Rileys First Kiss (Chapters 3-4) -- (Author) FreezMilo

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Author: FreezMilo
Timestamp: Feb 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Content: 1The final expression, finally. Riley eagerly grabbed her trusty blue pen and transcribed the exercise into her notebook with absolute attention. She seemed like a fossilized scribe at her job, and there was nothing more satisfying than doing a good job.

She felt sure she was getting the result from the book. Even though she didn't need to pee, the warm, loving grip of the diaper reminded her that no matter what happened, nothing would soil her clothes. She solved it by clenching her legs, a gesture that had become a habit.

She closed the book, raising a slight gust of cold air. The homework for the next day was done. All of it! The same went for her friends and classmates who sat next to her. Pens dropped onto notebooks like raindrops, brief crystalline thunders announced the definitive end of study time.

Sally, to her right, stretched her hands in front of her, satisfied. Following that, Ferg and Mark exchanged a final comparison before declaring victory. Finally, no less important, Luz leaned back in her chair and nodded at her.

They had won the battle against math, but their journey was far from over. At least for now.

She stood on the chair; luckily, her mother wasn't there to see her, otherwise, she would have pulled her down with a tug on her ear. She cleared her throat and announced: "I declare open the new session of the Super Secret Diaper Group! Get comfortable, we'll start right away!"

Everyone couldn't wait to know what they would talk about in today's session. Riley captured several smiles, including her sister's, dotted with dark green plates.

Luz took the floor. She planted both palms on the table, assumed a serious look, and began to speak clearly with a grave note: "Guys, Valentine's Day is coming up soon! This means only one thing: we have to work hard to make our sweethearts fall for us!" As she said it, her gaze crossed with Ferg's, then with a quick movement, she turned it to her. Riley held back an amused giggle; she had already figured out who her crush was.

“Mrs. Mullins has given us an important task,” she continued, “to create something that can unite all lovers with the power of art!” She paused briefly. “We need to come up with an idea and get to work right away! Let's turn on our brains and think about what we could do!”

Next to her, Sally's face hardened, and she raised her hand. “Valentine's Day is almost three weeks away, Luz. Why do we have to rush? We have all the time in the world, don't we?”

“No.” Luz shook her head, troubled. “We only have six days to work on it. It has to be ready by Monday.”

Riley widened her eyes and shot an incredulous look at her friend. She got goosebumps hearing those words. Six days to do it, not counting today. She reflected for a moment; they would have to dedicate several hours each day until Sunday to make sure it was complete and presentable! And since no one wanted to waste any more time…

She raised her hand: “I have an idea to propose!” Her voice sounded like a mouse's squeak.

Luz almost jumped on the table with joy. She was trembling, and her face was drawn with a beaming smile. “Really?”

“I'll go get the computer and be right back!” Riley jumped to her feet and dashed away at the speed of light. Her heart was racing with agitation: it had to work. She tucked the brushed gray laptop under her arm and rushed toward the stairs. The diaper began to warm up and absorb an intense burst of pee.

She clenched her teeth and ignored the wet sensation tickling her lower regions. As soon as she had a free minute, she would go to her mom. Darn rule that prevented her from changing it herself!

Everyone took their places in front of the computer screen. She opened the presentation and pressed two keys that, combined, activated full-screen mode. Their curiosity underwent a sudden change: tense faces and uncertain expressions.

Had they immediately noticed something wrong? She brushed that thought aside; she had to focus. She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. Now or never!

"Here is the Invitation Board." Riley began, confident in herself and, at the same time, studying their doubtful expressions. “We all hate receiving anonymous invitations. That's why I've created this table where both the sender and the recipient know everything: who they are and what kind of date is being proposed. And—"

A shiver ran up to her brain: she was peeing. She was doing it for the second time! Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes moistened a little. She wouldn't cry in front of them; she clenched her fists with all her might. One hand positioned in front of her jeans. She ignored the murmur of her friends.

It was time to get to the end.

“If you hover over a red line, it means the invitation has been rejected. If you want to accept it, just... just let the couple arrange it on their own,” she rattled off each word. “What do you think?”

A tense silence filled the room. Sally furrowed her brow and shook her head. Next to her, Mark widened his lips into an unconvincing smile. Those two didn't like it; they were open books to her eyes. She found no comfort in the disappointed faces of Luz and Ferg either.

Riley brought her other hand to her jeans, wrapped her sweaty fingers around the wrist of the other, and lowered her gaze to the floor. Her idea had missed the mark, and her desire to be the hero of the day vanished before her in the blink of an eye. The weight of the diaper made that failure even harder to bear, like a boulder on her back.

Luz stood up. “Thanks for showing us. At least you tried, unlike someone else!” She gave the others a stern look, sat back down, and took the reins of the discussion.

She hated everything: Mrs. Mullins' project that had to be done in such a short time, her rejected proposal, and the cold, soggy diaper stuck to her skin. It seemed impossible to find a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. This meeting would end with wet jeans; she was sure of it.

"You did your best," Sally whispered in her ear. "The presentation was nice, even if the style you chose was awful."

An offended grimace escaped her. Was there anything that wasn't awful?

"Look on the bright side," Sally continued, softening her tone, "you gave those three slackers something to work on."

She wasn't entirely wrong; maybe she had done something right in her failure. She giggled, amused by the jab at Luz. Fortunately, Luz hadn't heard it, or there would have been an uproar.

Their gazes met. Black curls fell to the sides of her dark face like vines in a forest. Yes, Mom was right: that hairstyle suited her very well.

"I think it's time for a clean diaper." Riley smiled, her eyes on the gray ash jean skirt. "How about you?"

"Dry?" Sally seemed uncertain, reached for one of her hands, and squeezed it. "Either way, Mom will have to check me too."

Together with her sister, Riley turned her head toward her friends. Ferg and Mark were listening, captivated by Luz's speech.

"We would need a poster board, lots of markers, and... a lot of creativity!" She turned to Riley and Sally. "Do you two need to be changed?"

She nodded without letting go of her hand. "You could take a break. Especially you, Luz."

Luz and the boys exchanged brief glances and few words. It was clear as day that they would agree.

"What about you, Mark?" Sally asked curiously.

