Social Proof

"Kylie, you can talk again, but only in a way that is respectful, not just to me bit to other people too"

"Okay, fine" Kylie pouts. She wants to scream obscenities at this guy, but finds herself completely unable to. She'd love to punch him right in the gut, but is aware he now has the power to turn her into a slug. Though what he actually has planned might be even worse for Kylie, in her mind at least.

"Do you know what social proof is?" the stranger asks.

Kylie shakes her head. She doesn't know. She doesn't want to know. She doesn't care unless it is something that involves him fucking off out of her life forever.

"I don't really need to get into the complexities of it with you, but suffice to say that just being seen with someone like you will do incredible things for my social standing, my popularity, the respect my peers have for me and even my attractiveness women other than you.

Kylie knew she was cute, but she doubted even she could help him with that last one. Though of course, she was literally unable to tell him that.

"But if everyone thought you were my girlfriend, and you were physically affectionate and full of effusive praise for me..."

"Please no!" Kylie pleaded almost tearfully, as if he had suggested publicly spit roasting her with one of his D&D buddies "I really don't want that, because..........."

Of course, none of the words she wished to say would come out. She could therefore only listen in horror as he began to turn his terrifying vision into a reality.

"Just think of this as a chance to do something nice for someone for once in your life" he advised her "Kylie, you will now pretend to be my girlfriend.You will always look happy when we are together, if other people are around. You will talk enthusiastically to people about all of my wonderful qualities. You will say you love me in front of people, and also that you find me sexually attractive. You will create pet names for me and use them often. You will be physically affectionate with me as well, a tap on the butt here, a stroke of the thigh there. We will kiss in public, sometimes. You got all that?"

"I did" Kylie smiles, because she has to.

"Good, lets take a walk together"

"I'm Kyle, by the way" Kylie's pretend boyfriend tells her "Pretty cute huh? Kylie and Kyle. I'm sure you can work with that"

"I'll see what I can do, Kyle" the blonde girl smiles. And it looks deceptively natural, but inside she is dying. She remembers there being a part of the curse that means she can't get out of this by stepping out in front of a bus. If she could, she would seriously be considering it. The only saving grace is that she is in Melanie's part of town, not her own. If anyone she knew were to bump into her now, she would never recover from it. But she had no idea what Kyle's plans for her were now, and whether they would last for the afternoon or the rest of her life.