Shy, Ticklish, Country Girl: Chapter 2 (Patreon)

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“I’m sorry, I’m just… dumb, I guess,” Nathan said staring down into a dated Calculus textbook that might as well have been written with ancient hieroglyphics. He held his head in his hand. His eyes blinked through the strain of fruitless concentration.

“You’re not dumb,” Ashley said. She sat across from him and spoke in a gentle hush. Library silence always felt almost louder than regular silence, as if the added pressure to be quiet was its own distraction. Mrs. Geraldina, the school’s librarian, shuffled by with a cart of books to be returned to their shelves. Other students sat around in the study area either reading or cramming in last minute test prep. Ashley looked up to Nathan and smiled. “It’s hard stuff, I promise.”

“Not for you,” Nathan said. He gave her a small grin hoping to quell any sour mist he had put into the air. Ashley shrugged it off.

“Well, when you don’t go out much, or when you have parents like mine, you find a lot of time to study,” Ashley said.

“You just make it look so easy,” Nathan said. He rubbed his temple. His clean blue eyes scanned over the pages in front of him, expecting the information to click somehow into his brain. Ashley stole passive glances up at him. He worked diligently through his struggles and seemed genuine in wanting her help.

“I mean, you make basketball look easy,” Ashley said, spilling out the first thing that came to her mind. “I could never do what you do. It’s really…” Ashley’s voice trailed off. She met Nathan’s eye briefly before quickly looking back down at the book. She scratched at the side of her nose to try and hide the heat building beneath her freckles. “Okay, um, for this we’ll need to find if f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = (x-3)/2 are inverses of each other. What’s the first step?” Nathan thought for a moment, puzzling over the page.

“Uh, solve for x?” Nathan asked. Ashley giggled.

“Well, kinda,” she said.

“No, no, this is math,” Nathan said grinning back at her. “I don’t need to hear ‘kinda’.” Ashley held her hand to her mouth as she laughed out loud. Nathan chuckled along with her. “Hey, don’t laugh at me.”

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to,” Ashley said. She stifled herself and looked up to Mrs. Geraldina, giving her a snide look. Ashley coughed to mask the last of her humor. “I’ve just… been in a laughy mood lately.”

“Yeah?” Nathan asked. Ashley stroked one pigtail out of her face.

“Yeah, I… I don’t know what it is,” Ashley said. The jovial sensation in her gut at the clenching of laughter had kept bringing her mind back to that one afternoon with Jayden. She had expected to have just the one fun day to get the bug, that tickling itch, out of her system, but something about laughing had since brought her a new strange rush to life.

“You still working your family’s ranch?” Nathan asked. Ashley nodded.

“Yep,” she said. “Every day.”

“How are the horses?” Nathan asked. Ashley smiled.

“They’re doing good,” she said. “Mystery was sick a lot last week, but she seems better now. Ivy’s getting big now and Echo’s been acting up. I think she misses daddy. She’s his favorite.”

“He’s still away a lot?”

“Yeah,” Ashley said with a sigh. “He works so hard. I wish he’d come home. It’s why I gotta tend to all his jobs.”

“And you’re still helping out at church?”

“When I can,” Ashley said.

“That’s really cool,” Nathan said. “You’re always so quiet at youth group. You should hang out with us all more. You were a lot of fun at the retreat.” Ashley huffed through her nose. She looked down and fought back a bashful smirk.

“Jayden is the fun one,” said Ashley. “I’m just around her a lot. ‘Fun by proxy’ maybe.”

“You do all of that and you still manage to get straight A’s?” Nathan asked. Ashley paused.

“Well, I got a B in Spanish last year, if that makes you feel better,” Ashley said.

“You know what, it does,” he said, with a chuckle. “You should get B’s more often.” Ashley laughed and glanced back down at the book.

“Let’s get you there first.”

Ashley had pulled out her own notes and patiently went over the current chapter with Nathan. She read off problem after problem, walking him through the steps and formulas for each. She watched him strain to understand, trying his hardest to learn the material. The library slowly emptied through the initial hour after school had let out for the day. The pair continued with Nathan’s studies until a buzz in his pocket cut them short. He reached in and pulled out his phone.

“Ugh, my dad’s here,” he said begrudgingly.

“Oh, that’s okay,” Ashley said. “We can pick this up some other time.”

“Totally,” Nathan said, starting to pack his books and notes into his bag. “I really need it.”

“You’re getting there,” Ashley said.

“Thanks,” Nathan said. He stood from the table. A tight Eli Young Band tee shirt clung to his chest. He slung his book bag over his shoulder, looking back to her with a shy smirk. “Hey, uh, Sunday I should be free in the morning for youth group. Some of the guys on the team are going to a thing later, but would it be cool if we could all hang out sometime. Like outside of church, I don’t know if that was clear.” The freckles on Ashley’s cheeks dipped into her dimples.

“S-sure, that’d be great- fine,” Ashley said. “I mean, that’d be okay. I just have to make sure my mom doesn’t need me for anything.”

“Cool,” Nathan said. “We’ll figure something out then. Something fun.” He adjusted the bag on his back and nodded. “I’ll see you then.”

“Yeah,” Ashley said, breathlessly through a drying throat. “See you.”

Ashley watched Nathan walk out of the library, quickly turning her gaze away at seeing him start to look back. She stared down at the book in front of her. Her foot tapped against the leg of the desk. The words and letters and numbers on the page below swirled incoherently, as if none of them mattered enough to convey information. Her pencil bounced its eraser rapidly against a quadratic equation. Her mind both raced and yet still felt vacant. Ashley let out a long, dragging breath as her heart began to steady.

A sudden pinch on both sides jolted her body. Ashley yelped and tightened in her seat. Her arms bent and clamped against her. She covered her mouth and glanced over to Mrs. Geraldina, who gave her another threatening look. Around her back, a familiar face smirked down at her.

“There’s that squeak,” Jayden said. Ashley’s friend Jayden circled around the desk. She was dolled up in jeans, a flannel, and a beanie, what Ashley’s father would have called ‘hobo wear’. She plopped down in the seat recently vacated by Nathan.

“Y-you scared me,” Ashley said. She flipped back a pigtail.

“You’re too easy to get,” Jayden said. “You’ve got to always be alert. You never know when some weirdo’s gonna come up from behind and catch you off guard.”