He made a lazy wave with his hand. "My pull-up is still as dry as the Sahara desert!"
---
“How did you come up with that idea?” Sally asked curiously. “It couldn't have been easy to create a board where you tell all the kids in school who your crush is. Wow, you made the bullies' job easier! If I were one, I'd shake your hand!”

She paused briefly and gave her a not-at-all serious look. She joked, imitating a bully's voice: ”Thanks, Riley, now I'll have even more fun!”

It was anything but funny; in fact, it was so tasteless it made her want to cry. Instinctively, as her mom often did when she got angry, she shot her a fierce glare. Had she forgotten what happened with Katrine a year ago? Her cheeks flushed with anger; she deserved a good scolding.

“You're one to talk, helping a wimp bully all of us!” she retorted in a firm, icy voice, squeezing her hand tighter than usual.

Her sister winced, her smile faded, and she took that punch to the stomach in silence. She had asked for it, and Riley had made it very clear.

“Why?!” Sally exclaimed, troubled.

“Bullies aren't funny.” Riley replied bitterly, then sighed to ease the tension pulsing in her nerves. “I got the idea from a table I saw on Dad's computer. At least I tried to save the situation, unlike you!”

Sally huffed, annoyed. “Valentine's Day does this to you, especially to us girls. Have you seen Ferg and Mark? Two complete idiots!”

Riley couldn't help but smile. “What about Timothy?”

Sally gave her a light bump with her hip, almost making her lose her balance. Luckily, she was still holding her hand, which helped her keep her feet firmly on the dark parquet; otherwise, she would have ended up on the floor with wet jeans.

“He's like all the others,” Sally said with a hint of resentment, “he only cared about showing his friends he had a girlfriend. I was a trophy to show off, you know? Believe me when I say boys are brainless creatures.”

Here we go again! Riley rolled her eyes, still wearing her usual smirk. “Just because he did that to you doesn't mean they're all the same.”

“Why don't you believe me?” Sally stopped in front of her, letting go of her hand. “For Timothy, it was all a stupid act! Do you know any boys who aren't like him?”

She thought for a moment. She blushed: “Mark.”

Sally raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Her heart began to race. Suddenly, she felt so hot she pulled at the collar of the purple shirt she was wearing. “Lately, he's been very interested in how I am and how I feel.”

Sally widened her eyes in a provocative smile: “You have a crush on him, don't you?”

Her face turned into a tomato. No, impossible! She didn't have a crush on him, even though he was caring, selfless, and kind to her. He was her best friend, the highest level of relationship she could aspire to! Crushes and boyfriends are for thirteen and fourteen-year-olds! And they were only twelve!

Involuntarily, she brought both hands in front of her jeans as if she needed to pee. Her eyes were fixed downward, and her flushed cheeks showed no sign of cooling down. And what if she really had a crush on Mark and didn't know it? Oh, for all the diapers, she would be in love with her best friend! That would be a real mess!

She wanted to change the subject, and fast. She pretended to laugh loudly and said: ”Nice try, Sal! This time you didn't make me lose control of my bladder! Now we can go find Mom! The diaper is starting to bother me.” She passed her, raising an arm and a leg like a little soldier, puffs and loud thuds filling the hallway.

"At least I can go to the bathroom and do it in the potty like a big girl."

Her heart stopped, her guts twisted with anger, and her nails dug into the palms of her hands. Had she heard right? Yes. Yes, her mouth had spoken those cursed words. She turned to her and exclaimed through gritted teeth: "Take it back!"

"I could, but I won't." Sally crossed her arms and flashed a malicious smile. "Admit I'm right, and I'll apologize."

There was that smug, presumptuous tone! Her hatred reached heights it rarely had before. One more word, and the volcano would erupt. "No way I'm admitting you're right! Especially about something as stupid as this!"

Sally moved her hand determinedly to her ear, her canines peeking out in a smug grin. "What do my ears hear? Oh, it's just the whining of a little baby!"

With tears in her eyes, Riley lunged at her sister and punched her arm. She had asked for it, and if she wanted, she'd give her another to make her message clearer.

Sally stifled a groan, furrowing her brow and focusing all her attention on the part of her body that had been hit. She massaged it with slow, careful movements. "Why did you do that?!"

“I am not a little baby!” Riley stated firmly. “I might pee myself without realizing it, but that doesn't give you the right to bully me!” She paused, inhaling and exhaling to slow her heart and, most importantly, her emotions. “I'm doing my best to get out of this situation, okay? It's not easy, I know, but I have to do it.”

Her sister's face darkened. She took a few steps back as if she felt guilty. Riley saw her lips move, tremble. She stammered apologetically: “S-Sorry, Riley. I... I shouldn't have said those things.”

Her hand reached for hers, as it had a few minutes earlier in the living room with their friends. She sought her repentant eyes and met them without much difficulty.

“Do you know how you could make it up to me?” she asked softly.

“How?”

Riley nodded downward.

“Seriously?” Sally blushed embarrassed. “Do I have to?”

“We're not moving from here until you've done it all!” she retorted. “If Mom were here, she'd make you do it in your pants. That'll teach you to be a bully!”

“I don't see any mom here,” Sally joked, looking around.

“Are you scared?” Riley raised her elbows and brought her fists to her chest, then began to mimic the movements and sounds of a chicken.

Sighing, her sister gave up. “Fine, you win! I have a pull-up on; if I wet my clothes, it's your fault, and you'll explain it all to Mom!”

Riley grinned, satisfied with her victory. She couldn't wait to feel her well-deserved reward on her skin: a clean diaper.

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Author: FreezMilo
Timestamp: Feb 23, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Content:

Growler0128 said:

How about on weekends they do a "regression daycare" at someones house and regress all the kids to a real young age and let them relax all weekend.

[End of quote]

Interesting idea!

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Author: FreezMilo
Timestamp: May 30, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Content: 2The break could wait. Luz rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a pen, and drew a large rectangle. She studied it for a moment and nodded with determination. To the side, a stream of thin blue ink spilled across the clean background in natural, simple strokes. The letters forming those blocks were clear and perfectly legible.

She sketched a satisfied smile, even though it was too early to stop and admire the overall work. The spark of inspiration in her mind was fading steadily, like a candle flame inches away from reaching the end of its wick. She had to hurry before it was too late!

