Shy, Ticklish, Country Girl: Chapter 3 (Patreon)

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“‘Distracted’,” Jayden said bitterly through the loud smacking of her gum. She scanned down the report card rattling in her hands. She leaned against the locker next to Ashley’s as Ashley neatly inserted text books inside from her backpack. “‘Often caught spacing out’. ‘Needs to focus more’. Can you believe that?”

“You want the truth?” Ashley asked. Jayden shot her a daggering glance. She shook her head and pushed off of the locker, adjusting the bag against her back.

“Tulsick couldn’t just leave it at an ‘A’, could he?” Jayden asked, returning her attention to the paper. “Had to get in that last jab.”

“I’ll never know how you do it,” Ashley said.

“I think he’s just pissed that he can’t fail me despite all that,” Jayden said with a smirk. “But seriously. What kind of note is ‘distracted’?”

“You think he meant to write ‘distracting’?” Ashley said.

“Ha ha,” Jayden said sardonically. “Although that does make more sense. Got to be good at something, you know?”

Ashley threw her bag around her shoulders, taking a moment to appreciate the literal load of weight lifted from the break. She flipped her pigtails back, walking next to her friend. Ashley looked over at Jayden, admiring how much more adventurous Jayden was with her outfits than she. Ashley’s attire was never anything special, according to her. Overalls for work, a modest blouse and pants for school, and dressy for church. Jayden’s clothes, however, seemed to obey no rules. She had on a deep black jacket with several band patches sewed carelessly about. Beneath, a black long sleeve tee shirt bore the design for Iron Maiden’s album Live After Death. Ripped jeans showed black leggings underneath down to a pair of black boots. It was a look with a polarizing reputation for Ashley, what with an admittedly limited world view, but Jayden always seemed able to pull it off.

“Your mom’s not going to be too mad, is she?” Ashley asked. “It won’t mess up our plans?”

“Nah,” Jayden said. “I’ll just tell her it’s some inside joke between me and Tulsick. Like I give him a hard time.”

“Not as much as a lie, for once,” Ashley said with a smirk. “Though I don’t think Mr. Tulsick thinks the same way.” Jayden shrugged.

“As long as I’m passing, I’ll be good,” Jayden said.

“You do surprisingly well,” Ashley said. Jayden scoffed into a laugh.

“‘Surprisingly’?” Jayden replied. “Wow, that hurts worse than ‘Distracting’.”

“Oh no, I didn’t mean that… I really… what I meant was…” Ashley stuttered, slowing down to address Jayden in the halls while other students packed up their things around them. Jayden laughed it off. She turned back and shot Ashley a grin.

“I’m playing,” Jayden said, grabbing Ashley’s arm. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” Jayden turned the corner to run both she and Ashley into an oncoming student. She staggered back before the familiar sound of a phone crashing to the floor sparked over the commotion of the hall. Jayden glanced to see a bright pink iPhone laying screen side down at her feet. A loud scoff caught Jayden’s eyes back up at the girl she had just run into.

“Ugh, watch where you’re going,” Gabriella barked.

“Oh hey, sorry,” Jayden said. “I didn’t see you there.”

“I guess not,” Gabriella said. “Pick it up.” Jayden reeled back, almost letting a laugh slip through her lips. Ashley came up behind her, careful not to get caught in the crossfire.

“Um, no,” Jayden said. “How about watching where you’re going. Maybe don’t walk with your face in your phone all the time.”

“I said pick it up,” Gabriella replied loudly, inching closer to Jayden’s face. Ashley knew that Jayden was not the type to bend, even stubbornly when she was wrong. Jayden was the outspoken one of the two, the type to push back when Ashley would rather simply lie down to avoid confrontation. Ashley swallowed nervously.

“No, it’s your phone,” Jayden said. “You pick it up.”

“What the hell did you say to me?” Gabriella asked. She flipped a strand of bright blonde hair out of her face. Her expression had been highlighted by an obsessive consideration of makeup. She was clearly skilled, as it never managed to look bad, but it was always much more than either Jayden or Ashley would care to wear. Her lips were full and cherry pink, pulled back in a snarl. Her eyes squinted back at Jayden beneath a flourish of eyeliner and eye shadow. Pretty and well liked within her personal circles, mostly the other pretty people, Gabriella had always held herself as higher than most, showing a more flowery side only when it suited her interests. Jayden lifted a boot and placed the toes of it over the phone, pressing slightly.

“You pick it up,” Jayden said slowly. Gabriella quickly shoved Jayden back, having her stumble straight into Ashley. Ashley caught her as Gabriella bent down to pick up her phone. She studied the screen and dusted it off.

“¡Vete a la mierda!” Jayden muttered, pushing back to charge toward Gabriella. Ashley held her back, keeping Jayden from fighting more against the star cheerleader.

“Don’t make me beat your ass in front of your girlfriend,” Gabriella said. She snickered. Her hair flicked up as she turned away. Ashley held Jayden for as long as Jayden struggled against her. She waited for her friend to calm down, and for Gabriella to be out of sight, before letting go.

“It’s okay,” Ashley said, trying to calm her. “It’s fine. She’s gone.” Jayden’s face had darkened. Her black hair had become loose and disheveled, though nothing a quick brush could not mend. Jayden tried to shake it off. She breathed deeply and turned back to Ashley. “D-don’t be mad at me, I just didn’t want you to get in trouble.” Jayden paused.

“I’m not mad,” Jayden said. “It’s just… ugh, she annoys the hell out of me.” She brushed out her clothes, still slowly easing her racing heart.

“I know, me too,” Ashley said. She spoke calmly. “But it’s over now. You okay?”

“Yeah,” said Jayden, nodding. “God, I’ll be so happy when we graduate and we don’t have to put up with her anymore.” Ashley smiled. Jayden looked up at her, her cheeks still flushed. “You okay though?”

“Yeah, of course,” Ashley said. “Just worried about you.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Jayden said with a cocky smirk. Ashley smiled back.

“You say that,” she said. Jayden chuckled.

“Believe me, I can take Gab, and anyone else for that matter,” Jayden said. “My brother was a Triple A luchador and taught me capoeira when I was-”

“Alright, enough of that,” Ashley said dismissively. The girls laughed as they started back down the hallway.