“Like you?” Ashley asked with a scoff.

“Nah, I’d just tickle you,” Jayden said. Ashley’s pencil resumed its eraser bouncing. She bit her lip and looked away.

“I know you would,” Ashley said. “How long were you back there?”

“Long enough,” Jayden said. Her stare bore into Ashley’s peripheral. She felt it pressing against her. As much as Ashley tried to ignore it, she knew she could not challenge Jayden’s patient and highly annoying persistence.

“For what?” Ashley asked, coyly.

“Oh come on, you’re not serious,” Jayden said. “Watching you totally flirting with Nathan just now.” Ashley’s face started to warm at the idea.

“I was not.”

“Yeah you were,” Jayden said. “Even if someone as dense as you doesn’t know what flirting is, that’s totally what you were doing.”

“No it wasn’t,” Ashley said. “And I’m not dense.”

“‘Sheltered’, I know,” Jayden said. “Guys go for that too.”

“I’m not anything, okay?” Ashley said. “And I wasn’t flirting. I was just helping him with Calc. He’s been struggling.”

“I’ve been struggling in Calc for months now, how come you don’t help me?” Jayden asked with an insincere sourness. Ashley rolled her eyes.

“Because I’d just end up doing your work for you,” she said. “You know that.”

“And you know you were flirting just now,” Jayden said. Ashley scoffed. “I know it. You know it. Everyone in the library knows it. Mr. Sinclair’s up on the roof right now getting high, he knows it.” Ashley’s blush bloomed into a deeper shade. The curl at the ends of her lips started to rise.

“I don’t… know about that,” Ashley said.

“I suppose you don’t,” Jayden said, “because he was totally flirting back.” Ashley blinked.

“R-really?”

“Oh, big time,” Jayden said. She let out a laugh, unapologetic toward the librarian glaring her way. “Why wouldn’t he? You’re so…” Jayden trailed off with a cough, scratching at the side of her nose. “I can’t believe- you both are- I don’t get how neither of you picked up on that. That blows my mind. You were both so obvious.”

“Okay, now I know you’re full of it,” Ashley said. She chuckled and started packing up her books.

“He’s still coming to youth group, right?”

“He said he was.”

“See, he doesn’t have to come,” Jayden said. “You’ve seen him. His parents don’t make him. Why else would he willingly get up that early on a Sunday?” Ashley thought for a moment.

“Maybe he just likes the service,” she said.

“He wasn’t coming before I told him that we all went,” Jayden said. “He ain’t coming for me or any of the others. But he is to see you.” Ashley sighed and finished packing away her materials. She stood, running her arms through the back pack straps.

“Red light,” Ashley said with a knowing look. Jayden groaned and rolled her eyes.

“Fine, I’ll drop it,” she said, “but you know I’m right.”

“We should go,” Ashley said, starting to walk off. Jayden stood and rushed to her side.

“Hey, don’t you ignore me.”

“I’m not,” said Ashley. “Wish I could, but we’re walking together if you’re ready.”

“Yeah, I got Mrs. Dunshire’s stupid paper done,” said Jayden. “Can’t believe she made me rewrite it all after I explained clearly that my brother flushed it down the toilet.” Ashley laughed through her nose and shook her head.

“If you’re not going to do your homework, at least work on your lying,” Ashley said. Jayden smirked.

“That’s what my brother said.”

“Is this still the same fake brother or another one?”

“Oh, another one,” Jayden said. “I don’t think you’ve met Santiago. He lives up North, works at a toy factory, and only comes by on Christmas.” Ashley laughed.

“Santiago,” she said, shaking her head. “Does he have a bunch of elves that work for him?”

“He does, but it’s a union, so it’s cool,” Jayden said with her quickfire wit.

Quaint, small town charm covered every dusty inch of Langdon. Rural landscapes painted the earth with rolling pastures and crop fields. It was a town where the locals all knew one another, the smell of cattle filled the air, and covered bridges were still used regularly. Chickens crossed roads on their own time and with no one questioning why. The town square was the central meeting point for most social events and local businesses. There was one barber, one grocer, one hardware store, and only one of everything anyone could need to survive in such a minimalistic climate. Many businesses were generational, run by family names that were around long before the invention of radio.

Sam Clemmons High School matched the town’s aesthetic perfectly in terms of size, finances, and technological advancements. It was the first building in the town to have working computers, a feat still held over some businesses and many residential properties. It sat only a few blocks from the town square. Only a few buses managed to run at a time while many students chose to walk to and from campus. Mostly because the walk was not a long one and it gave time to finish last-minute homework assignments and to stop by Carson’s Ice Cream Parlor for a cone or milkshake. The roads had cleared by the time Jayden and Ashley started their walk to their houses. Jayden had ridden her bike to school and had to walk it alongside her to stay in pace with Ashley.

“You sure you don’t want to hop on?” Jayden asked. “I’ve gotten a lot better. Gave Carla a ride just the other day and only crashed twice.”

“Wow, you are getting better,” Ashley said. “Still no though.” She looked up to the sky. Pillowy white clouds hung above. They coasted along as the surrounding conifers rustled in a gentle wind. “Pretty out today.” Jayden looked up.

“Yeah,” she said. “What’s your dad got you stuck doing tomorrow?”

“Saturdays are for cleaning the stables,” Ashley said. “You wanna come over and help out?”

“Oh, not even a little bit,” Jayden said. “But I’ll come over after you’re done and maybe we can catch up on Book of Ghouls finally.”

“Maybe,” said Ashley. “But not too late, because… you know…”

“‘It’s scary’?” Jayden asked, mocking Ashley’s voice.

“It is! After Bernard’s head did the… the… thing, I couldn’t sleep for a week!” Jayden let out a hearty laugh.

“That was awesome though,” she said.

“No, it was scary,” Ashley argued. “I don’t even like thinking about it.”

“Aww, poor Ashley,” Jayden taunted. “Fine. Honestly, I’d be down for whatever. Anything around here’s better than another night spent listening to my mom yelling about this or that in the kitchen.” The pair passed by Thomson’s Lake. Jayden picked up a rock and skipped it across the surface.

