Shy, Ticklish, Country Girl: Chapter 4 (Patreon)

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The chilly touch of night came routinely as the nocturnal protector from the heat so many in Ashley’s town spent their days toiling away beneath. It was a soothing drink after a hard day, a self care treat to mend a weary soul. Ashley had thrown a coat heavier than necessary over her arms to help push through the crisp bite, despite enjoying a modest cold at the end of the day. The wind that pushed past her face left her nose and cheek a distinct pinkish hue. Her legs pushed against the pedals of her bike with hard thrusts, carefully navigating the harder surfaces of the dirt road. A large backpack thumped against her from behind. Her pigtails wafted side to side with each powerful, cycling press.

Her route took her past the Whilners’s farm and Thomson’s Lake. She kept an eye out for water moccasins and ducked through open spaces between close branches, wary of spider webs and knowing how big and unpredictable they could be. Her bike wheels rattled as they sped up over gravel. In the distance, crickets and barn owls sang to one another. Ashley pumped her legs harder through darker stretches of road, those within the lengthy distances between the town’s sparse distribution of street lights, especially across the more rural, man-made trails. Before long, she could see her destination and hurried to get there as quickly as she could.

Ashley recognized Jayden’s mother’s car in the dirt plot on which they usually parked. Her mother had tried to make the dirt patch nicer by planting flowers around it, despite anything fancier than that being so hard to come by in Langdon. The woman had done her best to make the outside of the house as approachable as possible. Jayden’s mother still had the tire swing beneath the magnolia out in the front that Ashley remembered playing on back in grade school. Flowers were planted wherever flowers could be planted. Cute little signs hung up by the front door reading ‘Wipe Your Feet, Please Be Neat, Prepare To Eat’ and ‘Come For The Fiesta, Stay For The Siesta’. Ashley noticed several windows brightly illuminated with passing shadows and other evidence of activity within. She skidded her bike to a stop and propped it up with the kickstand. Stepping off, she adjusted the bag against her back and made her way up the porch stairs.

At the top, Ashley pressed her thumb against the orange glowing doorbell button. A chime rang out. She could hear a soft scuffle and hubbub behind the door, concentrated in what she knew to be the living room. The door swung open. Jayden’s face glowed an elated expression back at her, already encouraged by an extroverted, rambunctious nature.

“Ash!” Jayden said loudly. Before Ashley could respond, a chorus of her name cheered out from the front room.

“Ashley!” called voices that Ashley had not yet identified. Ashley laughed. She tried to match Jayden’s energy, only emulating about half of her friend’s beaming enthusiasm.

“Jay!” Ashley said. Jayden stepped aside and let Ashely pass through. The house always had an alluring scent of freshly made food. The interior was alive with decorations themed to Jayden’s family’s Mexican culture. Several wood-carved crosses hung along the walls. Many framed pictures of distant relatives sat along nearly every surface with enough space to put them. Ornate clay pots and woven baskets were lined along the walls. Vibrantly colored and designed sarape blankets hung over the backs of the couch and chairs. A black and white photo of Jayden’s father sat framed surrounded a cluster of small candles.

“You’re late, girl,” Jayden said. “What’s that about?”

“Had to stay behind and stable the horses,” Ashley said. “Did you not get my text? I told you I’d be coming later.”

“Nah, I did,” Jayden said. “Doesn’t mean I’m not still mad at you.”

“You’ll get over it,” Ashley said, brushing it off with a soft chuckle. Jayden stood by her side, dressed much more comfortably than her typical school attire. A pair of baby blue sweatpants stretched over her hips. The legs were baggy and collapsed slightly at the floor, bunching over a pair of pink and black striped socks. She wore a gray spaghetti strap tank top with the Lakers logo faded across the chest. Her hair was messily tied back in a ponytail while a few dark strands fell loose to frame the sides of her face.

“So, you’re the last to arrive,” Jayden said as she shut the door. Ashley turned to the living room to see more familiar faces. Mandy sat cross legged on the couch. She too wore sweats and a tank, though an ornate red and orange throw draped across the back of her neck and down her arms. She shivered and clenched up, not daring to move much beyond a subtle wave to stay warm.

“I see,” Ashley said. Mandy turned her attention back to the television. On the floor, sitting against the couch, Carla was still in jeans and a long sleeve tee shirt with a graphic reference to an animated show that Ashley recognized, but was not familiar with. She stared deeply into the screen before her as the controller in her hands clicked with exaggerated button pressing. Beside her sat another girl from school that Ashley almost failed to recognize. Patty was not a regular to the church or their subsequent youth group, though often came up in conversation within those that were. She was a relatively attractive, if bland, ‘white bread’ girl whose family had remained in Langdon for as long as any other. Patty boasted a figure that had garnered much attention from her male classmates since freshman year and did well within the social politics of the school’s cheerleading squad. She gave a quick smile to Ashley as she entered and returned to the screen, rapidly pressing buttons on her own controller.

“Did you send the blue shell?” Patty asked in jesting aggravation. Carla snickered.

“No,” Carla said cheekily.

“She did,” Mandy said, watching with vested interest. Patty gave a beleaguered sigh.

“I figured,” she said. Jayden helped Ashley’s bag off of her back.

“Here,” she said, taking it off of her. “I’ll put this in my room. You know the layout. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Mom made empanadas, so help yourself.”

“Thanks,” Ashley said. She stood and watched Jayden walk off with her backpack. She admired the casual charm to her appearance, observing the way her shimmering brown hair laid between her shoulder blades. Ashley turned back to the group, enveloped in the game they were playing. She took a few steps closer, still standing with her hands cupped in front of her, hyper aware of the space she accommodated.

“Ugh, you bitch,” Patty said, her character spinning out over a well-placed banana peel. Carla mocked with a devious snicker.

“Hehe, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Carla said. Her small, bare feet poked out of the bottom of the jeans. As she sat cross legged, Ashley caught a glimpse of her pearly pink sole and toes, recalling back to the tickling that happened back at the youth group classroom. With that memory, Ashley walked back to the door. She took off her boots and laid them by the welcome mat, electing to keep her socks on to combat the cold. Fortunately, they still seemed relatively clean after having worked the stables for the previous few hours. The rest of her outfit was clean and modest. She had changed out of her field overalls and thrown on jeans and a long sleeve tee shirt, a souvenir from a family trip to Dollywood.

