Gawked and stared at

The Pizza Shack was on the edge of Beaver Falls and Rooksmith University. Established in 1950 as a place for students to enjoy a nice meal away from the cafeteria’s cardboard meals, the Shack had become a favorite of those looking to save a buck. From decent sandwiches to one of the few pizza places in town, it had become a hangout spot for the student body. From homecoming kings to chess champions, the crowd was diverse and used to anything that entered the place.

Franklin Tov looked at his Rolex for a moment, wondering if it was slow or not. He was not the type to wait as any lost second was a lost moment to do something. Be it business, read, study, he was a man always on the move. It’s why he felt one Elizabeth Moira Katz was perfect for him. She was a sedentary creature. Staying at home often to work on her computer or play that silly game with that robot. She could be convinced that he was a man of importance. One to follow even after school ended and real life could begin.

But he was alone, lost in his thoughts and not noticing at first the muttering of the crowd as Liz Katz entered the bar. Charlie was behind her, wondering if Ramon behind the bar still had a stash of Lucky Lagers. It was crisp, it was clean, and unlike those pale ales wouldn’t make her sloppy in case her “client” needed a ride home. She was on babysitting duty at least until tomorrow, when all of this could be summed up as a harmless prank.

“Dude check it out!” One of the patrons said.

“Well you don’t see that every day,” another patron began.

“Ignore them Liz. Ignore them,” Liz thought to herself as she felt the AC being pumped into the bar, her nipples stiffening as she looked up and away from the stares. Of course instead of the stares of strangers she now had to deal with the angry look of one Franklin Tov.

“Hey Franklin,” Liz said as she sat down. Picking up the cheap paper menu and figuring which of the shack’s…delectable items would make for a great diner.

“Liz! Why are you…uncovered!” Franklin yelled as everyone’s eyes turned even more to the topless co-ed.

“Well it’s…it’s…” Liz began to cough up her explanation. She should have told the truth, afterall she loved Franklin. Their long conversations on computers that droned on until 1 to 2 AM. He would understand. But at the same time her eyes darted to the bar and saw Charlie mime her finger across her neck. Against her better judgement, Liz went with Charlie’s events. “I’m protesting Rooksmith’s draconian dress code.”

“It’s not that draconian, not enough for you to be bouncing about tits out,” Franklin said. “Liz you’re a good girl. You don’t do this.”

“If I don’t do this they’re going to expel me,” Liz whispered.

“And?” Franklin responded. “It would solve our problem about where to go after graduation. We could get married, go to the east coast.”

“Married? But we’re so young,” Liz began. “And there’s no way I could get a job, not without an actual computer degree.”

“My father could easily get you a job. He’s going into computers and starting a new subdivision of Tov Consumer Products, You can be my second in command,” Franklin said, his hungry eyes looking at Liz’s breasts as contracted and expanded with each of her nervous breaths.

“Second in command? But Franklin, you and I both know…” Liz began to whisper. “That I may have a better grasp of programming and basic builds. I was hoping that I could do something that like…I earned.”

“You earned it by trusting the right people Elizabeth,” Franklin responded. “Now cover up, face your punishment, and I’m sure the Dean would be able to see it our way.”

Liz bit her lip for a moment as her and Franklin continued their conversation. His eyes felt uncomfortable to her. Unlike Charlie who stared often today, she never felt like she was being served on a platter. But here Franklin was counting the goosebumps on her nipples, following them around as the bounced around because of Liz’s fidgeting.

As they continued to talk, Charlie took a sip of her Lucky Lager, the red x on the can contrasted against the dim lighting of the shack.

“Thank you Ramon,” Charlie said as she tried not to look at her client. Liz Katz was sweeter than confectioners sugar and that made her nervous. Rooksmith University may have seemed progressive on the outside, but this liberal paradise nestled in the mountains never liked having…eccentrics. Of course eccentrics had a way of finding her.

“Kuzak?” A girl with blue hair hidden behind a red beanie said as she sat next to her.

