Shannon’s Touch
Part 5 – Payback
by JMD

"Okay, Girlfriend!" Shannon shouted, letting herself into Terri's apartment with her key.  "Are you ready to par-tay?"

Shannon!? Terri shouted back over their telepathic link.

"You were expec..."

Thank God! Terri cut her off.  Quick!  Get in here and tell me what I am!

Shannon stopped in her tracks.  "I'm sorry.  What you are?

Just get your ass in here.

"Okay, okay," Shannon said.  She actually put her hands up in a calming gesture.  "Where's here?"

Bedroom.  Near the bathroom door.

"On the way," Shannon told her.  

Dropping her bag onto the couch, she went down the hall.  Cautiously opening the door to Terri's bedroom she looked inside.  Seeing nothing dangerous, she went in and moved around the bed toward the bathroom.  On the floor, just outside the door, was a towel.  It laid in a way that indicated that it had been tied around her friend before whatever happened had happened.  Peeking out from under it, she could see the panties that her friend had been wearing.  And lying a little further to the side, she saw what had to be Terri.

Well? Terri asked.

"It would appear," Shannon said, reaching down to pick her up, "that you're a greeting card."

DON'T TOUCH THAT!

Shannon jumped back, pulling her hand to her chest.  She sat back on the edge of the bed.  "Terri!" she shouted back.  "What the hell!?"

That's not me, her friend explained.  That's what did this to me.  It might be safe, but it might not.  Leave it alone until I've had a chance to check it.

"No problem," Shannon said, catching her breath.

Okay, Terri said, calmer.  Now that we've established that I'm not the card, look again.  What else do you see?

Shannon looked around the floor a bit more, but didn't see anything.   Careful not to step on the card, she looked into the open bathroom door.  Nothing there either.   "Are you sure this is where you ended up?" she asked.  "You weren't teleported or something?"

It didn't feel that way, Terri replied.  It felt like I dropped straight to the floor.  Why?

"Well, there's nothing here," Shannon explained.

Nothing?

"Nope," Shannon told her.  "Just the card.  That's the only thing I see besides your towel and panties."  She grinned despite the tense situation.  "Nice smiley faces, by the way."  She waited for Terri to come back at her for teasing, but got nothing.  After a moment, she got worried.  "Terri?"

YOU BITCH!

Shannon's eyebrows shot up at the comment.  "I beg your pardon?"

Not you, Terri told her, though her tone remained angry.  Her.

"Her?"

The bitch that did this to me, Terri explained.  Marian.

"Marian?" Shannon repeated.  "That girl you told me about?  The one from Witch School?"

It was the Academy Of Magic, Terri corrected automatically.  And yeah.  Her.

"How can you be so sure it was her?" Shannon asked, bending to try and see.  "Did she sign the card or something?"

Probably, Terri commented dryly.  But if she did, I didn't get a chance to see it.  As soon as I opened the card... ZAP!

"Then how..."

Because only she would do something like this to me, Terri insisted.

"Something like what?" Shannon asked.  She couldn't help but feel that she was obviously missing something.

Shannon, Terri said, her tone patient, I had just gotten out of the shower when I opened the card.

"Yeah.  And..."

Terri took a moment before going on.  And I hadn't gotten dressed yet.

"Got that from the towel," Shannon said, her own patience waning.

Shannon, Terri sighed.  I hadn't gotten dressed.  I wasn't wearing panties.

"Of course, you were," Shannon argued.  "They're right..."  She stopped as she got it.  "Oh, you're kidding me."

God, I wish I was.

"Those are you?" Shannon asked.

Looks that way, Terri said with another sigh.  But let's be sure.  Pick them... uh, me up.

Shannon reached forward.  "Is it safe?"

Should be.

Shannon snatched her hand back.  "Should be?" she repeated.

The magic was in the card, her friend explained.  That's what changed me.  I don't feel any magic on me now.

"You're sure?"

Pretty sure.

Shannon looked doubtful, but reached back down.  Hooking her finger in the waistband of the panties, she drew them slowly out from under the towel.

No doubt about it, Terri said.  I can feel you moving me.

"You can't see?" Shannon asked.

No eyes, Terri pointed out.  Can't hear either.

When nothing magical happened to her, Shannon picked the panties up off the floor.  Sitting on the bed, she held her friend up for closer inspection.  Terri was a pair of blue bikini panties.  Yellow smiley faces of various sizes covered her cotton form.