“Next race,” Carla shouted as the victor of the previous game. “Who wants to play me next? Mandy?” Mandy sat up and scooted closer to the armrest of the couch.

“Nah, I wouldn’t know what I’m doing,” Mandy said. “I’ll just watch.”

“Lame,” Carla said. “Ash, you in?”

“I probably wouldn’t do any better than Mandy,” Ashley said with a chuckle. She came closer and took a seat on the other end of the couch.

“Come on,” Carla argued. “We can’t have a sleepover with only two of us playing?”

“I’ll beat you, Carla,” Jayden said, walking back into the room. She carried with her a plate of empanadas stacked on top of one another with a small handful of napkins. She laid it all out on the coffee table in front of the couch.

“Ohh,” Patty said, reaching behind to take one.

“Thanks,” Mandy said, taking another.

“You can’t beat me,” said Carla. Jayden snickered.

“If it’s anything, I can beat you in it,” Jayden said. Ashley chuckled. Jayden glanced down at her with a smile. “Like something to drink? We have Pepsi, grape soda, orange juice…”

“Some water would be nice,” Ashley said.

“Great,” Jayden said. “Anyone else?”

“Pepsi,” Carla said.

“One for me too,” Maddy piped up, blowing off the bitten corner of her empanada.

“Grape juice sounds good,” Patty said.

“Right,” Jayden said. She turned to see her mother entering the room from the kitchen. Jayden’s mother, Ximena, was a stouter woman, sun-aged with black hair and silver streaks. She wore an apron over a stained canary yellow dress. She smiled wide, watching the girls converse within the living room. Ashley looked over and waved.

“Hola, Jaedene’s friends,” she said with a struggled accent. Carla snickered.

“Hello, Mrs. Pérez,” Ashley said sweetly. All the other girls looked over and waved with the same polite greeting.

“Hola, Ashley,” said Ximena. She smiled at Ashley and turned back to Jayden, speaking softer and more quickly. "No hagan mucho ruido, de acuerdo? Trabajo por la mañana e iré a dormir pronto."

"Vale, vale, está bien," Jayden said with a slight sigh. "No seremos ruidosas. Gracias por dejarles quedarse de nuevo, mamá."

"Por supuesto." Ximena said, her voice timid and nurturing. "Pero asegúrense de seguir teniendo buenas notas." Jayden chuckled and looked away.

"Claro," she said. "Buenas noches, mamá." Ximena parted with a wave, heading off to her bedroom up the stairs.

“Goodnight, Mrs. Perez,” Ashley said sweetly. “Thanks for letting us stay the night.”

“Yes, thank you,” said the other girls through different variations. Ximena smiled and nodded to them all.

“Yes, you are welcome,” Ximena said. “Good night.” Carla and Mandy turned their attention back to the television, Mandy having picked up the controller left over by Patty. Patty sat back against the couch. She pulled out her phone, her thumbs rapidly typing against the screen. Ashley watched Jayden walk into the kitchen. She hopped up off the couch and followed her.

Ashley caught Jayden taking beverage containers out of the refrigerator and setting them next to plastic cups. The kitchen was decorated largely the same, strongest with the scent of cooked spices. Crosses hung across the wall with framed pictures of Jesus, Mary, and relatives that Ashley failed to recognize. One picture sat atop the kitchen counter next to a candle and a plate of tortilla chips and dip. A young Ximena stood with her husband, the mustached man carrying baby Jayden in his arms. Ashley found herself glancing over to it whenever she would come into the kitchen. Something about the three smiles comforted her.

“Hey, need some help?” Ashley asked. Jayden turned back briefly before smiling.

“You don’t need to,” she said. Jayden took a moment and looked around. “But you can grab the chips.” A visual debate raged across Jayden’s expression, looking over the cups as she poured the drinks. She chuckled. “I’ll have to make a few trips anyway.”

“I can help,” Ashley said with a smile. Jayden poured each glass with the right beverage before putting the containers back in the refrigerator. She sighed and looked back to Ashley.

“So,” Jayden said with a smirk. “Would you maybe… want to be tickled again tonight?” A shock raced through Ashley’s chest. Her lips pulled back into nervous giggles.

“Wh.. wha…” Ashley said. She laughed and stroked a pigtail out of her face.

“Just thought I’d ask beforehand,” Jayden said. She spoke quietly as to keep the conversation from leaking into the living room. “I know Carla and Mandy had a lot of fun back at the church last week. I don’t think they suspect anything more than that.” Ashley blushed and looked away.

“There’s nothing more to suspect.”

“Sure, of course,” Jayden said. She took a cup that she poured for herself and brought it up to her lips. “But you are a lot of fun. If you wanted to, I bet I could get them all to do it again.” Ashley’s mind turned over. She recalled the date she just had with Nathan a few days back and it made her feel toward the moments her and Jayden had started to share.

“Really?” Ashley asked.

“Totally,” Jayden said. “You’d be okay with that though, right?” Ashley grinned. Her posture retracted, her shoulders rising slightly toward her ears. She looked off to the side.

“That… could be fun,” Ashley said.

“It absolutely will be fun,” Jayden said, her tone and volume raising as an eager grin twinkled across her face. “Don’t worry, I’ll get them to stop when you’ve had enough.”

“You can tell?”

“I can tell,” Jayden said. She handed Ashley her glass of water. Ashley took it, staring down into the icy ripples.

“Thank you,” Ashley said.

“You say that like I don’t also enjoy myself,” Jayden said. She grabbed the other glasses as Ashley took the tray of chips and dip. Both girls brought the drinks and snacks into the living room, setting them onto the table next to the tray of empanadas, which had already been half picked over.

