An Awkward Car Ride to See Maggie's Dad

McKenize promptly picks up Tanya for her rendezvous with Maggie's Dad, but the awkwardness between the two girls hangs thick in the air. Still skeptical about what her daughter is up to, Tanya's mom doesn't have much choice but to believe McKenzie is legitimately there to take Tanya to study group. Even so, she's never seen the two friends so standoffish toward one another. It only adds more fuel to her curiosity as she watches them drive off.

Most of the car ride is silent until they cross the tracks into the bad side of town. McKenzie finally breaks the silence. "So, are we going to talk about today?"

"Yes," Tanya replied, even though she hoped to let it go. "Listen, I'm sorry about all that with Whitney and what happened between us. Even though I went along with her, I didn't expect you to. I didn't want to drag anyone else into it."

McKenzie swallowed before replying. "I didn't feel like I had a choice." It was true. When Tanya told her to strip and kneel, it was more of a compulsion than a desire.

"But what about pledging devotion to Whitney? I had to do that."

"It seemed silly when she asked for it, but now that I've promised to serve her..." she trails off and looked out the window.

"It feels right, doesn't it? Like, you've always wanted to?"

"Yeah," McKenzie admits. "I don't understand why, though. I really hated her yesterday but today...I can't want to show my devotion to her."

"oh God, me too," Tanya admits. "I'm so glad to hear that from you. I was feeling scared and out of control. At least, I'm not alone."

McKenzie is silent again. Finally, she asked "why do you think Whitney makes us feel this way?"

Tanya bit her lip. She had been struggling with this, but the conversation with Fuyoko in the shower made it clear. "I didn't realize this until recently, but...Mckenzie...you know in that kinky movie Dakota Johnson?"

"Oh! Really? You think..."

"Yeah, I think I'm submissive, like, just naturally, you're probably that way, too, if you think about it."

And that was it. Tanya, conditioned by the curse to think she is submissive, unknowingly places the same condition on her friend. McKenzie gasped at the feeling awakening inside of her. "I think you're right."

"And that's probably why you let me....you know...."

Both of the girls are blushing deeply and go silent for a long five minutes. Neither wanted to address the boundary they crossed in their friendship directly.

"We're here," McKenzie said as they pulled into the motel parking lot. "So, listen, you've been doing some crazy things,: she pauses for a moment and continues, "Well, I guess we've both been doing crazy things. I'm here to ensure you get your stuff back and he doesn't take advantage of you. We get your stuff, and we go. Got it."

Tanya felt disappointed. She was definitely here so Maggie's Dad could take advantage of her. It was what she spent so much of her day thinking about. Thanks to the curse, she wanted Tom to fuck her in the ass again. That was her plan, but suddenly what McKenzie said made sense. "Right. We go up. He gives us my phone and wallet. We go. Yes. Right. That is definitely the plan."

The two students exit the car, climb the stairs to the second-floor balcony, and walk to the door. Tanya knocks, and it doesn't take more than a few seconds before the very eager Tom opens the door. He's dressed in a silky maroon bathrobe. "Hey," he starts but stops when he sees McKenzie. His eyes go wide. "Woah, I didn't expect that you'd bring a friend. And McKenzie Lowery, nonetheless." If there was one 18-year-old cheerleader, Tom allowed himself to have inappropriate thoughts about it was McKenzie. He had a serious thing for redheads and would almost go out of the way to check out McKenzie whenever he had to be at school for Maggie. He couldn't believe his luck.

"Mr. Mendellsohn," McKenzie said very matter-of-fact. "Can we have Tanya's things?"