Retaliation Services - F/f -

Part 1:

In the hallways of Crestwood High School, the lively buzz of students filled the air. Mabel Carter, was a diligent straight-A student known for her unwavering dedication to her studies. Standing at 5'7", she had brown eyes, and long black hair tied back into a side ponytail with neat braids, a look that suited her personality. She often kept her head buried in her books, rarely glancing up to notice the vibrant social life passing her by.

Mabel's reputation for excellence in the classroom was well-established. She was at the top of her class, with the highest grades in every subject. Yet, her focus on studies had now come at a price. No extracurriculars, no volunteer work--her college application was blank other than for her academic achievement. As she sat at her desk, poring over her latest math assignment during lunch, she couldn't help herself from being distracted by her empty college applications.

"Ugh, what was I thinking?" she murmured to herself, tapping her pencil against her notebook. "I need something to show these colleges that I can do more than just hit the books. Why do these guys even care about this stuff, as long as I study well and become successful in life nobody is going to care if I was a social butterfly or not back in school."

With very few options left, Mabel stood up and made her way to Ms. Carla Hastings' office. Ms. Hastings was known for her supportive nature and her ability to connect students with resources. As Mabel approached, she could hear Ms. Hastings chatting with another teacher just at the doorstep.

"Mabel! Our top scorer for this year!" greeted Ms. Hastings as she opened the door.

"Hi, Ms. Hastings. I was wondering if we could talk about college applications," Mabel said, her voice slightly nervous.

"Of course! Come in," Ms. Hastings replied, gesturing to a chair in front of her desk. "What's on your mind?"

Mabel took a deep breath, fidgeting with her braided hair. "I realized I need to include some extracurricular activities or volunteer work on my applications. But I haven't really done anything outside of schoolwork. What should I do?"

Ms. Hastings leaned back, considering Mabel. "You're not alone in this. Many top students find themselves in the same situation. Let's see... What skills do you have that you could share with someone else? A tutoring opportunity might help you fulfill that volunteer requirement."

Mabel nodded, her brow furrowing. "But who would I tutor? I don't know anyone who needs help."

"Well," Ms. Hastings began with a thoughtful smile, "I have just the person in mind. Andrea Thompson. She's the captain of our volleyball team and is quite popular, but her academic performance isn't where it should be. She's failing a few subjects, I think you two would make a great pair."

Mabel's eyes widened. "Andrea? The star athlete? Doesn't she get enough attention as it is? Why would she want to be tutored by me?"

"Because she needs it and because you have the skills to help her," Ms. Hastings insisted. "It's a win-win situation. Not to mention, working with her could offer you insight into team dynamics, leadership, and how to motivate others. All of which are valuable skills for your college applications."

"And what if she doesn't take it seriously?" Mabel questioned, her voice wavering slightly with doubt.

"Then we tackle it together! I'll make sure she understands the importance of this. You're smart, Mabel, and you can handle this. Besides, a little interaction with someone like Andrea might just broaden your horizons." The teacher gave her a reassuring smile.

Mabel sighed, the idea of collaborating with someone so different from herself intimidated her. "Okay, I'll give it a shot."

"Excellent!" Ms. Hastings clapped her hands together. "I'll set it up. Follow me, she should be in practice by now."

Mabel shifted nervously in her chair as Ms. Hastings stepped out of the office. What had she just agreed to? With no other options, she slowly followed after Ms. Hastings.

***

The gymnasium buzzed with energy as Andrea Thompson soared through the air, her body perfectly poised for a spike. With each successful hit, she felt adrenaline rush through her veins, the crowd of teammates cheering her on. "Yes! That's how we do it!" she shouted, her confident smile reflecting the thrill of the game.

But just as Andrea was about to serve another perfect shot, Ms. Carla Hastings, the homeroom teacher, appeared at the edge of the court, waving her arms for attention. Andrea's heart sank. She was on a roll, and now this?

"Andrea! Can I speak with you for a moment?" Ms. Hastings called out, her voice cutting through the energetic clamor of the gym.

"Can it wait, Ms. Hastings? I was just about to--" Andrea began, clearly annoyed, as she jogged over, wiping sweat from her brow.

"No, it can't wait," the teacher replied, her expression serious but warm. "This is important."

Curiosity mingled with irritation as Andrea crossed her arms. "What's so important that it can't wait until after practice?"

