60 Minutes On The Meter (Ch2 1/21/23)

[MissAriel]

Part 1

I swipe my card and double check one more time to make sure I’ve got the right spot. $3.00 an hour? It's practically highway robbery! I have half a mind to go park somewhere else. Or well, I would, except this is kind of the only place isolated enough that I’d consider doing this. I distinctly remember being a lot braver on my way here. Funny how my legs are quivering now that I've arrived.

Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

Maybe I should go home. I mean, I could just lie and pretend to do it. Except, well, I have a thing about dishonesty. I always get knots in my stomach when I tell the slightest untruth and I feel like everyone can see right through me. And I couldn’t do that to my friends. They trust me.

...But on the other hand, they are kind of asking a lot from me. I mean, seriously, wearing only this on a hike through the woods? Really? They could have at least let me put on underwear underneath. Especially knowing what I have to do when I get to you-know-where. Technically, I could have just worn something underneath, anyways, since it’s not like they’d ever know. Except for the whole I can’t lie to my friends thing. Thanks, mom.

I glance over at the parking lot across the street. The meter maids are out in force today. No doubt game day generates a lot of revenue for parking enforcement. I’m not too worried, though. I expect an hour is more than enough to get to where I’m going, and I’m confident I won’t be seen. The game should be starting any minute now, which means every single person in a 50-mile radius is either at the stadium or watching the game on a big screen TV. And even if something does go wrong, it’s really unlikely that I’m going to run into anyone.

Despite how much I’ve rationalized this little dare, though, I still feel pretty nervous. I mean, I’m wearing nothing but a coat. I’m one wardrobe malfunction away from flashing everything and the kitchen sink to the next unlucky stranger I happen to come across. No, I’m being ridiculous. My coat is securely buttoned, and while it is short, it’s nothing too risqué compared to what the cheerleading squad is doing right now.

Okay, this is the moment of truth. I glance at my watch and it says 2:00. It’s now or never.

I nervously push the button with my shaking finger and hear a little beep that confirms that I’ve passed the point of no return. I have no time to be embarrassed anymore. I’m on the clock now.

I angle my phone from above, a classic selfie technique I’ve used many times to make my face look thin and beautiful. Okay, so to be fair, the angled illusion of my alluring face is only part of the reason that my phone is reaching for the sky. I also need to make sure that I capture the running parking meter and at least part of my coat for verification purposes. It was a ‘suggestion’ from my Discord friend. Sigh. The thought crosses my mind again that I could just wait an hour, take another photo, and head home, but I dismiss it as quickly as the brief snapping sound of my phone as I take my see-I-actually-did-it selfie. Hope this stupid picture makes you happy, Ewong.

Okay, deep breaths. No time to be nervous. I glance at my watch again and only a minute has gone by. I waste no time and break into a comfortable jog as I make my way towards the forest. I know I’m crazy to be doing this in what should be the middle of winter, but thankfully, sunny California only has three seasons.

I take in the scenery of nature for what feels like the first time in a long time. I start to relax and forget my precarious state of dress as I gaze upon the earthy denizens of the lonely woodlands. I love the tranquility of the forest; it's a place where I can comfortably leave behind the mundanities of college life like studying and hour-long lectures. The sounds of birds singing and the roaring stream are a melody to my ears as I adeptly dodge and twist through the trees, straying from the beaten path more commonly taken. The forest path pointlessly winds and twists and I don’t have the luxury of time for that today. This way is faster.

I eventually come to a clearing beyond the trees and the cloudy, azure blue sky makes itself visible once more. It really is such a beautiful day. I wish I could take a nap right now, but I’m here for business, not pleasure. My footsteps lightly thump as I walk on the wooden docks and I take a deep breath in an effort to calm my racing heart. This is it. I snap another selfie with my phone angled from above, capturing another excellent angle of my beautifulness and the lake surrounding me.

I nervously glance around. Deserted, as expected. Football is a big thing here. Really big. I suspect that I might be the only person who lives here that doesn’t watch every game religiously. I glance at my watch again. I’m still making good time. All right. Breathe. I can do this.

There’s no time like the present. Without wasting any more precious seconds, I rip off the band-aid and unbutton my little brown coat, letting it fall to the wooden planks beneath me. I nervously glance at my watch one last time before bending down and stuffing it in my coat pocket. If my school mates had any idea about what I was doing right now, I bet the football game would suddenly be the second most popular activity at UofT. Not to be conceited or anything, but I have a pretty nice figure, and more than one guy has commented that I’m pretty easy on the eyes. I mean, seeing this? Out here? It’d be a pretty lucky day for any guy.

