image [https://i.imgur.com/kWb5gbA.jpeg]

The outlets were a collection of red-brick buildings surrounded by parking lots. Square green trash bins lined the walls at intervals along the rear of each building. Cement steps led to sets of heavy wooden doors that were rather sloppily painted with thick white paint. Above the doors was a sign for the Feminine Apparel Outlet Center.

There was also a new plastic sign on the door itself. Directly inside was the unfurnished platform of a wide staircase. The worn white tile floor led to the side doors into the shops. Nadia played with her hair while observing the shoddy interior paint job of the window sill, so she didn't read the signs.

"So, where are we going first?" she asked.

"Didn't you read the sign?" Jody asked, "They sell lingerie here."

"Underwear?"

"Bras, panties, pajamas, slips, that sort of thing. Don't tell me you've grown accustomed to commando. That would be ultimate gross! We're going to make sure you wear something appropriate."

Before Nadia could protest, Jody took her by the wrist and forced her inside. Rack after rack of bras of multiple sizes and many styles were the first thing she noticed. Back in the center third of the store were bins, racks, and packages of underpants; the distant back third of the store specialized in pajamas, night gowns, and even some of the more suggestive apparel.

The shoppers were diligent, and the lines at the counters were not short. Mrs. Fischer took a cart. Then the girls dispersed, easily finding the areas containing their favored styles. Nadia waited in the aisles while playing with her hair and staring at the floor to avoid looking at anything else. After a few minutes of shopping, Jody left her stuff on a counter and examined Nadia closely to estimate the shape and form of her body.

Hands pushed Nadia's hips to judge their size before a simple cotton bra and a pack of underwear fell in her hand.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking a quick measure. Your parents must do all your shopping because everyone can see you're totally lost in here. Try on this bra, it's bound to be your size, and that underwear should be perfect. Try them on, you'll find I'm pretty good at this."

"You want me to wear these?"

Jody laughed, "No, I want you to eat them."

Five dressing rooms were lined up at the back of a secluded hall. Only one was empty; it bordered the left exit. Upon being coaxed inside, Nadia found a small bench. Once the door was closed and the privacy bolt in place, she took the opportunity to sit quietly with the undergarments resting in her lap.

This was absolutely the worst; she wished the cliff and her attacker had taken her. She felt the scratch on her forehead; it was slightly raised and the scab was crusty. Jody pounded on the door a few minutes later and asked if the clothes fit. When she heard out Nadia hadn't started yet she said she'd wait on her after chiding her for the lack of activity.

Nadia couldn't believe she was doing this, forced to change into woman's underwear behind the thin seclusion of the panel door. She stood up and stared at her reflection before her shirt went over her head and dropped at her feet. The hook for clothes remained overlooked as she fixated on her reflection. A flush hue bloomed across her cheeks as she covered with her arms. She had to tell herself she could put a bra on, she looked toward the wall as she whispered encouragements to herself.

The bra was pink, simple enough, she'd have prefered white. It took her a few minutes to force it on as she fumbled with the hooks and kept dropping the straps. Nadia could hear Jody sighing outside and saw her sneakers beneath the door.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Next was the underwear, soft pink cotton with lace at the edges which Jody had forced on her. Oddly enough, they were much more comfortable than she thought they would be. The men's briefs were caught by Jody's foot and drug out of the dressing room. They would be dropped in a trash can. Nadia stared blankly into the mirror until she heard Jody pound the door.

"Everything fits."

"Let me see."

"No way!"

"Geez, you're too uptight."

"Fine," Nadia unlocked the door and stood before Jody in her new lingerie, blushing furiously, "It fits, I'm going to change back now."

Jody squealed as she got really close, "You have the perfect figure! You have a skin tone to die for. Your hair shimmers even though it's really dark. Hazel eyes might look good with green or white, but you'd look really good in a light blue with some touches of pink. I need to talk to Trish about your outfit some more."

