Press Your Luck

Harlow Elwynn sat at a poker table looking at a pair of eights, he was up fifteen thousand dollars and he was bored. Poker was never his game, he loved the thrill of games like craps or roulette but he was good at poker and whenever he was down to his last ten dollars he’d get to work at the tables. And Harlow did in fact consider this his job. He made a comfortable living in Vegas and had done so since he was fifteen, sneaking into the seedier bars with digital slots at the bar who didn’t even bother to check his fake ID. He found out a year later that his ID wasn’t worth the fifty he paid for it as he was immediately booted and banned for life from the first casino he tried. But that was life, sometimes you’re on a hot streak sometimes you’re on a cold streak. But that was ten years ago and that wasn’t his first or his last cold streak, but it also wasn’t his last hot streak and now he was heating up after a six month cold streak from only three and a half hours of “work” thanks to his emergency twenty stashed in a sock drawer.

He had stared down five drunks who thought they’d win the next world poker tournament, the last woman sat across the table from him and like before he couldn’t get a read on her. She had the biggest tits he had ever seen and she was clearly putting them on display with her low cut red dress. She was probably a stripper trying to triple her tips. The woman pushed her small pile of two-thousand dollar chips into the center. “All in.” She spoke with a breathy voice. His mind finally picked up on her tell, like a flash he remembered every time that she cranked up the sultriness in her voice he had caught her bluffing. That slutty act may separate a bunch of horny idiots from their money but he was made of sterner stuff. He confidently pushed his chips in towards the center.

The dealer turned the final card revealing the third eight. “Trip eights.” He smiled as he turned his cards over.

The woman frowned, as she did every time she pressed her luck too far, but then her frown turned into a smirk as she turned over a six and a nine. It was like something out of a horror movie as the dealer slowly pushed forward the five, seven, and eight card. The woman laughed excitedly as she raked in the chips pushed to her. He lost to an outside straight. She won off pure dumb luck. It had to be that, no way she could have played him. She couldn’t have known how ridiculously low the odds of picking up that last card was. His cold streak continued for another day, it was nothing new to him and he learned a long time ago there’s no point in playing a game you already lost. Besides, tomorrow was a new day and there was always his emergency ten.

The next day Harlow awoke at the crack of 2:38pm and stretched out on his mattress on the floor, you'd be surprised what pawn shops would take in this city, and reached into his boxers to scratch as he did every morning. “Good morning starshine.” A gruff voice said over him.

Rolling up in bed he was greeted by the cold blank face of Marcus and beside him was the lanky Oswald, Benjamin's collectors. Harlow had seen so many pairs like Marcus and Oswald he had started wondering if they just came in a set.

“Marcus…Oswald…hey guys, I-I was just about to call you…but I pawned my phone so I couldn’t really-”

“Benjamin wants his money.” Marcus interrupted.

“Right, I was going to call you about that but as I had previously mentioned my phone is no longer with me, hence why I didn’t. I would’ve found a payphone but when’s the last time you seen a payphone, right?” He laughed nervously.

“Boss says you gotta pay. Today.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s a great idea. I can completely understand that. So if you’d wait here I can get the money together and-”

“You don’t have the money?”

“Well, not in one place. Who’d be dumb enough to keep it all in one place in this city. You know how much crime there is?...I guess you do.” He cleared his throat as he slowly stood up.

“Boss says if you don’t got the money we take it out in trade.”

“...that’s a great business model. I tell you, you don’t see enough of the good ol barter system anymore.”

“Trade is your legs.”

“...” Harlow gasped sharply, as he backed up to his bathroom door, “My-my legs? Nah these old things aren’t worth anything. Look at me I’m scrawny and I’ve got congenitally weak ankles, you couldn’t really get anything for them anyway.”

“It’s a metaphor.” Marcus approached the nervous Harlow, his tight leather jacket threatening to be ripped any moment with each simple motion of his arms.

“Oh, yeah. Silly me. But let me put on some pants,” he said as he snatched up his discarded jeans, “And we’ll go get the rest of your money.”

“The rest?”

“Yeah, oh, right, there’s about ten grand in the freezer if you want to check.”

Oswald checked the freezer in the kitchen while Marcus stayed close to Harlow. Oswald found a large ziploc bag completely frozen but full of something he couldn’t see through the frosted ice covering. “Is it there?” Marcus called to his partner in the kitchen.

As he was looking away Harlow quietly backed into his cramped bathroom and closed the door immediately and locked the door before Marcus could reach him. In an instant there was a pounding on the door. Harlow went to work quickly tying his pants to a towel rack and slipping his small frame through the window. Just as his head dropped from view Marcus kicked in the door. The towel rack ripped from the wall as it took Harlow’s full weight, catching for a moment in the window frame before it bent and slipped through.

Harlow dropped into an open dumpster two stories below. “Fuck!” Harlow swore as the rusted metal dumpster cut his side. Standing he reached up to the lip of the dumpster to pull himself up. When he heard the sound of heavy running feet he threw himself back diving under the garbage and praying for some good luck.

“Do you see him?” A voice he recognized to be Oswald’s shouted. There were rustling sounds as the pair flipped over box after box beside the can until a homeless man swore at the men. “The dumpster!” Oswald ordered and Harlow quietly tried to make himself as small as possible. More boxes were thrown out followed by the sound of glass smashing in the alley and more incomprehensible swearing from the homeless man about litter. “Fuck!” Oswald swore and kicked the dumpster. “He must’ve doubledbacked on us. Come on.”

Marcus said something in his usual low grumble before the pair were heard leaving.

For the better part of an hour Harlow waited in the dumpster to be sure they weren’t coming back before finally climbing back out. In doing so he felt a sudden sharp pain along his heel and he tumbled from the dumpster onto the hard asphalt below. As he stood his right foot screamed at him in agony forcing him to lean against the dumpster. He looked to his foot and saw no blood thankfully but he could hardly put any weight on his foot. Inspecting the alley he was surrounded on three sides by buildings and only the homeless old man he heard setting up his box house once again before Harlow hobbled to the only way out.

After a half hour more of hobbling in his boxers through as many alleys as he could get away with he found his destination, his friend Danny’s house. They had been friends ever since the first week of high school and he was always a good guy. “Hell-Harlow!?” Danny yelled in shock upon seeing his friend’s state and not expecting this when he heard the doorbell.

“Hey, Danny. So, I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by.”

“Where are you coming from the dump?”

“Close. Can I come in?”

“Sure, of course man.” Harlow limped into the single story ranch house he inherited from his mother after she passed away last year, his father having died three years before her leaving only him and his sister. As Harlow was about to sit down Danny stopped him, “Hey…why don’t you shower first?”

Harlow looked at his half naked stained and bruised body, “Yeah…sounds good.”

“I’ll bring you some clothes.”

“Thanks man.”

Harlow gratefully washed the sludge from his blonde hair and his mind not to even consider what it could be. The warm water on his soft chest was a godsend after spending the last three months taking ice cold showers after the city cut off his heat. Running the warm loofa over his thin waist suddenly very aware of the nics, scrapes, and bruises on his ribcage as the adrenaline began to ware off in his safe surroundings. He scrubbed the filth from his hairy legs and again felt the sharp pain in his right foot as he put pressure on it causing him to shift sharply out of instinct and fall into the tub. There was a quick sound of thumping feet followed by knocking, “Hey man you okay?!”

“Yeah…I fell on my ass. But yeah.”

“Oh…I’ve got you some clothes for you.”

“Thanks, can you put them on the counter?” The door slowly cracked open just enough to allow Danny’s large forearms room to slip the stack of clothes onto the counter.

