Hey all. I've broken a long hiatus from writing in hopes of getting back into tickle-fic. I'm still a bit rusty but hoping to improve. As such, any comments or critiques are vastly appreciated.
This is the first half of a story I'll be finishing in the next few days.
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The Texas sun blared down as it always did in mid-July, breaking the record heat like sorority girls break shot glasses. At once dependable and unforgiving, UT’s biggest orange fan shone upon Haley through her apartment’s only window, nudging her awake with diffuse rays of life. She groaned in acknowledgment of this cosmic gift.
Haley Spatz, Junior, Sociology major, independent, 3.3 gpa, student number 810-238-4387, met the day with all the enthusiasm of a woman on her way to a pap smear. The Texas blonde was not, however, on her way to any medical office. She was shuffling into flip-flops and an orange tank-top for something much worse: an all-day volunteer assignment, for no pay, glory, or even class credit.
She wondered how she’d let herself get roped into it during the entire bus ride to the Capitol building; her freshman-year roommate had always had this sort of hold over her. Were it not for Mel (formerly Melissa), Haley would have long ago receded to a summer of EDM concerts, lazing on the river, and 4:20 snack breaks, funding entirely by the remnants of her parents’ Christmas gift. Should that generous fund run out, she’d already mulled a part-time job, probably in something related to club promotion or blood donation.
Mel had bigger plans. She’d taken this semester break to start a new movement dedicated to women’s rights, veganism, the restoration of defunct punk sub-genres, and whatever other causes were gaining traction around campus. Even though she’d dropped out in mid-March, she still considered herself and soul of the anarcho-feminist clique at UT. And, as its only real member, she needed all the help she could get in sustaining its causes. Ex-roommates were the first to get mass texted, and only one of her many exes ever responded.
Haley departed the bus a stop before the capitol. Mel and a loose contingent of lazy-eyed coeds were shuffling about the sidewalk, letting suited businesspeople pass through their tiny mob with downcast eyes.
“Hayley you’re late,” said Mel. No one acknowledged this, although Claire, Mel’s substitute Haley sidekick, waved at her. She noticed all 6 of the girls had formed horizontal line, like grunts taking orders from a drill sergeant. Haley felt compelled to take the last place in line, which, unfortunately for her, was actually in the street.
“Sam, you’re taking the quad, and Breezy, you’re in front of the clocktower,” continued their leader, as she referred to a memo on her phone. “As for Haley… um…” her face lit up at the same time her phone did. “Oh! Keith and El-B came through. You’re on the field.”
Several girls turned to stare at Haley, seeking explanation for these clearly male names invading their all-female protest. Haley responded solely for their sake, knowing what the answer would be.
“Who are Keith and Delbee.”
“Oh don’t worry, just some people I know.”
Haley stifled her sigh. Not “guys” - people. Not “friends” - people. Always involving “people.”. The day was shaping up to be as drab as she thought it be, which could only mean it was going to get much worse.
—————
The chit chat on the way to McCombs field was amiable and close-hearted in a way it hadn’t been since Mel had done three keg stands at Seth Kanter’s 21st birthday party. If it hadn’t been for Mel’s constant checking of her phone during the walk, Haley would probably have put up no fuss once she saw what props Keith and El-B had brought to the field’s small, covered stage. She stopped short of the shadow cast by the stage’s cover, standing firm in the 105 degree heat.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Mel swung around as soon as she got to the shade. “Okay, I knew you’d be surprised, but I really didn’t think they’d come through.” Her tone was pleading, but her face was all smiles. “This really means a lot to the movement, Haley.”
Haley walked up onto the stage where either Keith or El-B stood by his gift. She circled the dolly the prop was strapped to, shaking her head just enough for Mel to see it.
“I quit.”
“HALEY!” Mel dropped her phone and let it slide across the wooden floor. She still glanced down briefly to make sure it hadn’t landed on its screen. “Don’t you CARE that they’re trampling on our rights over there?” Mel gestured vaguely in the direction they’d come from.
“Not enough to get in THIS thing.” Haley slapped an open palm against a bar of the grey, 10 foot bird cage that sat in the center of the stage. She pulled her hand back once she felt it wasn’t metal, but rather a thick plastic, evidently spray painted. “Seriously, where the hell did you get this thing?”
Keith or El-B waited for Mel to pick up her phone before answering for her. “It’s uh, a prop for a play we did last year. I helped put it all together. It’s definitely sturdy.” Keith or El-B looked out across the field at nothing.
The group stood in a silence awkward to all but one, and that budding feminsist icon refused to speak first.
