mean everything! - so don’t even think about making any changes to it. Can’t wait to see you in it/get you out of it… xxx
The boy is incorrigible, but he makes me laugh. I’m also slightly nervous about what might be in this bag, knowing Kalen as I do. I’m gutted that he wouldn’t let Elsie help him choose my costume: I may not like her style, but she knows mine and what I like. Plus she’s the only person I can count on to rein Kalen in. Hmmm, do I look now or wait until later?
Screw it, I’ve never been one for patience. I unzip the bag and pull out the costume Kalen has selected for me. I stare, open-mouthed at it, and then frantically search the garment bag for the rest of it. Bastard. There’s no way I can wear the tiny scrap of material he’s picked out for me. It’s practically just lingerie - and slutty lingerie at that! He’s been kind enough to include some killer stilettos for me too; and I mean that literally because I will break my neck in the damn things. Nu-uh. There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that I’m wearing that!
I quickly get ready for school and head down to the dining room for breakfast. I spot everyone - that is to say the Knox brothers and Elsie - sitting at what has become ‘our’ table and I storm over to them.
“Morning, sis!” Kalen grins at me. “I see you’ve taken a sneak peak at your costume for tonight’s party!”
“Kalen,” I hiss. “I can’t wear that! I’ll get arrested for indecent exposure!” My face heats with anger and embarrassment.
“Aww, sis, trust me, you wear that and you could easily get away with murder.”
“Good. Because I’ll be plotting yours!”
“Erm, Amelie?” Slate interjects. “Why don’t you just wear a different costume if you don’t like it?”
“Dude! Shut up! You’re going to want to see her in what I’ve picked out, trust me!” Kalen replies, smacking Slate on the arm to shut him up.
“Because,” I seethe. “I didn’t get another costume. Kalen said he’d take care of it! How was I supposed to know he’d have me looking like a damn hooker!”
“Erm, did you meet our brother?” Onyx laughs.
“Ha-ha,” I bite back.
“Amelie, relax,” Elsie tells me. “It can’t be that bad, and besides, it is practically a tradition over here for the girls to dress a little more revealingly than they normally would.”
I eye her suspiciously.
“So your costume…”
“Has been supplied by Kalen too. So we are in the same boat. We will have fun together and own it!” She beams at me. I begrudgingly accept her suggestion.
“Ok. I will wear the damn costume on one condition…”
“Name it,” Elsie says.
“Kalen has to wear the costume I provide for him too.”
“Done!” Slate, Elsie and Onyx all call simultaneously as Kalen attempts to protest.
“What? Hey! No, that’s not fair!” he cries.
“Life isn’t fair, so suck it up, buttercup,” I say, deliberately throwing his own words back at him.
“I didn’t know you got me a costume,” he says.
“I didn’t. But my best friend is a drama major and she has access to the costume department so we’re about to leave you now and go have some fun!”
Elsie and I leave, arm in arm, to uproarious laughter from the twins and Kalen’s sputtering complaints. The party might not be so bad after all.
“Oh God what was I thinking?” I groan. I’m standing in Elsie’s room staring at myself in dismay in the full-length mirror.
“Amelie, you look hot. I would totally do you if you were on my team,” Elsie grins. We’re standing side by side and although our costumes are similar - we’re both dressed as naughty brides - mine is way more revealing than Elsie’s. I’m basically wearing a white bikini with a tiny scrap of lace connecting the two pieces down the front. There are lace ruffles on the cups and a short lace skirt that barely covers my ass - in fact, it just seems to highlight it. The stilettos Kalen gave me are white pvc hooker heels. I have white stockings and a blue garter and the whole ensemble is topped off with a veil. Elsie’s is a low cut white dress, no veil. Hardly the same. I know I should be grateful that the bra isn’t cupless, but I’m still going to kill Kalen when I see him.