Not that I’d be out here if I thought there was a remote chance that I’d be caught out here in my current complete lack of an outfit. All I’m saying is, it’s a pretty good view down at Lake Ohana this afternoon.

Even though there’s no one around, I can’t stop blushing as I dip my toes into the water. It’s a little chilly. I know I just need to drop myself in. If I keep going a little bit at a time, I’m one-hundred-percent positive that those meter maids will be all over me by the time I get back, and I am so not paying another ridiculous fine. I need to hurry up and take the plunge.

But before I do... I mean, I shouldn’t, but, like, why not? I kind of want to. I’m thinking about it. Well... there’s no one around. It couldn’t hurt. Okay, I’ll do it. Hehe. I drop myself in and shiver as my body submerges into the icy lake. Well, all right, not icy, but it’s not as warm as I’d like. It’s fine. I’ll acclimate soon. The hardest part is dropping in and that’s over now.

So, technically, I only need to take one more photo when I get back to my car in order to complete my dare, but I could take one additional photo. I bet it would really drive my Discord friends wild. It would be okay, as long as the water provides as much cover as I think it will. It’s not like I’d be posting anything explicit. It’s just a tease. That’s fine, right?

I reach over to my coat and grab my phone for a risky selfie. I snap a couple of photos as I lightly adjust the angle until I get something I like. No, no, no, okay, hold, this one’s not bad. Yeah, I like it. My body is mostly blurred out by the dark color of the water, but you can still tell that I’m naked. Scandalous. I blush. This might be the riskiest thing I’ve ever posted. But it’s just Discord, right? Obviously, I’d never post something like this on Instagram, but these guys, they only know me as LadyDawn. It’s a pretty tame photo all things considered. PG-13. No problem.

I double and triple-check again just to make sure, though.

Despite how much time I just spent rationalizing how not-a-big-deal this picture is, I continue to stare at the ‘send’ button. This should be easy. Just push the button. I already did the hard part. I hiked over here wearing nothing but a coat and then I jumped into the lake completely butt naked. I did all that and I can’t push one lousy button on my phone? There’s nothing even showing. But at the same time, even if you can't see anything, it’s so embarrassing, because they'll know I'm naked... I can’t stop giggling. This is so crazy. Okay, okay, I’m gonna do it. Send.

I lock my phone and shove it back into my coat pocket. I just can’t look at Discord right now. That's way too much.

I should still have another 15 minutes or so to enjoy this beautiful afternoon before I have to start heading back. I'm ready for some me time. The water feels so nice and warm now that I’ve acclimated to the temperature. It’s gonna be so hard to get out when I have to leave. I could stay here all day. It’s like a little spa retreat just for me.

I lay back and serenely float along the water's edge, and I briefly take in the vivid colors of the sky before resting my eyes. The sun’s rays are warm and I feel completely at peace with the world. Ahh, this is just perfect. I need to come out here more often. Way better than watching a stupid football game. People don't know what they're missing. Though admittedly, I also can’t wait to see what my online friends think of my little adventure when I get home. Oh, I'm blushing just thinking about it. I bet that picture is going to have so many fire emojis. And then after that? I’ll get real comfortable and turn out the lights and have myself a really relaxing night as I drift off to sleep... oh... it's such a pretty day...

[Executionus]

Definitely a great start to this!

I just hope that you're good at keeping track of time without your watch or phone. It would be awfully inconvenient if you went over by accident.

[ElvenStrider]

Sure hope she's not forgetting anything, would be a shame.

[MissAriel]

Part 2

I hear the sound of distant laughter. Morning already? I need another five minutes. I hate waking up early. I should be able to sleep in on Saturdays. Ugh. Those kids are so obnoxiously loud. Some people are trying to rest, you know. There should be some kind of noise ordinance at this time of day! I’m about to get up and give them a piece of my mind.

I start to open my eyes, but things are a little hazy. I rub my eyes a little bit and – hey, that’s kind of cold. And wet. Uh... come to think of it, I don’t actually remember driving home last night. What did I do after --

I blink and my heart starts racing. That’s not my ceiling, that’s the evening sky.

FUCK!

Oh God, oh God, oh God, I fell asleep in the middle of the god damn lake. Stupid, stupid, stupid, how could I be so stupid? My heart is beating a million miles a minute as I race my way back to the docks. Those voices are getting closer and I have to swim like my life depends on it if I don’t want to give them the show of their lives. Almost there. God, please, I swear I’ll never be mean to anyone again, just let me get dressed before those kids show up.

