Go back outside

The flour may have put a damper on Lucy's mood, but she could still feel an urge deep within pushing her to test her limits. She'd never been outside in her underwear before. Who knows how many more opportunities she'd ever find like this again.

Footprints of wet flour led to Lucy, who was pushing the heavy side door open once again. This time, however, she was well prepared for the cold onslaught. She welcomed the chilling rain, letting it wash away the dry flour. The cold shower resoaked anything that had dried, but Lucy gladly accepted it this time.

She considered removing her underwear as well but decided against it. The rain was so heavy that it provided a fog-like haze, so Lucy felt reasonably safe. On the off chance someone did see her, she guessed she could explain being in her underwear.

Lucy enjoyed her impromptu rebellion. Perhaps this was the feeling of freedom from her strict parents. After graduating and moving out, she no longer had to listen to anyone. That meant she could run in the rain dressed only in her underwear should she so please.

When Lucy finally grew tired of spinning and enjoying the rain, she returned to the door. It took her a moment to remember the back door only opens from the inside.

"That's fine," Lucy said, "I'll just go back to the window." So Lucy trekked around the building through the heavy rain. Finding the office window, she grabbed the bottom of the window and pulled hard. It wouldn't budge. It must've gotten stuck when it slammed closed earlier.

"Of all the stupid.." Lucy trailed off as she tried to keep herself from panicking. Maybe someone forgot to lock the front door.

She begrudgingly made her way to the front and found the big metal and glass doors. She tried her best, but the doors refused to open. Lucy was struggling to maintain her composure when a noise caught her attention. Something was wrapped around a post in front of the diner. The familiar item was immediately recognizable from its checkered pattern.

It wouldn't have been Lucy's first choice, but it was what she had. Fastening the wet skirt around her waist gave her the confidence boost she needed to keep going.

Lucy strolled to her car, feeling invincible. She was back in charge. Grabbing the car key on her lanyard, she unlocked her car doors and hopped into the driver's seat. Feeling the wet squish of her socks on the carpet made her wince. She'd rather be barefoot than wear these. Tossing them off, she started her car.

Shifting into reverse and backing out, Lucy was about to pull out onto the flooded road when she noticed a faint orange light on her dash. She had forgotten to get gas! She was supposed to fill up the day before, and now she was running dangerously low.

She could risk going straight to her apartment and running out of gas. Or she could drive to the gas station, guaranteeing she could get home, but someone would almost definitely see her.