One slight hiccup...

Sara came to the first turn, towards the cafeteria, and found the hallway vacant. She walked at a fast pace; part of her wanted to run but she feared the extra noise might draw attention. She still had to get past a classroom or two hosting after-school programs before she could reach the dumpsters.

And then there was crossing the cafeteria- going through the cafeteria would be the shortest route to the dumpsters but at least one club or activity was always taking place there when school let out. The hallway leading to the cafeteria continued one for another twenty yards past the entrance, and ended in an exit. This was the next-closest path to the dumpsters and Sara was willing to hazard quickly crossing the entrance to get to her hiding spot as quickly as possible.

She reached the next turn she was planning to take, the hallway to the cafeteria and the exit behind the school. Without slowing she curved around the hallway and walked straight into another student.

They bounced off each other and reeled back a few steps before catching each other’s eyes. Sara realized with dread it was Sally Chalmers, the biggest gossip in school.

Sally’s eyes widened at the sudden interruption, said “Sara, sorry, I didn’t-“ then her eyes darted down for a second and she broke into a mischievous grin. “Oh my god, why are you running around here naked??” she laughed.

“Dammit Sally, this isn’t the time! My clothes got stolen when I was in the gym showering, and-“

“Oh this is just too perfect!” Sally said, bringing up her phone and starting to aim the camera.

Sara had the advantage of speed. Her hand darted out and snapped the phone out of Sally’s hands before the gossip could react. Sara pushed her hard and held the phone up like she was ready to hurl it to the ground and break it.

“I said this is not the time!”

“Hey, give me my phone back!”

“No! Absolutely no way. I don’t trust you. I’ll give it back to you tomorrow in school.”

For a moment Sara’s imagination wondered how this scene must look- a completely naked teen angrily confronting a fully dressed and slightly started fellow student. She wasn’t concerned with how it looked, though, only in getting to the dumpsters before Christina returned.

“Tomorrow? No freaking way! I’ll call the cops if you don’t give it back to me right now!”

“Look, I promise I’ll give it back-“

“No, I’ll tell the cops you stole it and that you’re running around here naked!”

“I sure as hell do _not _trust you with this phone right now! I can’t stop you from telling everyone you saw this but without proof most of them will think you’re lying, and you know it. So unless you can think of a way to get your phone back and that I can trust you, I’ll let you call the cops. I should be dressed again by the time they get here and then it’s my word against yours again.”

At least, Sara hoped that this would be the case. She knew there was a chance Sally could get to another phone and the police could arrive before Christina got back. But she had to play the bluff and hoped it worked.

“That’s still getting arrested for theft.”

“Better than you taking naked pics of me.”

“Look, I promise I won’t-“

“I already said I don’t trust you.”

“Well I’m not waiting until tomorrow to get my phone back!”

Sara paused for a moment, her mind racing. “Fine, then. You’re coming with me.”

She grabbed Sally by the arm and started stalking down the hall towards the exit. Sally tried to tug her arm back once, but Sara kept a firm grip.

“There are people in the cafeteria,” Sally said, “They’ll see-“

“No, you’re going to walk right next to me, block anyone from seeing. We’ll be past the door in a matter of seconds, no one will see us long enough to realize something is up. And if you think of stopping in your tracks or shouting to anyone, I’m smashing the phone right here.”

Knowing that Sally was a phone addict like many of her classmates, she knew the ploy would work. She didn’t let go of Sally’s arm but they kept an exact pace together. Sally didn’t make a sound until they were well past the entrance to the cafeteria. No sudden increase in chatter came from the cafeteria, no sounds of surprise or laughter. Sara knew she’d made it safely.

“Where are we going?” the gossip asked.

“I’m hiding out behind the dumpster until some clothes get there.”

“Outside?” she said in disbelief.

Sara didn’t answer. Once she reached the door she glanced through the narrow window and made sure the coast was clear. No one walking by, no cars on the road forty yards to the right. After confirming it was safe she shoved the door open and let go of Sally’s arm, immediately breaking into a mad sprint.

“Hey, wait up!” Sally shouted.

Sara heard the gossip’s footsteps pick up their pace behind her. She careened straight for the dumpsters, rounded the wall surrounding them and squeezed behind them. A few seconds later Sally caught up. Side-stepping between the dumpsters she stood next to Sara, looking around awkwardly.

“This looks really weird. You know, if anyone saw us.”

Sara leaned back against the wall and ran her hands over her face. She was feeling drained, from running around school in perpetual embarrassment, then the intense anger towards dealing with Sally. She could only pray that Christina would get here as soon as she could.

“This really is a good hiding spot. Do you bring guys back here or something?”

“Pfft, no. But a friend told me she had made out with a guy back here once.”

They settled back into silence for a moment. Sally’s standing next to Sara, looking around and occasionally glancing at Sara’s body kept an uncomfortable feeling between then.

“So, uh… what happened to your clothes?” Sally asked.

***

“Hey Sara, are you back there?”

Recognizing Christina’s voice, Sara called out. “Yeah, I’m here.”

She heard footsteps approaching then saw Christina slide between the dumpsters towards them, carrying folded jeans and a t-shirt in one hand and sandals and a belt in the other. She paused once she was through the dumpsters, realizing they weren’t alone.

“Oh… hi.” She greeted Sally.

Sara took the jeans and t-shirt and handed Christina the cell phone, “hold this for me.”

“What?” She said, looking the phone over.

“It’s Sally’s. She was going to take a picture of me.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Christina demanded. “You should have broken it.”

“Look,” Sally said, “I get it now. She told me how her clothes were stolen while she was showering and you went home to get her some of yours. Taking a picture would have been wrong.”

Christina paused for a second, registering that her friend must have left out that her clothes had been stolen too. “Yeah,” she eventually answered, “I had to help her out.”

Sara finished putting on the jeans and t-shirt and Christina handed her the belt. She looped it through the jeans and was glad her friend had thought to bring once since she was a size smaller. Finally she put the sandals on. Her feet were a hair too big for them but they would work for the walk home.

She took the phone back from Christina and handed it to Sally without a word. Sally took it, pushed herself off the wall and started side-stepping out from behind the dumpsters. “Umm… I’m… not going to say anything. What happened to you was messed up.”

“Thanks,” Sara muttered, adjusting the shirt and jeans. She heard Sally start walking away and then left the temporary security of the dumpsters herself. Once out from behind them she embraced Christina in a tight hug.

“Thanks again,” she said. “No idea what I’d have done without you.”

“Hey, we’re friends. I had to help you. And thanks for not telling her my clothes were stolen too.”

“I figure she might still tell people about it, but I can deal with the rumors about me. Figured you’d be pretty upset if those rumors went around about you.”

They walked silently together towards the street. A few cars passed here and there, people getting out of work and making their way home. Sara was wondering if her family was worried by how late she was getting home by now. But she knew she could handle that if it came up.

They reached the road and soundlessly acknowledged that they lived in different directions, like they had dozens of times before. The shared one more quick hug before saying their good-byes, and Sara turned left towards her house, Christina going to the right, towards the park and her home beyond that.