Ashley’s phone buzzed from somewhere in her gym bag. She’d just finished working out at the student rec center and was getting dressed. She put on a fresh pink sports bra and charcoal grey leggings. Pulling her a hoodie over her head, she rummaged around in her bag until she found her phone, and opened her messages:

Sarah: Hey Ashley, you free?

Yeah, what’s up

Can I ask you a favor?

Haha sure, what is it?

Ashley watched as the three little dots bounced at the bottom of the screen, then stopped, then reappeared. Sarah always took forever to write messages. Ashely grabbed her gym bag and walked to the sinks, drying her hair. Sometimes she’d blow-dry, but it was late and she was going straight home. She looked down at her phone. Sarah was apparently still typing.

The gym had been surprisingly empty. She’d assumed everyone would be here, trying to work through their stress about finals next week, but either it was too late or too cold or everyone really was studying. She hadn’t had to wait for a shower to open up or anything. Tying her brown hair back into a pony tail, she looked back at her phone. One unread message.

OK so like, that girl from my med class had to cancel tonight. I guess her dog was sick or something….

Oh no, poor dog.

Yeah but everything for that class is due tomorrow

Shit. You guys, were like partners for a project or something, right?

Yeah… well she was helping me with my practical. I think she already finished hers. I don’t really know.

Practical?

Yeah.

Wait so what’s the favor?

No reply. Ashley finished moisturizing her face, tossed the tube into her bag, and was about to head for the locker room door when her phone rang. Sarah must be really pissed. They’d been friends since they’d lived next to each other freshman year. Ashley was studying journalism and Sarah was studying medicine.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“You remember I’m taking this physical assessment class right?”

“Yeah the one where that one guy kept looking at your boobs.”

“He dropped it, thank God. Anyway that’s the class I need to get everything ready for by tomorrow.”

“And the girl with the sick dog flaked.”

“Yeah. It didn’t need to be her exactly, who helps me. The thing is, well, so the class is a physical assessment class, and basically we’re learning how to give exams and stuff. And so anyway everyone has to make a video of a basic practice assessment, and I finished that with her last weekend, but you also have to demonstrate you can do a more detailed exam, too. You don’t have to film that part, but you have to have your practice patient fill out a Google doc saying how you were, and write their email and everything to make sure you do it.”

“Ok,” Ashley said, walking through the rec center lobby.

“And I emailed the professor and she says it doesn’t have to be the same person, but I do have to stick with the type of exam I picked. I’m friends with a couple of the guys in my class, but I can’t ask them, obviously.”

“Why not?”

“Well, like, so it looks good if you pick the kind of exam you want to do eventually, like after you graduate, and I’ve been thinking I want to… I mean…”

“Wait so what kind of exam do you have to do?”

“Ok well I kind of signed up to do a gyn assessment?” Ashley stopped. “Like, at the time I had already talked to this girl in my class and she said yes, because she wants to be a midwife or something, so I thought it would be easy but now…” Sarah trailed off.

“And you can’t ask the guys because they’re guys.”

“Yeah. And I know it’s a huuuge favor and I promise I’ll buy you dinner or something but I really need to finish it tonight, and I can’t really ask anyone else…” Sarah trailed off again. Ashley felt a twinge in her stomach. She felt a little jumpy. “I still have the room reserved in the med school building. I promise it’ll be quick, and I’ll buy us dinner, and it won’t be awkward or anything.” Ashley was looking up and down the street. They’d been friends for years, and she wasn’t overly shy or anything, but she didn’t want to be naked in front of Sarah. And besides, this wasn’t just naked. Was she going to do this?

“I’m really sorry… I really thought everything was all arranged.” Sarah sounded so desperate.

Fifteen minutes later Ashley was walking through the doors to the medical school building. Since it was after hours, she’d had to scan her ID card to get in. Here and there a few students were studying at tables in the atrium, but as she climbed the stairs to the third floor it was quiet. Sarah had texted her the link to the Google form, but she hadn’t had time to look at it.