“Well, you’re welcome over anytime,” Ashley said. She looked down to the gravely road on which they walked. She knew she would be able to see her farmhouse in the distance from that point. A car passed by. Ashley shifted her bag against her back. The first shades of an orange dusk began taking over the sky. Jayden’s bike tires crunched against small rocks and twigs. Ashley pinched the end of one pigtail between her thumb and index finger. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

“What?” Jayden inquired. Ashley paused and sighed.

“You… mentioned earlier that… you’d just tickle me,” Ashley said, her voice trailing softly. Jayden chuckled.

“Oh, when coming up behind you,” Jayden said. “Yeah, probably. Knowing how ticklish you are.”

“So, I assume you remember that one afternoon after school, right?” Ashley asked. Jayden scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“You mean, like a week ago?” Jayden asked. Her tone was dry and sardonic. “No, I forgot. Remind me.”

“You do,” Ashley said. “When you… tickled me after I asked.”

“Yes, I remember,” Jayden said. “Why do you ask?” Ashley paused again. Her throat quivered. She coughed slightly to clear it. Jayden looked on, her brow cocked upward. A smirk stretched across her face. “You wanna again, don’t you?” Ashley winced.

“Don’t think I’m weird,” she said.

“When did I say that?” Jayden asked, legitimately taken back. “You seriously think I think that?”

“N-no, I… I’m sorry,” Ashley said. Jayden looked to her friend. Ashley’s gaze was pointed downward. Jayden warmed herself up to Ashley’s struggle.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she said. “You know I don’t think that. And I said that if you ever want to again, I’d be down.” Ashley nodded.

“Sorry, I don’t know why my mind immediately goes to that,” said Ashley. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, actually. It was a lot of fun.”

“It was,” Jayden said. “I had a good time. I’m glad you did too.”

“Thanks,” Ashley said, with a smile. “That means a lot. You haven’t told anyone, have you?” Jayden shook her head.

“Nah, girl, you can trust me,” she said. Ashley smirked.

“Your brother hasn’t told anyone either, right?” Ashley asked. Jayden let out a single laugh.

“No, none of them have,” she said. “I promise.”

“Good,” said Ashley. “Thank you.”

“So you’ve been thinking about it, huh?” Jayden asked. “How so?” Ashley smirked and blushed.

“I… I don’t know,” Ashley said. She shrugged and twirled a pigtail around her finger. “Maybe trying a different spot.”

“I’d be down for that,” Jayden said. “Remember: Certified Tickle Monster here.”

“You really are,” said Ashley. “There was also, um, the time where… I remember you all saying that you all got Carla at once that one time.”

“You’ll have to be more specific,” said Jayden.

“I mean, getting tickled by several people at once,” Ashley said. She paused and shrugged her shoulders, still pinching and twisting the braid. “I don’t know, that sounds… like fun too. Maybe.” Jayden turned to her and smirked.

“You’d want to get gang tickled?” she asked. Ashley darted a reserved look her way. Jayden recoiled. “I’m not saying it’s weird. It’s just that I know you don’t want people to know.”

“I know I’d feel self conscious if they knew that I was wanting it,” Ashley said, her words paced carefully. “But for others to join in… if it were to just kind of happen… I’d be okay with that.” Jayden turned away from her. Her eyes fell across a distant wheat field, the gears turning in her mind.

“Okay,” Jayden said. “Okay, maybe I can do that for you.”

“I mean, I’m just talking here, I didn’t say-”

“Ash, don’t worry,” Jayden said. “I still won’t say anything. You’ll be fine. But maybe I can make that happen for you. The whole experience, kind of like last time. Would you want that? Be honest with me.” Ashley scratched at the side of her nose. She turned away, her shoulders raised with tension.

“M-maybe, yes,” Ashley said, quietly.

“Alright then,” Jayden said. She gave a little snicker through a devious grin. “I think I have an idea.”

“What is it?” Ashley asked. “Tell me first.” Jayden held her head up high.

“You trust me, right?” Jayden asked.

“I do,” said Ashley. “I trust you.”

