Mark 21 years old,  and Julie 20 years old, where both students at the same college, the only diferente was that Mark was one semestre ahead of Julie.Mark was a really good student, eventough he didnt fit the nerd stereotype.

                Julie was a know for being kind of crazy, if any crazy or epic happening was going on around the campus, you can be sure that Julie is involved. That was one of the reasons of why she wasn’t doing so great in her grades. She wasn’t dumb, quite the opposite, as she was really smart indeed, but she was always thinking about partying and having fun.

                Julie was gorgeous, she was always well dressed, usually overdressed to college, always wearing heels or boots, and skirts or short dresses, one way or another, she was always keeping her beautiful legs at sigh.

                Mark have always been a charismatic and funny guy, but that weren’t enough to get him a real date with her when they first met, 2 years ago, but they ended up being real good friends. Nonetheless they only became best friends in the day that Mark accidentally saw Julie transform a cup filled with water, in one filled with beer as it was completely normal.

                “How did you do it Julie?”.He asked.

                “What are you talking about, Mark??”.She answered worried, she had find out about her powers when she was a teenager, and nobody had ever discovered it.As the time passed bye, and she was more confortable with those powers, she started to make minor transformations under everybody’s noses. Nevertheless nobody had ever noticed, but she loved the hazard feeling of taking unecessary risks.

Mark then took Julia to a devoid place, and said.”You know what im talking about, I saw you, and your glass.It was water, and after you look at it, it was beer.”

Mark had really seen her doing that, there was no point in denying it. Mark had been a really close friend to her, maybe she should give it a try, and tell him the truth.She would hope that he would keep her secret.”Well…When I was 14 years old, I discovered that…that i could change turn some things, in other things…”

She then told Mark the long version of the story of how she learned about the use, and the limits of her powers by experimenting it. She was capable of turning objects and animals in other objects, she could also return then to their original form. The only time that the reversion didn’t work was the one time she turned  a fork into a glass, she accidentally dropped the glass, shattering it. The fork was a lost forever as little pieces of glass.

So she assumed that she could only revert the transformation if the object was still in one piece. She had trying it on animals too, and the funny part was that when she touched anything that was an animal she could hear the ‘woofs’ or ‘meows’ or whatever other sound the animal did. It wasn’t a really useful power.

When she finished talking, she watched the serious look at Mark’s face, she started to think that Mark would consider her a freak, that she would lose her friend, but the bright side was that nobody would ever believe in Marks words, if he ever decides to talk about her powers. Suddenly a smile appeared on Marks face as he said.

“Julie, that’s so cool…did you…did you ever tried it on a person??”

“Off course not Mark. This is completely harmless, but since I’ve never talked about this powers with anyone, I didn’t have someone to try it on either. Do you wanna try it?”

“Hell no.I must confess that im kind of curious about it. But really enjoy being a person.”

They both laugh.And her sharing of this secret, and his acceptance of it made then really close. They’ve been best friends since then, about a year ago.

***

“Mark, im screwed, I need your help.”

“What happened Julie?”

“I’ve beem skipping the Macroeconomies classes for almost a month… and I’ve just found out that the final test is TODAY. If I don’t score at least B+ I’ll fail and I’ll lose my scholarship. I know that past year you scored the highest grade on it…Well, I need you to make me a genius on Macroeconomics in 1 hour”

“What???Are you crazy Julie?This is impossible, you’d need to learn 5 whole chapters. Sorry, I cant teach you that much, in so little time.”

“Please, please, please Mark…”Julie said with that face that always made impossible to Mark saying anything but ‘yes’.

“Sorry Julie, you know I’d do anything to help you…but…its just impossible. We can try, maybe if we start now, we can get at least to half of th…”

“IVE GOT AN IDEA…”Julie said interrupting Mark. ”Do you….do you remember that thing…that thing I can do??”

Mark was showing a face that he had only half understood.

“Well, I could transform you into something…something I could touch during the test. And then you tell me the answers as I tell the questions. Well if I could hear the animals, im sure I can hear you too, and you’ll probably be able to hear me too…That is it Mark, the perfect plan. After the test I’ll get you back to normal, and I’ll be buying your drinks for a whole month,”

“No Julie, did you hear what you just said?? That plan is crazy…”

“Pretty please Mark. You are my only hope of passing this test. If I lose my scholarship im ruined….”Mark couldn’t resist Julie’s pleadings. After some consideration, he said.

“Lets say we go through with it, and im not saying ive already accepted. Will it hurt? Its safe?? Are you sure I’ll be able to think and talk to you?”

“The spell doesn’t work, it only reshapes you into an object.You’ll still be alive. It will be like a disguise.”

“Fine, I’ll do it.I’ll help you this time Julie, But only this time.And you’ll turn me back just after we leave the test, not a single second later…So…what do you have in mind??What am I going to be?”

