"Thanks for the ride, Tom," Flora said as they pulled up in front of Lindsey's house.
"No problem," he nodded. "Picking you up from tutoring is on my way home from work. And Flora, I really wish you would call me Dad."
"But you're not my dad." She grabbed her bag and opened the passenger door. "You're my step-dad."
"Fine," he frowned, annoyed as always, but not taking the bait. "There won't be any boys at this sleepover, right?"
"No boys, like I already told you." She rolled her eyes. "Just Lindsey and Alexis. We're gonna watch horror movies."
"Alright, have a good time. Be home by dinner tomorrow."
As he drove away, she resisted the urge to flip him off. So controlling! She couldn't wait to move out.
"Flora!" Lindsey's cheerful voice calling from the doorway snapped her out of it.
They hugged and made their way into the kitchen. Alexis waved hello, and standing nearby was Lindsey's big brother, Casey. He lifted his chin in greeting.
Flora couldn't help but notice how cute he was. Scruffy stubble and hair just long enough to run your hands through. He was wearing athletic shorts with a ringer tee, and his forearms were covered in tattoos.
"Mom and Dad are visiting Grandma," Lindsey said, "and won't be home until tomorrow. They left money for food. I
tried
to convince Casey to buy us beer, but he got pizza instead."
"It's good pizza," he shrugged.
"Ugh!" Lindsey huffed. "What good is having an older brother if he won't hook you up? Why don't you just move out?"
"Do you have any idea how expensive rent is?" he scoffed. "Until my boss brings me on full-time at the shop, I can't afford it."
"You're the worst."
"Eat your pizza," he laughed.
As they stood around eating and chatting, Flora became aware of Casey's eyes on her. She met his gaze. He looked puzzled.
He gestured at all of their outfits. Lindsey and Alexis were dressed in casual clothes, but Flora was still in her school uniform: White button-up shirt, plaid skirt, matching tie, and knee socks.
"Why are you wearing a Catholic schoolgirl uniform? Are you in a play or something?"
"Because she goes to Catholic school, dumbass," Lindsey answered.
"Oh." He still looked confused. "I thought you all went to school together?"
"We did last year," Flora said, "but I transferred to St. Mary's for senior year."
"That all-girls school? Why?"
"Because she was too big a slut!" Lindsey crowed. Casey looked intrigued.
"Shut up!" Flora blushed and swatted Lindsey's arm. "They have a good art program, and it'll help me get into university."
"Good art program, but no guys?" Alexis shook her head. "Hard pass."
"You're into art?" Casey asked. "That's cool."
Flora smiled, but before she could reply, Lindsey interrupted.
"You're into art?" she repeated in a mocking tone. "Is that how you flirt? Awkward!"
"I wasn't flirting," he protested.
"Sure," Lindsey scoffed. "Keep it in your pants. Let's start the movie."
In the living room, Flora settled on the sofa with the girls, while Casey flopped into an oversized beanbag off to one side. Lindsey picked the movie, the latest installment of a long-running series about a charismatic serial killer and the detective trying to nail him.
Flora was feeling restless, and kept shifting position. Crossing her legs, uncrossing them, tucking them up under her, dropping them back down. Sometimes, after a long day at school without enough physical activity, she had a hard time sitting still.
Alexis and Lindsey were giggling about something when Flora realized she was being watched. She looked at Casey, who quickly glanced away. A few minutes later, it happened again, and just like before, he turned away when she noticed him looking.
She suppressed a smile. It wasn't hard to figure out what was going on. From his spot on the beanbag, she was pretty sure he could see up her skirt. Not that she minded the attention from her friend's cute older brother. She'd noticed him discreetly checking her out a few times in the past, but nothing this overt.
Deciding to toy with him a bit, she subtly parted her legs a bit wider in his direction. Watching out of the corner of her eye, she was pleased to see him linger a bit longer the next time he looked. Some guys had a fetish for school uniforms, she knew. If she'd thought Casey was one of them, she wouldn't have changed before coming over the last few times.
Heart pounding, she hitched her skirt up a bit higher. She wished she was wearing sexier underwear, but judging by the growing lack of subtlety on his part, it wasn't a problem. He couldn't stop peeking, and every time he did, she grew a little more excited.
Of course, she'd have to do something soon. So far, the others had no idea, but if he kept being so obvious, they were bound to notice. If Lindsey spotted him, she'd react loudly, and give him no end of grief for creeping on her friends. One thing was certain, he would stop looking, and Flora didn't want that.
The next time he turned his head, she was waiting, and caught his eye. He winced guiltily.
"What is it?" She silently mouthed the question, pretending she didn't know why he was glancing at her.
He shrugged and directed his attention back to the TV.
It was several minutes before he worked up the nerve to peek again. Once more, she met his gaze, questioning with a bit more insistence. He looked nervous, but before he could turn away, she held up a finger.
"You, come with me, now," she mouthed, gesturing at him, then herself, then the hall. He nodded. She walked around the corner, out of sight of the couch, and a moment later, he followed, hands clasped awkwardly in front of himself.
"What do you think you're doing?" she hissed, poking him in the chest and trying not to laugh. "Your sister's going to see you!"
"What?" he protested quietly. "I wasn't doing anything!"
"Dude, you were looking straight up my skirt. Admit it, or I'll yell for your sister."
She opened her mouth as if to call Lindsey, and he frantically gestured for her to stop.
"Okay, okay, you're right! I'm sorry, it just kinda happened."
"It just kinda happened? Over and over?" She struggled not to grin. "You can't keep your eyes off me!"
"No, I mean, the first time it happened by accident, I swear. I shouldn't have kept looking. I'm sorry."
"You're such a perv," she whispered triumphantly. "Why were you looking up my skirt anyway? I thought you had a girlfriend?"
"We broke up. It's, um, been a while. When I caught a glimpse of your panties, I got kinda excited."
"I can see that. You clearly have a boner."
"Shit!" He frantically tried to conceal the erection tenting his shorts.
"You know, if you can't keep your eyes to yourself, you should at least learn to be more subtle. It's a good thing Lindsey didn't notice, she would've flipped out."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry." He glanced nervously in the direction of the living room.
"Lucky for you, I don't mind so much."
"What?" His eyes snapped back to her in disbelief.
"I mean, you're still a pervert," she whispered, "but it is kinda hot."
"For real?" He relaxed as she nodded, biting her finger.
A loud sting of music sounded from the living room, making Lindsey and Alexis squeal in surprise, then erupt in laughter.
"In that case," he whispered with growing boldness, "would you let me see them?"
"Let you see? That's so naughty," she grinned, fidgeting with her hemline. "But I guess it wouldn't hurt to give you a peek. Since you want to see them so bad."
Slowly, she raised her skirt to reveal a simple pair of white and blue striped cotton briefs. Despite their plainness, he stared, eyes wide.
