Ch. 30: Feeling More at Home with Nature

Julia pulled the key fob from her purse and opened the driver's side door.

"I'm going to see if it will get out of the mud this time." She said.

Lara walked to the passenger side door. Julia reached over and unlocked the door for her. Lara opened the door and crawled on to the seat on her knees, bending over to grab the bag of cookies she got from the Starbucks store the previous day. Lara pulled herself out of the car, and walked off a bit.

Julia started the engine, put the car in gear, and hit the accelerator. The front wheels spun, but the car went nowhere. She tried it in reverse and got the same result. Meanwhile, Lara had sat down on the ground about twenty feet away and enjoyed another cookie.

She couldn't help but realize that while Julia was stranded, Lara was not. Lara didn't have anything, and didn't have anywhere to go. Theoretically, sitting on the ground in the middle of a forest by a dirt road was just as much home to her as anywhere else. On the other hand, a car stuck in the mud is what kept Julia trapped, and anxious.

"You want a cookie?" She yelled out to Julia.

Julia slammed her hands on the steering wheel.

"Uhh!" She exclaimed in frustration.

Lara rolled up the bag of cookies, which still contained several more cookies, and sat it next to her. Then she leaned back, supporting her body with her hands, and enjoyed a few beams of sunshine that broke through the tree canopy.

Julia looked out the passenger side window at Lara.

She saw that same free-spirited Lara that she described just minutes earlier. A breeze had picked up a couple locks of Lara's hair as she looked down the road rather peacefully. Speckles of sunshine danced on her naked body. Julia recollected paintings of wood nymphs playing in forests. This was one of them it seemed.

Julia opened the car door and carefully stepped out, trying to avoid as much mud as she could.

"You want to keep walking down the road and find that Anderson place?" She asked.

Lara turned to look at Julia, and then picked herself up and brushed the leaves and dirt from her butt. She bent over to pick up the bag of cookies, and walked over to Julia.

"OK, let's go."

After twenty minutes, the two girls must have walked a full mile, yet no sign of a residence, building, or anything.

"So what kind of cookies you have in there?" Julia asked.

"Oh you want one?" Lara answered, while handing the bag to Julia.

"There's some chocolate chip in there, and some sugar cookies."

Julia pulled out a chocolate chip cookie, and handed the bag back to Lara.

"Thanks" she replied.

Ch. 29: Girls Just Being Girls

"So how does it feel being naked for 24 hours?" Julia asked, as she and Lara headed back in the opposite direction.

"Free!" Lara answered happily.

"This is like your first full day of being totally nude isn't it?" Lara smiled. "Well not really. It's been a couple of weeks now."

"A couple of weeks?"

"Yeah."

"You mean you haven't wore a single piece of clothing for two whole weeks?"

"Yup!" Lara giggled.

"I think the longest I've ever been fully nude is soaking in the bathtub." Julia joked.

"The last time I wore any clothes was when you drove me in your car for the first time."

"Oh my God! When you jumped out of the car and threw your clothes away!"

"Yes!" Julia thought about it for a moment, then continued. "Wow, you're lucky to have such an understanding mom. My parents are so strict about everything."

"Well, I don't know. I mean she let's me do what I want, but at least your parents always spent time with you."

"What, my parents?" Julia asked. "My parents were always on my case about everything. I couldn't go to any dances, I couldn't have any boyfriends, I couldn't have anything. At least you could go out and do stuff."

"I guess so. But, it depends." Lara replied.

"Depends on what?"

"It's like I had all this freedom, and what I really wanted was my mom. And you, you had your parents, but what you really wanted was freedom. It's like when you have one thing, you end up wanting the other. I mean, I wonder what it would have been like if we had each other's parents?"

Julia laughed. "Ha ha! Oh my God Lara, you would have never become a nudist or a lesbian. You would have been even more miserable!" Lara chuckled.

"You still think I'm a lesbian?"

"Well, I mean you are, right? You were having sex with Teresa."

"But that wasn't sex..."

"That wasn't sex?" Julia questioned.

"No. That was just... a weird situation. That was... I mean, she was just playing out her fantasies. That's not what I would call sex."

"Well, uh, based on what you told me all those times, it sounds like pretty hardcore sex to me." Lara chuckled sarcastically.

"No, sex is when you're doing it for each other. We were just young. She was just using me for her own fantasies. I wouldn't say it was serious."

"Hmmm, not serious?"

"No. Not really."

"OK, do you want my opinion?" Julia asked.

"What." Lara answered.

"You always told me that your mother was never around, yet Teresa was always there for you. Teresa kinda filled in for your mother and gave you what you wanted. And you gave Teresa what she wanted, which was a friend who would accept her for what she was. Maybe you don't see yourself as a lesbian, but down inside you're attracted to a dominant woman who makes you feel protected and loved."

Lara chuckled and shook her head.

"No, I don't think so. What I want right now is to just be free of everything, and just do whatever I want, and go wherever I want."

"Yeah, OK. But think about it, your mother let you do whatever you wanted. You never had someone create boundaries for you, or give you any kind of structure. I mean, all you know about is freedom. I'm the opposite, I grew up with structure and boundaries, I don't see things the way you see them. So it's kinda like what you just said, when you have one thing, you end up wanting the other. Deep inside, you still need someone to give you those boundaries, and tell you what you can and cannot do."

Lara chuckled again.

"But that's not why I became friends with Teresa. I mean she and I grew up with single moms, and neither of us had friends, and we just clicked together, but in a special kind of way."

"That might be what brought you two together, but it took chemistry to make you two stay together. She gave you something that you needed, and you gave her something that she needed. Maybe it wasn't as apparent to you from your perspective, but all of us could definitely see Teresa protecting you and keeping you close to her. She was creating boundaries for you."

Lara laughed. "Oh my God, Teresa never created any boundaries for me!" She continued in a serious tone.

Julia paused.

"Well, it was just my opinion. I didn't mean to be critical."

"No, you're not being critical. I think it's good to express yourself. I just don't think that's what Teresa and I were about. We were just... girls, that's all."

"Well, you're definitely not like any other girl I've met!"

Lara laughed.

Julia thought it over a for few seconds, and then continued.

"But sometimes people need a second set of eyes, and from my perspective you've always been the most freest person I've ever known. But I think the reason why you and Teresa lasted that long is because she gave you that dominant figure to balance out your free spirit."

Lara thought about it.

"Hmm," she said. "Well, if you say so."