“Ashley thank youuuuuuuu!” Sarah met her on the landing, looking relieved. “Seriously, you saved me. I’d have been totally fucked. Here, we’re just through here.” Sarah led her through a few different hallways to a door she unlocked with a key labeled “Exam 8”. there was a small curtained-off cubicle in front of the door, and pushing through that, what looked like a normal exam room at the doctor’s office.

“So do you guys just like, have loads of rooms like this for people to practice in?”

“Yeah, pretty much. You have to be in a related class to check them out, or have a good reason, but you can just get the key at the med-school library.” While Sarah was talking Ashley looked around the room. There were a few locked cabinets, a chair, a rolling stool next to a counter with a sink, and an exam table. “Seriously Ashley, thank you again. I promise I’ll finish quick and we can go get dinner.”

“Ok so like, what do I have to do?”

“Nothing special. Just whatever you’d normally do. You’re a life-saver. If you feel uncomfortable or anything just let me know. Oh-” Sarah rummaged in her bag for a moment “You have to sign this waver. Basically it just says that I’m not a doctor, and you’re ok being a guinea pig. I promise I’ll be quick.”

Ashely signed the waver and sat down on the chair while Sarah went around the room unlocking cabinets. “Shit, some of the stuff we’re supposed to have isn’t here.”

“They can’t mark you down for that can they?”

“I guess not. We’ll see.”

Sarah sat down on the rolling stool and wheeled over. “Ok we’re ready to start. First thing’s first, can I ask you some questions?”

“Ok.”

Sarah’s voice changed a little. She sounded more professional. “Do you currently have any health concerns?”

“Nope”

“Taking any medication?”

“No.”

“Do you have any questions about your reproductive health?”

“No.”

“Some of these questions will be a little personal, but they’re on the form so I have to ask them. When was your last period?” Ashley blushed a little.

“It ended two weeks ago.”

“And are you currently sexually active?” Ashely blushed again.

“No, not since the whole thing with David.” Sarah didn’t react. She’d clearly practiced doing this.

“Ok. That’s all the questions I’ve got. So now we’ll move on to a quick exam. Could you please sit on the exam table?” Ashely climbed onto the exam table, the paper crinkling, while Sarah washed her hands.

Sarah checked her pulse, looked in her mouth, and felt her neck. It felt weird having someone she knew touch her neck, her fingers still cold from washing them.

“And now I’m going to really quickly listen to your heart and lungs. Could I have you put your hoodie on the table next to you?”

Ashley giggled a little. “That’s such a professional way of telling me to strip.”

Sarah smiled, slipping back into her normal voice. “Yeah they told us to say it that way. It’s supposed to be less awkward. While you take it off I’m supposed to turn away to ‘provide privacy’. There’s all kinds of phrases like that.”

Ashley laughed. “I’m only wearing a sports bra… sorry I just came from the gym.”

“No don’t worry that’s fine. It’ll actually give better access”

Sarah turned away while Ashley took of her hoodie, then pulled out a stethoscope. “I warmed it up so hopefully it isn’t that bad.” Sarah moved the stethoscope over her chest, sliding it just under the edge of her sports bra, then moved to her back. “And if you could lay down for me.” Ashley stared up at the ceiling, feeling the pad of the stethoscope move over her flat tummy. She realized her whole body was tense. She let her shoulders fall back onto the paper. This wasn’t so bad. Sarah was being really gentle. The stethoscope moved back up to her breast, then down again to the edge of her leggings.

“Great, everything sounds good. Your heart is beating pretty fast, but I’m guessing you’re just nervous?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“No don’t worry, I always freak out a little at a real appointment,” Sarah said, laughing, before slipping back into her professional voice. “Now I’m going to step out for a moment and ask you to change into a gown for the rest of the exam.” Ashley sat up, as Sarah headed towards the door, pulling the curtain shut behind her. “They’re just in that bottom drawer. I’ll wait outside, and be back in a second.”