The night proceeded casually with a restrained energy to keep from causing too much noise. The girls switched from one video game to another, titles that could accommodate up to four players with Ashley and Mandy taking turns watching. One by one, the girls slipped into their pajamas. Carla’s pink top and bottom set was admired for upholding Carla’s cutesy aesthetic. Patty slipped into a pair of shorts and an old Jonas Brothers tee short. Mandy put on some plaid pajama pants and a matching top. Jayden stayed comfortably in what she already had on while Ashley changed into her own pair of pajama bottoms and a long sleeve top, leaving her feet bare.

The lights went dim. The television was mindlessly changed to a cable station that none of them actively paid attention to. Slow, the snacks began vanishing off of the trays. Jayden had brought out a large bag of M&Ms that she kept hidden away in a cupboard in the kitchen too high for her mother to see into. She laid them out on the table, becoming lighter and lighter by the frequent, greedy handful. Patty stayed largely on her phone while Carla and Mandy discussed gossip related to several of the classes that they shared. The group had moved more into the center of the room. As the night went on, the conversation eventually came to a more obligatory topic.

“I take it no boys allowed?” Patty asked. Carla chuckled. Jayden shrugged.

“Don’t know,” Jayden said. “Didn’t ask.” She took another handful of M&Ms and popped them all into her mouth at once.

“You didn’t want to invite Evan for Mandy?” Carla teased. Mandy gave her back a soft kick.

“Not this again,” Mandy said. She shrunk up back into her blanket. “She could have invited Grant for you.”

“Ew,” Carla exclaimed. “That… just, no… no…” Carla stumbled over her words and looked back away. “He’s such an asshole most of the time. I keep getting people coming up to me asking if we’re dating. I hope he’s not telling people that.”

“Aww, come on,” Patty said. “You guys would be cute together.” Jayden and Mandy gave a hearty laugh.

“Yeah, Carla, go for it,” Jayden said. Carla scoffed, flipping her hair back.

“N-no way,” Carla said. “He’s gross.” Mandy smirked and turned away from Carla.

“Or what about Nathan for Ash,” Mandy added. The room turned to Ashley who sat with a gnawing chill twisting in her chest. Her throat instantly ran dry. She swallowed and tried to force a casual laugh.

“Wh-what?” Ashley asked. Maddy smirked. Patty leaned in closer, wearing a similar studying expression.

“Oh come on, it’s so obvious,” Mandy said. Carla jumped at the first chance to not be within the pressuring crosshairs.

“Oh yeah, you’re going out with him, aren’t you?” Carla asked. Ashley retracted more, scratching nervously at her cheek.

“O-oh, no, we’re not…” Ashley started.

“That’s right, you guys were together the other day,” Patty said, her brow cocked in intrigue.

“He likes her,” Jayden said. “You can totally tell.”

“Jay…” Ashley said.

“They’re going out,” Carla said. “Didn’t you two just go out on a date?” Ashley’s complexion darkened still, turning a candy shade of tart.

“N-no, it… it wasn’t like that…” Ashley stuttered.

“Oh wow,” Patty said, moving in more. “You know, Gabbi’s had her eyes on Nathan for a while. Ever since he joined the basketball team.” Carla gave an audible groan while Jayden rolled her eyes.

“Ugh, Gabbi’s the worst,” Carla said.

“I know, right?” Patty said. “She’s, like, a bitch to everyone.”

“You talk to her all the time,” Mandy said. Patty scoffed.

“Only because we’re in a lot of the same classes,” Patty said. “I hate Gabbi, but I know she’s been hitting on Nathan hard these last few months.”

Jayden glanced over to Ashley. She studied the distant, haunted expression on her face, very nearly hearing the echoing memories floating through Ashley’s head. Gabriella was a figure both had known well through their years growing up together in such a small town. Ashley’s eyes bore the recollection of playground sand kicked in her eyes and pudding smashed onto her head, petty acts that failed to sting nearly as much as the rumors that surfaced later and the words hurled at her both to her face and behind her back. Jayden heard the sobbing in the back of her own mind. Her eyes rested upon the freckled cheeks once scarred with far too many tears.

“Well, Gabbi can suck it,” Jayden said. “Nathan’s with Ashley now… if that’s what they both want.”

“Jay, seriously,” Ashley said. “I swear there’s nothing between Nathan and me.”

“But he is cute though, isn’t he?” Patty asked. All the girls leaned in to hear Ashley confess the most obvious of truths. They giggled. Jayden sat back, keeping her eyes on Ashley’s reserved demeanor. Ashley’s grin widened. Her cheek grew rosey and flushed. She pinched the end of a pigtail between her thumb and index finger as she glanced away.

“We’re just friends,” Ashley said. “I swear.”

“That’s what everyone says,” Carla added. “But seriously though, you’re going out with him, right?” Ashley lowered her head. She turned to look at Jayden, who shot her a kind, gentle smile.

“I saw them flirting in the library, but that’s about it,” Jayden said.

“We were not flirting,” Ashley said.

“He was totally hitting on her,” Jayden said to the others, briefly ignoring Ashley. Ashley rolled her eyes.

“I promise you, he wasn’t,” Ashley said.

“But he got really into tickling you back at the church that one time,” Mandy said. Ashley swallowed. She and Jayden shared a glance.

“Aww, he tickled you?” Patty asked.

“We all did, technically, but he was there,” Carla said. Ashley’s cheek burned beneath the beds of freckles. She retracted once more, feeling smaller in the room as the topic arose.

“That’s so cute,” Patty said.

“We were just… goofing off,” Ashley said.

“Ashley’s really ticklish,” Jayden commented. Ashley shot her a look, her eyes having widened and gleamed with investment.

“Jay…” Ashley started. Jayden’s eyes locked on Ashley’s. Her eyebrows raised with intention to stoke the flames.

“Oh yeah?” Patty asked.

“Super ticklish,” Carla added.

“She actually has a really pretty laugh,” Mandy said. Ashley huffed and looked away.

“N-no, it’s ugly,” Ashley said.

“No, it’s really pretty, actually,” Jayden said.

“No…” Ashley continued to argue.

“I bet Nathan thinks so too,” Carla said, inching closer.

“Yeah,” Patty said. She too started to slide closer to Ashley, a grin stretching from ear to ear. “Sure you don’t want to tell us about that date, then?”

