Extra Lucky

"Alright then, I'll see you later," she said with a quick wave, and pushed open the big backstage doors.

"Uh-huh, see you after the show." her little sister called and waved back, then turned away to go around to the front, adding, "And good luck!" over her shoulder.

In the big backstage hallway area she smiled and waved again as she saw Erin and Alicia already getting ready. "Hi Lily!" Erin called out cheerfully as she came over. "I guess just about everybody's wishing us good luck today, huh."

"I know!" Lily came up and set down her bag near the dressing rooms. "I'm super excited. We're all gonna do great!" They all giggled. She was a little nervous too, but mostly excited. It was the big premiere performance of the school play, and all her family and her friends and just about everybody she knew was going to be in the audience.

"Claire gave me a good luck charm too," Alicia picked up her own bag to fish it out. "Here, take a look."

"Hmm? What is it?" Lily said, leaning around. "Some kind of..." she trailed off when she saw it.

"It's her lucky bookmark," Alicia held it up by its little braided string. "She said she's had it for a few years, ever since that time she went to the fair with Jake and he won it for her from the ring toss booth.

"Huh? But I thought a good luck charm was supposed to be like a four-leaf clover or something.

The others both giggled again at that. "Don't be silly," Alicia answered in that tone that always seemed to say 'don't be an airhead'. All her friends and even her sister said she could be kind of an airhead sometimes, but Lily knew they weren't being mean or anything. "A good luck charm can be anything you want," Alicia went on. "I've got my lucky scrunchie too." She gestured at it, wrapped around the strap of her bag. "It's the one I got back when I was in the swim team, that year we made it to the regionals." She set the bag back down. "It was already my favorite, and afterward I realized I was wearing it for every swim meet so the next year I wore it for every gymnastics competition too, and that was the year we got second place." The door opened again and they all looked over and waved to Kendra coming in. "Then last year when I was on the stage crew I wore it for every performance."

Kendra was taking a long sip from something in a paper cup. "Oh yeah," she chimed in, catching the last part. "You told me about your lucky scrunchie last week." She grinned and chuckled. "Let's hope it works today. This show is gonna be really big, it looks like just about everybody is in the audience."

"I know, I'm so excited. Anyway, I can't wear it this year since I'm in the cast, so I just put it on my bag to keep it nearby."

"How about you, Kendra?" Erin asked. "Have you got a good luck charm or anything?"

She shook her head. "Not really. Well, nothing like that, anyway. Oh, but I guess this kinda counts as one." She held up her cup with a grin and took another sip. "See, when I was on the cheer team I would always stop by my favorite coffee place for a chai latte before games. I mean I guess at first it was just before morning games, but then after the game where we got that award I started having one before afternoon games too." She chuckled again. "And now ever since I got cast in the play last year I do the same thing for every show."

Lily pursed her lips. "Hmm, do you think that really counts as a good luck charm?"

"Well sure," Erin said in almost but not quite that same tone. "As long as it's been lucky for you." She giggled some more and added, "Like my lucky undies."

Everyone paused and just looked at her. "Seriously?" Alicia sounded amused as much as surprised. "You never mentioned you had anything like that."

"Yeah, ever since I started gymnastics. See at my very first competition I got the best score in the whole class, and then after the second competition I got a personal best. And afterward I realized I was wearing the same underwear, so at the third one I made sure to wear them again and that was the first time we won a team event!" She giggled merrily. "So after that I made them my 'competition underwear' and I wore them to every single game that year, and we always ended up winning something."

"What year was that again?" Kendra asked with an innocence that didn't match her smirk. "When you were in elementa-"

"I was in middle school!" Erin cut her off, then pouted while everyone laughed. She was only a year younger than the rest of them but she was quite a bit shorter so they sometimes treated her like the baby of the group. She knew they weren't being mean, so she mostly didn't really mind any more than Lily did. "Anyway, after I stopped gymnastics I wore them for every soccer game, and now for every play.

"So that means you're wearing them today, right?" Alicia leaned back and looked down with a theatrically thoughtful expression. "Hmm... My guess is either little hearts, little strawberries, or cartoon characters."

"Hey!" Erin cried and tugged her shirt down over her shorts, even though they were fully opaque anyway. "It's not a cart-" she started, then caught herself. "I mean cut that out!" the others laughed again while she pouted some more.

"But, uh, speaking of which, now that we're all here we should really get dressed." Kendra finished the last of her drink and everyone murmured agreement and picked up their bags. The backstage area here had little individual dressing rooms off the main hall. After the success of last year's play they had decided to reserve a theater for this year's play at the performing arts center downtown. It was a lot bigger and nicer than the little theater at school, with a lot more seating. It looked like the audience was going to fill almost all of it, at least for today's opening performance. Lily and Kendra were using the two dressing rooms at the end of the hallway, farthest from the doors to the stage and the parking lot, and Lily pursed her lips in thought again as they headed over there together.

"So about the whole 'good luck charm' thing," she asked Kendra hesitantly, "doesn't it seem a little, you know... silly?"

"Sure it's silly," Kendra said with a little chuckle. "But we're just having fun with it, right?" They got to the dressing rooms, where she paused at the door to add, "And anyway, you never know." Giggling again, they both went inside to change.

Lily set down her bag on the little shelf beside the door and unzipped it to get out her costume. She opened the little pocket at the corner too, where she left her scrunchie from the last time she went to the pool. It was the same one she used to wear when she was on the swim team, like Alicia, and after that she wore it when she was on the track team too. She never really won much with either one, and anyway she quit them both after a couple years. Even so, she shrugged and took it out of the bag's pocket and wrapped it around the strap, like Alicia's. Maybe it hadn't been that much good luck for her before, but like Kendra said, you never know.

She spread her costume out on top of the bag while she got undressed, starting with her tank top. Kendra also said her own 'good luck charm' was her favorite coffee place, but it was kinda too late to think about that now, and anyway Lily hardly ever had coffee anyway so she really didn't have a favorite place or anything. And then there was what Erin said, but it was way too late to start thinking about something like that now. That just left her scrunchie. It was only kinda her favorite, even back then. Mostly she just didn't bother taking it out of her bag, whether it was her swim bag or her gym bag or her track bag or now her costume bag. Maybe she could think of something else.

"Ahh," she let out a little sigh of relief as she undid her bra and the persistent discomfort disappeared. She kinda liked this bra, but it seemed to be getting a little too tight. It looked like she wasn't quite done with her latest growth spurt just yet. Lily had always been a tall and athletic girl, just like her friends. Well, except Erin, who was shorter but just as athletic. And over the last year or so she'd had another growth spurt, this one mainly in the chest area, so now she was very tall and athletic and very busty too.

She took a moment to gently massage herself until the remaining discomfort went away, then took off her jeans and her panties too and went to get out her costume. It was long and pure white and looked a lot like a toga. She always called it a toga at least, even though the costume director said it had a different name. The costume crew had done a really good job, and you could hardly even tell that it started as just a big white bedsheet. She slipped it over her head and held the shoulder strap up with one hand while she opened the other part of her bag and got out her costume underwear. She obviously couldn't wear ordinary underwear with this costume, especially not a normal bra because the straps would be totally obvious on her bare shoulders, so the costume department had found her a set of costume underwear that wouldn't show at all. She slipped on the pure white bikini-style panties and then turned mostly around in front of the mirror to fasten the matching pure white sports bra.

As she reached behind her back to fasten the clasp the discomfort returned and she winced slightly. Just like her own bra this one was just a bit uncomfortably tight, although it wasn't nearly as bad as the other one. The first time she wore this costume the sports bra they got for her was so tight that it was practically suffocating her boobs, and by the end of the dress rehearsal she could hardly stand it. So then at the next dress rehearsal she kinda put off wearing it as long as she could until right before it was time to go on stage. Someone must have noticed or something because after that the costume director found this one for her that fit a lot better.

With her costume underwear on she got out the safety pin for the shoulder strap. Instead of a normal knot, which would clash with the whole theme of the costume, the strap on her shoulder was twisted around itself and then pinned together with a big safety pin, which was also sort of wrapped up and hidden inside the folds of twisting fabric. If it was done right you couldn't see the pin at all, which made her kinda nervous when she tried it on for the first time until the costume director showed her and explained how it worked. She also told Lily to always double-check that safety pin every time she put it on, and she checked it now, then gave it a few quick tugs to be extra safe.

After that she took off her sneakers and her little ankle socks and got out the sandals from the last part of her bag and sat down to put them on. They were pretty much just like gladiator sandals, and the straps went almost all the way up to her knees, so tightening them up just right always took a while, and as she did so now she found her thoughts wandering back once again to the whole 'good luck charm' thing. Hmm... how long have I had that scrunchie anyway? It had been years, at least. Since even before she was on the swim team. So then... what about on the lacrosse team? She played lacrosse for part of that one year, before she joined the swim team, but she hardly got to play in any games and she didn't think they won any of them. Hmm... was there maybe some other time? When like something else lucky happened?

She finished with her sandals and sat and thought about it for a few more seconds. Wasn't there a time when... She couldn't quite remember, but there seemed to be something sort of tickling at the edge of her mind. She was just getting up when suddenly it came back to her all at once. "Oh! Of course!" she exclaimed softly and happily, smiling at the memory of that time she won the raffle at the ice cream place.

It was after the swim meet, when they all stopped for ice cream on the way home. There was a raffle going on that day, so they all entered it, mostly just for fun and not even really to win anything. And they were all totally surprised and super excited when Lily ended up winning the big prize: a whole year of free ice cream. She smiled and chuckled thinking about it now as she started putting her regular clothes back in her bag. That was totally lucky, and it should totally count. Oh, except... was I even wearing my scrunchie? She paused and thought about it again. It was right after the swim meet, so I must've been. She always put her hair in a ponytail under her swim cap, using the scrunchie that she always kept in her swim bag. And then after a swim meet she would just leave her hair like that when she changed out of her swimsuit. She thought about it for another moment, trying to remember getting changed after the swim meet, until the rest of the memory came back to her. "Oh! That's right..." she exclaimed again, now with a very different tone at the very different memory. It was that swim meet. The time when I was a giant airhead...

The entire memory seemed to replay itself in her mind, starting from when she was in the changing room getting ready to leave. The swim meet was at the local pool just a few blocks away, close enough to walk there, and Lily never liked having to use the dinky little changing rooms there any more than she had to so she decided to just get changed at home instead. She put on her swimsuit with a cute little sundress over it, and she put her swim cap and her scrunchie and everything in her bag just like usual, and it just never occurred to her that she might need to pack anything extra. It didn't occur to her at all until afterward in the changing room when she opened her swim bag, and her heart leaped into her throat when all at once she realized what she'd forgotten and what an enormous airhead she'd been. She just couldn't believe it then, and even thinking back on it now it just seemed unbelievable, and just like back then she let out the same little squeak of of horrified disbelief, "I forgot my underwear!"

It all seemed so obvious when she thought about it now that she could hardly even imagine how she hadn't thought about it at all back then. But somehow it just never crossed her mind that walking to the pool in her sundress with her swimsuit underneath meant that after she took off her swimsuit she would have to walk back home in her sundress with nothing at all underneath. She wasn't at all comfortable with the idea of walking around like that, and even just thinking about it made her shiver, although it also made her remember a few times she heard her friends talking about it and giggling at that silly name it had. She'd giggled right along with them, but she'd never really considered 'going commando' herself, especially not in a sundress that suddenly seemed far more 'little' and way more 'loose' and 'flimsy' than ever. But the only other option was to keep her swimsuit on, and that would be even worse. For one thing, just wearing her totally soggy swimsuit would be super uncomfortable all by itself, and more importantly everyone would notice and want to know what happened. She could still hardly believe what happened herself, and she just couldn't imagine trying to explain to everyone how it happened too. So she just told herself 'I guess I don't have much of a choice' and 'at least I can make sure nobody will notice anything', and once she said 'anyway, it's only a few blocks' and 'besides, it's such a nice warm day...' she decided to just take her swimsuit off like usual, and that was how Lily ended up 'going commando' after all.

Well, at least it all worked out in the end she tried to smile as she thought through the rest of the memory. At first it was just as uncomfortable as she was afraid of, since even the slight breeze made her shiver when it slipped under her dress and between her legs. But then she started chatting with Kendra, which helped her take her mind off it, and by the time Erin suggested they stop at the ice cream place she was hardly even thinking about it anymore and she just nodded along as everyone agreed enthusiastically, with only a little pang of doubt. Then when they got to the ice cream place she found herself shivering again when the much cooler air inside suddenly slipped under her dress and between her legs, and she shivered even more when she sat down at the booth and suddenly discovered the seat was even chillier. But after sitting for a minute or two it wasn't so bad, and she went back to chatting, and then they found out about the raffle and they all entered it, which took her mind off it. And of course when she ended up winning she was just overjoyed.