“Then no,” Jayden said. “It’ll be more fun this way.”

~~~

Service that Sunday morning passed like any other: a dull humdrum of Langdon’s elderly in formal wear just happy to get out of the house. Large families sat together and shared friendly conversation with others and little to no conversation within themselves. Bored children sat banging their dress shoes on the pew in front of them, dressed up by their mothers and still pouty from having to do so. Pastor Marcus Friedman was a kind old man and a great town leader, but not one most would call ‘entertaining’. He went through passages, tied them into current events and life lessons that often made large leaps of associations, and led the groups in the occasional song played on the organ by a woman in a large white hat.

Ashley sat in the middle row with her mother as usual. She was quiet as she listened to the service, fighting back the heavy fluttering of her eyelids and the urge to yawn. A couple rows ahead of her on the other side sat Nathan alone between two different families. She had seen him walking in and watched to make sure he would still be around for youth group after. Jayden sat in her usual spot in the back with several others she recognized from both the group and school. Ashley  had chosen that morning on jeans, black flats, and a flowy white top; something nice and cute without trying too hard into either extreme.

When the last service finished, Ashley’s mother parted from her with a kiss and joined in idle chit-chat with some of the other parents outside. Ashley stayed behind to help Pastor Friedman clean up the chapel. She looked around for Nathan passively, wondering if he had joined the adults outside or the other high schoolers in the classroom. Ashley hurried through her duties. She picked up small bits of litter, wiped down the pews, restocked the complimentary bibles, and closed up the chapel for the day. With a heavy sigh, she rushed back to the classroom, hoping to have not missed much during her duties.

“I do not!” Mandy shouted. Ashley caught the outburst just before she opened the door. She entered and quietly shut the door behind her. Inside the room, Jayden sat up on the couch, with her seat on the back and her shoes on the cushions. Carla chuckled, standing next to the open window. Mandy sat red-faced at a desk, her arms crossed. Entering further, Ashley saw Grant snacking on a Poptart. Nathan stood next to Jayden, watching whatever event had just unfolded. “We’re just friends. God.”

“Please, I always see you two together,” Carla said. “You sit next to each other at lunch, you ride the bus together, you sit together here.”

“Yeah, so?” Mandy barked back. “We’re friends. He’s friends with all of you too.”

“Yeah, but not like that,” Grant added. Mandy turned back and shot him a deathly glare.

“Ash!” called Jayden, waving her over. “Bout time, girl. Come over. Sit here.” Jayden had slid over to save the spot on the couch between her and Nathan. Ashley sighed at her friend’s obvious gesture. She walked up to the spot on the couch and took a seat, her knees pressed together and back up straight.  The room hit a stagnant break. Mandy huffed in frustration and looked away. Ashley meekly raised her hand and spoke.

“Hi,” she said. “Tom’s late again, I take it?”

“We need a new leader,” Carla said.

“Nah, I like this better,” Jayden said. “This is way more fun.” Ashley turned to everyone in the room for a smile before getting to Nathan. He smirked and raised one hand to wave at her. He had put on his usual Sunday deviation from his normal clothes, a slim button up with khakis and a tie. He was always the most well dressed of the teen crowd. Ashley smiled back at his predictably dorky charm. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear doing so.

“I agree,” Grant said. No one seemed to hear or pay him much attention. Jayden threw her arm around Ashley’s shoulders and leaned in.

“Hey, so that thing you asked me to do the other day,” Jayden started in a faint whisper.

“What thing?” Ashley whispered back.

“The, uh,” Jayden said. She took her other hand and lightly skittered her nails against Ashley’s arm. Ashley quickly pulled the arm away and scratched at the spot. “That thing.”

“Oh, hehe,” Ashley said. The room suddenly became warmer. It seemed like Jayden’s voice had gotten loud enough for everyone to hear, or at the very least Nathan standing right next to her. Her shoulders rose toward her ears.

“It’s happening today,” Jayden said. “Just a fair warning.”

“What?”

“What are you two whispering about?” Carla asked. Jayden pulled back, leaving Ashley’s mind racing as to what her plan could be. She nervously scratched at her arm.

“Ash,” Jayden started, placing a hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “Carla claims that Mandy has the hots for Evan. Your thoughts?”

“Oh my God, let’s not get back on this,” Mandy fought back. “I so don’t.”

“But it’s so obvious,” Carla said with a shrug. “And it’s not like he’s not cute.” The room turned toward Carla.

“Aw, damn, Mandy,” Jayden said with a loud chuckle. “Carla’s after your man!” The room burst with laughter.

“No, I’m not,” Carla said, rolling her eyes and scoffing with a laugh.

“I mean, maybe she likes him,” Mandy said.

“Sounds like it to me,” Jayden added.

“Don’t pin that on me, I’m not the one who’s always letting him copy my homework before classes,” Carla said.

“Only because I actually get answers right,” Mandy said. The room let out a collective, antagonizing groan.

“Yeah, okay,” Carla said, turning away.

“It’s really not so bad if you do like him,” Nathan said, his tone much calmer than the rest. “Evan’s a nice guy. He and I go way back.” The energy in the room lowered just as Ashley started to worry if what she was witnessing was play fighting or legitimate unrest.

“It’s just the insinuation, I guess,” Mandy said after a pause. She fell silent for a moment after, twiddling her thumbs in her lap. “He’s a friend and I don’t need rumors making things weird, you know?”

“I know,” said Ashley. Every eye fell on her, likely for the first time that day. She looked up, noticing how quickly she had responded and how quiet the room had become. Jayden especially gave her a curious, cheeky stare. In a flash, the room started to heat. Ashley’s foot tapped against the floor. In glancing at Nathan, his eyes seemed to weigh on her the most. “I-I mean, I get it…”

“Oh?” Jayden asked. Her smile was telling. Her drilling eyes were entertaining to her and her alone. They darted only to Nathan and only long enough for Ashley to see. Ashley swallowed, shooting back a subtle glare.

“I can empathize,” Ashley said sternly. “That’s all.” She looked back to Mandy. “Like Nathan said, it’s no big deal.”

“‘No big deal’, huh?” Jayden asked. She reached down and pinched both of her sides at once. Ashley yelped, her arms pinning to her sides and knees raised defensively. Her face contorted into a tight smile, fluttering giggles escaping her lips.

“Stahahahp! Stahahahapp!!’ Ashley squealed. Jayden latched onto Ashley’s sides and continued squeezing both at the same time.

