Jennifer's eyes settled upon a heavily layered black dress with an assortment of dark lace and frill trim. It had long sleeves that flared out into wide, frilly cuffs and its lower portion was almost long enough to reach her knees. Lola murmured close to her ear in what sounded distinctly like a cat's purr. Goosebumps ran down the back of her neck and she stiffened her posture.
"That's a fine dress. You could definitely pull off that look." Lola sounded like she was daring Jennifer to try it on. An unusual and aggressive sales tactic which Jennifer wasn't sure she appreciated...but she did kind of want to see herself in it.
"I had a goth phase in high school," she explained. She saw the green in Lola's eyes somehow twinkle a little brighter. "I didn't wear anything this fancy, though. Just whatever was black, really."
"Would you like to give it a proper shot, then?" Lola plucked the hanger off the rack and held the dress up to Jennifer's body.
Jennifer looked down at the lusciously dark folds and frills. She stroked a sleeve and felt its smooth cotton texture and a tickle in the back of her mind told her to just go for it. It's not like she had to buy it if she tried it. Maybe it wouldn't even fit.
She looked back up at the smiling clerk and nodded. "Okay! Where are the changing rooms?"
"Rrrrright this way..." Jennifer was led through a couple other sections of costumes. The woodsy scent she smelled earlier got stronger. When they reached the entrance to the changing rooms, Jennifer could tell why. The entire store was rustic, but this part seemed downright...old. Thick, dark wooden beams framed the doorless entryway into a hall of stalls. The separating walls and slotted doors were all made of real wood. Everything looked in good condition despite the obvious age of the place. There were antiquated paintings and lush plants to make it inviting while preserving the traditional feel. The hall was dim, but light streaming out from the slats in the stall doors lit up the area decently enough.
"Go ahead, dear. I'll stick close by and if another customer needs my help, I'll let you know first."
"Thanks," Jennifer said. She slipped into a stall and locked the door. The interior was exactly what she expected: a bench, some wall hooks, and a full-length mirror. It was nice and bright, unlike the moody hallway. Instinctively, Jennifer took a minute to size herself up in the mirror. Her wavy blond hair and light application of makeup looked fine.
Remembering that Cliff and the others could show up any minute, she quickly got out of her clothes and took the dress off the hanger. To her relief, it had a simple zipper in the back. Nothing as fancy as the ornate style would have led one to think. She shimmied into it and was surprised at how well it fit. She made some small adjustments to make sure it sat properly on her shoulders and that the crisscross lacing, which made up part of the faux bodice incorporated into the overall design, was nice and straight down the middle of her chest. Then she reached behind and zipped the dress up.
It was snug but not tight, and she was happy with the results. As a costume, it was appropriately flamboyant without being obnoxious. The sort of thing that would get just enough attention without veering into the "sexy fill-in-the-blank" look that most of the women at the party were sure to be flaunting. She turned one way and then the other, checking out her reflection from as many angles as she could. If she had a matching apron, she could pass for a dark version of Alice in Wonderland. That seemed like a neat idea. Maybe she'd file that away for the moment.
The dress didn't come with shoes, leggings or other accessories, which Jennifer realized were a must no matter what kind of goth she was going to be. She left her original clothes and shoes behind in the stall, but picked up her purse, and padded out in her socks to find Lola.