Ms. Hastings took a breath, looking somewhat anxious. "We need to talk about your grades. The new tutoring program is starting, and I've paired you with someone."

"Paired me? With who? Listen, I don't need a tutor," Andrea said, rolling her eyes. "I'm doing just fine at volleyball. That's what matters, right?"

"Actually, it matters a lot that you improve your academic performance," Ms. Hastings countered, her tone firm. "I'm assigning you, Mabel Carter. She's one of the top students in the school."

"Mabel? The kid who's glued to her textbooks? No thanks," Andrea scoffed, shaking her head. "I'm not interested in doing anything that boring."

"Boring or not, this is something you need, Andrea. You've got a chance at a scholarship, and I don't want to see you miss out because of your grades," Ms. Hastings replied, her voice steady. "You will work with Mabel, or I will have no choice but to bench you for the next game."

Andrea's eyes widened, disbelief mixed with frustration. "You wouldn't actually do that!"

"Oh, believe me, I will," Ms. Hastings said, crossing her arms with an unwavering gaze. "This isn't just about volleyball anymore; it's about your future. Do you want to risk it all over some studying?"

With a reluctant sigh, Andrea ran a hand through her hair, feeling cornered. "Fine! I'll do it. But I'm not promising I'll like it."

Ms. Hastings smiled, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "That's all I ask. Just give it a chance. That's Mabel over there, I'll let you two talk." With that, Ms. Hastings waved at a girl from across the gym before turning to leave.

With a resigned nod, Andrea turned back to the court, her mind racing, but now with a mixture of resolve and annoyance. "I suppose it could be worse," she muttered under her breath, feeling disappointed about the interruption.

As Ms. Hastings left the gym, Andrea turned and scanned the room, her eyes landing on Mabel Carter, who had been quietly observing from a dank corner, her long black hair in a single neat braid. With her reading glasses and a stack of books clutched tightly to her chest, Mabel seemed like the embodiment of everything Andrea wasn't interested in.

"Hey, you!" Andrea called out, waving Mabel over with a flick of her wrist. The shy girl hesitated for a moment before making her way across the gym, her steps tentative.

"Um, hi," Mabel stammered, cheeks flushing as she stood before the taller girl. "I guess we're supposed to... um... work together?"

"Yep," Andrea replied, her laced with skepticism as she sized Mabel up and down, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. "So you're the nerd they think is going to save my grades?"

Mabel's confidence seemed to deflate under Andrea's piercing gaze. "I-I mean, I just do my best in school, that's all. But, I want to help you, I need this as much as you do," she said, her voice quiet, almost a whisper

"Right," Andrea said with a slight sneer, folding her arms across her chest. "Look, I'm not really into this whole tutoring thing. I'm pretty sure I'm just going to do my own thing."

"Maybe we should come up with a plan for how to do this effectively?" Mabel suggested, her eyes darting around the gym nervously. "We could set up a schedule or--"

Andrea cut her off, leaning in closer, her demeanor turning serious. "No offense, nerd, but I'm not doing anything like that. I'm not about to be stuck running study schedules with someone like you."

Mabel swallowed hard, her heart racing as she searched for the right words. "But if we don't work together, how will you improve? I mean, Ms. Hastings wants us to do this..."

"Here's what we're going to do," Andrea said, her voice dripping with condescension. "We're going to act like we're trying--like we're all in it together. But really, you're just going to tell Ms. Hastings that things didn't work out, okay? Tell her I was a lost cause or something. It'll be a lot easier for both of us."

***

Mabel felt a knot form in her stomach. While part of her knew this wasn't the right approach, the thought of losing everything she'd worked for tugged at her resolve. After a moment, she nodded in reluctant agreement. "Fine. I guess that makes sense...."

"Great, goodbye nerd." Andrea returned to her game leaving Mabel behind without a second glance. Mabel watched her play for 5 minutes, not sure what to do next, and decided to leave, feeling out of place in the energetic gym.

As she walked out of the gym, the fluorescent lights flickering above her, she spotted Ms. Hastings standing next to the gym door, arms crossed and a patient smile on her face. Mabel forced a smile back but felt her heart drop when Ms. Hastings spoke.

"You guys decided to act like you're going to try, aren't you?" Ms. Hastings said, her voice calm but knowing.