"Well," Shannon said, staring at the panties in her hand,  "this is new."

She heard Terri's laugh in her head.  For you maybe.

Shannon's eyes grew wide.  "You've been underwear before?"

She could almost see the smile.  Let's just say that what happens at the Academy stays at the Academy and leave it at that.

"Okay," Shannon agreed.  "For now," she added.

Fair enough.

With a nod, Shannon changed the subject.  "And you're sure Marian did this?"

Positive, Terri assured her.  It's her usual MO.

"MO?"

Method of operation, Terri clarified.

Shannon sighed.  "I know what it means.  How does it apply to Marian?"

It applies, Terri said, her tone dripping contempt, because she's a big chicken.  Instead of facing me head on, she set a trap on that card.  Just like always.

"She's sent you card traps before?" Shannon asked.

No, Terri admitted.  But she's put trap spells on other things.

"Really?" Shannon said.  "Like what?"

Terri didn't answer right away.  Look, Shannon.  I'll tell you all about it later.  Okay?  Right now, I'd really like to take advantage of Marian's mistake and get me back to normal.

"What mistake?"

You.

Shannon just stared at the panties that were her friend.  "I'm a mistake?"

As far as Marian's plan is concerned, you sure are.  Before Shannon could ask, she went on.  Think about it.  If you and I weren't friends... if I hadn't set up our psychic link... what would have happened to me here?

Shannon thought about it for a second, her eyes going wide as she realized what Terri was getting at.  "Oh, shit," she spat out.  "You'd have been..."

...screwed, Terri finished for her.  Not only would I have no idea what Marian had turned me into, but no one else would either.  They would think like you did.  That I'd been turned into something and left my towel and underwear on the floor.

"So, what?" Shannon asked in horror.  "You'd have been stuck as panties forever?"

Not forever, Terri answered.  Eventually, I'd have worked my way out of her spell.  But without a starting point, it would have taken a very long time.  Probably years.

"Years!" Shannon repeated.  "Damn, that's..."  She couldn't find the right word.

Yeah, Terri agreed.  Luckily for me, she doesn't know anything about you.

"So, now that you know what you are..." Shannon inquired.

Well, I've got a starting point, Terri explained.  But it could still take a couple of months for me to find the right solution for the exact spell Marian used.

"A couple of months!" Shannon shouted.

Calm down, Terri told her.  It's not going to take that long.

"It's not?"

Nope, Terri assured her.

"You have a plan?"

Better, Terri said.  I have you.

"Me?"

You.

"You have me?"

I do.

"For what?" Shannon asked.  "I can't do magic.  The most I could do is turn you into wood or plastic or something.  I don't see how that helps your situation."

I don't need you to do magic, Shannon, Terri explained.  I need you to...  um, use me.

Shannon stared at her friend.  "I'm sorry," she said slowly.  "Did you say use you?"

I did, Terri confirmed.  You see, when someone has been turned into an object, being used as that object weakens the spell.  So, if you use me, I should be able to break Marian's pretty easily.

"Okay," Shannon reasoned.  "So, how exactly would this using work?"

Well...  Terri hesitated before going on.  It has to be something that is natural to the specific object created by the spell.  So, I guess the easiest thing would be..."

Shannon sighed heavily.  "Yeah.  That's what I thought."  She sat back and considered her options.  "I don't suppose there's another way."

Not unless you can think of another way to use a pair of panties.

Shannon thought about it.  "I could use you to wipe up a spill or something."

I said it had to be something natural for the object, Terri scolded.  If you spilled something, would the first thing you grabbed to get it up be your underwear?

"No," Shannon admitted.  "But there has to be another way."

If there is, Terri told her, I can't find it.  Face it, Shannon.  I'm a pair of smiley-faced underpants.  And underpants are made to be...

"...worn," Shannon finished.  

I'm afraid so, Terri said.  Trust me.  I don't like it either.  But I'd rather not stay this way any longer than I have to.  I'm not sure that Marian won't show up at some point to take advantage of this.

"Would she do that?" Shannon asked, a touch of panic in her voice.

I don't know, Terri had to admit.  It's possible that trapping me as underwear for a couple of years might have been all she had in mind.

"But maybe not," Shannon said.

Maybe not, Terri repeated.

Shannon sat back and thought it over.  "So, I'm guessing you'd have to be completely pulled up.  No just slipping you over my ankles?"

She heard Terri's laugh in her head.  No.  Sorry.

