"Give me the money," the masked man yelled, nervously. Amy froze in fear behind her tiny plant, but the receptionist seemed much calmer.
"What money?" he asked. "All I have is $40 in my wallet."
"I'm not here to rob you," the robber responded, waving the gun in his face. "Just the store. Now open the register."
"We don't have a register. All payments are electronic."
"Then, then." The masked man looked around sporadically, settling his gaze on a small metal box. "Then I'll take this." He grabbed the container and jingled it a bit. "Sounds like there's coins inside. Or jewels." Turning on his heel, he dashed out the door before anything else could be said.
As his car screeched out of the parking lot, Amy's friends rushed to the quivering girl. "Are you alright?" they inquired simultaneously.
Amy nodded. "It was just a bit startling," she mumbled as she leaded into her group's embrace. Their warm touch felt wonderful on her exposed skin. "But it's over now," she reminded herself. Her smile brightened as she added, "and we can get these chains off finally."
"There's a slight problem," corrected Anya. "That box the thief just took had all our spare keys in it. We can't unlock you."
"Oh," mumbled Amy, "can you just give me my clothes back so I can go home."
Anya looked at her sympathetically, "I'm sorry, but that box also had the master key for the lockers."
Amy whimpered trying to process getting home in her current state. "Can I have money for a cab?" she asked her friends, managing not to cry.
"Not on your life," snapped Kat, her English accent adding a bite to her words that probably wasn't intended. She gripped Amy's chain near her collar, and **** the shy girl to make eye contact. "It's my birthday. And I say every one of my friends has fun whatever it takes."
"But I can't go out like this."
"Don't worry," countered Crystal, "I'll paint your toenails."
"That's not..." started Amy, but the platinum blonde was already kneeling at her feet and pulling things out of her purse.
"I think I have some shoes in the prop room that will fit you," offered Anya more practically.
"And you can borrow my coat," finalized Kat, "it's too hot for me to wear anyways." It was a bit odd that she wore such a long coat today.
Amy's eyes darted about looking for an excuse. It seemed ridiculous, but her friends' eagerness was infectious. "Okay," she said, surprising herself by not sounding at all begrudging.
"There you go," cheered Kat as she draped her trench coat over Amy's shoulders.
"We'll be nearby every step of the way," assured Toni. Her roommate stepped closer and folded the front sections of the long jacket over Amy before tenderly tying its belt tight.
All wrapped up Amy started taking jiggling steps towards the door. "I'll return the chains once we can take them off," she called back to Anya as her friends whisked her away on her next adventure.
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