Suddenly, the silence was broken by Ferg’s low and hesitant voice. “Hey, Mark, I wanted to ask you something out of curiosity.” He paused briefly. “What’s it like to wear a pull-up?”

Still with her head down and pen moving constantly, Luz widened her smile. His curiosity always managed to elicit that reaction from her, pulling her into the depths of knowledge. Unlike the others, she had never taken an interest in the diaper thing — it just wasn’t for her, and that was perfectly fine. If her friends wanted to wear them to feel happy, so be it.

“Oh. Well… uh…” Mark stammered uncomfortably. “It’s weird, but nice. A few months ago, I never imagined I’d end up wearing them and actually feeling good about it. Riley was right—it’s like falling in love with someone!”

The pen froze in her hand. Did she hear that right? She lifted her gaze from the page and shot him a puzzled grimace. A similar reaction appeared on Ferg’s blushing face — maybe he was just as shocked.

Since when was wearing a diaper like falling in love with someone? Luz shook her head, cheeks red and burning, and frowned at him. “Mark, you turnip-head, falling in love with someone isn’t how you think it is!”

“Oh yeah? And what would you know, Miss Know-It-All?” Mark shot back, deeply offended.

Miss Know-It-All?! Luz swallowed the insult bitterly, clenching her teeth. She kneeled on her chair and slammed a hand on the table, furious and ready to unleash lightning and thunder. “Say that again if you dare!”

“That’s enough!” Ferg shouted angrily, glaring at both of them with bloodshot eyes. “Take three deep breaths and apologize right now!”

“But she started it!” Mark protested.

“I don’t care!” Ferg thundered. “Three breaths, then apologies!”

The last thing Luz wanted was to make her best friend explode in anger. She obeyed in silence, as if she’d just been scolded by one of her parents. After all, he was right — they had crossed a line, insulting each other like that.

“Sorry,” she began in a small voice. “I didn’t mean to call you a turnip-head.”

Across the table, Mark’s sulky expression slowly faded from his pale face. Ferg prompted him with a throat-clear and a gentle nod in her direction.

“I accept your apology,” the friend mumbled, “I hope you’ll accept mine too.”

Of course she would! Luz stifled an annoyed huff to avoid setting Ferg off again. She caught the smug satisfaction in his grinning face. Laugh now, Ferg. Next time, I’ll be the one laughing!

“Apology accepted,” she confirmed, carefully balancing her tone: sincere, content, and calm.

Once Ferg nodded, she hit the accelerator: “Back to what I was saying, falling in love is… a whole mess of things! I mean, you notice qualities in someone that you haven’t found in anyone else. Your heart decides it, but the other person’s heart has to play along too. It’s like a puzzle that needs to be completed!”

She paused. Ferg and Mark were staring at her with awestruck expressions—a good sign. They were hanging on her every word.

“For example, I want my soulmate to be kind, curious, and, most importantly, honest.” Luz turned her gaze toward Ferg, who blushed and broke eye contact. Her cheeks burned for some reason. She dared to ask, “You, Ferg — what qualities would you like to find in your soulmate?”

“Oh, well,” he hesitated, “I wouldn’t even know where to start. Umm… Someone who stands out from the crowd, is a good listener, and creative. Just like you, Luz.”

Now her face was the one turning tomato red! Eyes shiny, a strange tingling on the tip of her nose, and an embarrassed smile. Her little heart raced, screaming at full volume: “Tell him! Tell him! Tell him!”

She turned her gaze back to the page in front of her. Damn emotions getting in the way! It wasn’t easy pulling herself together — not even deep breaths were helping. And what if she never recovered? Goodbye, Mrs. Mullins’ project!

She stole a glance at Mark. His wide dark eyes bouncing between her and Ferg only made her more anxious. She wanted to hide, disappear from the room, and find calm, away from everyone and everything.

She noticed a spark in his eyes, now turned toward the hallway where Riley and Sally had wandered off at the beginning of the break. He bit his lower lip and rubbed a hand up and down his arm. Was he caught in a storm of emotions too? Could boys feel that much too?

“Can you keep a secret?” he asked uncertainly.

She nodded, and so did Ferg, still recovering.

“I… I have a crush on… Riley.” Mark hid his face between his knees, then looked up to see their reactions. “I don’t know how to tell her. I’m scared that… you know.”

Luz ran her hands through her messy light brown hair, stunned. Her eyes involuntarily flicked to Ferg, who also looked incredulous. Oh my God!

Ferg coughed nervously and cleared his throat. “Give her a kiss. One on the cheek.”

WHAT?!

Mark grimaced. “Isn’t that… isn’t that too cheesy?”

“Tell her to close her eyes and… BAM! If she feels the same, she’ll thank you, and maybe return the gesture; otherwise, get ready to be machine-gunned with punches or, if you're lucky, just a slap,” he explained, sounding unusually enthusiastic.

He must have gone crazy to say something like that! Luz shot him a look full of disbelief. She licked her lips and opened her mouth to speak, but a chorus of voices echoed into the room.

Riley and Sally reappeared, their mother following close behind. Mrs. Bishop stretched her arms up, then behind her back and neck. She wore a black jacket over a light pink buttoned blouse and wide-legged dark pants.

Together, the kids greeted her politely. She returned the gesture with a smile.

“I know you're all working on a very important project,” Mrs. Bishop said with a calm and steady voice, “and since my little rascals need a clean diaper…” She glanced at Mark and paused. “Do you need a change too?”

Luz turned her head in his direction and studied him for a moment. She couldn’t believe he was pretending to be embarrassed — averted eyes, hands between his legs, knees crossed like he was about to sprint to the bathroom. Tell me you’re not seriously planning to follow Ferg’s advice…

Mark nodded slowly. “A check wouldn’t hurt, Mrs. Bishop. Thank you.”

Luz rubbed her hands against her thighs under the table, incredulous. If she saw Riley upset or in tears, she would strangle Mark in front of everyone — and Ferg wouldn’t be spared either.

---
Riley half-closed the door, and the voices and noise from the ground floor faded into a barely audible hiss. No one would be able to hear them, even if they shouted like baboons.