Mabel flinched, turning around slowly to meet the teacher's gaze. "Um... well, we..."

With a knowing glint in her eye, Ms. Hastings stepped closer. "I'm afraid that won't work with me." Her expression shifted into a more serious demeanor.

"I'm putting you on notice, Mabel. You better find a way to get Andrea to start taking her studies seriously, or you can say goodbye to your recommendation letter for extracurricular activities."

Mabel's stomach twisted painfully at the weight of Ms. Hastings' words. "I--I'll talk to her," she stammered, feeling small under the scrutiny of her teacher. "I'll make sure she knows how important this is."

"If you care about your future, you need to show that commitment, Mabel," Ms. Hastings replied, her eyes steady. "Don't let anyone drag you down."

With that, Mabel nodded, regret flooding her veins as she realized she was stuck with Andrea. She turned towards the gym again, feeling a deep despair at her present situation.

Mabel stepped into the gym, the scent of sweat and rubber flooring immediately hitting her senses, she had rarely come to the gym before now. She instinctively sought out a quiet corner, standing against the wall to avoid drawing attention. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on Andrea, who was in the midst of a volleyball game, laughter bubbling from her lips as she leaped to spike the ball.

"Look at her, just enjoying herself," Mabel muttered under her breath, crossing her arms in frustration. "Like failing three classes is no big deal."

Mabel grimaced, her annoyance simmering. "This dumb bitch," she whispered to herself. "She has no idea how much is riding on her."

Glancing at her watch, she noted that they'd been at it for nearly an hour. The end of the school day was closing in, and the gym started to empty as other teams finished their practices. As an introvert, Mabel hated the thought of walking up to the popular girls while they were still in a pack.

"I'll just wait," she decided, biting her lip as she observed Andrea. The girl was a magnet for attention, radiant and carefree, while Mabel felt like a loser in comparison which she didn't like.

When the game finally wrapped up, Mabel took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders as she prepared to approach her. As the other girls began to disperse, Mabel stepped forward, her heart racing just a bit. Andrea was laughing with her teammates, brushing her hair off her forehead.

"Hey, Andrea!" Mabel called out as the group started to break apart.

Andrea strode past Mabel, she barely glanced in Mabel's direction, focused on reaching the changing room, completely ignoring the approaching problem. Mabel's heart sank; it felt like a punch to the gut.

"Hey, Andrea!" Mabel called, quickening her pace to catch up. "We need to talk!"

Andrea didn't break her stride, but Mabel followed her into the locker room, slowing when she finally caught up. Andrea spun around her expression a mix of annoyance and impatience.

"What do you want, nerd?" she huffed, crossing her arms defensively. "I thought we had an arrangement."

Mabel felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she stumbled over her words. "Um, it's about Ms. Hastings...she was waiting for me right outside, and she knew what we were planning."

Andrea's face twisted into a scowl as she slammed the locker door shut with a loud clang, making Mabel flinch. "Look, I don't care," she exclaimed. "I'm just going to tell her we went ahead with things and that it didn't work out. Not like she can force us to do anything. So just beat it, okay? Don't you have to stay cooped up in some library or something?"

Mabel's heart dropped at the dismissal. "Please, Andrea," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "My scholarship is riding on this. I need you to work with me--just this once!"

Andrea rolled her eyes, brushing Mabel off as if she were an annoying fly. "Not my problem," she shot back, her expression cold.

Mabel felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, the weight of desperation pressing down on her. "Please," she cried, her voice barely above a whisper, the fight in her fading. "If I lose this scholarship, I... I don't know what I'm going to do."

Andrea didn't respond, only turning away, busying herself with her gym bag as if Mabel's words hadn't even registered. Mabel stood there, feeling smaller than ever, as the reality of her situation settled in -- a sinking sense of despair as she realized how close she was to losing everything.

"Please, I'll do anything you want," Mabel said, her voice shaky but desperate. "Just tell me what you want."

For a moment, Andrea paused, her curiosity piqued. She turned to face Mabel, scrutinizing her as if trying to gauge the sincerity behind her words. Slowly, she walked over, towering above Mabel with an air of authority.

"Anything?" Andrea asked, an eyebrow raised, a smirk playing on her lips.

Mabel felt a shiver run down her spine, but she steeled herself and nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "Yes, anything," she confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Andrea's expression darkened slightly as recognition flickered across her face. "You know, I think I remember you... little Miss Snooty, top of the grade," she said mockingly.

