The Unicorn's Forest

"Dear? If you're not up to this right now, we can leave and come back tomorrow," her mother said, concern ringing through her voice.

Charlie's eyes widen in alarm. If it was between staying a little longer, maybe, and coming back tomorrow, she'd much rather stay and get this over with.

"I'll be fine, mom," Charlie said. "I just thought that once I got a dress, then we'd be done."

"Don't worry. The rest will be easy and quick," Hannah said. "We just need to get you a push-up bra and we'll look at some jewelry."

"I have enough bras," Charlie protested.

"Maybe, but not a push-up bra. I looked at what you have and you need one that will make it clear you have a chest," Beth replied. "Right now it'll be difficult to tell with how dark the gym will be."

"Can't we discuss this?" Charlie asked, as she started walking with her friends towards the lingerie department, her friends ahead of her. Wishing the conversation was anything but her breast size.

"Sure, but we'll discuss while we look for what we need," Amelia said.

"Don't worry dear, I'm sure you'll be fine," her mother consoled her. "I'm sure your father will love to see how you look when we put all of this together for when you go to your first dance. Though, I have the perfect pair of shoes to go with that in mind. I'll get them while you're in school tomorrow and you can try them on when you get home."

Charlie couldn't help but roll her eyes. She wasn't so sure that this should be such a big deal, but couldn't argue why it shouldn't either. Mostly she was looking for any excuse to end this torture as quickly as possible.

However, when her mother mentioned the shoes, she couldn't help but feel grateful at the offer. Especially since it meant that she wouldn't need to endure another shopping trip like this one.

"Thanks, mom," Charlie said.

When they arrived at the lingerie department, Beth turned to Charlie. "If you really don't want another bra, I just thought of an alternative," Beth said, her grin making Charlie think that a push-up bra was the better option without hearing what Beth's 'alternative' was.

"What's that?" Charlie asked, confident she wasn't going to like the suggestion.

"Put in some silicone pads in your bra. That'll make it look like you're a cup size larger and should have the same effect," Beth replied.

"Could be useful dear," her mother said.

Who's side are you on, mom!? Charlie screamed in her mind.

"I guess I could try that," Charlie said, not sure which would be worse.

"Amelia, you and Hannah look for push-up bras for Charlie while I check to see how the pads will work for her," Beth told Amelia.

"Do you have any with you?" Amelia asked.

"Yeah, I brought mine," Beth replied. Then to Charlie, "Don't worry, Charlie. I cleaned them before I put them in my purse."

Charlie shook her head. It felt like everything had been decided before she was even given the choice. Though, much like when she first started hanging out with Beth and her friends, she often felt like she was getting pulled by a current and didn't know how to get out of it. Only that if she tried rather than focusing on staying afloat, she could drown.

"How were you planning on seeing if the pads will work?" Charlie's mother asked, her tone indicating to Charlie that the answer could be treacherous.

"I'd go in with Charlie to the fitting room and help her put them in her bra," Beth replied calmly.

Does she not realize how dangerous that question was, Charlie wondered.

Charlie's mother shook her head. "I'm sorry, but that's not acceptable. If she needs help, I'll go into the fitting room and help. Otherwise we can call it a day now," her mother said and even though her focus wasn't on Charlie, Charlie wanted to moved away from her gaze. As if it would turn on her without warning.

"No problem," Beth replied, though Charlie had a feeling that Beth found it a big problem. "I just thought it'd be easier."

"Let me get the pads and I'll tell you what I think," Charlie said, trying to dispel the tension between her mother and Beth.

Beth pulls a ziploc bag from her purse with clear pads inside. Charlie accepts it from Beth and starts to head towards the nearest fitting room.

"Oh, Charlie!" Hannah called after her. "What's your bra size?"

Charlie winced. That wasn't something she'd care to announce here, let alone talk about. "My mom knows, she can help you."

"Actually, dear, I think I should measure you to be sure you're still the same size as last time," her mother said.

Charlie sighed. While it wasn't that big of a deal, really, it still meant this would likely take just a little longer. Which meant it made it an even bigger headache.

So, not saying anything, she accompanied her mother to the fitting room and let her mother measure her after removing her shirt. When her mother was done, Charlie pulled the pads out and at first just held them in her hands, getting used to the feel of them, while her mother figured out what Charlie's bra size was.

Then as she started to put them in her bra, hoping she was doing it right, her mother turned to her with an expression of surprise on her face.

"What is it, mom?" Charlie asked, unsure what to expect.

"You need a larger band and cup size," she replied.

"You're kidding right?" Charlie asked, hoping she was. If not, she'd be likely to have to go with bras in styles she hadn't paid attention to given the girls section only went up to the cup size she'd been wearing, so couldn't be sure if she'd really like them or not.

"Sorry, dear," came the reply. "But it looks like you've grown without realizing it."