She turned to look at her friend. His face was crimson, his smile embarrassed, and his hands and feet were nervously fidgeting. His fingers twisted and pulled away from each other, while the tips of his light-blue socks took turns stepping over one another.

"Everything okay?" she asked, worried. "You seem nervous."

Mark jumped slightly and scratched the back of his head with one hand—an instinctive, nervous habit. “Y-Yeah, I’m great! R-Really happy to be here with you right now.”

Riley narrowed her eyes decisively. The half-moons glowing in his crimson cheeks were telling her a very different story. She noticed his forehead starting to reflect the warm light from the ceiling lamp. What on earth was going on with him?

"Mark, what’s going on?" she asked bluntly. Her tone hardened suddenly: “If you made another bet with Ferg or Sally, I swear this time I’ll beat the crap out of you!”

He waved his hands in alarm and took a few steps back. He was trembling like a leaf in the wind and could barely maintain eye contact. Did he really think she was about to slap him?

She stuck with her hunch — she just needed the final proof. Riley knew exactly how to get it out of him. She hid her fists behind her back and started walking toward him, feigning curiosity.

“So then,” she said vaguely, stretching the final vowel too long, “why did you want to talk in private?”

Mark backed up again, his legs carrying him into the bed. What came out of his mouth were jumbled, incoherent sounds—a sign his brain was in turmoil.

Just a few more steps and Riley would execute her plan. Her fingers, curled and pressed tightly together, trembled with anticipation. A slight twitch on her determined face raised one side of her lips. Damn, the element of surprise was seconds from vanishing!

She made a quick lunge. Held back her instinct to strike — just one more step. One more!

“I like you!” Mark blurted out. He turned his head away, fleeing her gaze. “I… I have a crush on you!”

Her legs froze in place, just three steps away from him. Suddenly, Riley felt the burning embarrassment spread from head to toe — even inside her diaper, she felt a strange tingling.

Did she need to pee again? But it hadn’t been long since her mom had put a clean one on her!

What was happening to her?

Her arms shot out in front of her, then retracted quickly as if she’d just realized she’d done something wrong. She was panting in panic, and her heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

The silence didn’t last long. Mark let out a heavy sigh, then began to speak again. His voice, shaky and stumbling, grew steadier with every word: “When… when you see someone feeling down… you do everything to bring back their smile. You don’t let problems get to you, not even the tough ones.”

He paused, turned his head toward her with a gentle smile, and cautiously stepped forward. He said with admiration, “Last but not least: you wear a diaper with your head held high. No kid our age would be able to walk through the hallways and survive wearing one every day!”

Riley opened her mouth, trembling, but a hand flew up to cover it. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she felt a strange sensation rising from her lower belly. Defensively, she took a few steps back — just like he had moments ago.

If these were the famous butterflies in the stomach, then it could only mean one thing: she was in love! She swallowed the realization in one gulp, and goosebumps immediately followed.

A wall of silence rose between them, isolating them in their own awkward bubbles. Staring at each other in silence wouldn’t help. Something had to be done!

All of a sudden, Riley clenched her fists and let her arms hang by her sides. She trembled slightly—she had to find the right words to break this invisible agony. Her heart warmed when she realized Mark had perfectly described her best qualities. That meant his feelings were real.

She stammered as if to thank him, but stopped short before going further. It felt like she had forgotten how to speak.

Her friend nervously tapped his index fingers together again and again. His wobbly legs began to move, and his gaze darted in random directions with no clear focus.

Riley counted a total of seven glances at the changing table where her mom had changed her just minutes before this boiling, silent moment. If she had wet herself again, it wouldn’t have mattered—in fact, it might’ve earned her a scolding.

“I-I know what you must be thinking,” Mark began, his tone disappointed. “I’m just a clueless kid who has no idea what he’s saying or what he’s feeling. Maybe that’s true, but… the feelings I have for you are real! I mean it, Riley!”

Her heart and mind were a mess, spinning in every direction, each path more tangled than the last. For all the diapers in the world, how much she hated this situation! Why had her feelings for him suddenly grown so deep? And why couldn’t she get a word out?

A sad, disappointed grimace darkened his face. Mark hid his face in his hands, lowered his head, and shook it as if regretting everything he’d just said.

Riley took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and finally found the courage to speak. “I… I like you too. You always make me smile and feel good about myself. Even when I… have a really big accident.”

Mark pulled his hands away and looked up as if he had just witnessed a miracle. “You mean that time you didn’t make it to the bathroom and, uh… did a number two in your diaper?” His voice was uncertain, almost disgusted at the memory.

She blushed, and her hands instinctively rested on her diaper. How could she forget that accident? The disgusted faces of her mom and of Mrs. Wallace — Mark’s mom — while inspecting the mess she had made kept her up for several nights. After that, her mom started checking her more often. Until then, the diapers had only ever been dry or wet with pee.

She let out an embarrassed giggle. “That drink was way too cold! I didn’t think it would upset my stomach! And you didn’t get away clean that day either!”

Mark laughed in response. “My mom needed to test how much pee a pull-up could hold. And I hadn’t gone to the bathroom since she put it on me hours earlier! Either I wet myself, or I wet myself!”

The tension that had kept them apart collapsed under the sound of loud, unrestrained laughter — freeing and joyous. Without even realizing it, Riley let go; the warm trickle of urine soaked into her pull-up in spurts, bringing relief until the laughter faded a few seconds later.

It’s fine, she told herself philosophically, that’s what the diaper’s for. Her mom was going to flip when she found out!

“Have you ever kissed anyone?” Mark asked skeptically, moving closer with caution. “I mean someone other than your parents, grandparents, or other relatives?”

A lightbulb went off above her head. Oh yes, this would knock him out for good. Riley, savoring the damp squish between her legs, let her gaze wander casually around the room like middle school girls did when chatting, and leaned her back ever so slightly.

“No,” she began, hesitating. “Wait — actually, yes!”

With sudden, confident movements, she straightened her posture, rose onto her tiptoes, leaned her body toward him, puckered her lips, and gave him a kiss.

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Author: FreezMilo
Timestamp: Aug 6, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Content: 3Outside the window, the world was dark blue. The lights of the houses, orange and yellow, seemed to change shape and position continuously. Long rectangles that became half-circles, little squares that moved here and there as they passed, and the doors cast a soft, welcoming beam of light onto the streets.

