by Dawn Doyle
Alex was very aware of how his mind had gone from clean, ok fairly clean, to imagining Holly in her underwear.
He swallowed hard as he followed her inside.
Dev was still rambling as they went in.
“I could do with some new stuff.” She said. “Holly, will you help me pick? The boys can look at boy stuff. Anyway, we need some girl talk now so you two…over there…” She said as she pointed to the mens’ section.
Alex turned to Holly.
“I love you.” He said and kissed her gently, just once, as they were in public after all.
“I love you too.” She said and gave his hand a squeeze before letting go.
“Yeah, yeah, come on.” Said Ben and pulled Alex away.
The girls walked into the women’s area that was divided into colour sections.
They started with pink.
Holly could see Dev was itching to ask her something and as soon as they were far enough away, Dev pulled her close so they could whisper.
”So…what were you and my brother doing in your room?” she asked, her eyebrows waggling. “I know you didn’t ‘do it,’ but you looked, both looked, kinda guilty about something!”
“We just kissed really.” Said Holly. Not sounding convincing whatsoever and failing to hide her huge smile.
“Whatever. You need to spill…now!” Dev said, pointing her finger at Holly.
“Oh my God!” chuckled Holly. I can’t tell you everything you know.
“Yeah you can.” Said Dev, impatiently.
Holly rolled her eyes and looked through some items whilst they talked.
“Um…well…we, I may have squeezed Alex’s butt, a little.”
“Oh my God!” Dev whisper shouted.
“What else?” “I feel bad telling you.” Said Holly. She didn’t know whether she should tell Dev everything.
“Don’t!” Dev said, breaking her guilt trip. “Alex knows I’ll ask you. I won’t tell anyway so…come on!”
“I may have also felt his…I put my hands up his T-shirt.” Holly whispered, and Dev’s mouth popped open.
“Fuck me! What did he do to you?” “Dev!” Holly exclaimed. “Please Holly, “Dev begged. “I’ve never had these conversations before and now that I can, don’t deny me the details.”
“But he’s your brother!” Holly giggled.
“Oh I don’t care. This is about you now.”
Holly shook her head.
“He had his hands on my butt too…and my thigh. My waist too.” Her face flamed.
“That’s so hot! Did he…you know…touch your lady lumps?” Dev asked with a mischievous smile.
“No.” Holly’s face heated further.
“Did I disturb you?” Dev asked, her eyes widening.
The look on Holly’s face told her everything.
“Oh my fucking God! It would’ve gotten that far if I hadn’t knocked, wouldn’t it?” Dev put her hand over her mouth to stop her laugh from escaping.
“Seriously Dev, how do you do that?” Holly asked. Dev seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to her and Alex.
“Do what? Know what you’re thinking? You and Alex do the same thing. Either go off into a dream world or flush red. It’s really not that difficult to decipher. Of course, knowing how you feel about each other helps.” She said, tapping her temple.
Holly knew how she felt about Alex, and she knew how he felt about her.
She’d gotten to the top of the staircase as Alex was telling Stacey.
“I love Holly.” He’d said, and she froze on the top step.
She listened to him telling Stacey just how much, and her heart had swelled so big it felt as though it would burst from her chest.
All of her emotions rushed though her body at once, and she’d teared up until she heard Stacey screaming at Alex.
The disgusting things she said and when she’d asked where Holly was… Holly told Alex she loved him too.
“Hollyyyyy. Hellooooo.” Said Dev, waving her hand in front of her face.
“Sorry, I was miles away.” She said and Dev snorted a laugh.
“As I was saying…Do you think you would have, you know, if I hadn’t knocked?”
“No.” Holly said flatly.
“Why?” asked Dev, narrowing her eyes a little.
“We’re not eighteen yet.” Was Holly’s short, precise answer.
“Oh well, that’s good then. Anyway…let’s embarrass the guys a little.” She said with a giggle.
“How?” Holly was wary of what Dev was up to.
“Watch and learn.” She said, sticking her tongue between her teeth.
Dev picked up a pink stain bra and panty set. They looked girly with a small bow between the cups and on the tops where they joined the straps. The panties were boy-short style with bows on the sides.
“Hey Hol, what about this set?” Dev said loudly, as she held up the underwear. Alex and Ben looked over.
“What are you doing?” Asked Holly as she whisper shouted.
“Having fun.” She said as she winked.
“Oh Dev. You are bad!” Holly laughed.
“Yeah.” Dev said in a low growl. “So these…?” She held up the set. “Play along.” She said out of the side of her mouth.
Holly giggled and shrugged her shoulders.
“Nah. Too much pink.”
Dev bit her lip and she picked up a fuchsia vest set.
“How about this?”
“Too much…” Holly held back a giggle “…Coverage.”
“I hear ya sista!” Said Dev as she moved to the white section. “Now…how about…this?” Dev held up a lacy white bra and matching thong.
Holly had to cup her hands over her nose and mouth to stop her laughing. She cleared her throat.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” She said.
“Holy shit!” The girls turned as they heard Alex’s comment. Holly winked at him.