Charlie sighed, as she finished putting the pads in her bra. Maybe it'd work out better than she expected, though she wasn't putting much stock in that possibility. She also hoped she'd put them in right. After all, with her mother here, it wasn't like she could have Beth see if they're put in correctly.

Though, at that moment, Charlie had an idea. If she used magic to show Beth her reflection, then maybe that would work and her mom wouldn't know. Although, she'd really rather not show Beth with her shirt off, but she couldn't think of any alternative.

"Honestly, I can't think of why you like hanging out with that Beth Howard," her mother commented, railroading Charlie's train of thought.

"Because she's my friend," Charlie replied. She knew there was more to it, but she couldn't think of what to say in general about the subject.

"And that's part of what I can't understand. I would have thought you'd have better judgement than that."

Charlie sighed. While this looked like it was going to be a headache, at least it wasn't as bad as the clothes shopping had been up to this point.

"Mom, do you trust me?" Charlie asked, unsure if she should be asking this question, especially since it had been on her mind a a little bit, at least in regards to her mother's feelings about Beth.

"Of course, dear," her mother assured her. "You've always had a steady head on you."

"Then why can't you trust me to choose my friends?" Charlie asked, tears coming unexpectedly to her eyes. "I don't know why you don't like Beth and I really don't care. She's my friend and I trust her completely."

Her mother seemed taken aback, surprised at the outburst from Charlie. Though, even she was surprised at her own outburst. She certainly hadn't expected tears to come to her eyes or the emotions that came pouring into her as she expressed what had been bothering her about her mother's occasional picking away at Beth.

"I'm sure you don't want to hear this," Charlie continued, as she wiped her tears away with her thumbs, "but if I don't say this now, I don't know when I'll be able to." Charlie paused and took a deep breath. "No matter what happens, I will always think of Beth as a friend and trust her no matter what happens."

Her mother sighed. "I see that your mind is made up," she commented, almost to herself. Then she looked Charlie in the eye. "I'll try to avoid being as hard on her around you, but I can't promise I'll be able to do that."

"I understand mom, it just felt like you've been trying to push us apart. Like you didn't trust who I would choose as a friend."

"Well, I'll step outside then," her mother said, after being quiet for a minute. "I'll let your friends know what size to look for while you figure out how to put those pads in."

Charlie scowled at her reflection as her mother left the fitting room before resecuring the latch on the door. If she hadn't been sure if she'd put the pads in correctly, her mother's remark certainly let her know she hadn't.

–Beth?– Charlie called to her friend using her magic.

–Yeah?– Beth responded.

–What do I need to do to fix this?– she asked, sending a mental picture of her own reflection of her in her bra with the pads put in.

–I see.– Beth said, the amusement clear in her voice, which only annoyed Charlie even more. –Don't worry, I'll walk you through what to do. But, I have a request to make.–

–Sure, what is it?– Charlie asked.

–Would you show me what you look like without the bra or pads?–

–Whhhhyyyyy?– Charlie would have immediately told anyone else no, but with how she trusted Beth, she assumed there was more than just wanting to see her breasts.

–I just would like to know what kind of canvas we're working with.– Beth replied, although Charlie suspected there was more to it. However, she didn't want to pry further and decided to trust Beth in this.

–Fine, but any remarks about it and I'm done doing this, okay?–

–Sure. No problem. Anyway, putting the pads in is simple.– Beth said as she started directing Charlie.

Following Beth's directions, Charlie was able to get the pads put on correctly, and she had to admit. The effect did make her chest look bigger and more mature. However, at that time is when she heard a knock on the door.

"Charlie, ready for the first round?" her mother asked.

Sighing, Charlie opened the door enough to accept the bras. Then closing the door again, she scowled at her reflection before removing the pads so she could try the bras on.

–Here's what they look like.– Charlie said, already incredibly uncomfortable, as she sent the image to Beth with her magic.

–Why are you so uncomfortable, Charlie?– Beth asked, as Charlie began trying the different bras on, one at a time.

–I've never liked being seen by others without anything on. Or at least as long as I can remember.– Charlie replied, partly to avoid having to think too much about what she was trying on.

–If Alex wants to see you naked, what will you do?– Beth asked.

–I-I'm not sure.– Charlie replied.

–Would you like her to?– Beth asked, her smile clear in her question.

–I guess. I'm not sure.– Charlie replied.

–Well, I'm sure we can fix that.– Beth said.

Alarmed, Charlie dropped the bra she'd been about to try on. –What do you mean by that?–

–Don't worry. I'm not Ralph. I'm not going to do something to force you to be naked in front of her.– Beth said. –I just think giving you a nudge might help with that.–

–Please don't.– Charlie replied, already feeling miserable about this whole situation. Not just the conversation with Beth, but the whole shopping trip to begin with. –I just want this to be over with.–

–How about this?– Beth asked. –Amelia, Hannah, and I help you get over being uncomfortable around others without clothing on?–

–No.– Charlie replied. –I'll figure something out on my own.–

–Party pooper.– Beth replied.