“Hmm…I think pencil, pen and eraser are out of question, I’d be spending you during the test...Maybe some part of my clothing…that would be perfect…but today im wearing dress, I mean no offense Mark, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with you wrapped around my whole body…”She kept looking around, thinking of the possible items that might work.Her eyes went down, meeting her platform heels. “Heels, they are perfect Mark, you’ll be touching me the whole time, in a non awkward way, they are very tough, nothing would break then, so you’d also be safe.”

Mark took a look at the heels, taking a second or two of his sight on her beautiful legs on his eye way to the shoes.’Well, I’d be able to have a very nice view of her gorgeous legs, maybe even of her panties.’ Mark thought,  a little ashamed of thinking about his friend like this, ’Besides how hard must be to be a hot girl’s shoes for a couple of hours?’

“Ok Julie, it should work. If you believe that’s the best option, I’ll trust your judgment.”

***

They went to the most deserted floor of the building, Julie checked if the women’s WC was empty, and nodded to Mark to come in. They both entered the same booth.

“Are you ready Mark?”

“No, but I think not even a hundred years would make me ready.” He said anxious.

“Here goes nothing…”

Mark didn’t feel anything. But his sight was suddenly divided in two different origins, both looking to the ceiling, he felt like he had 2 faces, he tried to move, but he didn’t succeed. He then felt what seemed to be a gigantic hand grabbing him.”Mark…?Can you hear me??”A face as pretty as enormous appeared on his sight.

“Yes, I am.It worked.And you were right, it doesn’t hurt at all.I don’t feel anything.”

“Awesome, im late for the test, it would suck to have to deal with any problem right now…I’ll hide my real shoes here on this booth, nobody ever comes to this WC.After the test I’ll get then back, and I get you back to normal.”…”Dammit, I’ll have to hurry, I have only 2 minutes to get in the classroom.”

She then took of her shoes and placed then behind the toilet. She reached for the new ones and started to put then on.

Mark saw Julie’s feet quickly approaching,  the girl’s haste, made it feel like a punch in the face. That’s when Mark realized where his face was placed, and that he wouldn’t even be able to have a sneak peak of under his friend’s dress. As soon as she finished putting him on, his vision was almost completely dark, only save by a little amount of light, but all he could see was toes.

All he could see was his lady friend toes on his face, he could smell then, and the most awkward part, he could taste then. It seemed that every part of his insole was capable of tasting her. Luckily for him, it was early in the day, and she was clean and tasting like strawberries, probably some kind of moisturizing. He was also feeling her warmth, it was like he was hugging the girl for whon he had a huge crush on.

It was only when she got up that his nightmare began. She probably didn’t weight more than 120 pounds, but now he was a small object, and all her full weight was resting on him, it felt like more than a 1000 pounds. He felt like he was going to be smashed to death. But he was doing it to help Julie, if he tell her about how it feels, she will call off the plan, and she’ll lose her scholarship.He decided to pretend that it wasn’t so bad, 2 minutes from now, she’d be sitting, he wouldn’t feel the pain anymore.

“So…how are you felling?”

“Its not the most confortable situation, but im fine.”

“She then started to walk as fast as she could with heels of that high, every step she took seemed that was going to kill Mark, and it shoved her feet deeper on his ‘tongue’, making the strawberry taste stronger to Mark. She ran upstairs, stumbling on the last footstep.”Omg Mark, did I hurt you?”

“No Julie, im fine.”He lied. Julie was clumsy, and Mark knew it.It wasn’t fair being a dick about her kicking him on the footstep.

She finally entered the classroom, she sat down, and started doing the test. Julie read the questions to Mark with her mind, so Mark would elaborate the answers. Julie was too nervous, as Mark was trying to figure the right answers, Julie was flexing her toes inside her shoes, she was also tapping her foot.It was really hard to concentrate like this.As the time passed , they hadn’t even answered half of the questions.

After one hour of test Julie got angry with the increasing wating for each answer, and Mark was getting really tire of being on her feet.

“Do you still remember we have a test to finish, Mark??How many days do you need to get those answers???My scholarship is at stake…”

“Im doing the best I can Julie.Maybe if you tapping your feet, and moving your toes all around, I can concentrate better, and answer faster.”

 “Wow, that’s your excuse??You cant answer the test because of my little toes??Come on Mark, don’t blame me.You deceived me, I tought you were good on Macroeconomie.”

“Hey you were the one who came to me asking for help.Its not easy to concentrate with you feet moving all the time, besides the last time I studied it was 6 months ago, it takes sometime to remember everything.”

“Fine, mister delicate, ill stop tapping my feet.”She said right before stepping hard on the floor one time with each feet, making Mark almost scream. But after that she indeed stopped moving her feet.

Mark could see and feel how anxious Julie was, as she started to sweat, making the strawberry taste a little more salty every minute.’Hold on Mark, its almost done, this nightmare is about to end.’He tought.
But Mark couldn’t recall the right answers with the quickness that the situation required.And after 2 hours of test, the professor started to gather the tests, and Julie had only half of the asnwers she needed, she then guessed the rest of then, and handed him her test.