Such nice houses. Mark yawned and a tiny part of the window fogged up. Riley and Sally live in a nice neighborhood.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that his mom had glanced at him through the rearview mirror. She seemed focused, maybe on alert. Hands firmly on the wheel, her eyes fixed on the road.

"So," his mom began to break the ice, "what did you do at your friends' house today?"

She pursed her lips before speaking. It was a simple, curious question, typical of parents after a day spent with friends. For now, he'd keep to himself what had happened in Riley's room.

"We played Mario Kart and then did our homework together," he replied honestly, with a note of disappointment in his voice. The time spent with them always passed in the blink of an eye.

"Good, good," his mom commented happily, keeping her attention on the road. "Do you have any tests coming up in the next few days? I was reading some of the messages from the other moms in the group, and it looks like some of your teachers want to start giving quizzes and tests already."

He thought for a moment before answering. Aside from Mrs. Mullins, the art teacher, only Mrs. Brown, the math teacher, seemed eager to get ahead. No other names came to mind.

"For now, just art and math," he explained confidently. "The art project and the homework for Christmas break."

"I bet you got together today to work on the project, right?"

"Yeah, mostly for that." He paused. "In the next few days, some of us will have oral exams and catch-up tests, so we need to organize ourselves to finish the project and study for everything else."

His mom nodded. With smooth and deliberate movements, her arms turned the wheel to one side, then the other, and finally back to the original position. She spoke to herself for a moment, as though thinking through a problem.

She apologized, and then spoke kindly and invitingly, "I was thinking that you could invite your friends over to our house every now and then. I was talking about it with the other moms, but there are a few things we need to discuss. Especially Helen and us."

Now that was exciting news! Mark's face lit up, and he cheered, "Are you serious? Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mom!"

His mom chuckled softly and shot him a look, noticing how far his behind was from where it should be. "Slow down, young man. It’s still just an idea, nothing confirmed yet. I need you to listen for a moment."

Then why had she said it? Mark let himself be pushed back into his seat by the seatbelt. The pull-up he was wearing brushed against his private areas. He barely let out a small pee right after the departure. He wished he could completely empty himself out of happiness, feeling that warm sensation enveloping him... if only they hadn’t stopped him from doing it.

"How long have you been wearing a diaper again?" she asked, her doubt evident. "Since November?"

"Since October, Mom," he answered calmly. It still felt strange to think about that week in mid-October. "Why do you ask?"

"During this time, your mom and I have noticed how you’ve changed," she continued calmly. "Diligent, awake, and a bit clumsy. Especially when we talk about your accidents."

Mark blushed a little. Where was she going with this?

"The point is this: the accidents. I know that some of your friends wear them when you’re around. Do you know why? Because Helen and Greg keep an eye on them."

"On us" he corrected her. "I’m in the middle too."

"Exactly. Your mom and I are out all day, so neither of us can take care of your diapers," his mom continued in a clear, but troubled voice. "Especially the one who has accidents regularly. What’s her name? Sally, right?"

His cheeks turned even redder. Mark nervously scratched his head. He could still feel the imprint of her lips pulsing on his face. His heart beat faster; saying her name might make things worse in just one minute.

"N-No," he stammered. "Her name is R-Riley. Sally is her sister, who wears them sometimes. More or less like me."

"Exactly, her condition, that’s what worries their parents a lot. None of us want it to get worse or for her to find herself in an uncomfortable situation without an adult to help her."

"As long as we’re together, Riley doesn’t have anything to worry about," he said firmly, believing every word. The tone shifted abruptly, and he asked, "Is that why you grab my hand and drag me to the bathroom sometimes? Are you afraid I might end up like her?"

In the rearview mirror, his mom’s face tightened into a grimace. She nodded with certainty and replied, "Yes, honey. That’s why all of this is still just an idea."

She crossed her arms. "I believe in her. She’s making huge progress!"

"We know," his mom replied, slightly panicked. "For now, we agreed on this: only some of you can come. Even though I’m not at all okay with it."

"You’re never okay with anything," Mark grumbled, taking the opportunity to relieve himself. "Mom Steph is right when she says you're always contrary."

"I am because I want you to spend quality time with your friends!" His mom shot him an offended look, glancing over for a moment. "Do you trust me when I say a group like yours deserves only the best?"

She locked eyes with him: smiling, sincere, and kind. Letting the warmth from the pee against his skin and the pull-up take over, Mark nodded and slightly stretched his lips. How could he not trust one of the most important women in his life, besides Mom Steph?

"This is the face I want to see," she concluded with satisfaction. "I hope it's not because you just peed yourself, right?"

Mark chuckled and put both hands between his legs. "I invoke the right to remain silent! Whatever that means."

His mom burst out laughing. Who knows, maybe he'd even get Mom Steph to laugh with that joke.

---

Riley sighed in frustration. “Okay, let’s start over, what do you say?”

She stood up from the floor, walked over to the desk, and grabbed a piece of white paper and a pen. Returning to the center of the room, where the fox-shaped stuffed animal, Fox, was eagerly waiting to hear her story.

She lay down on her stomach, in front of the plush toy. She removed the cap from the black pen and pulled the paper towards her, placing it between them. She didn’t want to reveal it right away, but her heart and stomach were in turmoil. Beneath her thick pajamas, the pull-up, fresh and still dry, was squashed by her weight. If nature called, she would be ready to run to the bathroom and answer.

“Well,” Riley whispered, passing the pen between her fingers, “where should I start... Ugh! So many things happened today!”

She stretched out her free hand, shook Fox’s little head, and spoke in an exaggerated tone, pretending to mimic her father’s voice: deep and masculine.

“Tell me the most sensational moment. I’m in the mood for new emotions!”

Her jaw dropped in disbelief, her heart skipped a beat. She cleared her throat nervously and took a short breath. She moved the pen across the clean paper, drawing the round table, and then herself and her friends.

For each one, she added something that made them unique. A circle and a vertical line for the body were the extent of her artistic skills, so she had to make sure Fox could follow her story and understand without any issues. She drew pull-ups on herself and her sister; baseball caps on Ferg and Mark with their initials on the brims; and finally, she added a pencil to Luz’s hand.

