Charlotte F/F

Copyright © 2022 by EggWhites

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All characters are 18+ of age.

Story Premise: After a childish bet, Lora starts seeing her best friend (and secret rival) Charlotte, and herself in a new light.

Kinks Explored: Domination, Humiliation, Foot Fetish.

Hope you like it, happy reading.

P.S. Refrain from reading the Epilogue if you hate when stories make big or surprising jumps.

Chapter I

Today was the day we put this ridiculous fuel between us to rest. I was a genius at math. This was going to be a piece of cake for me. My foot couldn’t stop tabbing on the ground as I waited for Mrs. Laniganto inform us that the test started. I looked over my shoulder at Charlotte, who was chewing her gum boringly, looking as relaxed as a girl during a test could be; she always hid her nervousness better than me. Her eyes caught mine. She pushed her red hair behind her ear as she smiled and blew me a kiss. I didn’t know if that was an attempt to irritate me, but it worked.

“You have two hours. Start writing.” Mrs. Lanigan stared at her clock, and I immediately snatched my pen and started flipping through the pages. My quick and rabid movement must’ve amused Charlotte, cause I heard her trying to sniffle a chuckle. I didn’t care. She could laugh all she wanted. I’d like to see how funny she’d find this when I won.

My name’s Lora. This was my last year of high school, and, logically, my last chance to prove to a certain annoying brat who’s boss.

My high school years held a striking resemblance to a cringy high school movie. I didn’t do cheerleading, nor any other sport really. But I was an A+ student, elected council president for all three years. For some reason, surprisingly, that made me popular. Everybody knew me, from the teachers to most of the students to the principal.

I didn’t realize I had that reputation till a year back, but once I did, I really liked it. It was nice to be recognized, and nicer still that I didn’t have to lift a finger to make that happen; it just kinda happened.

I didn’t mistake it for anything but what it was though, a short phase of fame, one which I planned to enjoy while it lasted before I headed off to college. Even though I didn’t like to admit the fact, it really mattered to me, and for a perfectionist girl who knew nothing but being the best at everything she did, this became a really important part of me.

Enter Charlotte. It was a normal day where I was meeting up with my friend Sally in the cafeteria when I saw she had company, a girl I hadn’t seen before. I sat with them, and Sally introduced us. Charlotte was a new girl in school, transferring from another state. First thing I noticed about her were her looks, cause honestly, they were noticeable. She was gorgeous. She had bright red hair and bright green eyes. Her body, though not that ripped, was fit, indicating she worked out often.

I wasn’t lacking in the looks department per se but…the difference between us was clear. I had a plain, cute kind of beauty. She had the kind of beauty that those damn social media models had. I wasn’t envious…but it still bothered me somewhat. I hated the fact that she excelled…in a way, in the only place I felt I didn’t. All through our meal, I got to know all kinds of stuff about her. She was the Capitan of the basketball team in her old school, and planning to be so in this one. Her father managed a big tech company out of town.

More and more I felt, as ridiculous as it may sound, like she was some stranger from overseas that came her to overthrow me. She was talkative and confident. I wasn’t shy, but when meeting people for the first time I couldn’t act all social and playful; I needed some time to get comfortable around a new person. She didn’t. It was like she and Sally had been friends for years. And considering Sally was my only friend—close friend anyhow—I didn’t like this sudden closeness between them.

When our tedious meal finally finished and we stood, I was hit with the last slap: I looked up at her and realized she had easily over a foot of height on me. I wasn’t short. Bitch was tall.

However, next day, I let all of that go—or, tried. Charlotte in the end was just the friendly new girl in school. I didn’t know why she worried me so much, but I knew it was better to let it go. We had nothing in common. So why did I treat her existence like a challenge? Plus, she was a sporty girl. And I bet she sucked academically. She had the looks and the social shit, she couldn’t have the brains too; she couldn’t have it all.

My first plan was to just forget about her. Nothing held us together. Sally put a sure end to that plan when she started including her in all our meetups. Overnight, I had a new friend, cause of Sally. So I kind of blamed Sally for what happened after that. Simply put, we didn’t get along.

She had an irritating presence, and I was easily irritated. I swear she started doing it on purpose after she realized that fact. I cared about how I looked in public—maybe a bit too much. Once she realized that, she started making sleezy comments about either some of my clothes not matching or my hair looking “Dunno…kinda weird to be honest.” Or, she’d ask me out of nowhere, “Did you sleep well last night? Don’t know, you seem kinda off.” And stupid shit like that. Worst part was, I knew she was only messing with me, especially that she flashed me a teasing smile every time she made such stupid uncalled for comments. I knew that and still it got to me.

I didn’t know if she was just teasing me, or if she sensed I had harbored insecurities towards her and enjoyed pointing them out. I couldn’t make the same comments about her, what was I gonna say, “You sleep well last night? I dunno, your skin looks smoother than milk and your hair looks healthy as fuck!” And the only time I tried it, told her she kinda “looked off” like she put it, fucking Sally immediately intervened and chuckled, “Check your eyesight four-eyes; she looks gorgeous.”

And it actually backfired, cause Charlotte identified my teasing comment as payback, and knew she had been getting under my skin.

Our time together wasn’t all pickering. But there was a great deal of back and forth between us. Every now and then, she’d make a comment, and like the sensitive twat I was, I’d give a heated reaction; she loved to get those reactions out of me, for some reason. The more she realized a thing bothered me, the more she did it. And Sally, my friend since kindergarten, always took her side—understandable, since probably she saw my lash outs a bit childish, which I think they were. That was only a small part of the things that annoyed me about her.

Our little passive rivalry that had been going on for months, came to a peak last week.

Me, Charlotte and Sally were in Sally’s backyard, just hanging out. I and Sally were slumped on two patio chairs and Charlotte, as usual, was on the swing.

“Dad is going away for the weekend.” Charlotte said from her place on the swing.

I winced, knowing what that meant.

“Party?” Sally said, raising her strawberry milkshake in cheers.

“Humm.” Charlotte nodded.

Her parties were a regular occurrence ever since she’d transferred, as were mine. However, and I still didn’t know if it was deliberate, one time, our parties just happened to be planned in the same day. Now, except for Sally, none of the friends I invited were that close. But it still hurt when all of them chose to go to Charlotte’s. Granted, she had the bigger house, and she had a pool, but what the fuck I’d known those traitors for years! Only Sally showed up. And after playing monopoly and munching on half the snacks I had prepared, I had to let her go, cause it was obvious she wanted to be elsewhere. And that was the last party I threw. I couldn’t put myself through the humbling experience again.

“You coming…” Charlotte nudged my knee with her sandaled foot. “Right midget?”

My teeth dug into my lower lip. Four weeks ago, I finally gave up on stopping her from calling me that. Now I just accepted it. Bitch didn’t care it bothered me, so I just did my best to act as if it didn’t. “Not likely,” I said.

“What?” She yelled. “Why?”

I didn’t know if her disappointment was genuine. If it wasn’t, she was a great actress, but I couldn’t see a reason why she would bother faking. I shrugged. “Sorry, I just have to study that’s all.”

“Come on,” she whined. “it’ll be forever till I throw another one. Studying can wait, yes?”

“No” I said. “Calculus exam is in less than a week.”

“So what?” She shrugged. “We have calculus too.”

“Well,” I said, unable to miss an opportunity to deliver an insult, however insignificant and childish. “I actually care about getting a good grade. You see I care about my future.”

“…” She recoiled, her eyes narrowed. “So? Are you saying I don’t?”

“Not saying anything.” I said, delighted more than ever to see the slightest signs of annoyance on her face. “Your grades speak for themselves honey.”

“Huh—” She scoffed. She was smiling, but it was obvious she was trying to hide her spite.

Sally’s eyes just moved back and forth between the two of us, a satisfied grin on her lips. She lived for our fights; it was the highlight of all her days.

“I don’t mean anything.” I shrugged. “Believe me I know it’s not for a lack of trying. Some people just can’t do well academically. I wouldn’t feel bad about it. Sports is more your thing.”

A long and sudden silence overtook. I couldn’t hide my smile. I could see her from the corner of my eye, a dumbfounded look on her face as she tried to make sense of what I said. After a while, she leaned back, looked at Sally and said, “…Is it just me, or did she just imply I was stupid?”

“She just implied you’re stupid.” Sally nodded indifferently.

“…” Charlotte raised an eyebrow, like she was making her peace with the fact. “Okay.”

She just leaned back and sipped on her milkshake. But a quick glance at her neutral face told me she was offended. Maybe that was it. Maybe I found an insecurity of hers, one that I could use and abuse and tease her about. I felt like a child. I was having the time of my life over such a silly thing. But I couldn’t help myself. “Don’t feel bad,” I said sympathetically.

She shook her head like she was surprised. “Who’the fuck said I feel bad—”

“No, I’m just saying, it’s alright.” My tone was caring and sweet and sympathetic. “You can’t expect to be great at everything.” That was what I thought I was before she entered my life. I thought I was perfect. I was smart, a top student, social, popular, and pretty. She came into my life and made me feel small in three of those aspects, and since then had been teasing me about it non-stop.

We were still friends. Good friends, considering how much time we spent together and that, when she managed to shut her mouth, we had pretty good times. We had similar taste in music and movies and we shared a sense of humor. But I hated how much her playful teasing made me feel small in comparison to her. I didn’t even know if she knew it or not, if she knew the effect she had on me. But this here, right now, was a chance for me to take any kind of revenge I could. “Some people have the brains, and some people simply don’t.”

“Okay okay,” She brushed me off. “Take a break Mastermind.”

Satisfied, I took a break. I just sunk back into my patio chair with a big sneer on my face. Whatever insults she tried to direct my way after that would feel a bit less bitter. I put a dent in her perfect existence.

“And I don’t study that much, FYI.” She spat. “That’s why my grades are suffering a bit lately.”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Not cause you’re dumb, not at all.”

Sally snickered silently. It felt good not being the one acting spiteful and laughed at for a change.

“You know what—” Charlotte took a breath, trying to control herself. Seeing her cute pale face grow red with agitation both surprised and amused me. Who knew we had that in common. She had the same ‘perfect’ image about herself too; it just took me some time to figure out how to disturb it.

“Okay…Okay.” She nodded, chuckling nervously. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll still attend the party tomorrow, and I’ll still score more than you on the calculus exam.”

“Yeah you definitely will.” I said. There was no doubt in my mind that it was impossible for her to do that. It was the only area in my life that I felt confident about now. “She will, right Sally.”

“Ahha.” Sally nodded, equally amused.

I looked at Charlotte, and she had her eyebrow raised and her lips pursed. She took a deep breath, calming herself down, then leaned back. “Alright. That’s it. You’ll be sorry. I’ll show you.”

“That you will.”

After some time, during which none of us said a word, Sally said, “Why don’t you guys make a bet!”

Me and Charlotte looked at each other at once, as we contemplated the possibility. For some reason, I felt worried. “What kind of bet?”

“I dunno?” Sally shrugged. “Make it interesting.”

I hated her at that moment. Things were going fine. But she had to swoop in and make sure she got some fun out of this.

Which brought us too today. Bet made. Whoever scores higher on the exam will be the winner, and the winner could give one command to the loser, one that, however embarrassing, should be obeyed. Sally made that point very clear.