Julie was really mad at Mark, she walked slowly toward the WC.Every step was a stomp.

“Im sorry Julie, I did the best I could.I know it wasn’t enough, but it didn’t give you the right of stomping on me like this, it hurts.”

“Hurts??it HURTS??Do  you know what does hurt, Mark??To place your hopes on someone, and this person to let you down.” Julie had a leaning to subtle changes of humor, and to overreacting, deep inside she knew it wasn’t Marks fault, but she needed someone but herself to blame.

“…Do you know what else hurts???This…” She said as she jumped as high as she could, landing with both feet at the same time, it was a really soft landing, for her, Mark was a comfortable shoe, but.for Make, it was the most pain he had ever felt. And even worse was the fear of her breaking his heel, he didn’t want to have the same fate as the fork.

“OOH FUCK JULIE, IT HURTS. Come on, you cant do this, you cant break me, remember what might happen. Be careful,”

Julie snapped out of  her angriness, she was really embaressed, she said.”Im sorry Mark, im really really sorry.I overreacted, but you just made me fail that test, I was angry, I was made at you.But you are right, I ought be more careful with you.No more unnecessary risks,”

As she went down the stairs, the clumsy girl almost hurt her ankle in a wrong step. Mark’s thin heel bended a little for a second. Luck for him nothing happened.

All Mark could think about now was that it was almost over, he was almost free of this weird nightmare, a few more steps and he would be human again.He would never let Julie transform him again, he was sure of it

Julie finally got to the WC, and she opened the booth where she had transformed  Mark…

“OOOH NO….FUCK…FUCK…FUCK…”She didn’t just said in her mind, she said it out loud.

“What happened???” Mark asked worried”

 “We are screwed Mark, that’s what happened…My shoes…they are gone

 “Oh god Julie, don’t scare me like that. I know you liked those shoes, but is not a big deal, you can buy new ones.”

“No Mark, I think you aren’t getting me. I don’t have a spare pair here with me, I have 3 more tests to do today, and I cant walk around the campus barefoot…im sorry Mark…I really am…”

Mark finally understood what Julie meant.

“No Julie, the deal was for being shoes till the test was over, and its over, I cant be like this for 6 more hours. Transform me back NOW…”

“I am really…really sorry Mark, but I have no choice…and I don’t wanna sound like a bitch, but in your current position, neither do you.You’ll be staying like this till the end of the day, and this discussion is over.”

“NO THERES NO WAY  I’LL BE ACCE…”

Julie slammed hard with her foot on the floor.

“I’ll repeat.THIS DISCUSSION IS OVER, Mark.Do you understand??”

Mark couldn’t argue against her, she was in a bad mood right now, he’d better not making it worse. “Fine Julie…if there is no other way…”

“Oon, how cute you are being so obedient, Mark, you’d make a nice pet shoe…”She said.”Before you complain, im just kidding, Mark

But she was indeed feeling good knowing that she was using a man as a shoe.But she would never leave Mark like this if it wasn’t necessary

“Lets go, im late for the next test”

Before their little chat, even though being in a hurry, it seemed that Julie was being more carefull with her walk, but now the girl was almost running.Maybe she was getting too used to Mark as just shoes.She did'nt even talk to him during the trip.Mark on the other hand was too scaried about how their last conversation to even try to engange into a talk.She not only blammed him for what happened but also sentenced him to a whole day of being a pair of stupid shoes, only so she didn    t walk bare feet.On top of that she almost crushed him as she stomp when he tried to reason with her.

It wasn't his fault that he didn't remembered all te test subjects nor of her shoes being stolen.The second one was her fault, for not being smart enough to hidde them better.He always knew that Julie was kind of bossy, but that wasn't a big deal when he was a 6 foot tall man, now however...

"Ouch..." Mark yelled as he felt his soles scraping against the concrete floor.

"Oh god, you scared me, i think i kind forget that you where there.Sorry about that little scratch."

"LITTLE SCRATCH?You almost repped out my back"

"Come one don't be such a baby"

Julie was thinking how selfish Mark was being, it wasn't that bad to be a pair of shoes, for just a couple of hours, she wasn't even fat heavy.She was a clean girl.And she was really pretty.He should be glad of being able to help his hot friend.Even more now, that he basicaly made her fail in Macroeconomies.Mark was probably complaining all the time so as to make her feel guilty or something, off course she wasn't happy about using her friend as a pair of shoes, but right now, she had no choice.

She took a look at her watch, and realised she was 12minutes late, she once again forgot Mark and all his complains and got back to her hurry, but now she was in fact running.

Mark's world became a turmoil once again as his both bodies swang back and forth, each one to a different direction, in a ridiculously unconfortable way.He lost count of the number of times his back stroke against the hard floor at the same time her feet slapped his face per minute.And the rythim was increasing.

"JULIE slow dow..." The warning was cut by the hardest of the hits so far, in a single blow he felt every little "inch" of the giantess toes pressing his face as if they were trying to turn him into mashed potatoes, and a pressure in his thin heels, as a elephant balanced on the top of a stick.