The pair walked through the halls that they had each walked through more times than they would have liked to. The familiarity offered a comforting reliability, but was forever underscored with the yearning for larger changes. The same bulletin boards hung with the same outdated informational fliers. The same teachers sat at their desks in empty classrooms, hiding how excited they too were about the break. The halls had the same smells, the same unappealing lighting, and the same scuffed tile linoleum from the years that both Jayden and Ashley had spent at Samuel Clemmons High.

A fresh breath of air graced their lungs as they walked outside. It frosted a seasonal chill against Ashley and Jayden’s lips. The temperature had dropped to the weather of sweaters, falling leaves, and ‘can I catch a ride home?’ Several of the teachers stood outside in the pick-up area waving off students in sweatshirts and thick wool hats. Jayden’s hands slipped into her pockets the moment the fall air hit her skin. Ashley, on the other hand, adored the colder time of year. The farm work was not as laborious, the trees donned a beautiful array of reds and oranges, and the holiday season was just rounding the corner. She smiled, breathing down the chill nipping in her windpipe and the delightful scent of early Christmas starting to fill the air.

Ashley walked with Jayden over to a large rock on the other side of the courtyard. The rock had been heavily graffitied in a way that had become acceptable protocol for many of the juniors and seniors. It announced underground events, showed school pride, and often egged on various clubs in friendly rivalry. That day, it was dressed all in silver with the words ‘Rileywood Sux’ written out with black spray paint.

“You going to the game on Wednesday?” Ashley asked. Jayden shivered, her attitude having taken a hit by the cold.

“You mean I can watch pointless garbage while freezing my ass off around people I don’t like?” Jayden asked in mock enthusiasm. “I think I’m busy that day doing literally anything else.”

“I get it,” Ashley said, nodding her head.

“You?”

“Maybe,” Ashley said, shrugging.

“Why?” Jayden asked sourly. “Because of Nathan?” Ashley rolled her eyes and looked away.

“N-no,” Ashley said, a surge of warmth flowing to her cheeks. Jayden scoffed and crossed her arms.

“You’re hopeless, you know that?” she asked.

“We’ve started talking more,” Ashley said. Her voice was low and sheepish. Her shoulders raised as she pinched the tip of a pigtail. “You know, after what happened back at youth group.”

“You’re welcome, by the way,” Jayden said. Ashley shot Jayden a cheeky grin.

“Yes, well, you know we exchanged numbers and been texting some,” Ashley said. She stopped by the crosswalk to the soccer field. Other students spanned off in different directions, most catching rides with others while the rest headed toward the main road. Off to the side, the sports fields were marginally abandoned. Only a few of the truly passionate student athletes were out practicing drills and endurance training.

“Sure,” Jayden said, stopping with her. She pulled out her phone and checked the home screen.

“And he mentioned maybe doing something today,” Ashley said, a guilty resonation slurring through her words.

“Today when?” Jayden asked.

“After school,” Ashley said. “Like, now actually.” She too pulled out her phone. Jayden sighed and rolled her eyes. “I think we were going to walk home and talk and stuff.”

“Oh really?” Jayden replied.

“Yeah, he said that he was going to stay behind to catch up on some work,” Ashley said, looking down at her phone. “He just text back actually. He’s heading out courtside right now.”

“Alright, let’s go,” Jayden said. She started ahead of Ashley back toward the school, making her way to the courtside exit.

“Oh, I was just gonna walk you to the corner,” Ashley called out, catching up to her.

“Nah, nah, if Nathan’s taking out my Ashley, I need to make sure he treats her right,” Jayden said with a pompous smirk. Ashley groaned.

“It’s really not like that.”

“Flowers and whatnot. A nice car. Not too grabby.”

“Seriously, Jayden, we’re just talking,” Ashley said, her cheeks burning beneath a faint layer of freckles.

“I think I need to meet his parents before you do to make sure everything checks out,” Jayden said.

“We’ve both met his parents,” Ashley said dryly. “They come to church with us.”

“Did you tell him how much you were into him tickling you the other day?” Jayden had inched closer and lowered her voice. Ashley’s eyes darted around as her head slumped down between her shoulders.

“Oh my god, Jay,” Ashley whispered.

“Just saying,” Jayden said. “He seemed to be really into it. No wonder you two hit it off so well.”

“We’re still just friends, okay,” Ashley said.

“Fine, fine, but he’s not invited to the sleepover this weekend,” Jayden said. “‘No boys allowed’. That’s my rule, not my mom’s.”

“I figured,” Ashley said with a laugh.

As the two approached the courtside exit of the school, both saw Nathan standing anxiously speaking to a group of girls. Of them, Gabriella stood the closest. She was about his height, if only a little shorter. Her demeanor had changed drastically from the last time Jayden and Ashley saw her. She smiled and giggled along to what he said, lightly stroking his arm. Nathan wore the jacket he had gotten from the baseball team, despite the sport being done for the season. He kept his hands in his pockets and seemed to back away from Gabriella with small steps. With her, several other members of the Clemmons cheer squad gathered around. Jayden and Ashley recognized Patty, Lizzie, and Jill, knowing the others by face only.

“The hell is she doing?” Jayden asked quietly, her eyes squinting in Gabriella’s direction. Ashley stood back. She cupped her hands in front of her. She forced her back straight and her head off to the side. Jayden ducked down behind the large, painted rock and spied on the group.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Ashley said. “No need to be creepy.”

“Please, she gropes his arm and I’m the one being creepy?” Jayden inquired. They both listened in on the muffled conversation across the courtyard, but could make out only a few defined words between them. From what they could see, however, is Gabriella giggling at everything Nathan said and Nathan trying to ease out of the conversation. The other girls stood around behind Gabriella. Some stared down at their phones while the others engaged with Nathan as well, adding to his apparent unease.

“It’s not a big deal,” Ashley said. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text.

“It is if she makes a move,” Jayden said. “Want me to beat her up now? I swear, I’ll do it.”

“I know you will,” Ashley said. “Lena Fredrickson still hasn’t forgiven you for what happened in sixth grade.”

“Bitch stole my pudding,” Jayden said. “What was I supposed to do? Not push her into the trash?” Nathan’s phone buzzed. He quickly fished it out of his jacket and examined the screen. Within a few seconds, he looked over to the big rock, where Jayden ducked down behind it and Ashley waved shyly. He smiled and waved back. The smile on Gabriella’s face drained. Nathan dismissed her with a wave and started off toward the rock. Ashley averted her eyes away from the deathly glares that she could feel Gabriella sending her out of her peripheral. Ashley paid her little mind. Gabriella and her friends huffed around for a moment before leaving around the opposite side of the building toward the parking lot.

