Chapter Sixteen
Mikey
When Emilio announced that the next stop would be in Hopborough, the shabbier town that bordered White Pines, I wondered what the producers were planning.
We learned we’d be making a visit to a shop called One Size Fits All.
Apparently, the store sold regular clothes, but there were also sections stocked with adult costumes and naughty wear.
I worried, doubting the visit was so we could pick out a discounted dress shirt for Cliff.
Aaron and I sat together on the bus ride over, since we had reconciled earlier.
I was relieved about that. I couldn’t bear the thought of another night sleeping next to someone who was ignoring me.
It turned out, he had felt the same. Once he had apologized and confessed what Ms. Walker had already suspected, that he had been conflating his own fears about losing our friendship with the possibility I could get hurt, I had immediately forgiven him.
How could I be angry with my best friend for wanting what was best for me and for our relationship?
I had assured him I would be a big part of his life as long as he wanted.
We had hugged, and he had resumed joking with me immediately.
“Have you ever been in this shop?” I asked Aaron, who was staring out of the window, evaluating the bus driver’s ability to park in the tight space in front of the store.
“I could have gotten this thing into the spot a lot quicker,” he said, ignoring my question.
“You’ve driven a bus before?” I asked, surprised.
He looked my way, appearing confused. “No.”
I shook my head. “What do you think they’re going to make us do here?”
Aaron shrugged. “I’d be more concerned about the locals trying to bash our heads in when they realize it’s a bus full of men vying for another guy’s attention.”
I hadn’t thought about that. It wasn’t as if I had ever had a reason to venture into Hopborough.
I didn’t know much about it, other than it was where some White Pines residents went to shop at a Walmart, while others purchased illegal drugs now that our town’s chief of police had cracked down on dealers.
“Is this a rough area?” I asked.
Aaron smirked, pointing out of the window. Perhaps the confederate merchandise shack, super-sized liquor mart, smoke shops, plethora of low-budget fast-food joints, neglected apartment complexes, and dollar-value stores should have answered my question.
“Attention, everyone,” Emilio called out to the contestants.
“Stay seated for just another moment while I explain the next part of our excursion. Once we discovered this interesting store, we just had to take advantage. If you need to buy yourself some less expensive clothes to hang out in, this is the place. But they also offer sexy attire, especially for people into role play.”
I groaned. “This is going to be so bad.”
“Gentlemen,” Emilio continued, “your mission is to find an outfit that you’d wear on a lazy Sunday with Cliff…when you’re in the mood for some naughty fun.”
“I’d just wear what I’m already wearing,” I muttered to Aaron.
“You don’t say?” Aaron asked sarcastically.
“The only thing you must avoid are clothes that expose genitalia,” Emilio explained.
“Nothing else is off limits for the DP channel. So, make it hot. If role play is what you’d be into, there are plenty of costumes to choose from.
Whatever you do, make sure it reflects your personality.
This is a way to capture Cliff’s interest while letting him know more about you.
We’ll be here for an hour, so let’s get inside so you can begin shopping and prepare to model.
The program will cover the cost for whatever you select. ”
“My parents are going to need to go into hiding,” I complained.
Aaron pushed on my hip to make me stand up. “Relax. I’ll help you find something that works for you. How about an altar boy outfit?”
I scowled at him as we made our way into the bus aisle. “You’d better help me for real. And nothing that humiliates me.”
He snickered. “You mean more than getting drunk or ejaculating your cake icing all over Cliff Walker?”
“You’re not exactly building up my confidence,” I complained. “I’ll find something that works for you, too. Maybe a donkey costume and you can wear the ass end of it.” Aaron cuffed the back of my head. “Ow. Stop that.”
He laughed before giving me a shove to keep up with the moving line.
* * * *
Some of the other guys seemed intrigued by the store, rummaging through all sorts of garments that I’d never wear.
Dani was enthralled with everything, holding clothes up to himself in front of a full-length mirror.
Daryl inspected all that was leather. Somehow, that didn’t surprise me.
Ted appeared both confused and horrified.
Alex didn’t reveal much, which was typical.
Brighton was amused, grinning with disbelief as he picked up various items.
“I can’t wear any of this stuff.” I tossed aside what Dani had explained was a ball gag. “Does anyone have normal sex these days?”