“Alright man, let me know if you need anything.” With that the door closed and Harlow slumped in the tub, enjoying the hot water spraying all over him for a minute longer before finishing washing his lower half while still seated in the tub.

“Dude, are you sure these are the only clothes in the house?”

“Only ones that’ll fit your scrawny ass.” Danny’s voice called from somewhere down the hall.

“But…my boxers would be better.”

“I already threw those out man, besides I love you dude but no way you’re sitting on my couch in your trash boxers.”

“Ugh, fine.” Cringing, he picked up the small pair of pink panties, noticing the soft white hearts scattered throughout, “Jesus.” He swore and slipped them on. The bright feminine colors contrasting heavily with the dark hair that ran up from his shins and only ended at his happy trail on his tummy. He quickly followed that up with the shorts, hoping it would hide his bulge, the sight of which disturbed him in the panties. He was at least relieved his friend had given him one of his shirts.

Once dressed he looked at his ridiculous reflection in the mirror. He wore a men’s button up shirt and black short shorts that hugged his ass. He was especially angry with this selection as he had been picked on all the time in the high school locker room’s shower for having a girly butt.

He scratched his scraggly beard and decided to go ahead and borrow Danny’s razor too. He hadn’t shaved in a couple of weeks and had actually planned on doing so in the morning now that it was starting to grow back but he was not afforded the opportunity. He knocked some bottles over when he reached for the razor, and judging from the flowery logos and pastel colors it belonged to his older sister. How he shared a bathroom with four people was beyond him when he was a kid, Harlow had a hard enough time sharing the bathroom with just his mom in their dinky apartment.

Harlow sat on the couch with a heavy sigh, “Thanks man. I really needed that.”

“Anytime man. So what exactly happened to you? You aren’t on the run from the cops are you?”

“No man. I…well not cops. Look, I had an issue with debt and I tried to fix it last night-”

“How much did you lose this time?”

“I started out with twenty bucks so let's focus on that.” He a smile on his face.

“And?”

“And I got dealt a bad hand.”

“They don’t usually kick your ass on day one for pocket change. How much were you in for?”

“...It’s been a rough couple of months man.”

“How much.”

“A hundred and twenty grand.”

“What the fuck man?!” Danny jumped to his feet.

“Plus the vig.”

“Look, I can’t cover that. I’d love to help you man but I can’t this time. I simply…don’t have the money.”

“I’m not asking you too…but if you had a couple hundred I could hit the tables and fix all of this.”

“Absolutely not.”

“What?” Danny and Harlow turned to see a very angry Valerie standing in the doorway.

“I said no. Under absolutely no circumstance are you allowed to give him money. That was our deal, remember?”

“What deal?” Harlow looked desperately between the siblings.

“What deal?!” Valerie said angrily as she stormed towards Harlow. “The last time you were up to your eyeballs in debt, where do you think he got the money?” She leaned in even closer, getting right in his face. “Did you ever even ask?”

Harlow looked to his friend who frowned, “I sold her my half of the house so we could mortgage it.”

Harlow frowned, “I-I didn’t know.”

“Of course not.” She huffed before taking a step back, “The only way I’d agree is if he swore he’d never give you so much as a nickel.” Despite his situation he still took the time to stare at her double Ds. “What is he wearing?!” Valerie noticed the shorts tight against his thighs.

“It was the only clothes that fit.”

“He’s going commando in my shorts?!”

“Not…exactly.”

Valerie turned back with a horrified and angry look on her face. “You just bought yourself a pair of underwear. Creep.” Valerie stormed off to her room, leaving the men alone in the living room.

“Look man, fifty bucks, I can triple that in ten minutes. You can even go with me, and I’ll give it back. That way she’ll never know and get your money back plus.”

“Won’t work. My cards are maxed out and she…monitors my money.”

“Dude…that’s fucked up.”

“Yeah. I don’t think she likes you.”

As Harlow was trying to figure out a way around Valerie there was a heavy pounding on the front door that made him jump out of his skin. “Fuck! It’s them, it’s gotta be!”

“Stay here, I’ll check it out.” Danny stood to his full six foot four height and walked to the closest window shade and carefully pulled it back. “One of em, got a flat head?”

“Yeah! A huge white guy, looks like his head was used for an anvil all his life. Big and square. Like a pissed off box in a leather jacket.” Danny turned and frowned at his friend. “Fuck, it is them.”

He turned and peaked again, straining to see anyone else, “I only see the one though.” when he turned back his friend was gone.

Harlow hurried into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him before reaching for the small window over the toilet. In doing so he saw the lankier Oswald’s greasy slicked-back black hair. “Fuck, they’re learning.” The bathroom door suddenly opened and Harlow spun around and saw Valerie.

“What the hell is going on?”

“I owe money to some guys and they’re outside.”

“So pay them.”

“Gee, why didn’t I think of that? I’m broke.”

“Then leave.”

“I can’t! They’re gonna sell me for parts!”

“Not my problem.”

“No?” He asked indignantly, “Well they’re not gonna be fine with just my legs. Dead men don’t pay debts but men with dead friends do!”

“They’re gonna kill us?”

“Probably, and clean out the house on top of it.”

“You son of a-” Valerie stopped as she heard two men talking loudly.

Marcus stormed through the house searching through the garage before turning back and checking the other rooms, “Look, I told you he’s not here. I haven’t seen him in three months. Whatever he owes you is his problem.”

“If he’s not here you won’t mind me looking around.” Marcus stood in front of Danny. Normally his six foot two height and stocky build intimidated others but seeing the taller Danny was throwing him off. Danny looked like his entire job was to workout at the gym and drink protein shakes. “What‘d your momma feed you boy? Steroid laced titty milk?”

Danny clinched his fist, normally he wasn’t a violent person and tried to be downright pacifist in nature in the hopes that it would scare people less but he had limits when it came to people he cared about. His jaw tightened and he braced himself the way his father taught him to punch someone.

But before he could he heard a shout. “Daniel!” The two men turned and looked at Valerie standing in the hallway. “What’s going on?”

Marcus changed his tone and even smiled at Valerie, “I’m looking for a friend of your boyfriend’s man named Harlow.”

“He’s my brother! And Harlow isn’t allowed anywhere near this house.”

“Shame, I guess he’s not here. Even so you wouldn’t mind if I had a look around real quick would you? If I find him I promise to take him out as quickly as possible.”

“I told y-” Danny started but was cut off by his sister.

“No, it’s fine. I told you I don’t want Harlow anywhere near my house.”

“Thank you.” Marcus smiled and walked passed Valerie down the hall.

“Did he get away?” Danny whispered.

“No.”

“Then why-”

“There’s someone else outside. We have a plan.”

Marcus threw open the door to the master bedroom which Valerie had claimed as her own. He searched her closet before lifting the bed singlehandedly for any sign of Harlow but found none. Next he checked the other bathroom, found no sign of him and even knocked on the small window and Oswald confirmed he didn’t escape. Next he found another bedroom that had been converted into an office space, boxes were all he found in that closet. Finally he opened Danny’s childhood room and found someone lying under the covers. “I expected more from you.” He said, throwing back the covers and finding a woman sleeping in her boyfriend’s shirt.

Immediately she sat up and screamed, pulling the covers to her chest. “Who are you?!”

“Who am I? Who are you?” He snatched the blanket from Harlow’s fingers like it was nothing.

“I’m…” Harlow cleared his throat and his voice to sound as girly as possible. “I’m, Lucy, I’m, like, Danny’s girlfriend.” Marcus looked at the feminine form before him, her smooth legs, her thin waist and smooth face, then to the open closet with only men’s clothes.