Adrenaline rushed through my body as I ran my pen through the paper. This was my thing. Exam was easy. It was crackers for me, and yet, I was shivering like crazy. Part of that was due to Charlotte informing me firsthand what her order would be the very night we made the bet. “I’ll order you to get on your knees…like a good little girl,” She pinched my cheek as she said it. “And, after stating, clearly, honestly, how I’m the coolest person you ever knew, in great detail might I add, you’re gonna pucker those lovely lips of yours and give my ass a big kiss.”

It was ridiculous. Proved to me how childish she really was. And I didn’t hide how I felt about it. “Piss off,” I said. “Not doing that.”

“Where did all the confidence go?” She chuckled. “Or are you all talk? Thought I was stupid? Come on midget, have some confidence in yourself.”

That comment got through me. I felt like slapping her. But she was right. I should at least trust myself in my own game. I told her she had a deal.

And since that day, I barely slept. I already studied hard and a lot, but that week…that week studying was all I did. Losing that bet would be the end of me. Not socially. At the end of the day, it was just a silly bet between friends; it meant nothing. But to me, deep inside, it did. It meant everything. It would just be an assertion of all the tormenting insecurities I had about her. A verbal confession from me—worse, an act of submission. It would haunt me for years. I wouldn’t and couldn’t let that happen. My perfectionist persona image of myself would not handle it.

And the fact that she’d suggested that bet made me realize she knew what ran inside my head all along. She knew I was insecure around her. She knew I was constantly comparing myself to her. She knew there was a private competition going inside me, and while she may have found it funny previously, now, she wanted to win it. She wanted me to admit she was better than me.

The prospect of me losing kept me awake at night, as I imagined myself, on my knees in front of her, telling her how awesome she was, and she, like the stuck-up runt she was, offering her behind for me to kiss. I wanted to vomit.

As I solved my paper, feeling like my life depended on it, I glanced back at her. She looked as calm as ever, and her eye again caught mine. She winked and blew me a kiss. I grunted, and got back to my exam, my pen almost breaking between my fingers.

Four Days Later

I and Sally walked towards the basketball court. Sally, having already got our papers, kept the results to herself. The plan was that we’re gonna go get Charlotte after she finished her game then go to one of our houses. I shivered as I walked.

Sally took a look at me then chuckled. “Gee…” She shook her head. “Relax.”

I nodded animatedly. I must’ve looked like a child, nervous about such a thing. But I couldn’t explain it to her, why this meant so much to me. We got to the basketball court and sat ourselves on the benches. For the first time, I watched Charlotte play.

True to her word, she was team Capitan by now. And seeing her play, I could see she deserved it. The way she ran and dribble and jumped and scored, it was like seeing an NBA star playing a bunch of noobs. And, strangely, as she ran and panted, her body glittering with sweat and her red ponytail getting messy, she still looked attractive.

I shook my head and pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose. Sports were her thing. Academia was mine. After a while, after she’d scored a shot and while the players got back to their positions, her eyes caught us. She smiled and waved at us, before she smiled at me. She turned and arched her back, sticking out her butt in my direction. “Just getting it all sweaty and ripe for you.”

I blushed, as all the players looked my way. Bitch didn’t whisper or anything; she practically yelled at me from halfway across the court.

Half an hour later, the game ended. Charlotte made her way towards us while she wiped her sweat off her forehead and chest with a towel. “You got the results.” She spoke to Sally but directed her teasing green eyes at me.

“Right here.” Sally tapped the envelope in her hands. “Where do you wanna go?”

“Don’t know?” She shrugged, then nudged my shoulders. “Where do you feel it would be a proper place to lose your dignity today midget?”

“….” My mouth gaped. I felt like I had to say something smart…or anything really. “..I…yeah? you…” I murmured like an idiot.

She smiled at my pathetic show of nervousness, then said, “Let’s go to my place, yes?”

“Fine—” her sweaty towel hit my face, making Sally chuckle.

I threw it back at her, my face growing red with anger. I controlled myself. Soon enough…she’d be sorry.

We got to her place, and immediately went to her room. I’d been in her room before. It had a big master bed and a decent-sized closet, the walls a bright shade of white.

And of course, it was as messy as it was every time I came. Clothes everywhere, shoes everywhere, and, a new thing that made me slightly worry, notebooks and books everywhere on the bed and the table. She’d been studying. But I had been scoring A’s since I got into this school. No matter how hard she’d been working lately, she couldn’t win this thing.

I wasn’t planning to make her do anything drastic when I won; Actually, I was planning to give her the same command, minus the kiss; It didn’t feel right for me to make her kiss my butt. I didn’t know why though; guess I didn’t have the confidence to make such a demand with a straight face.

I and Sally were sat on the edge of her bed, waiting for her as she freshened up in the bathroom. I was wearing my usual school clothes, a long black skirt and a white blouse, and Sally was in a simple yellow sundress. Charlotte came out minutes later, having changed out of her basketball uniform and into a comfortable pair of pink fleece pajamas, her face wet and clean; she still had her dirty socks on however. I didn’t know why she didn’t bother changing out of those dirtbags. Her eyes were immediately drawn to mine. I looked horrified, and I did my best to hide it, but her sneering at me told me I was doing a poor job. “So,” she said.

Sally, excitedly, got to her feet and walked to the center of the room. And Charlotte took a seat beside me on the edge of her bed, for some reason wrapping her arm around my shoulders, like she was trying to comfort me. “Why so scared Megamind?”

“I’m not scared.”

“You’re shaking.”

“Shut up.” I wiggled away from her hold.

“Okay okay,” Sally said, opening the envelope. “First we have…” She examined the top of the paper. “Lora.”

I took a deep breath. Ever since junior year, the lowest grade I ever had was 96. And I studied for this exam more than I ever did before. I knew I didn’t miss a single question. I was expecting a hundred. An A+. A sure victory. A 100.

“97.”

I actually screeched upon hearing it. “No.” I whined. “But I—”

“Hush hush…” Charlotte brushed me off. The only thing keeping me together was the slightly, equally worried look on her face. She was worried. It was unlikely she got more than that, impossible even, and she knew it. She said, biting on her thumbnail, “What about me?”

Sally took the second paper from the envelope. She took a breath as she stared at the top of it, then she looked up at us, a wince on her face.

Both I and Charlotte just waited in silence, as Sally looked at us. It took us some time to realize she was prolonging this for no good fucking reason, then we both shouted, “Get on with it cunt!”

“Fine.” Sally recoiled. “…A 100.”

My stomach plummeted, and I started seeing spots. I jumped to my feet and strode towards Sally. “Liar.” I snatched the paper from her hand. Here it was. A big fucking A+ with a big fucking 100 right beside it. Not a single X was found anywhere on the paper.

My legs trembled and I could barely stand This wasn’t happening. A gentle fake cough made me close my eyes, before I finally managed to open them again and look towards Charlotte, who sat there on the bed with her legs crossed and her socked foot dangling, the biggest victorious grin on her face.

“So…” She drawled as she rose to her feet. “How you wanna do this.” Her eyes suddenly widened like she’d gotten an idea. “Oh you should wear lipstick.”

“That’s a great idea!” Sally said. My best friend  was too damn excited about my debasement.

“I’m not wearing lipstick.” I shook my head, avoiding looking at either of them. I crossed my arms and looked at the floor like a salty kid.

“No…?” She pouted sarcastically at me. “Pity. Would’ve loved to see the outline of your lips on my cheeks…where it belongs.”

Even Sally seemed a bit disappointed. I tried to give her a disdainful glare, but she just smiled at me and shrugged. None of them thought much about what was happening. I did. I couldn’t do it. This was too much for me. And I really loathed Charlotte by this point, almost as much as I loathed my stupidity for getting myself into this situation.

“Okay then,” Charlotte sighed, with her hands on her hips, and nodded in front of her on the floor. “On your knees. I hope you remember the words.”

I remembered them. They were pretty much all I thought about for days, but I couldn’t. “I’m not gonna do it.” I mumbled. My arms tightened around my chest as I looked at the floor.

“Come again,” Charlotte snickered. “What?”

“I’m not doing it.” I said, only clearer and louder.

Charlotte said nothing, but looked at Sally.

Sally gave me a shaming look, like she was saying ‘come on.’ She whined, “Don’t be like that Lora. A bet’s a bet.”

“It’s a stupid…” I said through gritted teeth. “A stupid… childish bet. And I’m not doing it.” I shook my head. “Sorry.”

“…” Sally sighed.

Charlotte half smiled half frowned. She didn’t like what she was hearing, but she didn’t care that much. But it must’ve told her something, the fact I was going back on my word for something as silly as this, told her that it wasn’t that silly for me.

“Not cool.” Sally said. “Not cool at all.”

“What!” I whined. “It’s not big deal. Just pick something else.”

“Like what,” Charlotte sighed.

“Something less embarrassing.”

“Where’s the fun in that.” She rolled her eye and shook her head. “Chicken.”

My head only grew hotter. A wimp. I looked like a wimp. I didn’t like that. But I preferred it better than getting my lips anywhere near her bottom. It would be the most humiliating thing I did all my life, with or without the creaming on top that were the praises she’d have me sing for her.

“Fine…” Charlotte said. “I’ll give you something else.”

A surge of hope ran through me, and, surprisingly, I felt somewhat…disappointed. I had no idea why. It felt like I avoided something I wasn’t supposed to avoid. Like I cheated my way out of what I rightfully deserved, which, was I guess an accurate way to describe what just happened. But of course the dominant feeling here was relief. “Yeah?” I asked.

“Aha…” She nodded, and her smirk put me at unease.

“What?”

She extended one socked foot forward, then, with her teasing green eyes staring at me, she pointed towards it. “Repeat the words, then get on your knees and give my foot a peck.”

I rolled my eyes.

“What!” she chuckled at Sally. “That’s better isn’t it? Less embarrassing.”

“…” Sally shrugged. “I guess—” She shook her head. “Come on Lora just grow some balls and do it!”

“She just came back from a basketball game!”

“I’m not asking you to make out with it.” Charlotte chuckled. “Just a quick…symbolic, kiss.”

My eyes snapped towards hers. Symbolic. It wasn’t all fun and games. She knew this would be humiliating for me. She wanted it that way. I could see it in her amused sneer. She wanted me to admit my defeat.

But, did it really matter whether or not I admitted it. She’d already won. Girl bested me at everything. Being smarter was the only aspect about myself that I felt confident about, and today that proved to be a lie. I never felt ashamed about the fact I was so full of myself. There wasn’t anything wrong with it. I was awesome. But if I admired myself for all my merits, logically, Charlotte proved herself more worthy of that admiration, more than I ever was.

That wasn’t gonna change anytime soon. So maybe it was only right I grew up and admitted it, and gave her the symbolic gesture she demanded. I didn’t speak. I just pulled my skirt up a bit as I sunk to my knees. Charlotte didn’t say anything, just smiled with satisfaction.

But it was Sally whom I wanted to punch. “For fuck’s sake” I shouted at her. “Put the phone away!”

“What…?” Sally pouted, keeping her phone in hand. “This is a nice moment. Come on, for the memories.” She pointed the camera at us.

“Who are you gonna show it too?”

“Grow up.” Sally brushed me off.

I grunted, knowing she was right. It was nothing. Only one who thought this was extremely humiliating was I. And, by now, probably Charlotte. I glanced at her one last time, and she nodded down towards her extended socked foot.