“Mel… look, I…”
“Haleyyyy…” Mel pouted and stood directly in front of her one-time best friend. “Do you really think I’m doing this to punish you?” It was a baseless accusation that Haley had no opening to respond to. “I could have had Breezy or Samantha doing this, but you know why I didn’t? Because they have no idea how important it is to send a message to Dick Perry about what he’s doing to us. They wouldn’t even understand the symbolism here, Hay! You’re the only one who can draw the attention of everyone on that field and beyond. And you’re the only one who knows more about the women’s right’s movement than I do. You’re in a high-traffic area with an eye-catching display and all the knowledge in the world for a captive audience.” Mel smirked. “Frankly I’m surprised I even have to convince you.”
Mel took Haley’s hand, but the latter still did not budge. Though the heat was high, Mel did not sweat.
“Just try it for an hour. I’ll be back at 11:30, with chipotle.” The word shot through Haley’s stomach, filling her with an instant craving. Mel could apparently hear the rumbling. “Burrito bowl, right? Chicken, black beans, extra guac?” The two slowly walked toward the opening of the cage. They stopped so Keith or El-B could take it off the dolly. “Chips too maybe? Did you eat yet?”
“No.”
“Chips and guac it is!” Mel opened the cage door with her free hand and looked Haley in the eye one more time. “You’re the best, Hay hay,” she said in the voice that had once won them a free eight ball of Molly. Haley stepped into the cage and and listened to it squeak closed behind her.
She sat on the built-in stool and felt strangely at ease. The view across the field was actually quite nice, and offered a perfect opportunity for people watching. The alcove was cool and perfectly shaded, and the large anti-GOP sign above her offered even more cooling. A nice breeze had come in, so Haley kicked off her flip flops and let it rush between her toes.
“You’re really great, Mel..” Haley smiled as she turned to look at her dearest friend… just as Mel slapped a padlock on the door of the cage.
“Yeah, but you’re really the best Haley. Anyway bye!” Mel immediately struck up a conversation with Keith or El-B and pushed the dolly of the stage, dashing across the field as if the wheels weren’t hindered by the grass. Haley’s tan faded completely as she sat watching them with a drooping jaw.
————
30 minutes of fuming had brought plenty of interested park-goers, but few felt inclined to ask more than two questions to the girl in the cage. Most, in fact, asked the same two questions, and got similar answers:
“What are you doing?”
“Read the sign.” Initially she pointed; later on she kept her arms crossed. Her face never changed from a stoic grimace.
“But why are you locked in?”
“Because sometimes the people you trust end up betraying you with false promises and enticing offers you’re stupid enough to accept in exchange for CIVIL LIBERTIES.” The ambiguous villain in that sentence was Haley’s only solace, even if it was a bit wordy. Her piercing tone usually sent visitors scurrying, which was nice as well.
At 11:15 Haley peered across the field with more interest than she had before. Most of her friends and study partners had gone home for summer, or were involved in jobs or internships that disallowed pre-afternoon revelry. The only group she knew that would have been out so early were her Ultimate Frisbee teammates… Who, apparently, had decided today was the day to practice.
It took less than two minutes for them to notice the girl in the cage, and less than thirty seconds to see a familiar face and build. Soon all 3 guys and two girls were on their way up. Haley couldn’t decide if this was good or not. It wasn’t.
“This is why you couldn’t play ultimate today?!” shouted 5 foot 5 Chad as they began to climb onto the stage. All of them tittered at this remark. Haley blew hair out of her face in response.
“No, seriously, what the hell?” added Luke, the only non-Texan black guy on the team. His New Orleans accent became more perceptible, signaling his actual confusion.
“It’s a long story… you should probably read the sign.”
They all craned their heads upward to read it. Ken, the douchebag of the group, finished first. “Ah yeah I read about that, the GOP’s been sponsoring bills and amendments to illegalize abortions throughout the country. That’s what the cage is for.” Chad nodded; no one else did.
“But why is it locked?” said a slim brunette whose name Haley didn’t know.
“Because fucking Mel.”
“Mel? Mel Lubeck?” said Carly, the barefoot redhead runner who’d already begun to burn.
“Yeah.”
“She asked me to come to her protest today.” All eyes turned to Carly as she spoke. “I guess it was a good idea I turned her down.” The boys started to guffaw.
“She’s letting me out soon…” The halfhearted way the words fell out of her mouth caused her to blush even more.
“Really?” Chad furrowed his brow. “I didn’t see you here when I came back from the pool at 10…”
“Whaaat Haley? You’re abandoning your cause that quick?” added Luke.
“Yeah. What about our CAUSE, girl?” Said the new girl. Whoever she was, she mocked as well as the men.