“Yeah, Ash, maybe you need some convincing,” Jayden said, her inflection subtextually forced for Ashley’s benefit.

Ashley swallowed. She saw all of the eyes in the room on her, driven by the encouragement of her acknowledged ticklishness. A giddy rush came over her. The girls slowly crawled toward her like lionesses stalking prey. Their stares teased their ticklish intent. Ashley felt the focus shift, becoming inclined to protect her most ticklish areas. She giggled. Her heart started to pound in her chest. She backed away, knowing doing so would only encourage her friends more to pursue her for tickles. She made a half-hearted effort to shield herself, despite anticipating the sensory rush of feeling all of their tickling fingers on her at once. She knew she had to play up not wanting to be the night’s tickle-target in order for that to be the case.

“I… I, uh… I don’t know…” Ashley said, giggling and crawling backward away from them.

“Uh oh, Ashley,” Mandy teased, coming closer. “Looks like you better tell us or else…” Ashley stuttered and giggled. She clenched up. Her eyes darted around, watching all of the other girls prepare to come at her with tickles.

Ashley squealed and bounded to her feet. She ran over to the entranceway to the kitchen before looking back.

“Get her,” Jayden said with a smirk.

They all jumped to their feet and ran after Ashley, who ducked back into the kitchen. Ashley made her way quickly through the kitchen to the other side, managing to circle back into the living room. Just barely missing being caught by Carla in the back of the cluster of girls chasing her, Ashley grabbed a hold of the stair’s banister and flung herself into a running start storming up to the second floor. Their giggles were as constant as the storming of their footsteps racing up the stairs. The noise ceased being a concern. At the top of the stairs, Ashley was met with a harsh response from the cracked open door of Jayden’s mother’s bedroom.

“Shhh!” she hushed. A brief wash of guilt came over Ashley. She quickly turned and ducked into Jayden’s room, shutting the door as rushed as she could quietly.

Ashley backed away from the door. Her heart pounded. She continued to play up the reluctant victim, but much of her excitement came from the anticipation of the inevitable tickles. She knew she would not be able to fight them back for long, even in play. They would be upon her at any moment. Ashley thought about hiding. In the closet. Under the bed. She knew her time would not allow it, however, hearing the girls quickly approaching the door. She elected not to lock or bar it in any way, more out of courtesy to Ximena to keep them from pounding on it and making even more noise. As much as she wanted to continue evading the oncoming ticklish attack, the desire for it planted her in place. Among the pop-punk band posters, dusty sports trophies, and strewn clothes of Jayden’s bedroom, Ashley stood and braced herself.

The door flung open. Ashley was met with them all rushing in. They giggled and took the opportunity to pounce on Ashley, knocking her back onto Jayden’s bed. Jayden got to her first, grabbing her wrists and pinning her down. She raised Ashley’s wrists up over her head, smirking as she stared down at the caught, ticklish girl.

“Gotcha,” Jayden said in a hushed, sinister growl. Ashley struggled just enough to make it look like she was desperate to get away, but not so much to make a genuine effort to do so. Jayden took a note of Ashley’s theatrics and played along. “Looks like we’re gonna have to tickle the story out of you. Right, girls?”

“Oh yeah,” said Carla, hopping up onto the full sized bed. It was pressed against one wall. Messy purple sheets laid bunched at the bottom. Mandy knelt down beside the bed, smirking as wide as the others. Patty, the last one in, shut the door behind her and came over to join the rest.

“Tsk, tsk, should have just talked,” Mandy said, shaking her head. Ashley blushed. Her heart fluttered. Her throat ran dry. She swallowed to quell it, her eyes locked onto Jayden’s above her. Ashley’s stare lingered through an oddly quiet moment. Jayden’s eyes glistened, even with the faintest of light. Rich, deep brown accented by streaks of hazel treated Ashley to images of mountainous majesty. Vast and mysterious. Rare and beautiful. The kind of land Ashley could gaze upon and wish to get lost in. Jayden smiled. Ashley thought she noticed her face coming closer when a gnawing pinch of both her sides jolted her into a ticklish shriek.

“Eeeekkkheeeheeheeee!!’ Ashley shouted. Jayden positioned herself higher to keep Ashley’s wrists up above her head. She managed to hold Ashley with one hand while placing her hand over Ashley’s mouth.

“Shh, can’t be too loud now,” Jayden said. The girls chuckled. Carla tested Jayden’s muffling with another pinch to Ashley’s sides. She shrieked again, but the sound was far more muffled, silenced to only be heard within the room.

“Heehee, wow, she is really ticklish,” Patty said, watching off to one side. Jayden stayed hovering over Ashley, looking down at her to keep a watchful eye on her expressions.

“How’s she gonna talk with your hand over her mouth?” Carla asked Jayden.

“We’ll ‘convince’ her first, then give her a chance to talk,” Jayden answered.

“Sounds like a plan,” Mandy said. She knelt down at Ashley’s waist. Mandy inched closer and fixed her posture to a more comfortable position. Jayden’s attention switched back to Ashley.

“Hey,” Jayden whispered with raised eyebrows. “You okay?” None of the others seemed to notice as they teased over Ashley’s vulnerable position in which to be tickled. Ashley gave a slight nod, not to be seen but easily felt by Jayden’s hand over her mouth. Jayden smiled and nodded back. Her other hand traced down Ashley’s body. Her fingers brushed down to the bottom of Ashley’s shirt, slipping inside.

“Uh oh, someone’s in trouble,” Mandy taunted. She and the others giggled, preparing their ticklish tactics.

“Yep,” Jayden said for all of them. “Time for Ashley to show off how ticklish she really is.” Their tones shifted to be as playfully malicious as Ashley had performed trepidation. Jayden pulled up Ashley’s shirt, revealing the pasty pale belly underneath. Ashley always had a slightly larger frame than most, a ‘worker’s body’ as her father often unapologetically put it. Her belly was proportionally sized, yet stayed toned from a life of field work. Upon seeing the ticklish canvass of Ashley’s stomach, Carla snickered to herself and plunged all ten of her fingers down into it. The sudden rush of tickles caused Ashley’s body to jolt. Her back arched and hands pulled against Jayden’s grasp. Ashley squealed once again before melting into a fit of ticklish laughter.