As I bent my back and lowered my head closer to her, my heartbeat went crazy rapid, so much so I felt my stomach empty. I inched closer to her foot. But suddenly she withdrew it.

“First let me hear it.” She demanded.

I took a deep breath, trying to find breath to speak. “…Charlotte,” I said, my voice shaky. “You’re…” I forgot what she asked me to say. With the conflicting feelings moving through me, I couldn’t remember it. So, I said what I truly felt, laying out my honest opinion of her, minus all the loath. “You’re the…prettiest girl I’ve ever met. I’ve never met someone as confident, as attractive, or as smart as you. You’re honestly the coolest person I’ve ever known. And I’m the dumbest shit for thinking I could compare.”

I knew what I said was being recorded. I didn’t give a fuck. I felt a big weight lifted off my shoulders the moment those words left my mouth, like I’d been dying to say them since I met her.

Sally chuckled. “That’s the spirit!”

Charlotte didn’t make a sound however. She just put her foot forward again.

My mouth suddenly watered as my lips got closer to her socked foot. I made the mistake of taking a breath…and as if I needed more degrading, the smell of her stinky socks wafted through my nose. My stomach shrunk as I puckered my lips and pressed them against the top of her foot. Moah.

Honestly…I would’ve been better off kissing her ass. I don’t imagine there was something that would make me feel as low as I felt right now. I froze in place contemplating the fact. I must’ve stayed for too long, cause Sally said. “Earth to Lora.”

“Leave her…” Charlotte said jokingly. “She wants to kiss the other one.” She withdrew her foot, and put the other one right in its place, under my lips.

This wasn’t a part of the bet. I literally had no reason or under any childish obligation to do that. Doing it would make a completely different point. Thing was, I felt like making that point, even though I wasn’t completely sure what it was exactly. I leaned down, and gave her other foot a kiss, only quicker, then I quickly straightened up while I had the power to do so. I couldn’t meet her eye. Whatever tormenting look she was directing my way, I didn’t want to see it.

I rose to my feet.

Things were never the same after that. For me at least. I avoided hanging out with Charlotte—and Sally by extension—as much as I could. I just grew scared whenever I thought about being in the same room with her. Something changed after that stupid bet. And I didn’t know what it meant for our relationship. I was safe as long as I kept my distance.

But I couldn’t keep my distance forever. A week later, Sally called, invited me to hang out at her place, said she was thinking about watching a movie. She didn’t say if Charlotte was gonna be there, and I didn’t ask, cause of course she’d be there. I decided I had had enough alone time. They…both of them, were my only close friends, and frankly I just wanted to spend some quality time.

And while a part of me was worried about seeing Charlotte again after last time, another part was excited, god only knows about what! It was like our relationship had restarted, on different terms. But the thing was, I didn’t know those terms yet. And it was likely that it might just all be in my head. I knew Charlotte by now. She could’ve easily taken what happened that day as a silly bet between friends and thought nothing about it. However, if she teased me about it, like I knew she liked to do, I had no idea how I would react.

So, I stood on Sally’s porch, dressed in casual black T-shirt and jeans and with the bag of snacks they asked me to bring in my hand, and I knocked. I knocked and I stepped back, preparing myself for the possibility that Charlotte might answer the door.

The door opened seconds later, and, there she stood. Her red hair fell over her shoulders, and she wore, if I remembered correctly, one of Sally’s pajamas, a two-piece red velvet. She must be planning to spend the night.

“Hey.” I had to look up to meet her eyes as I said it.

Out of nowhere, she sneered at me. I wasn’t even through the door yet, and she was sneering at me. It was at this moment that I knew, something had changed. I didn’t know whether I was excited or scared about that, but she was surely amused.

She turned on her heel and walked in and said “hey” back to me as she walked to the living room. I closed the door behind me and followed her, mumbling swears under my breath at how naturally condescending she could act sometimes.

I walked into the living room where Sally was laying on one couch flipping through the Netflix menu and Charlotte on the recliner laying sideways, waiting. I sat beside Sally on the couch and dumped out the bag of snacks on the coffee table in front of us. “What are we watching?”

“Searching.” Sally said indifferently. She always took her time choosing a movie, which served as a pain in the ass for me and Charlotte both. And by the dull, sleepy look on Charlotte’s face, I’d guess they’d been searching for a while.

Waiting, the three of us sat in awkward silence, or maybe it was only awkward for me. My eyes kept reluctantly turning left, to where Charlotte was sitting. I took a good and long look at her. Why did her sight have such a captivating effect on me? It wasn’t like she’d changed. She was always attractive. I always knew it. But now, it was as if I was seeing her in a different light. I really acknowledged her for the beauty she was, however, not with as much spite as before. I felt like I needed to look at her.

Suddenly I found myself looking at a tormenting sight, her bare feet dangling over the recliner’s armrest. I kissed those feet. That was a fact that I had to live with now. It took me a moment to realize I was staring for too long, so I darted my eyes away. I randomly glanced at her face, and fuck…she was looking right at me, smiling with her brows narrowing in confusion. She caught me staring.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled awkwardly like an idiot.

“What’s up…Lora?” She cocked her head, as if to ask if there was something I wanted to say to her. There was, there was plenty. But it wasn’t like I was about to reveal the hot mess raging in my mind.

I just shrugged and looked at the TV, my cheeks blushing with embarrassment.

Luckily, minutes later, Sally was able to find a film she liked. Neither I nor Charlotte disapproved. We didn’t really care. We just wanted her to pick a damn film.

I bent down to grab a bag of chips. Sally stopped me and said she wanted to take a picture first. I wanted to say—to shout, “IT’s fucking snacks. What’s the picture for?” But I knew better. Sally liked her pictures.

For a while, we just lay back and watched. I was happy. This was normal. Just spending some quality time—or just…time—with my best friends. Then, out of nowhere, Charlotte said, “I’m hungry.”

Both me and Sally looked at her.

“So,” Sally said. “There’s a shit load of snacks on the table just grab something.”

“No,” Charlotte shrugged. “I need real food.”

“Get up and make some then,” Sally brushed her off irritatingly.

“You’re a great hostess by the way.”

“Shsh…”

Both grew silent for a second, and I remained silent, not really wanting to get into any direct conversation with her. But I grew nervous, for some reason, feeling like there was something bad coming my way.

Sure enough, after a while, Charlotte said, “Hey Lora…”

I took a deep breath. “Yes.” I said, keeping my wary eyes on the TV.

“How about you go make a sandwich for the coolest girl you ever knew huh?”

Piss off. Say it. Piss off. Two words that could work miracles. Piss. Off. Trying to dish out orders wasn’t strange for Charlotte. Actually, ever since we met her, she dished them left and right. Grab me a coffee. Fetch my gym bag from my locker. Tie my shoes. Rub my feet. And, logically, I and Sally always gave her the same response: Piss off. I don’t think she ever gave them seriously; she didn’t expect us to just do as she said. She just gave her silly orders for fun, knowing our automatic response would always be Piss off.

But the words didn’t automatically fly off my mouth this time. They were stuck in my throat. Was this another silly order, or did she expect me to comply? Regardless of what her intentions were, I wanted to do it. I felt an urge inside me to get off my ass, go to the kitchen and make her a sandwich, just cause she told me so. Refusing her just didn’t feel…right… by this point. I felt like I needed to please her, this girl that I had verbally and submissively acknowledged as better.

Frankly, the only thing keeping me from doing just that was Sally’s presence. What would she think of me if I ran off to obey Charlotte’s order, especially considering the way she gave it.

But…all things aside, it wasn’t that weird was it. I was making her a sandwich. A sandwich. It was a nice thing to do. No big deal. Fuck it.

Without a single word, I got to my feet, that damn aching in my stomach hitting me as soon as I did, and made my way to the kitchen without daring to look at either of them. I didn’t just make any sandwich either. I poured my heart inside it. But in the end…it turned out just a sandwich, turkey, mustard, pickles, bread. You really can’t be that artistic with a sandwich—or at least I couldn’t.

When I walked back, I took a look at their lovely faces. Charlotte was…smiling amusingly, satisfied but not over impressed. And Sally was just raising an eyebrow at me. I didn’t imagine she’d be this shocked if it were anyone one else. But the fact that it was me doing a favor for none other than Charlotte, was what shocked her. With a dumb smile on my face, and a knot in my stomach, I handed her the sandwich, and she took it, nodding at me as if to say thanks. And just like that, I sat back on the Sofa.

Sally was still looking at me, her eyes darting between Charlotte, me, and the sandwich I made. Then she said. “Well…I’m kinda hungry too—”

“Piss off.” I said.

“Fair enough.”

We continued watching the movie. I didn’t feel one ounce of regret over what I just did. Hearing her yums at the food I made her felt good. For a brief moment, our eyes met, and she gave me a half amused half satisfied smile; she was pleased with my reaction. I didn’t want to question it. I’d understand it later, but for now, pleasing Charlotte filled me with joy. I did wish, though, that she’d make no further requests tonight. Cause A- Sally was here, and it wouldn’t take her much time to know that there was something weird going on. And B- I knew I didn’t have the power in me to resist. Almost half an hour passed with my wish fulfilled, then I heard her sigh, and I closed my eyes in anticipation.

I saw her flex her bare feet and shake them around before she said, “Practice today was so intense. My feet hurt like hell.”

I didn’t like where this was going. I seriously considered excusing myself to the bathroom at that very moment as an escape. But I couldn’t. I stayed put. The possible pleasure of fulfilling her possible demand beating the embarrassment over the weird looks I would get from Sally, who was already glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. Sally said sarcastically, a bit annoyed that Charlotte was interrupting the movie, “Should I book you a spa appointment?”

“Would they be here quickly?”

“Just let us watch the damn movie Charlotte.” Sally whined, and turned up the volume.

The request I was expecting didn’t come. Charlotte just watched the movie. A tormenting realization dawned on me. Was she…waiting for me to offer?

She was pushing me, maybe testing the bounds of what I was willing to do for her. Me offering would surely look weird. Especially that our last encounter didn’t exactly end on the best of terms. Sally wasn’t stupid; she’d know something was up. Or, worse, she’d think I was a pushover, too nice, all of the sudden, for no reason.

But Charlotte was expecting something out of me. And I was torn between meeting her expectations thus making a fool out of myself, and disappointing her, thus preserving my stupid pride in front of annoying Sally.

I wasn’t sure, until I saw her glance at me, smile briefly, then look back at the TV, looking as confident as ever as she cleared her throat and pushed a strand of her red hair behind her ear. She even gave her foot a light shake. It was that obnoxious confidence she had that I would comply to her unstated demand, that pushed me to my decision. “…I…” I ignored Sally’s eyes that snapped to my direction. “I can…give you a foot rub… if you want to.”

“I wouldn’t…” Sally said. “You heard her, she had practice today. Her feet must be sweaty.”

Sally please SHUSH. “They couldn’t be that bad.” I said curtly, doing my best not to sound irritated.

Charlotte pursed her lips, and narrowed her eyes, seeming to actually think about whether or not to accept. She looked so cute and irritating I wanted to kiss her and slap her at the same time.

Luckily, she didn’t leave me hanging, and she shifted back slightly in her chair and shrugged. “Okay.”

I nodded with a friendly smile, then got to my feet, all the while feeling Sally’s eyes drill through the back of my head as I made my way to Charlotte’s chair. I looked around, intending to find a chair that I could shift or something so that I could sit on it while I rubbed her feet. She nodded down, like she was pointing out the obvious, “Just sit on the ground.”