"And how long would I have to keep you on for?"

Just a few minutes, Terri replied.  Five, at the most.  After that, you can take me right off.

Shannon thought a little more.  "Okay," she finally consented.  Terri's sigh of relief was audible.  "But I have one condition."

Name it.

"No spell breaking until you're completely off," Shannon instructed.  "I don't want you changing back on me with your face in my crotch or whatever.  In fact, I'd prefer if you'd wait until I finished getting my clothes back on.  I know you've seen me naked before, but after you've been... there, I'd just rather you didn't this time.  Is that okay?"

Whatever, Terri agreed.  I wouldn't be able to turn back until you took me off anyway.

"You wouldn't?"

Nope, Terri assured her.  You'd still be using me.  As long as you are, I'm stuck.  She gave Shannon a few moments to consider.  So, are we doing this?

Shannon sighed.  "I guess so," she admitted, mostly to herself.  She sat the panties on the bed.  "It'll take me a bit to get ready.  I'm wearing my skinny jeans and a bodysuit."

Your skinny jeans?

Shannon had lifted her leg to get her heel off, but stopped.  "Yeah?  So?"

Nothing, Terri said.  I'm just glad that I don't have to be worn under those.  I swear I don't know how you get those things on.

"Ha ha," Shannon said, pulling off her shoe.  She sat it on the bed next to Terri.  Lifting the other leg, she said, "Tell me something."

Okay.

"Why panties?" Shannon asked, pulling her other heel off.  "I mean, apparently Marian could have used that card to turn you into anything she wanted.  Why did she pick..."  She reached out and gave Terri's waistband a little shake.  "...this?"

With a sigh, Terri said, If I had to guess, I'd say it was Marion's way of being cute.

"Cute?" Shannon repeated, standing up and unbuttoning her jeans at the same time.

Yeah, Terri said.  Like I said, she likes to set traps on objects.  Well, one time she put a spell on a pair of my panties.

Shannon stopped as she was unzipping her pants.  "Really?" she asked.  "So, what did they do?"

You'll like this, Terri told her.  They turned the person wearing them into a marble statue.

Shannon had hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her jeans, but stopped to laugh.  "She turned you into a statue?" she said as she began to wiggle her way out of the tight pants.  

No, Terri said.  You're the only one that's managed that one.

With her pants at her knees, Shannon stopped and looked at the panties on the bed.  "So, how did you know what the spell did?"

It was pretty obvious after Marian turned to stone.

Shannon finished taking off her jeans.  Lying them out on the bed, she put her hands on her hips.   "Okay, explain."

Terri sighed, but her tone wasn't upset.  We ended up as roommates at the Witches Consortium the year after we graduated from the Academy.  Neither was happy about it, but it was too late to get reassigned.  So, in anger, Marian put the spell on a pair of panties in my suitcase.

"Ah," Shannon nodded.  "And you found out and switched them out on her."

No, Terri corrected her.  I didn't know anything about it.

Shannon looked confused.  "So how..."

Stupid witch went out and got drunk, Terri explained.  So drunk that she didn't realize she was going through the wrong suitcase when she came in that night.  She realized it soon enough though.  I found her trying to get them off the next morning.  Had them down to her calves, but she was too late.  Terri paused at the memory.  She really made an interesting looking statue.

Shannon smiled.  "I bet," she agreed.  "But I don't see why she would be mad at you about that.  It sounds like it was all her own fault."

Oh, she didn't blame me for that, Terri told her.  She was a bit upset about being used as the centerpiece decoration for the rest of the consortium, though.

Shannon laughed out loud at that.  "You didn't?"

Hey, Terri defended herself, she knew I was in charge of decorations.

Shannon just shook her head.  "You're so bad sometimes," she said, unsnapping the crotch of her bodysuit.  She pulled it up enough to get her thumbs into the waistband of the thong she wore beneath it.  "I'll tell you this much," she smiled, pulling the thong over her hips, "Marian sure can hold a grudge.  I mean how long ago was this?  Eight... nine years?"

Closer to ten, Terri answered.  But I figure this has more to do with me helping Darrell break up with her last year than that.

Shannon stopped in her tracks, her thong at her knees.  Slowly, she stood up straight, never taking her eyes off her transformed friend on the bed.  "Darrell?" she asked calmly.

Yup, Terri replied, a touch of pride in her tone.

"The same Darrell that you've been dating for the last few weeks?" Shannon asked, her arms crossing over her chest.