“Guys, seriously, this is fucking humiliating and -“
“I think you just need a more ‘positive attitude’” Ken stepped up to the front of the cage and smiled at her as he stuck his hands between the bars. He couldn’t push past his knuckles, but his fingers still touched down firmly on Haley’s ribs, wriggling about on her UT tank top.
“Guys, STOP IT!” Haley pushed up against the back of the cage to get away from Ken. Chad was already waiting behind her.
“Hey, we’re not the guys you should be worried about. It’s those damned Republicans, right?” Chad slid his tiny hands into the cage effortlessly, tickling the caged junior inches above her waistline. Her tank top had begin to ride up, exposing her sensitive skin for further torture.
“No NO NO!” Haley bounced up and down in the cage. She shook her head wildly while holding onto the upper bars of the cage. Though she had her eyes closed, she knew Ken was waiting for her at the front of the cage, while Chad still tickled her from behind.
“Don’t forget her legs guys.” Luke approached her from the left side and ran his finger down her bare thigh, eliciting a high-pitched scream. Haley was being assaulted with tickles in all directions, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stop it. Carly and the nameless girl stood watching, bemused.
“What the hell’s going on her?” All tormentors turned at once to the front of the stage. Three girls, all over 6 foot, stood squinting at them. One held a volleyball under her arm; the others had their arms akimbo.
“Nothing that concerns you,” said Ken, ever the charmer.
“It’s a protest for women’s rights” Chad added quickly.
The new amazonians quickly read the sign, but remained wary. “So why are you do that to her.” Haley was breathing too hard to speak, and Chad still had his fingers at the ready right between her ribs.
“It’s a fundraiser!” The nameless brunette chimed in. Though she was a full foot shorter than any of the volleyball players, she stood erect with a confident smile. “10 dollars for one minute of tickling. Proceeds go to benefit the Austin Women’s Center, and their fight against the anti-fem GOP.”
“Minus expenses,” Luke added, unacknowledged. He leaned in toward the cage and whisperedand whispered: “Don’t let yourself get fleeced girl. You’re taking at least 20% off the top.”
Haley had barely been paying attention to the conversation until Luke talked to her directly. She was still too dazed to understand what had happened in the past minute, but didn’t she hear something about getting paid?
“Well, if it’s for a good cause,” said a previously silent player. She stuck her hand into her shorts and pulled out a neatly folded 10. Her friends did likewise and dropped the bills into the tray. Haley could feel the vibrations rattle her cage as the three approached her in unison.
“So, you’re the brave volunteer for this protest?” Haley felt her stomach drop as the leader dropped to one knee.
“I’m… oh please don’t.” Her voice was soft and tinny, enough to make all three giggle. The boys stood back along the side wall with their arms crossed.
“Jennifer, grab her arms.” The bulkiest one shifted to Haley’s backside and spread her arms to the each side of the cage. Haley struggled briefly, but this girl’s hands were as good as shackles.
“We’ve only got a minute Diana, so grab her other foot.” The other girl dropped to her knees as well and seized Haley by her left ankle. The leader did the same with her right. Haley felt a terror like none she’d ever had before.
“Ok, Go!” The two sadistic sports-girls took two fingers and twiddled them on the middle of Haley’s sole. The caged one’s screams echoed through the ampitheater; everyone else laughed in response. The two amazon’s held evil smirks as they readied extra fingers to fit on Haley’s size’s 8s. Soon they were typing rapidly on the larger part of her sole. Haley struggled with all her might against the girl holding her wrists, but made no headway in getting free.
“STOPSTOPSTOP STOP OK OK OK EEEEEEEEE!!!” They were the only words Haley managed to get out in the entire minute long torment, and no one heeded them. 30 seconds into Satan’s pedicure, Chad and Ken had appraoched her sides once again to paw at the bare midriff that her struggles had exposed. She could now only gasp for breath as the final seconds ticked away, and her sisters-in-arms started to explore the space between her toes.
“TIME!” Carly and nameless shouted at once. The amazons got a few more pokes in before dejectedly stopping. They stood and stretched their backs, looking down at Haley in her little jail. Then they looked at each other.
“I’ve got another 20… we could forget the margaritas, I guess…”
“I’m not holding her this time. Someone else can,” said Jennifer.
The leader girl acknowledged her underling with a nod. Then she turned to Carly.
“60 for 2 more minutes?”
“Take two and a half, Jennifer didn’t do anything last time.”
“Deal.” They started to pull out their cash when Haley caught her breath.
“NO!” screamed the disheveled blonde, trying awkwardly to readjust her clothing. All turned to look at her, although Carly still held out the collection frisbee.