“Okay,” she began confidently, “today, my friends and I started working on the art project. Luz and Ferg are totally into each other! But you already knew that.”

“I admit, I had no doubts about that.”

She giggled before continuing. “I was saying, during break something really strange happened. Mark and I, alone, in my room. Yeah, in this very room!”

Fox scratched its head with one paw, curious to hear more.

“I closed the door. He started to turn red, and I did too!” Riley moved the pen to the empty space beside her and drew two more circles with vertical lines. She added narrow, crossed eyes. “You won’t believe it: he has a crush on me! On me! He told me with his own mouth!”

“Wow,” Fox said, shocked. “And here I thought he told you with the power of thought.”

“And that’s not all!” she exclaimed excitedly. “He said I’m tough and that nothing and no one can intimidate me! Got it? Me!”

“I hadn’t yet understood that we were talking about you,” Fox said sarcastically, holding back from covering its pointy ears. “Strangely, you haven’t mentioned diapers or anything like that yet.”

“Now you sound just like Sally!” she retorted, a little annoyed. “I don’t like this! You always talk about the same things! You’re as boring as Mrs. Brown!”

“Riley, get to the point! Please.”

“But... I haven’t told you anything yet!” she whined in a childish voice.

“When I talk to another fox, I’m direct,” the plush animal justified itself, staring at her with its black button eyes. “Think of it as a hunting joke—you have to catch the prey before it’s too late. Time is crucial if you don’t want to starve!”

Doubtful, Riley rubbed her eyes. For a moment, the endless sentences from her science book seemed to swirl around her. Yes, they were clever animals, but also solitary. Clever when it came to hunting, but did they also take time to communicate with their peers?

“Okay,” she suddenly began, very serious, “Mark and I—”

Behind her, three quick knocks, with a light touch, echoed in the room. She gave a terrified look at her stuffed friend and whispered, “Trouble’s coming!”

Then, she stood up and went to open the door. She spoke quietly, “Hi, Dad.”

Her dad smiled slightly, tired and eager to crawl under the covers. He knelt down to her height. “Am I bothering you? I heard you talking. Do you still have the phone by any chance?”

Riley shook her head nervously. She opened the door wider, revealing the dim light of the bedroom, with Fox lying down and the paper on the rug. “No... I... I was playing.”

Dad nodded, but not fully convinced. “Is that the truth? You didn’t hide it under your pillow?”

Riley rolled her eyes. She clenched her fists, trying not to let her frustration show. She was telling the truth, so why question her right before bed?

“Yes. I swear!”

“Can I see it?” Dad stood up and looked at her with a teasing grin. “Or would you prefer to hand it to me without making a fuss and earn yourself a nice punishment?”

Riley sighed and stepped aside but stayed by the door. “I don’t have it here, Dad! Ask Mom, if you care so much!”

He came in with a calm but exhausted manner. He yawned and brought his hand to his mouth. “Alas, she’s busy with your sister’s diaper. Besides, I came here to take you to the bathroom.”

He moved the pillow and found only the sheets. He looked at her, still with that sly grin. “Where did you hide it?”

Riley crossed her arms. She didn’t even look at him. “I already told you, it’s not here!”

He came back toward her. He shouted down the hallway, “Honey, did Riley give you the phone?”

The echo of Mom’s voice arrived like a bolt from the blue. “Yes, darling! Make sure she goes to the bathroom and pees!”

Riley covered her ears, embarrassed. Why do they have to shout about my needs? What happened to respect?

In no time at all, she went to the bathroom with him. Dad helped her lower her pajamas and the pull-up, then told her to sit on the toilet. Finally, he turned and headed for the door.

“I’m right outside,” he said, “are you sure you don’t want your pacifier? I know sometimes Mom gives it to you.”

“Dad, please!” she pleaded, not in the best position. “I don’t want the pacifier!”

Riley looked around the bathroom. The sink on her left, the bidet on the other side, the cabinet with the bathroom supplies, and the shower where Mom helps her clean herself. She had lost count of how many times one of her parents had taken her there, or how many times she’d gone by herself. She felt free and relieved as she heard the cascade of pee hitting the toilet bowl.

She peeked inside her pull-up: dry and spotless. It made her pause for a moment. Before Dad arrived, she was about to tell Fox about the kiss. She had that strange feeling of confusion in her stomach and the supposed wetness between her legs. Yet the absorbent material felt just the same as when Mom had changed her earlier.

Weird. I could have sworn I peed... Yet I felt it on my body...

“Riley?” Dad knocked. “Did you go, sweetheart?”

“Um... yeah!” she replied hurriedly. “I just finished!”

Dad came in and gave her a hand cleaning up with care and attention, then helped her get dressed again. “Officially, another success for your chart. Before you know it, you’ll be back to being a normal twelve-year-old.”

“Yeah...” she replied dejectedly, “no more diapers or pull-ups, then? Just big girl underwear?”

The proud smile disappeared from his bearded face, replaced by a grin full of uncertainty. Dad chuckled nervously, ruffled her hair, and said in an exhausted voice, “It’s late now, sweetheart. Go brush your teeth if you haven’t already, and then get to bed. You’ve got school tomorrow.”*****4The news of Mr. Johnson’s absence sparked a great uproar of joyful shouts and cheers. Riley simply smiled and tapped her feet under the desk, keeping her eyes fixed on the two adults in front of the teacher's desk.

The janitor, Frank, raised his powerful arms and waved them rhythmically to contain the outburst of celebration. He repeated in a serious, authoritative voice: "Guys! Guys! Guys!"

He was struggling. He could have used several approaches to deliver the wonderful news. He could even leave the difficult task to the young woman on his right.

At one point, she motioned for him to step aside and angrily shouted: "Do you prefer I give you a test on differential equations?!"

Silence fell instantly, and the students who had gotten up returned to their seats without making a sound. The air became heavy, but bearable.

Riley swallowed the little saliva that had formed in her mouth, and a drop of pee fell into her pull-up, hidden under her overalls. Is she the substitute?!

Her dark, attentive eyes flickered rapidly to the right and left, like those of a predator. Then, she placed her blue backpack on the teacher’s desk and turned her gaze toward the janitor. "Thanks for the help, Hector. You can go now."