“Mmmmmppphheeeeheheehehahahahahaa!!!’ Ashley's laughter muffled into Jayden’s palm. She squirmed against the bed beneath the hold of Jayden and Carla. Carla’s fingers gnawed into Ashley’s tender belly. Her short nails scribbled and scratched around the spot, painting Ashley’s belly with a merciless assault of tickles.

“Heehee, someone’s got a ticklish tummy,” Carla taunted. She snickered as she watched Ashley’s struggling laughing fit from beneath Jayden’s hold. Ashley kicked against the bed, but even still could only sway her sensitive stomach side to side against the tickles.

“Aww, so cute,” Patty teased. “Who’s just a ticklish little girl?” Her tone was crushingly patronizing and only added to reinforce Ashley’s sensitivity. The girls laughed. Jayden raised Ashley’s shirt further, bringing it up to just beneath her chest.

“She’s ticklish all over, trust me,” Jayden said with a chuckle. Mandy slid over, closer up Ashley’s body to the newly revealed area.

“Oh, we know,” Mandy said. She looked to Ashley, smirking with a twinkle in her eye. “You know, if you had just told us about your date, we wouldn’t have to do this.” Jayden prided herself on conniving with that very narrative to help encourage getting her friend tickled. Mandy leaned in over Ashley’s midsection. Ashley, still twisting and laughing to Carla’s ticklish scribbling at her soft, supple tummy, tried to still see what was happening around her. Mandy raised her own hands over Ashley’s squirming torso. She touched down against Ashley’s ribs. Her fingers delicately danced over each side, skittering lightly and maddeningly.

“MMMMMMMMPPPHHHHHHEeeheeheheeeeeehhaaahahahaa!!!’ Ashley’s laughter raised. She arched again against the bed, squirming more beneath all three girls orchestrating her ticklish plight. Her cheeks started to glow red. Her chest heaved. Her motions became more lively and erratic. Ashley fought and twisted harder against Jayden’s hold, but both of her arms still had trouble pushing against Jayden’s one.

“Ohhh she’s a squirmy one,” Jayden said. She stayed firm where she was, keeping up with Ashley’s telling expressions. Mandy and Carla giggled and teased, encouraged by Ashley’s heightened reactions.

“Tickle, tickle, tickle,” Carla chanted. “Such an adorable ticklish belly.” Her nails clawed lightly and rapidly around Ashley’s belly. Her fingertips glided effortlessly over the spot. Carla tickled as quickly as she could. Where she lacked in technique, she made up for in covering surface area, making sure to tickle every little inch of Ashley’s belly over and over again with swift passes.

“Nnnnnmmmppphhehehehahahahah!!! Ssssshhhhteeeeehahaha!!” Ashley pleaded through muffled laughter.

“And she has the cutest little laugh too,” Mandy said, her own fingers scribbling up and down Ashley’s ribs and sides. “Shame we can’t hear it.” She gave each ticklish rib soft pinches. Her nails skittered and danced across the ridges before lowering and kneading viciously into Ashley’s sides. Her hands clawed into the plush areas, leaving Ashley bucking against the bed.

“MMMMPPPHHHEHHEHEHHAhahahahahaaaa!!!” Ashley squealed. Her legs kicked harder, yet still reserving a genuine attempt to stop the tickles. Jayden smiled as she studied Ashley’s expressions. Her laughter, even behind her hand, was still alluring in a way, like the greeting of a songbird; a tune without a melody that praises the innocence of life. Jayden felt Ashley’s cheeks warm against her fingers and the softness of her lips against her palm. She stared. When Ashley’s eyes started to tear with her laughter, Jayden finally spoke up.

“Alright, hold off for a bit,” Jayden said. Carla and Mandy reluctantly pulled away. As soon as they did, Jayden pulled her hand back, allowing Ashley the air that she had been struggling to suck down. Ashley gasped. Jayden leaned back as Ashley slowly managed to catch her breath. Her hand resting against Ashley’s wrist slid up to Ashley’s hand. Her fingers laid over hers, lacing instinctively.

“Aww, man, it was just getting good,” Carla said. Mandy chuckled.

“You’re so mean, Car,” she said. Mandy flipped her hair back.

“She should be ready to talk now,” Patty said, standing by watching.

“I don’t think so,” Jayden said, wearing an impish grin. Jayden helped Ashley sit up. She positioned herself behind Ashley, wrapping her arms tightly around her to keep Ashley’s own arms pinned to her sides.

“A-ah,” Ashley gasped. “What… what are you doing?”

“Just holding you tight so the others can keep having fun,” Jayden said.

“Wh… wha…” Ashley started. She blushed. Her heart continued to race. She turned back to the others as Jayden squeezed her from behind.

“Get her feet,” Jayden said. The idea incited clear interest with the other girls. Instantly, however, Ashley began objecting and giggling nervously.

“Nooohhehe…” Ashley said. She drew her legs back in, starting to cross them closed.

“Oh no you don’t,” Carla said. She lunged for Ashley’s ankles, pulling them back out and toward the end of the bed. Ashley struggled, but Jayden held her tight. Before Ashley could fight back against Carla, the small girl had already sat straddling her knees. She held both of Ashley’s ankles with her hands, pressing Ashley’s bare feet together.

“Uh oh, are someone’s feet ticklish too?” Patty asked. She walked down to the end of the bed. Mandy chuckled and followed her.

“Oh, I think they are,” Mandy said. Their eyes stared back at Ashley’s worried expression.

“No, please, not my feet!’ Ashley pleaded, still maintaining the reluctant facade.

“Ohh, hear that?” Carla asked. “That’s the spot you should be getting.” Ashley shook her head, her pigtails swishing side to side. Her eyes were wide. Her heart beat faster as Mandy and Patty knelt down at the end of the bed, facing her bare feet, held vulnerably by Carla. The girls giggled tauntingly. They remarked with teasing phrases.