“Hey!” Nathan called out.

“Hey,” Ashley said with a smile. Jayden rose from behind the rock. She flipped her hair back and smirked.

“Sup,” she said. “What did Gabbi want?” Nathan groaned and rolled his eyes a bit.

“Mr. Kline put us together on this history project with a few others,” Nathan said, shaking his head. “Since then, she’s kind of been around a little too much.”

“So, like, the regular amount of Gabbi?” Jayden asked, a playful sourness flaked in her speech. Nathan laughed.

“Yeah, pretty much,” he said. He turned back to Ashley and adjusted the bag on his back. “Sorry about that. You still down to hang?”

“Sure,” Ashley said. Nathan grinned.

“Sweet,” Nathan said. He turned back to Jayden with a cordial smile. “Y-you’re welcome to hang out too, if you’d like.” Jayden’s eyes darted back toward Ashley. She sighed and turned away.

“No, sorry, can’t,” she said. “See, my brother’s in town and he’s been away touring with Sublime and what’s left of the Beastie Boys, so he wanted to hang out and maybe we’ll party with the bands.” She started off toward the main road, leaving Ashley and Nathan behind. “If you don’t see me again, it’s just because I’m high on the tour bus somewhere in Vegas.” Nathan chuckled while Ashley merely smirked.

“Bye,” Ashley called out. “See you tomorrow.” Jayden, in the distance, reached up to wipe her face. She started to look back, but she kept herself forward, her head sunk in a way that it never seemed to when the two were together. Ashley turned back to Nathan and smiled.

“Ready?” Nathan asked.

“Yep,” Ashley said. “Where did you want to go?”

“Oh, I thought we could just go sit over by the playground for a bit,” Nathan said. “Unless it’s too cold for that.”

“Oh, no, I like the cold,” Ashley said, already starting off in that direction.

“Great,” Nathan said. “Me too.” From afar, Jayden only saw their backs walking in the opposite direction.

The courtyard of the school emanated an eerie stillness, a liminal atmosphere void of its typical abundant activity. The sports fields, where explosions of mirth and energy were shared by all, were simply grassy plains between lonely goal posts. Pathways walked by chattering groups were empty streams of concrete. Small buildings where recreational equipment was stored for easy access, normally a gathering place for students to converse over bagged drinks and hand rolled cigarettes, stood alone. The ambient murmurs of students fanning out to their cars and bikes was simply wind and the light rustling of trees. Only a few lone stragglers remained making their ways home, but the campus had quickly become ghostly empty.

Nathan and Ashley filled the silence through forced exchanges of mundane topics. They discussed classes and mutually shared teachers. Projects and assignments were weighed against one another. They talked about classmates and the drama that waged between them. Nathan opened a dialogue to new television shows, to which Ashley nodded along and allowed the boy to carry on about his favorites. Then after, he made room for her to do the same about the books she had been reading through the year.

The two made their way to the playground. It was a fun little insert to solidify a portion of the campus as a park, complete with trees, a dog relief station, and a picnic area. The playground itself had been fitted with several adminities, still new from within the year. Swings, slides, and monkey bars, along with other colorful features, made up an interconnected jungle gym. The ground was a mixture of mulch, sand, and pinestraw. It, like every other area on campus, was vacant and a common hangout area for highschoolers looking to spend time reliving the simple pleasures of a youth long since left behind.

Nathan and Ashley made their way over to a bench beside the playground. They took off their backpacks, setting them on the ground, and sat next to one another to talk. They finished out their topics before hitting a slight snag in finding things to keep the conversation from getting stale. Ashley shifted in her seat while Nathan looked off in another direction. He scratched at the side of his neck. His knee bounced rapidly. The silence around them compounded. After having exhausted most school-based topics, Nathan spoke up in a more challenged tone.

“So, um, about the other day at church,” Nathan said. “When we all tickled you…” Ashley thought for a moment before a chill sank through her stomach. She recalled back to the day easily, back when Jayden orchestrated the entire youth group to gang tickle Ashley all at once. The event played over in her mind for days following. She traced over every second in her memory day after day, anxiously gauging whether or not she came off as strange for potentially liking it. Ashley had always kept out of the spotlight and wanted nothing more than to keep it that way. In an instant, the worst conclusions of Nathan discovering her secret came to her head. Ashley breathed slowly and sat up straight.

“Yes?” Ashley asked quietly.

“I know we talked about it afterward, but that was okay, right?” Nathan asked. “Like, I was really worried that I had weirded you out somehow.”

“Oh no,” Ashley said. She smiled and shook her head, breathing easier. “Really, you didn’t. Sorry if I’ve seemed so weird about it.”

“No, no, you haven’t,” said Nathan. Ashley pinched the tip of her pigtail between her fingers.

“Good,” Ashley sighed.

“I just wanted to make sure,” Nathan said.

“That’s sweet,” said Ashley. “Thank you.”

“And I guess ask you more about it,” Nathan started. Ashley swallowed and nodded.

“Yes?”

“I’ve been curious,” Nathan said. “And I’m sorry if I say something wrong, but it really seemed to me like you like to be tickled.” The knot in Ashley’s gut tightened. She fidgeted with the tip of her pigtail. She looked away, wishing the words would bury her out of sight forever. The friendship between her and Nathan teetered before her eyes. She scoured her mind for the best words to break the silence.

“I-I mean… I don’t hate it, like some other people do,” Ashley said. She lowered her voice. A bird chirped above where the two sat. Nathan’s staring presence weighed against her shoulders. Even without looking back at him, she knew she had his attention, for better or for worse. Nathan smiled and nodded.

“That’s cool,” Nathan said. Ashley looked back. His eyes squinted above a wide smile. His entire expression glimmered back at her. She shifted while working through the gnawing anxiety, ready to push it all away.

“You think so?” Ashley asked. Nathan shrugged.

“Well, yeah,” Nathan said. “Nothing wrong with that. Actually, I think it’s kind of cute.” Ashley’s heart fluttered. She sat, lost for words, leaving Nathan only a shy chuckle to mend the lack of response. She continued to twirl a pigtail around her finger.