Ashley stood up. She felt jumpy now. The questions and stethoscope hadn’t been too bad, but now. She actually had to undress. She walked over to the chair and, taking off her shoes, slipped off her leggings and socks. The floor was cold. She glanced around the room, then pulled off her sports bra. The cold had made her nipples slightly hard, and she shivered, goosebumps on her arms. She felt a wave of nervousness hit her. Still, she couldn’t back out now. Quickly she slipped off her underwear, and walked over to the cabinets. The drawer was empty. She pulled open the other drawers. Tongue depressors, gauze, long q-tips, little bottles, things in packets. No gowns. She swallowed hard.

“Sarah?” On the other side of the curtain, the door opened.

“Ok great, let’s-”

“Wait!”

“What?”

“There aren’t any gowns?”

“Fuck, really?” Sarah was still on the other side of the curtain.

“No.”

“Can I come double check?”

“There aren’t any! Can you check another room?”

“The key only works for this room. Fuck…”

“What should we do? I’m like, naked.”

“Ok would you feel more comfortable putting your underwear back on and we can go from there?” Ashley paused. She’d come this far…

“Ok. Hang on.”

“It’ll be over quick!”

Ashely sprinted back to her pile of clothes, and pulled her panties back on. She climbed back up onto the exam table, and pressed her legs together, then put one hand over the gap, and one arm over her breasts. “Ok.”

Sarah came back in. “Shit Ashley’ I’m really sorry.”

“It’s ok.”

Sarah took a deep breath. “Ok. First I’m going to be completing a quick breast exam. Could I ask you to put your hands by your sides?” Ashley lowered her arms. Sarah washed her hands again, and walked back to the table.

“First I’ll be completing a visual examination.” She looked intently at Ashley’s breasts. Ashley blushed. She was pretty confident about her body – she worked out and she liked wearing tight t-shirts that showed off her boobs – but it was weird having Sarah stare at her. Sarah reached up, cupped her breast, and slowly began pressing with the pads of her fingers. Ashley watched as her fingers pressed in, then moved to the next spot. Her nipples began to stand up still further as Sarah got closer and closer.

After examining first her right, then her left breast, Sarah asked Ashley to lay back down on the table, putting her arms up above her head. “This position will stretch your breasts a little bit and help me examine them.” Ashely did as she was told, and again felt her friend’s fingers gently touch her. Sarah moved all around her breasts, again coming closer and closer to her nipple. Ashley could feel her heart pounding. The room was silent, apart from the heater which had just clicked on. Thank god. Maybe her nipples would stop poking out so much. It didn’t feel bad exactly. Much gentler than when her doctor had given her a breast exam back in high school. Sarah was talking again.

“– just a slight pinch, so I can check for discharge.”

Ashley yelped slightly as Sarah’s fingers found her nipples, and pinched.

“Yeah, that’s never fun. Still, your breasts look completely healthy. Now you’ll feel me palpate your abdomen. You can put your arms at your sides again.”

Sarah began pressing on her stomach. Ashley was suddenly very aware of how naked she was. Now that she was lying down there was no way to hide her underwear. She looked down, watching Sarah press closer and closer to her panty line.

“Great,” said Sarah, taking a step back. “No problems. Your breasts and tummy feel really healthy. I’m just going to get ready for the next part of the exam. You can relax for a moment.” Ashley watched as Sarah pulled the stirrups out of the foot of the table, then pulled over a small rolling tray. She walked over to the cupboards and collected a few things in packets that Ashley couldn’t see, then from a drawer pulled a box of gloves. As Sarah washed her hands again, Ashley stared at the box of gloves. She’d said yes to this. She’d been to the gynecologist before, back in high school. She knew what was going to happen when she’d gotten into this. She wasn’t ready though. She took a couple deep breaths. One of the gloves was poking out a bit. She tried not to think about what was going to happen. She looked back at the box. M. Well at least nothing L-sized was about to be jammed–

“Ok!” said Sarah. “Now I’d like to ask you to scoot down just a little bit, and we can get going.”