Julie was running downstairs, and for being in a hurry she was skipping the last 3 steps of each flight of stairs with a jump.Completaly unheeding of her friend situaton.

"For fucks sake, are you trying to kill me?My god Julie you almos broke me, my heel almost shattered now"

"Ops...sorry again Mark.But you have to agree that i can't walk as you were made of crystal yet when im in such a hurry.And we both know that you are just overreacting, theese heels are really solid." She then did 3 little jumps as to show him her point.At that, he held all his anger, there was no point in talk to her about it again, she was reckless, sloppy and kind of crazy.

"Now shhh!!!Im entering in the classroom"

Julie entered the room, and sat in a desk next to the wall, she then started the test.

"What time is it Julie?"

"Mark, only 15 minutes passed since i've got in the classroom, relax, if you try to track the time, it will look like is taking longer"

Julie would have 4 tests today, the one Mark screwed her, the one she was in right now, and 2 more.Each one with 2 hours of duration.

Now that he didn't have to worry, and think about the test, his situation was far worse.With nothing to distract him from his position, his senses were growing strong.The old strawberry taste, was fading each second that passed, the taste was getting salty over time, finally lasting only the salty taste of sweat.He could only look up, where he could see giant toes, going up and down hitting his face on the landing, over and over and over and over again.The test was probably hard since she was sweating a lot, and in his position, that wasn't good.He then focused again on her toes, as from up and down, they started to scratch his face.As it couldn't get worse, she started to repetedly hit the sole on the floor while supporting her feet on the heel.

The rhythmically bumps of the hits was giving him headaches, but the real torture was the scratching toes, for god's sake, it was his face.And now they where getting really moist, and it was disgusting.As time passes she was scratching harder, to the point that Mark felt as his face/insole probably would have her toe naisl printed on then.For a second he could laugh at his situation, he was being tortured...by toes.And at this point, he was smelling like feet.

He beared all he could until...

"STOP IT JULIE"

"Stop what?Are you crazy?"

"You feet, cease with the feet dance, the scrathcing...its hurting"

"Stop being a cry baby Mark, i know that it don't hurt"

"Dont hurt?Don't hurt you, that isnt a pair of shoes being used by a selfish girl and doesnt know how to fucking keep the feet still"

"SHut up..."But this time, instead of 'talking' in her mind, she actually said it, out loud.

"Sorry professor, the question 4 is really hard, and i accidentaly cursed out lour, too much pressure on finals day.

The professor nodded accepeting her apologies.

Now Julie was really pissed.

"See what you made me do?IM in the middle of a test, i CAN'T deal with your complainings right now.It looks like you making me fail one test isn't enought for you.I won't let you ruin my semester.From now on, no more voice for you till im done, mister."

"Don't you dar..." She made a gest with her fingers and somehow he knew, that no matter how loud he scream, she wouldn't hear a thing.

Finally some peace, she thought to herself.She felt a little guilty about silencing him, but she just couldn't keep having mental arguings with her shoes...Mark, she meant Mark.So se turned her attention back to the test, and tried her best to save her grades.

Mark screamed, over and over again, but not a ingle word came grom Julie, wich was once again scracthing his face with her toes.Her second test lasted forever in Marks perspective, Mark's inwards were soaked."How the hell someone doing nothing than sitting is the past hour is able to sweat that much?!"He tought.Now the heat from her feet were making he feel suffocated...Mark was trying his best to not focus on that.

Mark suddenly felt her in his mind, he ignored all the anger he was felling right now, it would be better to keep the discussion for when he was back to normal, Julie was in a superior position right now, and this situation was pretty confortable to her.

"Mark, im gonna ask a question and i don't want you to say one more word than needed to answer it so as for us don't get in another fight.I swear, if you do do anything else than answering me, iwill keep you as a shoe for a week, a mute shoe, and i'll wear you everyday, even to sleep."

Mark felt a chil down his spine, she seemed to be meaning it.He was paralized for a second but she broke the silence again.

"Are we clear??"She asked.

"Yes..."He said timidly.

"Great, you can still hear(she meant other than their mind link)and see...right?!"

"Well, i can hear everything, but i think my face is trapped inside de shoe, i can only see your toes on my fa..."

"Be silent again, that's all i needed to hear".And he was mute once more.

He felt the weight over him lower, she was sitting, maybe she was already on the next test.He then felt toes flexing on his face, but now it looked like she was relaxing, he could hear water jet falling for some minutes, but only when he heard the sound of a toilet flush he understoo where he was."

Julie couldn't hold anymore, another day she would fear the least possibility of someone hearing her in the toilet, that's the only moment she was really shy.BUt she completaly ignored Mark's presente, she lowered her panties, sat on the toilet, relaxed and peed.It was the first time that day that she could have a break from everything and have some peace.