“Really?” Ashley asked.

“Yeah,” Nathan said. He paused before chuckling and looking away as well. “Sorry if I said something… you seemed kind of bothered by that.”

“No,” Ashley started. She leaned closer toward the boy before timidly pulling back. “No, it’s just… I don’t know, I didn’t know if you’d think I was weird, or something.”

“For that?” Nathan asked. “Of course not. I mean, I was kind of worried that I overstepped back at the church. You seemed to have fun though.”

“Oh gosh,” Ashley groaned. She leaned forward and hid her face into her palms, her elbows nestled against her knees. Her back was hunched, her feet turned in. Nathan slid closer. He carefully placed a hand on her upper back and started rubbing. Ashley’s heart jumped once more, feeling the heat he gave off right next to her.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Nathan said. “Trust me, there’s nothing weird about it. I had a lot of fun too.” Ashley peeked out from her fingers. She turned toward the boy next to her, still rubbing her back.

“You did?” Ashley asked.

“Yeah,” Nathan said. “You have a really pretty laugh, by the way.” A wave of heat cut through the chill nipping at Ashley’s cheeks. The fluttering in her chest traced bumps across her skin and pulled at the churning in her stomach. Her lips tilted at the tips. She looked away for a brief moment, unable to contain the elation that Nathan’s words sent coursing through her veins. She stroked at one pigtail, repositioning her focus upon assuming composure.

“Th-thanks,” Ashley said. “Th-that’s… really sweet.” Nathan sighed a nervous chuckle. He withdrew his hand, sensing that he had kept it on her back for an invasive amount of time. The boy shifted in his seat. Seeing Ashley noticeably flustered, he pulled back. He looked over to the swings lazily rocking to the late afternoon breeze. He gave Ashley a moment to speak before breaking the silence himself.

“So, sorry if I touched a nerve bringing that up,” Nathan said quietly. Ashley breathed deeply and shook her head.

“N-no, you didn’t,” Ashley said. “It’s silly, really. I told Jayden about it because she’s my best friend. I just… I’m not weird, I promise.”

“I never thought you were,” Nathan said. “You and Jayden have talked about it? Liking being tickled?” The words shot through Ashley’s chest like an icicle. She winced and clenched her hands against her pants.

“I wouldn’t say like,” Ashley said. “Gosh, makes me seem so-”

“It’s fine,” Nathan said. “Really. It’s just me here. You can be honest with me. But if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s okay. I won’t make you.” Ashley thought for a moment. As much as talking openly about liking being tickled made her uneasy, she stalled in ending the discussion prematurely on the chance that it may still lead to something more. A deeper understanding. A mutual interest. Or maybe something more. Ashley twirled her pigtail and flipped it back behind her shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Ashley said. “So much has changed since middle school. Sometimes I feel like a whole different person, you know.”

“Oh, I know,” Nathan said. “I mean, you remember the Wu Tang phase, right? With the beanie and the chain?” Ashley laughed, harder than she expected to. She covered her smile with a scratch to her lip.

“I do,” Ashley said.

“If I can bring that up, you have nothing to be embarrassed by,” Nathan said. The two laughed on the bench, fall leaves floating from the branches above.

“No, that was… cute too,” Ashley said. Nathan grinned and rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, right,” he said, playing her remark off like a joke despite his cheeks glowing beneath the cold.

“It was,” Ashley said. The two paused for a moment before Ashley, uplifted by Nathan’s gesture, refocused the conversation. She spoke quietly and off to the side. “Okay so, maybe I… kind of do like being tickled…”

“Yeah?” Nathan asked.

“But not in a weird way,” Ashley said. “Just in a… I don’t know, something about it feels nice or fun… that kind of way.”

“That’s cool,” Nathan said. Ashley cupped her hands in her lap. Her thumbs twirled around one another while she stared down at them, her neck freezing her stare away from his.

“It-It’s really no big deal, or anything,” Ashley said. “But, um, please don’t tell anyone. I trust you, but I don’t want anyone else thinking that I’m weird.”

“No one would, Ash,” Nathan said. “But like you said, you can trust me. I won’t say anything. I promise.” Ashley sighed a heavy, relieved breath.

“Thank you,” she said. “Sorry if I’m being weird about this.”

“No, not at all,” Nathan said. He grinned and shrugged. He lowered his voice, checking briefly around them for anyone within earshot. “If it makes you feel any better, I had a lot of fun tickling you the other day. In the interest of being open about things.”

“You did?” Ashley asked. “You’re not just saying that?”

“Honestly, I would have kept going, but I didn’t want to push you too far,” Nathan said. Ashley laughed and stroked at a pigtail.

“Well, I’m a big girl,” Ashley said. “I may be ticklish, but I can still take a lot of it.” Her heart raced as she formulated the words to set Nathan up. Her hopes resonated through the shimmer in her eyes and the freckled dimples at the corners of her smile. Nathan smirked back at her toyingly.

“Oh yeah?” Nathan said. “I don’t know if I believe you.”

“No?” Ashley asked. “I guess you’re just going to have to find out, huh?”

“Only if you’ll let me,” Nathan said. Ashley rolled her eyes and turned back toward the playground. The equipment was still vacant, sitting alone among a littering of fallen autumn leaves. She grinned and pushed herself to her feet.

“Hmm, maybe,” Ashley said. “But you’ll have to catch me first!”

Ashley took off for the nearby jungle gym, giggling as she egged Nathan on. Nathan grinned and shot to his feet. He dashed toward the girl as she slipped around the equipment. She circled around the see-saws and monkey bars. She eyed Nathan through a web of climbing ropes, a shimmering smile stretched across her face. She giggled with the giddiness of a little girl, enacting out the carelessness of playground antics that she had thought long since gone. She ducked and hid from Nathan chasing her, but her laughter constantly gave away her position. She had become more aware of what it sounded like after Nathan’s comment. A warm flush remained on her cheeks from the notion that he found her laugh appealing and from his ticklish intentions upon catching her.

Nathan chased Ashley around the playground for quite a while. Both had drawn from a youthful energy of many years prior. They giggled and ran and hid and jumped around one another just like they remember from their elementary school days. Nathan slipped through the swings and climbed up the side of the jungle gym to get a lead on the adorable girl. Several times he gave her a lead with which to get away, but Ashley proved quicker than he was expecting.