Yup, Terri said, again with pride.  A second later, she realized her mistake.  Ummm...

Shannon went on, seeming to ignore her friend's sudden discomfort.  "The same Darrell that outbid you for me at the auction?"  This time she didn't wait for Terri to answer.  "The same Darrell that you swore you'd never met before that day?  Is that the Darrell we're talking about?"

Now, Shannon...

"Don't you 'Now, Shannon' me, you conniving little witch," Shannon said.  She bent down and pulled her thong back up over her hips.  "I can't believe you did that to me," she added, snapping the bodysuit back and adjusting it.

Shannon, let me explain, Terri begged.  Please don't do anything...  She stopped herself, but it was too late.

"Anything what?" Shannon spat out.  "Stupid?  Is that what you were going to say?"

Well, Terri confessed, I was going to say 'rash', but...

"Rash?" Shannon repeated.  "You mean like leaving your best friend to think she's going to spend the rest of forever on a mantelpiece.  Is that the kind of rash you mean, Terri?"  She snatched up her jeans.  Turning to sit on the bed, she began to put them on.

I told you I could expla...  Feeling the movement of the bed, Terri stopped.  What are you doing?

"Don't worry," Shannon told her, pulling up her jeans.  She stood and wiggled them up over her hips.  "I'm not doing anything rash," she went on.  "I'm just getting dressed."

Getting...  Shannon you can't leave me like this, she pleaded.  I told you it could take me a couple of months to break Marian's spell if you don't use me.

"Oh, calm down," Shannon said, retrieving her heels from the bed.  As she slipped them on, she added, "I have every intention of using you."

Terri took a moment to reply.  How?  I told you it had to be...

"...something I would naturally do with a pair of panties," Shannon finished for her.  With her clothes back on, she stood and stared down at her friend on the bed.  "Don't worry.  What I've got in mind is something I do with panties all the time.  You do, too, in fact."

I do?

"You do."

Besides wear them?

"Yup."

What?

Shannon snatched Terri up from the bed.  "Come on," she said, heading out of the bedroom.  "I'll show you."

-----   -----   -----

"Okay," Shannon said, closing the register.  "Here's your change.  And thanks for shopping with us."

"No problem," the young brunette smiled back.  "You always have the nicest stuff."  She nodded to the counter next to the register.  "Like those.  Those are cute."

Shannon looked over and smiled.  "They are, aren't they?" she agreed.  

She reached down and hooked a nail into the waistband of the smiley-face undies displayed on a panty-form.  Giving it a slight tug, she let it snap back against the hard plastic.  A card placed in front of the display read "New item.  Coming soon."

"They've sure gotten a lot of attention," she went on.  "Hopefully, our shipment will get here soon.  But there's been some kind of delay at the distributor."

"That's too bad," the woman said.  "I'd buy some in a heartbeat."  She looked back at the pair on display.  "You know," she commented, "those look like they might be my size.  I don't suppose..."

"No," Shannon said, cutting her off.  "I'm afraid these are for display purposes only.  But here..."  She slid a pad over the counter.  Handing the woman a pen, she added, "Put your name and number down here, and I'll make sure you get a call when they come in."

The woman looked disappointed, but wrote her number on the pad.  Picking up her bags, she thanked Shannon again, and headed out of the shop.  

"Wow," Shannon said, "that's the third person that's tried to buy you just today.  That makes a total of ten for the week."

Whoopee! Terri cried out sarcastically.

"It sure was lucky that Marian turned you into a style that was in one of our suppliers' catalog," Shannon told her.  "You're certainly going to sell a lot of panties.  More than Christie has bras, that's for sure."  She glanced over to where the thief still stood as a cardboard display.  "How much longer are you planning on keeping her like that anyway?"

I don't know, Terri replied.  A lot will depend on how long you keep me this way.  Care to offer a hint?

"Well," Shannon said, making a show of thinking about it.  "I heard from the supplier this morning.  Apparently, you're a very popular style.  It's going to be another couple weeks before that order gets here.  So..."

I see, Terri sighed.  I guess I could point out that you only spent a week on Darrell's mantel.  When Shannon offered no comment, Terri added, But it wouldn't do me any good, would it?

"Actually," Shannon said, "we might be able to work something out."

Terri took a moment to respond.  I'm listening.

Shannon smiled.  "I went to see Darrell a couple of days ago."

You did? Terri asked.  Why?