“But she can’t watch the movie that way!” Sally said through gritted teeth. “In any way actually.”

“So…” Charlotte snickered. “It’s a shit movie you picked anyway.”

Sally took a deep breath as she smiled, and I knew she was resisting to shout.

While holding eye contact with her, and feeling my legs already beginning to tremble, I sunk to my knees in front of her chair. The sight of her soles greeted me. Having them facing me like that, this close to my face, I grew both hot and nervous. It felt humiliating. I was kneeling in front of her again, this time to ease the tension out of her tired feet for no good reason other than that she implied she needed it. I felt subservient, and surprisingly, my heart pumped harder against my chest, excited about the fact.

Her soles parted, and her face came into view as she raised an eyebrow at me. “You planning to start anytime soon?” She said it in such a bratty and commanding way I felt like lunging at her, but instead I nodded politely and wrapped my hands around her left foot, and kneed my thump into her meaty sole. I winced as the sweat on her foot coated my palms. She saw that and snickered, then got back to watching her show.

I sat there and rubbed. I never gave a foot massage before, but judging by her relaxed sighs, I was doing an alright job. She didn’t shy away from directing me through the whole thing though. She told me where to rub, to switch feet, and to rub harder. I obeyed without a word. It was only right she told me how she liked her feet rubbed, since I offered.

After a while, I made the mistake of looking towards Sally, whom I’d been avoiding to look at since I began. Her eyes were firmly planted on me. She had a cold look on her face as she shook her head slightly at me, as if to ask me, “Da fuck is up with you?”

I couldn’t ignore her, so I just…shrugged and gave an awkward smile then returned my focus to Charlotte’s feet. What was I gonna say, “Serving our best friend makes me feel good?”

Cause simply, that was exactly it. Pleasing Charlotte was giving me joy I had never experienced before. She was the girl I thought I was, the woman I always aspired to be, as dumb as it may sound. All my life I’d been priding myself on being the best at everything. Her coming into my life and putting a quick end to that was a harsh slap to the face, but also, it gave me a sense of freedom and relief. I didn’t have to worry about staying perfect anymore. All I had to worry about was pleasing Charlotte. That thought was freeing, and just as humbling.

After about fifteen minutes, Charlotte turned to her left. “See.” She said to Sally. “She doesn’t have a problem with the smell.”

Sally pretty much ignored both of us by this point and was just focusing on her movie.

But I didn’t like the point Charlotte made. “It’s not that I don’t have a problem with it.” I snickered nervously. “They just…don’t smell that bad.” They did. I mean, not horrible, but they did have a noticeable faint scent—nothing compared to when she had her basketball socks on though. And, as surprising as it may be, it didn’t bother that much. However I chose to keep that last bit of info to myself.

“Really?” She cocked her head. “That’s weird. Are you sure? Take a deep sniff to make sure.”

I saw Sally’s eyes dart towards the back of Charlotte’s head, full of anger. She was probably sick of her attitude now. And…to some degree…so was I. She didn’t know when to stop did she!

“I’ll pass on that.” I’d been pushed enough for one day. And…in a weird way, I felt like I had quenched the urge inside me. I slapped my palm on the top of her foot and said, “All relaxed now?”

She pursed her lips, but smiled, seeming kind of disappointed I didn’t sniff her damn feet. She shrugged. “Sure. Thanks.”

“Welcome.” I rose up and headed to then threw myself on the couch, taking a long, deep and satisfied breath. Sally looked my way, and smiled subtly, looking relieved I was sitting beside her again.

Soon enough, the movie ended. Charlotte staggered to her feet, looking so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. “I’m off to bed.”

“Bye.” Sally and I said.

I kept my place on the sofa for some time, finishing my chips and watching the credits. “Good movie.”

Sally nodded.

She was awfully silent. She was rarely awfully silent, and it usually meant she had beans to spill. It would go without saying that I had no intention of hearing it right now, so I finished quickly then got to my feet. “Well I better get home then—”

A rough hand clutched the back of my shirt and pulled me back to the couch. I kept my eyes forward, feeling hers darting around my face questionably. I couldn’t ignore her stare for long, so I glanced to my side. “…You wanna say something—”

“Da fuck? Lora?” She shook her head with a chuckle.

“What?” I shrugged.

“Don’t what me,” she said. “What’re you doing?”

“Going home but you just stopped me.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Okay…” There was no avoiding this talk. “…I’m doing…nice…favors…” I put each word carefully, finding them as I go. “For our…mutual…friend, Charlotte.”

“Never realized you’re that nice.” She said sarcastically. “Would’ve taken advantage of that in the fifteen fucking years I’ve known you.”

“Well, you’re loss.” I shrugged and got to my feet again, and again was pulled back to sit. “What?” I whined.

“A week ago you couldn’t stand Charlotte. Ever since you knew her you couldn’t stand her—”

“And you’re the one who told me to grow up and be nicer to her. You said I was too sensitive for growing hot over her every word.”

“Yeah…” she nodded animatedly. “And I meant it. You had steam blowing out of your ears every time she teased you! But honey there’s a middle ground. You know…normal…the kind me and you have. Don’t act like you want to strangle her, but also don’t run to fulfill her slightest whims. You know how bossy she can get. Middle ground!”

She was making sense, sense that was hard to argue with without looking weird. Was she really explaining to me how normal friendships worked. I knew…bitch. I just…didn’t feel like having one of those with Charlotte. And Sally wasn’t going anywhere. She was my best friend. I couldn’t get into the details with her, but I could tell her a part of the truth. “I…” I took a breath that I knew I’d need. “I just…don’t want to be in Middle grounds…right now.” And I felt like I needed to add an important point. “…when it comes to her.”

I mustered my courage and looked to my side at Sally’s face. It looked puzzled, confused, with a questioning wince. “When you…were coming here…did you hit your head on something?”

I rolled my eyes and got to my feet. “Maybe.” I sighed. “Now…me and my retarded mind should get home.” I walked to the door. “Bye.”

It was a big relief to me that when she said goodbye to me a puzzled smile made it to her face as she shook her head. She was confused, understandably, but she didn’t think less of me, and for now I was thankful for that.

Days passed. Mostly, we were back to normal. We spent nights at each other’s houses. We went to restaurants and cafes and to the movies. Nothing out of the ordinary. Only thing different, was that Charlotte’s frequent requests found a more positive response from my side.

Every now and then, she’d simply tell me to do something. And I’d do it. I grabbed her coffees, waters, snacks at the movies, made her sandwiches if we were at one of our houses. Sally was always with us, but, to my relief, Charlotte for some reason always asked in a friendly tone and with a polite smile on her face, with a ‘please’ first and a ‘thanks’ after. It made complying to her requests that much less embarrassing in front of our oblivious friend, who, by now, had pretty much gotten used to it. I made sure to do something nice for Sally for every 4 times I did something for Charlotte; I didn’t want her to think I was mad at her or something, or that I like Charlotte more than her.

I didn’t like Charlotte more than her. I couldn’t even understand my feelings towards Charlotte anymore. At one hand, I found every aspect of her personality repulsive at worst and tolerable at best. I didn’t like that she was bossy. I didn’t like that she was so full of herself. And her teasing still annoyed the shit out of me. She’d take a jab at my height, my looks, and, a new addition, my IQ, how she managed to just study two days and still beat Mrs. Megamind. But, accompanied with all of that, with every time she teased me, with every time I heard her talk about herself like she was the coolest girl in existence, and every time I ran to fulfill her slightest whim, a bolt of pleasure ran up and down my spine and my stomach twisted in knots.

I didn’t like her more than Sally. It just felt ten times more mindfuckingly captivating and exciting to be around her than around Sally. Whenever we spent time together, I had trouble keeping my eyes off of her. I’d stare, she’d catch me staring and then smile, and I’d look down blushing.

And, I didn’t know why, but she never took it too far anymore, which was…both relieving and disappointing. For instance…she never implied she wanted a foot rub again, even though we were in a lot of situations that were exactly like the one where she asked it the first time. Thinking about why that was made me crazy.

Did she just have enough? Was she bored with me? Or did she mistakenly take my rejection to smell her rank feet as me sitting my boundaries. I mean… I didn’t want to do something like that. I did need to set some boundaries…but I also wanted her to be comfortable asking me to do whatever she wanted. The possibility of her being mad or disappointed in me taunted me. And of course, there was the possibility that it was all in my head, that to Charlotte, there was absolutely nothing between us, and that our friendship was exactly how it was weeks ago.

Right now, I was in bed at 5 p.m. I had been thinking about her for hours. I was randomly scrolling through her social media, spending minutes watching every single picture. They were mostly pictures of the three of us. Sally would be pulling a silly face, I would be smiling awkwardly at the camera looking shy and awkward, which was how I acted lately, and Charlotte would give a subtle smirk like she was some celebrity taking a picture with two fan girls. She was so obnoxiously arrogant; I loved her.

I took a deep breath and scrolled down. My eyes suddenly widened at seeing a video play. There they were, her feet dangling over the recliner’s armrest, and there I was, on my knees, rubbing them. “Bah..” I exhaled a baffled breath. She took a video of me and posted it on her page without even telling me. She added a caption to it in big bold letters, “Friendship Goals J”

“Okay…” I nodded, then slammed my phone on the bed. I got up and got dressed in a white blouse and jeans. I put on some make-up, just some Pink Blush and some red lipstick; I wanted to look pretty. I went downstairs, told dad that I was heading out and that I’d borrow his car, then drove to Charlotte’s.

I thought about calling first. But I didn’t want to. I needed to see her now and she would open the door and just find me on her doorstep. I had no plans regarding what I would do once I was there. I just needed to be around her, and I wanted us to be alone.

I climbed the steps to her porch, stood in front of her door, and knocked. I took a deep breath as I heard her footsteps approaching before she opened the door. She saw me, she recoiled. “Lora.”

I barely raised my hand to my blushing cheeks and waved at her weakly. “Hey.”

Once she got over her surprise of seeing me here, she smiled and narrowed her eyes in confusion. “What…are you doing here?”

“Don’t…know…” I said. “Just…thought I’d see if you wanted to…hang out.”

She nodded, but her eyes remained puzzled. If she was annoyed I showed up uninvited and without calling, she didn’t show it. She shrugged. “Come in.”

I exhaled a long breath as I walked through the door. The lights in her big living room were off, and only some light from the windows lit the room. “Your father’s out?”

“He is.” She closed the door and walked to the middle of the living room. She was dressed in her usual pink pajamas and fuzzy slide slippers. “You wanna sit here or in my room?”

“Wherever is fine,” I said.

“Let’s sit here.” She sat on the brown leather couch facing the big TV. “I liked having the living room to myself when dad’s away.”

I took a place at the other end of her couch. “Is he away often?”

“Often enough,” she snickered.

I nodded. Four seconds after that, my biggest fear was realized. We both fell into awkward silence. We were friends, but we rarely spent time together alone, nearly never. Sally usually managed the conversation between us.

“Can I…” she said. “get you anything to drink.”

I shook my head. “No…I’m okay.” I sat there with my hands trapped between my thighs, not knowing what to say where to look or what to do. I knew why I was here. I just didn’t know how to go about it. “Can I…” I cleared my throat nervously. “get you anything.”

She stopped playing with her hair for a second and gave me a frown, but her mouth curled into a smile. She didn’t respond, and looked straight ahead.