“Oh, you’re gonna get it,” Nathan teased, huffing while chasing the girl. Ashley squealed and dashed faster.

“Eeekheehee no!” Ashley laughed. The pair ran around for about a minute and a half, kicking up mulch and sand behind them. When Nathan caught Ashley, it started to become clear that she may have let him. Ashley breathed heavily, her cheeks blushing bright red. Nathan caught her by the wrist. Ashley only resisted for a moment before conceding.

“Got you!” Nathan said.

“Ah,” Ashley shouted. “Uh oh…” The smile remained. Dimples sank into pink, freckled cheeks. She looked around bashfully, thankful that she still saw no one around watching them.

“You know what I have to do now,” Nathan said. Ashley’s heart fluttered more beyond the cause of physical exertion. She knew little of her own secret tickle fantasies, but something about falling a playful ‘victim’ to a tickler’s wishes became the most prominent one in the moment. She swallowed and nervously flicked a pigtail back behind her shoulder.

“Tickle me?” Ashley asked sweetly. A heat washed over Nathan. Suddenly, the chilly autumn air might as well have been a midday summer trip to the beach. He bit his lip, trying to remain smooth.

“Um, ye-yeah,” Nathan said. He looked around and pulled Ashley toward the monkey bars. They both looked up. “Can you reach?”

“Let’s see,” Ashley said. The monkey bars were fitted for younger children, yet the height was still an obvious challenge for Ashley. She reached up as high as she could. She lifted up onto her toes and grabbed a hold of the bar. The metal was noticeably cold in her hand, but it was nothing that deterred her efforts. “There.”

“Good,” Nathan said. He stood before Ashley all stretched out. Her legs were straight, her feet struggled to remain up on her toes. Her head was tucked between her upper arms, staring back at Nathan. The boy eyed her over with a devious, yet playful grin. “Now just stay right there until I say let go.”

Nathan raised his hands. Ashley drew in a long, temperate breath. Her eyes were wide staring back at him, particularly his hands. She leaned back just a little, cautious about what kind of access she was giving him. But his eyes sparkled trust. She knew she could let go of the bar at any moment, stopping what was about to happen, but she gripped tighter, her heart pounding in her chest. Nathan brought his hands up to her upper arms, right up by her cheeks. He carefully traced his fingers downward toward her armpits. Ashley’s smile widened into a nervous, sheepish grin. Even before he reached her pits, her body already started to react as if it would let go of the bar to protect the sensitive areas. Ashley, however, fought against it. The tickles already started creeping in, but her fists only clenched around the bar above her head tighter, determined to let it happen.

“And… tickle tickle,” Nathan whispered. His fingers delicately brushed down to her pits. Even through the long sleeve top, Ashley's ticklish figure could still feel every little touch that brought laughter to her lungs. As he touched down against the spot, the tickles began flowing in. Not too much at first. Nathan’s touch was noticeable, but gentle and careful about how she felt. His fingers lightly scribbled against the surfaces of her stretched armpits. Ashley squeaked. She jerked slightly and succumbed to a fluttering of giggles rising to her lips.

“Eeeekkkheeeheeheeheheheeeee!” Ashley laughed. “Aaaaaahhahhahah thahahat tickles!” She squirmed against her own grasp on the bar, shifting side to side. Nathan came closer. A modest mixture of his musk and body spray brushed against her nose. Warmth spread throughout her body as she sucked down quick bursting breaths. Nathan laughed along with her. He delicately scribbled his fingers against her pits, keeping Ashley giggling and writhing beneath the bars.

“Well, obviously,” Nathan said. He spoke quietly and kept an eye out for passersby. He came closer to Ashley while also minding her space. Nathan scraped his shallow nails against the slick fabric of Ashley’s pits. They were warm to the touch and still highly responsive despite tickling through her clothes. With one hand to each pit, five fingers each danced along the girl’s ticklish hollows.

“Aaaahheeeeeheheheheheheeee!!” Ashley giggled. Light laughter poured from smiling lips. The tickles were far from the challenges that Jayden had proposed to her, but she knew that Nathan was simply holding back. The restraint allowed Ashley to last longer in the moment, to enjoy more of the tickles without feeling like she needed to catch her breath. Every tickle, every little brush of his fingertips, was done entirely by her whim. She could end it whenever she wanted by letting go of the bar and lowering her arms, but Ashley was determined to let the tickling last as long as she could.

“You really do have a pretty laugh, Ash,” Nathan said. Ashley’s cheeks lit up with the shade of the changing autumn leaves. She squealed and twisted in place, her shoes shuffling against the ground beneath her. Every little movement was entirely reactionary to the tickles coursing through her, all fighting back against the natural urge to protect her ticklish pits.

“Aaaaahahahaheeehee! Thahahahnk youuueeehehehe!” Ashley managed to say through her giggling. Nathan continued to laugh along with her. He played his tickling fingers against her stretched pits. He was gentle and careful where he touched. His finger tips skittered all over the areas with little care for precision. Every little touch sent ticklish shocks through Ashley’s body that caused her to twist side to side. It was all she could do besides laugh, which she did so freely.

“I guess you can take a lot of tickling,” Nathan said, supplementing intensity with taunting phrases. “C-coochie coochie coo…” He spoke with an uncertain approach to how Ashley would want the exchange to go. His confidence kept him in a mild state, never wanting to step too far into the ticklish session. Nathan studied her expression while tickling her cloth covered pits. Ashley’s face brightened as she laughed, her cheeky rosy and lifted. Her eyes sparkled when they opened, wearing the shade of a clear sun-soaked sky. Her laugh was light and airy. Ashley sang it aloud through a modest almost whisper. She squeaked when it became louder and forced it into brief restraint. Nathan scraped his fingers across Ashley’s pits just enough to hear her ticklish song while keeping her comfortably resilient.

“Eeeeekkkheeeheheehehhahahahaaaahaa!! Naahahahahathaaahahan!” Ashley squealed. Her legend danced in place, still struggling to keep her up on her toes. One would lift or buckle at a time before switching to the other. She kicked up small clouds of sand beneath her boots while enduring the ticklish endeavor. Nathan laughed along with her. His own expression of investment came as playful teases of their own, signaling the fun that he had and his willingness to keep going. Ashley’s own competitive nature, coupled with how being tickled made her heart race and body tingle, was keen on keeping him engaged. Even still, her arms began to ache. Her grip began to weaken and her feet grew weary of staying up on her toes. She endured the tickles for as long as she could before letting go and stumbling back.