Ch. 28: Looking For Help

The muddied dirt road alternated between patches of gravel, patches of mud, and puddles of muddied water. For the most part, Lara and Julia walked along the side of the road where it was slightly elevated and away from most of the water. But it was still mushy and muddied.

The morning was air was cold. Walking helped to create a little warmth for Lara, who as always, was still fully nude and barefoot.

"It's pretty out here." Lara said.

Julia continued walking.

Birds were still chirping, and in the rays of sunshine, Lara could see an occasional butterfly.

"It would be nice to live out here." Lara added.

"Maybe you can find another big bush that you could drag a mattress under." Julia said sarcastically. Lara chuckled, knowing Julia was quite aggravated with the situation. But she shrugged it off.

"I think I would need something that would stay more dry than a bush!"

The two continued walking. Lara's feet were muddied. Mud began to cake and dry further up on her ankles. The chilled morning air speckled her nude body with goose pimples that became illuminated as rays of sunshine broke through the trees. 

Lara continued talking.

"I remember seeing something on the news a long time ago about a girl who stayed up in a tree for something like three months because she was protesting a bunch of loggers."

"You'd still get cold up there though." Julia added.

"Yeah. It would have to be some kind of tree house with a roof." Lara answered. "Except, I'd have to get someone who could get the wood and help me build it."

"AND, you'd have to find some place where people won't bother you." Julia remarked.

"Well yeah, I know!" Lara answered sarcastically.

Lara and Julia had walked about a half-mile, and came to the first dirt road that Lara had driven down. There was a small sign on the road they had just walked down that read, "Anderson", and below it was a mailbox.

"I guess this road actually goes to someone's house." Julia said.

"Yeah." Lara answered.

"Do you know how far you came down that road?" Julia asked, pointing her finger at the first dirt road Lara drove down.

"I don't know. It was raining really hard, and I wasn't paying attention."

Julia looked down the first dirt road in both directions trying to figure out which way to go, or what to do next.

"Hmm." Julia said. "I'm wondering if we turn left or right, or if we should walk back towards the car, and keep going the other way until we find this Anderson house?"

Lara was getting a little hungry, and remembered she still had cookies in the car. Her vote was to retrace their steps and go back to the car, but she didn't want to say anything considering she had already gotten them lost. Instead she shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know."

Julia would have waited for a passing car or truck, but realized that a naked Lara standing next to her would put the two in danger, considering how remote the area was.

"Well," She said. "Why don't we go find this Anderson house?"

"OK" Lara replied.

The two started back towards the car.

Ch. 27: Stuck In The Mud

Julia opened her eyes to find Lara snuggled underneath the blanket. She lifted her head and then reached for the radio and pressed a button to see what time it was...

7:03 AM.

The rain had stopped falling and there were a few patches of blue across a mostly clouded sky. She put her seat back up, and then yawned and blinked her eyes several times.

"Hey!" she spoke, jostling Lara's shoulder underneath the blanket.

"Uhh!" Lara murmured.

"Come on, get up."

Lara finally threw the blanket off of her. It was still cold inside the car. Lara snuggled herself back under the blanket.

"Let's trade places and get out of this place." Julia said.

Lara reluctantly sat and put her seat back up.

"Are you sure?" Lara asked. "You're going to get your feet muddy again."

"Let's see if we can crawl over each other and switch seats." Julia offered.

The two girls looked as if they were playing a game of Twister, with one of them nude. The smaller Lara had leaned in between the two seats, putting her hands on the backseat of the car. Julia meanwhile leaned forward and put her hands on the driver seat. The two started laughing as they crawled around each other. Lara had ended up fully into the backseat, eventually crawling into the passenger seat once Julia got herself into the driver's seat.

Julia started the engine. Lara turned on the heater to its hottest setting, waiting patiently for the engine to warm up the air. After a few revs with the accelerator, Julia put the car in gear and hit the gas.

The front tires spun, but the car went nowhere.

She hit the accelerator pedal harder, and engine revved louder, but the car went nowhere.

"No!" Julia cried out. Don't tell me we're stuck!"

Lara sat looking at her unsure of what to say.

Julia put the car in reverse and tried backing out. But it had no effect. The tires simply spun and the car went nowhere.

Lara felt guilty, having driven the car to this point.

She opened up the passenger door and carefully stepped out. "I'll try to push." She said.

Her feet sunk into the mud with each step. She kept her hands on the car to brace herself from falling. She got to the rear of the car, and yelled out "OK".

Julia hit the gas, and Lara leaned forward putting all her strength against the car, while her feet slowly started sliding backwards through the mud. The front tires simply spun, and the car went nowhere.

Lara was just too small to make an impact. Lara walked slowly through the mud towards the driver side. Julia rolled down her window. The two paused for a moment, trying to think of what to do.

"How far back are we from the main road?" Julia asked.

"Quite a ways" Lara answered. "I went up one dirt road, and then turned down another. I didn't keep track of how far we went."

"Maybe I can walk back and find a car who can pull us out."

"I don't know, maybe".

Julia sat in the car thinking for a couple of minutes. Lara leaned up against the car, enjoying a beam of sunshine that burst through the cloud layer. Finally, Julia opened the car door to find thick gooey mud surrounding the car.

"Your shoes are still on the other side, you want me to get them for you?" Lara asked.

"Yes, please!"

Lara retrieved the shoes and banged them together to get all the mud off. The mud flew everywhere, even landing on Lara's bare skin.

"Eww, they're all soaked!" Lara said.

Julia opened her door, waiting for Lara to bring her the shoes.

She picked one up, took in a breath. "Well, here goes."

Julia put her foot in one of them.

"Oh my God! They're so dirty!"

She put the other foot in the other shoe, and slowly stepped out of the car, holding on to the door to brace herself. She closed the door and used the key fob to lock the car.

The two started walking down the road, towards the direction they came in from last night...

Ch. 26: Morning Affirmation

Sunrise couldn't have come faster for Lara who found it tough to sleep. What little sleep she did get left a light crust of crumbles in the nooks of her eyes. She rubbed and blinked several times.

She lifted the seat up and took a look out of the windows to see what the surroundings looked like. A light dusting of condensation covered the windows from the inside. Lara wiped them off to peek out.

It was just a muddy dirt road that cut through a carpet of tall trees. And it didn't appear that any other cars passed by during the night, as no tire tracks appeared on the newly washed mud

Julia was still asleep. It had taken her an hour after the excitement of last night to settle down and fall back to slumber. Lara didn't want to wake her.

It was still quite cold. Lara put her seat back down and snuggled back under the blanket.

