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Red Lace Epilogue - Punishment Number 5
🕑 Added 2022-11-21 22:40:22 +0000 UTC
Candice’s brain was totally deadlocked in dread, unable to think, to push any impulse the rest of the way down to her body and get it moving. Even when their backs were turned and she might’ve been able to run, she couldn’t! Because if she ran, that meant everything was really happening, and her mind simply could not fathom that fact! Everything had happened so fast, it was all still buzzing through her head at speeds which made it impossible to comprehend; the fake track team sign-up, the ambush, losing her clothes to those bullies and having them pull and play with her underwear, the residue cold on her inner thighs from the times she’d… times? Time? Was it once or twice? Again, everything was such a humiliating and impossible blur, and the worst part was that it wasn’t over…
Weak in the knees and heart, Candice gave little resistance as Hannah and Emma plucked her off the ground and practically carried her away from the track, past the locker room where things had only gotten worse, all the way to a small outdoor area outside the school cafeteria, where a dozen or so bluish-metal picnic tables were set up. Most every cheerleader present and prospective had gathered around, swapping gossips and teases about the day’s tryouts. All conversations dried up, however, as Candice was ‘escorted’ to the front of the tables, as all eyes beheld the pitiful sight of the nearly-naked nerd!
“Hey!” one of the nearer girls called out, “Look who’s back!” The crowd erupted in such loud jeers, it was hard to keep up with everything said. “You just love showing your junk, don’t you, new girl?” someone taunted, while another girl made motions by her own chest. “Nice cans, sweetie! How’s a nerd like you get so stacked?” Meekly, Candice crossed her hands over her chest, much too little much too late. Plenty of the cheerleaders there had already seen her in such a state, straddled by a barely-more-decent Emma. It seemed as though, in that moment, some recalled Emma’s presence in prior events, as some of the crowd began pointing mockingly at the redhead too! “You two all tuckered out? Or saving up for round two?” “Come on, Richie Rich, give us another flash of that kitty!” “Lotta peeps online digging the video of that dump truck jiggling! Over 500 likes already!”
Before a bright-faced Emma could chew them out, however, Hannah stepped forward and silenced the lot of them. “Enough.” Side-eying Candice, Hannah addressed the group, “Who’s up for some fun? Because I think tonight’s a perfect night for… Punishment Number 5.” A cold smile gave the last words a most frightening chill! Hannah continued, gesturing with her chin at a nearby squad member. “Go get Olivia.” To the rest, “Set it up. She’ll want to get started as soon as possible.” Whatever was being planned, all the cheerleaders seemed excited, which made Candice terrified! Most of them broke off down the way Candice and her tormentors had come, while others took over Candice, bringing her to a nearby picnic table to ‘wait for things to get ready.’ Paralyzed in fear, Candice had no choice but to obey.
The wait was agonizing - and cold, as the sun slunk lower and Candice began rubbing her arms for meager warmth. She thought to call for help, but it was hopelessly past the closing bell and only getting later; no one was around, just the cheerleaders laughing to themselves and at their captive dork!
In an idle glance around, Candice noticed Carrie had been brought there too, at some point, currently sat at another watched-over table a few yards over. Interestingly… or maybe ‘unsettlingly’ would be more accurate… though Candice hadn’t been stripped further - which is to say she still had her panties, her only stitch of clothes left at that point - she had vague memories of Carrie having only a shirt on, totally naked from the waist down. However, right then, her shirt was missing, her arms crossed over her bare chest, and she’d somehow been reunited with her own underwear, leaving her in the exact same state of undress as Candice. Though her head was still buzzing too loud to process it fully, Candice did note it as strange and worrying. Why give Carrie her underpants back? Why did they need panties on for what was going to happen?
