Melissa was surprised

A flicker of hope sparked in Melissa's chest. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. But that hope died a quick **** as the girl, with an unreadable expression, grabbed Melissa's arm and steered her towards the dimly lit confines of the dressing room.

The girl's voice was barely a whisper. "Please, just stay here. If my friend finds out, things will spiral out of control."

The world unraveled in a whirlwind of unforeseen circumstances, shattering her meticulously constructed plans.

"My name's Scarlet! What's yours?" she chirped, a wide grin splitting her face.

A skeptical eyebrow arched upwards as Melissa met the girl's gaze, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Relax, a little tension is good for the complexion, but not too much!" Scarlet said with a playful smile.

A hushed voice, barely audible over the pounding of Melissa's heart, called out, "Scarlet?"

"Don't worry," Scarlet said with a steely glint in her eyes. "I won't leave you hanging. Give me a minute to cook up a plan."

Melissa fidgeted, every creak of the floorboards sending a jolt through her. Time seemed to crawl as she waited, her mind conjuring all sorts of possibilities for Scarlet's absence. Finally, the door swung open, bringing Scarlet back into the dim light.

A sly smile played on Scarlet's lips as she leaned against the dressing room door. "Well, well, well. Seems my friend had to take a raincheck. Looks like it's just you and me now."

“ Why … ?”, Melissa wondered.

Silence greeted Melissa's question. With a swiftness that surprised Melissa, Scarlet began to shed her clothes. First the shirt, then the skirt, vanished with practiced ease. Barefoot and unclothed, Scarlet stood before Melissa, a mirror image except for the shoes.

Melissa's jaw dropped, her eyes widening comically as she stared at the sight before her.

"I want to join you in on this, alright?" Scarlet winked, a hint of mischief sparkling in her eyes.