And I was definitely wearing my scrunchie when I did she smiled again, reaching the happiest part of the memory and nodding with certainty. So that definitely makes it my 'lucky scrunchie', just like Alicia's. She put the last of her clothes in the bag and started to zip it up. Still, she chuckled softly, I guess it doesn't exactly help with Erin's whole 'lucky undies' idea if something lucky happened when I wasn't even wearing any undies. She picked up her bag to go, but now there seemed to be something else tickling at her mind, more insistently than before. She paused, trying to remember, and after just a few seconds another memory came back to her all at once. "That's right!" she exclaimed. There was that other time, too, the time at the fair. That time when I was a big giant airhead...

It was the year she was in the dance class for a few months before the swim team started, and the day that the dance class was doing a little performance at the fair. Normally she would make a quick stop at home after practice before heading to a performance, but that day Cheryl's mom and Melissa's mom offered to take everyone to the fair right after practice. Their minivans had room for the whole team so they all ended up going straight there, and since Lily was already wearing her dance outfit and she still had her bag with the rest of her clothes it never even occurred to her that she might need to pick up anything else. It never occurred to her at all until after the performance when she went to change, and her heart dropped into her shoes when she realized what she'd forgotten and what a total airhead she'd been. She totally couldn't believe it then, and even thinking back to it now it just seemed totally unbelievable, and just like she did then she let out the same little moan of unbelieving despair, "I forgot my underwear again!"

The whole thing seemed so obvious now that she thought about it that she could hardly understand how she hadn't even thought about it at the time. But for some reason it just never crossed her mind that since she always just wore her dance outfit under her regular clothes when she went to dance class, going straight from dance class to the performance meant that after the performance when she changed back out of her dance outfit she would have to change back into the crop top and pleated miniskirt that she wore on the way to class, only without anything at all underneath. She wasn't quite comfortable with the idea of walking around the fair like that in a miniskirt that suddenly seemed a whole lot more 'mini' than ever, but her only other option was to keep her dance outfit on, and the bright sparkly leotard would be totally showing between her crop top and her skirt, and everyone would want to know why. She didn't exactly want to have to explain what happened when she could hardly believe it could happen herself, but even so she was considering it until she thought back to the other time at the swim meet. 'I guess it wasn't so bad that time,' she told herself, 'and nobody noticed or anything', but she still wasn't quite convinced until she said 'besides, it's another nice warm day...' and after that she just put her leotard away like always, and that was how Lily ended up 'going commando' again.

It wasn't even that uncomfortable, since there was hardly any breeze and she was really enjoying the fair, although she wasn't quite comfortable enough to go on any rides and she had to keep reminding herself not to squat down or bend over or anything when she stopped to look at the exhibits. But even so, by the time she met up with her family later she wasn't even thinking about it at all. They had all come to watch her dance performance, and afterward they split up because her little sister wanted to watch the bubblegum pop concert and her little brother wanted to play in the miniature golf tournament. That was just about over when it was time to meet back up so they all found seats in the front row right near the last hole to watch, and he even ended up winning.

That was lucky too I guess she smiled, remembering how excited and super happy Billy seemed afterward. And later she even overheard his friend Bobby talking about how he only won because his big sister was there cheering for him in the front row. That was just silly, but still it might count anyway. Except... I don't think I was wearing my scrunchie... She always wore her hair in a ponytail in dance class too, but with a different scrunchie, a bright and sparkly one to match her costume. So I guess that doesn't help with my 'lucky scrunchie' idea. She frowned slightly as she realized it. And of course it doesn't help with the 'lucky undies' idea since I wasn't wearing any undies that time either.

She left the dressing room and started back down the hall, and now something else was tickling at her mind. It was even stronger than before and this time she hardly even had to think before it hit her. "That's right", she exclaimed. There was the time I found that silver dollar! It was a really little thing, but still, finding money on the ground like that was always supposed to be lucky, wasn't it? So that's gotta count. It's like the most classic example of something lucky there is.

The memory came back to her all at once just like the others. She was just getting out of the shower and picking out what to wear when she heard the doorbell and peeked through the blinds and saw the delivery truck there at the curb. And she remembered about the henna kit she and Erin ordered the week before, so she was so excited she just couldn't wait, and she threw something on and hurried downstairs. And the package was there at the door so she went to pick it up and waved to the truck as it pulled away and when she knelt down she saw it, a silver dollar right there on the front steps.

So maybe that's my good luck charm. She still had that silver dollar, it was in the loose change cup on her dresser. If it was lucky maybe she could keep it with her from now on, especially for competitions and performances and stuff. Her costume didn't have pockets or anything but she could still keep it in her bag, like her scrunchie. Oh right, I guess I wasn't wearing my scrunchie that time. She didn't even start doing her hair until after she took the package back upstairs and opened it and called Erin to let her know the henna kit arrived. Thinking about it now made her smile, especially thinking about when Erin and Sandy came over later and how much fun they all had. So it doesn't really help with that idea. I wasn't really wearing anything besides that minidress. It was pretty cute but kinda old and getting a little worn out so she didn't wear it much anymore. And I guess since I wasn't wearing any undies it doesn't help with that idea either... Her smile faded as a new idea occurred to her. Just like the other times... she slowed and stopped, thinking.

The tickling was stronger than ever, impossible to ignore, and the idea seemed to take shape all by itself without her even trying. That's a third time that I ended up 'going commando', and all three times something lucky happened. When it was once or twice she just thought it didn't help at all, but three times... What was it that Alicia used to say? After a moment it came back to her. That's right, 'Once makes it a coincidence, twice makes it a suspicion, and three times makes it a possibility.' And that was three times that something lucky happened when she wasn't wearing any underwear. So does that mean...? Her eyes went wide and she raised a hand to her mouth as all at once the idea burst forth in her mind.

What if my 'lucky undies' are really... no undies!

Covering her mouth, she held back a sudden wave of giggles, then shook her head and kept walking. But that's just silly. It was way sillier than any of those other ideas, even sillier than what Erin was saying in the first place. And besides, it's not like I did it on purpose or anything. She only ended up going commando those times because she was a big giant airhead and forgot all about her underwear. Well, and that time with the package when she just threw on the first thing she could find and never even thought about her underwear. But she would never consider going commando on purpose. Although now that she thought about it she remembered something that Kerri said that one time. It was when was wearing that really pretty maxi dress, and Erin said she looked great in it and it looked super comfy. Kerri had nodded and giggled, but then she leaned closer and said with a smirk, 'The thing is, it's super breezy too.' Lily had giggled along with everyone else even though she didn't quite understand what Kerri meant, but thinking about it now she had a fresh idea.

What if she really meant... that she really wasn't wearing any...? Lily hadn't noticed or anything, although she hadn't really been looking that close, and nobody said anything else about it either. Well it's not like anyone could tell, with a dress like that. Kerri's maxi dress was loose and flowing and went all the way down to her feet and even brushed her cute open-toed wedge heels. So even if someone was looking really close they wouldn't be able to tell what she might be wearing underneath. I guess maybe she just decided that since nobody could even tell what kind of underwear she was wearing, then it wouldn't even matter if she was wearing underwear at all.

She was back by the doors now, and she was just setting her bag down when Alicia's voice interrupted her train of thought. "Oh Lily, great, you're all dressed," she called out from the open door of the nearest dressing room. "Could you maybe give us a hand here?" Lily nodded and came inside. Erin was sitting while Alicia helped pin the little black wing decorations on the back of her costume, and now she scooted over so Lily could work on the other wing. "Are you excited?" Alicia asked, glancing over with a grin and a little giggle. "I'm super excited. Last year it kinda didn't feel like it was really happening until the curtain actually went up, but getting into costume like this it feels totally different, you know?" Lily smiled back and nodded. It was the same way for her, even last year when she just had a little background part, as soon as she was in costume it was like a whole new level of excitement and nervous energy. "Do you think maybe it's-"

"Hey! Careful there" Erin exclaimed, interrupting her. Alicia looked sheepish, realizing that she'd almost given Erin a little poke with the safety pin. They weren't really sharp enough to hurt or anything, but even so Alicia lapsed into silence while she concentrated on finishing up with Erin's wings. Originally they were supposed to be sewn on, but the first time she wore them like that the stitches started coming loose halfway through rehearsal until the wings ended up sort of flopping around and looked really weird and distracting. After that the costume director got a bunch of little tiny safety pins which worked a lot better, even though it meant Erin needed someone's help to pin the wings to her costume every time she put it on.

Alicia finished with her side and checked it to make sure, giving the wing a few experimental tugs. Lily was almost done with hers when Kendra came in, waiting at the doorway since the little dressing room was crowded enough as it was. "Just a second," she said without looking up, still concentrating on the last couple safety pins on her side. When that was done she turned around to help Kendra finish lacing up her costume, and Kendra moved her hair to the side so that Lily could reach. The laces on the back of her costume still needed to be threaded through the last few eyelets just below her neck. That part was always really hard for Kendra to do by herself so she usually got someone to help with it.

When she finished with the laces she gave them a quick check and a quick tug, and by then Alicia was finished checking both of Erin's wings and came over too. "Okay, your turn. Hold still now," she instructed and turned her attention to Lily's costume. She didn't need anyone to fasten it for her but everyone always helped her with it anyway, checking and then double-checking the shoulder strap and the safety pin inside. "So like I was saying, do you think it's like that for everyone? I mean, how getting into costume helps make it feel real and everything," she added for Kendra's benefit.

"Oh, totally," Kendra replied immediately, grinning. "It's like what the directors are always saying about getting into character." The stage director in particular always liked to call it 'inhabiting' a character. "When you're in costume it really helps with like finding the character's mindset, you know? And being on stage with the music and the stage lights and stuff helps too. That's why we do dress rehearsals, after all."

"Hmm, I thought it's mostly for learning the lines and stuff," Lily said uncertainly as Alicia finished checking her costume. Everyone giggled at that while Erin moved close enough to check Lily's costume too, standing on her tiptoes to more easily see Lily's shoulder strap.

"Sure, but that's what we do at every rehearsal," Kendra explained once her giggles faded. "Dress rehearsals are for doing the same thing, but in costume."

"Yeah, and for making sure nothing goes wrong with the costumes," Erin said as she finished her check, then turned and crouched in front of Kendra. "Which reminds me..."

It took a second for Kendra to realize what Erin was doing, and when she did she brightened slightly and exclaimed, "Hey! You don't need to- I mean, I already checked that myself." She tried to block Erin's view, but Erin just gently pulled her hand aside. "Come on, it only happened that one time." Kendra was blushing now and everyone else was trying not to laugh.

"Even so, we've got to be extra careful today," Erin pointed out, peering very closely at the lower edges of the top half of Kendra's costume. The bottom half of her costume was a pair of tight white thigh-highs with some frilly lace attached to make them look a little like extra-high stockings. And the top half of her costume was sort of like a combination bustier and leotard. All together it gave the impression of being risque without actually revealing much of anything at all, just a little bit of skin between the top of the thigh-highs and the bottom of the leotard. That was the part that Erin was examining now. "Even if it only happened one time, we can't risk it happening again today," she said firmly, and everyone knew the time she meant.

It was at one of those early dress rehearsals, when they were still getting used to their costumes. Nobody noticed anything at first, and Kendra herself never noticed at all until afterward, but when she started her big monologue from the middle of the second act everyone started to slowly realize that they could see Kendra's panties. It was just a tiny glimpse, really. The gusset of her leotard must have just shifted a bit to one side while her underwear must have shifted to the other just enough that just a little bit of the edge of it was peeking out. And since Kendra's costume didn't include costume underwear like Lily's costume did, she just wore her regular underwear with it, and that day her panties happened to be bright red. According to Kendra they actually had white and red stripes but the edge was just bright red so even that tiny glimpse really stood out. As soon as they noticed it Erin and Lily tried to discreetly point it out to her, but Kendra was really getting into her performance and never realized what they were pointing at until afterward when the stage director had to let her know. She was super embarrassed after that and ever since then she made sure to double-check the leotard part of her costume, and sometimes Erin or someone checked it too, just to be extra sure.

"Ok, it looks fine," Erin said now, and turned around to check Lily's sandals. She had never had any problems with her sandals before, but Erin sometimes double-checked them for her anyway.

"I told you," Kendra said with an exasperated sigh. "I'd have to be a real airhead to end up doing that twice." After a moment to collect herself she moved to check Lily's costume too, adding primly, "We don't need to be looking at each other's underwear."

"Really?" Alicia smirked and snickered slightly, "But what if they're lucky?" She cast a pointed glance downward, and after a second Erin seemed to notice it or maybe just felt the eyes on her because she looked up with a start.

"Hey!" she burst out, bringing both hands around to her rear. "I said cut that out." She pouted even harder than before and glared while everyone laughed again. The seat of her costume was still too dark and opaque to see anything anyway, even without her hands covering it.

Alicia took a step back and made a placating gesture. "Well I mean, it's just that we could use all the extra luck we can get today, you know?" A brief poorly-suppressed giggle slightly undercut her sweet tone. "And nobody else has lucky undies, so I just wanted to double-check them, that's all." She batted her eyes innocently and for a moment her smile looked almost sincere. From the way Erin was still glaring, she didn't exactly seem to buy it.

"For your information I am wearing them, if that's what you're asking," she said as primly as she could while ignoring the last of the fading laughter. "I'll be wearing them at every performance, just like I wore them at every dress rehearsal."