“Aww, someone’s got soft looking feet,” Patty said.

“Yeah, I bet they’re even more ticklish than they look,” Mandy added.

“Ohh, I hope so,” Patty said. “Here come the tickles! Heehee!”

Ashley winced and braced herself. She turned her head. Jayden’s cheek rested near hers. She felt the warmth of Jayden’s presence soothe her slightly, the bind Jayden held her in warm and comforting. Jayden’s breath brushed against her neck. Her hands pressed her shoulders against her body. The gentle scent of Jayden’s musk fluttered through her senses. The moment of tranquility ceased quickly with a sudden rise when Ashley felt five fingers start tapping and scratching at her left sole. She yelped, jumping a little against Jayden’s hold, and soon found herself trapped in another whirlwind of ticklish laughter.

“Aaaaaahhhhh!! Heeehaahahahahahaaaa!! Aaaahhhh nahahahat my feeeehehehet!!” Ashley cried out. Jayden quickly remembered to cover Ashley’s mouth and did so with a firm cup of her hand. Where her full laughter would have been filling the room, the chorus of giggles from the other girls fulfilled the space.

“Ohhh wow, her feet are ticklish,” Patty said. She lightly danced one hand of fingers across Ashley’s warm, soft sole. Her foot squirmed to the influence of the tickles, but Carla held tight in keeping Ashley’s foot from pulling away.

“Heehee! Don’t hold back now,” Carla said. “I’ll hold her down for you.” Mandy and Patty laughed along with her.

“Poor, ticklish Ashley,” Mandy said, joining in on the fun by adding five fingers to Ashley’s other foot. She snickered as her nails skittered and scratched along the long, tender sole. Ashley’s feet wiggled beneath Carla’s hold, but remained perfectly accessible for her devious ticklers. Her toes curled. One foot would make a desperate attempt to protect the other, alternating rapidly. Her feet pointed to cast wrinkles across her plush, pink soles, only to flex back once more. “Poor tickle… tickle… ticklish little Ashley.”

“NNNMMMPPPHHHAHAAHHAHEEHEE!!! SSSHTAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Ashley screamed with laughter into Jayden’s hand. Her body twisted and pulled at both of the girls holding her down, but could do virtually nothing to get away. Her explosive reactions only encouraged the girls further.

“My, my, what ticklish feet you have here,” Patty said, her voice more sneery than usual. “I bet we could get you to do all sorts of things now that I know this.” Patty added her other hand to her ticklish technique. Whole one set of fingers scoured up and down Ashley’s delicate, smooth sole, the others went to dig into her toes. Ashley belted laughter, her body jolting to the eruption of more tickles. Mandy laughed.

“Yeah, feel free to take your time not telling us… what did we want to know?” Mandy asked. She too followed Patty’s method. Her other hand raised to plunge her fingers beneath Ashley’s toes, scraping devilishly across the highly sensitive stems. Ashley’s laughter raised further, shrieking beneath Jayden’s hand as she thrashed against her and Carla.

“Haha, you know, I can’t remember either,” Patty said, an evil grin smeared across her face. “Guess we should keep tickling until we find out.” Both girls followed with mischievous snickers. They unleashed all ten fingers of both hands against Ashley’s feet, held in place by Carla. Ashley cried out in laughter. She bucked and thrashed against the bed, twisting within Jayden’s bind.

“NNNNNNNMMPPPHHHEEEHEHEHEHEHAAAHAAHAHAHAHAH!!! STAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!” Ashley screamed. Her chest rose and fell with exaggerated heaves. Tears started coming to Ashley’s eyes. Her cheeks burned beneath Jayden’s hand. Her arms tried to flail, her legs tried to pull away, but Jayden and Carla kept her effectively held in place as tickles stormed through her body up from her delicate, sensitive feet.

“Alright, stop,” Jayden said loud enough to be heard over Ashley’s laughter. Once again, the girls pulled away. Ashley’s feet blushed as pink as her face. They hung limp and tired beneath Carla’s hold. Mandy and Patty sat back, looking up at how Ashley endured the aftermath of the ticklish endeavor. Ashley wheezed openly, with Jayden having uncovered her mouth. Jayden still held Ashley tightly around the chest. Ashley’s head rested back against Jayden. Her eyes were fluttering and mostly closed. A small smile rested across her face. Several strands of hair had been frayed from her pigtails. Her pale cheeks boasted a soft cherry color beneath her freckles.

“You okay, Ash?” Mandy asked. Ashley paused and gave a tired nod.

“Hehe, sorry Ash,” Patty said. “You’re just so much fun to tickle.”

“Hehe, yeah,” said Jayden. She looked down to her friend resting against her and spoke quietly. “Hey. You sure?” Ashley gave a soft chuckle with another nod. “Good. You done? We could keep going?” Ashley gave no clear indication. The smile on her face widened. Her eyes looked back at Jayden, shifting nervously.

“Oh, um… uhhh…” Ashley said.

“No, you’re not done,” Jayden said, almost jokingly.

“N-no, wait…” Ashley said, again playing the false opposition.

“I think we need to tickle her more, don’t you?” Jayden asked the room. Carla laughed.

“If she can take it,” Carla said. “And if not, oh well.”

“I could keep going,” said Patty.

“Me too,” added Mandy. Ashley giggled nervously. She reverted to shyly hiding her feet again, one behind the other. She whimpered, her cheeks still glowing like ripe peaches. Jayden returned one hand to cover Ashley’s mouth and kept her wrapped up tightly in her arms.

“You see that hairbrush on top of my dresser?” Jayden asked. All the girls turned to look. On top of a purple dresser, a light blue hairbrush sat next to a couple tubes of chapstick, a cluster of hair ties, and an earring without a pair. Patty rose to pick up the brush, starting to gather the idea Jayden was implying. “Try using that on her feet. She’ll love it.” Ashley’s eyes went wide. As soon as she started pulling her feet back, Carla resumed her position in holding them down. She straddled Ashley’s knees tight and pressed nearly all of her remaining weight down on her hands holding Ashley’s ankles to the bed.