“Then where’s your clothes?”

“Still in boxes. I just moved in today.”

“You look like you just got out of a shower.”

“I…we um celebrated and yeah I took a shower then a nap. I’m an adult. I’m allowed.” Harlow picked up a pillow and held it in front of his chest, mostly out of a attempt to hide his flat chest but it was comforting.

Marcus wasn’t completely fooled and reached for the towel wrapped around her head.

“Marcus.” Oswald yelled from the door as he gripped the towel. “He’s not here. You’ve bothered these nice people enough.”

Marcus released his hold on the towel and walked away. “Apologies for the intrusion. You three have a wonderful rest of your day.” The two men left and Danny followed them to the door.

“A-are they gone?”

The two men talked beside their black sedan for a moment before Oswald got into the driver’s seat and Marcus in the passenger seat and drove off. “They’re gone.”

Harlow breathed a sigh of relief as the towel unraveled and fell from his head exposing his blonde hair.

“Girlfriend huh?” Valerie asked.

“What? Oh, I panicked and said the first thing that popped in my head.”

Danny came back in, after making sure no one else was lurking around the outside of the house and locking all the doors. “Hey, looks like we’re in the clear for now.”

“Good, thanks you guys. Look, I’ll get out of your hair.”

“You can’t leave now,” Danny yelled, “if they’re still watching the house, who knows what’ll happen.”

“Then what can I do?”

“Stay here tonight, then leave in the morning.” Danny ran his hand through his short chestnut hair, he hated not being able to help his friend more.

“Would you be okay with that?” He asked Valerie.

Valerie was deep in thought for a moment before snapping out of it, “Huh. Sure. I mean…you did just move in.” Valerie laughed as she left the room.

“What did she mean by that?”

“I have no idea, she’s nuts.”

That night Harlow ate a big dinner for the first time in months and fell asleep on the couch. When Harlow stood his ankle screamed again and he dropped. Luckily Danny was there and caught his small friend. He explained what happened and offered his services as a crutch to the table and to the couch, his temporary bed. While the two men slept soundly Valerie was up all night, lost in thought. She hated Harlow, when they were in school he was such a creepy loser. He would ogle her and her friends all the time because they had big chests and were curvy. Especially on game days when they had to wear their cheer uniforms to school. It didn’t seem to matter who they told, or what they did to him as payback. They spread a rumor he had a tiny dick thinking the blow to his ego would at least distract him from them but no, he still stared like a creepy perv and it seemed like he hadn’t grown up at all. Maybe, she thought with a smile, if he got a taste of his own medicine.

The next morning Danny woke up before anyone else, as he always did, ate a quick microwave breakfast burrito and left for work quietly. An hour later Valerie came into the living room, loud music blasting from the phone in her pocket. “AHJESUS!” Harlow screamed as he bolted upright.

“Good morning!” Valerie cheered as she bounced around in her tight pink pajama shorts and a shirt that clung to the outline of her breasts, making it obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra.

“What’s so great about it?”

“You’ve still got your legs for one?” Harlow nodded and checked his now smooth legs, they were in fact still there. “You hungry?”

Harlow slowly stood and watched the chipper Valerie with confusion, “Yeah, actually.”

“Cool. I’m making pancakes.” Harlow went into the fridge and made himself a glass of juice before he sat at the countertop opposite the kitchen. A minute later she slapped a pancake onto a plate and slid it to him with a fork. “You want syrup? Of course you do.” She answered before he could and reached up to the shelf, allowing her shirt to rise and expose her midriff as she did so.

“You feeling okay?” He asked, taking the syrup from her.

“Huh? Oh I’m just a morning person.” She smiled as she hummed along with the music. Harlow stabbed his pancake with his fork and ate. Five pancakes later, three of which found their way onto Harlow’s plate and Harlow wiped his mouth.

“So…thanks for the grub, but I guess I better be getting out of your house, huh.”

“True. I did say only for the night.” She hummed as she took another bite.

Harlow stood, making sure to slump his shoulders and frown so she could see it as he stood, putting extra emphasis on his limp. “I hate to ask, I know you don’t want to give me money and I respect that but…I can’t go around like this.” He gestured to the oversized shirt he still wore and the small black short shorts.

“No…I don’t suppose you can…and if they saw you like that they might come back for us.”

“Yeah! I mean, yeah. They’d know you helped me out.” Harlow hoped he wasn’t overplaying his hand with that, he needed to scare her just enough to lend him money, not make her mad and lash out.

“We wouldn’t want that.” She stood, “Come on.” Harlow took two steps before the very real pain hit him again and his knees buckled. “Oh no!” Valerie helped him stand back up, she was sure he wasn’t that good of an actor but she could at least use it to her benefit.

“Thank you, so much.” Harlow put his arm around her waist, taking every opportunity to touch her breast as they walked. Valerie wasn’t as tall as her brother but she was taller than the average woman at five-eleven, putting her neck at an uncomfortable height for the five foot five Harlow.

In the master bedroom she sat him onto her bed as she walked into her closet. Family photos hung on the wall of Valerie’s room. Harlow was in a few of them with Danny, back when they were still the same height. Then the jerk had to go and have a growth spurt one summer at camp. When he came back he towered over everyone including his parents. Harlow’s growth spurt was far less impressive, he measured every day but only gained three inches by the time he graduated.

Valerie came out of the closet a few minutes later holding a set of clothes and setting them on the bed. "What's this?"

"Clothes. You can't go in a store like that either."

"Oh yeah, right. Smart thinking." He lied as he took the clothes. She always was just a bimbo even in school. The only reason she graduated is because she probably sucked off the principal.

"Get dressed, I'll go get you the rest."

Harlow sighed, “She could have at least given me pants. Fuckin’ bimbo.” He slid off the short shorts and traded them for a pair of purple denim shorts that stopped mid-thigh on him. Next came the shirt, the new shirt was only a slight improvement over Danny’s. Due to her bust size the shirt wasn’t as tight as it would have been on her, but the material it was made out of clung to his torso wherever it could. Standing on one foot in the mirror he read the backwards letters emblazoned on the shirt. “Grrrl power…this has got to be the lowest I can go.” He muttered to himself.

“Knock, knock.” She said as she opened the door. “Oh, okay.”

“What?”

“Nothing. You look really cute.” Harlow blushed at being called cute, on any other day he’d be happy being called cute by a hot chick but today it felt just as humiliating as when the guys in high school did it to mock him for his girlish features. “Okay, I just need to get dressed and we’ll be all set.”

“You’re coming too?”

“I don’t think you can walk on that ankle of yours.”

“I figured I’d take a cab.”

“And if they’re watching the house? No way does my brother’s girlfriend go home in a cab.”

“I’m n-Fine.” he rolled his eyes, the less people to see him dressed like Barbie’s butch sister the better. As he sat back on the bed he realized Valerie was no longer in the doorway but now in her closet. From his vantage point he could see her entire body in the mirror. She shimmied and swayed her sexy bubble butt out of her shorts and panties. He nearly caught a glimpse of her pussy but she didn’t bend enough. A moment later she removed her tight top and stood naked facing her clothes. Harlow had fantasized about seeing her naked for years but now he might actually get to if she’d only turn just a little more to the right. She crouched down and he lost sight of her for a second due to the dresser placement and it’s height but when she stood back up she was slipping on a bright green thong that split her beautiful cheeks so perfectly he felt as green with envy as her thong. Next came a matching balcony bra that held her breasts up nicely. Unfortunately she turned too late and he missed seeing their full glory. Next she put on a red skater dress decorated with soft yellow flowers. She bent again, this time at the waist, for a full minute before she stood back up and turned around.