"Really?" Kendra glanced over from checking Lily's safety pin. "Huh, I never noticed anything."

"Of course not. It's not like I just go around flashing my panties to everybody. They're still just as lucky even if nobody notices." She glanced at Alicia again with an irritated sigh, then went back to checking Lily's sandals. "And it's not my fault if I'm the only one with lucky undies." After a moment she added a bit peevishly, "Maybe I just shouldn't even have mentioned it."

When she was finished with that and went to leave, Alicia and Kendra each gave Lily's sandals another quick check and then checked each other's costumes too, while Lily found herself thinking. Well... maybe not quite the only one. A little giggle slipped out as that idea from earlier returned. It was just as silly as before, but still...

"Alright then! Looks like that's everything," Alicia declared, and with the last of the final checks finished they all went over by the stage doors to wait. It would just be a few minutes now and the stage director always said she wanted them all in position as soon as they were dressed and ready. There was a moment of awkward silence that Kendra tried to break, only to lapse back into nervous silence. Everyone was even more nervous than ever now that the big show was really this close, so they mostly just waited restlessly and there was nothing to distract Lily from her thoughts.

I wonder what they'd say if I mentioned it she found herself thinking. They'd probably just say it was silly, of course, but she still couldn't help imagining it. 'Hey, you know what?' she could say. 'I was just thinking about it and, um, I'm not quite sure Erin's the only one with "lucky undies" after all.' Thinking about actually saying it somehow made the whole idea seem even sillier and she had to suppress a sudden burst of giggles, although she couldn't suppress the thought. 'But the thing is, I think maybe my lucky undies are really... no undies!'

Imagining saying that seemed like the silliest part of all, and the wave of giggles that bubbled up would not be suppressed any longer. "Hmm? What is it?" Erin asked as Lily's giggling spilled out.

"Oh, uh, well it's just..." Lily still thought she maybe shouldn't even mention it, but now that Erin asked... "See, I was just thinking about it and-"

"Alright, is everyone ready?" The voice that called out made everyone turn to look and interrupted Lily along with a few other hesitant conversations. The stage director Miss Bertrand came around the corner and down the hall with swift purposeful strides, pausing here and there to give an actor a word of encouragement or to give an actress's costume a quick check. She always liked to personally make sure everything was ready before they went on stage. At the stage doors she announced, "Okay then, looks like that's everyone. Now let me see here..." as she looked over the four of them and their costumes. Kneeling beside Lily, she added more quietly, "And of course your peplos looks just lovely as always," as she deftly examined Lily's entire costume from top to bottom, paying particular attention to her hemline and her neckline and her shoulder strap and especially the safety pin inside it. No matter how many times the other actresses or the other directors had already checked Lily's costume, Miss Bertrand always wanted to make sure to personally do a final check to be extra sure. "There," she said with a smile after just a few moments, stepping back, "everything looks just perfect. Alright, everyone. Take your positions." With that, Miss Bertrand pushed open the stage doors and led them all through the little darkened antechamber and onto the stage.

As they all followed her, Erin moved close enough to say, in a giddy nervous murmur, "Wow, this is really it." She giggled, her eyes wide with excitement. "Well, good luck everyone." With that she got in position at center stage right behind the curtain, while the others took their places farther back. They waited as the rest of the cast did the same, and those words seemed to echo in Lily's ears and that brought back the entire discussion from earlier. Good luck, hmm... Suddenly curious, she glanced over at Erin. She was sitting there under the big spotlight all ready for her opening monologue, and the rest of them were right behind her posing in sort of half-kneeling positions, so Lily had pretty much a perfect view of the back of Erin's shorts. But even this close up and under that bright light, she couldn't see even a hint of what Erin's 'lucky undies' looked like. Some kind of cartoon, was it? Or wait, did she say it wasn't...? Well, I guess it doesn't really matter as long as nobody can even tell. And since they're still just as lucky.

Miss Bertrand was calling out the countdown for the curtain to rise, so Lily looked in the audience's general direction and put on the little vague smile she would be keeping up during the whole opening speech. Still, she thought vaguely, her curiosity shifting, I wonder if it's comfy... Suddenly her eyes went wide as that thought floated away and another popped into her head unbidden, one so unexpected and so shocking that she had to suppress both a gasp and another burst of giggles. Oh! But that's... that's totally silly! Somehow, sitting on stage and thinking about Erin wearing her 'lucky undies' right now had summoned to Lily's mind something so far beyond 'silly' that it was just unthinkable. I couldn't possibly! The countdown finished counting down and the curtain started coming up, and Lily pushed the thought away. It might be fine for Erin to wear her costume with her 'lucky undies', but no matter how lucky it might be and no matter how comfy it might be, for Lily it was completely different. Even if nobody ever noticed anything and nobody could tell at all, there was absolutely no way Lily could even think about wearing her very light and very loose costume with her 'lucky undies'.

-

The curtain went up and Erin started with her opening monologue, and with her job done Kimberly left the booth and made her way back downstairs to the backstage hall, pausing on the stairs for a quick glance. Erin's performance was as energetic as always, and Lucy was in the front row watching with an eager smile when Kim got back to the audience and took the seat beside her. "Her costume really looks great this year, huh?" the younger girl observed quietly, and Kim grinned and nodded as she sat down. Everyone's costumes looked great. Miss Gillian the costume director said she was 'inspired' after the enthusiastic response to last year's costumes and she'd been a lot more 'ambitious' and 'adventurous' designing them this year. Just now Erin was pacing back and forth a little in the spotlight in a way that nicely showed off the little black wing decorations on her costume. Soon enough Erin finished and Lily and the others moved up to join her in the spotlight, and Lucy remarked with admiration, "Oh wow, Lily's costume looks really great too." Kim nodded again, although with a slightly uncomfortable expression. Lucy's sister Lily was in the spotlight now, and she really did look great in her costume. All the costumes looked great this year, just not quite in all the same way.

This year Lily and her friends were playing classical goddesses, and their costumes were all designed to sort of recall classical art but with some kind of twist. So Erin's costume had the black wings and gave a general impression of playfulness, while Kendra's costume sort of resembled stockings and a bustier so it looked sort of suggestive even though it really wasn't that revealing or anything. Lily's own costume was sort of the other way around. It was just a plain white toga sort of thing that the directors always called a peplos, although Kim always thought that was kinda silly since a peplos should really be pinned at both shoulders and usually have a kind of belt or something too. But whatever it was called, by itself it didn't look that impressive or anything and might have seemed almost ordinary next to the other more intricate costumes. Mostly that was intended to emphasize its wearer's own natural beauty, since the plain fabric would naturally tend to focus attention on her face. It's just that when Lily wore it, all the attention that might have been on her lovely face always seemed to end up focused on her chest.

Lily's chest always had a tendency to end up the center of attention, especially since her growth spurt this year when she'd rapidly gone from 'noticeably busty' to 'incredibly busty', and her costume seemed to emphasize her recent 'development' even more. It was loose enough to avoid making the outline of her bustline too prominent, and the sports bra underneath was tight and sturdy enough to keep any jiggling or bouncing under control, but that also meant that her very large breasts were being squished together right where her loose neckline drooped down to produce a very prominent display of her very plentiful cleavage.

"The audience sure seems to like it too," Lucy seemed to notice the generally approving and appreciative murmur slowly spreading through the crowd around them, although she didn't seem to notice that the most appreciative voices seemed to be mostly male. The other three goddesses had some introductory lines now, and there were more murmurs as Lily delivered hers with sweeping gestures that added a little extra jiggle to her already extraordinary chest. "Her delivery's really improved, huh?" Lucy chuckled softly, "I just hope she can remember all her lines." Lily had a bit of trouble with learning her lines last year, although she'd really gotten a lot better at it since then, and she was better at getting into character too.

That was really good, because Lily had a much bigger part in the play this year. Last year she only had a few lines and she mostly just stood in the background, although from what Kim had seen she still ended up drawing quite a bit of the audience's attention. As a matter of fact, Kim kinda suspected that the casting director might even have decided to give Lily that role mostly to keep the audience's interest during some of the slower parts of the play, especially once she got a good look at Lily's costume. Because her costume last year was a lot like her costume this year, in that it looked reasonably modest but still displayed quite a lot of her cleavage. As a further matter of fact, Kim almost suspected that the casting director decided to give Lily her much larger role this year mostly because of her impressive growth spurt.

Well, maybe I shouldn't be so suspicious. It wasn't just Lily's boobs that had grown, after all. Her acting really had improved since last year too, just like Lucy said. Maybe the casting director saw she had potential last year and decided to cast her in a much bigger role this year to nurture Lily's undeveloped talent, and not just to capitalize on Lily's overdeveloped breasts. After all, there has to be somebody here besides Lucy that's actually interested in her acting. She cast a sideways glance toward the middle of the front row, where a group of boys was still murmuring and snickering and definitely didn't seem to be interested in the acting on stage. It was Lucy's brother Billy and a few of his friends sitting there, and it seemed like every time she saw them together they were trying to get a rise out of him just like that, usually with some sort of stupid joke about his big sister. At least this time Bobby isn't with them.

Bobby was Billy's best friend, and also the worst, especially when it came to mean jokes about Billy's sisters. It seemed like every time they were all together he ended up acting like a little jerk to them, and usually a little perv too, like that time at the ice cream place. She glanced back toward the window of the camera booth where Bobby would be now. I'm just glad he didn't end up working the curtain like he wanted. Originally Bobby had volunteered to work the curtain, and at the first dress rehearsal Kimberly realized why. As soon as she did she went to the crew director to explain how that maybe wasn't such a good idea, since to reach the stairs to the curtain control booth he'd have to go backstage before the show and between acts. She didn't have to explain exactly why that might be a problem, because just then Lily happened to helpfully demonstrate it herself by stepping out of the dressing room and trotting down the hall to ask Kendra or Erin for help with the safety pin. She was just holding up the strap of her costume with one hand and she didn't even seem to notice that with her toga or peplos or whatever unfastened like that it was sort of drooping open and her sports bra was totally showing. If Bobby had been wandering around backstage at that moment he totally would have seen Lily running around like that, and Kim realized right away that must have been his plan all along.

Because Bobby knew just how much of an airhead Lily could be sometimes, after all the times he'd been there when she had one of her little 'airhead moments'. So he must have realized that when Lily was getting changed during the show and happened to find herself in a bit of a hurry and got a bit distracted and maybe a little bit careless, it was just about the perfect recipe for her to have just the kind of 'airhead moment' that could leave her not quite fully dressed. And that stupid perv must have volunteered for the curtain duty just so he would have an excuse to be backstage where he could make sure that he 'happened' to be 'passing by' at just the right time to enjoy the show. So to protect Lily's modesty, after that Kimberly had been assigned to work the curtain and Bobby got reassigned to working the camera.

And since he isn't in the audience now, Billy and the rest of us don't have to put up with him either. Kim smirked slightly, dismissing Bobby and his antics and clearing her mind to enjoy the rest of the first act. The opening speeches were finishing up now and the rest of the cast started coming on stage for the main action, Lucy got more interested and stopped commenting, and Billy's stupid friends even seemed to settle down and pay some attention. It really was a much better production than last year's. The sets, the costumes, the special effects, and of course especially all the performances. It wasn't just Lily and her friends, the entire cast had been working hard to improve, and so far they were all doing just great.

-

"Wow, that was just great," Erin said with a big grin as Kendra joined them backstage. They had all been watching her soliloquy that closed out the first act, and from the applause as soon as she finished and the curtain came down, the audience really liked it too.

"Thanks," Kendra grinned too as they all started back toward the dressing rooms, "you were doing great too. Really I think everyone was. That thing with the gestures really helped." The stage director had emphasized the importance of gestures to help with making the delivery more expressive and getting into character, and even helping to remember their lines when a few of the cast were having trouble with that at first. The four of them had taken it a little farther than most, and almost every line they said was delivered with a sweeping flourish or at least a little toss of the head. "Looks like all our 'good luck' is paying off, huh," she added with a little giggle.

Everyone else chuckled a little, and Alicia said, "Oh, totally." She stopped and turned to Erin with an earnest tone only slightly undercut by her smirk. "I wasn't so sure about it before, but you might just be on to something. Maybe I should try to get my own 'lucky undies'."

Erin looked back uncertainly, like she was trying to decide if she was being teased again. "But you've already got your scrunchie," she replied, apparently deciding that whether it was teasing or not she might as well play along with it. "And there's the chai latte too. We all have our own 'good luck', so that means they all worked, right?"

"I actually had two today," Kendra said as the chuckling faded away. "Um, anyway, we should get ready now."

"Oh yeah, we still have to get changed," Lily picked up her bag and followed Kendra down the hall to their dressing rooms. Kendra only had to attach the veil accessory to her costume, but Lily had to get changed into a whole different one for the second act. She got to the dressing room and set down her bag. They all worked, huh? she snickered slightly. Well, everyone did great alright. And I guess everyone has their own good luck, just like she said. She adjusted the scrunchie on the strap, still thinking about what they were saying moments earlier. She still wasn't quite sure about taking the whole 'good luck charm' business seriously or anything, but it was still fun to think about. The others probably didn't either, not really, they were all just having fun with it.

