Runs into one of her "friends"

Getting to the store was uneventful, and yet Lauren felt anxious the whole time. And with each step she takes closer to the diaper aisle, the more anxious she gets. She feels like everyone is watching her, even though she knows it's all in her head. She just needs to get there, grab the least embarrassing pack that will fit her, and go. She'll be in and out.

By the time she gets to the diaper aisle, her heart is racing. She quickly scans the assorted packs, ignoring the ones for babies and toddlers and the ones for adults much to her chagrin. No sooner than she finds where the preteen ones are does she hear-

"I was right, it was you, Lauren! How's it going?" Lauren's heart skips a beat. _Of course, I had to run into someone that knows me, _she thinks with dread. Her head snaps toward the voice. It's Ashley. "What're you doing in the diaper aisle, though?"

"Getting... diapers?"

"No, duh," Ashley says, rolling her eyes. "Why? What do you need diapers for?" Lauren freezes for a moment like a deer in headlights. "They're not for you, right?"

Lauren feels like she could throw up, but she manages to give Ashley an intimidating glare. "Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to."

Ashley holds up her hands in a placating gesture. "Relax, I'm just kidding. But seriously-"

Lauren says the first thing that comes to mind. "They're for a prank."

"Oh, sweet. I should've known," Ashley says excitably. "Who's the target?"

Lauren hesitates for a moment before she thinks of the perfect scapegoat. "PeePee Polly... I was thinking that since she can't stop peeing all over herself that maybe she needs to relearn potty training from the beginning..." She feels bad even uttering the words, but Ashley absolutely couldn't find out these were for her.

"Whoa, damn, Lauren, you're so brutal," Ashley laughs. "I love it, let me help you pick some out for her. How were you planning on getting them to her?" Ashley gets right next to her and starts looking over the selection.

On the outside, Lauren is trying her best to appear calm but inside she is freaking out and wants nothing more than to tell Ashley to go away and mind her own damn business. "By like... teepeeing her house with them?"

"Oh genius," Ashley says. "That way she can't prove it was you."

"Right..." Lauren says, awkwardly returning to looking over the different styles that were available. A silence settles over the two as they both look through the options. Ashley is the one that breaks it.

"Why are we looking in the pre-teens area?" Ashley asked. "Shouldn't we be looking over in the adults section? She is 19 after all."

"No!" Lauren says a little more franticly than she intends. Ashley looks confused for a second, but before she can say anything, Lauren follows up with: "Use your head! Do you really think she qualifies as an adult?"

"Oh, yeah, you're right," Ashley laughs. "Sorry, that was a pretty dumb question." Lauren nods, biting her lip. A few seconds later, she finds just the kind of diapers she wanted, as plain and unembarrassing as you could really hope for with a diaper. A subtle sigh of relief escapes her as she reaches out to grab them.

"What're you doing, you can't get her those," Ashley says, making her freeze.

"What's wrong with these?"

"They're way too mature for her! Remember her panties?" Lauren didn't like where this was going... "These ones are more her speed," Ashley slaps her hand on an extra-large box of gaudiest, most childish diapers she has ever seen. The side of the box showed dozens of different designs, featuring princesses, rainbows, cartoon characters, animals, and so much more.

Lauren's mouth drops open. "Oh my god," Lauren manages to say. She wants nothing more than to scream right now. There's no way I can wear those, she thinks.

"I know right?"

"Are those... are those actually for pre-teens? They can't be."

Ashley proudly points to part of box with a smile. "Says preteens right there."

"That's... oh my god..." Lauren is stunned.

"I know, they're perfect," Ashley says putting the box into Lauren's arms. "No need to thank me." Trust me, I won't, Lauren thought. "Take a picture after you do it because I really want to see it. Just imagine the look on her face when she sees it," Ashley laughs again. Lauren couldn't help but notice that Ashley, seemingly oblivious to Lauren's plight, was shepherding her toward the cash registers while making idle conversation. Despite her best effort, Lauren couldn't find a convincing excuse not to go with her to the registers. She could tell that no matter what she came up with that Ashley would come with her. So, resignedly with an uneasy stomach, Lauren bought the diapers that Ashley picked out.