She ran into her bedroom with a cocktail of emotions stirring within her mind. Getting teased at school was normal for her, but often it only left her with annoyance towards her tormentors.
"This time," she thought, "this time is different. Something like this has never happened to me before." Filia was never considered athletic, and is seen as chubby, especially when compared to the rest of the school. Her lack of a desirable body type has often left her open to harassment. It didn't help that her school refused to replace her old uniform, as it does not fit her anymore. Negative comments towards her were frequent, and she began to expect them. She started to keep track of these intimidators within her mind, even though the list grew so large it was impossible to remember exactly who could be considered an enemy. However, she had a different experience this day. The anticipated alliance of bullies unintentionally caused Filia to experience some previously unknown emotions.
She was simply walking through the halls between classes when the usual harassment began.
"Hey, tubby! See you're still carrying that over-sized load!" shouted one of the other students. "Ever thought of getting a bigger truck to carry it?"
Filia only sighed. "Come on, Todd, I know you're better at this. That insult barely makes any sense!"
This weak rebuttal only caused laughter within the clique. "Oh please, we all know you aren't prepared to make such a huge delivery! Just look, your clothes barely even fit you!" teased another. What was his name again? Dwayne? Daniel?
A younger member of the crowd decided that this would be the perfect time to make his debut. "Yeah! You're so fat that I can... uh... see your belly button through your clothes!" he half-shouted. Despite the fact that this was such a lazy insult by an inexperienced bully, this remark seemed to catch her attention, and even made her a little embarrassed.
She stammered, "W-well... it's n-not my f-fault that..."
"You're right, her belly button is pokin' out!" another one of the group taunted.
"I can't believe you're such a filthy slut, Filia!" Todd sneered. "You better cover up, or else someone might get thirsty!" he teased, before taking his finger and giving her exposed navel a playful poke. Suddenly, a jolt ran up Filia's spine, and she let out a light yelp. She felt chills go throughout her body, and shivered at what seemed to be such innocent contact. Her face flustered a deep scarlet, and she began to profoundly sweat.
"Uh, Filia? What's goin' on? Are you ok?" one of them asked. "'Cause if you're having an allergic reaction or somethin', I don't wanna get sued by your parents."
"Oh, uh, I just n-need to get g-going t-to... um..." Before she could spurt out an explanation, she swiftly dashed away from them.
"Weird, normally she would be fuming by now."
She ran directly into her bedroom after returning home. After making sure the door was locked, she paced around the room in thought.
"It's just a belly button!" she wondered. "I guess it does show through my shirt, but why is that so embarrassing? It's not like that much skin is being shown or anything!" Sighing, she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Is it normal for it to be seen as provocative for showing just some stupid hole?" she pondered. "Did anyone else like seeing it, the same way they might like seeing someone's panties or something? They were just joking when they called me a slut, right?" She peered down at her navel, and used her fingers to spread it open. It looked soft, slightly deep, but lined with detailed wrinkles that seemed to meet at a knot shape in the center. Honestly, she thought it was somewhat mesmerizing.
"No! I can't possible think that something as weird as my belly button actually looks nice... can I?" she questioned. "And what about when one of them poked it? Am I just ticklish or something?" Slowly, she took a finger and carefully put it into the depression within her stomach. There wasn't any intense stimulation within herself like there was earlier, but she definitely felt some tingling sensation. "Wow, that feels pretty nice... Ah, why am I feeling this? If only I could tell someone about this, maybe get some help... but who?"
Almost immediately, her mind came to what was probably the most obvious answer. "No, it can't be her. She's my friend! It would be too weird, she would probably be grossed out if I asked her anything." But she had no other choices. Her friend was probably the sweetest person she knew, and would totally understand. She went up to the phone in her room, picked up the receiver with shaking hands, and dialed the number.
"Uh, hello? Carol, are you there?"