Anyway, I need to get changed now. She opened her bag and got out her other costume. It was a black top and tight black capri pants, pretty much the exact opposite of her loose and flowing white costume. The idea was that since the second act was centered around the big battle scene her character should 'take on the aspect of war'. Or at least that was how the costume director explained it. Lily wasn't quite sure about that, but the director also said something about how wearing a different costume could help her get into a different mindset, which made a little more sense.

With her black costume all laid out and ready Lily started to take off her white costume, carefully unwinding the shoulder strap and removing the safety pin before slipping it off and folding it up to put it away. Then she took a moment to adjust her bra, wincing at the dull pulse of discomfort. It was just as tight as ever and the squeezing was just as unpleasant as ever. She was massaging herself gently in the hopes that it would fade again when a thought popped into her head unbidden. "Oh!" she exclaimed with a gasp. That's... it was the same thought as before, and just like before it gave her a little burst of giggles, but this time she didn't just push the thought away. That's silly. But just maybe... It was just as silly as before, but maybe now it wasn't quite so unthinkable, and as the giggles faded the idea seemed to plant itself in her mind. Maybe now I really could wear my 'lucky undies'.

She looked down at her black costume, so totally different from her white costume, and really much more similar to Erin's costume. Erin never needed costume underwear with her costume. Lily's costume underwear was really for her white costume, and she always just kept it on when she changed into her black costume. Oh, except that one time. It was at one of the first dress rehearsals, the time the directors wanted to start with some scenes from the second act so she changed into her black costume before her white costume, and instead of changing into her costume underwear right away she just kept her ordinary underwear on underneath. And nobody noticed or anything, just like nobody ever noticed Erin's underwear with the cartoons or whatever it is. Erin said she wore them at every dress rehearsal and nobody ever noticed anything. Even Lily and the others never would have known about it at all if Erin hadn't mentioned her 'lucky undies' today.

She said they're lucky because of the times she wore them at her gymnastics competitions. Lily still wasn't quite sure how seriously to take something like that, but at least everyone seemed to be having fun with it. So that's just like those times at the ice cream place and the fair, right? She really wasn't sure if she could take that seriously, but it was at least kinda fun to think about. I wonder what she'd say about it? Lily giggled slightly as she imagined what Erin might say. And I could tell everyone about it afterward. She grinned, imagining what she'd say to them. 'Hey, you know what? It turns out I got to wear my 'lucky undies' on stage too...' More giggles bubbled up as she pictured it. 'Because the thing is, I think my lucky undies are really no undies!' It was still like totally silly, but now that she thought about it some more the whole thing seemed kinda fun too. And as the last big burst of giggles faded she found herself thinking I wonder if it really is comfy...

She looked down at where she was still gently massaging herself. That seemed to be helping a little but the discomfort wasn't really going away, and just now the thought of maybe making herself more comfy was kinda tempting. It was more tangible than any vague ideas about 'good luck' and more immediate than the idea of having fun laughing about it afterward, and for the first time she found herself really thinking about it. Well, maybe for just a second, she thought hesitantly, just to see what it feels like. She really wasn't at all sure about this, and just thinking about actually going through with it made her really nervous, but thinking about it had also made her curious. After another moment of hesitation, balanced between her curiosity and her nervousness, it was her discomfort and the temptation of being rid of it that tipped the scales. She reached back, wincing slightly as the already tight straps went taut, found the clasp and undid her bra.

"Ahh," a little gasp escaped her lips as the discomfort gave way all at once to an immediate wave of relief. Her sports bra really was a little tighter than her ordinary bra, which made it that much more uncomfortable to wear and made the relief of removing it that much more intense. Smiling slightly, she massaged herself a little and basked in the pulsing waves of sensation. Maybe I should mention it to Miss Gillian after the show. She found Lily this sports bra after she noticed the old one was too tight, so she'd probably want to know that now this one was getting kinda tight too, and then maybe she could find one that fit better for the next show.

For this show, of course, she would just have to put up with it. But still, maybe not quite the whole show. She giggled again. The relief was fading away along with the last of the discomfort, so she stopped her massaging and slipped the white sports bra off entirely and picked up her black crop top. At least if this works, she thought as she looked at it. Her black costume really was pretty tight, and if the top half was tight enough it might be uncomfortable even without her costume underwear on. And if it was tight enough, she realized with a sudden pang of apprehension, someone might even notice she didn't have her costume underwear on. Oh no... in that case I couldn't possibly. Still, there was only one way to find out, and now she was even more curious so after just a moment's hesitation she pulled on her crop top and looked anxiously in the mirror.

Hmm... she peered at it, examining the image from several angles before deciding, Well, it looks alright. She carefully turned to the side to catch the light just right, and to her relief there wasn't even a hint of what Erin and the others sometimes called her 'pokies', always with a smirk and a giggle. Really, it looks just fine. And it wasn't even that tight, just sort of snug. And it feels fine too. She turned back and forth and gestured, imagining herself on stage delivering her lines like that. It actually feels really comfy. The fabric was just about snug enough that she felt comfortably 'supported' without feeling uncomfortably 'squished', and when she moved it never felt too uncomfortably 'bouncy' either. I can't believe it... This is just perfect. Grinning and giggling, Lily happily put her white sports bra away in the side compartment of her bag for later and picked up her black capri pants.

Looking at them, the giggles faded away and the nervousness returned. She was even less sure about going through with this part, but then again if she didn't she wouldn't really be wearing her 'lucky undies'. And anyway, it shouldn't even matter as long as nobody can... um, tell. Really, it shouldn't be any different from Erin wearing her 'lucky undies'. She said she wore them at every show last year, and it was just fine. Even today when we were all looking, nobody could tell at all. And Lily's capri pants were just as dark and at least as opaque as Erin's shorts. So it should be just fine for me too... right? The more she thought about it the more it seemed to make sense. After all, it would be just like Erin in her shorts... and just like Kerri in her maxi dress, for that matter. I wonder if she was ever nervous about it like this. The thought made her giggle a little again. Well, I guess... she decided with just a bit of lingering nervousness, As long as nobody can even tell what kind of underwear I'm wearing... the wave of giggles rose, Then it won't even matter if I'm wearing any underwear at all. And so, thinking of Erin and her shorts and thinking of Kerri and her maxi dress, Lily took off her panties and put on her capri pants.

It felt kinda weird, but not in an uncomfortable way or anything. Huh, this isn't bad at all. She examined herself carefully in the mirror. And it doesn't look any different either. Turning around, she peered over her shoulder and slowly leaned forward until she was sure of it. Wow, I really can't tell. Even from behind, even when she was bending over practically all the way, and even when she was looking right at the seat of her pants, she couldn't see any difference at all. I guess it really is just like Erin's shorts, and nobody can even tell. With that the last of her doubts vanished, and she grinned and giggled all over again as she went to put everything away.

When it was all packed up she did a quick double-check, being extra careful to make extra sure that her underwear was in the side compartment of her bag for later, then turned to leave. I can hardly believe it, she felt almost giddy as she started back down the hall. Everyone's gonna be so surprised, she giggled once again, I can hardly wait to tell them how I ended up getting to wear my 'lucky undies' after all. Between the thought of how she would tell them and the comfy but slightly unfamiliar feeling as she walked, she couldn't seem to get her mind off it. Oh, but not right away. I'll tell them afterward, when there's time to explain everything.

She was back by the doors now, where Alicia and Erin were already waiting along with Miss Bertrand. "Ah, Lily, you're right on time," the director announced as Lily came up and set down her bag. "Now that just leaves Kendra," she added as she leaned down to examine Lily's costume, pausing for a quick glance down the hall.

"She said she'd be right back, after I helped her with her veil," Alicia offered. "That was a few minutes ago I guess. Was she with you just now?" Lily shook her head.

"Oh, I hope she isn't having trouble with it again." Miss Bertrand finish checking and rose, now looking slightly anxious as she peered to both ends of the hall. "And intermission is almost over. If she isn't ready yet I'll have to tell Kimberly to-"

"Sorry!" Kendra's voice came from around the corner and everybody turned to look with relief. "Sorry everyone, I'm here," she trotted into view, holding down her veil to keep it from flying up into her eyes. "I, uh, hope I didn't keep you waiting or anything."

"It's alright, you're just in time." Miss Bertrand opened the doors and they all passed through the antechamber and went to take their positions while Kendra stopped and stood still for her final veil check. This is it. Lily couldn't help thinking as she stepped out under the stage lights. It's really happening. I'm really going through with it. She was really on stage, there was no turning back now, and the giddiness was even stronger than before. Kendra hurried to join them and Miss Bertrand started the countdown, and Lily took her place and put on her smile and tried to clear her mind. But even so, she couldn't help casting a quick glance in Erin's direction and giving it a last quick thought. Nobody can tell, her smile briefly shifted a bit closer to a full grin. Nobody can tell with her, and nobody can tell with me either. They'll never even know. They're gonna be so surprised when I tell them. The curtain was coming up now, and as excited as she was at it Lily had to dismiss the thought of how she was going to tell the others all about how she ended up going on stage wearing her 'lucky undies'.

-

"Look how excited she is now," Lucy remarked with a giggle as soon as Kimberly got back and sat down beside her. "I guess she just needed to get warmed up or something." Kim smiled and nodded. Lily was in the middle of the second act's opening monologue, and just like Lucy said she seemed a lot more excited and her delivery seemed more energetic than in the first act. "Or do you think maybe she's more comfortable in this costume?" Kim shrugged and nodded again. Whatever the reason, Lily was giving a great performance right now, and she seemed to be getting into character better than ever too. And if performing in her black costume was a little more comfortable for Lily, it was more comfortable for the audience too, and especially for Billy.

She confirmed that with another quick glance. Lily's little brother was just calmly watching the play, untroubled by any stupid jokes from his friends, who just looked kinda bored. Apparently Lily's performance now just wasn't presenting quite the same opportunity for teasing Billy that her earlier performance had, probably because Lily's black costume wasn't quite as revealing as her white costume was. The tight black capri pants nicely accentuated her lovely long and slender legs, of course. And the tight black top very nicely accentuated her lovely figure and especially her very impressive bust, which looked even more prominent than ever. But at least her black costume's high neckline kept her chest fully covered and didn't put Lily's magnificent cleavage on display like her white costume did.

Although now that she was looking a little closer, Kim couldn't help but notice something else a little less comfortable. Lily's excitement and her energetic delivery was certainly making her performance a bit more expressive, but that extra excitement combined with her large gestures was also making her very large breasts quite a bit more 'bouncy'. And as she approached the conclusion of her monologue and her delivery got more emphatic, the bouncing and jiggling were getting uncomfortably hard to ignore. There was a gentle murmur from somewhere in the audience behind her, and Kim suspected that she wasn't quite the only one to notice it. She glanced over again, and sure enough one of the boys there was grinning and muttering something to the one next to him, and she was pretty sure she could tell what it was.

Fortunately the monologue ended and the spotlight moved on before those two had a chance to point out what they'd noticed to Billy. But they will eventually. Now that they'd noticed it there was no way those stupid boys would miss the chance to make some kind of stupid joke about something like that. Billy was going to hear all about it, probably the next time Lily had a few lines. And if they noticed then it means someone else must have noticed too. And Bobby definitely noticed... He always seemed to notice stuff like that, and he always seemed to have a mean stupid joke ready as soon as he did. Just like that time at the fair, after the miniature golf tournament. And from up there in the camera booth he was in the perfect position to notice it before anyone else, and also to make sure the camera captured every moment of it.

Kim was beginning to realize that maybe reassigning Bobby to work the camera might end up having unintended consequences. Well, at least now her monologue is finished. Lily still had some more lines in the second act and a couple speeches near the end, but maybe by then she'd calm down a bit and it wouldn't be quite so obvious. Or she might even notice it herself. That would be the simplest resolution to the whole thing, but it didn't seem very likely. Lily just about never seemed to notice things like that until someone pointed it out to her, especially when she was distracted by something else. Still, even if she doesn't notice at all, I guess her friends will let her know. They were right there next to her, after all, and they must have noticed too. So after the second act when they went backstage one of them was sure to let her know what's wrong.*

-

"What is it?" She called out after the others as they all rushed offstage as soon as the curtain came down. "Is something wrong?" They seemed to be in a big hurry, already passing through the stage doors and heading down the hall, and between that and the looks on their faces just now Lily was almost sure of it. They kept hurrying right past all the dressing rooms and all the way to the end of the hall and the little door there. "What happened?" she asked, drawing up just as the door closed. Alicia and Erin just stood there at the door, tense with anticipation, and after a moment Lily frowned and asked again, "Come on, what is it? Did something-"

She was cut off then, by a very loud and very distinctive sound from inside that door. At once Alicia and Erin seemed to relax. "Thank goodness," Alicia sighed with relief.

"I know," Erin sounded even more relieved. "I was getting kinda worried for a minute back there. But, well, at least she made it."