"She has got to be kidding me, she is peeing, with me on her feet...thats gross...im...im im the women restroom again??WHat's wrong with her, she could have hold it...that so unrespectfull"

The sudden increase on the wieght over him borught him out of his mental complainning.I was surprising how impossible it was to get used to being steped on, 5 minutes of bathroom and it looked like the first time again, he thought as a umid feet pressed hard against his face again.

"Two trips to the women toilet on the same day, are you enjoying it Mark?"She joke, she knew that Mark whats probably calling her all kind of names on mind.
 

"Sorry for taking a piss with you right there, but i couldn't hold anymore, and sorry for leaving you silent like that, but i cannot deal with the pressure of the tests, run all around the campus to not get late, and having you on my mind, being a real crying baby about every step a take.Hold a little more, cause the day is almost over"

She then kept walking towards the 3rd test of the day, and too bad for Mark that it was in another building of the campus.The campus was huge and some of the buildings could be distante something close to 5 miles of each other.There were specials buses for taking the students from one building to another, but those buses only would pass 20 minutes after the previous one.

Julie looked at her watch and said, "Mark, you are not gonna like this, but i only have 4 minutes to to make it to the bus station, so i'll have to walk a little fast.she then started to walk fast toward the 5th floor elevators.

"Fuck, everything going wrong today".Ela pensou ao ver uma placa escrita "maintence" at the door of one of the two elevators, while there was a huge line off people waiting to use the other one.

She started to run to the the steirs without a second thought.She was going down the steirs, always jumping the last 3 steps in every flight.Mark never hated someone as much as he hated Julie right now.
   
He could feel her body temperature getting higher while her adrenaline increased with the rapid descent.

She finally stopped, now that she had relaxed, Mark could see drops of sweat forming in the pores of skin ceiling above him, ready to start draining very soon. That certainly was not going to be pleasant, he thought and then tried NOT to think anymore.

"Phew, 1 minute early, I should sign up for the Olympics. "She said in a very satisfied voice as she reached the bus stop. It was 13:49, her test was 14:00, a mile and a half away. The next bus would only pass 14: 10.
The building where she was at the moment was the penultimate stop of the bus. The bus would pass at this stop and go trough a few more miles ahead, where there was an administrative building with the last stop,then it would return all the way back to the first stop, passing again in front of the building Julie was, only this time on the other side of the avenue on the campus.

13:50 -  no sign of the bus

13:51 -  Julie finally spot the bus...

Joao, the bus driver was a football fan, his team was going to play at 14:00 that day, near the end of his shift, and he did not want to miss a second of the game, so on his last tour of the day on campus he tried to Be as fast as possible. Joao and the bus had passed Julie's stop five minutes ago.

The bus passed Julie, but across the avenue.

"FUCK...FUCK...FUCK, today is not my fucking day...oh god"

'Poor girl ... suffering so much. 'Mark thought wryly, knowing who really was underneath in this whole situation. 'She's going to miss a test, big deal, I'd like to to see her put up being stepped on all day.'

"But I refuse to lose this test." Julie spoke aloud to herself. Even without listening to Mark, it seemed like a response to the poor man's thinking.

The part of the campus between one building and another was deserted, a lot of people were already on vacation, and the number of people on the street dwindled drastically after the bus passed. But if anyone looked at Julie right now, he would see a beautiful, dark-haired, white girl (sorry I screwed up the image you had of her), running like crazy across the campus sidewalks.
The scene was worthy of a comedy movie. A female character dressed for a nightclub, running in the middle of the day, seemingly without reason. Julie had a reason, but even so, a neat girl running almost like a marathon runner, wearing heels that high, was a funny thing to see.

Mark, who thought his day was not going to get any worse, was awakened from his thoughts about Julie losing the test, by one of the strongest hits of the day, it did not compare to the girl's jump on the stairs. But between her normal walking, and the leap, this punch was halfway up the scale.
As she prepared to uselessly complain with her, the second blow came in a fraction of a second, in the other half of her new body. And the third. And the fourth. When he finally recovered from the sudden change of pace, he realized she was running. Not just figuratively, walking fast. But running like she were in sneakers and shorts on a treadmill. He now imagined a giant meat hammer slapping his face again and again. And the worst thing was that the hammer was getting wetter. He already felt her inside completely wet, her face aching, and the hammering continued.

Running in heels was not easy, but Julie was going amazingly well, years of practicing high heels all day, and the practice of getting on top of them even drunk gave her these almost superpowers. She kicked some 3 or 4 rocks down the path, Mark who was dramatic would complain later, but she knew it did not hurt.

Eleven-minute run on the sidewalk, and another 3 minutes of extremely fast climb up the stairs, and she was finally in the room, and only 5 minutes late. She took the test, and sat down.
It was when the girl's body relaxed that she began to get really sweat. But by then she was already focusing on the test, and the air conditioner in the room quickly cooled her arms, legs and face, drying the sweat. Well, there was a stuffy part, where the air conditioner cold air did not have much effect ...