“Ohhh I bet she will,” Patty said with a chuckle. She ran her fingers across the bristles, hard and plastic tipped. Mandy went back closer to Ashley’s feet. She giggled and helped Carla hold them down, pulling Ashley’s toes back to keep her soles taut and secure. Ashley whimpered more behind Jayden’s hand.

“Better hold on tight,” Jayden said. “She may actually fight back against this.”

“Oh, we’ll be nice and still, won’t we?” Patty asked teasingly. She knelt back down in front of Ashley’s feet. Her bare soles, blushing pink and slick from an exhausted damp, still tingled from the tickles they had just been subjected to. Patty snickered. She held up the hairbrush in her hand, preparing to unleash it against Ashley’s feet. Ashley braced herself, knowing such an effort to be relatively futile. Her heart raced. She breathed heavily through her nose.

The tickles started with a sudden swipe of the brush down one sole. Ashley yelped into a muffled scream. Many unfeeling bristles scraped across the surface of her sole at once, each coming with its own ruthless tickle.

“MMMPPPHH!!” Ashley shrieked. Her body jolted. Her seat lifted up off of the bed, flinching with greater exaggeration. The girls noted Ashley’s explosive reaction and laughed.

“Oh wow, this does look really tickly,” Patty said.

“We got her still, so have at her,” Mandy said, holding Ashley’s feet back.

“Yeah, really let her have it,” Carla added. Patty smirked. She cocked her head to one side, measuring up how she would next use the hairbrush.

“Hmm, let’s see,” Patty said, drawing out her time. She sent another single swipe against Ashley’s other foot. Ashley bucked once more, screaming again into Jayden’s palm. Jayden held her tight with each little jump. Another single swipe created another sharp yelp. And another. And another. The teasing compiled onto Ashley’s mind, each making it more clear just how effective the hairbrush was against her feet. The girls laughed with each of Ashley’s yelps. Just as Ashley became convinced the night would just be them tormenting her with teasing swipes, Patty paused before unleashing the hairbrush against her feet with full force. She picked one foot and viciously started scrubbing up and down Ashley’s precious, sensitive sole.

“MMMMMPPPPHHHEHEHEHEHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAA!!! GGGHHHAAHAHAHAHA!!!” Ashley screams of laughter filled the room. She bucked and pulled at all the girls holding her down, her body fighting back against the merciless stream of tickles. Every little swipe came with countless plastic bristles all delighting in gliding across her most sensitive nerves. Every inch of her sole fell victim to the maddening tickling over and over again with each pass. The girls laughed and giggled, cheering and encouraging Patty’s efforts.

“Oh wow, that looks unbearable!” Carla said.

“Yeah, I’d probably die from this,” Mandy added. Both struggled to hold Ashley down against her instinctive efforts to avoid the tickles. The sounds of the brush’s scrubbing could still be heard over the girls’ laughter and taunting phrases, themselves adding to the symphony of Ashley’s ticklish turmoil.

“MMMMPPPHHHHAAAHAAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! STAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!” Ashley cried into Jayden’s hand. The tears in the corners of her eyes started falling down her cheeks. She twisted and writhed against the bed, her body desperately fighting to get free. Patty scrubbed faster and faster, each swipe leaving Ashley’s sole blushing harder than the one before it. After she painted one sole a deep shade of pink, she switched to the other.

“Heehee tickle, tickle, tickle!” Patty said. “I’ve never met anyone this ticklish.” Patty’s delight was painfully transparent. Mandy and Carla continued to hold Ashley’s feet in place for more tickles. Scrub, scrub, scrub, the hairbrush tormented every ticklish nerve of Ashley’s sole many times over. Ashley screamed with laughter. Her voice cracked. Her chest ached as it heaved through her hysteria. Slowly, her body began to submit to the exhaustion of the tickles. Her jerking reactions started to subside. Her laughter began fading into pitiful gasps and sobbing cackles. Patty continued to brush on, leaving Ashley’s other sole as pink as the first.

“Alright, that’s good,” Jayden said dismissively. “Stop now.” Patty reluctantly pulled away. Mandy let go of Ashley’s feet. Patty gazed down at them as she stood. Both glowed a vibrant shade of pink, beaming with overwhelming sensitivity. Jayden quickly removed her hand to let Ashley catch her breath. Carla let up on Ashley’s ankles and looked back at the girl. Ashley’s face was damp with sweat and tears. Her cheeks glowed. Her eyes closed slightly. Her hair had become a tangled mess that vaguely resembled her pigtails. Jayden relaxed her grip on Ashley. She stroked hair out of her face and looked down at her friend.

“Hey,” Jayden said in a hush that everyone could hear. “You okay?” Ashley paused, still catching her breath. She was fading. Yet still, her lips curled at the ends. When she opened her eyes, they sparkled upon falling onto Jayden’s. She swallowed. To keep from using her voice, she nodded. Jayden gave her hair another tender stroke. “Good.”

“That was brutal,” Carla said.

“Yeah, sorry if that got out of hand,” Mandy said. Patty put the brush back on top of the dresser.

“Here, I’ll go get you some water,” Jayden said. She eased her way up and hurried out of the room. Ashley laid back against Jayden’s bed. Her head plunged against Jayden’s pillow, laced powerfully with the scent of her hair, lilac with hints of fresh summer rose.

“Think we wore her out,” Carla said. She hopped up off of the bed.

“Yeah, but she’s a tough girl,” Patty added. “She can take it.” Jayden entered soon after with a tall glass of ice water. She came over to where Ashley laid, kneeling down beside her.

“Here,” Jayden said. She helped Ashley sit up and drink. Ashley, though several pauses for deep breaths, chugged down the entire glass. She finished with a hard and refreshing sigh, collapsing back against the bed.

“Mmm, comfy,” Ashley said with a cheeky grin. Jayden chuckled.

“Yeah, well, it’s still too early to go to sleep,” Jayden said. Ashley rolled over, turning her face to the wall.

“Mmm, sleep now,” she said tiredly. Jayden smirked and set the glass down on the nightstand next to her bed.

