Page 18

Chapter 1

I opened the closet and my blood froze, chest tightening.

What the hell is all this?

Without thinking, I reached out and brushed my hand against the pastel-colored silks. The closet was bursting with frilly, ruffled garments overflowing with lace and ribbons: dresses and gowns, nighties and negligées. They were beautiful in a way that shook me to my core.

Is this some kind of trick? Why are these here?

They were gorgeous; feminine to the point of excess. Without thinking, I grabbed a fistful of mint green satin and pulled it outwards, revealing a low-cut dress with a tiny skirt covered in lace and sheer, ruffled fabric. I smelled something floral and sweet and blue. A large white bow sat at the center of the squared off neckline.

Just holding it made me stiffen in my pants.

I hurriedly shoved it back into the closet and reeled backwards as if I had just found a mouse. I crashed against the bed, chest pounding, breathing hard. The dresses leered at me from the closet. I couldn't stop staring at them, my head spinning.

I wonder if they'd fit me…

"Do you like them?"

I whipped my head around towards the voice. Saskia stood in the doorway, her tiny frame somehow filling it. Her lips were pursed like she was trying to suppress a smile. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, but a stray lock had escaped and brushed against her ear. She was staring at me with an intensity that made me shift uncomfortably on the bed, my movement reminding me of how hard I suddenly was.

"I need that closet for my clothes," I said with a shrug that I hoped communicated a calmness I did not feel. "Should I, uh, get rid of what's in there?"

"No, Michael," she said cooly. "Those are your clothes now."

It was a shot of energy through my body. I stared at her, frozen in place. Part of me hoped she was joking. And part of me hoped she meant it, yearning for something I'd spent my entire life trying to suppress.

"I'm a — I can't wear those," I said, filling my voice with sarcasm that I knew was overselling it as I saw as smile flicker over Saskia's.

"You don't have a choice. It's required here," she said simply. "Everyone in Coopersville must be in skirts and dresses at all time, even the… men. "

There was something about the way she said the last word that made my stomach do somersaults.

"Then I'll just have to leave."

"You're certainly welcome to, Michael. And maybe next time you get in trouble, it'll be with the police. Your being here isn't a favor to you, it's a favor to the people who want to keep you out of jail."

If that store owner hadn't wanted his wall spray-painted, he shouldn't have painted it white. I thought. It was just dumb, bad luck that we got caught.

I stood shakily from the bed, casting a glance back to the closet. Pink and yellow and blue stared back at me. The dresses were beautiful. Everything I'd never let myself imagine. But I steeled myself, reminding myself that they weren't for me, and turned back to Saskia.

Just put them on, idiot. You really want to go back home and deal with all that crap? You've always been jealous of pretty clothes anyway.

The last thought snuck up on me like a wolf in the woods.

"Everyone wears that stuff here?" I asked, letting my curiosity get the best of me despite myself.

"Everyone."

"All the time?"

"Yes, Michael. Are you leaving or not?"

She put her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow.

"I… don't know."

"You have until tomorrow morning to decide."

"Oh yeah?" I smirked. "What time's breakfast?"

" That will depend on whether you come to your senses or not."

"What does that mean?"

"There's a lovely café in the train station that opens at 10," she said, inhaling deeply through her nose. "But should you decide to stay…"

I didn't let myself finish the sentence for her. Instead I glared at her, daring her to move out of my way. She stared up at me, her tiny frame all defiance and strength. I took a step towards her and she remained rooted to the spot. She held my gaze for a long time before she disappeared down the hallway, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

And the dresses.