The statement felt like a slap in the face, but Mabel kept her head down, refusing to show how much it hurt. She held her breath, standing rooted to the spot under Andrea's intense gaze.

Andrea plopped down on the locker room bench, crossing her legs and watching Mabel with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "If you get down on your knees and beg me," she drawled, "I might just think about it."

Mabel's heart raced, startled by the bluntness of Andrea's suggestion. "You're a crazy bitch!" she blurted instinctively, the words slipping out before she could think.

Andrea only chuckled, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. She waved dismissively, a clear sign that she was done talking. "Bye, Nerd."

With a sinking feeling, Mabel bit her lower lip, fighting back the wave of humiliation crashing over her. But as the weight of her situation sank in once more, she hesitantly sank to her knees, the cold tile pressing against her skin as her skirt rode up.

"Please, Andrea," she whispered, eyes brimming with tears. "I need this..."

As she knelt there, an overwhelming mix of vulnerability and desperation washed over her, her dignity slipping away with every passing second.

Andrea looked down at Mabel, a smirk spreading across her face that conveyed nothing but delight at the sight of the top student on her knees. "Well, since you're down there," she said casually, "why don't you help me remove my shoes?"

Mabel was stunned, the shock setting in as she wrestled with the absurdity of Andrea's request. Surely, she was joking, right? But one glance into Andrea's icy blue eyes told her that this was no joke. Anxiety bubbled up inside her as she mentally churned through her options, searching for a way out. But the reality was stark: if she didn't comply, she risked her scholarship, and that was a price she couldn't afford to pay.

Slowly, she reached for Andrea's shoelaces, her hands trembling slightly as she bent down to untie them. The gym air was thick with the scent of sweat, and when she finally slid off Andrea's gym shoes, the pungent odor hit her in a wave, making her flinch and nearly gag.

"Oh dear," Andrea said, arching an eyebrow teasingly. "You don't like that? That hurts my feelings. You even said you would do anything...The scent of my hard work is being disrespected like this..."

Mabel stared up at her, stunned by Andrea's playful taunts. She could see what Andrea wanted and felt the wall of resolve begin to crumble. "I'm sorry, Andrea. Please forgive me," Mabel murmured, desperation lacing her voice.

"Well, I'll forgive you if you do as I say," Andrea replied with a feigned nonchalance. "Now, help me get these socks off."

Mabel cringed at the request but knew she had no way out. With a heavy heart, she reached up and grabbed the hem of Andrea's knee-high socks. Pulling them off felt like peeling away layers of embarrassment, especially given how soaked they were with sweat.

As she removed both socks, she tossed them carelessly into Andrea's laundry bag, her stomach churning with each movement.

"Great, now I can finally feel the air running between my toes," Andrea said, wiggling her toes with an exaggerated flourish. Then she leaned forward, a sly grin dancing on her lips. Mabel's insides twisted; she had a bad feeling about what was coming next.

"Well, massage my feet, silly nerd," Andrea commanded, settling back into the bench with a satisfied expression. "I've been on my feet all day."

Mabel's heart dropped as the finality of Andrea's words settled over her like a dark cloud. She forced herself to move closer, dread pooling in her stomach. This was the price she had to pay, she reminded herself, as she reached out toward Andrea's feet, her heart racing with a mix of shame and urgency.

Mabel grabbed her right foot and squeezed it making Andrea wince.

"Softer, bitch! Do it with care, or you can kiss your scholarship goodbye," she snapped, irritation flashing in her eyes.

Mabel felt a surge of anger at Andrea's demanding tone, but she pushed it down and tried again, this time with a more tender touch. "Okay, okay, I got it," she muttered, focusing on the task at hand.

As she worked, Andrea let out a satisfied moan. "That's the spot! You are the top scorer of our grade. You learn fast. Now, the other foot."

Mabel rolled her eyes but switched to Andrea's other foot, trying to ignore the undercurrent of frustration bubbling inside her. After a few minutes, Andrea suddenly pulled her feet back, catching Mabel off guard.

"Now, I have one final job for you," Andrea announced, a teasing grin creeping onto her face. "If you excel at that, I'll agree to a study session today."

Mabel felt a wave of relief wash over her at the thought of wrapping this up. "Finally! What is it?"