He nodded, waved, and left, closing the door behind him.

Now we’re really in trouble! Riley placed both hands, joined together, on the desk and sized her up. Fancy clothes, regular backpack, and sneakers. Is she new or what?

"I’m Mrs. Sakamoto," she introduced herself in a calm and respectful voice, "I teach math to the eighth graders, and, just for today, I’m your substitute. If you have any questions, I can help you clear them up. Otherwise, feel free to do whatever you want, just keep your voices down."

Off to the side, Riley saw Harriet raise her hand. "Can we push the desks together? We have a group project to finish."

The teacher nodded. "Sure, but keep the noise down."

There were sharp squeaks followed by the usual confusing chatter. Riley covered her ears for a moment. Couldn’t anyone in this madhouse do something without making a noise?

She turned her head. In the middle of the chairs and desks being moved from one side to the other, she spotted Luz, Sally, and Ferg pushing four desks together. They were determined to make enough space for their poster.

She noticed, with disappointment, that they only had two chairs. Three, if she counted the one she was sitting on. Two chairs were missing, but the picture remained incomplete.

Where did he go?

"Hey, Riley." Mark’s embarrassed voice almost made her jump.

She gripped the sides of the chair. Her heart began to beat faster, and her lungs went into panic mode. Okay, Riley! Calm down. It’s just your best friend!

Her cheeks turned red, and she let out a strained smile. "Oh... Hey, Mark! I-I didn’t see you before coming into class! Did you just get here?"

He spread his lips, his hand massaging his right arm insistently. He must be nervous, just like her. "We came in together, don’t you remember?"

"Eh-eh. I must’ve forgotten!" she replied, overwhelmed. She raised and lowered her arms like a robot. "Bip-bop! Memory full! Proceeding to clear it! Bip-bop!"

Mark chuckled, not very amused and very nervous. "Listen… About what happened yesterday… I wanted to tell you that..."

"I’ll stop you right there," she interrupted with a serious voice, standing up from the chair, "I shouldn’t have done it. I was—"

"Too impulsive? You acted on instinct? The butterflies in your stomach drove you crazy?" he hurriedly spoke. "I wanted to confess that I liked it."

Riley was left open-mouthed, and her pull-up warmed for the second time. This time, she had done it on purpose. Like a tape, she replayed his words in her head: sincere, natural, and a bit affectionate.

"R-Really?" she asked, confused. "You’re not mad?"

"Why would I be?" he replied, curious. "Our parents kiss all the time. I get one every time they change me and when they take me to the bathroom. Where’s the problem?"

Those are two different things! Riley raised an eyebrow, standing firm in her position. "I don’t think it’s the same thing, Mark... I mean... I don’t know!"

His face darkened slightly. "Y-You didn’t like it?"

"Yes, I liked it!" she blurted out. "It’s just that..."

Mark tilted his head to one side, thoughtful.

"Did you mean it when you said I wear my diaper with pride?" Her voice turned into a whisper. "Am I really that brave?"

He thought for a moment, a smile reappearing on his face. "You’re the only person I know who wears it twenty-four seven."

"Look, Sally wears one too," she pointed out coldly, almost irritated by this half-truth. "Today, she could’ve worn one under her clothes."

Mark shook his head with a knowing attitude. "Yeah, you’re the only one. Nice overalls, by the way. Looks like you don’t have one on."

Riley blushed and smiled slightly. "Even mom thinks it’s nice. I think it’s too complicated to put on and take off."

"You like complicated things," he commented sincerely.

Once again, the pee spread inside her pull-up. She responded in a boastful voice: "You like the simple things."

Mark stepped back, chuckling quietly. He turned his head to his left and saw his cheeks turn red.

She followed his gaze. Riley covered her eyes with a hand, annoyed by what she had just seen: Sally, Ferg, and Luz were staring at them curiously from the makeshift desk at the back.

"Do you think they figured it out?" she asked in a whisper.

"Luz and Ferg know about my crush on you."

"I told Sally that I have a crush on you!"

Their eyes met, full of surprise.

Together they said: "But they don’t know about the kiss, though."

"Should we tell them?" Mark asked seriously.

"If they ask, yes," Riley replied bluntly. "Get ready. They’re going to bombard us with questions until we’re exhausted!"

---

By her sister’s command, Riley dropped her backpack onto the cold floor, unclipped the straps, and slid the denim overalls down to her feet. With an annoyed and embarrassed gesture, she lifted the bottom of her sweater just enough to reveal the pull-up she had been wearing since the morning.

Cold, heavy, and most of all, the flower symbol at the center had completely faded. Under normal circumstances, she would have gotten angry, but the emotions she was feeling were far from overflowing. She lifted her eyes to the ceiling, waiting for her verdict.

Sally kneeled down and examined it only with her gaze. She leaned forward, observing it from different angles. She looked like a scientist who had been deprived of the notebook on which she had to write her notes. She muttered and nodded.

“Uh, Sally?” Riley started nervously. “Now that you’ve closely inspected my dirty diaper, could you leave me alone? Please?”

Sally raised a finger, then stood up. Pretending to be a deep thinker, she put a hand under her chin and closed her eyes. In a monotone voice, she spoke: “You’ve never wet it this much before.”

She turned her back on her and took a few steps away. Continuing with the same tone, she said: “Do you know why I came with you, Riley?”

Her hands let go of the orange sweater, and instinctively, she pulled her overalls back up. The cold air made her legs shiver a little. Where had the air conditioning gone?

Calmly, she sat down on the toilet seat, ready to absorb yet another pointless drama. “Sally… I don’t feel like hearing another conspiracy…”

“Ha! No conspiracy this time!” Sally spun around and stopped facing her with a sharp heel click. “Riley Samantha Claire Bishop… You’ve caught the love virus! You’re in love with Mark!”

Riley made a grimace. Samantha? Claire? What was she saying? “I’m not called—”

“Silence, young lady!” Sally interrupted her in a loud voice. “Your underwear speaks for itself: you are a slave to the most powerful emotion of them all! Love is pulling all your strings, and with them, your mind!”