Haley opened her mouth to speak again, but then caught sight of the money. It looked larger than the 100 it had already accumulated to.
She kept her eyes on the stack. “…Can I have a five minute break?”
“You’ve got 2,” Carly shot back instantly. They all stared at her, but she just shrugged. “Gotta keep the hoes in line.”
Ken guffawed at the response. Everyone else regarded each other quizzically.
—————————
Exactly two minutes later Haley was surrounded by 8 grinning college students eager to see her lose her mind. Only Luke, who’d been elected to hold her arms up, didn’t have his fingers at the ready. The rest were at her sides, back, or kneeling at her feet.
“Okay, so we’re all in agreement” shouted Carly. “First one to find her ‘spot’ wins an extra minute.” The other ticklers muttered responses or simply nodded.
“One, two, three…go!”
Jennifer was first to go, digging her fingers into Haley’s left armpit. The poor girl did her best not to react, realizing boredom would be the only way to get these girls to leave. She dug her chin into her neck and tittered quietly, trying to ignore the sensations emanating from her armpit. After a few seconds Jennifer gave up and Haley breathed.
“Her right side probably isn’t that much better,” said Chad. He was still bitter about being made to pay the 10 bucks, and tickled lazily with two fingers until his time was up.
“We’ve got this.” The leader and her cohort had elected to spend their time tickling together. They each had a hand on Haley’s thighs, which were spread wide for tickling on either side. Both started to squeeze up and down from her knee to her hip, trying to find the absolute best spot to bring out a squeal. Haley laughed heartily the entire time, finding the massage like-quality almost pleasant. That is, until Diana decided to slip her hands under her knee.
“HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!” Both girls opened their mouths wide. “That is DEFINITELY it!” shouted Diana, as her teammate dipped into Haley’s other knee as well.
This set the victim off into a spasm she’d never known before. She tried to stand up in her cage to escape her tormenterrs, but only managed a few inches, and they followed her all the way. For an entire minute they tickled underneath her knee, keeping her legs from bending backward with their muscular hands. Tears streamed down her face as she babbled against them, trying to beg for relief. It came at the sound of a phone timer.
“That definitely earned us a free one,” declared Diana.
“We haven’t had our turn yet!” Ken jumped the gun in order to start his assault on Haley’s scrunched left foot. His rapid fingers searched valiantly for an affecting spot. The nameless UF player started on Haley’s right, giving it not half the effort Ken was putting in.
“Come on Amanda! Pick up the pace!” Ken wasn’t the type of person to lose a contest, even if it was at everyone else’s expense. He and Amanda began to pull Haley’s delicate toes apart to try out the space between each, which had Haley looking down wide-eyed.
“No, don’t -“ once Amanda reached her big toe she shrieked. “I GIVE I GIVE!”
“Hah! See? We win!” Ken dug the nail of his forefinger back and forth in Haley’s flip-flop space, triumphantly showing off “his” find. “Don’t bother trying to hold back Haley, we know this is where you’re most vulnerable.”
Haley managed to wrench one hand free from Luke in order to bang it against the wall of the cage. “NO! NO FUCKING STOP! HAHAHAAHA” Her feet wiggled vainly in the palms of her tormentors, and each toe tried its best to push against its neighbor. Every effort was met with equal response from Ken and Amanda.
“Time!” Shouted Carly. She glared at Ken as he got in a few free tickles on Haley’s soles before letting go. “My turn,” she added, walking up to Haley’s side with a stoic expression.
“You’re not going to do any better than we did,” Ken muttered. None of his words deterred Carly’s confident stride.
“Oh, I know. This is still the spot I want though.”
“Can I ask why?” inquired Jennifer.
Carly placed her small hands against the middle of Haley’s ribs. The captive blonde tried to turn to face her captor, and met those firey hazel eyes with a shocked expression.
“I like to feel the way she laughs.”
Just then, Carly began to dig her fingers up and down Haley’s sides. Everyone watched from a near distance as this unsuspecting psychology major seemingly played the taller blonde like some sort of instrument. Haley’s laughter wasn’t any louder than usual, but it was constant, deep, and desperate. After Carly had tickled her from bottom to top, she went back down to just above Haley’s thighs. She slipped her fingers underneath Haley’s shirt and began to rub her sides in small circles. The blonde’s limbs froze as she bent over and shook her head wildly, breathing rapidly and repeated “please” over and over again. The crowd was dumbfounded; none looked away.
“Poor Haley.” Carly spoke for the first words heard in her entire duration. “Everyone’s favorite tickle bitch.” She got in a few good passes over Haley’s exposed neck before walking away, a mere half second before the timer went off on its own.