By the time they finally set out, twilight purpled the darkening sky. Escorted by a veritable procession of cheerleaders, Candice and Carrie were led through the woods at the edge of the EMAGS campus. Though the trees swiftly swallowed what little light remained in the sky, the way was lit by numerous smartphone flashlights, which only made the eager expressions on those whose faces Candice could see all the more terrifying! Candice glanced over at Carrie, to see if she shared in her terror, only to find Carrie already glaring at her, like SHE was the one responsible for all this! And that made Candice glare back! What’d she done?! She’d just wanted to join a sports team…
Finally, the woods gave way to a secluded clearing emitting an almost hellish glow. Candice actually recognized the site from one of her early tours; one of the PE electives mimicked a survivalist or camping setting, and this was the central meeting place. In the dark of the falling night, however, the place felt wholly transformed. Dozens of cheerleaders, the entire squad and then some, surrounded a crackling fire pit, the lilting flames throwing their shadows in flickering, ominous dances. At the far end of the clearing stood the base of a massive oak tree which stretched so tall overhead it almost looked like it held up the sky itself. On one of the tree’s lower, sturdier limbs, a couple of ropes dangled, with cheerleaders lightly tugging them to redress their lengths. Each rope ended in a peculiar sort of Y-shape of sturdy knots, clearly customized for… something…
Standing opposite the tree across the blaze was a short wooden platform maybe three feet off the ground, upon which a pair of cheerleaders stood overseeing proceedings. The one which turned first Candice recognized as Hannah, whose half-lit expression became delighted upon spying the guests of honor! She got the attention of the cheerleader beside her - not just any cheerleader, Candice realized. Though the swaying flames made it tough to tell at first, Candice eventually made out the golden tones down the sleeves and skirt, the colors of the team’s captain. Another step closer, and the figure turned, a smile plain on their face which shook Candice down to the bone! She shrank under the shadow of none other than Olivia, a towering lithely-muscled Latin-heritage dynamo, cutting an intimidating silhouette with the fire at her back. In normal light, her layered cascading updo would be an almost sweet shade of pink, but poisoned with the dancing orange glow, it faintly resembled something like hellfire. Candice felt like she was shrinking to the size of a bug! She’d heard Olivia’s name thrown around the halls like a legend, but now here she was, super tall and super scary!
“Well, well!” Two simple syllables, and the captain’s powerful vibrato killed all conversation around the campfire and pulled all eyes her way. She gazed from Candice to Carrie with a thirsty gleam in her eyes. “Finally! It’s felt like ages since we’ve had a proper Punishment Number 5! And I do mean a *proper* one! Just don’t feel right with only one person…” As she said that, Candice saw a brunette cheerleader up ahead reach under the back of her skirt and rub her butt, a little movement but one that was enough to plunge Candice’s already-terrified heart another few feet down her body!
With a sweeping gesture, Olivia gestured to the ropes dangling off the tree branch, explaining as Candice and Carrie were walked closer. “I know we got ourselves lots of new fishies in the pond tonight, and y’all are in for a sweet surprise! The rules are simple.” Olivia pointed to each captive. “You’re each gonna have ropes wrapped around the back of your intimates, and another hanging in front of you.” Olivia then traced the path of the ropes over the sturdy branch. “As you pull your own rope *down*, you’ll pull your opponent’s underwear *up*. The goal is simple.” The head cheerleader flashed an unnerving grin over her shoulder. “Rip off your opponent’s panties before they rip yours. Your panties rip, you lose. And you get the punishment!” Olivia’s grin widened. “Fail to amuse us or refuse to play, you’ll *both* be punished. Understand?” Olivia didn’t wait for anyone to make a single sound, immediately pointing at Candice and Carrie trembling beneath the platform. “Tie ‘em up.”
Run! Push them away and run! Move! Do something! Candice’s brain screamed at the rest of her body at full volume! We gotta go! We gotta get out of this nightmare! But Candice stayed frozen like a terrified animal, numbly letting the cheerleaders pull her into position under the tree. Even as they looped the ropes down the back of her panties and tied them tight through the leg-holes, though Candice squirmed, she still felt too faint to fight it! To say this was something she’d’ve never experienced at her old school would be understatement of the century - this isn’t something she would have ever imagined happening in her LIFE!