Sounds of birds chirping could be heard. The idea that she was finally on her own and officially having moved out of the house she had grown up in, was starting to sink in. Last night had been her first night as an adult on her own.

And it wasn't like anything she had dreamed of as a child. There was no warm bed, no sounds of television, and no bathroom to use. The little things she had taken for granted now seemed like valuable commodities, like toilet paper, hot running water, and of course, food. 

But for Lara, who believed that owning less stuff would translate into more freedom and joy, realized that just having a towel was precious.

She thought about the summers she spent in middle school at the nudist resort with Teresa. The two girls, along with Teresa's mother, would spend three weeks each summer fully nude the entire time.

Lara never felt more free at the nudist resort. It wasn't just that she was nude, but that she had nothing to carry. No clothes meant nothing to bring and nothing to clean. No pockets and no purse meant nothing keep track of and nothing to buy. From the moment she woke up to when she went to sleep, there was nothing to worry about at all. That was freedom.

But now she recognized that Teresa's mother paid for them to be there. Without the ability to pay the resort fees, going to a nudist resort seemed out of the picture.

Having to take care of herself would not be easy for the course of a year or the rest of her life, especially if she planned to do it fully nude and with nothing to her name. She realized how blessed she was to just have Julia here. She was blessed to have a Starbucks card with money on it. But she and Julia would separate once they got to Fort Wayne, and the Starbucks card would eventually run out.

Where would her next meal come from? Where she was going sleep? How would she keep warm? How could she survive?

It was so much easier to stay at home.

The more she thought about the nudist resort the more she realized it was no different than resorts that required clothing. It had rooms, beds, food, water, electricity, even the Internet. It had a swimming pools television, spa room, parking lot... It was really just like any other travel destination, full of "stuff". It was just that people were naked there.

It was obviously a different kind of nudity. People were there to just take their clothes off with other people and only for a limited time. It was like swimming in the deep end with one hand on the side of the pool. Lara realized that a nudist resort really wasn't about freedom at all. It was about money, like everything else.

"Naturism!" She laughed to herself. "It's a con-job to make nudists feel good about themselves."

Lara wanted "real naturism". But what exactly was that in context with life in the United States? Can someone truly live naked, with no possessions, using only what Mother Nature provided? Is that still even possible?

She wanted it to be possible. She was determined to find it.

Ch. 25: Naked and Muddy

"Julia?" Lara called out. 

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Julia yelled out. Julia began crying.

"Julia!" Lara exclaimed. She trotted through the mud around the front of the car and found Julia laying on her back in the mud. 

"Oh shit!" Lara yelled. She reached down to give Julia a hand.

Julia, being taller, was a heavy girl for the slender, weaker Lara. Her top was all muddied, as was the left half of her body which took the brunt of the fall. There was even some mud in her hair, and of course all over her hands as she picked herself back up.

Lara grabbed the bath towel.

"God damn it!" Julia exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Julia!"

"No, it's not your fault."

"Here's the towel." Lara offered.

"Look at me!" Julia said.

Lara smiled and giggled.

"I need to get another top! Can you get me another hand towel?

Lara reached into the tote bag and handed her another one. Julia wiped off her hands, and then carefully walked towards the trunk of the car.

"Can you pop open the trunk?" She asked Lara. "There's a button on your door."

Lara walked back through the mud to the driver's side door and managed to find the button and popped it open. Julia pulled off her top, removed her bra and placed them in the trunk of the car.

"Shit!" Julia exclaimed.

"What is it?" Lara asked.

"I left the towel on the passenger seat. I need it back!" Julia was about to cry again.

Lara grabbed the towel, then walked towards the back of the car to give her the towel.

Julia began cleaning herself off with what little light shone from inside the trunk.

Lara giggled.

"What are you laughing about?"

You're actually naked, outside, and in the rain!"

Julia unzipped a suitcase in the trunk and began searching for another top and bra. 

"I don't know how I'm going to clean off my shoes! Julia muttered. "They're ruined!"

The two girls walked back to their respective sides of the car. Julia sat down in the passenger seat but left her feet dangling outside to wipe them off. Lara did the same. Julia found her pants and panties and struggled to put them back on.

Lara turned the engine off and everything went back to pitch black again. Even while pulling the blanket and Julia's jacket over her, she was still cold after getting sprinkled on outside. But she didn't want say anything about it, opting to curl herself up into a ball as much as she could.

The excitement made it difficult for Julia to go to sleep.

"Aren't you cold?" Julia asked.

"I'm OK" Lara answered.

"You must be shivering!" Julia insisted.

"It's OK. I'm alright."

Ch. 24: Barefoot and Muddy

"Lara?" A voice called out.

Lara awoke to the sound of Julia's voice. It was still pitch black outside.

"Huh?" Lara asked.

"Where are we?"

"Oh," Lara said and paused as she tried to collect herself. She blinked her eyes several times trying to see in total darkness.

"I think we're on the side of the road somewhere. I don't know. It was raining really hard and I could hardly see."

Julia reached for the radio in her car and pushed a button to see what time it was. It read 1:23AM.

"I gotta use the restroom." Julia said.

"I don't think there's anything out there." Lara replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I kept driving and I got lost. I don't know where we are."

The rain had largely stopped, but there was still a light sprinkle. However some rather large droplets of water was still falling from the trees and peppering the roof of the car.

"Shit! And I don't have a flashlight!" Julia complained.

"Maybe I can turn on the headlights." Lara answered.

"Yeah, OK" said Julia.

Lara turned the key and lit up the road ahead. It looked very eerie outside, just a muddy dirt road that turned to the left with tall trees on either side. It looked scary enough that Julia didn't want to get out.

"Damn it, I gotta pee!" She said.

"I'm sorry!" Lara replied. "I got on the wrong road, and couldn't find a place to turn around."

"It's OK, it's not your fault."

She cracked open the passenger side door and looked down at the ground. It was covered with leaves. She put her foot out and noticed the ground felt mushy. When she put weight on it, her shoe slid.

"Yuck!" She yelled out. "It's really muddy here."

"Maybe we should drive and find another place." Lara asked.

"No, I think I can manage for now."

Julia took some careful steps and managed to get a few feet behind the car and pulled her pants and panties down. She tried to crouch down, but didn't feel stable enough in the mud. She pulled her pants and panties back up without peeing, and walked carefully back inside the car, but took off her muddied shoes and left them outside.

"I can't do this. It's too muddy out there to crouch down. I'm going to have to take my pants off."

Julia lifted her legs and managed to pull her pants and panties off. She opened her door and carefully stepped outside and shut it.