Mark saw with despair the whole process that led from unpleasant humidity to complete soaking, the same material property that kept rainwater and puddle from gettining in, leaving the wearer's feet dry, would also dam sweat in there . What would not be a problem, if the shoe was used for a short time, after all what kind of crazy person would stay a whole day on top of that? Or if the shoe was not a freaking human being.

Unfortunately for Mark, he WAS a live shoe, and his wearer was crazy. Julie's restless feet were now clinging to Mark's face, and they made extremely loud and uncomfortable noises at any move she made. Loud and uncomfortable just for Mark, otherwise they were imperceptible to anyone, Julie included.

And the heat was now unbearable, her body felt even warmer now that she was still. Mark tried to beg her to take him out a little, just to ease the situation, but the spell that silenced him was still active.
It was not long before Julie's restlessness came into action again, while her left toes flexed and extended, scratching Mark's face with her fingernail, her right foot, set in the heel, moved only the front up and down. Dragging on the wall. At the same time that this drag was unconscious on Julie's part, it calmed her down.

After two hours of drowning in a bathtub of sweat, Mark felt Julie rise to deliver the test. He felt like he was nothing now, felt his whole body aching, and scratched. He spent all day licking his ex-friend's feet, because after that, he would not even want to look in Julie's face. He felt like a fucking shoe, could not move, could not speak, and was probably smelling like sweat feet. Wow, how he missed the moisturizer with strawberry aroma.

Still in silence, he felt her walk, and it seemed, to be getting on the bus, as the ground swayed a great deal.

The University's only parking lot was next to building A, so it made no sense to move around inside the car, that's where Julie's old stroller was.

Mark suddenly felt a stronger step, and suddenly the ground was firm again, it seemed she had got off the bus, and was on her way to the last test. Suddenly he heard the sound of a car door opening and then closing. 'What the hell is she doing in the car ?!' He thought.

"Well, Mark, I have a surprise for you ..." She started. "... One of my teachers is sick and canceled the last test, it seems that my bad luck is over for today. We are going to my house, and you will soon return to normal "

She waited a bit, and when she heard no answer, said, "Oh my god, I forgot you're mute." She then snapped her fingers, and allowed Mark to speak again.

"So happy with the news ??" She said with the car already on, getting out of the parking lot.

"Happy ??? You've got to be kiddng me, you crazy bitch.You left me all day on your fucking foot, licking sweat, being crushed, and you ask me if I'm happy ???Off course i am not fucking happy, not even close, and I will not wait for you to get home , you have to turn me back to normal NOW "
"Stop being a jerk Mark, you agreed to the plan, and the rest was not my fault ... The parking lot was crowded, someone could see you, and besides, after being an asshole all day, I think you Have to have the least chivalry, and do not leave me barefoot until I get home. You WILL be transformed when i get home, and only then.Once you get back to normal you'll take a shower and i'll make you dinner, this is not open to discussions. "

"It was not your fault?! Of course, the spoiled girl could not stay a day walking barefoot ... NO ... for what if she had a sucker to step on. To jump on top, to almost kill at each step. And on top of that, you can not drive barefoot? Julie, i've had enough of your whims. "

"Stop Mark, you know it was not like that, how was i supposed to stay in college barefoot ??? Taking tests barefoot??? Everyone would I'm crazy. "

Mark let out a laugh and said. "I have news for you Julie, everyone already thinks you're crazy. And the only one who did not think so, is now at the top of the list of those who find you completely crazy. "

Julie, despite being beautiful, always felt a bit out of place, for having a little alternative tastes, and having a rough way, she basically felt a bit abnormal, and although it was fun to have these powers, it added to the feeling of being different.
...Mark had hit her weak spot...

Julie was by no means the kind of sensitive girl, but hearing that comming from a friend hurt her deeply. With her already wet eyes, she said.

"I'm really sorry, Mark, that's what I put you through, but it's no reason for you to be a complete asshole like you are being now. This is going to be the last spell I use on you before I get you back to normal ... " She snapped her fingers

"You now have the right to say 10 more words to apologize to me before you go silent again until i forget everything you said to me, If I were you,i would think very well what to say, because I can take a long time to forget everything you said, and i could use a pair of good heels to use every day until then. I hope from the bottom of my heart that you take this chance to end this stupid fight, and convince meto forgive you. "

"GO FUCK YOURSELF, you and your stupid magic"

"Is that so Mark ?! Okay, I guess once you get normal, you dont even need to look at me again. All you want is for me to take you off right now...right??SO BE IT..."

Julie said with one hand to take Mark's right side, and throw him angrily at the passenger's closed window, where he bounced and fell into the seat. Mark's second side was harder to pull off, she looked down to let him go, and it took her a few seconds to let go.

When she heard tires screaming from braking, she dropped her shoe on the floor of the car and looked forward again. Two more seconds and maybe it was too late for her to step on the brake pedals. She managed to step on it in time...
...Or at least it would be in time if Mark's half had not been trapped under the brake pedal. Julie stepped desperately and repeatedly on the brake pedal, without effect, and ...




...CRASH...