Before long, both girls were made ready. Cheers and jeers rolled through the crowd like crashing waves, anticipation building by the second! As the cheerleaders let go of her arms to fasten the ropes, Candice’s hands automatically flew to her chest! Her eyes darted every which way in pure terror, across a sea of elated smiles and pumping pom-poms, spotting Emma pushing through to the front of the crowd. While plenty of cheerleaders jeered at both ‘contestants,’ Emma’s eager eyes never left Candice, flitting between her trembling, semi-naked body and the pitiful gloom in her expression!
Shaking like a leaf, Candice turned to Carrie across the way. While her face was flushed pink and her brow was raised with a twinge of fear, her gaze was hard-set on Candice, as if she was blocking out everything but the dork opposing her. Carrie’s hands weren’t over her exposed breasts - they were already gripping the rope hanging in front of her. The devious glee with which she’d harassed Candice earlier was gone, determination in its place. And so, with a small gulp, Candice released her hold on her boobs and gripped the rope in front of herself. To get out of this, like it or not, flight wasn’t happening; she was going to have to fight! Not only fight, but win!
With the ‘contestants’ ready, Hannah began a slow, deliberate stride down from the platform, across the clearing and to the base of the tree, whereupon she about-faced and observed each girl with satisfaction. From her pocket, she deftly produced a shining silver whistle. Understanding, both Carrie and Candice tightened their grips on their ropes, the former stolid and the latter still shivering! Clutching the whistle between her thumb and forefinger, Hannah glanced up at the platform across the campfire to where Olivia stood, hands on her hips and smile on her lips, waiting. After letting the anticipation rise another moment, Olivia reached out an arm and raised her thumb. It was time. Smirking, Hannah raised the whistle to her lips and blew. SKWEEEEEEEEEEEE!
As soon as the starting whistle blew, Carrie threw all her weight into pulling her rope down as hard as she could! In an instant, Candice’s underwear was jerked skyward!
“GAH!” The sudden jolt of fabric burrowing inches up her ass crack nearly lifted Candice off her feet! How chafed and raw she’d been down there earlier, all the relief she’d felt since was wiped away in an instant, with her undies burning hard into her soft spots! “GYAH!” This hurt way more than before! Even so, on weak knees, Candice tried to steel her resolve. Now or never! She had to do this! And so she pulled down her own rope as hard as possible!
“OHHH!” Carrie moaned as her own white panties were tugged to a thread between her cheeks and crotch! She felt her toes curl within her sneakers and her feet briefly leave the ground! Hannah had already worked her underwear so far up, but this was going even deeper in… Quickly, Carrie composed herself with a series of rapid breaths, before once again pulling down hard to make that bubble butt dork squeal!
And squeal she did! “KYYEEEEE!” “BWAAH!” “AAHHHH!” The crowd came alive in laughter and cheers as the girls pulled harder and harder, stretching their opponent’s underwear higher to dig further up their private places! It didn’t take long for each girl’s panties to be tugged into narrow threads which barely concealed their jiggling buttocks!
Suddenly, a faint sound cut through the din and shook Candice’s resolve: fabric fraying! “A-ah!” Candice yelped as she felt the red fabric over her crotch split down the middle!
Beet-red and beginning to sweat, despite it all Carrie’s face lit up upon hearing the same thing! Of course! They’d already stretched that dork’s lacy undies to kingdom come all afternoon! They might as well be holding on by a single thread! All she needed was a few good tugs, and they were toast! And so Carrie kept pulling again and again, bouncing Candice up and down in a constant, vicious rhythm not unlike that which she’d used on those panties before! Her grin widened as she saw more red lace split and Candice gasp and buckle her knees… This would be easy!
Barely three more tugs, however, and Carrie yelped in surprise, as a coupe hands emerged from the crowd behind and began fondling her bare breasts! “W-whaa?!” Immediately, Carrie’s grip on the rope slackened, as she tried in vain to worm away from the hands, as they slowed lifted her bosoms up and down, around and around!
