It had been intended as a joke. Just a one-off, see how he reacted type of thing. When Zoe and Sarah had realized that there wasn't room in Zoe's closet to put all of the things they'd bought, they started removing the surplus and putting it into a cardboard box. Sarah said it would be funny if Jon found it outside his room in the morning, so they wrote his name on it and left it for him to find. He was supposed to storm down the stairs that morning saying things like "what is the meaning of this?" and "take your damn clothes back to your room!"
But as Zoe watched her brother come down to breakfast, he was actually wearing one of her dresses.
Well, she supposed, it was one of his dresses now.
Black stretch cotton, five pearl buttons down the chest, a faux belt separating the bodice from the skirt, two tiers of ruffles that landed daintily around his knees... sure he was wearing jeans underneath it, but Zoe had to force herself to keep a straight face.
Jon was wearing her old stuff!
For her own part, Zoe was wearing new purchases from head to toe, starting with a white headband to hold back her jet-black hair, and a silver chain around her neck with a heart pendant that sat just-so on her chest. A white bodycon dress with lace detail on the collar sat under an orchid pink blazer, capped with matching pink sandals in a two-inch wedge. Zoe had gotten up early to make sure this outfit looked perfect, and to make sure she got downstairs before Jon. And it had been worth it.
Zoe was just finishing her breakfast when Jon entered the kitchen, which meant that she got to stand up and display her new look right as he walked through the door.
He was speechless.
Zoe didn't even give him time to say anything. She just picked up the white leather messenger bag that Sarah had bought to replace her backpack and stood up. Zoe noted to herself that with the jeans under his dress, Jon's outfit looked playful, almost innocent. But Zoe's... Zoe's outfit was mature. She paused briefly in front of him to fully appreciate this difference, and smiled right in his slack-jawed face before walking past him and out the door.
But as the door closed behind her, Zoe's entire demeanor fell. It was hard to keep up that Sarah act, but it was worth it. It was definitely worth it.
Zoe started laughing between exhausted pants, took a moment to collect herself, and texted Sarah to say she was ready to be picked up.