"Oh!" Lily exclaimed in surprise after a moment as she realized what that sound was, followed by, "Ohh..." as she realized what it meant. "So then, wait, Back there? You mean on stage? And you could both tell?" She looked with concern between the two of them. "Oh no, you don't think anyone in the audience noticed it, do you?"

"Well yeah," Alicia answered with a note that just might have said something about not being an airhead, "I mean you probably couldn't see much from where you were but I could totally tell, so someone else must have noticed for sure."

"It wasn't so bad at first," Erin added more mildly. "I was right there next to her and I could sorta see something was wrong, but I don't think anyone else could tell until, um, a little later. I guess it must have been getting worse or something, because by the end she could hardly keep still, and just about everyone who was paying attention must have realized," she sighed with sympathy, "that Kendra really had to go."

"It's not my fault!" came the reply, only slightly muffled and slightly echoey, through the bathroom door. The splashing sound was fading to a trickle. "I didn't want to- I mean, I never meant to- I mean... I was trying to hide it!" The door opened and Kendra stepped out, blushing and looking as miserable as she sounded. "The whole time I was trying as hard as I could, but it just kept getting worse and worse, and by the end I had to go so bad I, um, I guess I couldn't hide it after all." She moaned with despair. "Ohhh, do you really think everybody could tell?"

"Oh, no, i-it's okay," Erin tried to sound reassuring. "Since, uh, least you weren't in the spotlight at the end there. So, you know, maybe nobody was really watching you that hard." Her uncertain tone didn't sound particularly convincing, but Alicia made sounds of comforting agreement anyway. Lily smiled and nodded too, but then after a moment something occurred to her.

"Wait, the whole time?" she exclaimed in fresh surprise as she realized. "Like since the beginning of the second act? So then, you already had to go as soon as we went on stage?"

Kendra nodded glumly. "Um, kinda even before that. See, I was planning to go at intermission, but first I had to put my veil on, and after that Erin asked me to help with her wings since one of the pins was coming loose again. And Alicia came in and wanted to help check my veil, except then she started arguing with Erin about cartoons or something."

"It was just a joke..." Alicia muttered, pouting briefly at Erin's glare.

"And then I finally got to the bathroom but I was in the middle of trying to get my costume off when I heard someone calling for me. I had to run right back out and then it was already time to go on stage, so I ended up having to hold it for the whole second act." She sighed. "If only I was more careful about it. And after the director even warned me and everything, too."

"Huh? So then did you forget to go earlier or something? Just like that other time?" Erin asked in surprise as she realized what Kendra meant by that.

"Of course not! I've been extra careful about that ever since, and I made sure to go right before I left." Lily nodded, remembering what they were talking about. It was at one of the earliest rehearsals, even before the dress rehearsals, when the stage director took Kendra aside and gently reminded her how important it was to be careful about things like that. Apparently she noticed Kendra starting to look uncomfortable on stage and then she noticed Kendra hurrying to the bathroom as soon as she got offstage, and she wanted to make sure nothing like that would happen at the performance, exactly like what happened just now. "It's just, after I left I stopped at the coffee place on the way, just like always. And I got a chai latte, just like always. Except today I had two, like I said. So, um, I guess..."

"I guess two of them just had to 'come back out' faster than one," Alicia finished for her, with a wry but still sympathetic little snicker. Kendra nodded, and hearing it like that it must have sounded so silly that she started to snicker a little herself. Then she was giggling, and then everyone was giggling, and Lily was giggling along with them, feeling giddy all over again.

Their giggling was interrupted suddenly. "Girls?" a voice called out, drawing closer with the tap of rapid steps. "Where did you go? Is there something- oh! There you are." Miss Bertram came around the corner and smiled with relief at seeing all four of them there. "Alright, are you all ready to- oh! You're not dressed yet?" The relief on her face turned to concern, and all at once Lily felt her giddiness evaporate.

"Oh!" Alicia burst out, realizing what the director meant. "Oh no, we need to hurry!" She trotted around the corner and down the hall back to the dressing rooms, and Lily followed after her, realizing the same thing just a moment later. The break between the second act and the third was a lot shorter than the intermission between the first act and the second, so they were always in a bit of a hurry to get changed in time. Except Kendra's unscheduled bathroom visit had left them all behind schedule, so now they would have to hurry even more. And Alicia only had to attach the girdle accessory to her costume, but Lily had to change back into her white costume for the final act so she would have to really hurry.

She trotted down the hall and into the dressing room and started to pull off her top before something occurred to her. "Oh, oops," she muttered, and turned back to close the door. At school the girls' dressing room was by itself all the way over at the end of the theater building so they all ended up getting kinda relaxed about privacy. Here at the performing arts center all the dressing rooms were right in the main hall and Lily was still getting used to it so she had to really try to remember, especially after that time at rehearsal when she kinda forgot and one of the directors had to remind her to be more careful about it. With the door closed she started taking off her top again and had it halfway over her head before something else occurred to her. "Oh! Oops," she murmured and pushed back out the door, fixing her top as she hurried down the hall. At school where the girls had their own dressing room they could all just leave their bags there instead of bringing them back outside. Even so, this was the first time she forgot it when she went to get changed.

I gotta quit being such an airhead, she thought as she approached the stage doors. The bag was right there across from the closed door to the other dressing room where Alicia would be getting changed right now, so she grabbed it and hurried right back, and this time she remembered to shut the door behind her before she started pulling off her top. Then she went to put it away and unzipped the side compartment at the same time to get out her underwear, but when she reached inside her heart practically leaped out of her chest. She frantically looked inside to be sure.

And sure enough, nothing was there.

"Oh no. No way," she breathed, looking closer. Not again. Not now! She felt panic starting to rise as she pulled the compartment open. I couldn't possibly be that much of a gigantic- she stopped short, seeing suddenly that the compartment wasn't quite empty after all. There was something little right there in the corner, and when she pulled it out her panic subsided just a bit, replaced by just a little puzzlement. A bookmark?

"Lily!" Came a shout from the hallway, along with a thump at the door. "Lily, you're in there, right?" It was Erin's voice, and Erin was knocking on the door. Lily went over with the bag and the bookmark in one hand and her top in the other, and she remembered to cover her chest with it just before Erin opened the door and looked in. "Have you got- oh! Thank goodness."

Erin was looking at the bag in her hand with obvious relief. "It was by the door where I left it," Lily tried to explain, putting it all together for herself at the same time. "But I think it's really not-"

"It's Alicia's!" Erin blurted out, then started explain, "She took yours by mistake so I was really hoping you took hers and it didn't get lost or something." Lily felt her panic start to fade as the pieces came together. Of course it was really Alicia's bag, that's why it had Alicia's lucky bookmark, the one she got from Claire. Smiling, she gladly handed over the bag, reaching around keep her semi-covered chest behind the door while she did. "She said she just saw the scrunchie on the strap and I guess she just didn't know you had one just like it," Erin went on, taking Alicia's bag from Lily and looking inside the main compartment. "She needs her girdle right away. I was there to help her put it on her costume just now until we noticed. Oh right, I brought yours too." Lily nodded, the last of her panic vanishing as she reassured herself that she hadn't really been a gigantic airhead and somehow forgotten her underwear again. She hadn't even been an airhead at all, really. Her underwear was in her bag right where she left it, only she'd grabbed Alicia's bag instead, and that was only because Alicia grabbed her bag first. "Ok, here it is," Erin turned to go. "Now I really have to hurry," she called back as she hurried away, the wings on her back bouncing with every step, leaving behind the bag in the doorway with Lily's white costume sticking out of the half-open main compartment.

Lily carefully looked both ways before reaching out to get it, then closed the door and went back to changing. She took off the bottom half of her black costume and put both halves away and carefully unfolded her white costume. She was pulling it over her head when she reached into the side compartment for her costume underwear and her heart practically plummeted through the floor. Panicking again, she looked inside to be sure.

And sure enough, nothing was there but a little bookmark.

"Oh no," she whimpered as she took it out and stared at it, the panic rising all over again. This was definitely Alicia's bookmark, which meant this was still Alicia's bag, so of course it still didn't have Lily's underwear. Her underwear was still in her own bag, and Erin hadn't brought Lily's bag at all. She only came to get Alicia's girdle and she brought Lily her costume at the same time. But Erin had no reason to think that Lily needed anything else from her bag right now, because she had no idea that Lily needed her costume underwear right now. So Lily still needed to get her bag and get her underwear right now, before it was too late.

It's not too late! She told herself as she burst out the door, pausing only to grab Alicia's bag. I just have to hurry! The third act was supposed to start just about any moment now, and normally they were supposed to be on stage just about right now, so now she really really had to hurry to be ready in time. Alicia should still have it, she thought as she trotted down the hall. I just have to get to her dressing room and get my bag and I can- "Oh!" she exclaimed with a little gasp and a big shiver as a distinctive sensation suddenly got her attention.

It was a lot like the feeling from that time at the ice cream place, and that time at the fair too. Except now Lily's white costume was a lot looser than her pleated skirt from that time, and it was even lighter than her sundress from the other time, which made it way more breezy. So hurrying like that let fresh cool air slip right under her costume and right between her legs, and this time the feeling was somehow more insistent and more intense, and just about impossible to ignore. Every step seemed to draw a fresh little puff to give her a little distractingly cool stroke right there, right where she was decidedly not used to feeling fresh air at all. It was uncomfortable enough to keep making her shiver, and even more uncomfortable was the constant insistent awareness that accompanied it. Just a little while ago even the thought of it had been so shocking that she'd told herself it was just unthinkable, and now it was really happening. Right now Lily really was wearing her light, loose white costume, and she really wasn't wearing any underwear.

I'm just in the middle of getting dressed, she tried to tell herself. That was an uncomfortable thought itself, since it meant she was now hurrying down the backstage hall while she wasn't quite fully dressed, but it still wasn't quite as unthinkable as the alternative. I just have to get my underwear, and then I can finish getting dressed, she tried to reassure herself, determined to focus on getting her underwear and getting dressed and to not think too hard about how she was dressed right now. Between that determined thought and the awareness that the third act was supposed to start any moment now, and most of all the constant breezy feeling, the only thing on Lily's mind as she reached the stage doors and the end of the hall was that she absolutely had to find her costume underwear right now.

It, um, it should be right there, across the hall, she reached the two dressing room doors there across from the stage doors, trying to remember which one was Alicia's, and before she could reach for either door handle one of them opened and Alicia came out.

"Oh! Lily, great, you're all dressed," she said with relief. Lily, by contrast, froze in alarm at this accusation. 'No I'm not!' she wanted to protest, but managed to hold it back and instead told herself I'll be finished getting dressed in just a moment. "Sorry about earlier," Alicia went on without noticing Lily's reaction. "It's just, you never told me you had a lucky scrunchie for your bag. So I just grabbed the first bag I saw with a scrunchie." It took Lily a moment to remember the whole business with the lucky scrunchies. "Still, I could have checked to make sure See? Mine has this stripe down the middle," she took her bag back from Lily and twisted her scrunchie around to see that part.

Lily smiled nervously and nodded while backing away toward the door. "Uh-huh. So, uh, I'm just gonna get something." She had something much more urgent to think about than the scrunchies just now, and as she turned away and pushed through the door she hardly even heard Alicia's cheerful reply.

"Oh, sure. I'll just put this where it belongs." And then Lily was inside.

"Oh! Lily, great," Erin was at the mirror, looking in it over her shoulder to check on her wings. "I was worried you wouldn't be quite ready yet. I'm glad you're all dressed," she said with a grin and just a quick glance over. Lily froze again and shivered slightly. 'I'm really not!' she managed to avoid crying out.

"I, uh," she began instead, trying not to let her voice tremble too much, "actually I kinda need, uh, something from my bag." She looked around for it. There was a bag on the little shelf by the door, but it didn't have her scrunchie on the strap. "Do you, uh, know where?..." She trailed off and her face fell as she started to realize something, but Erin interrupted.

"Oh!" she burst out with an enormous gasp, and her eyes went wide. "Oh my goodness! You're right," She zipped over. "Don't worry, it's right here," Lily felt relief and a spark of hope, but Erin just went straight to the bag on the shelf and looked in and pulled something from it, and the hope flickered out. "Umm, here, this one should work. Now just hold still..." Erin had a safety pin, one of the little ones for her wings, and she was reaching up to use it to fasten the strap of Lily's costume.

"Oh right. Um, thanks," Lily muttered, but as she held still and let Erin work, her face fell and her panic started to rise again. Her costume's strap was just as important as anything else right now, and she'd been just holding it up with one hand this whole time. But just like she started to realize a moment earlier, that was Erin's bag with Erin's safety pins, which meant this was Erin's dressing room, which meant Lily's bag that Alicia took to her dressing room wasn't here after all.

"Wow, I can't believe I didn't notice. Good thing you remembered, huh?" Erin added in a tone and with a nervous giggle that almost seemed to say 'not even you could be that much of an airhead.' Lily winced at that, because really she hadn't remembered at all. As soon as she realized what really happened with her bag and her costume underwear she hadn't even been thinking about her shoulder strap or the rest of her costume. Still, that was just because she was so super distracted. Once she found her bag she totally would have remembered the safety pin. Not even the biggest airhead ever could just forget something like that. "There! That should be good enough," Erin said, stepping back with another grin. "Okay come on, now that you're dressed and ready I think we have to be on stage like right now." She trotted out, while Lily shivered.