I, on the other hand, kept looking at her. She was sitting there, leaning back with her long legs stretched in front of her, her slippered feet crossed at the ankles. I wanted to put my hands on her feet again. Right now I wanted to be on my knees, in front of her, rubbing her feet and whatever else she wanted rubbed for her.

I never realized how pretty her feet were—matter of fact, I never thought of any girl’s pair of feet as pretty…or any other part of a girl for that matter. I was single now, but I had my fair share of boyfriends in the past, and I enjoyed my time with them enough to know I liked men. But watching her slender toes poke out of that white slipper, all slim and pink, her long legs—even in fucking pajamas—her breasts, her red hair slightly messy over her shoulders, filled me with excitement and fear. I took my eyes away from her feet, I looked at her, and she was smiling at me. I didn’t give a fuck by this point. She could see me staring. I wanted to stare at you! Problem?

“What’s…up…Lora.” She cocked her head, seeming…maybe not impatient but demanding, like she was demanding that I say what I wanted to say to her.

Of course, being the pussy that I was around her, I shrugged and looked aw—you know what fuck it. “You have pretty feet.”

My comment took her by surprise, as she shook her head and looked down her legs. She looked back at me with a questioning smile. “You think?”

I didn’t know why I said that. I just wanted to compliment her, and felt it was a step in the right direction, instead of me sitting there like an idiot. “Yes.” I nodded.

“Humm.” She rolled her eyes, seeming amused by what I said. “Is that why you offered to rub them for me the other day?”

I shrugged. “No…” I said. “I just…you seemed to need it.”

She reclined her head back and nodded, not seeming to think much of it. With me falling into another long silence, she sighed, grabbed the remote and turned the TV on, kept it on low volume though.

This wasn’t going well. She was acting so nice to me, which was…nice, I guess. But it wasn’t why I came here for. It looked like she didn’t care about Sally’s presence. She just treated me the same regardless.

“Why…” I cleared my throat, and she turned the volume down more. “Why do you…never paint them.”

“Paint what?”

“Your nails.”

“I don’t know. I just…” She shrugged. “Don’t have the time. And I hate going to spas.”

“I could be your spa girl.” I wanted to say, but of course I didn’t. Instead I said, “I bet they’d look…stunning…painted.”

“Stunning!” She chuckled and shook her head. She looked at me for a moment, probably waiting to see if I’d say something else, then she returned her attention to the game, rising the volume back up.

I felt like she was slowly getting sick of talking to me. I was aimlessly talking, complimenting, and frankly, I think I looked weird. Maybe I just needed to shut up and watch the basketball game with her. That would be normal.  “I can…paint them for you if you like.” I heard myself say.

She gave me a half-puzzled half-amused look, then she muted the TV and said, “You want to paint my nails for me?”

Her tone held a slight aggressiveness that made me shit uncomfortable. “I mean…I—if you want—to I dunno—if you want—do you want?” I stuttered and murmured like an idiot, and her frowning face turned to a grin that widened with every word. “…I mean If you want—”

She raised a hand to put me out of my misery. She nodded upstairs. “I have some nail polish somewhere in my dressing table. Get the blue one.”

“Oh blue would look great on you!” I couldn’t help saying as I got to my feet and leaped up the stairs, leaving her with a baffled grin on her face.

I got back minutes later, though making sure not to run with the same excitement I ran upstairs with; I was acting too oddly, which needed to stop.

I saw her start rising her legs to the sofa, probably so that I could sit on the other end with them on my lap, but I acted quickly and sat on the floor in front of her. She was taken aback, but didn’t think much of it, and just shrugged and put her left foot in my lap. “Suit yourself.” She snickered.

With my heart pounding against my chest and my lungs barely taking breaths, I grabbed her foot, then slid her first slipper off. Her skin was cold, and smoother than the last time, probably cause last time they were all sweaty and slippery. “Your feet are so smooth!” I whispered, probably thinking I was talking to myself.

She gave me an estranged look, then nodded calmly, “Good to know.”

I winced with embarrassment and looked down. I made a note to myself. “Stop complimenting her damn feet. She’ll think you’re a lesbian trying to grope her.”

They had a faint smell, like feminine sweat. I didn’t mind it. I grabbed the blue nail polish then got to work. Not wanting to mess this up, I gave it my complete focus.

I put on some nail polish for myself every now and then, so it wasn’t hard. I felt awfully, strangely good. I was exactly where I wanted to be for the last month, under her feet, servicing her in whatever way her arrogant ass demanded—or…in this case…I demanded.

She sat there doing nothing. She wasn’t even watching the TV anymore, just mostly looking at me, and I felt she was still waiting for me to say something, as if I needed to explain my behavior.

That put a tremendous pressure on me. I hoped she didn’t find any of this weird, but she probably did. It wasn’t that strange for a girl to give her friend a pedicure…but the shift in our relationship was too quick to go unnoticed. And she surprised me. She was too nice to just…enjoy the humble treatment I was offering her. She wanted to understand.

Soon enough, I found myself saying, “Isn’t it funny…how things are now.” I chuckled nervously.

She narrowed her eyes. “How so?”

“I dunno…just…” I shrugged. “How…we were at each other’s throats before…and now…it’s kind of like I’m your lackey or something.”

She recoiled, and gave an irritated snicker as she looked away from me. “Well Geez Lora! You don’t like feeling like a lackey then stop offering nice shit! I’m not forcing you to do anything am I?” She sounded truly annoyed, and that made me shiver with fear.

“No no no…” I said, holding her foot between my palms. “I’m not complaining…that’s not what I’m saying.”

She crocked her head. “Oh.”

With that I shut my mouth. It was better not to speak for now.

“…Then…” She shook her head, as if she didn’t understand. “What are you…saying?”

What am I saying? How could I get those burning thoughts in my mind through to her and still avoid looking like a freak. In my mind they were simple: I enjoyed serving her. I found nothing wrong with it. But there was no telling if she wouldn’t.

The questioning, demanding look she gave was too hard to hold, so I looked down at her feet, and continued painting her nails. I heard her sigh above me. Not a normal sigh, but an irritated one. She was getting impatient, and probably pissed.

“You know what.” I saw her snatch the remote with force and increase the volume of the TV. She got back to watching the basketball game. I only glanced briefly up to look at her face. She looked unimpressed, indifferent, but I could tell she was pissed.

I finished painting her first foot. I sat it on the ground. And while I picked the second one, the one that I had just finished rose up and rested on my left shoulder.

I stopped panting her nails, as pure rage ran through me, rendering me helpless and confused. I didn’t know what I want. I wanted her to act bratty towards me? There was nothing I could think of that was as bratty and arrogant as using your own friend who was voluntarily serving you, as a footrest. And yet what she did made me want to both shout and gush at the same time. It made me blush with anger and excitement both.

I kept my mouth shut, and continued on with painting her toenails. She gave an amused puff, either surprised or disgusted by my lack of reaction. Though that irritating puff almost propelled me to nudge her foot off my shoulder, I didn’t. I kneeled there for the next ten minutes and finished the job.

When I was done, I grabbed her foot from ontop of my shoulder then laid both her feet side by side in my lap to look at them. I did a great job. And I was right, they did look stunning. She did great choosing cyan, as it looked beautiful on her white pinkish toes.

“You done?” She said, keeping her eyes on the TV.

“Yes.”

“…Dry them.’

“What?” I looked up, not sure I heard right.

“Dry them.” She said, and made a blowing motion with her mouth.

I couldn’t understand my feelings at that moment. Part of me wanted to tell her to piss off. Dry them? Rude! And part of me wanted to simply comply. I didn’t understand how it could bother me so much and still make me feel so weirdly good. Eventually, I chose to listen to the part that felt good.

I grabbed her foot, handling it like it was this precious thing to me, and held it close to my mouth. I started blowing air through my lips. It took me some time to gather the courage to look up. And once I did, I felt like sinking.

The look she gave me was pure pleasure. She enjoyed every part of our engagement. That wasn’t surprising. What girl wouldn’t enjoy being waited on this way. I should be happy about the joy she showed. That was pretty much what I wanted, for her to enjoy this and not think this was weird. But why the fuck was I enjoying this?

Why did I tolerate her? Okay, she was better than me. That didn’t mean I had to let her order me around, especially in such a disrespectful way, but it felt good to let her do that, right even. After I was convinced her toes were dry enough, I sat them slowly back in my lap, and looked up at her, feeling helpless.

She gave me a questioning grin. “What’s up…Lora?”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I needed to tell her. I barely understood it myself. But maybe she would shed some light on my feelings. Maybe I would get her to confess about spelling a shady spell on me or some shit like that…cause this shit wasn’t normal. I thought about what to say. But once I ran through every normal line and realized there was no normal way to say this, I just said It as it was. “Serving you feels good.”

She recoiled, her eyes narrow and looking away from me, like she was trying to make sure she heard me right. “Serving me…feels good?”

I nodded.

“The fuck does that mean,” She chuckled.

“I don’t know!” I whined loudly, startling her. “It just does.”

She sensed the agitation in my tone, and for that she gave me a moment to calm down. Later, she asked, “That’s why you’ve been acting weird lately?”

“…Weird?”

“Yeah…” She said waving her hand gesturing towards me. “All…compliant…submissive like a whipped dog.”

I cleared my throat…not that crazy about the insult. “I wouldn’t put it like that—”

“How would you put it?”

I shrugged, not knowing what to say. I looked up at her, and she was looking down at me with her lips pursed, thinking. She shook her head, “But…why?”

“I don’t know.” I did know. And she knew that. She crocked her head at me, her stare demanding an answer.

“I feel…” I looked down at her feet, unable to meet her eyes as the words left my mouth. “Inferior to you.”

She chuckled, and I glared up at her, so she put a finger to her mouth suppressing it. “You feel…” She cleared her throat, and couldn’t help but smile down at me. “Inferior…to me?”

“Yes.” I said. “Like you’re…better than me…in a way.”

She drew her feet from my lap, made herself more comfortable and relaxed on the couch as if she was getting ready for a long and amusing talk, then she crossed her legs, dangling her foot in front of me. “In what way?”

I was done beating around the bush. I needed to be honest. “In every way.”

She raised her eyebrows, seeming unconvinced by what I was saying.

“In…” I gulped. “the other day…when you made me……you remember the bet?”

“Yeah.” She smirked, shaking her foot slightly. “I remember, chicken.”

I ignored her insult and continued. “I meant every word I said…”

Her eyes widened, and she looked more surprised than amused now. She shook her head at me. “What world do you live in?”

I looked down, embarrassed. It suddenly came to my attention that I had no reason to stay on my knees anymore. But she didn’t mention it, so I stayed.

“Just cause what… I scored higher than you in a stupid exam, you think I’m what…” She chuckled. “Better than you?”

“Not only that.” I whined defensively. “Everything about you… your personality your looks, how you’re so good at everything you do. Turning out to be a calculus geniuses was just the creaming on top. I always admired you.”

“You had a funny way of showing it.” She pointed back to our previous many fights.

“Well,” I got a bit defensive. “It was hard to praise you when you were teasing the shit out of me all the time!”

“I can’t help it…” She brushed me off. “Teasing you is fun. You turn red like a tomato over the silliest things.”

Both of us grew silent for a moment. She looked away from me like she was thinking things over, then she said. “Okay…so… you think I’m awesome?”

“…Yes.”