“Hehe, you’re so much fun to…,” she said. The others watched on closely. Ashley’s face darkened into a deep shade of pink. She squirmed side to side in her chair. Jayden’s lips began to curl. Her eyes narrowed. One brow cocked upward as a lightbulb seemed to turn on. She stopped and pulled back. “Hey guys, great idea. I think we should make Ashley the next designated tickle-target.” Carla perked up.

“Yes, please,” Carla said quickly. “I’m sick of it being me.” Ashley blushed. She reached up to pinch the end of her braid, pulling it in front of her face to hide.

“Jay…” Ashley said.

“Because I found out the other day that Ashley is actually really, super ticklish, and has the most adorable laugh,” Jayden said. “Like, just listen.” Before Ashley could object, Jayden’s hands shot to both sides of her. Her fingers drove into the crevasses of her armpits and began gnawing into the soft, warm hollows.

“No, no, naaaaahahahahahahaaaa!!!” Ashley squealed. Her arms instinctively pressed against her sides once more, trapping Jayden’s hands inside. She giggled light, flowery laughter. Her expression twisted, her lips singing with fluttery chuckles and mousey squeaks.

“Awww, that’s so cute,” said Carla, watching on closely. Mandy’s demeanor lightened up from the focus no longer being on her. Grant laughed along with the action while Nathan stood and witnessed the event unfold with passive interest.

“Tickle, tickle tickle…” Jayden taunted. She held on firmly as Ashley twisted and bent over, struggling to free the scribbling fingers from her pits. To get away, Ashley tried to turn sideways, to lean back along the length of the couch. Jayden followed her down, leering over her body as Ashley effectively stretched herself out.

“Staahahahahahap!!! Staahaahhaapp!!” Ashley cried out. Jayden dug a few more tickles into her pits before pulling back. Ashley laid across the couch, her chest rising and falling through gulping down heavy breaths. Her cheeks burned. Her throat ran dry. Jayden shot her a questioning look before coming down to whisper.

“Hey,” Jayden said quietly. “You ready?”

“Wh… wha…” Ashley tried to ask.

“Just trust me,” Jayden whispered. “You’ll be fine.” Before Ashley’s mind could catch up, Jayden turned back to the group. “You know what, guys? I think our precious Ashley here needs to open up a bit more, don’t you?” Ashley’s eyes widened, she turned to see everyone staring down at her. Grant and Mandy stood and moved closer while Carla wore a devious grin.

“You’re so bad, Jay,” Mandy said.

“Nuh uh, I’m just here helping out my friend,” Jayden said, passing a sideways look down to Ashley. Ashley swallowed. She pulled a little at Jayden holding her down, but stopped. Her lips were resting on a smile, her expression frightful, yet curious.

“She does seem really ticklish,” Grant said, coming closer.

“That sounds like fun!” Carla added eagerly. “So long as it’s not me.” Grant came to the end of the couch above Ashley’s head. Jayden passed him Ashley’s wrists to hold, keeping her arms from protecting her sensitive pits. Ashley started tugging slightly, still smirking and squirming against the couch.

“Naaahehehe,” Ashley shouted. Ashley giggled from the implications, already starting to prepare herself. Her voice was high, but it lacked a volume of desperation. Her moves were pulling, but clearly not matching her full strength. “Wai- wait! Hehe!” Jayden chuckled and continued to help hold her down against Ashley’s disingenuous attempts to free herself. Carla went down to the floor next to her. Nathan backed away slightly, raising his voice.

“That seems almost too mean,” Nathan said. Jayden and the rest turned to him, bringing the event to a halt. Nathan stalled. “I mean, like, all of a sudden, you know?”

“Trust me, Nate, she’s fine,” Jayden said. Ashley stared up at her, glad that she chose not to elaborate on what she had told her. Her eyes fluttered and smile widened at the idea of Nathan looking out for her. As reserved as she was, Ashley’s heart pumped with an electrified rush at the idea of what would happen. Despite how little she wanted Nathan to learn that side of her, having Nathan on the giving end of her tickles was an image that appeared more than once over the last couple of nights.

Nathan looked to Ashley. She glanced back. Her lips quivered, hurried to speak yet nothing came to sound. Ashley had to press down the rational urge to ask to be saved as well as the irrational urge to admit to wanting it to happen. A conflicting dilemma, for sure, but one that her silence seemed to convey all the same. Nathan grinned. He ran his fingers through his hair.

“I mean, if you say so,” he said. Nathan pressed no further, his timid glances showing an equally eager side to him as well. Ashley gave her lower lip a small nibble. She pulled once more at her arms being held by Grant, unable to lower them.

“I think we’ve let little Ashley here off the hook for too long,” Jayden announced. “To make up for it, she needs to be tickled by everyone all at once.” Carla and Grant, the younger members, cheered and encouraged. Nathan and Mandy simply watched on from behind. Ashley shook her head to object, though her consistent, anxious grin seemed to work against any apparent aversion.

“G-guys, seriously, I’m so ticklish!” Ashley said, still prematurely giggling.

“That’s, like, the worst thing you could have said,” Carla said. She snickered and latched her hands onto Ashley’s sides. Her hands clawed into her, pressing and kneading into the slightly doughy areas. Ashley squealed into a flurry of light, melodic laughter.

“Naaahahahahahahahaaa!!!” Ashley shouted. Carla displayed an almost childish lack of restraint. Ashley’s body instinctively pulled at her arms up above her head, but could not match Grant’s husky strength. He laughed along and held her as still as he could for Carla to play with.

“Get her good,” he cheered. Jayden chuckled along with them. She bent down next to Carla, hovering over Ashley’s face to get a good view.

“Listen to that cute little laugh,” Jayden said. “I like it so much, I think I want to hear more.” Her own hands returned to Ashley’s armpits. Free to explore them as they like, her fingers dipped into the sleeves of her top and scraped along the humid, bare patches directly. Ashley’s seat lifted up off the couch. She squealed louder, her legs kicking where her arms could barely move. Her hands grasped feebly at nothing. Her face melted into more sweet cherry hysteria.

“Saaaahahahahahppp! Neeeeehheeehehehahaha!!” Ashley squealed and shrieked with laughter. Her body twisted against the couch, as it had done at the one in her own home. She writhed and swayed back and forth. Her body was put through all the motions of fighting back, but while the constant stream of giggles started to leave her breathless, Ashley had no intention of making it stop. Jayden smirked down at Ashley’s laughing mirth.

“Nuh uh, you’re going to be the new group tickle target from now on,” Jayden said. Her nails danced against Ashley’s slick pits. They pressed into the hollows with deep scribbles. Carla continued to gnaw her hands in a rapid clawing motion into her sides. With two spots being tickled by four whole hands, Ashley found her state of composure not unlike how she was nearing the end of the last time Jayden tickled her. It did not take long to get Ashley squealing and gasping, her chest pulsing up and down with heavy breaths.