“Ready to go?”

“Uh-what? No. I mean yeah. Wait, no. Does Danny have any shoes I can borrow?” She looked at his feet then placed one between them both and Harlow realized what she was fiddling with must have been the straps of her red heels.

“No, I don’t think you could fit in his shoes. But I bet you could fit in a pair of mine.”

“Okay.” He said, a minute later she came back with some running shoes, which did indeed fit. Problem was the second he stood up his ankle gave out again. “Mother of mercy!”

She helped sit him back on the bed and gently removed his foot from her shoe, and giving him a full view of her cleavage at the same time. “Wait here okay? I have an idea. I don’t know if it’ll work but it might.” She ran back into her closet and came right back out and presented him with a pair of wedge heeled sandals.

“I can’t wear these.”

“Why not?”

“They’re girls’ shoes.”

“So were my running shoes but you were fine with that?”

“It’s…it’s different.”

She crouched and once again gave him a great view. She was saying something but he paid her no mind, even as she slipped a heel onto his feet. “There. Can you stand up for me?” Her lips parted into a half pout and her chest heaved.

“Okay.” He stood awkwardly at first but was able to find his balance. Best of all, no blinding pain.

“How do you feel? Better, right?”

“It…it feels fine.” He now somewhat proudly stood at five foot seven.

“Great. Let’s go.” She took his hand as she stood up and pulled him along. In doing so he tripped on his first step and fell forward, luckily Valerie was there to catch him this time as he face planted in her chest. “Oh, I guess we should practice for a bit first, huh?”

Valerie showed him the finer points of walking in women’s shoes. Gentle small steps, move with your hips not your knees as if you were trying to place one foot in front of the other. Until finally she told him, “Not great, but it’ll get you to the car.” As they drove down the street Harlow eyed every black sedan suspiciously. “Calm down, you’re so uptight.”

“Given my situation I think I’m allowed.”

“You look fine.”

“I look like some dyke. If they see me they’re gonna-is that them?” He watched a black sedan turn a corner while his heart pounded in his ears.

“Look, if you’re that worried I have a hat in the backseat. Tuck your hair under and no one will think anything of it.” Harlow scrounged through the mess in Valerie’s backseat, throwing books from one side to the other until he found the hat in question. A purple wool knit skull cap. He again rolled his eyes but put it on anyway, tucking the loose bits of his hair away. He mentally kicked himself for not cutting his hair when he had the chance last week or the other weeks prior. His hair nearly reached his shoulders and annoyed him every time it fell in his face.

After a few minutes of riding in silence Valerie finally broke the silence, “I’m sorry about yesterday. I was already upset from work and then all of this happened.”

“It’s okay.” Harlow shrugged. ‘Someone probably asked her to spell a big word and it hurt her little brain.’ Last he had heard she was working as a waitress, trying to help with tuition. If she just stripped like he suggested she’d have it paid off in a month.

As they pulled up to the stop sign in front of his apartment complex she saw a black sedan in front of them with a man sitting in the driver’s seat. “Isn’t that the skinny guy?”

“Is it?!” Harlow sat straight up in his seat and tried to get a look at the man but from their position he couldn’t see clearly.

“Yeah, I think that’s his car.”

“Shit! We need to get out of here.”

“Duck down.” She said quickly. She drove casually as he laid back in his seat hoping he wasn’t already caught.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Valerie’s head peering into the car window. “Don’t look, that’s so obvious!” he whispered angrily. She snapped her head back in place keeping her eyes on the road. “Was it him?” He asked after a few seconds.

“It looked like him.” She lied. The man in the car was very white, while Oswald had a face the color of mocha.

“Fuck!...Does it look like anyone is following us?” She looked in her rear view and saw the empty street behind her.

“Yes.”

“Shit fuck shit!” Harlow swore. “What am I gonna do?”

“Well…nevermind.”

“What?” He asked desperately.

“Well, I figured…you already told them you were my brother’s girlfriend and you just moved in.”

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t we keep up with the lie. You can stay with us for a bit and pretend to be Danny’s girlfriend.”

“You’d be okay with me staying there?”

Valerie sighed, “I’m not a monster. I don’t want you to die. But you absolutely can not ask Danny for money or go to any casinos, understand? They’ll definitely be looking there.”

“No, yeah that’s great! Whatever it takes.”

“Good. We need to get you clothes. I don’t want you dead but I don’t want you in my clothes either.”

“Same here.” He smirked.

After fifteen minutes of driving strange and awkward routes she finally gave him the all clear. Believing they had lost their invisible tail Harlow sat up and a few seconds later stopped in front of a hair salon. “What are we doing?”

“I was thinking, they’re looking for a blonde guy with short hair right?”

“Yeah?”

“So we get your hair dyed and get some extensions and poof, totally new Harlow. Which we should also change. I don’t know many girls named Harlow.”

“I’m not a girl.”

“I know, sweetie.” She held his hand softly, “It’s only pretend okay? But we want to increase our odds, right? So we need to stack the deck.”

“Yeah, yeah that sounds like a good idea.”

“Okay, so just do what I say alright?” Harlow nodded.

“Hello and welcome to Kaspa’s spa, I am Miss Cantrell how my I be of service today.” The large woman cheered as she approached a small podium with a small black ledger she immediately flipped open.

“Ah yes, my friend here needs just…the works.”

“Oh?” Miss Cantrell looked Harlow up and down, in his fearful convulsing in the car some hair had broken through in the front and now he cut an androgynous looking figure up and down. She lived in Vegas all her life and learned not to judge someone’s gender by their outfit on any given day.

“Yes, she is hoping to impress her date tonight. So she needs her nails done, her hair done, her brows waxed. And maybe some extensions.”

“Oh a date! Tell me all about them, girl.” Cantrell took Harlow’s hand and led him to

Harlow blushed deep crimson, “H-he’s…tall.”

“Ooh, I love me a tall man. Come here, honey.” She sat Harlow in the reclined salon chair in front of a sink and started checking his hair. “What else baby. Oh wait.” She stopped and bent down enough so she was in his face. “What’s your name, girl.”

“Um…I’m…” he thought for a minute and said the only name that popped into his head at the time, “Lucy.”

“Love it.” She raised him back up and turned on the sink, letting it warm up, as she threw a drape over him. “So tell me about your man.”

“Well…he’s…I guess, funny, and a really nice guy.”

“What’s he look like? Scoot back.” She ran her hand through Harlow’s hair and the warm water. The unfamiliar act was heavenly to a man who’s only ever been to barbershops. “He’s…hmm…muscular.” He tried not to imagine the beautiful Miss Cantrell in a leather bustier sitting naked on his lap as she ran her fingers through his hair. Her ebony breasts sinking ever closer to his face.

“You like strong guys, huh?”

“Mhm.” he moaned, no longer even listening anymore and just hearing the question in her voice.

Valerie watched with a wicked smirk as Miss Cantrell washed his hair and followed as she led him back to an empty salon chair. Harlow groaned, missing the comfort of warm water and a beautiful woman’s hands playing with his hair. He was in a strange dreamlike state as she played with his hair once again. In reality she was running a brush through his hair and getting out any tangles she could while she spoke to Valerie now that it was apparent that Harlow was dead to the world. “I’m sorry my friend fell asleep, but she did tell me what she’d like to have done.”

“No problem sweetie, it happens a lot. Especially if the client’s been really stressed out. It’s ridiculous how relaxing it is.”

Much later Harlow woke up to a tickling sensation around his face and a strange chemical smell filling up his nose. “Hmm? What happened?”