"But..." she squeaked, "But I'm not ready..." she trailed off and managed to keep from adding 'I still need my underwear!'. Even if they had to be on stage right now, she still had to finish getting dressed first. Her panic was rising steadily now, and she could only think of one more place left to check. So with that urgent thought driving her onward she rushed out and instead of following Erin across the hall to the doors there, Lily turned to the door right next to her and burst in.

"Oh! Lily, whoa," Kendra said with a start, "uh, sorry, I'll be right there. I just had to make a last-minute check." She was at the dressing room mirror with one foot on the chair, and after a quick apologetic glance went back to examining the leotard part of her costume. "See, um, I wanted to make sure it didn't get, you know... 'shifted' again." She finished checking and stepped back. "Since I kinda, ah, had to pull it to the side earlier. In the bathroom, I mean." Lily nodded along but hardly even heard any of it as she scanned the room. Where is it... There was no sign of her bag, or any other bag either. Oh no, is it even here? It has to be! growing frantic, she gave the room another scan, but it looked like nobody was even using this dressing room, which was why Kendra had just popped in here to check her costume. Realizing it, the panic started to slip from her control despite her efforts, and she froze up, thinking only it's gone...

"Anyway, it looks like it was just fine after all," Kendra patted her costume with satisfaction and went over to the door. "So now we really need to be on stage. Come on," she beckoned, adding with a comforting smile and a little giggle, "and you don't need to get all nervous now, you've been doing great so far." With that she hurried out to the hall, and Lily wandered out after her, lost in her thoughts as she struggled not to let panic overtake her. She really had to be on stage now, but she really had to finish getting dressed first, which meant she really needed to find her bag. So if she couldn't find her bag, then...

"No!" she caught herself before she could panic completely. No, it's somewhere around here. It has to be! It's... she paused to think for just a moment, That's right, Alicia! Alicia had it earlier, so I just have to figure out where she left it. Normally Alicia would just leave it in the dressing room, right? But which one was that? She just checked the one Alicia came out of just now, but that turned out to be Erin's dressing room. Did she use one of the others? It wasn't in the next one over either... It had to be around here somewhere, but which one?. Why didn't I just ask her? She was right there. Alicia wasn't here now, though, and Lily couldn't just check every single dressing room, but she couldn't think of anything else and she had to do something, so she made her way toward the nearest one and as she hurried across the hall a voice called out to her.

"Lily! This way!" It was Alicia, beckoning her as she leaned out one of the nearby doors, and at that moment all she could think was, Alicia! She knows where it is! Turning toward her friend and the hope that offered, Lily smiled and hurried over eagerly. "Come on, it's right here!" Alicia took her by the hand and she smiled with relief, thinking only that if the dressing room with her bag was really right there she could still finish getting dressed and make it to the stage just in time, and everything would be just fine after all. And so, as they passed through the doors together, she never even gave a thought to which doors they really were. Inside she looked around expectantly but it was too dark to see much, and Alicia still had her hand and she was still leading her onward, and just as she started to wonder about it they burst out into bright light. She covered her eyes for a moment, then blinked and squinted into the brightness until she saw them all around her. "There. We made it," Alicia breathed with relief.

They were all there, everyone was there. And they were all smiling, and seeing all those relieved smiles, Lily's own relief vanished and her heart plummeted as the realization hit her. She wasn't in a dressing room, this wasn't a dressing room at all. They were on stage. "Oh, thank goodness," The stage director called across the stage to them, her voice filled with more relief than anyone else, "you're just in time!". Lily looked up at that but barely heard it, with the realization still unfolding in her mind.

"But..." she squeaked, although she managed to keep from saying But I can't be... She couldn't be, but she really was on stage right now. Not now... Not yet! I can't be on stage when I... I'm not dressed yet... She wasn't quite fully dressed, and she really couldn't be on stage like that, but nobody else had realized it yet since she was wearing her white costume and nobody had even noticed that she wasn't wearing her costume underwear. I have to do something! the thought seemed to snap her out of it, and she looked around frantically for some way to slip off the stage unnoticed. I have to find my bag. I have to find my underwear! I have to finish getting dressed!! Before-

"Alright!" Miss Bertram announced just then, interrupting Lily's increasingly frantic thoughts. "Places, everyone!" Everyone else hurried to take their places, and Alicia and Kendra were pulling Lily gently into position at center stage between them, while she just looked up, and her heart plummeted all over again as she saw the director wave up at the control booth above the stage and she realized what it meant. "Curtain in 10, 9..." Miss Bertram began counting down, and all Lily could think was oh no...

It was happening. The countdown was counting down. The curtain was about to go up. The third act was going to start. And then she would be... No! she snapped herself out of it again. "...8, 7..." The director went on counting down and drove Lily's thoughts to racing. I have to do something!! She couldn't just run off the stage, she had to stop the countdown somehow. But how? 'Wait!' she could maybe yell. But then... 'I'm not wearing underwear!' She couldn't. "...6, 5, 4..." It was the only way out, the only way she could avert the unthinkable. But... she just couldn't. It was impossible! Trapped like that between the unthinkable and the impossible, Lily could only hesitate as the last precious seconds slipped away. "...3, 2, 1..."

She froze, looking at the curtain, and as her time ran out and she watched it rise, the crushing realization finally struck her with full force. It was happening, the very thing that had seemed just unthinkable when it occurred to her earlier was really happening right now. She was on stage, in front of everyone, wearing her very loose, very light white costume, and... And I... I'm still wearing... my lucky undies!!!

-

"Hmm, she looks kinda nervous now, huh." Lucy murmured as soon as Kim got back, and after sitting down and watching for a moment she nodded agreement. "And she was doing so great earlier, too. Do you think it might be stage fright or something?" Kim frowned, then nodded again more hesitantly. Lily never really had a problem with stage fright or anything, even last year when it was her first time in the play. But whether it was stage fright or something else, Lucy's sister definitely looked pretty nervous right now. The way she was standing looked too stiff, her delivery was too stilted and strangely hesitant, and it even seemed like she almost missed a cue just now. "Well, I guess anyone can get a little stage fright sometimes," Lucy tried to sound optimistic, "let's just hope she can get over it quick."

Kim nodded again, but she kept frowning. If Lily was just having a little stage fright then that was one thing, since she'd probably get over it pretty quick. And Kim hoped that's all it was, because otherwise... What if she actually has something to be nervous about...? She knew there wasn't really much point worrying in her about it, since she really couldn't do anything about it herself. But even so she somehow felt vaguely uneasy about it. Wasn't she running kinda late just now? Kim suddenly recalled how Alicia and Lily got to the stage just in time, running in right before she was supposed to raise the curtain. Oh no, what if something happened backstage? The unease was only growing worse the more she thought about it, and she found herself watching closer, and wondering, and hoping that she was just worried about nothing.

-
I can't believe it. I just can't believe it! Lily squealed silently again and again. It was just as unbelievable as it was unthinkable, but just now it was also undeniable. How could this happen? How could I possibly let this happen!? she moaned silently again and again. She remembered exactly what happened, of course, and just now she couldn't stop thinking through everything that just happened over and over, but she just couldn't understand how it ended up happening. And most of all, between the constant feeling of cool air where it really didn't belong making her shiver and the constant awareness of the audience's eyes on her making her squirm it was just about impossible to think about anything else. And it only got worse when she put the two together and thought, Oh no... what if somebody can... tell?

She stiffened and shivered again at that alarming possibility. As unthinkable as it was to have somehow ended up on stage like this, if anybody else ever found out it would be just unbearable. She frantically scanned the audience for any sign that anyone might have noticed anything. To her intense relief there was no hint of alarm or even suspicion on any of the countless faces there. It looks like nobody noticed yet, she tried to reassure herself. So... as long as nobody notices, it might not be too late, she grasped at the thought, clinging to the slender ray of hope it offered. If I can just make sure nobody notices, I might still get away with it. With the cool air still right there she could hardly believe that anybody could look at her without noticing, let alone everyone in the entire audience. But right now it was her only hope. I just have to make absolutely sure that absolutely nobody notices anything. If I can just get through the last act and get offstage then nobody will ever know about my, uh... 'lucky undies'. She was still thinking about her 'situation' that way, since even though just now it felt like the exact opposite of 'lucky', it was still easier to think about it like that instead of the simpler but far more unthinkable 'I'm not wearing underwear'. So all I have to do is be extra careful, she went on silently, and if I can just keep my 'lucky undies' a secret then everything will be fine. She nurtured that hope, driving away the panic, and allowed herself to relax just slightly, just in time to catch Kendra giving her the cue for her first line.

Snapping her attention back to the play, she said the line and even remembered to give her usual smile and her usual little flourish at the end. That was a close call, she admonished herself afterward, trying to relax again. I have to calm down. And I have to try to stay focused. If she missed a cue or flubbed a line or something it would only draw even more attention and cause even more suspicion and make getting away with it that much harder. I just have to keep my mind on the play, that's all. And I can't get distracted. That seemed to remind her of something. Oh yeah, didn't the director say something about that? She tried to remember that time from a couple weeks ago, and after a moment it came back to her. Right, there was that trick for tuning out distractions and stuff. She'd tried it a little back then, along with everyone, and she thought it maybe helped a little. Now she just had to hope it could help again, so she took a deep breath and tried to focus.

-

"Huh, it looks like she's getting over it already." Lucy was trying to sound optimistic again. "Don't you think?" Kim nodded, although a little more tentatively than before. She'd been watching Lucy's sister too, and while it did seem like Lily's nervousness might be getting better, now something else was making Kim nervous instead. I guess it was just a little stage fright after all. Kim just bit her lip. Lily's awkward stiffness really did seem to have vanished, and after a couple stilted lines her delivery was pretty much back to normal too, as energetic and expressive as ever. But at the same time, Kim couldn't help but notice that Lily's performance somehow seemed to be more 'bouncy' than usual. A whole lot more bouncy. She tried to tell herself she was imagining it, that she was just paying more attention just now, and making herself more uncomfortably aware of all the jiggling and bouncing on stage. But when Lily put her hands on her hips to punctuate a line of determination with a decisive nod and a soft murmur passed through the audience, Kim could tell she wasn't the only one that noticed something. A quick sideways glance confirmed it. Those little jerks had definitely noticed by now, and they were openly staring in open-mouthed amazement at the show they were getting.

What's going on? Kim couldn't understand it. Lily always gave a very energetic performance, and it sometimes seemed like her big perky boobs were trying to give a little 'performance' of their own, but never like this. Not even after her latest growth spurt, and not even after she switched to a looser and more comfortable costume bra, and not even after she took the director's advice and started emphasizing her lines with big sweeping gestures. Now, as she steadily regained her confidence and energy, just about every single line seemed to be punctuated with so much bouncing and jiggling it was as if Lily's bust had suddenly decided it was going to steal the show, and Kim couldn't remember ever seeing anything quite like it. Oh yeah, except that time at the sleepover, I guess.

She found herself remembering it now. Lily and Lucy both invited all their friends so Kim was there with just about everyone else. And after they all got dressed for bed Erin tried to get everyone to play truth or dare, but Kendra really didn't want to, since she had some kind of really bad experience the last time she did, so they agreed to play 'truth or tickle' instead. Erin turned out to like that too, and every time someone said 'tickle' she was the first one to start the tickling and the most enthusiastic, and soon Lily got into it too and started joining her just as eagerly. Erin never ended up saying 'tickle' herself, but at the very end Lily finally did, and since she had tickled just about everyone else they all wanted payback. She could remember it perfectly, the way Lily looked squirming under all those eager fingertips, the way she spasmed and squealed with gales of helpless laughter, and especially the way it made her big boobs bounce and jiggle and shake. It was an incredible thing to watch then, and it was the only thing that she could think to compare with what she was watching right now. But that's totally different. Of course she was super bouncy that time. We were all wearing pajamas, so she wasn't even wearing a...

Kim's thoughts trailed off and her eyes widened as that thought clicked into place. "No way..." she breathed, recoiling from the idea that blossomed in her mind. She can't be. She would never. It was just unthinkable, and Kim silently protested as she found herself thinking it. Not with her costume. She couldn't possibly! Yet the thought remained, stubbornly persisting no matter how she tried to push it away or how many times she told herself, It's just impossible! There was just absolutely no way Lily could even think about going on stage in front of everyone wearing her very light and very loose toga or peplos or whatever it was... without a bra.

It's working. I can hardly believe it. Lily marveled silently. Alicia gave her the next cue and she perfectly delivered her next line with another flourish. It's working just great. The trick was working way better than she could have hoped, and it was as if all her distractions had simply vanished. I never would have thought it'd be so simple. There wasn't even anything to it besides thinking about things differently. Just like the director said back then, she just had to focus all her attention on a single distraction, then focus on 'tuning it out' and turn all that attention back to the play. All the times she tried it at practice it didn't do too much, but maybe that was just because usually there were a lot of little distractions at once, everything from the bright stage lights and the murmurs coming from the audience all the way down to the swishing of her own costume. So now with just one really big distraction, everything else like that was no more than a tiny tickle on the edge of her awareness, and the focusing trick worked just perfectly. So now that she had the breezy feeling and everything it meant fully 'tuned out' along with all the anxiety that accompanied it, there was nothing left to distract her at all. The feeling that remained was kind of weird, but pretty incredible too.

