The challenge

The tension in the room is thick, and you’re trying your best to stay calm under the weight of their stares. Amanda pulls you further into the living room, standing in front of her friends, her hand still gripping yours like she owns you—because, in a way, she does. You glance at the three women on the couch, all of them smirking, clearly in on whatever Amanda has planned.

Amanda lets go of your hand, turning to face you with that familiar mischievous grin. “So, Tom,” she says, her voice dripping with playful dominance, “we were talking earlier, and we came up with a little idea for this weekend. We want to see what you’re made of.”

Chloe leans forward, her elbows resting on her knees, her dark ponytail swinging slightly. She kicks off one of her Converse, revealing a white, frilly ankle sock, and wiggles her toes lazily. Her smirk grows wider as she looks up at you. “Yeah, Amanda told us you’ve been hitting the gym a lot lately. Said you’ve been getting strong.” Her tone is mocking, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “So we figured, why not put it to the test?”

Lily giggles, her bare feet now tucked up beneath her on the couch as she leans into Vanessa. “It’s just a little competition,” she says in a singsong voice. “You know, to see if you’re really as tough as you look.”

Vanessa, still quiet, just raises an eyebrow. She hasn’t said a word yet, but her presence is enough to make your skin prickle. She lazily shifts one of her feet, her Nike slide dropping to the floor, leaving her thick, black-socked foot resting on the arm of the couch. She doesn’t need to speak to make you feel like she’s already five steps ahead of you.

You blink, trying to process what they’re saying. A competition? What could they possibly mean? Your confusion must show, because Amanda steps in front of you, her hands on her hips, her height making you crane your neck to look up at her.

“It’s simple, really,” Amanda explains, her voice dripping with condescension. “You’re always so eager to show off how strong you are. But let’s be honest—you’ve never actually proven anything. And I think it’s time for you to show me—and my friends—what you’re really made of.”

A nervous laugh escapes you before you can stop it. You feel your face flush, but the absurdity of the situation catches up to you. They really think they can challenge you? You—the guy who’s been hitting the gym every day, bulking up, growing stronger? You might be shorter than Amanda, but you’re a man, and they’re just a bunch of girls. Gymnasts, dancers—sure, they’re fit, but they’re not built for power like you are.

Amanda raises an eyebrow, clearly waiting for you to say something. You clear your throat, trying to keep your voice steady as a cocky grin spreads across your face.

“A competition? Against you?” You gesture around the room at the girls, your confidence bubbling up. “Come on. You can’t be serious.”

Chloe lets out a sharp laugh, slipping off her other Converse and tossing it aside, leaving her in just her frilly socks. She stretches her legs out in front of her, wiggling her toes as if she’s completely unbothered by your comment. “Oh, we’re serious. Dead serious.”

Lily’s smile never falters. She shifts on the couch, her bare feet now resting on Vanessa’s lap as she watches you with bright, mocking eyes. “You really think you can take all of us, don’t you? Because we’re just ‘girls,’ right?”

You shrug, feeling a burst of confidence as you cross your arms over your chest. “I mean… yeah.” You can’t help but laugh a little. “I’m a guy. I’ve been training. I’m stronger than all of you combined. This isn’t even going to be a challenge.”

Amanda’s smirk deepens, her green eyes flashing with amusement. She steps closer, until she’s inches from your face, her tall frame looming over you. “You really think so, huh?”

You nod, standing your ground, even as you can feel the heat of her gaze bearing down on you.

“Well,” Amanda says, her voice suddenly lower, more serious, “let me explain the stakes, then. You see, it’s not just about proving who’s stronger. There’s an incentive here. If you manage to win… well, let’s just say you’ll get a reward. Something you’ve wanted for a while.”

Your interest is piqued. “A reward?” you ask, your curiosity getting the better of you.

Amanda nods, her eyes gleaming. “Yeah. If you win, you get to call the shots for the rest of the weekend. Total control.”

That grabs your attention. The thought of turning the tables on Amanda, of finally getting the upper hand, sends a thrill of excitement through you. You can already picture it—Amanda, Chloe, Lily, and Vanessa at your mercy for the rest of the weekend.

But Amanda isn’t done. She steps back, crossing her arms as she raises an eyebrow. “But if you lose…” she lets the words hang in the air for a moment, the weight of them sinking into your gut, “…well, let’s just say things will get very interesting for you. You’ll be at our mercy for the rest of the weekend. Whatever we want, whenever we want.”

Lily giggles, wiggling her toes against Vanessa’s lap. “And trust me, we will make you regret underestimating us.”

You swallow hard, but you quickly **** a grin, trying to hide the slight tremor of nervousness that creeps into your chest. “I’m not worried. You’re all fit, sure, but strength? Real power? That’s my game.”

Chloe snorts, lounging back on the couch as her frilly white ankle socks rest against the hardwood floor. She crosses one leg over the other, her socked foot tapping idly against her knee, looking completely relaxed—like this whole thing is a joke to her. “You’re really confident, huh?” she says, her tone dripping with mockery. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

You raise an eyebrow, still feeling cocky. There’s no way these girls think they can actually take you, right?

Amanda steps in closer, standing beside Chloe now, her towering frame even more imposing as she looks down at you. “Alright, here’s the deal,” she says, her voice authoritative. “We’re not going to gang up on you. That wouldn’t be fair… to you.”

The girls laugh lightly at the comment, and you feel a slight pang of irritation, but you don’t let it show. You’re still convinced this will be over before it even begins.

“All you have to do,” Amanda continues, her green eyes sparkling with amusement, “is beat one of us. Just one. You can choose who you want to wrestle, and if you win, we’ll let you call the shots for the rest of the weekend.”

You blink, processing the offer. It sounds easy enough—just one match. One victory. And then you’d have control of the entire weekend? The idea is tantalizing, especially considering Amanda’s usual dominance over you. A chance to turn the tables on her and her friends? It almost feels like they’re handing you the win.

But Amanda isn’t finished. “And here’s the best part,” she adds, grinning, “we’ll even make it fair for you.”

Lily giggles from the couch, leaning forward now, her bright pink toes curled against the cushion beneath her. “We’ll wrestle you with one arm tied behind our backs,” she says, her voice dripping with playful condescension. “Just to give you a chance.”

At that, you can’t help it—you burst out laughing. The absurdity of it hits you all at once. One arm tied behind their backs? They’re practically giving you the win! You feel your confidence soar as you shake your head, chuckling. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

But none of them laugh with you. Amanda’s smile stays fixed, but there’s something in her eyes—something that tells you they’re not joking.

“We’re serious,” Vanessa says quietly from the couch, her voice calm and composed. Her dark eyes lock onto yours, and for the first time, you notice the subtle intensity there. “One arm behind our backs. It’s only fair, after all. You’ve got the muscles, right?”

Chloe uncrosses her legs and leans forward, her frilly socks barely making a sound as she plants her feet on the floor. “So, you get to wrestle each of us, one by one,” she explains. “If you manage to beat even one of us, you win. Simple.”

You scoff, unable to believe what you’re hearing. One arm tied behind their backs? It’s almost insulting how easy they think this will be for you. You know you’re stronger, and the idea of them handicapping themselves like this only makes you feel even more sure of yourself.

You glance around the room again—Chloe, with her cocky grin, Lily, still giggling as she tucks her bare feet underneath her, and Vanessa, who just watches you with that quiet, unnerving calm. Amanda stands tall beside you, her smirk firmly in place as she crosses her arms over her chest, waiting for your response.

You shake your head, chuckling. “Alright,” you say, your voice full of confidence. “If you want to make it that easy for me, fine. Let’s get started.”