Julie woke up dizzy, she did not know where she was, and it was dawning. The ceiling and walls were white, 'too white,' thought Julie. As she tried to move she felt a discomfort in her neck, and felt as if her head was going to explode. Groping, she realized that her head was bandaged, "what the fuck is that ?!", she said softly.

As he looked to the side he saw a familiar figure, his mother dozing in the armchair on the side.

"Mom ..." There was no response, so she tried higher.

"MOM ..." Ms Carla, then woke up a little scared, but then broke into a smile as she saw her daughter awake.

"Mom, what happened? Why am I here, and why is there a huge bandage in my head?"

"The accident, daughter, you got a really hard blow. The doctors said you did not fracture anything. But you hit your head hard. Do not be alarmed by the bandage, I saw the nurse change it, and the bruise was very small, the bandage is just extra care. You probably won't have any scars. "

"Accident ... what an accident mom?"

"You were in a car crash. For what was reported a drunk guy tried to change lanes, and almost hit a car in front of you, in turn,to avoid the crash the driver in fornt of you stopped abruptly, but apparently you could not stop in time. It seems like my crazy girl has been innocent in this whole story, the drunk driver has been identified, and will take responsibility for the damage to you car. "

"When did this happen, mother?"

"That was yesterday, after college."

"My God, Me ... in a car accident?! Christ, I do not remember any of that"

 "That's normal, you took an hard blow to the head. But speaking about college, did you go well on the tests? "

"Tests?"

"Don't you remember the tests either ?! Thats fine, the doctor said that this could happen, your memory should return gradually, but yesterday you said that would take some important tests.

"My God, I thought those tests were only next week, I think i really took a hell of a hit."

Julie was discharged the same day, taking the small wound on her head, she was completely normal, yet the doctors gave her a week's rest. A week when ms Carla barely let her out of bed.

"I'm fine, Mom. " Was the phrase Julie most said during the week.

Julie just had to go to college to do one more test, and get the results from the others. Because of the accident, the teacher checked with Julie on the first day after the 7-day rest, and Julie was anxious, not only to be able to go to college, but to be able to get out of that prison of care.

On the appointed day Julie jumped up, took a shower, and began to pack herself. She chose a short skirt, as usual, and a cool blouse. Only the perfect shoes were missing to finish her look.

***

Shortly after arguing with Julie, Mark could finally see something other than fingers. But what he saw was his body being hurled toward the window, he went into despair, thinking Julie was going to throw him out the window of the car, but it was closed. He had little time to thank God for inventing the automotive window when he saw a light begin to appear on his other half.

In fractions of seconds he could see Julie's face lifting him. Then a noise of tires screaming, she looked ahead simultaneously dropping him on the floor of the car. He also saw those beautiful little feet of hers, which he had come to hate, do a desperate dance, taking turns to beat the brake pedal.

He tried to yell, 'I'm under the pedal, get me out of here.' But she was no longer touching him, and apparently even magic has it's rules. He heard the impact. From one half he could see Julie's still feet, from the other he only saw the moon light trough the window for a while, but after what seemed like days, he saw people staring out the window, and the glow of sirens.

He saw Julie's feet being pulled out, he could not see by whom, he was desperate, worried about her, worried about him. What would it be if any of those strangers looking out the window decides to get him too ?!

He heard the door being knocked, he heard the sirens pull away. He felt the car moving again, but he was still beside the pedals of the car, and there was no driver there. He saw the day lighten, and suddenly the car door opened. Julie was fine and had come looking for him to end this hell and get him back to normal. At least that's what he thought.

Ms Carla started to look inside the car, took Julie's purse, her notebooks, and her shoes.

Mark's natural impulse was to feel relief at seeing a familiar face. He naturally tried to say 'hello Dona Carla, it's me, Mark ...' and explain the whole situation. Then the truth struck him like a knife, Julie was the only one who could hear him, for Dona Carla, he was just one more of the absurdly high heels of his dazzling daughter.

He watched her carry him through the girl's room, which he had never seen before. She then set him down. He managed to notice the shelves above him, just before everything went dark. He could hear distant voices sometimes, but he could not identify who they were. After a long time in the dark, which was probably months in the shoe calendar, he finally saw a flash of light.

An almost torturous clarity, for him who stayed so long in the dark, with the sole exception of a shadow, a giant figure.

It was the first time Mark had seen Julie from this angle, not having his vision covered by feet. The girl's beautiful legs were towers, she was giant, an angelic monument. Almost a 10-story building of sheer beauty. She was a goddess, he thought at last. And it was a relief to know she was all right. She was not just good, she was great.

She looked at him smiling, what a beautiful smile. He could already forget everything she had made him go through. She had finally come home, come back to save him from this prison. She was happy, he could see, she was happy because she was going to save him.

***

Julie was glowing with joy, 'I'm finally going to get out of here, finally a little freedom again. 'She looked at the closet, saw her favorite shoes, and smiled. She hesitated a little, wondering if it was worth wearing such cute shoes to go to college. 'Who am I kidding? I love to dress well and who knows what I'm going to do after the test ?!'.