“And you think I’m prettier than you?” She smiled.

I gulped, feeling my breath quicken. She wasn’t asking. She was making me state it aloud. “Yes.”

“And smarter?”

“And smarter.” I nodded.

“I’m awesome?” She pointed to herself. “And, compared to me…” She pointed to me. “You suck?”

My skin burned up, and my lungs shrunk, making breathing difficult. Bitch was making me insult myself. And I was enjoying it, too much to care about my pride. I said, my words weak and strangled together. “Yes… I’m a loser compared to you.”

“Huh…” She looked away, seeming amused and delighted with how this was going. “I’m not gonna argue about that am I? I’m awesome, you suck. That’s nice. That can work.”

I could feel her arrogant personality taking over. More and more she was allowing herself to just enjoy this…without questioning it. If there was ever a girl who’d love to have her friend fall at her feet and praise her endlessly, it was Charlotte. For her enjoyment, and for my own, I wanted to encourage that arrogant part of her further. I said, “I was the smartest person I know…and the prettiest.” I didn’t actually believe that. “But you came along…and made me feel like I was dumb and ugly.”

“Hummm…” She nodded, not seeming that delighted with what I was saying, but merely contended. “Good to know.” She grew silent for a moment, pursing her lips at me, contemplating where to go from here. “So what now?”

I had no idea.

“You feel like my lackey…” She shrugged. “Does that mean you want to be my lackey? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

Not exactly. Frankly, I had no idea what I wanted. But the way she put it was more accurate than I ever could. I nodded, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Her mouth gaped, as she was about to say something, then it closed. She bit on her thumbnail as she looked down at me, hesitation written all over her face.

We were friends. Good friends. That was probably what she was contemplating right now. I didn’t know how I would feel if my friend was on her knees in front of me telling me she wanted to be my lackey, told me she thought I was better than her, told me she felt inferior to me. I’d probably be worried. If it was Sally here, she’d probably get me to get off my ass and stop talking stupid. But Sally didn’t have Charlotte’s ego.

Suddenly, she sighed, taking a long breath. “Okay.” She smiled. “What does being my lackey, entails?” She dangled her slippered foot in front of my face. “Other than pedicures and foot rubs, huh? What do you feel like doing for the coolest girl you ever knew?”

I knew her condescending tone was only playful, but it didn’t fail to get under my skin. I hated being talked down to like that. But hearing those words come out of her mouth was something else. She bit her lips, amused by my show of weakness and helplessness.

“…Does that mean…” her eyes widened in excitement. “Does that mean I get to boss you around?”

“You’ve been bossing me around for weeks!” I shook my head in confusion. She had. I rarely if ever refused a request of hers.

“Well yeah…but… I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I feel like I can really make use of you now.”

“Make use of me?” I didn’t like how that sounded, and the worry showed on my face.

“Forget about it for now.” She brushed me off and leaned forward. “There’s been something bothering me for weeks now, and I think this is the perfect time to get it off my chest.”

“…What?” I said.

“First. My phone is charging in my bedroom.” She nodded towards the stairs. “Go fetch it for me.”

So that was how a real order from Charlotte sounded like. Her tone was so condescending I felt like I wanted to get up and slap her across the face. But the sudden tickling around my crotch left no doubt in my mind that this was exactly how I wanted her to talk to me, like I was dirt underneath her.

“You’re still here?” she asked, nudging my chin away with her toes. “Go.”

“Yes Charlotte.” I gave a weak ass whine as I staggered to my feet and practically ran upstairs to do as she said, her giggles tormenting me. I had no idea what that thing bothering her could be, but I didn’t like that it had something to do with her phone. The fact she videotaped me while I was rubbing her feet without my knowledge was still fresh in my mind.

I ran back downstairs and kneeled back at her feet, handing her the phone. She snatched it out of my hand and puffed, rolling her eyes. “Took you long enough.”

I knew it was all an act. But she did it so well. At some level, it wasn’t an act. That was how she talked, to people who were below her at least. And that was where I was, below her, where I wanted to be, and judging by how quickly she was getting into this, where she wanted me.

“You know what I really hate.” She said, clicking around on her phone.

“…What?”

“Chickens who go back on their word” She gave me a brief glance. “That’s you, Lora.”

I recoiled, baffled. “When did I ever—”

“The bet.”

“Oh.” I looked down. Right. “Well… if it makes you feel any better, kissing your foot turned out worse.”

“Really.” She raised her brow.

“Yeah. Kneeling…bowing…kissing the lowest part of you while you stood there and offered me your foot like you were some princess or something.” I grew hot remembering it. “I felt like I was your servant or something.”

“Hummm.” She nodded, like she was surprised. “Interesting.” She shook her head. “That doesn’t matter though. You passed on fulfilling your bet. And you’ll make that right now.”

My face fell, horrified. She couldn’t be serious. Fuck no. “You don’t mean…”

She rose to her feet, smiling down at me. “I do.” She said. “But without the words. You’ve praised me enough for one day.”

“But…” I said. “…I don’t…want to do that.” I didn’t. Doing her favors was one thing. Letting her boss me around was another. But I couldn’t even think about doing something like what we did that day. Even in my current state of mind, it was too humiliating, the kind of humiliating I didn’t want to put myself through. “I did my part of the bet Charlotte.”

“You did.” She said. Then her hand started playing around in my hair as I knelt in front of her. “But this isn’t about any bet now is it?” She pushed my chin up so that I looked straight in her eyes. “This is about me, the coolest girl you ever knew, your superior—” She chuckled, then controlled it. “Your superior…telling you to do something. And as my little inferior loser—” She chuckled. “—you’ll do it, right?”

“Charlotte.”

“Hush…” She pressed a finger on my mouth, shutting me up. “You’ve said plenty. But words are cheap. I need you to show me what your admiration means.” She cocked her head. “This is me accepting you as my inferior Lora. Or did you change your mind?”

The stern look of pleasure in her green eyes, so close to mine, captivated me. Such was the loss and helplessness on my face that Charlotte didn’t need to wait for me to talk; she saw the answer. She smirked, letting go of my chin, then she turned. She stuck her butt out slightly. “Lower my pajamas.”

With my fingers shivering, I gently tugged at the thigh part of her pants, pulling them down, gradually revealing her red panties that covered her round cheeks.

I felt like screaming. There I was, kneeling on the floor, all that was in my view was another girl’s butt. The degradation of it all made me shiver. I felt defeated and inferior.

“Go on.” Charlotte nudged my knee with her heel. “Kiss my ass, beta.”

I lurched forward, planting my lips on her fleshy thigh. It was the best feeling ever, to feel my lips dive into her smooth and tender flesh. I smacked my first kiss, hearing its smackring through the silent living room.

“Another one.” Charlotte said. “On the other cheek.

I didn’t need to be asked twice. I pecked her asscheek a second time.

“Look into the camera as you do it.” She was holding her phone over her head, so that we were both in the picture. “And give it a final big smooch.”

I looked into the camera from my kneeling position on the floor, and forced my face against her ass, giving it a big sloppy kiss, making her cackle above me; I must’ve tickled her.

Days Later

I was on my feet in the middle of the crowd in the basketball court. “GOOO CHARLOTTE!—”

“Lower your fucking voice!” Sally said from beside me. “She can hear you.”

It was a basketball game between our team and another school’s team. Sally wasn’t the only one who had a problem with my occasional shout. People were giving me annoyed looks. I didn’t give a shit. But, truth was, I wouldn’t be that obnoxious by choice.

Last couple weeks were like what I expected a honeymoon would feel like. I and Charlotte spent half our time together, be it at school, at some cafe, or at one of our houses.

I quickly got to know what she meant by “making use of you.” She took advantage, maybe a bit too much, of my newly admitted obsession with her. She really worked me. She had me solving her homework. Every night, before I even did mine, I’d be there on my table solving a ton of Charlotte’s schoolwork with a big dumb smile on my face. I never realized Calculus could be this erotic and exciting. And in between classes, I carried her books, or her sports bag if she was heading for practice, not giving a rat’s ass that I truly looked like a lackey to anyone watching—if anyone knew it was her stuff I was carrying anyhow.

The nice attitude was gone. No more “please” or “thanks.” She’d just say, “Got get me a coffee midget.” And her midget would run to fetch her coffee. Sometimes she did take it a bit far though, like stopping in the middle of the hall at school and telling me to tie her shoes while the hall was full of students. I didn’t appreciate that, but doing it made my heart skip beats all the same. Luckily, she only made me do it once or twice so it was no problem. I knew she would like to show her power over me in public, bratty arrogant shit that she was, but she restrained that urge well.

And yesterday—god, yesterday I wanted to kill her. I was at home studying. She knew that, cause I told her. I wasn’t caught up or anything… I just felt like studying that night; It was normal, and I missed it. But she sent me a message, telling me I should come to her house, as it was “a matter of high importance.” I knew it wasn’t that serious, but I also thought that…it was important enough for her to get me away from my schoolwork. So I went. I walked to her room, her messy, dumpster of a room. She was laying on her bed, and I went straight to the point. “What’s going on?”

“We have a problem!” she said. “I’m in a bad mood over how messy my room is, and I’m feeling too lazy and tired to do anything about it. So I thought… that’s something that my lackey might be able to help me with right?”

I took a breath, trying to calm myself. “Charlotte—”

“Tut tut tut—” She raised a hand. “What did we talk about last time…”

I frowned and bit my tongue. I hadn’t yet agreed to this…but it was about time I caved to her latest debasing rule. “Miss…Charlotte.”

She leaned back, satisfied. “Go on.”

“I told you I was studying tonight.”

“…Well…yeah, but this is important!”

“You really brought me here just to clean and tidy up your room.”

“No…” She said, like I was stupid. “I just told you… I’m also tired… so I need a foot rub too.”

A lot of ways of killing her ran through my head that moment, strangling, punching, shooting, but of course in the end, I spent about half an hour running around her room picking up her clothes, vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing the bathroom—which was a shitty experience in by itself. I didn’t know I could be more humbled by that point, but scrubbing my friend’s toilet bowl while she sat on her bed scrolling on her phone proved me wrong. I did all of that, then I gave her her foot rub.

It was during that foot rub that she informed she had a big game tomorrow, and that she wanted me to be there. “I want to see you on the benches watching me, okay,” she said. “I wanna hear you chanting my name.”

So that was what I was doing…now. Chanting her name. But, after a while, she gave me a wide-eyed look, as if to tell me to cool it down. So I did.

“Thanks.” Sally said as I sat beside her.

“She’s doing well isn’t she.”

“Humm.” Sally nodded. “How she elbowed that poor girl’s face though!”

“That bitch was all in her face!” I brushed her off defensively.

Sally snickered. I took my eyes off the match for a bit and looked at her. She was awfully quiet today. “Something wrong?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Why would something be wrong!” She shook her head. “No.”

I should shut up. Of course there was something wrong. Me and Charlotte had been ghosting here for days. We spent most of our time together, and a ton of our time included Charlotte treating me like the lackey bitch I loved being; it goes without saying that didn’t want Sally to see that.

“You wanna hang out after the game…” I said, getting her attention. “We’ll head to my place, watch a movie.”

She nodded, seeming indifferent. “Sure.”

We returned our attention to the game which was nearing its end. When it ended, with Charlotte’s team winning by 4 points, me and Sally made our way down the benches. We caught up with her as she and her teammates walked to the locker rooms.