“Uh oh, too much for you?” Nathan said with a chuckle. Ashley clenched her arms to her sides. Residual tickles and the lingering physical memory of Nathan’s fingers scribbling against her pits left her giggly and withdrawn. She eyed the boy with a bashful, yet mischievous grin. Ashley brushed a pigtail out of her face.

“Not even close,” Ashley said. “Just couldn’t stay standing like that.”

“Uh huh, sure,” Nathan said. “Or I’m just that good of a tickler.”

“You think?” Ashley asked. “Hm, maybe I need a bit more before I can say that.” She urged the boy on with a challenging smirk.

“Fine by me,” Nathan said. He looked across the playground before stopping at a slide over by a sandbox lined with bright blue wood. The slide was of sturdy plastic and an equally boisterous shade of yellow. “How about you lay down on that slide right there?” Ashley turned to look back at it.

“Lay down?” Ashley asked. Nathan sighed and looked away.

“Yeah, maybe that does sound kind of bad, doesn’t it?” Nathan asked. Ashley stared at the slide for a moment before turning back to Nathan.

“N-no, I think I get it,” Ashley said. She walked over to the end of the slide. It was only slightly taller than both her and Nathan and had a ladder reaching up to the top. Ashley stopped and turned around at the slide. She sat down against the bottom of it, feeling the chill of the hard, plastic material seeping in through her pants. “Ohh, cold…”

“We don’t have to,” Nathan said, walking up to her.

“No, no, it’s okay,” Ashley said. “You get used to it.” She leaned back slowly, laying her back down across the length of the slide. Her boots dug into the sand below her to keep her from sliding off entirely. She nestled steadily in place, letting her clothed skin adjust to the chill temperature of the large playground toy. “Like this?”

“Sure,” Nathan said. He stood over her and looked down. Ashley smiled back cheekily, gradually raising her arms high above her head. Nathan stepped forward. Ashley’s adorable figure was more than could be admired at the moment, but he decided to not keep the girl waiting. “Ready?” Ashley shrugged and shot him a grin.

“Do your worst,” she said. Nathan raised an eyebrow, a single side of his lips lifting.

“Alright, you asked for it,” Nathan said. The boy eased down just far enough to reach Ashley without invading too much of her comfort. His hands shot down toward her pits once more, but drifted downward. His fingers brushed along the edges of Ashley’s torso, skittering all along her ribs. Ashley squealed. Instantly, her arms shot down to protect the areas, unaware of trapping Nathan’s hands firmly against her body.

“Eeeeeeekkkkheeheeeehahahahahahaaaa!” Ashley shrieked. She threw her head back and let out a sudden burst of flittering giggles. Her legs bent as her body attempted to curl up in a little ball for protection. Nathan stared down at her expressions. His tickling was still considerably light, yet left Ashley squirming and laughing consistently against the slide.

“Uh oh, Ashley’s ticklish here too, huh?” Nathan taunted. He knelt down beside Ashley to take a more comfortable position for them both. He remained highly aware of where his hands went when exploring her ticklish areas. His fingers scribbled and danced up and down both sets of ribs. Even through her shirt, Ashley was still wiggling and giggling like a little girl at play. She winced and squeaked and rocked back and forth. Her arms clenching onto Nathan’s hands left them perfectly positioned to claw and punch at her ribs. One by one, he counted each up and down.

“Eeeeehhhheheheheheheaahahahaha!! Oh gaaahahahahahash!!” Ashley giggled. Her hair flopped with the rapid shaking of her head from one side to the other. Her cheeks were bright and dimpled. Her laughter was soft, yet constant, an appeal to the mild nature of the tickling. Through her ticklish hysteria, however, Ashley remained in place. She kept herself as available as she could for Nathan to tickle, wanting the play to go on for as long as she could stand it.

“Hehe, tickle, tickle, tickle…” Nathan pulled out the first tickling phrase to come to mind. He spoke only slightly patronizingly, not wanting the tickling to seem too far into something more serious than it was. Both playful teens stayed wrapped in their own perceptions of the session while still managing to enjoy themselves. Nathan repeated the ticklish phrases, leaving Ashley laughing harder than before. He managed to slip his hands out from her ribs and slid them downward. He grabbed onto both of Ashley’s sides and gave both a ticklish pinch.

“Naaaahhhhhheeehahahahahaaaa!!’ Ashley let out a sudden shriek. She clamped her hands over her mouth as she melted back into a flurry of giggles. She rocked side to side against the slide. Her boots dug into the sand while her legs kicked to minimal degrees. Ashley fought more against her body’s natural instincts, her reactionary impulses to avoid the tickling. Nathan’s tickling was tender and sympathetic, yet Ashley’s overwhelming ticklishness persisted well through her clothes. Nathan’s hands gnawed at her sides, pinching and clawing with the most delicate of squeezes.

“Haha, see, we’re having fun,” Nathan said. He laughed along with her. Ashley bucked against the slide. Her chest heaved, her heart pumping faster and faster. The warmth that caressed her cheeks flowed through her entire body. Nathan’s tickles were just as affectionate as she imagined they would be. They were similar in many ways to Jayden’s touch, yet the more closely knit friendship shared exclusively between her and Jayden allowed her friend to push her father more comfortably. She knew not which style she liked better, only that she enjoyed both greatly.

“Aaaaahhheeeeeheheheheheheeheee Naaahahahahathaaaaan!” Ashley shrieked. As her voice rose and she struggled to restrain the more bellowing laughs, she pressed her hands tighter against her mouth. Nathan kept an eye on her expressions. He allowed them both the parting gift of a few more tickles before pulling back.

Nathan drew back his hands. Ashley, given a break, laid against the slide panting. She opened her eyes, seeing him standing over her. Sweat had begun beading around her forehead. Several hairs had gotten loose and cast a frayed mess across her amber crown. Her eyes gleamed, staring back at the boy. She was grateful for his consideration, and knew that she would rather not make a scene for others to see, but if only for a few fleeting seconds, all she wanted was for him to continue. To go farther, to push her the way Jayden pushed her. To really unravel her ticklish secrets and to absolutely flood her body with the tickles that she secretly craved. But Ashley’s rational thinking treasured the security behind the move, seeing Nathan as the gentle man she always knew him to be.

