Julia wanted a coffee and danish before getting on the Interstate, and drove to her favorite Starbucks shop.
She parked the car several rows away so that customers wouldn't notice Lara seated nude in the car.
"I'm going to get a coffee and danish. Do you want me to get you one?"
"No, I'll be OK."
Julia got out of the car and walked to the coffee shop.
Lara watched.
Five minutes went by when Lara spotted a man walking out of the shop with a cup of coffee and a newspaper in his arm. He was wearing a business outfit and looked rather clean cut. She took a couple of breaths, and then closed her eyes momentarily. Then, she opened the car door and got out, and approached him.
The man smiled and laughed slightly at the sight of a young, angelic, but completely nude girl looking right at him.
"Uh, hi!" She said.
"Hi." He said right back, continuing to walk to his car.
Lara turned to follow him.
"I hope you don't mind, but I would really like a cup of coffee and was wondering if maybe you spare me a few dollars..."
The man continued to smile and laugh. He unlocked his car door and got in, seemingly trying to ignore her. She stood and watched him start the car and drive away.
Lara felt rather dumb. She never intended to beg, yet here she was trying to beg. As he drove away, she remained standing in the parking lot looking back at the coffee shop, and noticing other people seated in the outdoor patio staring at her.
She paused for a moment and recalled a time several years ago when she and Teresa were at a local burger restaurant. An old man had struck up a conversation with them, and the two girls spent several minutes laughing at his jokes. He thanked them by offering to buy them some lunch. They declined, but the gesture left an impression on Lara.
She walked to the patio of the coffee shop, and found a table where a man was seated with his laptop.
"Hi." She said to him. "Mind if I have a seat?"
"Uh, no... go ahead." He answered, looking at her naked body.
Other people in the patio were looking at Lara in amazement, some were giggling, and others were whispering, while others picked up their cellphones to record video.
An elderly woman at another table spoke out, "Uh miss, why are you naked?"
Lara looked over at her. "It's just a research project I'm doing." She lied in a polite tone.
"A research project?" The woman questioned, and then waved her hand at her in disbelief.
The guy with the laptop computer spoke out, "What kind of research project is this?"
Lara looked puzzled and found it difficult to come up with a reasonable explanation. She noticed the people whispering to each other and shooting video of her with their cellphones. She realized she was in over her head, and started to feel herself dissociating into another one of alters, that of the traumatized teen.
In the months after Lara and Teresa were forcibly separated, Lara found herself unprotected from the ridicule and pestering from other kids in high school. Unable to deal with the name calling and confrontation on her own, and fearful that they would all descend on her, she became traumatized and unable to react. Eventually she learned to escape to the school library, ironically one of the few places students visited and hide there. But in moments like this, where she didn't where to escape to, or where to find protection, she froze up, made herself small, put her hands together up to her chest, and lowered her head against her hands.
"Lara?" Julia spoke as she walked into the patio. "Oh my God Lara! What are you doing out here?"
Lara looked up at Julia, but was unable to answer.
"Come on! Right now! Let's get back to the car." Julia demanded, grabbing hold of Lara's arm.
Lara got and followed her.
"I thought you were going to stay in the car!" Julia scolded, trying to balance her drink and danish in one hand, and leading Lara with the other.
About halfway to the car, a man approached them from behind.