Using the car to hold on to, she spread her legs apart and peed on the mud. A sprinkling of rain, along with drops of water from the trees, showered her half-nude body from above.

Lara used this opportunity to pee also. She opened her driver's side door, stepped out, and crouched down.

Meanwhile, Julia returned to the passenger side door, opened it and called out for Lara.

"What?" Lara answered.

"I need a towel or something! My feet are really muddy!"

"OK, wait a second!"

 Lara peeked through the driver's side door to look at Julia standing by the passenger side door.

"Where can I find them?"

"I have some wash cloths and bath towels in that tote bag behind the driver's seat. Can you get them?"

Lara moved the driver's seat forward so that she could reach into the back. She found the tote bag, brought it out and then set it on the driver's seat. She began combing through it to find the towels."

"Here!" She said, tossing a towel to Julia.

"Ahhh!" She heard Julia cry, followed by a "thud" and "squish"...

Ch. 23: Lost in the Rain

The rain increased. Lara slowed down to a mere 30mph trying to be careful considering the conditions. The fact that it was also night didn't help. She had never driven in these conditions before.

Worse, the road was curving left and right, and there were no shoulders to pull over into. The road had narrowed to a single lane in each direction, and a line of cars were behind her seemingly egging her on to go faster. She did her best to keep the car on the road, let alone try to keep her eyes open for some place to pull over.

The line of headlights in her rear view mirror made her anxious. She felt pressure to speed up so as to not aggravate the drivers behind her, but the road was curvy and she was afraid to go any faster. All she could do was keep going.

There were plenty of other intersecting roads she passed by, but somehow she tuned them out. There were also overlooks she could have pulled over into, but by the time she noticed them, it had been too late to do so. She developed tunnel vision, transfixed on the road ahead and trying to do her best to keep the car moving. An hour and a half later, she came to a fork in the road. It was an off ramp heading to an intersecting road.

She took a gamble and decided to take the off ramp to get out of the way of the cars behind her. To her luck, none of them followed her. The off ramp took her north along another two-lane highway. It went through several tiny villages but she found no place to pull over, or at least nothing she felt comfortable with. Lara kept on driving.

Julia remained asleep in the passenger seat.

With the cars behind her now gone, Lara felt relieved. She finally realized how cold it was in the car and turned on the heater. The rain increased with intensity. Lara's focus remained fixed on the road. For the most part, she remained in her head, determined to find someplace safe for them to park and sleep for the night.

Lara noticed a sign suggesting there was a park or campground ahead. It sounded like a good place to go. But she was confused which road to take. There were several intersecting roads and she didn't know which one to turn on. She finally made a right turn down another road, hoping this would be the correct road. However, the road became more narrow and bumpy, turning to dirt. She realized it must have been the wrong road.

Eventually she found an intersection, and decided to turn left and follow that road, hoping it would provide a place for her to pull over and stop. Up ahead she could see what appeared to be a small dirt patch by the side of the road to pull over. As she approached, she turned into it, but realized it was another road, a dirt road.

She decided to take it instead of trying to put the car into reverse and stay on the road she had been on.

The dirt road had become more muddy under the heavy rain. There were potholes already filled with water. She drove further, slowing down to between 5 to 10mph, again hoping to find a place to pull over and stop the car.

The car, being only a compact with small narrow tires, wasn't designed to navigate slick muddy roads. Lara could feel the rear of the car drifting left and right. She finally found a place to pull over, just a small shoulder, and stopped the car there. She turned off the engine, to which the outside became pitch black. 

Julia was still sleeping like a rock.

Lara grabbed a blanket from the back seat and pulled it over both her and Julia. Lara laid her seat down and reclined back to sleep. The sound of the rain still pouring over the car created a shower of noise and variated as the rain changed its patterns.

With the engine off, the inside of the car cooled down quickly. The blanket helped keep the cool air off of her skin, but her body was starting to feel cold. She just wasn't able to sleep. She lifted herself up and reached for Julia's jacket in the backseat, though the darkness made it difficult for her to find. But she managed to find it, and pull it over her.

Lara felt a sense of uncertainty. She knew she did the best she could, but worried she had gotten them lost. It was pitch black outside, raining hard, getting cold. Fear was creeping into her. At least she had the safety of the car, the comfort of a blanket, and the companion of her friend.

Nonetheless, Lara did what she always did, reach with her fingers down below and sooth herself. She withdrew into her little girl to forget about the circumstances.

Ch. 22: Lara Has To Drive

"Why do we have a naked girl in here?" The store manager asked his employee.

"Oh, she's traveling to California naked and stopped in I guess." She explained.

The manager looked frustrated.

"I mean, why is she in here. We don't serve people with no clothes on."

"Oh, well she was so nice and polite, and she didn't mean any harm, and it's getting pretty late, I just figured it would be OK."

By this time it was already just past 8:00pm, and past store hours. The manager walked to the door and put up the "Closed" sign. Then as he walked back behind the counter, he looked at Lara. Lara looked up at him as well. Julia had closed her eyes, and it almost appeared to Lara that she had drifted asleep.

Lara tapped her shoulder.

"Hey, wake up!" Julia woke up. "Oh, sorry."

"Well, you have to drive us, don't fall asleep."

Lara dropped some crumbs from the carrot cake over her lap, and tried picking them up. The manager continued to watch Lara from behind the counter. Lara didn't want to look back, but was all too aware the manager was staring at her.

She finished her carrot cake and then stood up to brush off the rest of the crumbs. The manager watched as she rubbed her hands over her belly, crotch, and her thighs. Lara picked up the cup of hot tea, and walked to the counter.

"Hi, can I have a refill?"

The manager paused for a moment, looking at Lara. It was if he was in disbelief of her asking for a refill with no clothing on. But instead of arguing, he then took her cup and refilled it with hot water and a tea bag. She walked over to Julia, and woke her up again.

"Come on Julia, I think we need to go now."

"Huh? OK. Let's go." Julia remarked in a sleepy tone.

The two walked outside to find it had started raining. A light drizzle felt cool and refreshing on Lara's bare skin. Julia somehow remained tired and sleepy.

Julia got into the driver's seat. She paused, and then yawned.

"My keys, where are they?"

"I think they're in your purse."

"Oh."

Julia reached into her purse and found them, and struggled to put the key into the ignition. Lara watched with concern.

"Are you sure you can drive?"

"I don't know." Julia answered, laughing. "It's been a long day. Maybe we can find a parking lot somewhere."

"Here, why don't we switch places. I'll try to find someplace."