“You fell asleep, honey.” Miss Cantrell said as she used a brush to add a hint of blush to his cheeks.

“I’m sorry.” he mumbled.

“No issue, honey. Your friend told us everything you wanted for your date.”

“Date?” The world slowly came back to life as he opened his eyes and took in the cleavage before him. It wasn’t Miss Cantrell but a strange woman buffing his toes which all seemed to be a soft shade of blue. “Are those…you painted my toes?”

“Of course.”

Harlow looked at his fingernails and noticed the same soft blue on his fingernails. “Where’s Valerie?!” He asked in a panic.

“She went to get you some clothes.” Miss Cantrell stepped back and declared Harlow’s face done. “Ready to see the new and improved Lucy?” Before he could answer the chair was turned and he saw Lucy’s face for the first time. She had beautiful red curls currently pulled back into an updo braid. Her makeup was flawless, from her deep purple eyeshadow to her full ruby red lips. “What do you think?” Harlow thought she was incredibly sexy despite her flat chest, the only problem was it was him.

“She’s-I mean, I-I-I…” Harlow knew what she wanted to hear but he couldn’t bring himself to call himself pretty or beautiful.

Too bad that was said for him, “Oh my god!” Valerie shouted as she walked in with a bag. “Lucy, you are so beautiful!”

“D-don’t I?” Harlow/Lucy himself to say with a smile, they already thought he was a woman. He couldn’t afford to blow up on Valerie right now and have that get back to Benjamin’s crew somehow.

“You slept so long though! I bet you’re glad I went ahead and got you your dress for tonight, right?”

He wanted to ask what the hell she was talking about but knew when to play along. “That is so sweet of you.” He lied.

“You don’t mind if we use your bathroom so she can change, do you?”

“Go ahead, hunny. I’m curious what you look like all put together myself.”

Harlow followed Valerie into the ladies room and locked the door behind him. “What did you tell them?!” He growled.

“I just told them to do your hair and nails, maybe some light makeup, but wow they really went above and beyond.”

“This isn’t a time to admire their handiwork. I look like some drag queen!”

“I know, and I’m going to fix that.” What she pulled out of the bag first was terrible but what followed was much worse. “Ta-da!” She cheered, holding a long blue maxi dress in one hand and a large breast form in the other.

“What the hell is that?!”

“A dress, silly.” She giggled.

“No. That!” He pointed at the soft flesh toned jiggling breast form.

“Oh. Duh. Girls have boobies, silly.”

“I’m not a-!” He began to yell but stopped himself. “I’m not a girl though.”

“I know. It’s still pretend. You don’t understand how lucky you are, most people have to order these online and wait weeks to get them, but their store is right here in town! Lucky right, Lucy?”

“Not at all. I’m not wearing that.”

“You need to.” She pouted again.

“Why?”

“Same reason we changed your hair. Short blonde haired, flat chested boy is totally different from a busty redhead girl with long hair.”

“Isn’t this going a bit too far? I mean, won’t I be noticed with tits that big?”

“True, but absolutely no man will look at your face. And that’s what we need to hide the most. In fact, they did a great job of getting rid of your masculine features with that makeup.”

“So I don’t need the dress and boobs.”

“Well...not the dress but you wouldn’t fit that top with these breasts. And like you said, you look like a drag queen otherwise. And sadly drag queens get looked at and inspected a lot. Especially in the face.”

“Ugh!” Harlow yelled and leaned against the countertop. His only hope was a girl with the IQ of a pencil box and he was painted up like some fairy! But, he thought, she is right. He couldn’t pick the women he had gone on dates with out of a line up but he could recognize their boobs easily. And he was trying to trick a musclebound moron and a twig of a man. “Fine. Give me boobs.” He couldn’t believe he just said that out loud.

Valerie smiled brightly and took a second black box out of the bag and opened it up to find the twin to the first. She took out a tube of glue and spread it in the center in a small circle then a larger circle in between the circle and the edge. “What are you doing?”

“The way these things are designed is so you don’t have to wear a bra unless you want to, you can shower with them, swim with them, even skinny dip and have a roll in the hay without any support and they’ll stay on with this glue. At least that’s what the lady at the store told me. I got the best glue so in case they came around and tried to yank them off they couldn’t.”

“Good…I guess.” Harlow pulled off the tight top while she applied the glue to the bottom of the breast before sticking it to his smooth chest and applying more glue to the top seam. Harlow felt truly awkward as they waited for the glue to seal. She gently traced her hand around his stomach and pushed her breasts as close to his face as she could while she waited for the second breast to seal.

Between the touching, the view, and the massage earlier Harlow couldn’t help but get an erection in his already tight shorts. “Oh wow!” Valerie said with fake surprise. “We should probably take care of that too.”

For a moment Harlow forgot his situation, “Oh yeah?” he smirked, “What did you have in mind?”

“Hold these.” She said softly as she placed his hands on his fake breasts. Slowly she pulled her former shorts down. When she saw his erection in her, again former, pink panties she had to stop herself from laughing. It wasn’t so much a tent in his panties but a pup tent. She calmed herself and managed to fake a lustful smile, “Wow, I didn’t know you were packing something so big.” She lied, stroking his ego. When she and her friends had spread the rumor that he had a tiny penis she didn’t realize just how accurate it was. He was fully erect and barely even four inches right now, but what was worse his penis wasn’t even thick enough to make up for it, the thing was almost as thick as two of her fingers. She gently took his penis between her thumb and pointer in her left hand and with the right grabbed his testicles before she quickly slid them back up in the cavity from whence they came.

“What are you doing?”

Quickly she grabbed the glue from the floor and spread some along the sides and back of his penis. “Fixing the problem.” She thrust his penis back as far as she could and clamped a hand over the base.

“What the fuck let me go you bimbo!” She held on as he tried to back away. After a few seconds the glue had sealed his shaft in between his legs, and it was now aimed backwards. “What the hell?”

“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but it had to be done.”

“Tearing my dick off?!”

“No! I helped you. See you kept getting erections all while you were getting your hair washed and cut.”

“I was?!”

“Don’t worry, I just told them you were trans. They won’t think you’re gay.”

“What the f-that’s not better…I mean…ugh.”

“Anyway, that thing kept making this huge tent in your shorts and we can't let that monster hog on the loose, showing up wherever it wants and having people take notice. What if it got hard while they were over or looking in the window.”

“Why would it get hard when they’re over?”

“Why would it get hard when you’re getting a haircut!”

“Fine. Whatever. Let’s just get out of here.”

“Okay, we’re almost done.” The blue dress had to be stretched and pulled against his entire body before it sat perfectly in place. The stretchy material clung to his chest, making it evident he was not wearing a bra. The dress highlighted every curve he had, which isn't very many but enough to fool someone provided they didn’t get too close. The main attractions were his breasts and his butt, somehow even perkier thanks to the material pulling it ever so slightly upward.

“Are we done now?”

“For now, yes. Come on. Let’s get you home in time for your date.” Harlow rolled his eyes on the way out. He trusted his fate to an idiot and now he was paying the price…but at least he still had legs.

As they walked out Miss Cantrell cheered, “Girl you look so sexy! Shame you have a boyfriend or I’d snatch you up myself.” The memory of his dream popped into his mind as he again pictured her riding him. Suddenly a new sharp pain pulled against his groin as his penis tried to break free and again become erect but only succeeding in pulling on the skin from his groin and penis. Lucy winced in pain and turned away from Cantrell, biting his hand to keep from swearing.

The woman frowned as she took the money from Valerie, “Did I say something wrong?”

“Oh, that? No she’s just…not into girls and the thought of sex kind of…well you can tell she’s shy already.”

