Because of the snowfall and it getting heavier by the minute, it was obvious school would be cancelled. That would be a good thing. The bad thing was being stuck in the house until the blizzard passed. Just then her catchy ringtone sounded and she retrieved it from her purse.
"No school today!" bellowed Olivia.
Kate held the cellphone away from her ear. "Didn't think so. What are you doing?"
"Jan stayed here last night, 'cause her parents are on a ski holiday. How about we come over?"
"Sure. My parents got to the hospital to begin their shifts before the storm hit, may be stuck there all day if the other doctors and nurses can't make it. It's just me and Kelly and I don't want to be trapped alone with her all day. Can you make it over alright?"
Olivia only lived a block away.
"We'll be right over!"
Kate put on her oldest pair of sweats and kept her pretty feet bare, to show off her pink toenail polish and pedicure. She and her friends took good care of their appearance and were never short of potential boyfriends. She was glad to have Jan come with Olivia; while Olivia lived close by, Jan lived across town and didn't come over much in the winter.
Olivia was a tickler and usually tickled Kate to death every time they were alone. Together they often tickled Kelly when they could catch her. Jan was crazy ticklish, too, but she never instigated a tickle fight. She was, however, swift to retaliate.
Fifteen minutes after the call, the two freshman knocked on the door and Kate ran to let them in. They were all giggles as they took a comically long time to struggle out of their winter clothes, Despite the short distance, their clothes were soaked as soon as the warm air of the house washed over them.
"Sorry" apologized Jan. "We're getting your floor wet."
"Leave them in a pile and we'll dry them later," Kate offered. "I've got clean sweats you can put on in my bedroom."
Dressed the same, they jumped onto Kate's bed to gossip.
"So, Kates, I hear Bryan's been telling people if you weren't already with Dave, he'd like to take you out," claimed Olivia. She twirled her wavy blonde hair with a finger, which was a habit of hers.
"Ugh," exhaled Kate. "He's smart and all that but not much fun. I couldn't see us doing anything together."
"Playing chess," smirked Jan. She had auburn hair, tied up in a bun and her brown eyes were always full of mirth.
" Boyfriends," Olivia groaned. "Dan and I were watching movies at his house the other night and he wouldn't stop tickling me!"
"You love it," Jan said, knowingly.
"Didn't say I didn't. But he kept tickling my neck and ears and nowhere else. That's no fun, just irritating."
Kate reached out and grabbed Olivia's bare foot. "I know where you do like to be tickled...!"
Olivia squealed as Kate rained fingertips up and down her soles. She kicked free and turned the tables on Kate, tickling her and encouraging Jan to "Get her feet!"
Shrieking as the two pairs of hands were all over her and tickling expertly, Kate was overpowered and at their mercy.