Casey and Shalin walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts after the curt discussion between Shalin and Taylor.  She usually avoided Taylor like the plague and when she did speak to her, her words dripped were like sharp little needles.  

Shalin stopped next to a large shrub and glanced up and down the street.

"This should work, just be quick!" Shalin shoved Casey and the backpack behind the shrub.

Casey took the zipper between her shaking fingers and pulled open the backpack. She tried to decide which item of clothing to strip off first and went with the shorts. At least her shirt would provide some cover as she hopped around on one leg behind the dense shrub. Once again she was dressed in the snipped outfit. Her bare stomach felt cold in the shadow of the shrub and she felt uneasy. The previous tingle of excitement fizzled out as she stepped out from behind the cover of the shrub.

"I don't know about this Shalin," Casey said wrapping her arms loosely around her bare waist.

"Oh come on! You look so hot! Shalin exclaimed.

"I look like a blonde giraffe." Casey sighed

Shalin snorted with laughter and for a moment it felt like the old days when the two were inseparable. She helped Casey put her former outfit into the backpack and hid it inside the shrub for when they returned later.

"I thought we could go for a milkshake down at the Skate Shack?" Shalin said.

"Yeah, that sounds great, as long as I'm back in time to meet with the pageant director. My mom will hang me if I'm late. You know how important these things are to her." Casey sighed.

"It's not as if you don't enjoy them," Shalin said accusingly.

"Maybe, like when I was twelve or so," Casey replied as they entered the Shake Shack.

The Shake, as it was better known, resembled an island tiki bar with its thatched roof and bamboo pillars. A wooden deck stretched out from underneath the straw roof and tapered off on to the soft beach sand.  Wooden tables and chairs stood on the deck, shaded by multi-colored umbrellas and a small marble counter had a few chairs in which patrons could sit while they waited for their order. The two girls each ordered a strawberry milkshake and grabbed a seat at the nearest table.

"So when is this pageant thing?" Shalin asked

"Tomorrow evening, at six. I'm so glad it's the last year that I can take part in Miss Blue Water Bay." Casey rolled her eyes. "Sixteen is the age limit for the pageant so I'm finally off of the hook." She said

"Oh, I'm sure your mom will find some other way to parade her beautiful daughter around," Shalin replied with an acid tone.

"It's not like that, Shalin. She's just proud that's all and I'm her only daughter and I'm growing up now." She shrugged and took a sip of her milkshake.

"Well, that could have been different." Shalin toyed with her straw, not looking at Casey.

"Uh, how is James doing?' Casey changed the subject, sensing dangerous territory.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I need you to come with me tonight." She said

"James landed a deejaying gig at The Slide Club down by the docks," Shalin said slowly.

"That's a strip club Shalin! There are naked women walking around there and who knows what else. We can't go there? She exclaimed.

"Exactly! I need you to come with me so I can check it out. I hate the idea of all those naked girls around my man." Shalin whined.

"I don't know Shalin, how am I even going to get in? They'll take one look at my under-aged ass and probably call the cops." She said exasperatedly.

"Come on, Casey please do this for me. You are my friend and only family. All I have is you and James. I just want to see for myself that there aren't any loose chicks hanging on him all night long." Shalin begged.

Shalin was known for her wild ideas but this was something else. She had never been in a club before, never mind a full-blown strip club. James' life dream was to be a Dee-Jay and Shalin supported him fully and would do absolutely anything for him, even if it meant dragging her underaged cousin to a strip club.

"Ok, Ok! What time and more importantly, what's the plan? Casey asked feeling that familiar little tug of excitement grow again.

"I am so glad you asked!" Shalin grinned and Casey twirled her straw in silence as she listened to the master plan unfold.