“Ah.”

“Yeah…I’m actually trying to help with that with immersion therapy.”

“Are you a therapist?”

“Will be soon. But…if you wanted to help out you could just kind of poke and prod her about sex the next time we come in.”

“Are you sure?”

“Oh absolutely. She’s got to normalize it in her mind.”

“I certainly don’t mind helping out a sister in need.”

Valerie smiled, “Just remember, don’t tell her or it wont work.” With that she went to Lucy who had ran back to the bathroom for some cold water.

Once home Valerie stopped her car in the driveway, “Why are you stopping out here?”

“Because Danny gets home before me and I’m willing to bet he took the garage space.”

“Yeah but…what if people see me?”

“Then they’ll stare at your tits. That’s why you wanted them, right?”

“I di-I guess so.” He didn’t want them but it was pointless to argue that fact now. Lucy took his first nervous steps into public. Valerie and Danny grew up in a culd-a-sac, with lawns being mowed by adults, and kids riding bikes and playing outside. It was like landing on an alien planet inhabited by a race of Mr.Rogers. How Danny didn’t blow his brains out from boredom is something he would never understand. Lucy took small careful steps, swinging his hips like she told him. The short walk to the door felt utterly ridiculous.

“Hurry up, Lucy.” Lucy suddenly felt all eyes on him as he saw an old woman looking his way and a couple of neighbor kids look in her direction. Even his paranoia filled brain was able to dismiss but when he saw a black car pulling up across the street his mind panicked and he ran as quickly as he could inside, slamming the door behind him. Harlow locked the door and peeked through the window and watched as the man in the black sedan got out and went to grab something out of his trunk.

“What is-who are you?” Harlow turned and saw Danny standing up in front of the couch.

“H-hey Danny.”

Danny’s jaw dropped as he took in the fact that the sexy woman in front of him was actually his best friend, who didn’t have such huge breasts the night before. “What are you wearing?”

“It’s difficult to explain.”

“Lucy said she wanted boobs for a disguise so the two thugs wouldn’t recognize her.”

“Lucy? What is going on?” Harlow explained the morning and afternoon events as he knew them while Valerie added in a few details here and there when needed.

By the end of their story Danny had a harrowed look on his face. “What?” Harlow asked.

“N-what-nothing.” He lied terribly. Danny never had much of a poker face.

“No. Did something happen?” Harlow demanded.

Two hours before Valerie and the newly improved Lucy had arrived home there was a loud knocking at the door. Cautiously Danny opened the door, having to duck slightly to see exactly it was Marcus. “Damn, you just keep getting bigger.” He stared up at Danny.

“I already told you, Harlow isn’t here.”

“This isn’t about him.” Marcus reached into his inside coat pocket and Danny took half a step back and prepared to slam the door in case the thug pulled out a gun. Instead he brought out a small white business card which he handed to the confused Danny. “My boss would like to extend a business opportunity to you.”

“What?”

“He’d like to offer you a job.”

“Why?”

“I told him all I seen of course, your sister, your doll in the back room, and of course you. He thinks you could possibly be a good fit for our organization.”

“I have a job.”

“We pay better. Trust me.”

Danny thought for a moment, he had never broken a law in his life but he wasn’t naive enough to believe he wouldn’t break all manner of laws working for Benjamin…still he wanted to help his friend. “If I did some…work for you would you give Harlow more time?” Marcus frowned in thought, “I know it wouldn’t be enough to pay back the hundred and twenty grand but, maybe enough to just give him time to get money together?”

“How did you know how much he owed?” Danny’s eyes widened as Marcus’ narrowed. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

“No! He’s not. I mean…he’s not now. He was this morning but he left. My sister told him we couldn’t give him any money and he bolted.”

Marcus stared the giant down for a moment, “You’re loyal. It’s a good quality to have. Don’t mistake that, but if he’s here and you tell me things will go a lot better for you. And your sister and your girl.”

“He’s not. I swear.”

Marcus smirked in a way that made Danny feel uneasy, “I believe you. I’ll even see what the boss thinks about your proposal and get back to you. If you get impatient or…you see Harlow again just call that number. I know the boss takes good care of people who help him out. Not so much to people who get in his way.” With that Marcus walked away.

After hearing this new information Harlow was thrown into another full panic. “He was here again?! He’s gotta know! Why would he come back! This can’t be a coincidence. Jesus shit fuck!” Harlow checked out the window and made sure the door was locked and ran around unsteadily on his heels as he closed any open blind or drapes.

“Har-Lucy calm down!” Valier shouted as she caught up to him in the kitchen locking the garage door.

“Calm down? He came back. He’s gonna come back again. They could be watching the house right now!” He gesticulated with his hands as he spoke in a panic.

“All the more reason to stay calm! Right?” She grabbed his hands in hers, “Harlow would freak out and go crazy, right? But Lucy wouldn’t.”

“What?”

Valerie pulled Harlow in close, hugging him close. “Because Danny wouldn’t tell his girlfriend something to worry her. They would go on their date like normal and have a lovely romantic evening. Wouldn’t they?”

“I guess. But we don’t need to go out.”

“They’d find it strange if Danny didn’t take his girlfriend out to celebrate moving in, especially on a Friday night.” Valerie gently stroked Lucy’s hair as she rested his face against her chest. “Trust me and we’ll get through this.” Harlow nodded. “Now, you calm down, have a drink and I’ll talk to Danny.” Harlow nodded again and immediately went to the small liquor cabinet in the dining room and took out a bottle of Jack Daniels. While Harlow poured himself a glass Valerie went into the living room where she had told him to stay. “We should talk.”

“Is he okay? I mean, I know he’s scared but we can think of something, right?”

“We have. You said you wanted to help your friend right?”

“Of course.”

“So what we didn’t get to tell you is I decided to let Lucy stay here until this whole thing blows over.”

“Wow, that’s great. I thought you hated his guts.”

“That’s another thing, as long as Lucy is here you can only refer to her as such. Lucy, she, her, all the time.”

“Why?”

“Like we said earlier they’re looking for a guy, Lucy is clearly not a guy,” Danny nodded in agreement, “So if this guy comes back and you slipped and called Lucy, Harlow, or called her a him, he’d get suspicious.”

“That’s fair.”

“Yeah. Now, you need to get dressed and ready for your date.”

“Okay…wait my what?”

“Yeah. So they think Lucy’s your girlfriend. So you need to act the part of the loving boyfriend.”

“I-I’m not gay.”

“Is Lucy a guy?”

“Ye-”

“All the time, remember?”

Danny groaned. “...No but-”

“So it’s not gay. And you’re just going out with your friend. You’ve done that tons of times in high school. So just think of it like that but a bit of roleplaying.”

“Ugh…fine I’ll get my shoes.” Danny stood and was stopped by Valerie once again.

“You can’t go out like that. You’re supposed to be on a date. You need to make it believable.”

Danny rolled his eyes with a deep eyeroll and turned towards the bathroom. He was about to go on a date with his best friend…another guy…dressed as a girl, a hot girl but-Danny shook his head and reminded himself that Lucy was a guy underneath all that. ‘Where did he get boobs?’ He wondered as he washed and felt his cock stiffening slightly. ‘No stop that.’ He told himself. It had been over a year since he last had sex and that was a drunken one night stand he barely remembered. He promised himself he’d jerk off before he went to bed but for now he had to keep his member calm. He took a deep breath and braced as he turned the temperature to freezing cold.

Fifteen minutes and three glasses of Jack later the new couple pulled out of the driveway. The smaller Harlow was never much of a big drinker and was feeling a decent buzz as he rode to their destination. “Thanks for doing this man.”