“Hold her still, Grant,” Carla said. “She’s a squirmer.”

“And strong too,” Grant said. He kept a firm grip on her hands, keeping them well above her head. Her entire torso laid out completely vulnerable. Jayden pressed Ashley down against the couch to keep her from bucking them off.

“Coochie coochie coo…” Jayden taunted. She and Carla giggled to one another, each repeating teasing phrases.

“Listen to that squeak,” Carla said. “She’s like a ticklish little church mouse.” Ashley’s face glowed a deeper red. Her naturally pale complexion left little hiding space for embarrassment or flush. Ashley had not expected Carla to match Jayden’s enthusiasm in being a tickler. She was like a little girl playing with a new toy and seeing how far she could push it before it broke.

“I told you she’s a fun one to get giggling,” Jayden said. Her shallow nails slipped effortlessly against Ashley’s pits. Every little swipe was another burst of tickles resonating through her upper body. Grant held on tight to her wrists. Ashley squirmed and rocked back and forth while Jayden loomed over her, holding her down.

“Coochie coochie coo!” Carla said while giggling along. Her own small fingers clawed hard into Ashley’s sides. They dug into her rapidly, unfeeling to the obvious hysteria Ashley was doing her best to endure. Even with both attacking sensitive and vulnerable areas, Ashley still found the double team bearable. Intense, but bearable.

“You know where I’d try if I were you,” Mandy chimed in. She came up next to Carla and went down to her knees. Slowly, she lifted the bottom of Ashley’s shirt. Ashley looked down to see her pulsing belly shown off to the whole room. Mandy raised the shirt only that high.

“Ohhhh, so bad,” Carla said. “For her, that is.” Carla’s small, spear-like fingers drove down onto Ashley’s belly. Her stomach was pale and soft; thick, but toned from rural chore work. Her tender muscles squished beneath Carla’s gnawing scribbles. Ashley clenched up once again with a loud squeal, her knees shooting upward. Her arms tried to pull down, but Grant held onto them with all of his strength.

“Neeeaaaaaahhhhhhhahahahahahahaha!!!” Ashley shrieked. Her creamy midsection twisted beneath both ticklers. Her laughter poured out into the classroom. She had gotten louder than her voice had ever carried on the church grounds. Her head flung side to side, tossing around her ginger braids. Her belly wafted with the tickles that pumped through it, her seat rising and falling with involuntary bucks against the couch.

“Heehee, awwww, she’s ticklish all over, isn’t she?” Carla said, getting more and more invested in Ashley’s ticklish torment. Her fingers skittered and scratched around the area of her writhing stomach, occasionally slipping down to pinch into her sides once again.

“She’s a squirmy little thing, too,” Jayden said. “Tickle, tickle, tickle….” Her own fingers continued to sink into Ashley’s pits. They played the spots all over, alternating between digging deep in to push the tickles throughout to the light, maddening spidering against the silky mounds. Jayden kept an eye on Ashley’s expressions and how far the others intended to go. She monitored her friend, judging for subtle signs of distress or discomfort. As far as Ashley sank into her own fluttering hysteria, none of it appeared too bothersome.

“I wanna try something,” Mandy said with a grin. She reached over to where Carla continued to ravish Ashley’s belly and placed one scribbling nail inside Ashley’s navel. As if pressing a button, Ashley responded immediately with a loud, shrill squeal.

“EEEEEEEKKKKEEEHHHAAHAAHAhahahhahahahaaaaaaa!!! Nhahahahah there!!! Nnnnoooohhahahahahaha!!!!” Ashley screamed as she thrashed against the couch. Everyone else took noticeable interest in Ashley’s newest reaction, only encouraged by it to keep going.

“Oh wow, I’m barely touching you,” Mandy said with a chuckle. Her nails were longer than both Carla’s and Jayden’s. The single one dipped into her belly button scribbled and scratched all around. Ashley’s navel was deep, more than enough ticklish space for her nail to play with. She skittered at the inner walls, down as deep as she could go without being painful, and all around the outside. Mandy added her other hand, five more scribbling nails, to join Carla’s in exploring her tender belly. The group laughed at Ashley’s shrieking laughter and contorted, rosey expressions.

“Yall, we should have been tickling Ashley this whole time,” Jayden said to a round of concurrence. Nathan stood back and watched. He crossed his arms, his eyes shifting to and from the action. A gentle warmth came to his cheeks. He said nothing as he observed and shifted in his stance.

“She’s definitely more ticklish than me,” Carla said. “Like, I could do this all day.”

“I don’t know if she could, though,” Grant said.

“I guess we’ll just have to find out, now won’t we?” Carla said, snickering mischievously. Ashley tried to speak through her laughter, but all she could manage were desperate squeals and what only sounded like they could be pleas for mercy.

After a moment, Jayden pulled back her hands. She motioned for the other two to do the same, practically having to push Carla back. Grant loosened his grip. Ashley’s wrists slid out. The laughter in the room steadily eased into faint giggles then into heaves of deep breaths. Ashley laid back against the couch. Her eyes fluttered. Her mouth dropped to swallow as much air as she could at a time. She raised her hand to wipe off her forehead. Jayden stayed close to her head.

“Hey,” Jayden started. Ashley’s cheeks glowed. Her eyes shimmered in the overhead light. She turned her attention to Jayden, hovering over her. “You okay?” Ashley paused. A sleepy smile rested across her face.

“Ye-yeah,” Ashley said, nodding slightly. “Y-you’re all… good… at that…”

“Hehe, thanks,” Carla said proudly. Jayden looked back to Nathan, then back at Ashley. Her eyebrows raised.

“Red light?” Jayden asked softly. The two stared at one another for a moment. “Or green?” Ashley bit her lip, then gave a passive glance at Nathan, standing back and looking concerned. She swallowed. “Red?” Jayden repeated herself. Ashley’s eyes shifted. Her heart pounded in her chest. A strange energy flowed through her, a daring spirit guiding her mind farther beyond her familiar boundary. Curiosity and thrill defeated the worry of an overactive imagination, leading Ashley down a path of wishful compulsion.

“Gr-green,” Ashley said, muffled by a small cough. Jayden smirked. She turned back to the group.

“Grant, hold her down again,” Jayden said. “There’s something else I wanna try.” Carla and Grant laughed. He took a hold of her wrists and held them up once again. Ashley squirmed and gave a feigning performance of fighting back.

“Noooo!” Ashley squeaked, giggles already returning to her lips. She twisted against the cough, her midsection once again exposed and vulnerable. Carla and Mandy went back down to where they were next to her.

“I was hoping she could take a little more,” Carla said. Her fingers wiggled deviously in the air. Jayden took a hold of Ashley’s shirt once again, lifting it further. It slowly rose to expose more of her pale, bare stomach. One by one, her ribs came into view, stretched out and defenseless to any tickling fingers.