“Wow…” Ashley muttered. She brought a hand to her forehead. She was burning up in some places, almost freezing in others.

“Yeah, sorry if that was too much,” Nathan said. “Didn’t want to push it.”

“No, I… I get it,” Ashley said. “That wasn’t too much. That was… thank you.” Ashley steadily caught her breath, made harder by the thin crispness of the autumn chill. Nathan took Ashley by the hand and helped her to her feet. Her hand was warm and soft in his. He held it, appreciating its texture, just long enough to not seem overly presumptuous. As she stood, Nathan reluctantly let go.

Nathan walked Ashley back to the bench. Ashley’s face was still blushing a deep red, warmth coursing through her body. She nervously scratched at her cheek and took a seat. Nathan sat down next to her. He looked over, seeing how Ashley had started to open up. She had always been a quiet figure, an observing ghost through the years that he had known her. As intelligent as she was reserved, Ashley had never been one to stand out. She was never the girl to speak up or challenge the pressures of teenage life. He knew that she worked diligently on her family farm and spent most of her free time around school reading. She was never one to make herself known or special, and yet that was always how he saw her.

“That was… fun,” Ashley said, modestly. She cleared her throat, staring down at the ground.

“It was,” said Nathan. He breathed a relieved sigh. He looked up to the sky, noticing several black birds flying overhead. Ashley toyed with her hair while the two sat in a relative silence. He glanced over at her and a playful smile stretched across her face. Ashley’s cheeks stayed an inviting shade of pink. Her heart continued to race long after the tickling had subsided. She swallowed, nervously pinching at the end of her pigtail. She brought it up to her lips and pushed back the urge to chew on it, a nervous tick Ashley had spent years working her way out of.

“You did get… most of my ticklish spots…” Ashley said, starting to bait once more.

“‘Most’?” Nathan asked.

“Y-yeah,” Ashley said. Her voice was softened, almost drowned out by the calling of the birds gathering around the baseball field across the courtyard. “I-I’m pretty ticklish all over, but there… um… one place where I’m probably most ticklish…” The transparency gnawed at the pit in her stomach, yet the time spent with Nathan up to that point had raised a significant amount of confidence to bring up a particular subject.

“Yeah?” Nathan asked. “Where?” Ashley’s face was still glowing red, nearly devouring the light brown shade of freckles scattered over the bridge of her nose.

“Well, you’ve already tickled there before…” Ashley said, reluctant to put it to words. “Just not today.” Nathan thought for a moment before speaking.

“Oh, your feet?” Nathan asked. Ashley clenched at the word, feeling almost naked in front of Nathan. But his insouciant attitude toward the information helped her ease into the moment they shared, as if his reactions communicated better how comfortable he still was with her.

“Y-yeah,” Ashley said. She brushed it off with a laugh and shook her head. “It’s so embarrassing.”

“Why?” Nathan asked. His tone was high and light. “Lots of people are ticklish on their feet.”

“I know, but…” Ashley started. She paused as she realized she had nothing with which to follow. She laughed it off again. “It’s silly.”

“And like I said, I had a lot of fun the other day,” Nathan said. A flurry of thoughts raced through Ashley’s mind. The words to invite Nathan to tickle her feet again were there in her mind, yet none of them were brave enough to escape her lips.

“I-I’m glad…” Ashley said. She bit her lip. Ashley shifted uncomfortably against the bench, words flying around her mind begging to be released. She drew in a long breath and started to speak. “Nathan…”

“So, if you wanted to…” Nathan started. He stopped and chuckled. “I’m sorry, go ahead.”

“No, you go,” Ashley said. Nathan smiled back at her.

“Well, I was going to say that if you wanted to, I could… tickle your feet again here and now…” Nathan said. He lowered his voice to where he was sure only she would be able to hear him. Ashley froze. She swallowed, taking a moment to allow the moment to sink in. Nathan stopped her before she could say anything. “That sounded weird, I’m sorry. We really don’t have to-”

“No,” Ashley hurriedly interjected. She recoiled, sitting back against the bench. “N-no, I mean… that’s cool with me… you know, if you wanted to…”

“I-I’d have fun,” Nathan said. He spoke softly and chose his words carefully. “Would you?” Ashley grinned at his adorable amount of care for her comfort.

“I… would,” Ashley addressed with a downplayed approach.

“Okay then,” Nathan said. He sighed through a wide grin. “B-but it’s still totally up to you.”

“I’d be game,” Ashley said sweetly. She bent down to untie her boots. One at a time, she slipped them off, revealing her socked feet clad in white cotton. The cool air brushed against the warmth of her soles through the fabric. She wiggled her toes a little as she drew in her knees.

“It’s not too cold for that, right?” Nathan asked. Ashley shook her head.

“Not for me,” Ashley said. She blushed and scratched at the side of her neck. “Sorry if they… smell or whatever…”

“Oh, trust me, I don’t mind,” Nathan said. “I’m sure they don’t though.” He looked down to both of Ashley’s feet, free from their boots. Ashley noticed him staring and shot him a smile.

“So, um…” she started.

“Oh, right,” Nathan said. He sat back against the back of the bench, not having noticed how much he had been leaning forward. He gave his lap two pats of his hand. Ashley chuckled once more, still processing the thrill of the moment, as if a dream plucked from her personal catalog of fantasies. She turned to face Nathan, pressing her back against the opposite side armrest. She swung her legs up long ways across the bench. Carefully, she placed her feet into Nathan’s lap, right by his hand.

“O-okay,” Ashley said, swallowing nervously. She scratched again at her neck and pinched the tip of a pigtail. Nathan stared down at Ashley’s feet in his lap. He could already feel the warmth emanating from them against his hand. He traced his fingertips across the edge of one foot. Ashley clenched again, sitting up straight and fixing her eyes on his hand. Her hands clenched around the base of the bench beneath her as she stared and bashfully covered one foot with the other.

“I think it’s cool you’re so comfortable with this,” Nathan said. Ashley giggled slightly. She stroked her hair more and looked away.

