****
When I got home, my door was open, and my roommate walked through uninvited.
"Hey, dorky boy, I have a girl coming over tonight, so I need you to make yourself scarce," he said in a commanding tone.
Frustration fills me instantly at the way he constantly calls me a dork and my inability to defend myself before, and I act before thinking. I switch on his intimidation, noting it takes some effort, and raise my voice as I talk to him.
"I've told you, I'm a geek,
not a dork. Get it right for once!"
"O-Okay. Sorry," Dennis says, his voice slightly quavering, and I feel guilty for manipulating him like this, but if he would only listen...
"You're a geek, I-I get it."
He looks at me a little queerly, and then seems to get his confidence back, as I feel the switch I created move back.
"Anyway, think you can do something else tonight?"
For a moment, I was tempted to stay and screw things up for him, but the thought of Tina reminded me of my other plans.
"Yeah, I've got plans with Tina tonight anyway."
I try to reply off-handedly.
"Wait, Tina? Richard's Tina? So the rumor about you making him wet himself is true?"
Dennis's intimidation switch moves a little on its own, and I can't help but smile. Despite that, I try to act innocent.
"I dunno about that," I hedge.
"Tina said she needed help with Prof. Jane's class, and I said I would help her."
"Does Richard know?"
"Do I like I care?" I retort, surprised by my own confidence.
Dennis lets out a loud guffaw before slapping me on the back.
"You really are a geek, and not a dork," he says as he leaves my room.
The drive to Tina's house is short, and I arrived a couple of minutes early. Doubt about whether she is really playing on my insecurities starts to assail me, and I wonder if I am doing the right thing. I resolve not to use my ability unless I find out otherwise.
Walking up to her door, I go ahead and knock.
An older woman, probably in her early forties, answers the door, and I immediately think I have the wrong place.
"Yes?" She asks, and the voice sounds slightly familiar.
"Um," I say uncertainly, "I'm here to see Tina?"
"Oh, you must be the tutor Tina told me about. Come in."
I can see the similarities between this older woman and Tina now that I look at her. They both have the same smile and slim waists, as well as a few similar facial features.
"I'm Tina's mom, Nancy," she introduced herself.
"Tina just got back from work, and she's changing. Why don't you wait in here, and I'll let her know you're here."
Despite myself, I can't help but admire Nancy's perky rear as she ascends the stairs. For a moment, I consider using my abilities on her, but I decide I can always do that later.
Tonight I am only focused on Tina.
"She'll be ready in a few minutes; can I get you anything to drink?"
Suddenly, it dawns on me that if Nancy is home, it will be challenging to do what I want with Tina. Then I create a few switches in her mind, and hope she doesn't travel outside of fifty feet from me. I'm not sure whether the switch has to be within eyesight, but I guess I'll find out. I hadn't expected Tina to be still living at home. This only confirms that Tina is only using me. Cause why else would she make sure to have this tutoring session when her mother is around?
I realize that Nancy is still waiting for me to answer, and I was so lost in thought.
"Whatever you have will be fine," I stated, moving a switch in her that makes her accept me. It is only a small switch, and it barely moves, as it is already mostly flipped on its own.
She returns a moment later with a smile and some Sprite. I notice again she has the same beautiful smile as Tina. And she really is attractive for her age, I thought.
"Sorry to make you wait," Tina's soft voice says from the stairs, and I turn to look at her. Her hair is still wet from the shower, but she seems to have redone her makeup, and her clothes are tight-fitting without being too revealing. She has a sweet, innocent-looking smile that I have seen many times before. My doubts about her intentions increase even more, and I start making switches in her immediately.