Party's quiet, for now

As Lauren was wandering around her crowded place, trying to avoid people that seemed to be freaking everywhere, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Surprised at who it might be, she quickly turned to see the 10-year-old Zach looking at her with a goofy smile. Ugh, great... she thought, rolling her eyes. Being barefoot, she immediately noticed that she was the same height as the brat - maybe shorter even. An unsettling fact, considering there was about 10 years of age difference between them.

"Hi. I'm Zach." he held out his hand with a shy grin, but Lauren just ignored it. "I... I haven't seen you around before." he continued.

"Nor will you in the future." scoffed Lauren, immediately looking for an escape route to get away from the little perv.

"Why?"

"Because I don't hang out with kids, that's why." she snapped back angrily at the boy.

"But... but you are a kid yourself." objected Zach, looking puzzled.

"How dare...!" started Lauren, but then realized she was supposed to be playing her little sister Jess. Who was a kid indeed. "Still, I am more mature than you, stupid boys." she said the first thing that came to mind, then left the gobsmacked Zach and disappeared amongst the dancing crowd.

Phew, one disaster averted, she thought. The less she interacted with this rabble the better off she would be. And while humiliating, her little disguise might help her in that regard. Most of her stupid neighbours had nothing to talk about with a 'little girl' like herself. Like her temporary self, to be more precise. With Zach taken care of, the only real threat was her sister. She was no doubt pissed at her for not letting her **** her any further. She needed to avoid her while the party lasted, to prevent her from doing anything humiliating to her in front of the quests. That was what she was doing when she accidentally bumped into someone behind her. She looked up to see the acne-ridden ugly mug of Jimbo, a fat nerd and Lauren's number one stalker.

"Hey there, kiddo. Jeez, you look just like a tiny version of Lauren. A very tiny one, tee-hee... How about a dance with this handsome man?" he asked with a stupid grin, holding out his hand for Lauren to take.

Lauren just took a look around the room and raised an eyebrow, "Which handsome man?"

"Hah... that's funny." smiled Jimbo awkwardly, trying to swallow the implied insult. He was used to such replies, but not from little girls. "Come on. I won't bite."

"I'd rather not..." said Lauren, trying to pull away in disgust.

"It is impolite to reject an offer to dance, young lady." butted in one of the neighbours she barely even knew. "Go on."

"Fine..." relented Lauren with a sigh, grabbing hold of Jimbo's massive hand. "Just one."

"Good. Hop on!"

And before Lauren could react, Jimbo picked her up like she was no heavier than a teddy bear, and placed her bare feet on the top of his big shoes. It was humiliating to see how easily the big guy could 'handle' her. Made her feel very small. Also, the way he held her, she was **** to place her head on his pot belly as they danced. Lauren was only relieved he didn't know her true identity. She couldn't help but keep glancing at the clock on the wall. She was eager for the song to end, so that she could escape Jimbo and forget about this moment ever happening. Then she saw a flash of light.

"Aww, that is so cute." cooed Beth, one of the Femmes Fatale, Vanessa's bitchy schoolmates. She was pointing her phone at the dancing pair.

"Hey, delete that!" yelled Lauren angrily. Tha last thing she needed was a picture of her and Jimbo, even if she was 'Jess'.

"I see you've managed to find a girlfriend, Jimbo." chuckled Miranda, another of the group. "And even she dares not boast about you."

"Very funny, girls. You know it's not like that." explained Jimbo.

"Well, she seems to have a crush on you. Hope you can wait a few more years. And that she wouldn't meet ANY other males." cackled Beth at her own little joke.

"Or that she wouldn't grow up to be as horrible as her elder sister." added Miranda referring to Lauren.

"You just better run back to James Carlson." said Lauren, then her lips curled into a wicked grin as she continued, "Oh wait, he left you to get one date with my sister. Awkward."

Jimbo and some others in the area laughed at lil' Jess's remark, making Beth blush. "How...? Hmpf." she groaned before angrily storming out with Miranda in toe.

"Don't mind them, honey. They are just jealous." whispered Jimbo as he stroked Lauren's head. Like anyone could ever be jealous of Jimbo...

As the song finally ended, Lauren inched away from Jimbo and the 'dance floor' that was now her living room. She tried to sneak upstairs in hopes of locking herself in her bedroom. Easier said than done. She would have expected Vanessa to keep the party downstairs -- or not hold a party in HER home at all -- but the lowly guests were swarming all over her place. She reluctantly returned downstairs, when she heard something that sounded like trouble.

She sweeped her entire place, her keen eyes panning the ground and the carpets, but she found no apparent damage anywhere. That was when someone bumped into her from behind and she felt cold liquid pour down on her head and dress. "Eeeekkk!" she screeched as she turned around.

"Oh sorry, honey." said Vanessa, faking sincerity. "I wasn't looking downwards..." she giggled. She had a wineglass in her hand -- not a drop left in it.

"Damn it! You're lucky we are in the kitchen." gritted her teeth Lauren, looking at the stain on the marble floor. She couldn't go two feet without bumping into some unwelcome guest in her own house. "Whoever allowed you to drink ****, anyway? Whatever, just... get out of my sight!"

"Suit yourself..." said Vanessa as she left the kitchen. But what she heard from behind filled her with a certain amount of satisfaction.

"Oh, sweetie! What happened to you?" said Morticia as she noticed Lauren.

"Ugh, nothing. My clumsy sister... None of your business, really." grumbled Lauren.

"But honey, your dress is all ruined. Come, we'll get that ugly red stain out in no time. You'll see." Lauren tried to resist, but the old woman grasped her wrist and was leading her on. "This has happened a lot to my grandchildren and I always managed to save their clothes. They were so glad."

"Yeah, I bet. That's why none of them ever visit, I assume..." remarked Lauren, rolling her eyes.

"Saying such things is cruel."

"Yeah, life is cruel..."

Morticia just swallowed the little insult and dragged 'Jess' to the closest bathroom. Upon entering, Lauren could see Sandra fixing her makeup in the mirror.

"Sorry, we had an accident. May we?" asked Morticia politely.

"Sure." smiled back Sandra.

Morticia led Lauren to the sink and splashed some cold water on the front of her dress. Lauren just let her work as she shivered, now throughly soaked.

"No, this just doesn't work like this. But it is not too late." nattered Morticia. "Sandra dear, could I leave little Jess in your capable hands while I visit the washroom and get this stain out?"

"What?" looked up a puzzled Lauren, only to feel the old hag grasp the bottom of her little dress and with one quick motion pull it up and off her lithe body. "Eeeekkk!" she screeched as she covered her nude self.

"Sure. I see kids just can't NOT get themselves messy these days." snickered Sandra.

"I'll be back shortly." said Morticia and then she left the bathroom. Along with the ONLY article of clothing Lauren had. She was left bare-ass naked in the company of the trashy, outspoken single mom Sandra.