Haley gasped for breath as a group of curious students mulled about on the field. Carly reset the timer as the other ticklers watched, wide-eyed.
This is the first half of a story I'll be finishing in the next few days.
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The Texas sun blared down as it always did in mid-July, breaking the record heat like sorority girls break shot glasses. At once dependable and unforgiving, UT’s biggest orange fan shone upon Haley through her apartment’s only window, nudging her awake with diffuse rays of life. She groaned in acknowledgment of this cosmic gift.
Haley Spatz, Junior, Sociology major, independent, 3.3 gpa, student number 810-238-4387, met the day with all the enthusiasm of a woman on her way to a pap smear. The Texas blonde was not, however, on her way to any medical office. She was shuffling into flip-flops and an orange tank-top for something much worse: an all-day volunteer assignment, for no pay, glory, or even class credit.
She wondered how she’d let herself get roped into it during the entire bus ride to the Capitol building; her freshman-year roommate had always had this sort of hold over her. Were it not for Mel (formerly Melissa), Haley would have long ago receded to a summer of EDM concerts, lazing on the river, and 4:20 snack breaks, funding entirely by the remnants of her parents’ Christmas gift. Should that generous fund run out, she’d already mulled a part-time job, probably in something related to club promotion or blood donation.
Mel had bigger plans. She’d taken this semester break to start a new movement dedicated to women’s rights, veganism, the restoration of defunct punk sub-genres, and whatever other causes were gaining traction around campus. Even though she’d dropped out in mid-March, she still considered herself and soul of the anarcho-feminist clique at UT. And, as its only real member, she needed all the help she could get in sustaining its causes. Ex-roommates were the first to get mass texted, and only one of her many exes ever responded.
Haley departed the bus a stop before the capitol. Mel and a loose contingent of lazy-eyed coeds were shuffling about the sidewalk, letting suited businesspeople pass through their tiny mob with downcast eyes.
“Hayley you’re late,” said Mel. No one acknowledged this, although Claire, Mel’s substitute Haley sidekick, waved at her. She noticed all 6 of the girls had formed horizontal line, like grunts taking orders from a drill sergeant. Haley felt compelled to take the last place in line, which, unfortunately for her, was actually in the street.
“Sam, you’re taking the quad, and Breezy, you’re in front of the clocktower,” continued their leader, as she referred to a memo on her phone. “As for Haley… um…” her face lit up at the same time her phone did. “Oh! Keith and El-B came through. You’re on the field.”
Several girls turned to stare at Haley, seeking explanation for these clearly male names invading their all-female protest. Haley responded solely for their sake, knowing what the answer would be.
“Who are Keith and Delbee.”
“Oh don’t worry, just some people I know.”
Haley stifled her sigh. Not “guys” - people. Not “friends” - people. Always involving “people.”. The day was shaping up to be as drab as she thought it be, which could only mean it was going to get much worse.
—————
The chit chat on the way to McCombs field was amiable and close-hearted in a way it hadn’t been since Mel had done three keg stands at Seth Kanter’s 21st birthday party. If it hadn’t been for Mel’s constant checking of her phone during the walk, Haley would probably have put up no fuss once she saw what props Keith and El-B had brought to the field’s small, covered stage. She stopped short of the shadow cast by the stage’s cover, standing firm in the 105 degree heat.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Mel swung around as soon as she got to the shade. “Okay, I knew you’d be surprised, but I really didn’t think they’d come through.” Her tone was pleading, but her face was all smiles. “This really means a lot to the movement, Haley.”
Haley walked up onto the stage where either Keith or El-B stood by his gift. She circled the dolly the prop was strapped to, shaking her head just enough for Mel to see it.
“I quit.”
“HALEY!” Mel dropped her phone and let it slide across the wooden floor. She still glanced down briefly to make sure it hadn’t landed on its screen. “Don’t you CARE that they’re trampling on our rights over there?” Mel gestured vaguely in the direction they’d come from.
“Not enough to get in THIS thing.” Haley slapped an open palm against a bar of the grey, 10 foot bird cage that sat in the center of the stage. She pulled her hand back once she felt it wasn’t metal, but rather a thick plastic, evidently spray painted. “Seriously, where the hell did you get this thing?”
Keith or El-B waited for Mel to pick up her phone before answering for her. “It’s uh, a prop for a play we did last year. I helped put it all together. It’s definitely sturdy.” Keith or El-B looked out across the field at nothing.
The group stood in a silence awkward to all but one, and that budding feminsist icon refused to speak first.