“No, no, no please,” Ashley begged, cheekily egging on the others. “No more…” Carla and Mandy observed the new area and snickered.

“Hey guys, maybe she’s had enough,” said Nathan from behind them all. Jayden sighed, shooting Ashley a smirking look. She smiled back.

“She’s endured worse than this, Nate, I promise,” Jayden lied. “She’s fine.” Jayden spoke dismissively and returned her attention to the ticklish girl stretched across the couch. “Now then, what’s gonna happen if I do this?” Jayden softly pinched the bottom most rib on Ashley’s left side. Ashley squeaked, her legs jerking upward. The sudden tickle seemed to contract her muscles with a defensive, fight-or-flight response. The group giggled as they watched.

“Aww, that’s adorable,” Carla said. Jayden snickered and pinched the next one up. Ashley shrieked louder, melting into a series of soft giggles.

“Eeeekkkheheeheeheee!! Heehehey!!” Ashley laughed.

“That’s two,” Jayden said. “Let’s see which one is the most ticklish.” Jayden reached over to Ashley’s other side. With both hands, Jayden pinched the third rib up. Ashley let out a mousey squeak that burst through the room. Her audience laughed along with her.

“Three,” Carla said. “Keep it going!” Only three were visible from Ashley’s stretched out position, but Jayden reached up on both sides and pinched one higher.

“Naaaaahhhahahahaha!!!” Ashley yelped. Her body jerked. Grant held on tight to her arms as she tried to pull them back down. As Jayden came higher, she paused, hovering her hands over Ashley’s torso.

“Aww, I wanna try!” Carla said.

“Be my guest,” Jayden replied. Jayden slid over as Carla came closer to Ashley’s ribs. She too reached over with one hand, assuming position at each set. She watched Ashley’s anxious expression with a childlike glee.

“Coochie coochie coo!” Carla said. Her hands fell upon each set of ribs. Her fingers scribbled wildly up and down them, scratching over the shallow hills and valleys. She counted each with quick pinches and soft rakes of her nails. Carla played Ashley’s ribs like an instrument of laughter. Ashley squealed upon initial contact before shrieking out another flurry of ticklish giggles.

“Eeeeekkkhheeheeehahahahahahahaaaa!!! Staaahhahahahahahahahahahaaaap!!!” Ashley shouted. Her face resumed its darkening pink shade from before. Her hair flew as her head swung side to side. Her belly and chest convulsed with laughter. Her legs kicked against the couch cushion. Her voice filled the room once again, more so when Jayden and Mandy resumed their old spots.

“Here come the tickle monsters,” Jayden taunted. She released her nails back onto the sensitive mounds of Ashley’s stretched armpits. Mandy sent hers down onto Ashley’s squirmy belly, scratching one back inside her navel.

“EEEEEEKKKKHEEHEEHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAAAA!!!!” Ashley’s voice reached new peaks. Her head flung back. Her back arched and hips rocketed upward. Trapped beneath six devious, tickling fingers was far more than Ashley had expected to experience that day. The overall rush of so many tickles coming from all different directions challenge her desires to be so vulnerable for so many ticklers at once. One sent wave after wave of tickles through both of her exposed armpits. Another danced along the sensitive edges of her ribs, up and down, and giggled while doing so like a child at play. The third scribbled quick scratches along the circumference of her belly while a single nail teased the especially delicate nerves within her navel. Ashley’s mind raced, her heart thumped inside her chest. She squealed through cherry-red cheeks. She pulled and twisted, but found herself unable to free her body from the maddening tickles even if she wanted to.

When Jayden pulled back, Carla and Mandy continued to tickle the poor, defenseless target. Jayden observed and pondered for a moment. She looked down at Nathan, watching from the bottom end of the couch. Her eyes glimmered.

“Take over, Car,” Jayden said. She stood up from her spot.

“With pleasure,” Carla said. She quickly gave Ashley’s ribs a break to try her fingers out on the girl’s pits. Grant held Ashley firm for Carla, watching her treat herself to Ashley’s delicate figure. Jayden walked to the far end. She came up to Nathan and flipped her hair back.

“Hey, why don’t you join in?” Jayden asked. Nathan shrugged.

“I don’t know, it seems mean,” Nathan said.

“Nah, it’s fun,” Jayden said. “Come on.”

Jayden closed in on the other side of the couch. She grabbed both of Ashley’s ankles and pulled her legs out straight. Through teary eyes, Ashley could see Jayden wrapping one arm around her ankles to keep them steady. Slowly, Jayden lifted off each of Ashley’s flats, revealing the girl’s smooth, bare soles. Nathan swallowed. Ashley giggled louder through the nerves of having her feet exposed for Nathan and bared for more tickling. Nathan stared down at them, wiggling and writhing desperately from within Jayden’s tight grip.

“Here, I’ll hold them steady for you,” Jayden said. “Be as mean or as nice as you want. I’m sure she’ll really appreciate it.”

“O-oh, I don’t know…” Nathan said, his eyes still on Ashley’s bare soles.

“Trust me,” Jayden said.

Nathan paused before coming closer. Ashley’s soles blushed a bright pink shade with milky white arches. Despite the amount of field work Ashley had been entrusted with all of her life, her feet still managed to appear silk and delicate. As he came up to Jayden, Nathan went down to his knees. Jayden held Ashley’s feet up for him to reach comfortably. Ashley continued to giggle and wriggle beneath the surging tickles. Nathan’s hand rose. He softly brushed a single finger across Ashley’s sole.

“EEEEAAAAAAHHHAHHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!” Ashley shrieked louder and more suddenly than any she had before. Her muscles contracted, her body jerking once again. Her head fell back as she let out another torrent of ticklish laughter. The others giggled at Ashley’s explosive reaction, still playing Ashley’s torso like a ticklish soundboard.

“Woah, someone found a fun new spot,” Mandy said.

“Yeha, get her good, Nate!” Carly encouraged.

“Yeah, Nate, tickle her good,” Jayden said, shooting Nathan an obvious wink. Nathan’s heart began to pound. He breathed deeply as the room started to become warmer. He gave Ashley’s sole another swipe, followed by a light scratching of one finger. With each, Ashley let out another squeal. Her feet were velvet soft. They were humid and gave off a gentle scent, like a sparkling dew morning, though he dared not bring attention to it.

“AAAAAAHHHHHHAHAHHAHAHAAAAA!!! NAHAHAHAHAHAT MMMAHAAHAHAHA FEEEEHEHEEHEE!!!” Ashley’s screaming laughter filled the room. More of Nathan’s fingers joined in playing with Ashley’s soles. They brushed lightly to experience the tender softness of her feet before starting to scratch. They teased her arches down to her heels. They spidered up to the base of her frantically curling toes. They licked the bubbly pads of her toes, dancing across each to the music of her shrieking. Ashley’s toes flailed. Her soles flexed and released, waving side to side to dodge Nathan’s tickles, but he kept up with their movements just as Jayden kept a tight hold on her ankles.