Through the pain and secondhand humiliation, Candice couldn’t help but smirk. Seemed like these cheerleaders had some sense of justice, even if it was incredibly warped! But, of course, as she thought that, a pair of hands suddenly lunged out from behind and planted themselves on her own chest! “Didn’t think it’d be that easy, did ya?” She barely heard Olivia’s voice rise above the crowd. “Let’s shake things up, ladies!” On cue, the hands on each girl’s breasts squeezed harder, began rotating them up and away from each other! As each girl’s intimates were pulled unforgivingly hard, the fondling sent new feelings up through their hips that nearly made their hands slip off the ropes! “Shake it up! Shake it up!” The crowd began to chant as the hands moved faster and were joined by others, squeezing and shaking and sending each girl’s head swimming! The pressure on their privates and the hands grabbing them so intimately… Candice and Carrie both could barely catch a breath! Heat suffused up their entire bodies and blushed red…
After a minute or so, Olivia shouted once more, “Alright, bonus round over. Back at it!” Instantly, the hands released and the perpetrators retreated into the crowd, but the damage had been done, and neither Candice nor Carrie was going at it with a clear head! Of the two, however, Candice was the one most flustered by the intervention! Strangers touching her like that, stoking the feelings the powerful wedgie was setting off… Candice relented on the rope, if only for a chance to will it all away…
However, Carrie didn’t wait! Immediately, she resumed her assault with full force, tugging Candice’s panties another inch higher, then another, pumping the rope in her hands with everything she had! Time to end this!
Feeling her own hands go slack, Candice’s head fell back with her mouth agape, panting hot breaths! It was like her whole body was flushed with fire, the wavering light on the trees starting to darken as every pull sent another spasm through her body and lifted her all the way to stand on tippy-toes! Her panties continued to split between her thighs, and every rip caused new pinching down there, as crimson cotton got more and more taut… “AHH!” Candice bounced as another bit of fraying caused her panties to burrow so far between her lips! Her whole body felt so light! It hurt so bad that she barely felt anything at all! Her grip weakened, her knees twisted all the way inward… Carrie saw Candice slipping and pulled harder! The bubble-butt dork gasped! She was so close but she couldn’t… she couldn’t!
No… I can’t… I can’t give up… Thinking about it was holding her back! Whatever was building hotter and hotter in her, she had to risk it before it got even worse! With every ounce of strength she could muster, Candice wrapped both hands around the rope and pulled down as far as she could! She didn’t pump, she didn’t try and fray, she just held the rope down for dear life!
It was working! A yelp died in Carrie’s throat as her underwear shot farther up her butt and practically paralyzed her pussy! At that point, her waistband stretched over her head! “GAH! N-no- AH!” Carrie fought through the feeling, but she’d already exerted so much, and the pulling at her privates was starting to make her dizzy! So deep, so hard… but just one more… those panties were close to breaking, she could tell! But her own pair was failing too… she felt the friction fraying the fabric between… between…
The cheers and laughter of the crowd crescendoed as the event neared its climax, egged on by the sound of tearing fabric increasing in volume, as each girl’s body flushed red and each pair of underwear stretched beyond all recognition! Inch by inch, stitch by stitch, panties were pulled higher… Candice gasped for shallow breaths, and Carrie bit her tongue to stop herself from moaning… both undergarments barely a string between their cheeks… so close… just one… more…
RIIIIIP! RIIIIIP!
“OOHHHH!” With a loud moan, Carrie fell onto the grass face-first, panting like a wild animal with her bare ass stuck straight in the air and both hands over her chafed crotch, panties torn clean off her hips!
Y-yes! She actually did it! Relieved beyond all measure, Candice collapsed to the ground so hard her glasses slipped from her face! Gasping, panting, sweating, Candice picked herself up and leant back on her hands, legs listlessly spread to allow relieving air across her beleaguered crotch! Aching and aroused in equal measure, and with the faintest touch of pride, Candice watched Carrie’s blurred silhouette clutching at itself down there… only for the relief to abruptly melt and the realization to set in! Wait… there had been two ripping sounds… and if she was on the ground… In disbelief, Candice’s gaze tilted downward to see her crotch, her totally bare crotch on full display! Hurriedly, she then looked up and confirmed the horrible truth: her panties had been ripped off too! Both red lace and white frills hung in tatters above the two now-naked contestants! But hers hadn’t ripped first… right? She won… didn’t she? The weak flicker of hope was promptly dashed, however, as the crowd encircled the two, with Olivia at the forefront.
