I nodded.
This was still very generous of him, and I didn’t mind at all, as long as the experiments weren’t too weird. I was determined to refuse anything I didn’t want to do, like showing my feet or something, and maybe take my distance from Daniel if he insisted. This whole experiment didn’t sound very convincing, to be honest.
Maybe I was wrong about Daniel, and he’s a pervert? Am I safe?
While I worked myself into a panic, he cut a sheet of paper into pieces and wrote down an experiment on each. By the end, there were a dozen small pieces, and he let me shuffle them. I appreciated this, because it meant he wanted my trust and didn’t cheat.
I felt bad about doubting him.
“Alright, draw any you want.”
I took a deep breath and grabbed a piece. My heart beat quickly in my chest as I read.
“Here goes nothing; first is, ‘Study one couple you know and their interactions.'”, I audibly sighed in relief. Nothing strange yet. Thank god.
“Steph and her boyfriend will do, right?”
He nodded.
“Second experiment: ‘Lay off social media and your phone as much as possible.’ This one’s easy, I don’t use social media in general. But my phone might be harder; we have group assignments, and I have to talk to my Mom and Steph.”
“Well, it said as much as possible, some leeway for group work is definitely fine. Maybe not so much for your mother and best friend, but it’s only for 3 months, right?”
Daniel sounded quite calm, but I had some sneaking suspicions.
I quickly read the third paper.
“Last one, ‘get a piercing or tattoo in a visible place.'”
The last one puzzled me the most, so I looked askance at Daniel. He nodded thoughtfully.
“This one’s because I’m quite interested in the effects of body modifications on self-perception and confidence.”
I hesitated for a moment, but lately I’d been interested in Steph’s belly button piercing–a little butterfly that complimented her looks so nicely. Why not get one myself?
“I think this works too. Wow, none of those were that bad. Sorry, I was worried there’d be a… weird one.”
I apologized to Daniel, who scratched his head.
“No, my bad, I didn’t realize how weird it all sounded. Thank you for trusting me.”
I hugged him to apologize and quickly realized the difference in size between us.
‘He’s so tall, makes me feel safe, and is always trying to help. Meanwhile, I’m always embarrassing myself when I’m around him. I’m sure he thinks of me as a troublesome little sister.’
I then thought of his intense roaming gaze when I put on make-up or wore new clothes and what he said about my stockings, and I grinned.
‘Or maybe not.’
…
The next day, I was having lunch on campus with Steph and her boyfriend, Ken.
He’d walked to us while looking at the floor, and Steph had to stand up and pinch his waist for him to finally look up.
“Ken, this is Lisa; Lisa, this is Ken.”
Steph introduced herself in her usual soft voice, but I detected a hint of irritation.
“N-nice to meetcha. I’m Ken. I mean, my full name is Ken Chamont, a psychology major.”
I tried to smile and not compare his shameful demeanor to that of my knight, Daniel.
Unconsciously, I started looking down on Ken.
“Hey, I’m Lisa Lauderdale; Steph can’t stop gushing about you, hehe.”
“Lisa stooop.” Shy Steph got upset, and I had to coax her to forgive me.
Ken was only slightly taller than us, on the scrawny side, nerdy, but a pretty funny guy.
Very awkward around me, though.
I came to wonder how he’d landed a beauty like Steph. But while I was eating and thinking about this and that, they were staring at me.
I finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Sooo, is there something on my face? Did I finally grow a third eye?”
That got a chuckle out of Ken, who quickly looked away, but Steph just kept staring.
“Sorry, Lili, you just look so different today.”
That made me smile. I decided yesterday to try new things and live life to the fullest now that I didn’t have to worry about money as much with my rent halved.
So this morning I put on my brand new black platform boots and, after some hesitation, sheer stockings with a short black skirt. I couldn’t bother with tops, so I just put on my favorite green t-shirt and jacket, which complimented my eyes. But Steph was probably more surprised by how much makeup was on my face.
