The Five Musketeers

Chapter 10 - Let's Get Clothed

"Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed while I thy amiable cheeks do coy, and stick musk roses in thy sleek, smooth head, and kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.       

~Titania, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act 4, Scene 1.

         "Wait, and you didn't get his number?" Liz asked from the phone. "What the heck, Jess? He, like, seductively touched your shoulder. That means he wants you."

        Shaking her head at her cousin, Jess continued to pack her bag. "You know how I feel about asking people for their numbers, cuz. What if he had a girlfriend? Or he was gay?"

        "Put yourself out there! C'mon, feminism. Empowerment!"

        Jess sighed melodramatically. "I also may have been dressed like a confused lesbian again."

        Liz's eyes widened in horror, and she let out a groan. "Jess, how many times have I told you to never wear that hat in public. Were you wearing those basketball shorts I told you to throw out, too?" At her cousin's miserable nod, Liz flung her head back and groaned.

        "At least it wasn't the plaid shirt," she mumbled. Jess still heard her, and was slightly offended for her favorite shirt's dignity.

        "I don't know why I tell you things." Jess picked up an old T-shirt, looked at it, and threw it into the open duffle bag on her bed.

        "Changing the subject," Liz continued, "Where are you going?"

        "Michelle's," Jess said. Liz and Jess knew all about each others friends. "We're going to play a game tonight."

        "Sounds fun," Liz said, looking down at a book.

        Not responding, Jess took one more glance around her room, trying to figure out if she forgot anything. Deciding she probably had, she shrugged and walked downstairs anyways.

        "I've got to go, Liz. I'll Skype you some other time." Before waiting for a response, Jess shut her phone off and skipped to her dad, kissing him on the cheek.

        "Hi, daddy," Jess said, batting her eyes at him. Her father looked up and smiled briefly, giving her a side hug before going back to his yard work magazine.

        "I'm going to Michelle's, I'll be back tomorrow."

        "Okay, have fun, honey," he said, still absorbed in his reading. Jess smiled victoriously. If she had ran into her mother she would have gotten a five minute speech about being safe, driving slow, and the hazards of idiots. 

        Hopping in The Tank, Jess started to back out of the garage. Putting the car in drive, she immediately heard a warped shriek coming from her house. Slamming on the brakes, Jess jolted forward before whipping her head around frantically. 

        Spotting the perpetrator, she immediately tried to put the pedal to the metal, but was interrupted before she could speed off.

        "Jesus, why didn't you tell me you were leaving so early!" Jeff cried, scrambling into the passenger side. Jess sped up, attempting to make him lose his balance and fall out of the car, but he was unfortunately inside, safe and sound.

        "What are you doing here?" she asked wearily.

        "Jack asked if I would come over and play poker with you guys. I said yes, obviously. Oh, and we have to pick up Tammy, too. I invited her."

        Distraught, Jess looked over at her twin, reclining comfortably. Typical. "First off, does Tammy even know the rest of us? And second, she's completely out of the way. Is she planning on paying me for gas?"