The amused captain looked between the two. “It appears we have ourselves a tie! You lot know what that means?” Olivia yelled at the crowd, receiving a surge of cheers in response. “That’s right! They’re BOTH losers! Prepare for a double serving!”
W-what?! No! No, it was her panties! It’s not fair! They’d already stretched her panties so much before, had they not she would have one! But Candice’s brain was too addled to protest! “No-… n-no! I… I…” Candice uselessly babbled as she was once against grabbed around the arms and practically carried into an unfortunate turn of fate!
Hannah watched the nerd struggle with pure pleasure! They’d never had a twofer with Punishment Number 5 before! This was going to be a night they’d all remember for a long time… She was about to follow the crowd to the grand finale, when a quick hand slapping her backside froze her in her tracks! “Hey!” Hannah yelped in anger. “Who the-“ All her venom evaporated, however, when she turned to see none other than Olivia grinning over her.
The pinked-haired captain gave Hannah an appraising nod. “Not bad, Blondie, not bad at all! This is the most fun we’ve had in ages!” Her sparkling amber eyes locked on Hannah’s, as she genially clapped her on the back. “You get it! You understand how things work here!”
Hannah recovered her satisfied smirk and stood a couple inches taller. “Thanks. And it’s Hannah.”
Much to Hannah’s surprise, Olivia responded with a frown. “No, that doesn’t sound right.” Hannah’s mouth dropped open, ready to share some choice words, when Olivia lifted a hand to interrupt her, a devious smile growing across her lips. “I reckon I’m in the presence of… next year’s captain!” And then Hannah shared the smile. A night to remember indeed, and far, far from the last…
Arms pulled behind their backs to prevent either girl from concealing their nudity, both Candice and Carrie were pulled to stand beside each other. Olivia approached from around the fire pit, casually throwing in another stick to keep the flames high - Candice seeing her so blurry added to the horror of the moment! “Those who lose Punishment Number 5,” Olivia spoke as if reciting from an old, revered scripture, “will receive punishment. And yet, we don’t have precedent for TWO losers! So what do we think? Should they share the sentence? Or each get their own?” Louder cheers surged through the crowd! Candice gulped, and she felt Carrie tense beside her!
Olivia’s face said plainly enough that she already knew her answer before asking - she just wanted to hear the crowd roar! “I concur! I think they each deserve full punishment! So it’s settled!” Olivia raised her arms like this was some ceremony. “Five hundred whacks on the behind for each!”
FIVE HUNDRED?! All the air was knocked out of Candice like she’d been punched in the stomach! Before she could even process the sentence, she was pushed onto all fours, hands on her back keeping her grounded not only to prevent escape, but to put more arch in her back and force her bubble butt to stick even further out, so much so she felt cold twilight wind where the firelight shouldn’t be shining! Face smushed in the grass, the world was a blur to Candice, as the crowd drew closer, as she felt all eyes drawn to her vulnerable, jiggling cheeks!
Carrie didn’t go as quietly, however! As soon as hands grazed her bare back and limbs, she twisted free! “NO! I won! Her dorky panties ripped first! I did NOT lose! NO!” Carrie tried to run, but only make it a few staggering steps before the crowd snared her! Though she fought against the many hands, she froze when a long shadow passed over her! Olivia clucked her tongue as she approached, gesturing to a cheerleader behind her, who was holding a long case. “Was I not clear on the rules? Did I stutter when I said them?” A long pause caused Carried to realize she was expected to reply! Hurriedly, she shook her head, but Olivia’s demeanor didn’t improve. “Really? Are you just a bad listener, then? Or just a piss-poor sport? Cuz I don’t take kindly to either of those things!”
