"Leah, please, I'm sorry! Can we talk? In private?"
Leah could hear the desperation in her voice, and couldn't bare the thought that she might've hurt her. She gulped and turned around, seeing Tonya staring at her in distress; embarrassment aside, Tonya seemed more concerned than weirded out or disgusted. Rita looked between the two, looking entirely unsure what to do. Leah briefly wondered just how her step-aunt saw this situation from her 'unique' view on child development. Leah let's out a sigh and nods.
"No point in prolonging this. Rita, could you leave us alone for a bit?"
Rita raises an eye brow and shrugs before removing the diaper bag off her shoulder and shoving it into Tonya, who grabbed it out of reflex.
"Well, as long as she has the supplies to change you. There's a quiet spot not too far that way. I'll wait out here."
Tonya looked bewildered, and Leah was sure her face was bright red. Of course Rita had to make it weird. What did she think was happening?
"J-just follow me." Leah says as she walks towards the quiet spot, not wanting to give credence to her crazy aunt's claims. When they were finally alone, Leah could hear Tonya let out a sigh.
"Oh my god, Leah, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to humiliate you back there, I swear!" Tonya shouted, looking legitimately upset. Leah had to blink a few times before the words caught up to her. Tonya was...apologizing? Well, she DID almost out Leah dressed as a toddler to her group of friends, but...that's clearly not why Leah was upset.
"Tonya, it's fine."
"Clearly it wasn't, since you...um..." Tonya turned away awkwardly, and Leah is reminded that she's in a used diaper. Her face turns brighter red.
"I really didn't want you to recognize me, especially around those other girls." What else was Leah supposed to say? Her bad decisions while acting as a toddler usually involve digging a deeper hole, and it's only now that she's been caught.
"God, I'm so stupid!" Tonya shouted to herself and...wow, she was being pretty hard on herself, "I just...you've been so distant, and I was so excited to see you that I didn't think- and then you were-" She turned back to Leah with the most baffled expression.
"Why are you dressed like a toddler?! You HATE it when people baby you, I don't understand! Why did you..." Once again, she pauses, vaguely referencing Leah's diaper and Leah wanted to cry.
"I was trying to sell the act, because you were outing me to a bunch of our classmates! I panicked and didn't know what else to do, okay? It worked on you before!" Leah snapped, and any other words died on Tonya's throat. Again, she seemed more genuinely confused then weirded out, which made Leah feel a little guilty.
"What...worked on me before?"
Leah kicked herself mentally. Why the hell did she say that? Leah cringed and shut her eyes, wanting the world to just stop existing for the moment.
"Leah, I...I'm sorry, but...I just want to know what's going on."
"Ugh...the reason I'm dressed this way is a really long, really embarrassing series of events."
Tonya nodded her head, clearly only more confused. Her nose twitched, enough for Leah to know she can smell her diaper but was tryin to not make it awkward.
"Who was that woman out there? And...uh..." She looks at the diaper bag slung on her shoulder, "Do you...um..."
"That's Rita, Tina's sister. I'm staying with her while dad and Tina go on their honey moon, but she has no clue how kids work and doesn't understand that teens don't wear diapers. And for god's sakes, no. I can change myself." Leah figured that her friend deserved some explanation. Honestly, she's the only person Leah really feels comfortable with knowing about her toddler acting career.
"Okay..." Tonya looked partially relieved, but still confused, "Do you...need diapers now, Leah?"
Leah felt her guts twist as a surge of different emotions went through her. How does she answer that?