(continued from Lauren's Story - Chapter 2)...

Lauren left their apartment and realized that the storm had arrived. It was absolutely pouring. She could go back in and ask for an umbrella but that would mean interrupting them again, so that means walking in the rain in her work clothes. Her hair was already wet and she was planning on taking another shower so that wasn't a big deal but he white blouse was not going to last long. Luckily, no one was out that she could see so she felt like the long walk to the other side of the complex could be survived. "Note to self, put umbrella in my purse when I get home."
The rain was really coming down hard now. The temperature was in the mid 70's so the rain was cold but it could have been much worse. She looked down at her blouse and after walking past the first 2 of 6 buildings, it looked like she was at a wet t-shirt contest. She laughed at herself and continued the long walk.
She could almost make out her building through the heavy rain. On a sunny, dry day, she would normally cut across the "green" area to save a little time. She debated taking a chance this night. The ground was "fairly" level according to her landscapers, but she knew there were spots where the grass hadn't filled in yet this spring. Maybe it was a combination of everything that she had done earlier in the evening and the long stressful week of work, but she decided to just say, "Fuck it," and headed across the grassy area.
Lauren took all of two steps before realizing that her heels would not work on this surface. The points dug right into the ground and she nearly fell over into the grass. "Not going to get me tonight...," she spoke out loud to her shoes.
At this point she remembered that she left her hose in Sarah's bathroom. "They wouldn't have lasted long in this grass anyway." It was about a 75 yard walk to her building from where she stepped onto the grassy area. The rain continued to pour and soak her clothes. She was about halfway across when she heard a car door close and some voices. She turned to her left and saw a couple walking from the parking lot into the complex with an umbrella.
"Ok Lauren, what now?" She could continue on her current path and hope they didn't see this half naked woman who happened to manage the complex walking around in the rain. She could drop down onto the wet ground behind a nearby bush and hide. Or she could just start running and get out of sight as quickly as possible.
None of those were good options. She decided to head for the bushes to hide. She rushed over to the bushes and as she jumped to the side where the couple couldn't possibly see her, her feet slid out from under her and her rear end landed with a splash into some mud. It was less than ideal.
Lauren desperately wanted to get up and wipe herself off but she first had to make sure the coast was clear. She peered through the bushes and saw the couple was now jumping in puddles as they walked to their apartment, laughing and giggling in their rain boots. "What is the deal with people tonight?"
Finally, she saw them going up the stairs to a 3rd story apartment. It was time to get moving again. However, she had been sitting in the mud and rain for a good 10 minutes and had sunk into the mud puddle. She lifted herself up, using some core strength and yoga poses she had been working on. Her hands reached to wipe the back of her skirt off and they came back just covered in mud. "WTF!"
She was about 40 yards from her building and she was about done with this walk. Her blouse was see through and her bra was as well at this point. Her hands, skirt, legs, and feet were all covered in mud and her wet brunette hair made her look like a wet dog. She was starting to get frustrated and decided to pick up the pace. She had her heels in one hand, her purse in the other, and started running.
Lauren lasted about 15 yards before her feet slid out from under her in one of those areas without much grass and with her hands full, she landed face first in another mud puddle. "FUCK!"
As she pulled herself up, she could see that her face was all muddy, probably her hair as well, and her white blouse now had a big mud spot on it. "Well, I guess I'm covered now." She stood up, kicked the mud with her feet, splashing it up all over the front of her legs.
"No more running." She walked carefully across the rest of the grassy area, not wanting to fall face first again. As she reached the concrete walkway, she noticed a big mud puddle right next to her. "Why not?" She said as she jumped in the air and landed with both feet in the big puddle, shooting water and mud in all directions, including all over herself.
She was now within 10 yards of her front door. She walked confidently towards her oasis when she heard another apartment door open...she immediately sprinted to her door, pulled out her keys and jumped inside. "I'm done with people today."
Once inside, she dropped her shoes and purse right by the front door and looked over at the mirror she used every morning to give herself a final check before going to work. "What a mess."
She peeled off her blouse, bra, and skirt. "Probably won't wear those again...".She used the inside of her blouse to wipe off her muddy feet and headed for a well-deserved shower.