Tug of War 30

"Oh, look who’s here, guys!" Adam, the biggest jerk in school, said when Timothy entered the locker room. It was Wednesday of the following week, and the basketball team was getting ready for another training session. "None other but Tammy, our sissy mascot!"

Timothy lowered his eyes trying to ignore the wild laughter coming from all directions. Yes, he had a new nickname now. The boy tried to comfort himself by thinking that Tammy at least didn’t sound as bad as Tiffany.

He wasn't being exactly successful in such an attempt, though… 

Timothy didn't know exactly why, but he was feeling a lot more emotive and sentimental these days. He had always felt bothered by being bullied, but it was so much worse now. As he got changed into his basketball uniform, he had to fight back tears while he heard some other guy mocking him once again because of his hairless body. 

Why can't I just tell those sons of bitches to go to hell? He wondered, troubled. Why are their words hitting me so hard? Could it be that I've heard so much that I'm a sissy that I'm truly becoming one?

"You know, Tammy" Adam spoke again. "I don't know why you're still here. You're just embarrassing the team. How can a sissy boy like you even think about..." 

Adam, however, was suddenly interrupted before he could finish whatever he still had to say. If Timothy was completely unable to react to such provocations, the same couldn’t be said about someone else... Martin, his best friend, moved as fast as a bullet and pressed Adam against the wall, lifting him up by his shirt collar with just one hand. 

"If you say another word... Just a single word… " the boy started, grinding his teeth together, in a whisper far more menacing than any scream could be.  

Martin usually was so calm and relaxed that people often forgot that he was one of the tallest, strongest guys in the school. Even Timothy got surprised at how intimidating his friend looked at that moment. He was sure he had never seen him that furious. 

"Hey, man, I was just joking around, okay?" Adam said, frightened, vainly trying to break free. Like any other bully, he immediately toned down his manner as he found someone capable of confronting him. "Chill out, man!"

"Not until I'm sure you understood what I'm saying" Martin stated, hitting Adam's back against the wall once more. 

"What the hell is going on here?" Coach Smith exclaimed, entering the locker room. "I don't want fights on the team! All of you, to the court, now, unless you want a detention! I said now, Simmons!" 

Martin reluctantly let Adam go, but not before casting one last threatening glance at him.

"T-thank you, Martin" Timothy said, after the other guys had left the locker room, approaching his friend. Timothy was so moved and grateful that he felt like hugging Martin. He was able to stop himself at the very last moment, though. 

What the hell am I doing? He thought, horrified. As if it weren't enough that I can't defend myself – like I were some damsel in distress – now I'm going to start hugging guys to thank them for saving me, as well? What's next? A kiss?

The two friends then stood facing each other awkwardly for what seemed to be a very long time.

"Umm... No problem, Tim" Martin finally said, extending his hand. His anger had vanished as easily as it had emerged, and he once again had a dreamy expression on his face. When Timothy shook his hand, though, even someone as absent-minded as Martin was able to notice something strange. Timothy's hand felt so soft and smooth… Also, his nails were a bit longer and looked very well-cared; all this not to mention that Timothy was holding Martin's hand softly, with his wrist loose.

Martin obviously had no idea of the new routine his friend was being forced to follow. Every night, before bed, Timothy had to spread several creams all over his body: arms and legs; hands and feet; chest and belly; shoulders, neck and face... no spot could be neglected. He also had to take care of his nails every day, and Susan kept teaching him how to act and behave like a proper young lady restlessly.

"Umm... Martin?" Timothy said, shyly, as he friend kept holding his hand. "I think we need to go or Coach Smith is going to truly kill us."

"What? Oh, right! The training session... Yeah, let's get going, then..."

Martin left the locker room with Timothy leading the way, and he was able to notice another unexpected thing. A he walked, his friend was putting on foot in front of the other, and moving his hips subtly at every step. Yes, although Timothy wasn't aware of that, almost a full week wearing corset and high heels all the time while he was at home had already been enough to change the way he naturally walked. Martin, on his part, was now more than sure that something unusual was indeed happening to his friend. 

He decided he would find out what it exactly was.

----------

The training was still just in the beginning, but it was already possible to see that it was fated to be another catastrophic for Timothy. The boy's performance was being even worse than in the previous week. He had no strength to pass the ball correctly, let alone throw it into the basket; he was much slower than the other boys; and, when his team was defending, he was too afraid to approach any opponent because of how intimidated he felt next to them. 

"Foster!" Coach Smith roared. "If you don't pull yourself together right now, I'm going to kick your ass out of the team, did you hear me?" 

"Y-yes, sir!" Timothy said, but the truth was that he seemed beyond salvation. Any viewer would think so, watching him run completely lost around the court like a scared little kitten. He had reason to be scared, though, and it wasn’t just because of his execrable performance…

A little later, Timothy saw Adam running towards him with the ball in hand. His expression made it clear that he was mad for revenge after what had happened in the locker room. Timothy got so desperate that for a moment he thought of just getting out of the way, but he knew he couldn't do that. No, it would be too humiliating. He had to stay there and face Adam… like a man.

"Move, faggot!" It was all that Adam said as he passed Timothy with extreme ease, taking advantage of the situation to push him so hard with the shoulder that it was enough to make Timothy fall painfully to the ground, hitting his head. 

"What's wrong, sissy?" Adam mocked him. "Did you break a nail? You’re not going to cry, are you?" 

But as soon as Adam turned around, he swallowed hard. 

"I warned you" Martin simply said, before taking the ball from Adam’s hands and throwing it against the other boy’s face with all his strength. A second later, it was Adam’s turn to fall to the ground, screaming and squirming as he dirty the count floor with his blood… his nose was clearly broken. 

"Who is the sissy now, huh?" Martin growled furiously at him. "And don't even think about going to the nurse's office. I'm taking Tim there first." 

And saying so, he went to Timothy picked his friend up in his arms as easily as if he were lifting a pillow. Timothy, still feeling confused and dizzy, took a few moments to fully understand what was happening. When he finally managed to do so, he felt embarrassed beyond words. 

"Put me down, man!" he begged, in an anguished whisper. "I can get to the nurse's office with my own legs!"

"No, you can't" Martin said, resolutely. "You just hit your head, so I think it's a lot safer for you to be carried there."

"But..."

"Stop being so stubborn, okay? I’m telling you… I'll take care of you, man" he stated, looking deep into his friend's eyes, which caused Timothy to shut up as he felt a shiver through his body…