"What are you talking about?" Nadia held her oversized shirt in front of her waist, "Why are my- the other underwear missing?"

"Because I threw that stinky stuff out after I bought you those. I knew they'd fit so I bought them ahead of time, now you don't have to wear boy's briefs anymore. I already paid and talked to the staff." Jody raised an eyebrow and spoke sarcastically as she leaned in so close that the tips of their noses were nearly touching, "Or do you like wearing your cousin's underwear?"

Nadia needed another excuse to get her normal clothes back!

"I can't wear new stuff yet."

"Why not?"

"It's- new! What if somebody tried it on before?"

"Don't be such a baby; besides, they were in a sealed pack. You secretly have a thing for your cousin, don't you!? You like wearing his clothes?"

"How dare! No way!" Nadia pulled her shirt on over the bra, and replaced her oversized jean shorts. She'd rather deal with new undergarments than be treated like a pervert. "That was uncalled for. I'm going- going- to shop for pajamas. So there!"

Nadia stammered away angrily for the moment. Jody smiled mischievously behind her. Soon the other girls had convinced her, through sheer peer pressure, shame, force of argument, and numbers, to allow them to supervise her choices in the way of night clothing, making sure she didn't violate the cute factor with choices such as dark flannel night suits.

Once the bags of new merchandise were safely in the back of the station wagon, they went to the upstairs portion of the outlet, where woman's outfits were sold. It was a place where a girl could live or die through the process of trying on new clothing. Once inside, Nadia sighed again, trembling slightly because the other girls were whispering plans behind her back, it was like they knew she hated this and enjoyed tormenting her. She said goodbye to her loose polo shirt in advance.

-----

The denim outlet had a small food court that sold soda, some poor-quality burgers, hot dogs, and other junk food in small stands within the walls. The girls sat together at a round fiber glass table that rattled and wobbled. Nadia the tomboy had been defeated as far as dress was concerned. She was no longer wearing her boyish jean shorts, flip-flops, or the oversized polo shirt. In exchange for those articles, she found herself in an outfit that was a degree more flirtatious. Her flip-flops had been disposed of for a pair of blue and white sneakers with light blue socks that hugged her ankles.

Her new skirt was of light blue elastic fabric; it was cut above the knee and hugged the curve of her hips. A light pink blouse with blue trim flowed over her torso. They had even decorated her hair on the sides with a few pink and blue barrettes to add color, and combed it so that a healthy lock fell over the front of her shoulder. Some of the boys at the counter kept looking at them, one eyed Nadia specifically. They were making Nadia lose an appetite that wasn't good to begin with, so Nadia ended up throwing most of her food away, saving only a few french-fries for gnawing.

"You're not still angry that we convinced you to change outfits so quickly?" Jody asked.

"You poured soda all over my other clothes," Nadia growled, "It wasn't exactly convincing."

"It was an accident. We did you a favor," Tish said, "Wearing your cousin's clothes is awful."

"I don't like to wear new stuff before washing it."

"But you look so cute," Amanda said.

"I didn't really find that much here," Tish said. "Bargain clothes aren't my thing but this was a novel experience. I think I'll stick with catalogues. It was a good thing for Nadia though, she needed something to wear in a hurry."

"I think our makeover was a complete success," Jody declared, "She needs something though, wait, I know. She needs a purse to match the outfit. There's a purse store just across the way, she can buy one there. And she needs some lipstick, her lips are a bit pale."

"I really don't think I need a purse. And I don't wear make-up!"

"Of course you do!" they said as they started toward the purse outlet.

"I'm not going with you!" Nadia yelled, on this one she would hold her ground "I don't need a purse! I'm going to buy jeans!"

"Make sure they're form fitting. By the way, that boy over there is looking at you," Jody teased.

There was a red-haired boy, very thin with a face full of acne, at the next table, who devoured a burger. She looked his way and he did something that could have been interpreted as winking.

"Fine then," Nadia muttered, but they were already well on their way. "All right, just don't leave me here!"