I reach the docks and practically jump right out of the water like a freaking mermaid. I grab my coat and –-

Um, where the hell is my coat? Are you fucking kidding me? My eyes dart all around in a panic and I spot my phone and watch neatly laid down next to each other where the bridge on the water meets the edge of the forest. I’ve been pranked! And they stole my coat! The fucking audacity.

I spin around and look in every direction, but the lake is still deserted, though the once distant voices sound closer and closer. I grab my phone and strap my watch on my wrist as I take off running for shelter within the trees. I manage to hide myself in just the nick of time.

“Haha, could you imagine showing up rooting for UofS?” a handsome young boy says.

Holy crap, that was close. I would freaking die if those guys saw me like this. I’m confident, but I’m not hey-guys-I-was-just-skinny-dipping-how-are-you-doing confident. My face is so red right now. That would have been mortifying. I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack. There’s at least ten people hanging around the lake where I was standing just seconds ago. Jesus.

Okay, okay, calm down. This sucks, but it’s fine. They didn’t see me. I’m good. Now all I have to do is I make it back to my car and everything will be fine. Which I’ll do just as soon as they turn around. Any minute now... crickets. Can I get a distraction please? Hello, God? Calling in a favor here. Remember all those times I went to church when I didn’t have to?

“I think I’d just drop out if that were my school, Tommy,” another guy says.

“50 points, bro. Can you imagine anything more humiliating than driving six hours just to lose by 50 points?” Tommy says as the group of kids howls with laughter.

Well, I take it our team won. Yay us. But also, Tommy, I promise you, I can think of something more humiliating, like say THE FACT THAT I’M NAKED. I glance at my watch. It’s 6:30. I can’t believe I slept that long. This is awful. I never should have taken that dare. Why didn’t I just pretend to do the dare? Why can’t I lie like a normal person?

I wish I had my jacket, but I’m guessing it’s long gone now. Sigh. At least the thief had the decency to leave me my phone. Fucking seriously, how am I supposed to get back to my car while I’m NAKED? I have nothing, absolutely nothing, to cover myself with, except the trees, which I can’t very well bring with me into what is no doubt an extremely crowded parking lot.

God, please, just let me get out of this. I’ll happily pay the $20.00 late parking fee, I won’t even complain, just please, let me get back to my car without being seen, okay? You want more? Fine, I promise to never be mean to anyone ever again... unless they really, really deserve it. Or if I’m on my period, in which case, I really don’t think you or anyone else can blame me for my actions.

Okay, okay, idea. It’s fine. Plan forming. I can take the scenic route back through the woods and sneak into my car when no one is looking. I’ve just got to get out of here without them noticing me.

“Whoa, what’s this? Sweet, free jacket!” a wispy, feminine voice says.

“Nice! Lucky, it looks like it's your size, Jenny,” Tommy says enthusiastically while giving her a big thumbs up. The rest of his friends hoot and cheer as they continue to celebrate our school football team’s victory.

I stare in horror as I watch ‘Jenny’, a cute girl-next-door type student, pick up my jacket on the edge of the lake. I guess I wasn’t robbed after all. Even worse, I was pranked. Ohhh, I’m so mad right now! That’s my jacket! Please give me back my jacket.

I cry on the inside as I watch Jenny try on the last vestiges of my modesty and twirl around for her stupid, immature friends, her blonde ponytail flickering against the background of the looming sunset.

And what’s even worse than losing my jacket forever to this Jenny is that for as long as I go here, I’ll never, ever know who the stranger is that watched me skinny dipping in the lake for who knows how long. It’s infuriating. I wish I could give him a talking to! What kind of jerk creeps on a girl like that? They deserve a serious verbal thrashing.

Though on the other hand, it’s probably better that I don’t know, because if it was some guy with a smug-eating grin like Tommy, I’d probably combust into flames.

I give one last sad glance towards Jenny as she parades around in what once protected me from total exposure.

This is my moment. I make a run for it. Unlike last time, I’m now acutely aware of my jiggling breasts and bouncing ass as I twist and dodge through the forest on the way back to the parking lot. As much as my natural instinct is to cover myself and hide, I have to get back to my car as soon as possible, because in less than an hour, the cops are going to close down half the roads as they prepare for the mass exodus of football fans. If I don’t make it before then, I’ll be stuck in traffic for hours trying to get back home.

Thankfully, no one except knows this area of the woods as well as I do, as I’ve taken many hikes here over my undergraduate career. Granted, this is the first time that I’ve been forced to do so butt naked with my tits on display like a Walmart special, but hey, desperate times, right?