“Yeah, well, it’s gotten easier,” Ashley said. Nathan softly grazed his knuckle across the length of her sole. Ashley’s lips pulled back. She watched the boy’s hand closely and squeaked, her back straightening against the bench. Encouraged by the reaction, Nathan continued on. He added the tips of his fingers lightly scratching at the base of her sole. Giggles began fluttering out of Ashley’s smile. She shifted more in her seat, grabbing onto the edge of the bench beneath her.

“Hehe, you do have a really cute laugh,” Nathan said. Ashley held it back as much as she could, her cheeks burning to the sweet words and playful touching. She could only watch his hand toy with her feet. They switched from one to the other. Her feet brushed up against one another, changing places every so often. They squirmed in his lap. Her toes curled and flexed. She squeaked and giggled more and more while the tickles commanded more and more of her senses.

“Mmmmheeeeheheheheheheeehahaha!” Ashley laughed. Her laughter was as melodic as it had been for Nathan, though the motions to instigate the laughter had been far reduced due to the sensitivity of the area. Nathan grinned. He scribbled harder against Ashley’s socked soles. His fingers stroked and brushed with firmer and firmer scratches. They slipped easily over the softness of her socks. Nathan scribbled them up and down her arches, noting all of the most sensitive places. He toyed with her heels and scratched up at the base of her toes.

“Hope you still won’t mind all this,” Nathan said. “You’re a lot of fun to tickle.” Ashley squealed and shook her head. The way he spoke, coupled with the reserved tickles that resonated and compounded against her senses brought back memories of Jayden just starting her out. She thought back to how Jayden would tickle her in just the right ways, how open Jayden was to introducing such a play into their friendship, and how Jayden made her feel it all so natural. Nathan tickled well, but there was comfort with Jayden; familiarity and security that made her want to open up. She did her best to enjoy her time with Nathan, and did so easily.

“Meaaaaahahahahahahahaaahaha! Mmmmm it tickles so maaahahahahch!” Ashley laughed. As Nathan’s tickles sped up, she finally allowed herself to break. She held back her laughter less, letting the tickles from her feet wash over her in waves. Her feet stroked one another, pulling back every so often before slipping back into Nathan’s lap. They would shyly return for the tickles, Ashley’s fluttering laughter inviting  and asking for more. Nathan kept her on edge. The tickles increased by how much Ashley could take at a time, occasionally pushing her over to degrees that had her heart racing. Eventually, Nathan stopped, cupping one foot to keep them available.

“I don’t want to impose,” he said, letting her catch her breath, “but would you be okay if I took your socks off?” Ashley swallowed. She covered a blushing smirk by looking away briefly, tucking more hair behind her ear.

“I… I wouldn’t mind… if you don’t that is…” Ashley said. Nathan smirked.

“As long as you’re okay with it,” he said. His fingers slipped within the elastic band of one sock. He slowly pulled it down, delicately peeling it off. Once off, he laid the sock over his knee before unwrapping the other. Ashley glanced away. Her feet, bared and on display for the boy, curled and hid as best as they could while sitting in front of him. He smirked and steadied his touch. He returned his fingers to her feet, proceeding to brush and scratch against her bare soles. Ashley squeaked and recoiled immediately.

“Eeeeekkkheeehehahahahahah!!” Ashley shrieked. She carefully placed her feet back down into the boy’s lap. He continued on, keeping a watchful eye on her expression throughout. Ashley clenched. Short bursts of giggles yelped loudly. Her toes curled and wiggled. She continued to squirm and endure as best as she could with Nathan’s fingers lightly teasing her bare soles. They were soft and warm, Nathan scratching at each while guided by a silky texture.

“Hehe, I remember how bad having your feet tickled seemed for you,” Nathan said. He chuckled and kept pushing the intensity. He scribbled five fingers at a time across the length of each foot. He delivered concentrated scratches before raking up and down to keep Ashley guessing. Nathan was careful to keep the tickling going as intense as it could within Ashley’s comfort. Ashley writhed against the bench. She laughed louder and louder still while leaves fell idly from the trees above them. Nathan picked his nails against her bare toes, swiping and counting each for bursting surges of tickles.

“Aaaaaahhhhheheeehehehahahahahahaaa! Jaaaahahahahaayyy–nnnnheehehehee!” Ashley slipped. She covered her mouth as her laughter began to peak once again. She bounced and bucked against the bench. Nathan merely chuckled. He kept dancing his finger against her toes before scraping them back down her soles. Ashley held out for as long as she could. The situation of being so exposed in public while being tickled began to set in. As she started to hit her limit, Ashley pulled her feet back, bending her knees up toward her chest.

“Uh oh,” Nathan said with a chuckle. “Too much?” Ashley had little idea how much her cheeks and ears were burning until the laughter began to die down. She held her knees up before slowly lowering her feet back down to the ground. She took a moment to catch her breath, carelessly fixing her hair in the process.

“Hmm… hehe… y-yeah…” Ashley said. She swallowed. Ashley pushed herself up to a more proper sitting position. Nathan handed Ashley her socks back. “Th-thanks…”

“No, thank you,” Nathan said. “This was fun.”

“It was?” Ashley asked, slipping her feet back into her socks. “It wasn’t weird or anything, right?” Nathan looked off and shrugged.

“It was different,” Nathan said. “But that’s what makes it special.” Ashley smiled. She finished with her socks and began lacing her shoes back onto her feet as well.

“I don’t want to keep you out too late,” Ashley said. Nathan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen shined on his face before he slipped it back in.

“You don’t want to keep me out late?” Nathan asked. “You’re the one with all the chores, if I remember.” Ashley laughed. Her belly ached from the chuckle, the warm familiar ache of how Jayden would leave her after being tickled.

“Yeah, that too, I guess,” Ashley said. Nathan smiled and stood. He grabbed his bag and slung one strap over one shoulder. He held out his hand for Ashley to take. Ashley looked at it before looking back at him. She grinned, finding Nathan’s gesture cheesily endearing, but accepting it nonetheless. “Thanks.” Ashley grabbed her own bag and ran both arms through the straps.

“It’s only going to get colder anyway,” Nathan said. He started off toward the main road, looking back to make sure Ashley was behind him. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Ashley said, catching up to him.

“Sure I do,” Nathan said. “It’s the least I can do for you letting me tickle you so much.” A warmth pulsed through Ashley from her smile. It overcame the chill of the falling sun and the blues of the sky shifting into the burning yellows of a day worth remembering.

“Anytime,” Ashley said. The word echoed in her mind the entire walk home.