Page 3 (2/2)

"They ool It’s cold out," she said with an indignant sniff

"I don’t care how cold it is, woolen socks are never to touch your feet again Promise me"

Grace sent her friend a death stare and turned her attention back to theOh mama, it was bad As bad as the first time she looked She spun around to peer at the back of her new costume---courtesy of a bunch of crap sourced by Serena froous closet--and winced No way There was just no way "More ofthan covered You can literally see my underwear"

Serena waved a hand "Well, yeah, the bloo"

"They’re not blooular bikini-underwear Nors every day"

"Says you," her friend said with a derisive snort "Well, you can’t go like that You can see your panty line" She tugged at her lip and then nodded "You’re just going to have to take the commando And, plus, like what am I even supposed to be?" she asked, still a little baffled and a lot shell-shocked She shivered and ran her fingers through her hair It was still wet from the shower Serena had all but tossed her into when she saw her failed ghost-cheerleader costuaze in the ust "You’re a steampunk vampire hunter, silly"

"I’m pretty sure people wear pants to hunt vauarantee it"

Serena blew out a long-suffering sigh "No pants But if it makes you feel better, we’ll trade the hotpants for a black skirt Your legs are so fab I figured you ought to show off as h the endless rows of hangers before screeching, "Eureka, bitches!" She held a black brocade miniskirt aloft in one fist "If you look close, it even has black roses embossed into the material, and black roses are totally steampunk"

Grace eyed the skirt dubiously "You’re like two sizes smaller than me I barely squeezed into the corset and even at that,over And the hotpants are stretchy, so ere able to fake it, but that skirt will never fit"

"Watch and learn We’re about to get Tim Gunn on this bitch and make it work"

The steely determination on her face sent a slither of dread down Grace’s spine She knew that look well Serena was on ato stop her She blew out a resigned sigh "Fine Do your worst But you better be wearing so is going to make you look like a schoolmaroing to be packed with girls in their sexiest getups If we’re , ant the at the spandex that seeet to work on that skirt, then, because we’ve got a party to get to"

Four hours, a string of curse words, and several drops of blood later, they were ushered through the gates to Chaz’s mansion

Grace let out a lohistle "Wow I’ve seen it fro by, but this is unreal"

She braked as they approached, staring in awe The house was huge A sprawling o on forever The alia A single noose hung froravestones dotted the expansive lawn, and the howl of a lone wolf repeated on auto-loop Even the toniest of Saleet kitschy around Halloween It was like a rule or soreed She’d spent her life in places at least that nice, so she didn’t seem nearly as impressed, but that didn’t put a damper on Grace’s enthusiasm one bit

They pulled up to the door where several valets stood at attention, each dressed as…well, valets But on closer inspection, she realized that they were all decked out in flawless zorisly wounds, and blackened, jagged teeth

"Awesorinned as they o all-out here"

"You weren’t kidding"

Before they could ring the bell, the door swung open and a pretty young wo fro a theme

"Please, coh the foyer to check their coats and then into the ood hundred people were gathered, split off into groups and talking loudly over the thu bass of dubstep music The modern room was done up in black with autumn-colored accents that captured the whi over into tacky Waitstaff in crisp black-and-whites with penguin masks passed around hors d’oeuvres, and several makeshift bars had been set up around the peri brisk business, arnishes on glasses All in all, Chaz see up a pretty nice, low-key soiree Stories of the previous year’s debauchery were clearly exaggerated

"How’s your hip?" Serena asked, a glu her doll-like features

"I’ressive with the needle and thread is all" She gingerly tested the spot with her finger where Serena had decided to sew her into the tiny skirt and missed with one stitch "Yup, I can hardly even feel it now It’s good Now co"

Serena seemed to perk up and led the way to the nearest bar Grace trailed behind, trying not to tug at her clothes It was a little nerve-wracking to be so exposed, but Serena hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she would fit right in Each costuenies, sexy witches, sexy fairies, and even sexy nuns Serena had really gone all-out with her own costuetup that was spectacular on her statuesque fraoodies, and the top was nothing ed between her breasts With pin-straight silver hair strealad Trick wasn’t here If he saw Serena like this, no way he’d be able to resist her Not that she would care if they hooked up, she reassured herself with a sniff She just liked the way things were between the three of the by the looks of the e of admirers