Nope; she locks the door.

Puzzled, I watched as my mother used her other hand to lock the door to my room, pocketing the key.

"...what are you doing?"

"I knew you'd be tempted, especially in the beginning, so I'm helping you keep your promise. This door remains locked until the end of the day, so if you get weak, you won't be able to snatch clothes from there."

"N-no, you can't... but..." She really was going to pull through with this, and I was at a loss for words. My best friends seeing me, that I could tolerate, but any minute the house would be populated by aquaintances and relative strangers! Whose first impression of me, Alice, in her home environment, would be my naked body. I had to get _something _to wear.

I looked around myself, while mom watched on with a smug expression, as if she could see the wheels in my head turning, knowing it was futile. I ran to my parent's bedroom. Also locked. The bathroom - all the big towels were gone, and the tiny ones meant for hands would do me no good. Briefly, I considered using one of the rugs, but just how would that look?

In my panicked search, I didn't notice mom going down the stairs, and her having a talk with my friends. I was just in the middle of contemplating the removal of the window curtains, when I got called to come down as well.

"Alice? It's okay, you don't have to be ashamed, you can come down!" It was Barb. Evidently, mom had told them something to get them on her side. Fine! I would have to explain the situation to them anyways, and then they could maybe lend me some of what they were wearing. Coming down, making sure to keep my hands in place, I saw them waiting at the foot of the stairs.

"H-hey guys... so, I can explain why-"

"It's all okay, you don't have to say anything. Your mom told us, and for my part, I think you're incredibly brave to do this!" With that said, Barb hugged me, tight. That would have been a hell of a lot more awkward if I hadn't kept my hands in place. Lucy stepped up next, eyeing me up and down, still almost as red in the face as I must have been. Was she... was she checking me out?

"Maybe your mom is right, and you should show off a little more... there really is no reason... to not be confident about your body..." She hugged me as well, but a little more subdued. She lingered a little longer, though, feeling my back for a few seconds. It made me even more aware of my total nudity.

"Erm... thanks? But, really, maybe this is a bad idea... could I maybe get pants at least...?"

The last meek request was drowned out by a noise I had dreaded. The doorbell, again. Barb, Lucy and my mom looked at me for a second. I yelped as I suddenly found myself being shoved toward the front door.

"Come on, sweety! You gotta greet your guests." "Yeah, don't be afraid, they'll love it!" "I know I do..."

There was no time for me to dwell on what Lucy had muttered there; mom opened the door, and I had **** but to greet my first guests...