Just Friends

*48*

"I look ridiculous." Alice whines from inside the change room. Hermione had dragged her to her favourite lingerie store and picked out countless pieces for her to try.

"I'm sure you don't." Hermione tells her. "Let me see."

"Um no?" Alice turns her nose up at the idea.

"I've seen you in your underwear in the locker room, what's the difference?"

"That's when we're changing, not when I'm trying to pick out something that's going to get me laid."

"You're always going to think the worst about yourself Alice, I'm just saying if you want a second opinion, it's what I'm here for."

Alice thinks on it for a moment, finding every single flaw on her body as she stares at herself in the mirror. "Fine." She huffs, opening the door just enough for Hermione to poke her head in. She averts her eyes away from her friend as she assesses the lacy ensemble.

"I see what you're saying-" Hermione begins.

"See? I told you I look ridiculous!" Alice cries out, covering her chest with her arms.

"Would you let me finish?" Hermione scolds. "You don't look ridiculous, this just isn't very you." She searches through the hangers of sets she had grabbed and pulls one, holding it up to her friend. "Try this one. The colour is more you." 

The first set she had tried was a virginal, baby pink colour, so unlike anything she'd normally gravitate towards. She shoos Hermione out of the room and changes into the other set, immediately feeling more confident as she looks in the mirror.

The colour is a rich, burgundy, and it contrasts nicely against her porcelain skin. The bra is a balconette style that holds her breasts up enticingly, and the high hipped, thong style of the underwear flatters her long, lean legs. It's all enhanced by the lace fabric, that leaves just enough to the imagination to still be sexy, but modest enough that she doesn't feel completely out of her comfort zone.

"You're awfully quiet in there, everything alright?"

"This is the one."

"You haven't tried any of the others-"

"Hermione, this is the one." Alice repeats, opening the door again to show her friend.

Hermione nods immediately. "You're right. That's the one."

"This is really happening." Alice mumbles under her breath, but Hermione still hears.

"You're gonna be fine. It might be awkward at first but then it'll be amazing."

"You're right, you're right. I just need to stop overthinking it."

"Exactly! Now get changed, we'll pay for this, and then we'll get you home and ready!" Hermione says with extra enthusiasm, the girl really will jump at any chance she can to do a makeover. "Oh and don't tell Fred or FP that I helped pick your sex clothes."

"Believe me, that can stay between us."

***

She sees FP almost every night anyway, so at least when she proposes they hang out and watch a movie, it doesn't sound completely out of the ordinary. That's at least one thing she can take her mind off of. And with her mom staying at her current boyfriend of the week's house for the night, there's no fear of interruption.

FP shows up at nine o'clock on the dot and Alice feels her knees weaken at the sight of him, feeling as though everything about her is screaming her plans, even though she knows that's not case.