“Well, you’ll need a different size, obviously…” Said Dev and Holly’s eyes snapped to her. “…These are small, and you have way more than a handful!”
“Dev!”
Dev howled with laughter.
“Come on…” She said between laughs. “…Try it against you. See how it looks.”
Dev’s shoulders were shaking as she laughed silently, as she held up the set against Holly.
“Oh what the hell” Holly said and put one hand on her waist and the other in her hair in a pose.
“Ooh sexy!” Said Dev. Holly glanced over to Alex who was watching her with his mouth hanging open and a hungry look in his eyes.
“Let’s find your size.” Dev said as she noticed him too.
“Um…Dev…” Holly said, embarrassed. They don’t seem to have my size.
“What?” Asked Dev with a huge grin.
“Well, well…Excuse me!” Dev called the assistant.
The assistant came from the back room and sashayed over, repeatedly glancing back towards Alex and Ben.
“Can I help you?” She asked in a high pitched, tinny voice. Her dyed red curls bouncing around her head. Her too long fake eyelashes fluttering.
“Yes you can.” Said Dev, a little annoyed. “My friend here has a rather large ‘upper’ area, and you don’t have her size in this range."
“Hmmm. Oh yes of course.” The assistant said. Her own chest seeming to push forward. “What size?” Holly told the girl her size, and she looked surprised.
“What?! They must have cost a fortune!” She said with a hint of malice in her tone.
“Oh no…” Said Holly “…These ladies are all home grown.” The sly smile slipped from the assistant’s face.
“Oh…ok…um…this way.” She showed Holly to a section with ‘old lady’ types but Dev spotted some nice ones behind her, and pointed.
Holly knew the assistant was doing it on purpose.
The way she kept glancing at the boys and not wanting to show Holly the nice stuff…she was jealous.
“Oh yes.” She said and pursed her lips a little. She picked up a bra from the rack and held it up…against herself and looked over to Alex and Ben.
Holly and Dev had followed her gaze and then looked at each other.
“Can I try some on?” Holly asked as she winked at Dev.
“Y.Yes. Of course.” The assistant said as she looked, yet again, at the guys.
”Thank you. Can I ask my boyfriend to come with me to check the fit?”
“Wha…? Excuse me? Boyfriend?”
“Yes.” Said Holly with forced cheerfulness.
“He’s right over there.” And she pointed to Alex who was smiling at her as he heard the whole thing. He and Ben walked over to them as the assistants’ eyes widened.
“Hey babe.” He said as he got closer.
“Hi babe.”
“Have you seen anything you like?” He asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I have. The underwear’s not that great though.”
Alex licked his lips and swallowed.
The assistant turned her attention to Ben and Dev, as Holly noticed, wasn’t too pleased about it.
“Do you need some help?” she asked, batting her eyes and pushing out her chest.
“No thanks.” He said and put his arm around Dev.
“Just seeing how my girl’s getting on over here.”
Holly held her lips in her teeth to stop her smile.
“Oh. Well.” Said the assistant, with disappointment all over her face.
“I’ll just be over here if you need me.” And she walked away, red faced.
Another assistant came out of the back room and walked over to them.
“Hi.” He said, drawing out the word. “I’m so sorry about her. Is there anything I can help you with.?”
“Umm…” Holly wasn’t too sure what to say now that their little game was over.
The new assistant, ‘Justin’ it read on his tag, clasped his hands together.
“Oh I see.” He winked at the girls.
“You boys shoo.“ He said, waving them off. “It’s girl time.” As the guys slowly walked away, Justin said in a sing-song voice… “You’ll looove iiiitt! I promise.” He turned back to Holly and Dev.
“Ok. I’m all ears. I need sizes and favourite colours.” The girls looked at each other in disbelief.
“This could be good.” Said Dev.
“It’s soooo on.” Said Holly with a giggle. Dev let Justin in on the game they were playing with the boys and, amazingly, he was more than willing to participate.
He held up different lacy bra’s in Holly’s size.
“Really?” He’d asked when she told him her size. “Lucky you!” He said and he wasn’t bitchy at all, like the red haired girl. Also, he didn’t assume she’d ‘bought’ them either.
“I can tell they’re real from the way you stand and the way you’re dressed.” He said.
“You can?”
“Of course! Anybody who’d paid for those puppies would be showing them off every chance they got. You, however, are hiding them away. Now, let’s find you something to display these bad girls to make your guy crazy!” He said, glancing to Alex. “I don’t think we’ll need to do much though. He looks ready to blow a gasket already!”
The girls giggled at his boldness.
He turned back and winked before walking over to a rack of teddy outfits. He picked up a black chiffon teddy that parted wide in the centre, up to the black lace cups, with a red trim. Cute little red bows, where the cups met the straps, and black and red satin ties hanging down the centre. The matching black thong was barely there. Justin held it in front of Dev.
“This would look amazing on you, You have a fantastic figure that needs to be encased by this sexy, sultry little number."
“Oh Fuck!” Ben said as he walked into a rack of mens’ socks.
“Ben, dude!” Said Alex.
“Shit, sorry. I couldn’t help it.” Alex shook his head and resumed his drooling over imagining his sexy girlfriend in her underwear.