The two girls got out of the car and reentered with Lara sitting in the driver's seat. Lara never received a driver's license, but she knew how to drive a car. Still, it was not something she was comfortable with. She got the car started, and carefully drove off.

Lara remembered seeing a paved lot somewhere further behind, and attempted to find it. The rain increased, and combined with the dark of night, made it difficult for her to see. She was quite nervous, and drove rather slowly. She became disoriented and took what she thought was a street that would get her to that paved lot, but the road seemed to continue a rather long ways, and the homes and businesses didn't appear familiar.

She figured she would just continue and find a parking lot somewhere to pull into and wait for tomorrow. But she couldn't find any...

Ch. 21: No Place to Stay in Asheville

The time was nearing 5:00pm when they finally got north of Spartanburg. Julia had hoped to be in Asheville soon, but the time spent backtracking to the rest area and then driving to Spartanburg and having to pay $40.00 to get her cell phone back, really put her behind schedule.

She worried that she'd get to Asheville too late to find a motel with a vacancy. It wasn't until 6:20 PM that she finally pulled into town.

"Finally!" She exclaimed.

Julia took the first off ramp and started looking for a motel. She passed by some motels that said "No Vacancy", but spotted others that didn't make any mention of vacancy. She pulled into a few nicer looking motels and inquired about rooms, however learned that they were all booked up.

She continued to drive further around town, passing by a few older motels that actually said "Vacancy" but wasn't comfortable with the way they looked. They looked unkempt and unclean. She didn't want to have any part of them. It was already 7:00pm, and Julia hadn't found a place to stay for the night.

She pulled over into the parking lot of a bank.

"Do you think we should try some of those others that said 'Vacancy' on them?" Julia asked.

"I don't know." Lara remarked with some apprehension. "I guess it's up to you."

"Well, maybe we should get something to eat first, I'm getting hungry."

"That's sounds fine by me."

"Did you want to find a Starbucks and use your card?" Julia asked.

"Yeah, that would be good."

"I think I saw one back there."

Julia pulled out of the bank and drove to the coffee shop she remembered seeing and parked the car. The two got out.

Julia couldn't help containing a giggle at the sight of Lara walking nude towards the coffee shop. This time, Julia tried hard not to say anything to Lara about walking nude into an establishment. The two girls walked inside and proceeded to the counter and asked for a hot tea and the last Snickerdoodle cookie in their pastry case.

The girl at the counter was rather astonished to see Lara standing in the coffee shop completely nude.

By this time of the evening there was only one other customer in the shop, seated at a table looking at his laptop computer.

"Uh, OK." The girl answered with uncertainty, and charged Lara with a price of $7.69, to which Lara handed her the gift card.

"So, can I ask why you're walking around naked?" The girl asked with a smile.

"Oh. I'm on a mission to travel to California with no clothes or money."

The girl chuckled. "Oh my God! Are you serious? All the way to California, like that?"

"Yeah, seriously."

"Aren't you worried about getting in trouble?"

"No, I try to stay low key, and so far I haven't had any trouble."

"But you have that gift card, so you do have some kind of money, right?"

"Oh, I got this from somebody. I get free stuff from people because I'm naked and all."

The girl proceeded to fill the order, and minutes later handed Lara her tea and cookie.

"Well, I'm not supposed to do this, but all the cookies and pastries in the display case are going to get thrown out after we close, so if you want them you can have them." The girl spoke quietly.

"Can I really?"

"Mmm, hmm."

Lara took a look at the case.

"How about I get those other cookies, and that carrot cake?" The girl pulled them out and placed them in a bag and handed it to her.

"Sure you don't want more?" The girl asked.

Lara thought about it.

"Well, can I maybe get all the cookies?"

"Mmm, hmm. Sure!"

The girl bagged up all the cookies for Lara and handed them to her.

"What are you getting?" Julia asked.

"She's giving me all the cookies for free!"

"Oh my God!" Julia remarked.

"Thank you so much!"

"Not a problem! Good luck with your trip to California!"

"Thanks! Lara smiled.

Lara started walking towards a sofa at the other end of the coffee shop to enjoy her tea and carrot cake, opting to keep the cookies for later. Meanwhile, the store manager had walked in from the back room, and took notice of Lara...

Ch. 20: Revenge at the Chicken Restaurant

"Damn it!" Julia exclaimed. "I can't lose that phone! I have everything in there!"

"Well, I'm sure you'll get it back." Lara tried to console.

"I better! My dad's going to be calling me on it!" 

"You will." 

"If I don't he's going to kill me!"

Seeing Julia worried and upset always had an effect on Lara. She reacted by feeling mostly worried, but also frightened. Julia had been a comforting figure for Lara in the years after she was separated from Teresa, and she had come to rely on Julia.

Julia sped down the Interstate. She weaved in and out of cars and yelled at drivers who got in her way. Lara felt uneasy and grabbed on to the passenger door hand rail.

"Will you get out of the way!" Julia shouted at another car.

About 30 minutes later, Julia saw the exit signs for Highway 221.

"Finally!" She exclaimed.

After taking the exit, she made a left just as the woman instructed and looked for the chicken restaurant.

"I think that's the place" Julia pointed. 

She pulled into the parking lot and drove slowly looking around for a dark blue mini-van. She finally spotted one, but it appeared to be empty. She got out of her car and walked over, but found no one inside. 

"Maybe they're inside the restaurant?" Lara asked gently, careful not to agitate Julia.

"Maybe." Julia acknowledged.

Julia headed for the restaurant and walked inside. It was crowded and busy. She began wandering around hoping that someone would catch her attention. She had no idea of who to look for. Almost immediately, a little girl walked up to her and asked her if she was looking for a cell phone.

"Yes! That's me." Julia said.

"My mom is over there."

Julia followed her over.

"Is this what you're looking for?" The woman asked.

Julia saw a heavy set woman, not looking friendly in any way at all. She had two other children seated with her.

"Yes, that's my phone." Julia said.

"It'll cost you $40.00 to get it back." The woman replied.

Julia stood silent for moment, stunned that someone would make her pay to get her own phone back.

"No! That's my phone! I need it back!" She raised her voice.

"Well, it's mine now. $40.00!" The woman insisted, pulling it away and putting it back into her purse.

Julia dropped her shoulders and rolled her eyes.

"You can't do that! That's stealing!" She took a step forward saying, "I want my phone back!"

"Don't you dare come close, or you'll be sorry!" She warned.

Julia remained where she was and stood in disbelief that someone would hold her cellphone for ransom.

"Pleas! I'm expecting a very important call from my father! I need that phone, please!"

"40 bucks!"