A snap of her fingers. In an instant, the cheerleaders restraining Carrie jerked her to face the other way and pulled her towards a nearby tree. They held her with her hands firmly planted against the bark, her quivering naked ass stuck all the way out! Desperately, Carrie glances over her shoulder and saw the cheerleader with the case at Olivia’s side, unfastening the lid and offering. Delicately, Olivia reached into the case and removed its contents: a wooden paddle, maybe a foot and a half across, with words scrawled across, barely legible in the firelight: “BAD GIRL PADDLE.” In an instant, Carrie’s insides turned to water! She gave one last effort to free herself, but it was hopeless, and it only made Olivia approach faster! Twirling the instrument with a grin, Olivia pointed the paddle at the prone Candice. “Five hundred for the newbie. And for Ruby Runaway, here…” Olivia turned back to Carrie with a smile emanating malice, raising the paddle up to her shoulder like a batter expecting a home-run pitch. “Double it!” And with all her might she swung!
SMACK!
“AAAHHH!” As loud as Carrie screamed, the echoes of the paddle striking her backside were louder, echoing through the forest like a gunshot! And so began the chaos!
Immediately, what felt like a thousand hands crashed down on Candice’s butt! SMACK! THWACK! SMACK! “GYAH! WAAAAH!” Candice squealed as palm after palm stung across her bubble butt cheeks! Try as she might to worm out of the way, she couldn’t, with a dozen hands holding her knelt over with her ass raised to meet every outstretched hand! SMACK! SWAT! Candice’s butt was battered from every direction!
Carrie had it worse, as Olivia threw her all into every swing of the paddle! “AH! S-stop! I’m sorry- AHHHH!” Carrie cried as Olivia laughingly spanked the paddle across her ass over and over, harder and harder! In between swings, all the cheerleaders nearby got swats of their own in, everyone trying to sneak a piece of Carrie’s cake before the paddle once again smacked flat across both cheeks! “AGH! KYAHH!” The captain was remorseless, hitting harder and harder, faster and faster, until Carrie’s ass was redder than the campfire itself and then some!
Meanwhile, Candice collapsed in the dirt! The spanks came so rapidly, it felt like one constant unremitting thrum, like rainfall, like a storm raging against her backside! Every gasp was cut short by another hand ricocheting off the bouncing flesh, then another, another still! It was endless! Overtaken by the sensations, shuddering between the slaps, Candice’s head fell to the ground, as another hundred hands slapped across her booty…
Finally, a whistle blew, sharp and shrill. SKWEEEE!
Candice opened her eyes, realizing the ass-ault had mercifully concluded, though she still felt phantom palms against her behind… Olivia’s shadow danced around her and swelled with her voice. “Alright. That’s Newbie’s sentence. Her game’s over.” Without so much a second to catch her breath, Candice was once again lifted by the arms and carried off on trembling legs. As she rose, shivering and without her glasses, Candice only saw the clearing as a foggy kaleidoscope of lights and shadows, of silhouettes of dancing cheerleaders and pointed fingers. In one backwards glance, she could barely make out a naked Carrie dazed on her knees, her butt cheeks a seared crimson shade! As some gathered around Carrie’s crumpled form, Candice barely caught the murmured comments. “I never knew she had that much back there, but she’s jiggling up a storm!” “Look at her wiggling like that, she looks like she’s about to pee herself!” “I thought she already did! Look at her legs!” “Maybe she’s just so excited! Maybe she can’t wait for round two!” A part deep inside herself told Candice she should feel sympathy, but for the moment it seemed hard to come by. Without a glance back, Candice bit her lip and kept her eyes on the forest floor as she was walked away, trying to shut out everything, to be well and and truly done with this nightmare!