She took the shoes, set them at the foot of the bed and sat down.

***

Mark was anxious to get back to normal, but now, being so happy to see that Julie was well, getting back to normal was not enough. He remembered what their last conversation had been like. He had been a jerk to her. He did not want to lose his friend, he was not going to let anything else in their away. If their friendship survived this crazy day, nothing else could get in the way.

Mark thought about what he was going to say, how to apologize, how to explain how sorry he was for the things he said.

He then braced himself and waited for her to reverse the magic and turn him back. He was going to grab her, hug her, apologize, beg her to forgive him.

Then he saw one of her feet approaching him, and touching his face. Then the other. She had worn him. She rose and then the pain of the crushing came back really hard. Not that he had gotten used to it that day, but all the time he stayed in the dark, it served to make that horrible sensation look like an old nightmare.

What was she doing? Why was she doing this to him? Julie was probably still angry about that argument. That was not fair, he had been like this for god knows how long. But it did not matter, if she was still in mad, he would take the initiative and apologize to her. He was going to take the chance that now they were again touching and would say 'Julie, I'm really sorry ...' That's right, I must apologize to her before anything else.

"Julie, I ..."

These were respectively the ninth and tenth words that Mark addressed to Julie after the last spell. And so were his last words to anyone else.

***


Julie was ready. After putting on her shoes she looked at the mirror to check if she looked good, made 3 different poses, and came to the conclusion that yes, ahe looked great. She took one last look at herself and ...

"Julie, I"

She looked around, frightened, there was no one. She looked out the window, no one, either. She had hit her head really hard a week ago, maybe it was normal to hear voices, maybe not, but it was best not to ask her mother, or she would not leave the house today. Julie simply accepted that it was her imagination, and left.

She arrived in college, and was soon greeted by the few colleagues who were not yet on vacation, and who wanted to know how she was doing after the accident. She searched for Mark, called him, but to no avail. He probably should have gone on vacation while she was away, and did not want to be bothered. Next semester she would catch up with him.

She went to do the last test of her semester. The test was very easy, the teacher must have felt sorry for her, due to the accident. Well, what mattered was to be passed with or without the help of the teacher's pity.

Julie had been approved in the two matters whose results had been released. The third, to which Julie considered the most difficult matter, Macroeconomics, she would only know the result at night, or at most the next morning, by e-mail.

Well, all that was left was to celebrate, after having gone through almost everything. Julie had been invited by some friends to a rock concert. And nothing better to celebrate than jumping all night to the sound of rock.

***

Julie woke up with a heavy hangover at her friend Jenifer's house. She was stinking, and sticky. She was lying on the floor of the room, her feet black and aching. When an extremely sour smell struck his nose, it came from her left side, where she saw one of her shoes. Wow, they stink. She stood up slowly, her head spinning, until she finally stood up.

Jenifer had already gone to work. How could anyone work after that night?!. Julie had never jumped so much in her life. She thought about taking a shower before leaving Jenifer's house but she had not brought any clothes, and her filthy foot would not make the sour shoe much worse.

While she was still dizzy, she put on the shoe, she saw her feet and remembered that she took off her shoes in the middle of the night. As she finished putting on the second shoe, she wondered. 'Why the hell did I stand barefoot in that filthy place?'

Before getting up, she picked up her cell phone to see the time, and saw the e-mail notification. She opened the e-mail and there was the list of Macroeconomics grades.

Julieta Martins: 9,0 – Approved.

She then got up and jumped. Falling ass on the floor soon after hearing a big crack coming from below.

"Damn, that's why I was barefoot." Julie remembered that at the end of the show she started to feel the shoe a bit weird, and looking at him closely, she saw huge cracks along each heel, and she had taken it to avoid further damage. Well now it was too late.

But what was a simple pair of shoes compared to being approved in Macroeconomics ?! Besides, Julie could easily have her shoes repaired. She finished tearing off the broken heels, tossed them into a bin, snapped her fingers, and the broken heels were now a brand-new flats, much more appropriate to walk home with sore feet like that.


Epilogue:

Mark was reported missing four years ago, Julie was very sad to hear of his friend missing. She even paid tribute to him at her graduation ceremony, he always helped her to study for the exams.

He is the only one who knows of his current whereabouts. He has been almost all kinds of heels, flats and sneakers imaginable. Since starting to live alone, Julie does not buy any more shoes, she only uses the same pair, her favorite one, transforming it according to necessity.

Even after 4 years in this 'life', Mark 'cries' at dawn when the cycle resumes. He did not get used to the smell, he did not get used to the weight, he did not get used to the taste.

Every day when she puts him on, he tries to shout 'Julie, for God's sake, I'm here.' But it seems she was so angry at him that she decided to leave him like this.

Julie currently has a permanent job, and she does post-graduation at night, staying all day with the same shoes. One can say that Mark and Julie are closer than ever, he is now the involuntary companion of almost every hour of Julie's life...



...She just does not know that ...