The woman turned her attention back to her dinner, trying to ignore her. Other restaurant customers took notice of Julia making a commotion.

"Uh!" Julia sounded in frustration, throwing her hands up in the air. She turned around and walked back to her car. Julia got inside and began digging in her purse.

"Did you get your phone back?" Lara asked.

"No! This fat bitch wants me to pay $40.00 to get it back!" Julia explained while opening up her purse to retrieve some money.

"What? Are you serious? She can't do that!"

"Well, what am I going to do? I mean, I can't exactly take her down or anything! She's huge!"

Julia pulled out a couple of twenties and walked back into the restaurant.

"Here!" She said. "Can I have my phone back?"

The woman handed the phone back to Julia.

"Thank you very much" she said proudly.

Julia walked back to her car and got back inside.

"Wait a minute" Lara said. "We can't just let her do that."

Lara opened the door and got out.

"What are you going to do?" Julia asked.

Lara walked to the woman's minivan and crouched down to unscrew the valve cap on one of the rear wheels. She pushed down on the valve stem and let the air out until the tire was flat. Then she did the same to the other wheel, except she was now in view of the restaurant. By the time she had let all the air out of the second tire, the woman pushed the restaurant door open and yelled out.

"Hey get away from my car!"

She ran towards Lara. But Lara quickly got back into Julia's car, and Julia sped off. The two laughed hysterically as Lara looked behind to see the woman flipping them off.

Ch. 19: Julia Loses Her Cell Phone

Julia drove the car out of the rest area and proceeded down the freeway. Lara told her about the security guard's car, which she mistook for a police car and the two had some laughs.

About ten minutes later, Julia kept one hand on the steering wheel while using the other to check her purse, but she had trouble trying to multi-task.

"Can you look in my purse and find my cellphone?" she asked Lara.

Lara opened it up and went through it.

"No, it's not there."

"Shit!" Julia exclaimed. "I think I left it at the rest stop."

"Are you sure it's not in your pocket?"

"No, I had it in my purse, and was checking messages when I was in the stall. I'm thinking I probably set it down on the toilet paper dispenser and forgot it."

Julia had to drive another two miles down the freeway until she could exit, and then get back on going the opposite direction. She had to pass the rest area, going another mile before she could turn around and come back the other direction again. When she pulled into the rest area, she hurried out and went into the women's room.

About five minutes later she emerged, but without her cell phone.

She shook her head to let Lara know she didn't find it.

Meanwhile, Lara looked around through the car, just to make sure. Julia returned to the car, upset.

Lara looked across the parking lot to see if the off duty security officer was still there, but she was not.

"There's a pay phone over there." Lara pointed out. "Maybe you can call your cell phone and find out who answers it."

"That's a good idea!" Julia replied.

She opened her purse and found a quarter. She got out and ran to the pay phone and placed a call to her cellphone. The phone rang a few times, until finally someone answered.

"Hello?" A young girl's voice answered.

"Hi, my name is Julia, and I left my cell phone at a rest stop and you must have picked it up."

There was a pause. Finally, another voice answered, a more mature sounding woman's voice.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Hi." Julia answered again. "I left my cell phone at a rest stop, and I'm calling it from a pay phone. You must have it. I'd like to get it back please?"

"Well, we just got into Spartanburg right now. You'll have to meet us there."

"OK, where can I meet you?"

"We'll be at the chicken restaurant on your left, as you get off on Hwy 221. I'm in a dark blue mini-van."

"OK, I'll see you there."

"OK."

Julia hung up the phone and ran back to the car.

"We have to go to Spartanburg. Some lady has it and wants to me drive there to get it."

"We must have driven past her somewhere." Lara said.

Ch. 18: Embarrassed at the Rest Stop

Later on the in the afternoon, Julia had turned on the radio. Lara, who had remained in her dissociative state, finally awoke from the sound of music playing.

Julia had lost a lot of time in Columbia. She had hoped to reach Asheville by 3:00pm, enough time to find a room, get settled in, washed up, and grab some dinner. But as it was, it was looking like they wouldn't reach there until 6:00pm. 

Lara blinked her eyes several times trying to focus.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"I think we're about a half-hour from Spartanburg."

"Hey, do you think you could stop at the next rest stop?"

"Yeah, OK."

"How are you feeling?" Julia asked.

"I'm OK."

Further down the road, Julia saw a sign for a rest area up ahead, and pulled into it. Both Lara and Julia stepped out of the car. Lara didn't bother to look around, but just walked directly to the restroom, fully nude. There were a few people walking about, but this rest area wasn't that busy. 

She managed to enter the women's room without creating an audience. Stepping inside, she could feel small puddles everywhere on the floor. She switched to tip-toeing. It disgusted her to know that it might not just be water. Meanwhile, Julia proceeded directly into a stall to relieve herself. 

Julia managed to finish first. She washed up and walked back to the car.

When Lara finished, she walked to the sink to wash her hands, and took the time to wash her feet as well. She realized that with the soap dispenser, the hot running water, the paper towels, this was an opportunity to wash her entire body. There was even a heated blow dryer that she could crouch down to dry her hair if she wanted to, and even warm herself up during cold nights. But she didn't do so, she wanted to get back to the car so that Julia could make up time.

Lara exited the women's room and started towards Julia's car, but stopped when she spotted a police car at the one end of the rest area.

She wasn't sure to continue towards Julia's car, so she took a few steps back to hide herself just inside the doorway of the women's room. She peeked out towards the police car, but couldn't see anyone inside, nor any sign of a policeman. 

An older woman walked towards the women's room. Lara saw her, but ignored her, opting to keep her focus on the police car. The older saw the nude young woman.

"Miss, are you missing your clothes?"

Lara smiled said discreetly, "No, I'm a nudist."

The woman looked astonished, and then continued into the women's room. Lara tried to walk out far enough to get in view of Julia's car, hoping she could wave her hand and motion Julia to walk over, but doing so would put her in view of the entire rest area, and perhaps the policeman. She reasoned the policeman was probably in the men's room, and so elected to just remain inside the doorway of the women's room until she saw the policeman leave.

A few minutes later, the same woman who had spoke to her before stopped to question her again. "Miss, are you alright, is there anything I can help you with?"

Lara smiled politely and said, "I'm OK, I just need to wait for someone."

"I can bring some clothes for you. I have some shirts and pants in the car I can bring you."

No, I don't wear clothes, really." Lara answered.

"Well honey, how could you not wear clothes at a rest stop?"

"I just don't wear clothes, that's all."

Lara tried to answer.