It was as if the panic from earlier had evaporated and left behind the frantic energy that came with it. She felt super giddy, almost light-headed as she recited another line, doing her best to pour all that energy into her performance. Between her extra energy and her extra focus she was just sure that it was just about her best performance yet, and she had to hold back a little giggle just thinking about it. This is incredible, the thought flitted through her mind. Her big finale monologue was coming up, right after Kendra and Erin had their kinda long dialogue, so Lily took a moment to catch her breath and collect her scattered thoughts. I can hardly believe how great this is working out. But it is. Everything's turning out just perfect, and at the perfect time. Just in time for the big finale of the big premiere of her biggest play yet, and she'd just discovered the perfect technique for making it just the perfect performance. It was all so lucky, she held back another giggle at the thought that came floating in next, Before it just seemed silly, but then, I guess you never know... The dialogue was wrapping up and it was time for her to step forward, and as she did so the thought flitted away and she had to take a moment to keep the giggles from bubbling up again. Maybe it really is thanks to my 'lucky undies'.

-

She can't be. She just can't! Kim repeated silently as she watched, trying frantically to deny what she was watching. She would never. She just wouldn't! Despite her mental protests, however, she just couldn't see any other explanation for it but the one that was right in front of her, waving around before her eyes. The way Lily was pacing back and forth on stage right now and strutting and gesturing emphatically was making her big breasts bounce and jiggle and sway so much it was like they were trying as hard as they could to be the center of everyone's attention. They definitely had Kim's attention at least, and from the hush that had settled over the audience they seemed to getting everyone else's too. With another quick glance she saw that those boys in the front row were staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed, too fascinated to even say anything to Billy, who was just maybe beginning to notice something unusual on his own.

It... it's just impossible!... Kim silently protested once more, an edge of desperation tinging the thought as she watched the stage, where right there before her eyes the impossible was rapidly becoming undeniable. Lily recited a particular line about determination and emphasized it by taking an extra step forward and raising her clenched fist over her head, and at that particularly energetic gesture her boobs gave a particularly energetic bounce. For a moment they looked every bit as free and unconstrained as Kim had ever seen, almost exactly like that time at the sleepover. And then Lily put her hands on her hips, and all at once Kim felt her heart plummet. No way... she really did... and she really isn't... Because with that extra step Lily was standing half in the big spotlight, and the bright light was turning the front of her costume just a bit sheer. And with her hands on her hips like that Lily was holding her loose and flowing costume in place, so that the fabric was stretched tight over the front of her body and even tighter over her chest. And with where she was sitting Kim was at just the perfect angle just at that moment when that light seemed to shine right through that flimsy fabric, and she suddenly got a quick but quite unmistakable glimpse of Lily's very perky pokies.

She couldn't believe it, she couldn't understand it, she couldn't explain it, but she didn't have any other explanation for it either and that little glimpse just now was all the proof she needed. Right now, right there on stage, right in front of everyone, in her light and loose and very flimsy costume, Lily really wasn't wearing a bra. What happened? How could she ever go on stage like that? What in the world was she thinking!? Kim's mind raced, struggling to explain what she'd just seen. What if they were all goofing around backstage and Erin or someone got carried away and dared Lily to take it off? There was no way. It was a crazy idea. Sure, they teased each other sometimes, but even Erin would never go that far. Or what if she's some kind of closet exhibitionist? There was just no way. It was just as crazy. Kim had been friends with Lucy for all these years, she absolutely would have known about it if her sister Lily was an exhibitionist or something. And Lily was such a big airhead she never could have kept it hidden, either. But then... what if Lily was just being an airhead, and she just had the biggest airhead moment of her life!!? Her mind was spinning out of control and the crazy ideas were coming so fast that Kim almost didn't notice when Lucy said "Hmm? Did you need to go somewhere?", and then only realized when she looked over to respond that she must have stood up just now. "I didn't think it was over yet," Lucy went on, "Oh, or do you need to get ready first?"

"Uh, yeah," Kim muttered and made herself smile, "just to be safe, you know." Lucy nodded and shifted so she could step out into the aisle. She hadn't really been thinking of going backstage to get ready with the curtain, although it was as good an idea as any. Really, she hadn't been thinking of going anywhere and just sort of sprang into motion without thinking at all. Her mind was still racing a little, and she tried to settle herself down as she hurried toward the backstage door. I have to do something. She focused on that instead of any more crazy thoughts. She didn't exactly know what she might do about it, but she definitely couldn't just sit there watching Lily on stage like that while her mind spun out of control. Although with Lily already on stage like that it might be too late to do anything. Still, I guess maybe nobody else noticed yet? she grasped at the idea and the tenuous hope it offered, but then she remembered those boys. Or well, uh, maybe nobody can tell for sure...? They had definitely noticed something, but they weren't really in the right position to catch the glimpse that Kim had just now, so maybe they couldn't quite tell what. She grasped at that too, until she remembered Bobby in the camera booth, and her heart sank. That stupid perv always noticed things like that, and he always had to brag about it too, like that time at the ice cream place.

It was when they all stopped there to get ice cream after the swim meet, and they had the raffle going on and Lily ended up winning. Kim still remembered the way she squealed and jumped up when they announced the winner, completely overjoyed. Except apparently she was so excited about it that she must have got a little careless so when she scooted out of the booth and went to get up Bobby was sitting in just the wrong place at just the wrong moment and he ended up seeing right up her dress. She remembered how she overheard him bragging about it afterward to a few of his friends, like it was some kind of big deal. And now Bobby was in the camera booth, where he was just about sure to have noticed Lily's extra bouncincess right away and zoomed the camera right in on her. It looked like the decision to assign him to the camera instead of the curtain really was going to have unintended consequences after all. Frowning angrily at that, Kim pushed through the backstage door into the backstage hall.

Well, I can at least try to figure out what happened, she told herself, and looked around. Nothing immediately promising seemed to jump out at her, but now that she was calming down an idea presented itself that wasn't so crazy. What if it maybe got damaged? Like the elastic snapped or something? If Lily was running around looking for a spare costume bra that she could borrow that would explain why she was behind schedule. And if she couldn't find one after all it would explain how she ended up going on stage like that. Nodding decisively, Kim headed for the nearest dressing room. If I'm right then she must have left it behind, so all I have to do is find it. Kim didn't know which dressing room Lily was using, so she would just have to start checking them one by one. Still, I wonder why she didn't just wear her own bra... A normal bra would look pretty bad and really obvious with her costume since the peplos or toga left her shoulders mostly bare and the straps would be totally showing. Maybe Lily decided that if she just went braless there was a chance that nobody would really notice and she might just get away with it. Of course, if that's what she thought then she just didn't realize what an extraordinary show she was giving just now, and she really must not realize how much some of those boys would appreciate it, especially Bobby.

There was no sign of discarded underwear or anyone's costume bag or anything in the dressing room so she headed to the next one, frowning with irritation as she remembered other times Bobby was being a little perv and going on about how he noticed something, like that time at the fair. It was right after the miniature golf tournament that Billy won, and Kim stayed behind to chat with Melissa for a bit after Lucy and her family left, so she remembered how Bobby was complaining that he only missed that last putt and lost because he got distracted by Billy's sister. Apparently Lily was there in the front row by the last hole to cheer on her little brother, and while she was waiting there for him to take his turn she must have got a little careless, and when Bobby went to line up his putt it turned out she was sitting in just the wrong place and he ended up seeing right up her skirt. For some reason it seemed like Bobby always happened to be right there right when Lily had one of her 'airhead moments' and ended up giving him a 'little show' like that. And now he was right there in the camera booth, and she was right in the middle of giving him a much bigger, much longer 'show'. Frowning guiltily at that, Kim went into the dressing room and looked around.

To her frustration, there was nothing there either. I don't have time for this, she thought, becoming worried. The play would be ending soon, and if she really did have to check every single dressing room she might not make it to the booth in time for the curtain call. There has to be some way to find it. Maybe she left the door open or something. Kim stepped back out and hurried down the hall, but all the dressing room doors were firmly closed and indistinguishable. Getting even more frustrated, she turned and headed back down the hall, more slowly now as she searched for any sign of which dressing room might be Lily's. And as she did she found herself thinking about Bobby again, about the times at the ice cream place and at the fair, and now about another one that she hadn't thought of before.

It was when they met up at Cheryl's house that one morning to go to the pop-punk concert out by the lake. Kim was in the kitchen helping Melissa and Claire get ready and Bobby was getting kinda bored so he went outside to put some stuff in the car. And Kim happened to look out the window just when Lily stepped out her door to pick up some kind of package. Lucy and Lily's house was right across the street from Cheryl's, although they weren't coming to the concert since they really weren't into pop-punk, so Kim hadn't expected to see either of them that day. She kinda waved, and Kim waved back, and it seemed like that was it. But Bobby was there too, by the car, and he must have been in just the wrong place at just the wrong moment because apparently when Lily crouched down to lift her package he saw right up her cute little minidress. At least that's what he was saying to his friends when Kim overheard him bragging about it at the concert.

What is it with him and things like that? It just seemed to keep happening, and all Kim could think was that it had to be simple bad luck. Well, it's bad luck for Lily, anyway. Bobby himself would totally call it good luck, that stupid little perv. And what was happening right now, he'd probably call even better luck. And this time it's my own fault... She never meant to, but by intervening to get Bobby reassigned to work the camera it was Kim herself that ended up putting him in just the wrong place, right where he would be not just enjoying Lily's 'extra-jiggly' performance but also make sure that every moment of it was captured on the video. She was only trying to protect Lily's modesty in case she had a little 'airhead moment' backstage, and she never imagined that Lily might have such an enormous 'airhead moment' that it could endanger her modesty while she was on stage too. Kim found herself frowning guiltily thinking about it.

Just then something caught her eye. There was a sort of little alcove between two of the dressing room doors, just a couple doors away from the stage doors themselves, and there was something there. She went over to check it out, then knelt to open the bag, grinning with relief. Is it hers? I hope it's hers. It looked like someone's costume bag anyway, and Kim was hoping it was Lily's, although she had no idea why it would be sitting here. She unzipped the middle section and her face fell. The clothes inside weren't Lily's, so the bag must belong to someone else in the cast. Curious now, she opened the section on the end and recognized the shoes there. That's right, it's her friend's. Uh, Alicia. She was in the stage crew last year. That might explain what the bag was doing here, too, since now she also remembered something Alicia said about a lucky scrunchie that she liked to keep right nearby when she was stage. There was a scrunchie right on the strap, and this alcove was probably the nearest place to the stage that wasn't in someone else's dressing room. With that answered, Kim was shoving the bag back into the shadow when she noticed something else behind it.

There was another bag, and as she pulled it out too she noticed it had another scrunchie on the strap, almost identical except without the little stripe in the middle. She didn't recognize it and she didn't know whose bag it could be but she unzipped the middle section anyway, and this time when she looked inside her face lit up with relief. It's hers. It was Lily's costume bag, and inside was the cute little tank top and jeans that Lily was wearing earlier. Without hesitation she unzipped the other sections too, and sure enough there it was in the one on the side, a pure white sports bra. Just like I thought. She picked it up to check for damage, only to freeze when she saw what she was holding. Huh? But... but that's... she could only think, confused. Because dangling there from her fingers along with the sports bra was a matching pure white pair of bikini-style panties. But it can't be... she protested, her confusion turning to alarm as she gradually realized what it meant. But... she wouldn't... she couldn't... Kim's protests grew more emphatic, but even so the realization was turning into certainty. Because she recognized these panties, just like she recognized this sports bra. This was Lily's costume bra, and these were Lily's costume panties, and that meant... But she would never! Kim protested once more. Growing frantic now, she thought of an alternative and pulled out the jeans and the tank top, and her face fell when she saw the bra and panties underneath. She picked them up and looked at them together, the white set in one hand and the pink set in the other, and her heart sank. She really did... Kim didn't understand how it was possible or what might have happened or how it could ever have happened, but she just couldn't deny what it meant. If Lily's costume underwear was right here, and Lily's own ordinary underwear was right here too, then right now Lily was out there on stage, right in front of everyone... and she wasn't wearing any underwear at all.

As soon as she realized it Kim sprang into action, hardly even thinking about where she was going or what she was going to do, or anything at all besides what she'd just found. What was she thinking!? What could have happened!? How could she ever possibly do such a thing!!? It just didn't make sense. The thoughts came in a furious stream and her mind worked frantically searching for some kind of answer that made some kind of sense. But she couldn't. No matter how she tried there was no answer, and she just couldn't make it make sense. Nothing was even torn or damaged or anything like she'd thought earlier. She couldn't explain it, she couldn't make sense of it, and the only thing she could even think of was the simplest and most ridiculous thing of all. What if... she really was just the biggest airhead... and she just had the biggest airhead moment ever!!