“It’s no problem,” he lied, “not like we haven’t hung out and had dinner before.”

“Exactly.” He slurred.

“So…Lucy?”

“Yeah. I don’t know why it popped in my head. I always loved ‘I love Lucy’ though. Oh you think that was why they called it that?”

Danny laughed at his drunken friend, “You know, probably.”

Danny found a nice restaurant he didn’t need a reservation for and only had to wait thirty minutes to get a table. Between the wait for the table and Lucy eating three breadsticks he was beginning to sober up. He was still buzzed but he was no longer completely out of it. While looking around he saw a familiar face sitting in a green SUV. “Shit!”

“What?”

“It’s Oswald!”

“Where?” Danny started to look around and was immediately stopped by Harlow’s voice.

“Don’t look. He’s outside. In an SUV.”

“Is he alone?”

“Yeah. Marcus is probably watching the house.”

“We should go!”

“No. Valerie will call if something happens but…you need to hold my hand.”

“What for?”

“We’re on a date. Couples hold hands on dates.”

“I know but we’re not re-”

“Come on man, I’m in a dress with boobs, all you need to do is hold my hand.” He said through gritted teeth and a smile.

“Fine.” Danny grabbed Lucy’s hand and a smile. Instinctively he ran his thumb across his friend’s hand.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Holding your hand.” He whispered softly. The two sat there awkwardly holding hands until finally their food arrived, along with another scotch for Lucy. The two were grateful for an excuse to stop holding hands while they ate. After a while the two seemed to relax and have an almost normal conversation, with few interruptions to discuss their situation. As they stood to leave, Lucy saw Oswald was now standing beside the suv having a smoke. Lucy took Danny’s hand and pulled herself close, whispering, “He’s still outside.” Danny nodded and wrapped his arm around Lucy’s shoulders. “When we get outside you should kiss me.”

“What? No. I’m not gay, dude.”

“Neither am I, but he’s still watching us. It’s not like I want to do this either but would you rather die than kiss me?” Danny thought for a moment, seeing the hesitation in his friend’s eyes Lucy continued, “These people will skin me alive if they figure out I’m just in disguise. What do I have to do? Promise to clean your room like when I asked you to let me copy off your science test?” Danny still hesitated as they stepped outside, Lucy stopped and gripped Danny’s hand tightly, “Please?” He pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

Danny pulled Lucy in close, wishing he had more to drink, “And make me breakfast?”

“Fine.” Lucy whispered softly, feeling so small being held by his friend. Danny closed his eyes and slowly tilted his head as he leaned in close. Both men braced themselves for something terrible and awkward. Danny held Lucy’s head in place and gently kissed his lips. Lucy was surprised Danny held the kiss, when he opened his mouth to say something he felt Danny’s tongue itself in and their simple kiss became a much more seductive thing. Harlow hadn’t had physical affection in the last couple of years and didn’t realize just how much he missed it as he felt his body sink into the kiss for a moment before he remembered who was kissing him and pushed him away.

“What was that?” He faked a smile again.

“A kiss.” Danny’s voice was still gentle and soft as he held his friend.

“You used your tongue.”

“You opened your mouth, I was just following your lead.”

“I did n-” Lucy stopped as he saw Oswald walking closer to hear what the couple were saying. “Whatever, can we just go? So we can celebrate some more.” He spoke audibly with a large smile plastered on his face that simply confused Danny.

Oswald made no attempt to hide as he followed them as they drove down the strip, even when they drove through the neighborhood he still followed. Once they reached the house he kept driving much to Harlow’s relief. “Thank fuck.” He swore as the garage door closed and they walked inside.

“Sooooo,” Valerie smiled in the dining room, “How was your date?”

“It was fine.” They both said. Danny took the bottle of Jack and poured himself a drink while Harlow went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth, scrubbing his tongue clean of Danny.

“Something happen?”

“Nope. Not at all.” Danny lied downing a glass in one gulp and pouring another.

“Okay.” Valerie stood and decided to go talk to Lucy instead. “Hey, girl.” Harlow was busy gargling, “Danny told me what happened.”

Harlow spit all over the mirror, nearly on what’s left in his mouth, “He told you about the kiss?!”

Valerie hid her surprise by grabbing a wrag from the cabinet and handing it to Harlow. “Yeah. Of course.”

Harlow wiped the mirror clean, “We had too, Oswald was waiting outside, then he followed us home.”

“Is he still waiting outside?” She asked with genuine concern.

“I don’t know…he was in a different car at the restaurant.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you guys stuck to the plan. If you broke character he would’ve snatched you up, right?”

“...That’s true.”

“So that proves our plan will work.”

“I guess.” Harlow sighed at his reflection, “I don’t suppose there’s any clothes for me besides this?”

“Actually there is.” Valerie pulled Lucy into Danny’s room and found there were some differences from yesterday. There was a slight fringe around Danny’s blanket, more pillows, a couple of stuffed animals lining the top of the dresser where there used to be photos of Danny and Harlow as kids, but most of all was that the empty spaces in Danny’s closet were suddenly filled with Dresses and feminine tops and skirts. As well as several pairs of heels of various heights. “Now, I put some lingerie in the top dresser here so you can have something to wear tonight. Your dresses are sorted by season, I know we don’t get many here but a girl’s gotta be prepared. Your socks are here,” She opened a drawer filled with neatly folded panties and bundled up sock pairs and pantyhose. “I guess we will unfortunately have to share the bathroom for our makeup until we get an organizer.”

“W-wait what? Makeup? Lingerie? I’m not-you can’t expect me to wear this fruity stuff?”

Valerie looked at Lucy with confusion, “I thought you were going to hide out here as Lucy.”

“Yeah, but this much?”

“Look, I’m afraid to say your face without makeup is…kind of obviously masculine.” She lied. “And even then makeup isn’t magic. It can’t hide everything. So the more we pile on the less likely you’ll be outed. Just like with your boobs. Right?”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“Great. Now let’s get you something sexy to wear for tonight.”

“Sexy? Why?”

“Duh, it’s date night. That means sex.”

“I’m not having sex with Danny!” Harlow growled.

“It’s what couples do after a date.”

“Not u-we’re not even a real couple.”

“Yeah but you want to be convincing.”

“I’m not having sex with Danny.”

“What if someone asks, they’ll think it’s weird you guys didn’t have sex.”

“Who would ask that?! That’s none of their business.”

Valerie thought for a moment, it was too soon to push him, but she could still lay seeds. “Okay, but if anyone asks, just tell them you’re on your period and you gave him a blowjob.”

“Fine, whatever. Can I get out of this get up now?”

“Sure, sweetie. Come with me.” Valerie led Lucy back into the bathroom and took out a few pads and makeup remover solution. “So, first girl lesson will be how to remove makeup.”

“Girl lesson?”

“Yeah, I’ll show you how to play the part of Lucy but I won’t be doing this every day and night. You’ll have to do your part too. And that means I’ll teach you something and you have to practice it everyday, until you can do it like a natural born girl. Okay?” Exhausted and stressed from all the events in the last forty-eight hours Harlow agreed. Valerie began by teaching him how to not only remove his makeup but a nightly skincare routine after a full day in makeup.

After forty five minutes of lessons Lucy and Valerie left the bathroom and got dressed for bed. The original clothes he wore this morning were currently in the wash, leaving Lucy with no pajamas of any kind. “Can I borrow yours?” He cringed as the words left his lips.

“Sorry, sweetie. I’m willing to help you not die but…it’s my underwear.” She shrugged, “Besides, I got you your own panties.” She slid open the underwear drawer and took out a pair of panties and a small satin pajama short shorts with matching negligee. “Here.” She handed him the garments and waited.