Aaron bumped his arm against mine. “I know you don’t.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Better to have no sex than have…this.” I held up a riding crop to make my point.
“Oh, give me that,” Daryl demanded, grabbing the item from me as he passed on his way to another bin of decadence.
Aaron shook his head before turning to me. “I have an idea for you. Do you trust me?”
I sighed. “Not particularly.”
“Wrong answer,” he replied, not appearing offended. “Come here. We’re going to get something from the section that has everyday stuff.”
I sighed with relief. “That’s fine by me. Although it won’t fit the sexy criteria.”
Aaron grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of the area that was labeled ‘family wear.’ The camera crew filmed us, and I wondered if the hand holding was one of Aaron’s attempts to make viewers believe he was interested in me.
The two of us stopped in front of a container of men’s pajama bottoms. “Here.”
“Here, what?” I asked.
Aaron retrieved a pair of reading specs he kept in his pocket. He didn’t wear them in public except in emergency situations. He was too vain.
“Put these on,” he said, forcing them onto the bridge of my nose before I could protest.
“Why? I can see just fine,” I complained, though I let him finish setting them in place. “Well, now I can’t.”
“Stop it. There’s hardly any magnification in the lenses,” he said.
I crossed my arms. “Okay. So, why am I wearing them then?”
Aaron retrieved one of the old clothing catalogues that was lying on a nearby windowsill. He returned and shoved it against my chest. “Reading material.”
I glanced at the cover. It was a women’s lingerie magazine. “No thanks.”
“Pretend it’s a science magazine. It’s for your reveal to Cliff,” he explained. “You’ll have it open to a page with text. He won’t know what you’re looking at.”
“Are you going to explain yourself?” I asked, becoming impatient.
“The look is supposed to reflect you, right? But it still needs to be sexy. So, we’re going to make you look like the studious, serious boy you are—only in a staged quiet moment of you reading in your bedroom.”
“How is that sexy?” I wondered.
“Because you’ll be wearing only a pair of pajama bottoms,” he answered.
Considering everyone had already seen me shirtless, the suggestion didn’t seem too frightening. I wasn’t sure it would impress anyone, but at least it wouldn’t make me uncomfortable.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“Yeah?” He seemed surprised by my quick approval.
“It beats putting on a pair of adult diapers. Can you believe Dani was considering those?”
Aaron chuckled. “Please tell me people who are into that scene don’t make a mess in them, too. So gross.”
I began rummaging through the pajama selection, looking for a pair of men’s small. They were all cheap polyester, and the patterns were generally awful. I held up a pair for Aaron to see. “Maybe these? Plaid?”
Aaron shook his head. “Red and green? Too Christmasy-looking for this weather.” He pulled out a pair that had a print of little puppies. “Here. Wear these.”
I frowned. “Aren’t they kind of dorky for a grown man to wear?”
Aaron nodded. “Yes. They said to put on something that reflects your personality.”
He had the ability to deliver a putdown with a straight face, and it just made me laugh more. “Asshole.”
He ignored me. “One of the dressing rooms is free. Go change. No underwear underneath.”
“Why not? How would Cliff know if I have on underwear?” I challenged.
Aaron rolled his eyes. “Because you’re going to wear them as low on your hips as possible without showing off the goods. You’re supposed to look sexy, remember?”
“Oh no,” I protested. “I didn’t agree to that.”
He shoved me toward one of the three-sided closets that had a curtain on the front where people were expected to change. “Nobody asked your opinion. You said you trust me. Just do it or kiss winning this thing goodbye.”
I harrumphed. “Fine! What are you going to wear? It had better be just as revealing.”
Aaron smirked. “You’re the one who wants Cliff.”
“But you need to pretend to for now,” I reminded him, looking around the store. “If it’s supposed to reflect who you are, you could put on that devil costume. It’s sexy, considering it’s just red bikini briefs, boots, and a pair of horns.”
“Are you still talking? Go change while I find something better suited for me—something angelic.”
“Yeah, right,” I mumbled.
“Call me when you’re ready,” he ordered. “I’ll make sure you look good before you commit to the outfit.”
I closed the curtain behind me after entering the dressing room, checking the perimeter of the space to make sure it didn’t have cameras. The establishment seemed seedy enough where it wouldn’t have been a shock.