After what feels like an eternity of humiliation with me constantly checking over my shoulder and jumping at every creak in the woods, I finally make it back to the lot. I breathe a sigh of relief, but my reprieve is short lived when I realize the lot is completely packed. Thankfully, no one noticed me. I hide behind a tree and peak around. Okay, okay, it’s not the end of the world. At least I parked close to the edge of the woods just in case I needed to make a quick getaway. I’m thankful that past-me was so thoughtful and clever. I’ve just got to wait for a good opening when there’s not too many people looking my way and I can make a quick dash to my car.

Only I don’t see my car. I desperately peak around the tree again when I think I can get away with it. I’m trying to remember where exactly I parked, because I can’t see my car anywhere.

My blood runs cold when I notice the empty parking space labeled number 9. They didn’t. They couldn’t. It’s impossible. No way. It’s only a $20.00 fine! There’s no way... did they...

DID THEY TOW MY FUCKING CAR?

I set my phone to silent and walk some distance deeper into the woods away from civilization in attempt to get some privacy. I Google the number for parking enforcement. No way, no way, no way, this can’t be happening.

Ringgggggg.

“UofT Parking Services, how can I help you?” a bright female voice says.

“Hi, um, how are you doing? Uh, so like, the reason I’m calling is, I parked my car earlier on the lot, uh, the one by Lake Ohana? Anyways, I was just like wondering if there was any chance that you guys had, like, seen it? I might have, uh, been a little over the time limit, but I thought I could just pay the fine, and you know, it would be okay, and --” I ramble on awkwardly as my heart pounds, praying that this is all just a big mix up.

“Ma’am, you should know we don’t give fines on gameday. If you parked past the limit, it’s school policy to tow. You can pick up your car Monday for a $100.00 towing fee. Is there anything else I can help you with?” she asks coldly.

“Um, is there any chance that you could, like, you know, bring my car back? I really don’t have a way to get home, and it wasn’t intentional, I swear, but like, just this once, please? Listen, you’ve got to believe me, it was a total accident, and –”

“You know, parking is really scarce on game day. Next time, maybe think about all the poor folks that are struggling to find legitimate parking because people like you try to cheat the system. Have a nice evening, miss. See you Monday, probably,” she says. Beep. Did she just seriously hang up on me? What a bitch.

Okay, this situation just turned up to 11. This is bad. Very, very bad. Defcon one kind of bad. I don’t have a stitch of clothing to cover myself with, this parking lot is insanely crowded, my home is literally like eight miles away, I am not a freaking marathon runner, and I have zero chance of realistically getting back to my little apartment without risking devastating, total exposure. The only thing I have on me is my phone and this stupid, useless Smartwatch, neither of which are remotely useful at helping with my whole I-don’t-have-clothes situation. What am I going to do?

Usually, my precious $800 phone is my lifeline and I would never consider going anywhere without it for even a moment... but right now, I’m so desperate to get out of this mess that I would trade it in a heartbeat for a $5 sundress from the thrift store. I’m all out of options. There’s no way that I’m getting out of this without at least a few dozen strangers ogling my tits and ass and I will never, ever live down the shame. The whole school is going to know me as that dumbass chick that streaked across campus. No one will even remember that our team won, because the front page of the newspaper will instead have my full name written out in huge, bold letters. Even worse, my tits and ass will be plastered all over Youtube with the bare minimum censorship, and every guy on campus who has ever dreamed about what I look like underneath my t-shirts and skinny jeans will no longer have to use his imagination. I’ll never be able to go to class again without some guy asking, hey, are you that crazy streaker everyone is talking about? I saw you on Pornhub! Nice tits!

NO! NOT HAPPENING!

Think, think, think, there has to be something, some other way. I CANNOT streak for eight miles. I will die of shame. There is no universe where I walk home in the surge of gameday traffic without being seen. If I try it, every square inch of my ass is 100% going to be videoed and photographed and there won’t single soul in the entire school that doesn't know my every secret by the end of the week.

But what other option is there besides walking?

Okay... there is one other thing I could do. But oh God, please, not that. Not in a million years. Please, please, please, there has to be something else. Anything else, please. God, if you’re out there, can you throw me a bone here? This must be karma for that time I stole gum in second grade. I’M SORRY! I didn’t know any better!

Unfortunately, as much as I’m wracking my brain, I can’t come up with any other ideas.

...I have no choice.

I would pay almost anything to not do this.

“Um, Kaylee, I kind of need your help...”

[DameBella]

Wow what terrible luck! I'm sure Kaylee isn't the type to take advantage of her friend