“Wait.” On a dime, the cheerleaders holding Candice by the arms stopped in place and spun her around, drowning her in Olivia’s shadow. The head cheerleader leaned in close, so close that Candice felt her breath as she spoke. “If you tell anyone about what happened here tonight, little fish, Punishment Number 5 is going to seem like kid stuff, you understand?” Hurriedly, Candice nodded in agreement. Olivia’s smirk returned. She lifted her hands, which made Candice wince… only for the captain to very delicately place her glasses back on her face. Blinking in confusion, Candice met Olivia’s now-clear gaze, as she gave Candice a condescending pat on the cheek. “Good.” Then her face again turned serious and she straightened. She directed to the cheerleaders, “Get her a uniform and get her home, got it? She was trying out and we ran late.” She threw an extra glare Candice’s way, to ensure the disheveled dork got the message. She did, and, after giving another meek nod of reluctant assent, Candice was immediately spun back around, and escorted back the way she’d come, with nary a glance back. Olivia called out, “Recess is over!” and the crowd returned their focus on Carrie, for the second round of punishment!
As the paddling resumed, though enjoying the yelps and shrieks as Carrie’s ass was pummeled into another oblivion, Hannah instead watched Candice’s procession shuffle away into the night. A ghost of a smile lifted her lips. It was hard to put to words what Hannah felt in that moment, seeing that naked nerd’s fat ass vanish between the trees. She’d dealt her share of ‘due process’ to plenty of girls at Eager Meadows, but there was something about this new girl, something in her humiliation. Or maybe it was more than one thing… Hannah got the sense it would never get old, seeing her embarrassed. In fact, Hannah felt like this was only the beginning of a very exciting relationship!
See you soon, dork…
—
An entire week passed before Candice’s ass stopped stinging! That entire time, she had to take her seat at her desk very gingerly, and even after, she swore she could still see handprints across her cheeks! Though she tried to keep composure in the halls to avoid attention, she also had to walk with a slightly wider stance for a few days after! It was hard to stay engaged in schoolwork, at least right away, with everything still so fresh. She only saw Carrie maybe once or twice after, and both times she wouldn’t look Candice or anyone else in the eyes, and Candice never saw her in a cheerleading outfit ever again. Maybe she wasn’t the only one with rumors… Again, Candice felt some obligation to sympathy, but after Carrie tricked her like she had, harassed and fondled her like she had, the obligation was fulfilled as reluctantly as possible. She could feel sorry, she decided, but she didn’t have to arbitrate what might or might not be deserved. Better to just leave it behind them both.
The single solitary shred of a silver lining she could find about the situation was that the incident wouldn’t be talked about like the assembly. With the assembly, there wasn’t any way to NOT know about the new nerdy girl running around in her birthday suit, and while there were plenty of cheerleaders who’d witnessed Punishment Number 5 and were shooting knowing glances at Candice every time she passed, this time it was in the interests of all involved to keep some secrecy, lest the school crack down on the “unique” hazing rituals. Still, Candice couldn’t help but notice how afterwards, it seemed like all the rumors and teasing picked back up in full force, to some extent even worse. In fact, just the other day she’d been pantsed in the middle of the hallway, and the next someone pulled her towel off in the locker room! Not only was it humiliating to be crowned the school’s resident exhibitionist, but it was deeply frustrating! The whole reason she got into this mess in the first place was to improve her reputation! All that seemed to happen was that it got carved in stone…
There were several days in which Candice thoroughly considered reaching out to the principal or someone on the school board, maybe anonymously, but every time Olivia’s threat bore through her head and kept her silent. Even if anonymous, Candice didn’t doubt she’d be found out, and it’s not like she had any real evidence to offer, notwithstanding the faint marks left on her butt, and Candice wasn’t as keen to flash that around as other students liked to claim! Besides, Olivia was a senior, which meant she’d be gone in a few months, and hopefully her ‘bully to stay on top’ hierarchy would go too. It’s like she told herself what felt like so long ago: time washes over things. It was humiliating, sure, but it passed before and it would again. Just because it’s cloudy doesn’t mean the sun’s gone for good. And so Candice kept her head (and pants!) up and weathered on, and, although hope seemed tough to come by at times, she never gave up on the thought that maybe, just maybe, brighter days were ahead at Eager Meadows. But only time would tell…