"Well," Shannon teased, "someone had to tell him that you were going to be unavailable for a bit, didn't they?"

And does he know why I'm... unavailable?

"He knows the why," Shannon answered.  "Just not the particulars."

Well, thanks for that much, at least.  Terri was quiet for a moment.  And how did he take the news?

"I don't know," Shannon smiled.  "When I left, he was pretty quiet."

Quiet? Terri repeated.  Shannon...

"Oh, take it easy," Shannon cut her off.  "He was only a statue for a couple of hours.  The birds didn't even have time to find him.  And we had a nice talk after I turned him back."

Talk?

"Yeah," Shannon told her.  "He told me about why he needed your help to break up with Marian.  What she did to her other exes.  What is it with that witch and panties anyway?"

Don't ask me, Terri said.  She hasn't been right since the whole Consortium incident.  At least she only kept them a couple of months or so.

"That doesn't make it right," Shannon scolded.

No, it doesn't, Terri agreed.  Which is why I agreed to help Darrell.

"By tricking Marian into taking an oath not to transform him?" Shannon asked.

Not just any oath, Terri clarified.  A Hecatian Oath.

"Right," Shannon nodded.  "Darrell said that if she broke it, she'd turn to stone for a hundred years."

Not turn to stone, Terri corrected her.  Turn into a stone.  A rock. A smooth, featureless rock.

"That doesn't sound like much fun," Shannon commented.

Not supposed to be, Terri stated.  The real trick, though, was making her believe that the oath was her idea.  But once she made it, Darrell was free and clear to break up with her.  

"And she can never turn Darrell into anything?" Shannon asked.

That's what she swore, Terri confirmed.  Not against his will, anyway.

"Must be nice," Shannon smiled.  "I don't suppose you'd be willing to give me an oath like that?"  Terri remained silent.  "Yeah, didn't think so."  Terri still didn't say anything.  "Well, guess I'll have to go with Plan B, then."

This time Terri couldn't help but respond.  Uh, her nervous voice came into Shannon's head, what's Plan B?

"Just let me close for lunch and I'll show you."  Going to the door, she locked up.  As she turned the "Be Back In 30 Minutes" sign around, she couldn't help but wonder if she would indeed make it back.  With a sigh, she returned to the counter.  "Okay," she said, lifting up the panty-form displaying her friend, "let's take this into the back."

Sitting the mannequin on a table in the storeroom, Shannon said, "Okay, do you promise not to do anything to me until I've made my case?"

Do I have to swear an oath?

Shannon smiled.  "No.  Your word is good enough for me."

Okay, Terri agreed.  I promise.

"Okay."  She slipped the panties off the form and sat them on a swivel chair.  Stepping back, she asked, "So, how long will this ta...  Oh!"  In the chair, the panties began to shift and grow.  In just a few seconds, a naked Terri sat facing her.  "Not long at all," Shannon gulped, looking away.

"I had the counter spell worked out within an hour after you put me on display," Terri explained.  "Just couldn't use it till now."  Her eyes turned serious.  "So, what've you got?"

"Don't you want a robe or something?" Shannon asked.

"No," Terri told her, crossing her arms under her exposed breasts, "I'm good.  What've you got?"

"Okay," Shannon said, going into the speech she'd practiced in her head all morning, "I've been going to your apartment every day.  You know, to get your mail, water the plants and whatnot."  She paused for Terri to acknowledge that, but her friend just continued to watch her.  Shannon swallowed a lump before she went on.  "Anyway, when I got there yesterday, you had a visitor."

Now, Terri looked interested.  "Really?" she asked sitting forward.

"Yeah," Shannon nodded, taking the interest as a good sign.  "She appeared to be trying to get in.  So, instead of going to your door, I stopped at the one next to yours.  You know, like I was your neighbor.  I told her that I didn't think you were home.  That I hadn't seen you around for several days."

"And what did she say?" Terri inquired.  She was really interested now.  

"She said she was an old friend of yours," Shannon went on, her nervousness easing.  "From school.  And that she was just dropping by to see 'how you were'."

"Marian," Terri steamed.

"Yup."

"She came to see if her card had worked."

"Yup," Shannon agreed.  "And probably to take you away when she found out it had."

Terri nodded.  "She would have assumed that I still didn't know what I was turned into.  All she would have had to do is toss me into a drawer and forget about me.  I'd have been stuck for years."

