The Ambush

I had changed my outfit. No more old, baggy hoodie. A loose, light red cotton blouse, jeans—casual but neat. Even underwear. Boring, really. But I wanted to make a statement. To emphasize that I didn't need to take my clothes off to win David over.

When I ran into her in the hallway, Lisa didn't say anything. But her eyes spoke volumes. She got the message. So I had won the morning. Take that, Lisa! I didn't need any dramatic gestures. No fake kisses without real feelings. (Why did I suddenly feel so warm when I thought about it?) All I had to do was be myself, and victory would be as good as mine.

I walked into the laundry room. The dryer was humming. I bent down to pull out the warm clothes and stacked them in the basket. Soft towels. One of David's undershirts. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings.

Then suddenly—a noise, very close behind me. A touch.

Before I could straighten up, fingers grabbed my waistband and opened the button. I gasped—and my jeans were around my knees. My panties too.

“What the hell—?!”

Lisa's laughter was right next to my ear.

“Oops,” she said. “I thought you'd had enough of getting naked in front of others. Or was that just an act?”

I spun around. I shouldn't have done that. My legs got tangled up in the denim hanging around my calves. Thud! I fell flat on my face. Outwardly, I was unharmed. But my pride was badly bruised. My cheeks burned.

He was there.

David. As if she had planned it. At the top of the stairs. His gaze was fixed on me—half-dressed, with a shocked expression on his face. He didn't seem to notice Lisa at all.

I tried to quickly pull up my jeans while lying down, my fingers fumbling awkwardly. It took forever.

Lisa? She didn't move. She didn't even say anything. She just smiled, smug and unmoved.

David opened his mouth—then turned around and walked away.

I scrambled to my feet, halfway dressed, my fists clenched, my heart pounding in my throat. I glared at Lisa furiously.

She tilted her head. Grinned. “Nice ass, by the way.”

Paff! Like a slap in the face. I didn't know what to say.

Lisa bent down, picked up the basket, and turned to leave. “I'll take David's things.”

I stared after her. This wasn't a game anymore. She had declared war on me.