“Mel… look, I…”
“Haleyyyy…” Mel pouted and stood directly in front of her one-time best friend. “Do you really think I’m doing this to punish you?” It was a baseless accusation that Haley had no opening to respond to. “I could have had Breezy or Samantha doing this, but you know why I didn’t? Because they have no idea how important it is to send a message to Dick Perry about what he’s doing to us. They wouldn’t even understand the symbolism here, Hay! You’re the only one who can draw the attention of everyone on that field and beyond. And you’re the only one who knows more about the women’s right’s movement than I do. You’re in a high-traffic area with an eye-catching display and all the knowledge in the world for a captive audience.” Mel smirked. “Frankly I’m surprised I even have to convince you.”
Mel took Haley’s hand, but the latter still did not budge. Though the heat was high, Mel did not sweat.
“Just try it for an hour. I’ll be back at 11:30, with chipotle.” The word shot through Haley’s stomach, filling her with an instant craving. Mel could apparently hear the rumbling. “Burrito bowl, right? Chicken, black beans, extra guac?” The two slowly walked toward the opening of the cage. They stopped so Keith or El-B could take it off the dolly. “Chips too maybe? Did you eat yet?”
“No.”
“Chips and guac it is!” Mel opened the cage door with her free hand and looked Haley in the eye one more time. “You’re the best, Hay hay,” she said in the voice that had once won them a free eight ball of Molly. Haley stepped into the cage and and listened to it squeak closed behind her.
She sat on the built-in stool and felt strangely at ease. The view across the field was actually quite nice, and offered a perfect opportunity for people watching. The alcove was cool and perfectly shaded, and the large anti-GOP sign above her offered even more cooling. A nice breeze had come in, so Haley kicked off her flip flops and let it rush between her toes.
“You’re really great, Mel..” Haley smiled as she turned to look at her dearest friend… just as Mel slapped a padlock on the door of the cage.
“Yeah, but you’re really the best Haley. Anyway bye!” Mel immediately struck up a conversation with Keith or El-B and pushed the dolly of the stage, dashing across the field as if the wheels weren’t hindered by the grass. Haley’s tan faded completely as she sat watching them with a drooping jaw.
————
30 minutes of fuming had brought plenty of interested park-goers, but few felt inclined to ask more than two questions to the girl in the cage. Most, in fact, asked the same two questions, and got similar answers:
“What are you doing?”
“Read the sign.” Initially she pointed; later on she kept her arms crossed. Her face never changed from a stoic grimace.
“But why are you locked in?”
“Because sometimes the people you trust end up betraying you with false promises and enticing offers you’re stupid enough to accept in exchange for CIVIL LIBERTIES.” The ambiguous villain in that sentence was Haley’s only solace, even if it was a bit wordy. Her piercing tone usually sent visitors scurrying, which was nice as well.
At 11:15 Haley peered across the field with more interest than she had before. Most of her friends and study partners had gone home for summer, or were involved in jobs or internships that disallowed pre-afternoon revelry. The only group she knew that would have been out so early were her Ultimate Frisbee teammates… Who, apparently, had decided today was the day to practice.
It took less than two minutes for them to notice the girl in the cage, and less than thirty seconds to see a familiar face and build. Soon all 3 guys and two girls were on their way up. Haley couldn’t decide if this was good or not. It wasn’t.
“This is why you couldn’t play ultimate today?!” shouted 5 foot 5 Chad as they began to climb onto the stage. All of them tittered at this remark. Haley blew hair out of her face in response.
“No, seriously, what the hell?” added Luke, the only non-Texan black guy on the team. His New Orleans accent became more perceptible, signaling his actual confusion.
“It’s a long story… you should probably read the sign.”
They all craned their heads upward to read it. Ken, the douchebag of the group, finished first. “Ah yeah I read about that, the GOP’s been sponsoring bills and amendments to illegalize abortions throughout the country. That’s what the cage is for.” Chad nodded; no one else did.
“But why is it locked?” said a slim brunette whose name Haley didn’t know.
“Because fucking Mel.”
“Mel? Mel Lubeck?” said Carly, the barefoot redhead runner who’d already begun to burn.
“Yeah.”
“She asked me to come to her protest today.” All eyes turned to Carly as she spoke. “I guess it was a good idea I turned her down.” The boys started to guffaw.
“She’s letting me out soon…” The halfhearted way the words fell out of her mouth caused her to blush even more.
“Really?” Chad furrowed his brow. “I didn’t see you here when I came back from the pool at 10…”
“Whaaat Haley? You’re abandoning your cause that quick?” added Luke.
“Yeah. What about our CAUSE, girl?” Said the new girl. Whoever she was, she mocked as well as the men.