“Hey Sammy,” Charlie said as she beckoned Samantha Tolber to sit next to her.

Sam was an art major, a good one at that. She often hid her larger chest with band t-shirts and flannels. With a skinny behind she would have been a prize for any opportunistic frat boy who thought they had a chance. But she had met a guy freshman year, and her and her newspaper editor of a boyfriend remained in lockstep ever since. Her and Charlie were roommates freshman year. Their first acts of rebellion were to dye their hair. Charlie had few friends, and she was glad to call Sam one of them.

“Charlie, do I need a reason?” Sam said as she ordered a Rolling Rock, a reminder of home for her.

“Josh working the midnight oil again?” Charlie asked.

“Just looking over submissions for stories and trying to paste a paper together,” Sam responded. “Really I just wanted to drown my sorrows over my capstone.”

“I thought they were going to let you paint that theatre or something?”

“I wish, turns out the owner didn’t exactly love my idea of a modern revamp. Who doesn’t love neon and sci-fi?”

“People with taste?” Charlie asked as she saw Sam’s eyes dart a bit to Liz’s table. She wasn’t alone as the entire place were in awe of the fact that a topless girl dared to break their normalcy. That and people loved breasts. Something Charlie was aware of as she stared at the slight cleavage Sam was giving off in her v-neck Clash t-shirt. “I see you’ve come to gawk at my client though.”

“What? I would never,” Sam said before her eyes darted back to Liz. “But what do you do to put Katz up to do this?”

“Absolutely not a thing,” Charlie said. “She was in a jam, and I decided to help her out. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“A jam that has those canons out in the open?” Sam said.

“Hey they’re not that bigger than yours, roomie,” Charlie responded. “You’re just shocked mousey Elizabeth Moira Katz was packing all of that.”

“Her middle name is Moira?”

“Apparently, she muttered it when she was trying to hype herself to come in here, you know because she was trying to have a normal dinner.”

“So you’re blackmailing her then?”

“No, I’m helping her represent herself at her disciplinary hearing tomorrow, and the only way out for her I figured was that she’s protesting that dress code. And protesters kinda have to always be protesting.”

“One of your better defenses,” Sam said as she took a sip of her beer. “What are her odds?”

“Well aside from ordering pepperoni pizza while topless? Probably decent. There’s no way the university is going to want to make this a thing.”

“What about the volleyball players?”

“Pfft, that’s because they lost the championship and Tarkin wanted to blame booty shorts. We’ll just chalk this up to a college prank gone wrong.”

“Poor girl,” Sam said as she watched Liz awkwardly bite into her peperoni slice, the hastily made pizza falling apart and landing some cheese and meat down onto her bare breasts, with the topless co-ed letting out a small yip.

“What did I tell you,” Franklin said as his girlfriend quickly grabbed a cheap paper napkin to wipe off the grease and cheese from her chest. The result was a slight glisten effect as Liz turned to Franklin who continued to try and convince her that his way was right.

“Hey, not when we’re in public,” Liz said as she pushed his hands away from her.

“Really? You have your tits out and you freak at a little touch?” Franklin said, raising his voice slightly.

“You know I don’t like doing that stuff when we’re in public, chest…in or out,” Liz mumbled.

“So you’re serious about doing this? Besmirching our good name, in order to make a point? Because if that’s the case…I’m thinking we’re done here.”

“Done? What do you mean?” Liz asked.

“I don’t want to be with someone who thinks being…indecent is a way of life. And I can get you a job Elizabeth,” Franklin said with annoyance. As if Liz was some variable needed to be solved and put away before he could continue on with his life. “So what’s your answer?”

Liz for a moment, her mind racing with the ultimatum. She loved Franklin, at least that’s what she always told herself. But here with all the eyes staring at her and her bare breasts, she felt oddly confident. Her sister and her had saved and scrimped so Liz could be here. She had amazing grades, and managed to be a decent, if not spectacular softball player. And she wasn’t going to throw that all away because it was easier.

“I’m serious Franklin, I’m going to the hearing tomorrow like this.”