“Hey…” I said, as we got closer.

She turned back to us and smiled. “Heyyyy.” She wrapped her arm around my neck and rubbed her knuckles on the top of my head. It was already an annoying gesture, but the fact that she’d been playing for hours and that my cheek touched her sweat-drenched armpit made it disgusting. I wiggled my head out from under her arm and wiped at my wincing face. “I heard you in the crowd. How can such a small creature make such loud noises.” She pinched my cheek.

Sally mostly stayed silent as we walked, probably still irritated by how Charlotte treated me but finding no real use addressing it.

We entered the locker room where the girls were gathering their stuff before they went home. Me and Sally leaned against one of the lockers while Charlotte threw herself at the bench facing us. While the girls gradually emptied the room, the three of us just chatted for a while, about school work, about what movie we were going to see today. Later after that, when the room was empty, Sally got away from her place near the locker and said, “So… should we get going then?” She looked at me, waiting.

Charlotte, dapping her hand towel on her neck lightly, said, “Why don’t you go ahead. Me and Lora will follow you.”

Sally recoiled with a snicker. “Why don’t we…all go together…now? Have something planned?”

I looked at Charlotte questionably, and she gave me a teasing smirk. “Just need Lora’s help with something.”

Sally sighed, then looked at me.

“We’ll meet up at night,” I smiled apologetically. She nodded with a smile, though it was obvious she wasn’t pleased as she walked out of the locker room, and with every step she took, I felt myself growing more nervous, knowing that Charlotte didn’t get rid of her for nothing.

As soon as she closed the door behind her and me and Charlotte were alone, Charlotte gave a relieved and tired exhale. “Finally!” She said, “Here…”

I flinched as her hand towel hit me right in the face. I grabbed it with tensed fingers as I asked, “What?”

She gestured at her legs and shoulders, sneering at me like I was retarted. Great. Just great. I sat beside her on the bench and started dapping the towel on her arms, cleaning all her sweat.

“Geez.” She sighed. “What a game huh!”

“You played really good.”

“Really good!” she screeched, like she couldn’t believe what I said. “Bitch I was like a pro out there.”

“You were,” I snickered.

She leaned back, seeming thankful to be finally sitting down after such a long and tiresome game. “Do my legs.”

I nodded then slid to my knees. I passed the towel up and down her long legs. They were so sweaty that she looked like she was out of the shower. Droplets of sweat covered her thighs and legs. I didn’t mind drying her sweat for her. It was especially degrading for me…seeming like it was such a trivial task she should do herself. But for now, I was just thankful she didn’t ask for a foot rub. I couldn’t imagine touching them, let alone massage them after she’d been sweating in those sneakers for hours.

“Hummm.” She hummed, leaning back. “I’m so glad I invited you today,” she said. “Nothing beats being waited on hand and foot by my little lackey after a long game. The best way to unwind.” She took a gulp of her big water bottle.

“Couldn’t it have waited.” I shrugged, thinking it necessary to say. “Was it worth blowing Sally off?”

She gave me a teasing look. “You tell me.” She crossed her legs, accidentally—no…intentionally nudging me in the chin with the toe of her sneaker. “What’s more important? Serving the greatest girl you ever knew when she needs you…or hanging out with Sally?”

I smiled. I wanted to tell her “Serving you” but I felt like I needed to be serious for a second. “It’s just…” I looked down as I ran the towel down the length of her leg. “We’ve been excluding her too much lately. She must be upset.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “I know I know. I’m only joking stupid. I was actually thinking about this the other day. This can’t continue.”

My stomach fell and my movement halted. “What…can’t continue?”

“Us spending time alone like that.” She shrugged. “Like you said we’re doing it a lot. It needs to stop.”

The fuck was she talking about? The pure horror and sadness on my face sent her into a laughing fit. I could almost feel a tear accumulate in my eye as I saw her trying to control her laughter. This meant so much to me, so much I couldn’t imagine living without it, and there she was toying with me.

“God.” She took a breath. “I only meant that we can’t keep excluding Sally like that. You think I’d give my inferior little midget away for anyone?” She stroked my cheek with the bottom of her sneaker. I would think I would’ve screamed at her if she did it any other time, but now I was so thankful about her explanation that I didn’t care.

“Oh…”

“But the look on your face…” she chuckled. “Priceless. You’re enjoying this a lot aren’t you?”

I nodded, my cheeks blushing. I was. Ever since that day, that first kiss, my life hadn’t been the same. I felt like I was in the relationship of my dreams. I couldn’t compare it to anything else, except for my relationship with my first boyfriend. Like all first relationships…for a girl just getting introduced to romance, every moment I spent with Brandon felt like the best moment of my life. The adrenaline rush, the knots in my stomach every time we touched, blushing over the silliest things. None of my following short relationships came even close to that first one, until Charlotte. My time with Charlotte was exactly like that… only ten times better. It was something new, simple and yet weird, out of this world, and I didn’t want it to end.

Suddenly, I felt the need to get some validation from her side. “…You enjoy it too…right?” I asked, as confidently as I could and it still sounded weak and shaky, like I was afraid of the answer.

“PUfft.” She brushed me off. “You’re kidding. Of course. I get waited on hand and foot. I hardly do homework anymore. I get spoiled like crazy. My room gets messy, I snap my fingers and you’re there to make it spotless. You made my life a lot easier.”

Her response was…acceptable…at best. This wasn’t what I was asking about. “I mean…do you…enjoy it. Like…is it fun, for you. Or is it just…like having… a maid.”

She cocked her head, giving me a smile. “There’s no maid like you honey.”

I blushed. She didn’t answer…technically. But that smooth compliment was enough for me for now.

“Take my shoes off.”

Fuck. My eyebrows narrowed in worry as I said, “Why?”

“What do you think.” She said. “I never needed a foot rub as much as I do now.”

I took my time. I was gonna do it. I just needed a moment to prepare myself. But that short pause was noticed. She narrowed her eyes, confused by my hesitation. I never refused her a foot rub before, never even hesitated. No matter what we would be doing, she’d just lay her foot in my lap and I’d start massaging. “What’s wrong?” she said.

I shook my head. “Nothing.” I put the hand towel on the ground, then started untying her sneaker. I took the first one off, and it immediately hit me. A warm, humid gust of stench wafted up my face. I held my finger to my nose unconsciously and looked up at her. Her red basketball Jersey had dark spots on it, drenched with sweat.

This was something I’d been suffering with lately. Charlotte was gorgeous. Every single inch of her was attractive to me. But she had her moments, moments when she either didn’t take care of her hygiene or her looks; she was still a sight to look at, but touching her was a different matter.

However, I sucked it up, and grabbed her foot by the socked ankle, putting It on the ground—not on my lap as I usually did—which made her raise an eyebrow at me. I started untying her other sneaker. Her sock was white, but my eyes were glued to those gray spots all over it. It was moist, as it should be, after a long game. 

When both her feet were free, she rose them both and sat her soles right on my jeans, making me flinch. I could feel their hotness on my thighs through the jeans. I took a breath, then put my fingers on her right foot—the tips of my fingers. And I started rubbing…more like…poking my fingers lightly around the top of her foot and her socked toes. I looked up at her and smiled awkwardly, as she gave me a playful frown. 

What? I’m serving you, and that’s how it’ll be till you get your ass into a shower. I wasn’t about to say that to her, but I tried to communicate it with my challenging smile.

Next thing I knew, her other foot flew up. I managed to grab it and put it down before it made contact with my face…my clean…hygienic face. I looked up at her, and she was biting her lips as she looked down at me, her eyes narrowing daringly. She did it again, and I was ready to shove it away. “Stop it!” I whined.

She leaned back, a contemplating smile curling up her lips. “They’re a bit rank aren’t they.”

“It’s understandable.” I shrugged, trying not to sound insulting. “You just had a long game.”

“Humm…” She nodded. “But they are… quite smelly?”

I continued poking my fingers around her foot. “Yeah.”

“And disgusting?”

I nodded.

“I agree…” She pouted. “To me…they’re a bit repulsive. I can smell them from here.”

“Glad we agree on that.” I said sarcastically.

We both got silent for a bit. She was just smiling at me now. I looked down, unable to hold her stare for long. But it felt this was the end of it.

“But…” She said. “Aren’t you forgetting an important point?”

“…” I looked up. “What?”

“…Whose feet are these?”

I shook my head, confused, then shrugged. “…Yours.”

“Whose…?” she cupped her hand over her ear.

I rolled my eyes. I knew what she wanted me to say. “Miss Charlotte’s feet.”

“And who’s Miss Charlotte?” She put her finger on her chin, as if she was thinking. “To you…who’s miss Charlotte.”

I bit my lips. I wasn’t that excited about complementing her right now. But I couldn’t defy her. “The coolest girl I ever knew.”

“So…” She said. “Even if… to me… and to everyone else… I rank, to you…my smell is what…”

“…” I took a breath. “…Good?”

“Good!” She lurched forward like she was about to smack me. I knew she wouldn’t but I was startled from the sudden yell.

“Really good” I said nervously. “…Great.”

“Awesome?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” She nodded. “I’m glad we agree.” She took a moment as she sat back.

I looked down and to the side, avoiding her tormenting smirk. After a moment, I felt her foot thud on my left shoulder, and her left foot on my right. I looked up at her, my eyes fuming, my face twisted into anger and reluctant excitement both. Even if this had some potential to feel good, I didn’t want it to.

Her smile only widened as a reaction. “I’m glad…cause… you remember who I am right?”

I said mindlessly. “Miss Charlott—”

“I’m your master.” She said.

I snickered nervously. Master. That wouldn’t be the word I would use…even if I really didn’t find an appropriate word to describe what she was to me. She was getting to a point where her ego was a bit annoying now…even to me. Like that time she beckoned me to clean her room; she took it too far sometimes.

“I’m your master, after you kneeled at my feet and begged me to be.” She reminded me.

I didn’t know what to say to that. No one said anything about no masters.

“Do you still want that?”

“Of course I do.” I whined defensively. Even though I didn’t like her very much at the moment, I couldn’t imagine going home and knowing this was over. This was the highlight of my day, spending time with her.

“Good.” She nodded. “Cause as your master I have certain expectations. Like… my lackey shouldn’t shy away from my stench.”

“I—”

She put her socked foot right in front of my face, inches away, right under my nose. I frowned, and rose my hand to move it, but she kicked my hand away. “Smell my foot. Give it a big sniff.”

“…” Wanting this to be over with, I did what she said. I inhaled the rancid smell. It was horrible.

She did her best to contain her giggle, but she couldn’t. “So…how does it smell?”

“…” I knew what she wanted me to say. “Awesome.” She just made me compliment her foot stink. Debasing myself for her felt good…but I never intended to sink this low. I wanted her to stop. No matter how little pride I had left…I would like to keep it. My annoyance showed on my face.

She sneered at me, amused; I was mad as hell, and yet I was still on my knees, not daring to refuse her. It was probably this observation on her side that made her confident enough to do what she did next.

Both her feet left my shoulders, and within a second, before I managed to react, she shoved both of them in my face, covering the length of my face with her socked soles. I rose my hands in defense and laid them on her ankles…but I didn’t dare try moving them by force. Instead, as her sweat-drenched soles coated my face with their stench, I whined. “Charlott—”

“Shush…” She rubbed her soles up and down my face, pulling at my lips and nose, rubbing away whatever remained of my dignity. “You need some humbling.”

