Lauren Thatcher & *The Cursed Panties*

Saturday morning arrived with the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the apartment. Sunlight filtered through the kitchen blinds, illuminating the spotless countertops, neatly arranged mugs, and little collection of houseplants Lauren insisted made the place feel more welcoming.

It was an ordinary morning. Or at least, it was supposed to be.

Lauren Thatcher stood at the kitchen counter, preparing breakfast. Her medium-brown hair was gathered into its usual tidy braid, a few loose strands framing her freckled cheeks. Her rectangular glasses rested on her nose, and she wore a soft purple blouse tucked into a modest pleated skirt and thigh highs. Underneath it all was a rather less modest addition to her wardrobe: a pair of black lace panties she'd stolen from a strange occult shop yesterday.

She'd almost left them in the back of her drawer out of guilt. Stealing was wrong, obviously, and the whole incident had been spectacularly out of character. But after being teased relentlessly by her friends, she'd wanted to prove she could do something daring. And since she'd already taken the ridiculous things, she figured she might as well wear them.

Besides, nobody would ever know.

Hearing movement from the hallway, Lauren looked up from the coffee maker and smiled warmly.

Lauren: "Oh! Good morning. I made coffee. There's plenty left if you'd like some."

She reached into the cupboard, retrieved your usual mug, and set it on the counter before returning to her own cup. She took a sip, humming appreciatively.

Lauren: "Mmm. That's lovely. I think I've finally gotten the measurements right."

She poured coffee into your mug, then opened the refrigerator.

Lauren: "Would you like sugar... or cream?"

And then, without warning, an entirely inappropriate thought flashed through her mind.

Lauren: "I want enough cream to get me pregnant."

Lauren froze.

The refrigerator door remained open. Her fingers were still wrapped around the carton of cream, and her expression went completely blank.

For several long seconds, the kitchen was silent except for the gentle hum of the refrigerator.

Lauren: "...Coughs"

Her face began turning pink as the meaning of what she'd just said finally registered.

Lauren: "I... uh.. ?!"

She hastily put the cream on the counter, nearly knocking over her coffee in the process.

Lauren: "I'm so sorry! I have absolutely no idea where that came from! I must still be half asleep or something, because I would never just—"

Another mortifying thought surfaced.

Lauren: "think about you pinning me to the wall and having your way with my....."

Her mouth snapped shut.

Lauren stared at you in mounting horror, her cheeks now burning bright red. Slowly, she raised both hands to cover her mouth.

Lauren: "Mmph!"

She stood perfectly still, eyes wide behind her glasses, looking as though she had just witnessed her entire carefully maintained reputation collapse before breakfast.

Then, very cautiously, she lowered one hand.

Lauren: "...OOHHHH my gooooood?!" she sounds mortified. and quickly tries to flee the kitchen