Apparently not. Miranda wins, Nicole loses.

Why would you ever, for the slightest instant, assume Sarah's bullshit game would make things easy for you?

You quietly regulate your breathing, calm your thoughts, and keep a straight face as the girl you most want to see naked scoots across the carpet to the girl you absolutely do not want to see naked, prepared to inflict upon your sister the loser's agreed upon punishment. As Sarah cackles maniacally, you suppose you could at least be grateful that she didn't win the round. You don't feel grateful, but you could.

The winner and the loser both sport cherry-red blushes across their entire faces, like cartoon characters about to explode. "Um, shirt, right?" Miranda asks innocently, looking briefly at you to check for obvious disapproval. Your somewhat strained smile is enough to let her focus on the girl in front of her.

Nicole laughs nervously, a sad, squeaky sound. "It's all for the game!" she mumbles, trying to put her whole heart behind her words. "Er, but, yeah. Shirt."

Miranda takes hold of the red blouse's hem, but stops. "Are you comfortable with this game?" she asks.

Your heart flutters. Miranda's head is held low, looking up into Nicole's eyes as she seeks her approval to continue. Her pose, her beautiful voice, and her sweet demeanor all remind you why you're so enamored with her. Add to that the fact that you'll get to see her naked tonight, and you can barely think straight through the soft, warm fuzzy feeling in your head.

"Just nervous," Nicole assures her. "I've...never really done anything like this before. But, I'm having fun!"

"Fuck yeah, you are!" Sarah declares with a fist pump, accompanied by a distracting boob bounce. "You should break this one out at the next party you go to. Think you could get the juniors in on it?"

Nicole giggles, more enthusiastically this time, as Miranda sets to work on the buttons of her red blouse from top to bottom. "Maybe! I just might try."

As the buttons come undone, you quickly discover that your sister is wearing a white lace bra that matches her long-gone panties. Thankfully, Matt saves you from being the one to point it out.

"Feel free not to answer, Nicole," he says. "But is there someone you were hoping to impress with that lingerie?"

She merely shrugs, a mischievous smile dancing across her lips. "Maybe."

Sarah leans forward on her hands, careful not to hide her breasts as they hang straight down below her. "Jimmy? Or, wait, David? Or Ricardo?"

Nicole zips her mouth, locks it, and throws away the key. Sarah sighs exaggeratedly and flops down onto her back. You and Matt watch her tits flop with her as they lag just the tiniest split second behind.

"Al-most the-ere," Miranda sings. Her fingers reach the final button and deftly pop it out, leaving the blouse hanging open on Nicole's skinny torso. Miranda stands and walks around Nicole, who stretches her arms out behind herself. All eyes are glued to the pair as Miranda takes the shirt by the shoulders and slowly slides it off, until finally the younger girl's arms are bare. The blouse is added to the now huge pile of clothes, and Miranda settles calmly back into her spot on the floor.

"And with that," Nicole announces, "everyone's down to two pieces of clothing, yeah?" Her arms are folded under her breasts. They're much smaller than Sarah's, easily hidden by her bra. If Sarah's cleavage was a valley between two mountains, Nicole's was barely a gully between foothills. But her skin was smooth, her body was cute, and her face was playful and inviting. She's no Miranda, but she's beautiful in her own right. And she's right about the state of the game.

Sarah sits up, flashing a broad smile. "That's right! And the only..." She makes air quotes with her fingers. "...'safe options' left are my pants..." She points to you. "...your pants, and..." Her pointer turns to her boyfriend. "...his shirt. We're coming down to the wire!"

"Yeah." You swallow. You really are finally coming down to it. Soon, very soon, something's gotta give, and someone's gonna end up being the first to bare it all. You pick up the cards Matt dealt you.

It really, really won't be long now.