“You my voluptuous vixen…” continued Justin “…should be seen in this!”
Justin held up an outfit. Not just any outfit…it was bright red, with lace that had no lining.
Leaving it completely see-through.
The panties were tiny bikini style briefs that were slightly more than a thong at the back. Very sexy and not something Holly would have chosen…ever!
She risked a peek at Alex.
He was running his hand through his hair and over his face. He looked in pain.
“I’ll take it.” Said Holly, feeling a little bad for Alex, but also good that the thoughts of her got him frustrated.
“Which one honey?” asked Justin, his hands full of underwear.
“All of it.” Justin’s eyes popped open.
“Me too.” Said Dev, excitedly. “I haven’t had fun like this before!”
“Oh my God, that’s great!” Squeaked Justin. “Oh and for my colleagues' rude behaviour, I will give you twenty percent off.”
“Wow thanks!” Said Holly.
“Your guys too.” He said as he smiled towards Alex and Ben.“ That was fun.” He whispered as he leant forward.
Holly and Dev giggled quietly.
“You guys done?” Dev asked as Alex and Ben walked over to the cashier’s desk. Justin had rung up the girls’ purchases quickly, to keep them secret.
Holly watched to see what Alex had chosen. He’d picked boxers that had the flat elastic waistbands. The shorts were fitted close to the leg. Typical style of Calvin Klein. He’d also chosen Diesel, Armani, and Hugo Boss.
Holly’s mouth was watering imagining Alex standing there in nothing but a pair of them.
“Holly!” Said Dev, snapping her fingers in front of her face. “Whatchya thinking about?” She asked with a grin. Alex and Ben both turned to see what Holly would say.
“Trust me Dev. You really don’t want to know. Holly bit her lip as she smiled cheekily at Alex.
He groaned.
“You’ll be the death of me.” He said.
“What the fuck Dev?” Said Ben as they left the store.
Here we go.
He wondered when the truce between them would be over. It looked to be right then.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You know you’re like a sister to me. I don’t need to know what underwear you have.” He ran his hand through his hair as he blew out a ragged breath.
“They’re at it again” Alex whispered to Holly as they walked along. Holly rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“We were playing…You know…having fun? Anyway, I didn’t ask you to treat me like a sister. You’re my brother’s best friend. Not my brother.” Dev replied with a snarky tone.
“We’ve know each other forever Dev. I can’t help it.”
Alex saw that Ben looked at war with himself. He’d been like that for the past four years. He didn’t know what had happened but since then, their bickering had gotten worse. This one seemed to be escalating quickly to the worst one yet.
“Little sister my ass!” She said. “That’s not my problem. You’re not my brother, like a brother, or any other family member. You’re Ben Stevens, who’s friends with my twin brother. I can’t change that, and I can’t change how you see me. But don’t ever question what I do because of that. I’m not a kid anymore, Ben. Or is that how you see me too?”
Alex wanted to know what the hell was going on and why Dev had reacted that way.
“What’s all that about?” He asked. “Dev? What’s up?”
“Nothing.” She said, scowling.
“Ben?” Alex said as he turned to him.
“Nothing. Just a disagreement about family issues.” Ben replied.
Alex, protective of his sister, was about to say something else to Ben. He didn’t care if Ben was his best friend. If he upset Dev, he would pay for it.
“I’ll talk to her.” Whispered Holly, squeezing his waist
as her arm was around it and placing her other hand on his chest, over his heart.
He calmed immediately.
Alex looked down into her beautifully, perfect face.
“Thank you, babe.” He said. Knowing Holly was more likely to get through to Dev than he was.
“Coffee anyone? I know I could use some.” She said.
“Yeah, sure.” Said Dev.
They put their bags in the trunk of the car and crossed the street to ‘Cal’s Coffee’.
“Bathroom.” Holly said to Dev after they’d ordered. As soon as they were out of earshot, Alex started.
“Ben. What the fuck did you say to Dev?” He’d heard the conversation, but he wanted Ben to explain why.
“I just said I don’t need to see what underwear she buys.” He said with a shrug.
“Really? So why the outburst? I heard you guys arguing but what I don’t understand is why Dev would freak out like that.”
“I said I see her as a sister! She said it’s not her problem, I’m not a family member and she’s not a kid. That’s all. I don’t know why she freaked out. You know Dev, Man. She jumps down my throat no matter what I say.” Ben ran his hands through his hair again.
Alex could see Dev’s and Ben’s relationship was strained now more than ever.
Sure, they exchanged pleasantries, occasionally, but they hardly spoke anymore. When they did talk, it became somewhat ‘hostile’. That was until she showed up, and they’d become concerned for each other. Especially when Ben was ranting about her safety.
In the bathroom, Holly confronted Dev. She knew Dev was upset and wanted to help her, but she also wanted to rip Ben a new one for making her mad in the first place.
“I know you still like Ben. A lot.“ She said
“What?” Said Dev as she swallowed.
“Come on, Dev. It’s obvious. In the shop you were getting a reaction out of him and when he said that to you outside, you almost tore his head off!” Dev paced back and forth.