“Guys, seriously, this is fucking humiliating and -“
“I think you just need a more ‘positive attitude’” Ken stepped up to the front of the cage and smiled at her as he stuck his hands between the bars. He couldn’t push past his knuckles, but his fingers still touched down firmly on Haley’s ribs, wriggling about on her UT tank top.
“Guys, STOP IT!” Haley pushed up against the back of the cage to get away from Ken. Chad was already waiting behind her.
“Hey, we’re not the guys you should be worried about. It’s those damned Republicans, right?” Chad slid his tiny hands into the cage effortlessly, tickling the caged junior inches above her waistline. Her tank top had begin to ride up, exposing her sensitive skin for further torture.
“No NO NO!” Haley bounced up and down in the cage. She shook her head wildly while holding onto the upper bars of the cage. Though she had her eyes closed, she knew Ken was waiting for her at the front of the cage, while Chad still tickled her from behind.
“Don’t forget her legs guys.” Luke approached her from the left side and ran his finger down her bare thigh, eliciting a high-pitched scream. Haley was being assaulted with tickles in all directions, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stop it. Carly and the nameless girl stood watching, bemused.
“What the hell’s going on her?” All tormentors turned at once to the front of the stage. Three girls, all over 6 foot, stood squinting at them. One held a volleyball under her arm; the others had their arms akimbo.
“Nothing that concerns you,” said Ken, ever the charmer.
“It’s a protest for women’s rights” Chad added quickly.
The new amazonians quickly read the sign, but remained wary. “So why are you do that to her.” Haley was breathing too hard to speak, and Chad still had his fingers at the ready right between her ribs.
“It’s a fundraiser!” The nameless brunette chimed in. Though she was a full foot shorter than any of the volleyball players, she stood erect with a confident smile. “10 dollars for one minute of tickling. Proceeds go to benefit the Austin Women’s Center, and their fight against the anti-fem GOP.”
“Minus expenses,” Luke added, unacknowledged. He leaned in toward the cage and whisperedand whispered: “Don’t let yourself get fleeced girl. You’re taking at least 20% off the top.”
Haley had barely been paying attention to the conversation until Luke talked to her directly. She was still too dazed to understand what had happened in the past minute, but didn’t she hear something about getting paid?
“Well, if it’s for a good cause,” said a previously silent player. She stuck her hand into her shorts and pulled out a neatly folded 10. Her friends did likewise and dropped the bills into the tray. Haley could feel the vibrations rattle her cage as the three approached her in unison.
“So, you’re the brave volunteer for this protest?” Haley felt her stomach drop as the leader dropped to one knee.
“I’m… oh please don’t.” Her voice was soft and tinny, enough to make all three giggle. The boys stood back along the side wall with their arms crossed.
“Jennifer, grab her arms.” The bulkiest one shifted to Haley’s backside and spread her arms to the each side of the cage. Haley struggled briefly, but this girl’s hands were as good as shackles.
“We’ve only got a minute Diana, so grab her other foot.” The other girl dropped to her knees as well and seized Haley by her left ankle. The leader did the same with her right. Haley felt a terror like none she’d ever had before.
“Ok, Go!” The two sadistic sports-girls took two fingers and twiddled them on the middle of Haley’s sole. The caged one’s screams echoed through the ampitheater; everyone else laughed in response. The two amazon’s held evil smirks as they readied extra fingers to fit on Haley’s size’s 8s. Soon they were typing rapidly on the larger part of her sole. Haley struggled with all her might against the girl holding her wrists, but made no headway in getting free.
“STOPSTOPSTOP STOP OK OK OK EEEEEEEEE!!!” They were the only words Haley managed to get out in the entire minute long torment, and no one heeded them. 30 seconds into Satan’s pedicure, Chad and Ken had appraoched her sides once again to paw at the bare midriff that her struggles had exposed. She could now only gasp for breath as the final seconds ticked away, and her sisters-in-arms started to explore the space between her toes.
“TIME!” Carly and nameless shouted at once. The amazons got a few more pokes in before dejectedly stopping. They stood and stretched their backs, looking down at Haley in her little jail. Then they looked at each other.
“I’ve got another 20… we could forget the margaritas, I guess…”
“I’m not holding her this time. Someone else can,” said Jennifer.
The leader girl acknowledged her underling with a nod. Then she turned to Carly.
“60 for 2 more minutes?”
“Take two and a half, Jennifer didn’t do anything last time.”
“Deal.” They started to pull out their cash when Haley caught her breath.
“NO!” screamed the disheveled blonde, trying awkwardly to readjust her clothing. All turned to look at her, although Carly still held out the collection frisbee.
Haley opened her mouth to speak again, but then caught sight of the money. It looked larger than the 100 it had already accumulated to.