“Oh yeah?” Jayden said. She plunged her hands into Ashley’s armpits. Her fingers wildly scribbled into the tender hollows, digging against the sensitive nerves of the supple dips. Ashley squealed once again, her voice and energy quickly returning to her with another fit of laughter.

“Neeeaaaahhhhahahahahahaaa!! Nahahahaoo morereeehahaha!” Ashley laughed. Her laughter was softer, weakened by her exhaustion. Her body’s reactionary movements also suffered from fatigue. She did little to fight back against Jayden’s sudden tickle attack.

“Coochie coochie coo,” Jayden chanted. She smiled and laughed along with Ashley, staring down to admire her friend’s expressive laughter. “Got to stay awake.” The others stood and laughed along as Ashley freely, yet futilely, squirmed against the bed. They all took the opportunity to jump back in. Patty reached down to pinch Ashley’s sides. Mandy returned to Ashley’s ribs, lightly dancing her nails across each. Carla pounced down onto Ashley’s feet. She scribbled her fingers across both sensitized soles at once. The gaggling group gathered onto Ashley, exciting the remains of her ticklish laughter.

“Aaaaaheeeehehehehehehahahahaaa!!!” Ashley squealed. They laughed along with her, keeping Ashley further on edge with their playful phrases.

“It’s your fault you're so much fun to tickle,” Jayden said. Her fingers scribbled and dug into her plush, warm pits.

“Haha, yeah, don’t blame us,” said Carla, her own fingers clawing wildly against Ashley’s wiggling soles.

“This should really happen more often, don’t you think?” Mandy asked. With a feathery touch, her fingers brushed and delicately pinched up and down Ashley’s vulnerable ribs.

“Oh definitely,” Patty added. She clawed and squeezed against Ashley’s sides, leaving the girl clenching and twisting beneath them all.

“Naaaaahahahahahahah!!! Stahahahahahappp!! Plleeheheheaaasssaahahahaha!!!” Ashley’s voice fluttered with ticklish laughter.

The short burst of tickles all over Ashley’s body only lasted a short while. All the girls got in the last of their ticklish itch against the girl who had already endured so much. Jayden pulled back and looked to the others to do the same.

“Alright now, let’s not piss off my mom more,” Jayden said, brushing her hair out of her face. The girls chuckled. Each hopped off of Ashley, letting her catch her breath once again. Ashley laid singing sleepy, residual giggles, her body too tired to sit up against the bed. “But no falling asleep. Got it?” Ashley whined through her giggles.

“Uggghhhehe, fine,” Ashley said. Slowly, she gathered the strength to push her up. She raised a hand to her head and held it with her eyes closed.

“That was fun,” Carla said.

“Yeah, let’s do this again in the morning,” said Patty.

“Maybe wake her up with more tickles,” Mandy added. The pair laughed. Ashley’s heart pounded against her chest. Her head swam. Her eyes rested closed. Through it all, she still wore a slight smile.

For the rest of the night, Ashley could relax. The girls had moved on to other activities than pushing her ticklish fortitude. Jayden and Carla played a few more video games. Mandy and Patty dared each other to text boys that they knew. Gossip was shared about crushes and schoolyard drama. Jayden pounded back the rest of the bag of M&Ms, throwing a few at each of the others’ heads. Ashley stayed sitting on the edge of Jayden’s bed, passively watching and adding her own commentary where it applied. While her mind stayed with the events that had transpired, she could breathe deeply still believing that her secret affection for being tickled was maintained, and done so well by Jayden’s sly, semantic cleverness. Her feet still tingled and her pits still itched with phantom tickles long after they had stopped, fueled by the memory that played over and over again in her mind. Beneath all of that, however, was the warmth that remained from Jayden’s unbending embrace. Ashley smiled.

Later, at a time far past when Ashley would regularly go to sleep, everyone agreed to call it a night. Each made a bed where they could find it. Carla had brought a sleeping bag. Mandy used Carla’s body like a pillow in that regard, covering herself up with a blanket. Patty had hoarded several blankets to use both beneath her and on top of her. Ashley stayed next to Jayden’s bed. She used a small pillow from the living room to support her head while a thin blanket draped over her body. Despite being fatigued by the abundance of tickles she had experienced earlier, she stayed awake. Her eyes stared up into the dark room, with only a faint glimmer of moonlight through the window to create outlines of her surroundings. Her mind raced. The tickles that remained grew faint, but the phantom tickles of her mind continued to persist. Only when she heard a familiar whisper in the darkness did they begin to subside.

“Hey,” Jayden whispered. She peeked out over the edge of the bed, looking down at Ashley. Ashley looked back. “Not sleeping?” Ashley shook her head. The others appeared deep within their sleep cycles.

“Not yet,” Ashley said back, whispering softly enough for only Jayden to hear. “You?”

“Same,” Jayden said. She blinked and sighed slightly. “Hey Ash?”

“Yeah?” Ashley asked. Jayden paused.

“That was… okay tonight, right?” Jayden asked. Ashley chuckled.

“Yeah, it was,” Ashley said.

“Cool.” Jayden sighed again. She paused and stayed leaning over the edge of her bed. “Hey, Ash?”

“Yeah?” Ashley asked. Another pause. Crickets chirped out in the fields beyond the window. Jayden’s eyes fell away. A quiet set in.

“Nevermind,” Jayden said. She ducked back around on top of the bed, vanishing from Ashley’s view.

“No, what is it?” Ashley asked. She waited. Jayden shifted in her bed. Her breathing became louder and more frequent.

“Just…” Jayden started. Ashley stayed silent. Jayden gave another hard sigh out of her nose. “Thanks for coming over.”

“Of course,” Ashley said sweetly. “You okay though?” Jayden returned the silence. It lingered over the room. Ashley gave her a moment to answer. “Jay?”

Jayden turned away from Ashley and closed her eyes. Ashley asked again with no response. She came up to peek up over the bed, catching Jayden’s sleeping form facing the wall. Ashley smiled.

“Goodnight, Jay,” Ashley said. She came back down and rested her head. Her eyes closed and breathing began to steady, lulling her into a restless, much needed sleep.

Jayden blinked, her mind kept awake with her own flurry of tickles.