She covered her face with both hands, exhausted. “Sally, please, let me change in peace!”

“You better listen to me now!” her sister decreed. “You have no idea what’s happening to you. Now, Mark makes your brain short-circuit every time you see him! Which means you ignore every signal your body sends you! How do I know? Simple, you’ve peed multiple times and didn’t even notice! Riley, the situation is critical!”

“Now you’re exaggerating.”

“But it’s true!”

“You have no proof.”

Sally crossed her arms and looked at her with a knowing expression. “Of course I do.”

She looked around curiously, then raised an eyebrow. “Where?”

“Right there,” Sally moved closer and pointed to the overalls, “you’ve got it on right now.”

Riley pulled them up even more, as if trying to hide under blankets in bed. “It only happened before!”

Sally shot her a sharp look. “And what about yesterday, after Mark left? Mom wasn’t happy when she checked you.”

Riley blushed, disappointed, her head down. “It was just a routine check. I wet it and didn’t go to the bathroom. Nothing more.”

Sally acted indifferent. “So, two pieces of evidence, seeing as you two talked about the kiss in class, confirming last night’s incident. If you have another one in the next few hours while Mark is around, it means I’m right.”

“I say you’re wrong, and this doesn’t make any sense,” Riley replied, exhausted. “Now that you’ve enlightened me, can I change in peace? I don’t want to end up with an irritation.”

“Not yet, diaper sister.” Sally took a few steps back. “A wet pull-up is enough for today, that’s why I’ll remind you every thirty minutes if you need to go to the bathroom. Just like Mom and Dad do at home. No clocks or alarms, just you and me.”

An horrified grimace formed on Riley’s face. She shook her head slowly, annoyed at the idea. She was already followed at home by Mom and Dad, and now her sister was going to do the same. She felt slightly mocked, as well as humiliated.

“Excuse me, what do you use as an alarm?” she asked, perplexed. “We don’t have our phones here.”

“Do you really think I haven’t already thought of that?” Sally slipped a hand into her pocket, pulled out her metal iPod, still shiny from the back, and put it in front of Riley’s eyes. “In the toughest moments, this has always been by my side. It won’t let us down!”

“Uh… okay,” Riley mumbled, confused. “H-Hello, Sally’s iPod.”

“Hello Riley!” Sally said in a high-pitched, childish voice. She shook it and tucked it back away. “Where’s your backpack with the change? We’ve already lost too much time in here, and it’s time for me to get to work.”

Riley stayed silent, her cheeks burning even more. “Y-You don’t want to change me here, right? Right?!”

“We both know you’re a disaster at changing your diaper.” Sally grabbed the backpack from the floor and unzipped it. “Now just try to relax, it’ll take no time at all. I might not be as good as Mom, but you’re still in good hands.”

Riley sighed in defeat, then stood up and loosened her tight grip on the overalls until she completely let go, collapsing like jelly.

Yes, even if she didn’t want to admit it, she was in good hands.

---

Between the zippers of the pencil case, the colorful screen of the iPod gave way to the countdown.

Riley sighed, disturbed. She shouldn’t be monopolizing attention here. The history lesson, although slow and wordy, had something interesting, stimulating about it.

She spun two pens in her hands, the red and the blue, to take notes and keep up with the lecture. She counted about ten exchanges, in three minutes and two pages of white paper covered in doodles and short sentences.

Sally, beside her, listened passively. She supported her head, full of hair, with both arms, but her eyes and gaze were vacant. In a little while, she’d be closing her eyes.

Riley lifted her eyes to the ceiling, irritated. This was not the time to sleep! Under the desk, she kicked her leg weakly. She whispered in her sister's ear, “Sally, the teacher is looking at you.”

Her sister straightened her back instantly, struck by a sudden rush of adrenaline. Her eyes darted everywhere, looking for Mrs. Waller, the history teacher. Of course, she was drawing the timeline with the key milestones of the Renaissance.

She shot Riley a glare. “I hate you.”

“You’re welcome,” Riley answered calmly. “And thanks for earlier.”

Sally rubbed her eyes, exhausted as if she had just lifted a mountain. “You know I’m always here for you, Ri.”

“Ri?”

“Yeah, Ri,” Sally repeated indifferently. “It’s the first two letters of your name. You call me Sal, I call you Ri.”

Riley lowered her head to the paper, her hands passing the pens back and forth. At one point, she casually said, “You weren’t entirely wrong earlier. I’m a disaster at changing myself.”

Sally rotated her head and looked at her, bored—not from her, but from the lesson by that horrible teacher. “I know. Mom does nothing but do it for you.”

“I wanted to ask… If you could give me some tips,” Riley said in nervous bursts. “Ugh. I wish Mom would let me change myself. Like you.”

“You’re wrong here,” Sally stretched her arms and placed them behind her head, as if lying on a beach chair enjoying the sun and sea. “We have the same rules, even though I don’t need to be followed like you.”

“Really?”

“You know Mom.” Cautiously, Sally smiled at her. “Read more rules, more duties, more behavior equals civilized and well-mannered people.”

Riley shook her head, composed, while writing down what the teacher was saying. “Can we talk about this during the break? I’d like to follow the lesson.”

“Where there’s boredom, you’re always there,” Sally replied in too loud a voice.

A deathly silence fell. Everyone turned to look at them, even the teacher.

Riley covered her face with both hands, terrified and about to die from embarrassment. Every muscle in her body fought not to wet the pull-up under her clothes at any cost.

“Let’s make things interesting, then,” the middle-aged teacher began in a stern tone. “Surprise quiz! Take a sheet of paper and a pen! No complaints!”

A chorus of dissatisfied voices and grumbling filled the room. The rustling of paper and indistinct sounds of pencil cases briefly rekindled the atmosphere.

Some classmates around them looked at them with distrust and anger.

“Thanks a lot, Sally!” Dennis, sitting in front of them, said.

“You’re welcome,” she said provocatively. “I couldn’t wait to ruin your average!”

The pencil case lit up at that moment. Riley seized the opportunity and raised her hand. Now or never!

“Mrs. Waller, can I go to the bathroom before we start?” she asked insistently.

The teacher glared at her and gestured for her to go. “Hurry up.”

And so, she ran, confident and unwavering, out of the classroom.