My mom opened my bedroom door and stood there, staring at me.

"What?" I asked self consciously, scooting back farther on my bed.

"I want to go out," she said happily and I had to resist a scowl.

"S-sure. Where do you want to go?" I asked. My mom was usually distant and her asking to do something with me was weird.

"Shopping and maybe some dinner? I need to find another pantsuit. Samantha has a business trip to Oregon. She wants me to go."

Samatha was the businesswoman my mom worked for. She was her assistant.

"How long are you going to be gone? When are you leaving?" I asked. Unlike most people, I wasn't exactly excited my mom was leaving. She was never really in my business.

"This Tuesday." It was Sunday. "And two weeks," she said, smiling. "It'll feel good to get me out of your hair."

You were never in it.

I laughed. "Yeah. I'll get ready."

-

My mom went all out today and drove an hour out of town to go to the huge outdoor mall.

When we got there my mom handed me fifty dollars. "Go on your own and get something." She smiled sweetly.

I was gaping like a fish. "Mom it's okay really. I can just look around with you."

Her smile faltered. "I'm serious. Go. I know what I need so it won't be much fun."

I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah. Okay. See you later." I got out of the car pissed. I wasn't even sure why she brought me today.

I walked around the huge mall aimlessly for about twenty minutes before I went in a Victoria's Secret. I had been staring at the same bra for like ten minutes.

"Hi, my names Holly!" A worker said enthusiastically. "Did you need help with anything today?"

"Oh, um, no. I'm okay, thank you." I tried to walkway but she was persistent.

"Really! Lingerie sets are on sale right now!" Her smile was so convincing I said yes.

Next thing I knew, I was in a pink dressing room trying on sexy lingerie.

I bit my lip as I stared at myself in the mirror. Black lace. I twirled around.

It was similar to...Natalies. I cringed, remembering our awful interaction with each other.

I did another twirl. Although I wasn't very found of her, maybe I could pull of this set like she did.

I did some poses, sticking my butt out, pushing my dd boobs up to look bigger.

I let out a noise of surprise when someone knocked on the door.

"Parker? It's Holly. How do you like the set? Need it bigger, smaller?"

"No, it's perfect," I said. "I'll take it."

Combined with my moms money and mine, I bough the set.

I also sat by myself on a bench for almost an hour when my mom called.

"Meet me back at the car, yeah?" She sounded breathless. "That took longer than expected. They didn't have my size in the royal blue, had to go for peach."

I hummed. "Alright. See you there."

"Fun, right?" My mom asked me when we were in the car.

I nodded. "Yeah."

She didn't even ask about the large pink bag in my hand.

-

"Sweetie?" My mom called later that night. I paused the tv show I was watching in the living room. "Samatha messed up with our flights...I'm going over to her condo tonight and leaving for the airport tomorrow morning."

I felt my heart drop. "Yeah, no, I get it." I put on a smile. "Go." I didn't bother say what I really thought.

She smiled and came over and hugged me. It was so quick I didn't even get to wrap my arms around her. "You're the best, Parker. Really. Anyways, while I'm gone, go out, love." She looked so excited and I couldn't recall the last time she looked like this.

Oh, yeah. The last time she was on a business trip.

My eye twitched.

"I will. Don't worry." I forced out.

She clapped her hands together. "Well, I'm already packed. Help me take my bags to the car."

-

Monday was uneventful. I watched Gina and Peter makeup out for like an hour. We were supposed to be watching a movie at her house, but no one ever pressed play and the remote was under Gina's butt.

Later that night as I was rearranging the clothes in my dresser, yes more advice from my self help book, I found the lingerie I bought. I had already forgotten about it. I lifted it up and felt my face get hot.

This is what made me feel mischievous? I was truly an old lady. Maybe I needed to hang out with Gina more. Just suck it up and hear her and Peter make out.

I closed my blinds and slipped out of my clothes and put on the lingerie.

I ran my hands up and down my sides. I felt sexy. I never did. The way my long brown hair brushed up against my bare shoulders made me shiver.

I skipped to the bathroom and washed my face, brushed my teeth. I couldn't stop staring at myself in the mirror.

I laughed as I walked back to my room. I thought I wouldn't feel different with my mom gone but I felt lighter. There wasn't any negative energy seeping through the walls and on to me.

I laid down on my bed and fell asleep instantly.

I groaned and opened my eyes slowly. What was that noise? Ringing was right in my ear.

I reached out lazily and pressed the reds icon on my screen to deny the call. I just saw numbers. It must have been a scam number.

I tried to fall asleep again but the number kept calling back. I reached over and grabbed my phone and just pressed answer. I was already semi-awake, why not?

"Hello?" I answer groggily. My body felt so heavy.

"Parker? It's Florencio."

My eyes snapped open. I sat up. "What? Why are you calling me? And when did you have my phone?"

He ignored my questions and said, "are you busy?"

"W-what?" I looked at the clock. 2:33 am. "It's two am on Tuesday. Are you busy?" This was officially the weirdest conversation I had ever had.

"No, I am not. And yes I will go out with you." He confident reply came.

"Oh, god, what?" It was too early for this crap. My eyelids felt like they had weights on them.

"Open the door. I'm outside." Then he hung up.

I rubbed my eyes. I wasn't really going to open the door, was I? I didn't want to. But then again I really wanted to.

I felt like an idiot as I got up and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders.

I stopped in front of the door and was about to open it when someone knocked.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Florencio grinned when he saw me. "Cold?"

I shook my head. "Annoyed actually. What are you doing here?"

"I was bored," he started off, nudging himself inside. I couldn't stop him unless I wanted my blanket to fall off. "And I wanted to show you something." His eyes gleamed.

"I-I don't know you." I mentally cursed at myself for stuttering. "And it's so early."

He grabbed the front of my blanket and pulled me closer to him.

I felt so hot under his gaze and under the blanket I was starting to sweat.

My fist were pressed to his chest. His smile was so perfect.

"What do you want to show me?" I asked hesitantly.

"Get dressed," he said and let go of me. I nodded and walked back to my room.

When I was just outside my door, I dropped the blanket. I was so hot under it.

"Who's here?" I heard Florencio ask. His voice was rough.

A small scream left my mouth and I turned around.

My chest was heaving up and down and I felt sweat drip down my forehead.

"No ones here," I whispered hoarsely.

His eyes traveled up and down. His teeth were sunken into his bottom lip. He turned around sharply and walked away.

Then I got dressed as quickly as I could.