“Who knew Ashley had such a pretty laugh?” Mandy said. Her nails skittered all over Ashley’s belly. Ten would scribble about for a while between digging into her belly button with feathery light scratches.

“The next retreat we go on, I know what I want to do again,” Carla said. She laughed along while her fingers dug into Ashley’s pits between raking up and down her ribs.

“Maybe we get you both and we see who squeals the loudest,” Grant said. Carla shot him a glare.

“Don’t you dare,” she said, not stopping or slowing her rhythm.

“That’s a great idea, G,” Jayden said. She kept a firm wrap of Ashley’s ankles for Nathan to scribble his fingers up and down Ashley’s plush, sensitive soles.

“STTAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! NNNHAHAHAHAHAHAHA MMAAAAHAHAHAH!!!!” Ashley screamed. Tears beaded in the corners of her eye. Her hair had loosened from its braids, falling out in every which way. Her face burned bright red. The constant flow of tickles from all sides became all her mind could comprehend. She experienced every single little swipe, all compounding over and over again into a storm of ticklish mania that ravished her senses. She bounced and bucked against the couch until her body tiredly accepted her fate. Her chest heaved to aching extremes, her throat starting to burn. As Jayden began picking up on the change in her tone, she let go of Ashley’s ankles.

“Alright, guys, enough,” Jayden said. Natha had stopped the moment Jayden unwrapped Ashley’s feet from her arm. Grant let Ashley’s wrists go while Carla and Mandy got in a few last second tickles before pulling back.

“Oh, that’s enough?” Carla asked.

“Should we give you more than that if you think it’s not?” Jayden asked. Grant snickered a little while Carla looked away.

“That was fun,” said Mandy, pulling Ashley’s shirt back down. She pushed herself to her feet.

Ashley laid out along the length of the couch. Her eyes rested between being open and closed. Her hand laid over her chest as she struggled to regain a calm breathing pattern. Her forehead shined with a fine layer of sweat, her cheeks beet red. Carla rose and walked away with Grant talking about the whole experience. Jayden came up beside Ashley. She brushed her friend’s hair out of her face.

“Hey, you okay?” Jayden asked. Ashley hesitated, still trying to catch her breath. Before long, her lips pulled back in a smile.

“W… wow…” Ashley sighed.

“Yeah, I can only imagine,” Jayden said. “You’re okay though, right?” Ashley paused before nodding.

“Y… ye-yeah…”

“Good,” Jayden said, keeping her voice low. “Just so long as you’re not mad at me. We can talk later about it, if you want.” Ashley smiled and nodded again. Jayden returned the gesture and helped Ashley sit up straight. Ashley held her hand to her head. “There you go.”

“Thank you,” said Ashley. She looked up at Jayden, her eyes glossy and tired. She mouthed the phrase again for Jayden to see. Jayden grinned.

‘Love you,’ Jayden silently mouthed back.

“Hey, everyone, sorry I’m late,” a new voice announced upon walking into the room. Everyone looked back to see Tom, the youth leader, entering with a bag slung over his shoulder. He was a younger man in his early thirties dressed in a casual purple button up and jeans. “Just discussing the next retreat with Pastor Friedman.”

“Oh, where are we going?” Mandy asked.

“Cassidy Acres, we think,” Tom answered. He took a few steps in and looked around, a puzzled expression across his face. “Whew, it’s hot in here. AC must be busted again. It’s nice outside, let's group up out in the courtyard.” The man turned and started for the door before checking to see if anyone was following him. Carly and Grant packed up their stuff. Mandy walked out with them both. Jayden looked back to see Ashley still recovering. Nathan stood nervously by her side. Jayden picked up on the cue and turned to leave.

“I just forgot, my brother wanted me to give him a call,” Jayden said, pulling out her phone. “Something about picking up milk and cookies or something, I don’t know. I’ll be outside.” Jayden dashed out the door, leaving Ashley and Nathan alone in the room.

Ashley let out a heavy sigh, her cheeks still burning like pale cinders. She brushed her hair out of her face. Her braids had fallen into a disheveled mess. She held her head before burying her face in her hands. Her mind gave her little rest, her anxiety became progressively unmanageable. One thought layered onto another into a tower of worry.

‘Why did I do this? Do they suspect? Do they think I’m some kind of freak? What does Nathan think of me now? Will they talk about this with anyone? Will my parents find out? Was this wrong? Why do I feel like it was? What does Nathan think? Will they all look at me differently? Do they think I felt the way that I did? What does Nathan think now?’

Ashley stayed sitting, her hands pressed against her face and shoulders raised. Her posture suggested that she was attempting to make herself as small as possible. Nathan stood by her side. She felt him there but dared not look up until she heard his voice.

“Hey,” Nathan said. Ashley peeked past her fingers. Nathan knelt down in front of her. He held her flats in his hands and laid them on the floor next to her feet. He smiled. His gaze was cautiously teetering to and from her. Ashley took a moment to collect herself before reaching down to put her shoes back on.

“Th-thanks,” Ashley said.

“Are you okay?” Nathan asked. Ashley slipped one flat on.

“Y-yeah,” Ashley said. She breathed deeply and placed the other flat on. “It was just a lot, you know?”

“I’m sure,” Nathan said. He let out a heavy sigh. “I-I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.” Ashley swallowed and looked up. She paused for a moment, toying with the end of a fallen strand of hair.

“It’s okay,” Ashley said.

“Are you sure?” Nathan asked. Ashley looked to the door. The room once filled with her laughter and the teasing voices of the others was suddenly quiet. She smiled and steadied her breath.

“Really,” Ashley said. “It’s a lot… but I didn't mind it so much.” Ashley’s eyes met his before falling away. “You know, you’re… really good at, um…” Nathan chuckled.

“Nah, I think you’re just that ticklish,” Nathan said. Ashley nodded.

“Probably,” Ashley said. “It’s just… I didn’t mind it. I want… you to know that.”

“That’s good,” Nathan said. “It was fun.”

“Yeah,” Ashley said, her voice softening. “I’m glad.” Nathan’s eyes like crystal aquamarine shimmered. The delicate stretch of his lips stayed pulled back. The two lingered in each other’s company before Nathan stood.

“We should probably catch up with the others,” he said. Ashley sighed. She nodded and started doing what she could to reconcile her hair.

“Yeah, we should,” she said. The pair collected their things and started toward the door.

“Hey, uh, are you free tomorrow after school?” Nathan asked. Ashley turned back to him.

“We didn’t have a tutoring scheduled, so no,” said Ashley. “Why? You need more help?” Nathan looked down and rubbed the back of his head.

“Just because… well, I know you’re busy,” Nathan started, “but I was wondering if you wanted to hang out.”