She was about halfway up the stairs by then, high enough to catch sight of the stage, and as soon as she did she stopped and looked down. Lily was still doing her monologue, and she seemed to have taken a few more steps forward because now she was standing right in the middle of that spotlight. It was turning her costume sheer again, and even though Kim was too far away to really see much from here she couldn't help but imagine what it must look like from the front. And Lily was still gesturing like before and sort of pacing back and forth too, and it was making the hem of her costume swish and swirl and flutter about her legs. Even from up here Kim could see how high it was rising like that, and she couldn't help but imagine what it must look like from the audience, looking up at her on the raised stage. She hurried up the stairs, really hoping that Lily's costume wouldn't rise a little too high and give someone down there a little glimpse.

Even while climbing Kim kept glancing down every few steps. It looked like Lily's monologue was almost over now, which meant the play was almost over too. She just had to keep her costume under control a bit longer and she could still get through this and keep her 'situation' a secret. Kim was telling herself that and trying to focus on climbing when she looked down again and noticed something that made her stop. There was something shining there, almost too small to notice, but when she went to the railing and peered down she could just about make it out. Just a little glint, sort of like something metal, right there near Lily's shoulder. Oh no... she thought, as her mind seized immediately upon a particular possibility. It can't be... she could only think, her hands tightening upon the railing. But... not now. It just can't... Looking closer, that glint was perfectly clear, and try as she might to deny it she could only think of one thing it could be. The realization seemed to wash over her like an icy wave, and all she could think was, I can't believe it!

-

Whoa, I can't believe it, the thought seemed to float through her mind, with all her attention still focused on her performance. I just can't believe how perfect this is. It was absolutely her best performance ever, Lily could totally tell. For the first time it felt like she was fully 'inhabiting' her character, all the lines and all the emotion just flowing through her with hardly any effort or even having to think about it. Even her gestures felt more emphatic and more expressive than ever. The audience had fallen completely silent, like they were completely enthralled, following her as she paced back and forth across the spotlight and lifted her head, then her arm toward the ceiling with an exclamation and a flourish. Her monologue was almost over now, so the play was almost over, and afterward everyone would applaud, and cheer, and then her friends would want to know how she did it. They'll be so amazed when I tell them, the thought flitted past as she paused before her last set of lines. And I have to thank them too, especially Erin.

It was Erin's idea in the first place, after all. I guess it maybe isn't exactly what she had in mind. It isn't exactly what I had in mind either. It just sort of happened. The whole series of events seemed to flash before her eyes. Erin gave her the idea, and then Lily realized what it meant for her and talked herself into going through with it. Of course, I never expected to take it quite this far. That just sort of happened too, even though she still wasn't quite sure how it happened. It was Alicia that ended up switching the bags, so I guess I have her to thank too. Oh, and it was thanks to Kendra that we were all in such a hurry. So I guess I have to thank everybody. It was thanks to all of it that everything worked out just the way it did, and that Lily ended up fully focused and able to give her best performance ever. And it's all thanks to my 'lucky undies'.

She took a step forward and made a big sweeping gesture at every line, first with one arm and then the other. Bringing the back of her hand to her forehead in that gesture the director called 'swooning', raising her clenched fist in determination, all while getting closer to the front of the stage. She reached the very edge and paused before her very last line, the very last line of the play, letting the tension and anticipation hang in the air for an extra moment. Then she delivered the final joyous proclamation and threw her arms wide open.

There was a tiny little ping and a soft rustle, then silence, and with her eyes raised to the ceiling she waited for the applause. With her breath coming quick from the exertion she waited for the cheers. Grinning, her thoughts still floating, she waited for the room to erupt. She waited, until just when it seemed like she might be waiting a bit too long, the thought drifted through her mind, I should take a bow.

She took a step back, and there was another soft rustling like fabric or something as she gave a nice big flourish and slowly leaned forward for a nice big bow. She waited like that for an extra moment, and happened to notice something down there under the stage, something white. Then she rose back up and looked out at the audience, beaming, waiting for the applause. But there wasn't any applause, or any cheers, only silence. Now it really was a bit too long, and she was starting to wonder why. Are they just in awe? Amazed at the performance? Or... The thought floated in, and it sort of got stuck. Her eyes were adjusting now, and she peered out at the audience. They were all staring back, still and silent and wide-eyed, and most with their mouths wide open too. There in the front row her little sister was covering her mouth with her hands. But those expressions weren't quite 'awe' or quite like 'amazed' either. More like just... surprised. That was a little weird, and as her thoughts cleared a little more she noticed something else, a weird sort of feeling all over, and she remembered what she saw that was weird just a moment ago, and she glanced down again.

She froze, her heart plummetted, and her mind seemed to go completely blank. It was like the drifting thoughts had all floated away, leaving nothing behind, until after a single moment of total emptiness they all came rushing back in a confused incomprehensible jumble. Then she looked back up, and in the next moment, just the time it took her to raise her eyes they started to take shape again and bit by bit she understood, starting with the least incomprehensible part.

The white thing down there was in the orchestra pit right below the edge of the stage. Nobody was using the orchestra pit or anything, so it must have fallen off the stage. It was some kind of white fabric or something that must have slipped off the stage during the play to fall down there. Someone must have dropped it on the stage for it to fall off like that, and a piece of pure white fabric like that had to be part of someone's costume. And in that case it wasn't just 'dropped', it must have slipped off and fallen onto the stage before it slipped off the stage and fell into the orchestra pit. And it wasn't just part of a costume, it looked more like an entire pure white toga, or maybe a peplos. It looked just like her costume down there, and that explained it. That was her costume down there in the orchestra pit right now. It fell down there when it slipped off the stage just now, after it fell on the stage just before that. Her costume must have just fallen all the way down there, and that's why she was naked.

She was naked. The thought hit her like an icy wave, chilling her all over and freezing her in place.

She was naked on stage. The wave seemed to break over her, submerging her, drowning her. She was looking up now, looking out at the audience, and now she recognized those weird expressions. They were just totally shocked, because they were looking at her on stage totally naked.

She was naked on stage in front of the entire audience, all her friends and her whole family and just about everybody she knew. The wave seemed to boil, and she felt herself getting warm and tingling all over, right up to her hair and right down to her toes. She felt her face twist and blossom in sheer, utter horror and her trembling mouth slowly open, while her eyes swept over the audience, taking in all the wide open mouths and all the wide open eyes staring back at her, crawling all over her, all over everything. From her hair all the way down to her toes, they could see everything. Even her big perky totally bare breasts! Even... her totally bare... pussy!! All those eyes seemed to be squeezing her, and at the same time she felt something welling up and building deep inside her.

She was naked, right here on the stage, right under the spotlight, right in front of absolutely everyone. The wave had fully engulfed her and it was soaking her all the way through, seeping into her mind. At last, after what had to be just a single moment but still felt like just about forever, it finally fully sank in, and she just couldn't deny it any longer. She didn't know how it could have happened but she knew exactly what just happened, and no matter how hard she tried to deny it she just couldn't help thinking it. Somehow, just now, her costume just completely fell off. And since she wasn't wearing anything else, that just left her completely naked.

She was trembling all over now, and her skin felt so hot it had to be practically glowing. Between the feeling still building and bubbling up inside her and the eyes still squeezing her all over it felt like she was some kind of bright blushing balloon just about to pop, or maybe even a miniature boiling volcano. Her eyes, still sweeping over the audience and all the shocked faces, came back to the front row and fell upon Lucy, sitting there still with her hands over her mouth and her eyes just as wide as anyone's. And instead of just shock like in all the others, Lily saw sympathy along with sheer horror there in her little sister's eyes, at the horrifying sight of her big sister suddenly completely naked right up on stage right in front of everyone. It was like a reflection of what she was feeling herself, and seeing it there in Lucy's eyes was all it took to push Lily right over the edge, so that all the feelings roiling within her finally overflowed. And the scream erupted.

It blasted from her in a wave of pure anguish. All the overwhelming feeling that had poured into her, filling her right up to the brim, it couldn't be contained, it had to come pouring back out. Her entire body seemed to convulse, right down to her toes, as if every bit of her was trying to be rid of the unbearable agony just by pushing it out as hard as she possibly could. It kept coming, on and on and on, until Lucy's face and all the others seemed to swim in front of her as her vision blurred from the tears welling in her eyes. Her head swam, her legs trembled, but the scream didn't let up at all until she started to run out of breath and staggered backward. After just a few steps her legs buckled and she stumbled and fell and landed on her butt, gasping and sobbing. She couldn't even see the audience anymore, or much of anything else through the tears flowing freely and streaming down her face. There was only an impression of brightness, and after another moment and a few more sobs, that too went out and darkness descended around her.

-

The curtain came down and the stage darkened, and Kim wandered back toward the stairs, still totally stunned at what she just watched. It was awful. It was just so terrible. She'd got to the booth and brought down the curtain as fast as she could, but it was way too late for poor Lily.

"Oh no!"

"Oh Lily!"

"Oh no, Lily!!"

The voices came up from the stage as Lily's friends broke from their shocked silence and rushed over to where poor Lily was sitting and sobbing. Kim snapped herself out of it too and hurried down the stairs. Coming up behind them she stopped, not knowing what she could say or do that might help.

"Oh no. Oh Lily, I... I can't..."

"I can't believe it! Oh, Lily... I don't... what could have..."

"What happened!?" Alicia cried out, looking back and forth to the others in total incomprehension.

"I don't know! It just... her costume just..." Kendra started, then trailed off, unable to bring herself to say it. Kim felt herself shudder as she remembered it, the way Lily's costume just fell right off. She saw it too, watching from up on the stairs, and unlike Kendra and the others, Kim knew just what happened.

"The safety pin," she muttered, coming closer. The three of them looked up. "It was the safety pin, the one for her shoulder strap. It was so tiny, it just couldn't... so it just totally..." she trailed off, not quite able to bring herself to say it either. Lily's friends stared at her blankly for a moment, and then Erin seemed to understand because she got a look of comprehension, followed by one of horror. Kim shuddered again as the whole thing seemed to flash before her eyes.

She was watching it from up there on the stairs, watching as Lily performed the last lines of her monologue, the last lines of the whole play. She was watching as she climbed, and she stopped when she noticed the glint of metal and realized it was Lily's safety pin there at her shoulder, sticking out from her partly-unwound shoulder strap and glimmering in the light. As soon as she looked she realized why, and she just couldn't believe it. Lily must have had another one of her 'airhead moments' and lost her safety pin somehow and had to find a replacement at the last minute, probably one of the little tiny ones for the wings on Erin's costume. It must have seemed like such a little thing at the time, so easy to overlook when everyone was in a hurry like that, but thanks to that last little airhead moment on top of everything else Lily ended up on stage with her entire costume held up by just that single tiny little safety pin, and it could just barely handle the weight. All through the third act it must have been straining to hold on, and then when she started her final speech it was strained even more by Lily's big energetic gestures, the strap slowly and steadily unwinding itself until the pin was sticking out enough for Kim to see it glinting in the light. She remembered staring down at Lily's shoulder as Lily performed her last few lines, the last lines of the whole play, watching the safety pin there and hoping as hard as she could, practically begging for it to just hold on for just a few more moments. But it just couldn't. When Lily delivered her last line and flung her arms wide open it was just too much for that safety pin to take, and just like that it popped right open with a little ping and went flying, still twinkling in the light.

"Her safety pin just popped right off, and her costume just fell right off," Kim explained to the girls now, her voice trembling as she said it. "And since she wasn't wearing anything else, that just left her completely naked." She shuddered once again. It was just horrible. She was just horrified when it happened, and she could hardly even imagine what it must have been like for poor Lily, completely naked like that, on stage, right in front of everyone... and even the camera! Kim had hardly even been thinking about that until now, but it just made everything that much worse. Looking at the others now, just as horrified, it occurred to her that they could maybe try to go up there and get rid of the video somehow, except it might be too late already since that stupid little perv Brian probably grabbed the tapes and ran off with them as soon as the curtain came down.

"But... but how?" Kendra squeaked after a long moment stunned and speechless. Alicia's mouth was still hanging open and Erin was still covering hers with her hands, like she felt somehow guilty over it or something. "How could she... I mean, on stage like that... without anything... under her..." she sputtered, then trailed off. "What happened?" Kendra looked back and forth to the others, who just looked back blankly. "Did she... could she really just... forget?"

"Of course not!" Lily wailed in between sobs, still looking miserable and sounding just about as miserable as she looked. Her friends turned back to try to comfort her again. "I didn't forget... or anything like that," she went on, sniffling and wiping at her tears as she tried to stop sobbing. "B-but I didn't mean to either! Well... not like that, I mean. It just... sort of happened that way." Raising her eyes, she looked between her friends' faces and the compassion and confusion there. Erin looked like she was about to start crying too, and that made Lily almost start sobbing again. "I just... All I wanted was..." she managed, then looked up to Kim and concluded with a plaintive wail, "I just wanted to wear... my lucky undies!"

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Pub: 15 Aug 2021 05:38 UTC

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