"This must be some kind of a joke." She replied. "Well, good luck to you!"

The woman was about to walk away, when Lara spoke out again. "Oh ma'am, could you do me a favor?"

"Yes?" She asked.

"You see that police car there? Can you look around and tell me if you see the policeman anywhere?"

"Oh why honey that's not a police car, that's my car!" The woman laughed. "I'm just a security guard. I'm getting of work!"

Lara looked upset and began walking towards Julia's car, quickly.

"You mean that's why you're hiding here?" The woman yelled out, laughing.

Ch. 17: Another Kind Stranger

Traffic had gotten worse in downtown Columbia. Trying to drive out of the grid pattern of traffic was testing Julia's patience. As a relatively new driver, with a brand new car, she was feeling overwhelmed.

Lara, on the other hand, was elated.

"Mmm!" She sounded taking a bite out of a muffin. "Apple crumb! One of my favorites!"

Suddenly, the two girls heard a whistling sound, followed by a guy yelling, "Woo!" It was a truck driver that had pulled up next to them while waiting for the traffic signal to turn green. He had rolled down his window to get Lara's attention.

Lara looked up at the truck driver and smiled.

"Show me your titties!" He yelled out.

Julia gasped, then rolled her eyes.

Lara turned her body towards the passenger side window. She didn't have much to show off. Her slender build just didn't blossom out like most teenage girls.

"Lara! No!" Julia raised her voice.

"What?" Lara asked.

"Come on! You've never been like this before."

"Like what?"

"Like this! Like posing for photographs, walking up naked to random guys, showing off your boobs."

"Whatever."

When the light had turned green, Julia accelerated down the street, but turn left down a smaller street hoping the truck driver would pass on by.

"Look, I don't want to be mean, but once I get to Fort Wayne, and you're on your own, you're going to have to learn how to stay away from situations like that where people start making you feel traumatized."

Lara knew she was right, but the advice made her feel analyzed, which also made her uncomfortable. 

"I know." She acknowledged. "You're right. I'll try better."

"You just have to stop and look at the situation. First find your escape route, tell yourself that that's how you will escape, then go in try to get what you need."

"Yeah, I know. You're right."

"You OK?" Julia asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I just need to eat something."

 "Hey, you know I love you. You're my best friend!" Julia added, trying reassure her she wasn't angry.

Lara smiled. "I know, I love you too."

"Shit!" Julia exclaimed, slamming her hand on the steering wheel.

"What? What is it?"

"We're on a dead end road. I thought I could get back on the Interstate from here. Now I don't know where I am!"

Julia began making various right and left turns down several streets, hoping to find her way to a freeway on-ramp.

"Here." She said, handing Lara her cellphone. "Can you find out how to get us back on?"

Lara took the phone and opened up a mapping application. But having not ever used a mapping application, she wasn't sure how to help.

"I don't know how to use this!" Lara said.

"Well, I need help!" Julia insisted.

"Well why did you turn down this way? We were already on the right road!"

"Because I didn't want the truck driver following us!" Julia complained.

Lara was shaken again. She sat quiet. She felt the stigma of blame wash over her. Julia continued looking for a way to get back on the Interstate. Lara leaned her head against the passenger side window and withdrew into herself.

"Hey, I'm sorry." Julia apologized.

Lara didn't respond.

Julia touched her Lara's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, OK?"

Lara shrugged. She didn't want to be touched, nor did she want to answer. Instead, she reclined the seat backwards so that she could lay down and close her eyes.

Julia continued searching for her way to the Interstate. She was witnessing Lara going through so many emotional states and drifting through different personalities so frequently that she didn't know to do her self. With Lara being far from home, without the safety of her bedroom, there was so much external input that Lara was becoming out of control.

Julia finally found the on-ramp to the Interstate and began accelerating out of Columbia. Moments later, Lara began masturbating, gently stroking her clitoris, and withdrawing into her six year old girl. Julia kept her focus on driving.

"What a pretty little girl!" Miss Stanton praised, putting her hands on her waist and smiling proudly at a young Lara. "Come here and sit on my lap!"

"Hi Miss Stanton! I missed you!"

"Well, I've missed you too!"

Miss Stanton ran her fingers through Lara's hair.

"You have the most softest, prettiest hair I have ever seen! And your eyes are so blue, and your soft little lips are so rosy and red!"

Lara smiled.

"Look what I have for you! A pretty pink ribbon!"

"Lara's eyes opened wide. She grinned with such anticipation.

We're going to tie a cute little bow on hair, and you're going to look so cute!"

Ch. 16: Naked in Columbia

Traffic was heavy getting into downtown Columbia. After 10 minutes of driving, following the man Lara met at the gas station, they still had not arrived at a Starbucks.

"10 minutes!" Julia announced. "That's it! I'm not following anymore!"

"No please! Keep following! Please! I really want a Starbucks! Please!" Lara begged.

It was another 5 minutes later when the girls noticed the man they were following sticking his arm out the window and pointing. Sure enough, it was a Starbucks.

"OK, this time we're going into the drive through." Julia said.

The man they were following stopped ahead of them at a left turn signal. Lara looked at the Starbucks building. It was located at the bottom floor of a much larger building.

"I don't think this one has a drive through." Lara observed.

"Uhh!" Julia gasped in frustration.

"I don't see a drive through."

The man they were following continued driving, taking a U-turn and coming to a park along the curb a few cars lengths away from Starbucks. Julia pulled in behind him and parked along the curb as well.

"Do not step out of the car!" Julia ordered, raising her voice.

"Why?" Lara asked, quietly.

"Why?" Julia barked, sarcastically. "Look, as long as I'm driving you, you're going to do things my way!"

Lara scoffed.

"Your way?"

"Yes, my way! It's my car! I make the rules!"

Lara shook her head and grunted. "Fine, I guess I won't ride with you then." She proceeded to open the car door to step out.

Julia reached for Lara's arm to pull her back in.

"Stop!" Julia yelled. "OK, OK!"

Lara stopped and pulled her leg back into the car.

"Close the door please!" Julia begged.

Lara pulled the door closed. "Fine!"

"Thank you! OK. I'm sorry." Julia said.

There was a brief silence as Julia tried to collect herself and figure out what to say. Meanwhile, Lara spotted the man who had lead them here standing close by, waiting for them. She waved her hand at him to let him know they were aware of him.

Lara was already well aware of Julia's frustrations with her. Their relationship had largely been one where Julia saw herself as a big sister to Lara's little girl, and also that of therapist to Lara's mental illness. But Julia had no experience as a sibling and no training as a therapist. Moreover, Lara was no longer in the frame of mind of staying at home and hiding in her bedroom. Lara knew she had to learn how to survive on her own. This was new territory for both girls.