I need some humbling, Princess? I wanted to shout at her. But I kept my mouth shut, my lips sealed closed. I could feel their wet sweaty drenching my cheeks and forehead. Smell was unbearably sharp and pungent. But worse thing was…my crotch was starting to tingle.

I'd made my peace long ago with the fact I found Charlotte sexually attractive, and for me, that was humbling enough. I couldn't get a tingle out of her feet. I just couldn't. "Charlotte-"

“Smell my feet Beta.” She demanded as she pushed her foot forward, pinning my head harshly to the locker behind me. “Sniff my feet and tell me they smell awesome.”

Beta. I was her beta. The word sent a bolt of pleasure down my spine. “Your foot stench is awesome.” I yelped, not knowing if I wanted her to stop or keep going.

“Louder.” She demanded. “I want the principal to hear you in her office. How does my foot smell?”

“It smells awesome…” I practically shouted, with immense strength, my shout filling the locker rooms, and somehow I still managed to sound weak and pathetic, like I was begging for my life.

I was in hell, and yet my crotch was gradually approaching an orgasm as I rubbed my thighs together. This was wrong on so many levels. This was beyond humiliating. It was dehumanizing. Charlotte was bullying me. This wasn’t a service, I wasn’t helping her with anything. She was rubbing her sweaty feet all over my face, making me smell their rank stench and compliment it.

“Giving me shit about my smell.” She puffed, slapping her sole against my red face playfully. “Apologize.”

“I’m sorry!” I whined, my mouth muffled by her moist socks. “I’m sorry.” The humiliation and weakness I felt deep within me made it to my tone.

She snickered. “You sound pathetic. Like a whipped bitch,” she said. “But you are…my whipped bitch, right?”

“I am.” I said, rubbing my thighs harder together, feeling my excitement grow inside me.

“You’re lucky I don’t make you lick my foot clean, you beta.” She said. “You’re lucky I’m not making you dig up my toe jam for lunch. Would You like that?”

“…Yes.”

“You’d like my toe Jam in your mouth right?”

Not even in your wildest dreams. “Yes please…” I whined

“Cause to you…” She chuckled, then tried to suppress it, but did a poor job. “It would probably taste like blueberry jam right? It would be your dessert.”

No it would be fucking toe jam. “Yes.”

“But, unfortunately for you… you’ll have to wait for that treat. For now, rub my calves, and don’t let me hear you complaining about my smell again, Beta Girl.”

I waited…barely able to regather my breath, I waited for her to remove her feet from my sweat-drenched face. They were still harshly smashing my head into the locker. But… no such luck. I almost teared up as I rose my hand and began massaging her sweaty calves.

I thought this joy of mine had limits, or that I could sit limits. I really couldn’t, could I. If she could get me to inhale the fumes of her stinky socks and actually enjoy it, if she could make me enjoy rubbing her calves while she used my face as her footstool, she could get me to enjoy anything, as long as it was her degrading the shit out of me. My debasement had no limits.

And even if it did, Charlotte wasn’t only doing this for me. Charlotte was Charlotte. I imagine she loved the power trip. And unlike me, she didn’t give a shit about any limits. If something was gonna make her feel greater, more powerful, higher than me, she was gonna do it, with as little regard to my feelings as possible. I was a relatively attractive girl, same age as her, same status…whatever that meant, and she got to wipe her foot sweat on my face. She got me to admit that I found something as low as her foot stink awesome. I wasn’t only serving her physically. I was a servant to her ego.

“Who’s the coolest.” She said.

“You are,” I cried out.

“Who’s the greatest?”

“You’re the greatest.”

I wish I could see myself right now. I imagined I looked ridiculous, pathetic, like a true beta girl. Another girl was stepping on my head, pinning me with her stinking feet to the wall, and what did I do?…I massaged her calves, eased her tension, returned her disrespect with service and care while I sang her praises.

It took me to muster some courage to admit that I enjoyed this. I enjoyed this now. Picturing myself like that only heightened my lust. I was defeated, under her, treated like the dirt under her shoe, and I loved it.

I was the coolest girl I ever knew once. My pride that was once precious to me was being trampled under her feet, but my lust reached so high I didn’t care. I was just Charlotte’s whipped dog. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the satisfaction on her face. She was arriving at the same conclusion. If forcing her friend to sniff out the stench of her socks, complement it and enjoy it, didn't prove she was better, then nothing would. 

“I’ve had enough of hiding this.” She said, seeming relived as if she’d said something she wanted to say for a while. “We’re gonna tell Sally about his today.”

I didn’t dare stop massaging her claves for a second, or remove her feet, but I found the power and courage in me to speak. “But—”

“Sush…” She pushed her sole harder on my mouth. “She’s our friend. She’ll understand—hell…I bet she’ll find it funny even.” She chuckled. “And we can’t keep hiding forever. Are you ashamed of this? Are you ashamed of our relationship?”

“N—”

“Good.” She said. “Today you’ll prove that to me. We’ll hang out… and at any second…I’ll snap my fingers and order you to do something… and whether I tell you to fetch me a drink, give me a foot rub…or shove my toes down your throat, you’re gonna run along and do it. Understand?”

The words she said kicked my orgasm almost over the edge. I could barely talk. “Yes.”

“You’ll show her how much of a whipped bitch you like being for me.”

As my crotch exploded with the best orgasm I’d ever felt, I grabbed Charlotte’s foot harshly, removing her sole from my face and taking her by surprise. I pulled it to my mouth, and started laying kisses on her sweaty sole, silently thanking her. She gave me a surprised but amused grin, probably annoyed by my sudden move but delighted I was kissing the bottoms of her feet. With her eyes gazing down at me in clear condescension, she offered me her other foot, and I started pecking at her toes.

This was my true use for her. I wasn’t a maid. She wanted her house cleaned and her feet rubbed, but what she commanded, what she needed, was her ego served, and that was my true use.

Epilogue

Two years Later

I barely fought the tears as I franticly tried to wiggle my hands out of Sally’s grip. “Hold still I said.” Sally complained, like I was acting unreasonable. She pinned my hands over my head to the bed as I looked up at Charlotte’s grin in horror.

Me, Charlotte and Sally were roommates in the dorm. True to her word, by now, our relationship was open and transparent. Sally had her worries at first. But Sally was Sally. Once she made sure I wasn’t doing this forced, and that I actually enjoyed it…begged for it…she came around. I knew her. As long as it was fun and games, she’d enjoy anything that included any person getting embarrassed—especially her best friend. And my ever-increasing embarrassment provided constant laughter.

Sally didn’t treat me like Charlotte. She didn’t want to. But, for a girl who found the embarrassment of others the funniest thing in the world, she enjoyed every second of my debasement. And whenever Charlotte needed to force me to do something extra disgusting, Sally was quick to offer her unconditional help. She was developing the habit of resting her feet on my shoulders whenever I was rubbing Charlotte’s however; I guess every girl liked to be treated like royalty to a degree, except for the ones that wanted to be treated like the filth under the royalty…aka me.

I wish I could say that living with them was without its cons, but it wasn’t. For instance, we shared the chores equally, of course. Neither of them tried to change that—not that I would let them if they did; I loved acting like a servant…I didn’t actually want to be a servant. I had my schoolwork to worry about. But…to a degree, they couldn’t help themselves taking advantage every now and then. It would usually be Charlotte. She’d be tired or just… not feeling like doing chores today, and would have me do them for her. I could never tell her no, especially with the demeaning tone she used. But she never did it often enough to a point where it created a problem.

An annoying habit of hers, however, one that Sally was quickly learning, was taking the liberty to shut me up. We’d be talking, arguing about something, anything, be it a matter of logic or something about school or whatever…and whenever it became clear that I was in the right, whenever I was close to winning the damn argument, she’d out of nowhere, stick her foot in my still talking mouth and say, “Okay. You made your stupid wrong point. Now sush, dumb Beta.” They both did that to me now and they did it often…and it was annoying as hell and NOT at all hot. I think that might be the only thing that still bothered me; it was just… the drastic, quick shift in events. We’d be friends, and in one second, she’d kick me back into being her inferior bitch who should just keep her mouth shut.

And of course, the predicament I was in right now. The occasional “Let’s make Lora do something disgusting.” I hated when they teamed up on me. It felt more like bullying than anything else.

First time they did it, Charlotte came through on her promise on making me eat her toe jam. Sally sat on my back and pulled my head up and Charlotte sat in front of me, extending her barefoot in my direction. She’d just gotten back from her basketball game. They both started tickling me and they didn’t let me up till I caved. I had to stretch my tongue out, and shove it between Charlotte’s toes, and dig out whatever ‘treats’ I found in there. They made me hold it in my mouth, and, of course, Sally snapped a picture to add to their ever-growing collection of “making beta do funny shit.” Then they made me swallow it.

Sad truth was…toe jam was truly a treat by this point. Not in that it tasted good. No, it still tasted like damn toe jam. But compared to the stuff I had to endure now, It was candy.

“You knew the deal midget.” Sally said through gritted teeth, still doing her best to pin my wrists down. “You miss up. You get punished.”

“I didn’t know you hated olives Charlotte I swear I didn’t.” My shaky voice sounded like I was about to cry. My horror was genuine. They did that to me like four times already, and it never felt less shitty or humiliating or disgusting.

“Hold her head still.” Charlotte said as she shuffled on top of me with her jeans down to her ankles, trying to balance her naked ass over my face. “I told you not to put olives in my sandwich a hundred times. This will help you remember.”

“No please don’t.” I said, then closed my mouth shut.

Charlotte rolled her eyes, bored of my pathetic begging, and closed my nose with her fingers. Before long, I had to open my mouth. And, being an expert by now, she landed her asshole right over my lips, making me seal them around it. I couldn’t see Charlotte’s face from my position, but I could see Sally’s, who looked down at me with pure joy in her eyes.

Once Charlotte was convinced my lips were firmly sealed around her asshole, she farted right in my mouth. I gaged, and did my best not to vomit as they laughed.

After a minute, during which they controlled their laughter and I did my best not to lose it, Charlotte said, “Okay fart-mouth.” She shuffled around making sure to dig my face deeper into her buttcheeks. “You know the drill. Apologize.”

I teared up. I wasn’t actually that sad…it was just so disgusting I couldn’t believe I was gonna do it again.

With my mouth stretched around up her nasty asshole, I poked my tongue out, pushing it into her shithole. It tasted so wrong and awful tears were in the corners of my eyes. But it didn’t matter. This only happened every four or five days, when Charlotte decided I fucked up somehow.

It didn’t matter. Aside from this…nothing bothered me anymore. I had no dignity to speak of when it came to Charlotte. I had no pride to protect. When it came to Charlotte, I had admitted long ago that I belonged and Loved belonging right under her feet, her humble servant, her beta. This disgusting shit she made me do, was only a small price for being in that place. A price I gladly paid and would continue to pay. Treating her as my superior felt good. And that meant she was my superior. I might be fighting tears as I lapped at her asshole, my whole face smelling like her fart, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Next time I have an olive in my mouth cause of you…” She flicked my forehead while she clenched her asscheeks around my mouth. “I’ll spit it back into yours.”

Sally chuckled. “What if you swallow it by accident though?”

I looked up at Sally, wanting to slap her.

“I dunno..” Charlotte chuckled. “Maybe I’ll give it back to her some other way.”

Okay maybe I would.