Alternate Chapter- Helen's Idea

Helen eased the minivan to a stop at the street corner and placed it in park. Thomas had been following them until this point, but he now drove past them in the sedan he'd borrowed from his friend, turned the corner and drove on. Helen had parked near a street light, the orange glow ending feet away from the vehicle. Camilla looked out the window she sat next to, and Helen turned in the driver's seat to face her.

"You ready for this mom?"

The streets were dark aside from sporadic street lamps and the occasional house with the porch light on. Most houses were dark but she could see the occasional light shining through a window. The middle of suburbia at night time.

"Not really," Camilla said.

"Oh don't think you're backing out of this!"

"I wasn't. I'm never going to be ready. Let's just get this done."

She started with her sneakers, slipping her feet out of them, followed by her socks. Then, looking around nervously, Camilla grabbed her shirt and pulled it off, setting it on the seat next to her. She wriggled in her seat to get her jeans undone and below her buttocks before she could easily slide them off her legs. They joined the seat beside her.

"Woo, take it off baby!" Helen cheered.

"That's not very funny."

Camilla's bra came off next, displaying her c-cup breasts. Finally she slowly eased her underwear off and dropped it on top of the pile of clothes. She had wide hips, some extra padding on her bottom and trimmed pubic hair.

She reached for her shoes when Helen spoke up.

"No no, naked means naked."

"Oh come on, that cement's going to hurt!"

"No shoes."

Camilla sighed in frustration and looked around again. No cars had driven by since they'd parked and she didn't see any in the distance. She didn't see anyone in outside of the houses either.

"Now or never," Helen teased.

Camilla reached for the door, then paused. "Are you going to close the door or do I have to get it?"

"Hmm... I _guess _I can," another giggle from her daughter.

Camilla nodded, took a deep breath and shoved the door open. A second later her feet were on the cement, her hands covering her breasts and vagina and she was running as fast as she ever had in her life. Behind her she could hear Helen's laughter. She tried to ignore it and kept moving forward.

As she ran she looked at each house she passed, checking for any motion in the dark windows or anyone standing at the light windows. She felt completely alone out here, thankfully. The cement bit into the balls of her feet with each step but she didn't let it slow her.

Three houses past the street corner and the minivan pulled off, heading home. She knew Thomas would be waiting up ahead but the departure made her feel a little abandoned. Her breathing was growing heavy with the exertion. She hit the gym once a week but had never put much time into her stamina for fast running, only mild jogs. She could make this mad dash without stopping, but only just.

She passed a fourth house, then a fifth house. Glancing upwards she was startled to see a window with light coming through it, and a human silhouette lit up. A short shriek escaped her mouth before she could stifle it- hopefully not loud enough to draw more attention. As she kept sprinting she realized she couldn't tell if the person at the window was facing her or away from her.

Maybe I got lucky. Maybe not. Just keep running.

Camilla passed the house and crossed under another street lamp. She felt a blush settling into her cheeks as she ran, trying to speed up even more to reach darkness again. Her feet began to ache but she didn't let her pace drop.

Another house passed by and now Camilla could see the sedan Thomas was in waiting at the next street corner. He had tried to angle the back door of the car right at the corner so Camilla could get in sooner.

She ran past another house, this one completely dark. Her breathing had settled into a rhythm but she still felt herself starting to get exhausted. Not badly, but enough to be noticed. If she'd had to make her way down two blocks like Helen first proposed before Thomas talked her down, she'd have to jog rather than all out run. Thankfully her son convinced her that one was enough.

Another home passed, then another. This one had a light in the window but no indication of anyone standing or moving beyond it. Another street light, exposed for a few seconds then back to hiding in the dark.

She had one house to go and saw Thomas hop out of the car. He jogged around the front, came along the side and held the door open for her. Camilla dragged up the last bit of energy she had and rushed to the car. She practically dived in, and her son closed the door behind her and started moving towards the driver's seat again.

Per their agreement a robe had been left in the car for Camilla. She grabbed it and worked her way around in the seat so she could put it on. Thomas opened his car door, dropped into the seat and started the car.

"Someone might have seen me," she said in between gasping breaths.

"Wait, what? This late?"

She nodded, "someone was at a window, I couldn't tell if they were looking out or facing away. But otherwise I didn't see a soul."

The car pulled away from the curb and into a U-turn, pointing towards their house several blocks away. Thomas began to accelerate and said "I guess one isn't so bad."

Camilla didn't answer, just finished tying the robe around herself and then crashed back against the seat trying to catch her breath.

One isn't so bad. Well I guess he's right. Holy crap, I'm going to be ready for bed once we get home.