With thick fake eyelashes, dark eye shadow with silver highlights, heavy foundation, and purple lipstick, I went for a goth, slutty look.
“I know, right? It’s crazy how much a little makeup can make a difference.” I downplayed things, but she wasn’t having it.
“I don’t know if that’s ‘a little’. And that’s not really an outfit for class, don’t you think?”
“Oh, come on, you know what Molly and her groupies wear. This is nothing.” I felt the need to defend myself. At the same time, I didn’t understand why she was being so persistent and mean.
“I think you look… very nice.” Ken intervened.
He didn’t look at me while saying it, but I felt myself get naughty. Ken made me aware that I wouldn’t mind having a guy or two like him around, just to worship me and boost my confidence. But I would never do that to Steph.
Or so I thought until she spoke.
“Sure, she looks nice; Molly also looks nice. But Molly’s a bully and a slut, Lisa! I thought you weren’t, but I guess I was wrong; you’re even more of a slut than her!” She huffed.
I felt my heart lurch.
“Did you just call me a slut?”
“S-steph!” Ken was panicking on the side.
That woke her up, and she quickly looked down.
“I-I didn’t mean it like that; you know that, right?”
I quickly stood up, grabbed my bag, and left. I didn’t want to attract any more attention, several people were already staring our way. As I stomped my way out, feeling hurt and betrayed, I could see Stephanie and Ken were now arguing, and I also glimpsed Steph’s high school sweetheart ogling my stockings and platform boots like a horny dog.
Steph had been visibly upset at lunch, and I only understood why when I glanced at Ken. I remember him glancing my way ever since he came. I had a sneaking suspicion that he liked what he saw, and Steph knew that and was feeling jealous.
And she took it out on me, her supposed bff.
The little bitch!
No wonder she stalled for so long before letting her boyfriend meet me; she was insecure.
But it seems Ken is also at fault for looking at other girls like a pervert while in his girlfriend’s company. But I could use this. Stephanie Miller would regret calling me a slut and betraying my trust.
…
Over the next few days, my gloomy mood didn’t lift despite Daniel’s best efforts.
That weekend he said he had a surprise for me, and we took his car to a luxurious little shop downtown, “Danny’s Art”.
To say I was surprised would be an understatement.
“You own this place?” You could’ve stuffed an egg in my gaping mouth.
He only chuckled and nodded as we entered. The interior was quite small but chic, and the heavily tattooed old man working the desk quickly came and welcomed us with a broad smile.
“Well, well, well, if it ain’t Danny boy. You finally had the heart to visit lil’ old me?”
“C’mon, Mike, you know I’ve been busy. Lisa, this is Michael Scott; we call him Senile Mike.” Daniel grinned.
“Yeah, if I were senile, these hands wouldn’t be making a thousand bucks’ worth of body art every day. At least you brought a beautiful female with you when you did finally come.”
I didn’t know how to react to this, did he just refer to me as a female? That sounded oddly chauvinistic and patronizing.
Also, thousands of dollars every day? Surely he exaggerates.
“Thank you, Mr.Mike.”
He didn’t acknowledge me and looked at Daniel instead. I felt transparent.
“She’s been upset all week and doesn’t want to say why. So I decided her opinion didn’t matter and brought the female to get pierced, old man. Belly button, let me see the catalog, and I’ll tell you the design. I might need your opinion before deciding, though.”
“Aye, leave it to me, Danny boy. Bitches shouldn’t be making decisions.”
I was once again stunned. Female? Bitches?
He said he would be the one choosing the design.
What about my opinion?
Also, female?
He didn’t even glance my way, this is my body we’re talking about!
Oh, and female?!
… In the end, I didn’t say anything as old Mike pierced my belly button and inserted a turquoise heart shaped jewel. Laying there with my bright make-up, short skirt, and sheer stockings in front of men who spoke of me as a female and bitch, then decided things for me, I felt like a stupid bimbo.
Something in me broke, my tears ran, and the inside of my thighs got wet.
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