“Uh, little privacy?”

“I’ve already seen everything in the bathroom.” Harlow turned to walk back into the bathroom when suddenly Valeria grabbed his shoulder and pulled the zipper down off his dress.

“What the hell?!” Harlow yelled.

“There’s no reason to be shy around me.”

Before Harlow could respond “What’s-” Danny stopped short at the door. It was the first time for Danny to see his friend’s large breasts. Most shocking was how realistic they looked and stayed firm on his chest. It was impossible to find where the seams met the skin. It took a second for Harlow to realize what his friend was staring at and covered his new chest with the bunched up dress. It was bad enough he had tits but to have his friend stare at them was even worse. “Uh…” Danny quickly walked out of the room and disappeared.

“And that’s why you close doors when you’re changing.”

“Ugh, fine. At least give me the solvent for the glue so I can get these ridiculous things off.”

“Solve what?” She put on her best airheaded voice as she looked confused.

‘God she’s so stupid!’ “There should be a tube of something to remove the glue.”

“Oh…should I have gotten that too?”

“Wha-yes!” Harlow yelled. This time Danny decided to stay in the kitchen.

“I didn’t think of that. I’m sorry.” She pouted as if she were really sad she forgot something so obvious. “But, like, we can get that tomorrow, can’t we?”

“Jesu-fine. Fine! It’s one night.” Harlow himself to breathe slowly, he still needed the idiot’s help and couldn’t afford to fly off the handle this early and make her reconsider giving him shelter. Harlow kicked off the heels and immediately regretted it as the sharp pain he forgot about had struck his heel again. Falling to the bed Valerie checked him to be sure he was okay. “I have an idea.” She reached into the closet and pulled out a pair of small blue kitten heels and slipped them on his feet. “Now try.” Harlow stood and while the pain was still there he could at least put his weight on his foot.

“It’ll have to do for now.”

Harlow turned away and stepped out of the dress, quickly replacing it and the panties with the ones Valerie had given him. Valerie smiled, she could do an entire study on perception with Harlow alone. She held back a laugh when Harlow struggled to pull the negligee on over his head. By the end of it the bright baby blue outfit barely covered his hips thanks to his large chest. “You look so totally hot.” She smiled.

“Just what I was hoping.” He said sarcastically and walked into the living room.

“Har-Lucy what are…you look…I mean…nothing.” Danny stammered. God he really needed to masturbate.

“See, your boyfriend thinks you’re hot too.”

“No he doesn’t!”

“What? No I don’t.”

“You don’t think your girlfriend’s hot? What are you gay?”

“I’m not gay. If she was a girl then yeah.”

“Lucy is a girl.”

“Please stop.” Harlow begged.

“So she’s hot?” Valerie ignored Harlow’s pleas to be spared the awkwardness he saw coming.

“Yeah, she’s hot, okay?!” Danny groaned, “I’m going to bed.”

“Me too.” Harlow sat on the couch while Danny stood quickly and tried to flee only to be stopped by Valerie.

“Wait, what if they come snooping again and see your girlfriend’s sleeping on the couch?”

“Right. I’ll take the couch.”

“You can’t fit on the couch.”

“Then what? Cause I’m not sleeping on the floor.”

“Duh, just sleep with your girlfriend.”

“Wha-no.”

“Val! No.”

“Guys, you’re dating, as far as everyone else knows you’re dating, if they come snooping they’ll find a couple sharing a bed. No one would find that suspicious.” The men hesitated and avoided making eye contact, the memory of their kiss still on Harlow’s mind and the sight of Lucy’s breasts on display still in Danny’s. “You guys used to have sleepovers all the time.”

“We were eight!” Harlow yelled.

“And we had sleeping bags.” Danny added.

“We’re risking all of our lives but you guys are too scared to have a sleepover?”

“Fine, fine.” Lucy stood. “Come on, Danny.” He demanded sharply.

“What?”

“I’m exhausted and I’ve had a long day. We’ll think of a better plan tomorrow.” Lucy grabbed Danny’s hand as he walked by, “For now let’s just go to bed.” Valerie smiled as she watched Danny allow himself to be into his bedroom by the nearly foot shorter Lucy.

The pair stood awkwardly at the foot of Danny’s bed, neither wanting to be the first one to lay in bed. “She’s right, it’s not like we haven’t done this before.” Harlow said gently.

“What?”

“Sleepovers, I mean. It’s no different now.” Harlow cleared his throat, rubbing his smooth bare arms. He knew it was different, it was very different now. They were both grown men, and he was in a negligee that just begged for sex. “Fuck it.” Harlow slowly sat on the side of the bed, as if he expected it to open up some unseen maw and swallow him whole. It was an incredibly soft bed. After spending a month sleeping on just a mattress anything would be, but this was softer than some of the suites he found himself in when he was on a roll. “C-come on.” Danny tried to make himself smaller, a truly impossible task for his size. He had to remind himself that this sexy woman beckoning him into his bed wasn’t a beautiful woman but really his very male friend. “Whatever.” Harlow said after Danny took too long to move, “I’m exhausted.” Harlow laid down and slipped his smooth legs under the covers. It felt like he had been sleeping on broken glass all his life and now he was being embraced by the fluffiest cloud in the sky. He fell asleep almost immediately as his body and mind relaxed for the first time in a long time. Danny groaned softly as he got on the opposite side of the bed, with his solid frame it was no easy task but he managed. Danny pulled the covers up over him and closed his eyes.

An hour later Danny was still awake, he hadn’t shared his bed in a long while, usually preferring to stay over at a hotel or whichever woman’s house he had paired up with for the night so he wouldn’t have to deal with the awkward morning after with his sister. It didn’t help that he still didn’t get the chance to jerk off before bed like he had planned. He felt his penis slip through the opening in his boxers as a not so subtle reminder. He gripped his penis and stroked his cock slowly as it stiffened to its full nine inches. It was hard to ignore the body next to him no matter how much he tried and imagined his sister’s sexy cheerleader friends. All he could imagine was Lucy in their same uniforms. ‘Fuck.’ Danny swore internally as Lucy shifted in his sleep, turning to face him but thankfully still asleep. Her cleavage was on full display now much to Danny’s delight and detriment. It just didn’t seem possible that twenty-four hours ago this beautiful slumbering creature beside him was a guy. But it was, he reminded himself again. Without any thought on his part his hand continued to stroke his cock while he stared at Lucy’s breasts. Danny swallowed hard, no longer using his brain to think, as he reached out with his other hand and gently squeezed the fake breasts. They felt so realistic, even warm to the touch, but they couldn’t be. He waited a moment until he was sure she wasn’t waking up, and continued groping the chest beside him, playing gently with the ever stiff nipple and stroking his dick. He imagined what it might feel like to shove it between her breasts and suddenly explode over his stomach. “Shit.” Danny whispered and hurried to the bathroom to clean up. ‘Why didn’t I just do that in here?’ He thought as his mind cleared. ‘Oh well, too late now.’

After cleaning up he ninja'd his way into bed once again, exhaustion now overtaking him. As he was closing his eyes he saw in the moonlight a white sticky substance on Lucy’s crotch and stomach. His friend would think he was a gay pervert when he saw it in the morning. With no energy or brainpower left he pressed the cover to his friend’s crotch hoping to soak it up as much as possible and was surprised to find Lucy was completely flat. Lucy shifted again and Danny threw himself over to his opposite side and waited for the screaming. But none came and Danny soon fell into a restless sleep as the nightmare scenarios played in his mind.