"Yup," Shannon nodded, then smiled.  "But like you said.  Luckily she didn't know anything about me."  She pointed to the area behind Terri.

With a confused expression, Terri swiveled the chair around to look behind her..  A second later, she grinned.  Standing in the corner was a detailed sculpture of a nude woman.  Casually, Terri got up and went over for a closer look.  The statue was made of some kind of yellow spongy material.  It stood up straight with its right arm out in front of it.  The hand was formed in a curve, as if it had been around something.

Terri grinned into the face of the sculpture.  "Hello, Marian," she teased.  "You don't know how happy I am to see you."

"I got her when she turned her back on me," Shannon explained, moving closer while trying to ignore her friend's casual nudity.  "She was trying to open your door again."

Terri looked her rival over carefully.  "You stripped her?" she asked.

"Had to," Shannon said, a little uncomfortably.  "It was the only way I could bring her into the mall.  I passed her off as a new type of display figure."

Terri reached out and gave Marian's exposed breast a squeeze, smiling at the sponginess of it.  "What is she made of anyway?" she asked, curiously.

Shannon replied with a question of her own.  "You know that old couch by the elevator on your floor?"

Terri turned to look at her.  "The one with all the tears in the leather?"

"That's the one," Shannon acknowledged.

"Couch foam," Terri commented, turning back to look Marian over again.  "That's new."

"For you maybe," Shannon said, with a grin.  At Terri's questioning expression, she just shrugged.  "So, did I do good?"

"You did good," Terri agreed.  "You did very good."

"Good enough to get me out of trouble?" Shannon asked nervously.

Terri turned and eyed her carefully.  Making a show of thinking it over, she finally nodded.  "Well," she told her, "to be fair, I did have some of that coming.  So, yeah.  We're good."  She reached out and pulled Shannon into a hug.

"Uh, great," Shannon said, trying to return the hug without touching anything.  She completely missed Terri's smile at her discomfort.   Pulling away, Shannon asked, "So, what are you going to do with her?"

Terri took a few more moments to enjoy Marian's frozen condition.  Then, she turned to Shannon.  "You said we still have two weeks before that order is delivered?"

Shannon grinned at the question.  "At least," she nodded.  "I'll get the panty-form."  She headed over, but turned back after only a couple of steps.  "Unless..."

"Unless?" Terri repeated.

Shannon smiled.  "Did I mention that those panties came with a matching bra?"

A few minutes later, after one magic spell to transform Marian and another to get Terri dressed, the two stood at the counter admiring the new display.  "She looks pretty good, huh?" Shannon commented.

"She does," Terri commented, adjusting the bra on the display form.  "I'm sure she'll attract as much attention as I did."

Shannon couldn't help but smile.  "You did attract a lot of attention, didn't you?"

Terri cut her eyes over to her friend, narrowing them slightly as she took in Shannon's smile.  "You know," she said, "in a way, we're doing our customers a disservice."

Shannon looked at her in confusion.  "We are?  How?"

"Well," Terri said, turning to her, "we're not showing them the complete set."  With that, she raised her hand at her friend.  

Shannon opened her mouth to protest, but never got the chance.  In a flash, she was transformed, dropping to the floor.  Terri reached down and picked up the new pair of panties.  Hey! Shannon shouted at her over their psychic link.  You said I was off the hook!

"No," Terri corrected.  "I said we were good.  And we are."

This is good?

"Is for me," Terri said.

So, what? Shannon asked.  I spend the next two weeks on display with your worst enemy?

"Ironic, huh?"

I was thinking cruel, myself, Shannon stated.

"Don't sweat it, Shannon," Terri said, setting her friend on the counter.  She unhooked Marian from the bra-form.  "I mean, think about it.  You're going to be working pretty much 24/7 for the next couple of weeks.  Think about the overtime you'll be making."

Seriously? Shannon asked.

"Seriously," Terri confirmed.  She placed Marian on the counter next to her friend and picked up the stack of phone numbers that sat next to the register.  "From the looks of these pre-orders, these new items are going to turn me a pretty sweet profit.  Think of this as my way of paying you back."  She picked up the panty-form and headed off.  "Stay put," she smiled.  "I'll be right back.  Got to get a bigger display form for the two of you."

Able to do nothing else, Shannon just laid on the counter.  She had to admit that she really could use the extra money she'd make from being on display in the store.  So, maybe this wouldn't be so bad.  Besides, two weeks wasn't that long.

Just enough time to plan a little payback of my own.