"You don't know who he is!" Julia tried to reason. "He might try something with you. You could be in a lot of serious danger."

"I don't think he's dangerous." Lara replied. "He looks nice and he sounded nice to me."

"Fine." Julia quipped, frustrated. "But let me go into Starbucks for you. I don't want..."

"No Julia. I need to figure this out. Maybe I won't go into a Starbucks naked every time. But, I need to figure out for myself how to get the things I need. I mean, I'm glad you're here. I know you're going to look out for me. But, I just need to this. OK?"

"Lara, they're going to call the police if you go in there."

"OK, fine, then I'll just have to go in and come out as fast as I can."

Julia shook her head as if to suggest Lara wasn't understanding. "But the police will come for us both, Lara. I'll be in trouble too!"

"OK so be it. I'll just ask this guy if he can drive me."

Lara opened the car door to get out.

"Lara! No!" Julia raised her voice, trying to grab Lara's hand. Lara shook her off, and walked towards the man. Julia grunted in frustration and got out of the car to join them.

When he noticed Lara walking towards him, the man walked to meet her.

"So do you go around naked in public all the time?" He asked.

"Yup, all the time." She answered.

The two entered into Starbucks.

"Hey, my name is Doug, by the way."

"Oh, I'm Lara. That's Julia!"

The three walked up to line. There were still a few other customers in front of them waiting. Lara looked around the coffee shop. She only saw one person looking at her. Everyone else seemed to be going at their own business.

"So how come your friend isn't naked too?" Doug asked.

"Please, really? One's not enough for you?"

"Well, OK!" Doug replied, rolling his eyes and sensing Julia's distance.

"I don't know, why aren't you naked, Doug?" Lara asked in return.

Doug laughed.

"So how old are you girls?"

"Uh, well that's none of your business." Julia snapped.

"Eighteen." Lara answered.

Other customers finally took notice of Lara, and a rush of whispers, giggles and whistles swelled up to take over the coffee shop. Flashes and snaps from cell phones and cameras soon followed. Lara immediately felt troubled, and pressed herself up close to Julia.

The girls and Doug finally got up to the counter to place an order. Lara tried to look confident, but was overcome with anxiety at the noise of giggles, whispers, and people trying to get a look. She presented her gift card and placed an order for an iced tea and a muffin.

"Sorry, we can't serve you." A girl at the cash register explained politely. The girl turned to look at her manager and motioned for him to come over.

"Oh." Lara answered, nervously above all the commotion.

"You're going to have to leave the store!" The manager said sternly, pointing his finger towards the door.

The store grew quiet as everyone watched and listened. Lara didn't know what to say or do, and put her hands together up to her chest, elbows to her sides, and head down. She started to feel traumatized.

"Come on, Lara." Julia whispered, holding Lara in her hands and trying to turn her around.

Doug stepped up to the counter.

"Sir, you mind please letting her order. She's very hungry, she doesn't have any clothes."

The manager shook his head. "Now! Or I will call the police!"

Lara jolted and shook under the anger of the manager. Julia was already walking Lara out of the coffee shop.

"I will get you an iced tea and muffin!" Doug turned to girls.

The two girls exited the coffee shop. Customers began snapping more photos, making more whispers and laughs.

Doug continued to place an order for Lara.

Inside the car, Lara remained quiet. The small success she found at the other Starbucks earlier in the day had left her feeling confident. But the commotion made at this Starbucks, along with the manager yelling at her to get out, raised the same traumatic feeling of being in high school with kids laughing at her.

"Lara? You OK?" Julia asked.

Lara didn't answer, but gave Julia a brief look. Julia wanted to say something to comfort her, but didn't quite know the right words to say.

"You poor thing." Julia comforted, reaching to Lara's hair and stroking her head. "I know you were trying to do the best for yourself."

Lara maintained her frozen position, but turned her eyes down and blinked.

"Maybe we just have to find a different Starbucks that's more friendly. Maybe one that's not in such a busy place like this." Julia continued.

Lara remained still. Julia's kind tone of voice was helping, and she appreciated that she knew how to get her out of trouble. The "traumatized teen" alter helped stop Lara from going down into her "six year old girl", where she would break down and cry in a situation like this. She could still maintain some composure, though still very much fragile and vulnerable.

There was a tap on the passenger side window. It was Doug holding a tray of drinks and a bag of goodies, with a huge grin.

The tapping jolted Lara and Julia, surprising the two.

Julia turned on the ignition, but didn't start the engine. She rolled the window down for Doug.

"Here are iced teas for you both, and here is a bag of muffins." Doug handed them to Lara.

"Thank you!" Julia acknowledged.

Lara smiled and turned her head for Doug. It was what she needed to pull herself out.

"Hey, that guy was a complete asshole for yelling at you like that. He had no right."

Lara made a half-smile and looked at Doug. "Yeah, I know."

"Oh, hey, here's your gift card back. I actually I threw another $50.00 on there for you."

Lara's face lit up with surprise.

"Oh!" She said with an endearing tone. "That's sweet of you! Ah!"

Lara opened the passenger door to get out.

"Lara! No!" Julia warned.

Lara ignored Julia, too surprised and happy to acknowledge her warning. She gave Doug a hug.

"Thank you so much Doug!"

Doug was elated.

"Hey, here's my card." He said. "You can call me anytime you want. Whatever you need, just call me, I'm glad to help."

"Thank you!"

"You girls here in town?" He asked.

"No, we're on our way to Fort Wayne." Lara replied.

"Fort Wayne. Indiana?"

"Yup!"

"Oh, OK. I remember you saying something back at the gas station about a college study."

Lara remembered now. It took her a few seconds to reset herself and remember.

"Yeah, it's part of a road trip!" She explained.

"Oh, road trip! Right! You have a place to stay there I imagine?"

"Julia does, but I'm just tagging along. So, we'll see."

"Lara!" Julia yelled, trying to get Lara's attention.

"Oh, OK. Well, when you get to Fort Wayne, and you end up needing a place to stay, give me a call. I can definitely arrange something for you."

"Yes! I just may!"

"Lara!" Julia continued to yell.

"What?" Lara yelled back.

"Let's go!"

"I guess I better let you girls go." Doug finished. "Good luck!"

"Thank you!" Lara replied, getting back into the car.

"About time!" Julia huffed, rolling her eyes.

"You see!" Lara continued. "Everything worked out!"