She kept her eyes on the stack. “…Can I have a five minute break?”
“You’ve got 2,” Carly shot back instantly. They all stared at her, but she just shrugged. “Gotta keep the hoes in line.”
Ken guffawed at the response. Everyone else regarded each other quizzically.
—————————
Exactly two minutes later Haley was surrounded by 8 grinning college students eager to see her lose her mind. Only Luke, who’d been elected to hold her arms up, didn’t have his fingers at the ready. The rest were at her sides, back, or kneeling at her feet.
“Okay, so we’re all in agreement” shouted Carly. “First one to find her ‘spot’ wins an extra minute.” The other ticklers muttered responses or simply nodded.
“One, two, three…go!”
Jennifer was first to go, digging her fingers into Haley’s left armpit. The poor girl did her best not to react, realizing boredom would be the only way to get these girls to leave. She dug her chin into her neck and tittered quietly, trying to ignore the sensations emanating from her armpit. After a few seconds Jennifer gave up and Haley breathed.
“Her right side probably isn’t that much better,” said Chad. He was still bitter about being made to pay the 10 bucks, and tickled lazily with two fingers until his time was up.
“We’ve got this.” The leader and her cohort had elected to spend their time tickling together. They each had a hand on Haley’s thighs, which were spread wide for tickling on either side. Both started to squeeze up and down from her knee to her hip, trying to find the absolute best spot to bring out a squeal. Haley laughed heartily the entire time, finding the massage like-quality almost pleasant. That is, until Diana decided to slip her hands under her knee.
“HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!” Both girls opened their mouths wide. “That is DEFINITELY it!” shouted Diana, as her teammate dipped into Haley’s other knee as well.
This set the victim off into a spasm she’d never known before. She tried to stand up in her cage to escape her tormenterrs, but only managed a few inches, and they followed her all the way. For an entire minute they tickled underneath her knee, keeping her legs from bending backward with their muscular hands. Tears streamed down her face as she babbled against them, trying to beg for relief. It came at the sound of a phone timer.
“That definitely earned us a free one,” declared Diana.
“We haven’t had our turn yet!” Ken jumped the gun in order to start his assault on Haley’s scrunched left foot. His rapid fingers searched valiantly for an affecting spot. The nameless UF player started on Haley’s right, giving it not half the effort Ken was putting in.
“Come on Amanda! Pick up the pace!” Ken wasn’t the type of person to lose a contest, even if it was at everyone else’s expense. He and Amanda began to pull Haley’s delicate toes apart to try out the space between each, which had Haley looking down wide-eyed.
“No, don’t -“ once Amanda reached her big toe she shrieked. “I GIVE I GIVE!”
“Hah! See? We win!” Ken dug the nail of his forefinger back and forth in Haley’s flip-flop space, triumphantly showing off “his” find. “Don’t bother trying to hold back Haley, we know this is where you’re most vulnerable.”
Haley managed to wrench one hand free from Luke in order to bang it against the wall of the cage. “NO! NO FUCKING STOP! HAHAHAAHA” Her feet wiggled vainly in the palms of her tormentors, and each toe tried its best to push against its neighbor. Every effort was met with equal response from Ken and Amanda.
“Time!” Shouted Carly. She glared at Ken as he got in a few free tickles on Haley’s soles before letting go. “My turn,” she added, walking up to Haley’s side with a stoic expression.
“You’re not going to do any better than we did,” Ken muttered. None of his words deterred Carly’s confident stride.
“Oh, I know. This is still the spot I want though.”
“Can I ask why?” inquired Jennifer.
Carly placed her small hands against the middle of Haley’s ribs. The captive blonde tried to turn to face her captor, and met those firey hazel eyes with a shocked expression.
“I like to feel the way she laughs.”
Just then, Carly began to dig her fingers up and down Haley’s sides. Everyone watched from a near distance as this unsuspecting psychology major seemingly played the taller blonde like some sort of instrument. Haley’s laughter wasn’t any louder than usual, but it was constant, deep, and desperate. After Carly had tickled her from bottom to top, she went back down to just above Haley’s thighs. She slipped her fingers underneath Haley’s shirt and began to rub her sides in small circles. The blonde’s limbs froze as she bent over and shook her head wildly, breathing rapidly and repeated “please” over and over again. The crowd was dumbfounded; none looked away.
“Poor Haley.” Carly spoke for the first words heard in her entire duration. “Everyone’s favorite tickle bitch.” She got in a few good passes over Haley’s exposed neck before walking away, a mere half second before the timer went off on its own.
Haley gasped for breath as a group of curious students mulled about on the field. Carly reset the timer as the other ticklers watched, wide-eyed.
