Head into the clearing?

Jen broke into a dead sprint, heading into the clearing and slightly north. She stopped covering her body and let her arms swing by her sides, her breasts bounding with each step, a slight bounce in her butt when her foot hit the ground. She looked back towards the trees, trying to see the approaching ladies. There, she could just barely see them. Jen turned further north, allowing a few more feet of cover before they came into view.

She tried to push herself faster but she was never much of a runner. Her lungs started burning far too soon and she became worried this would slow her down. She glanced left again and tweaked her course some more.

Come on, I have to make it, I have to!

She breathed as deeply as she could and tried to lengthen her stride, tried to move quicker.

Come on!

The pain in her lungs grew worse and she started feeling the onset of muscle fatigue in her legs. She glanced left again and saw that the ladies were nearing the corner. She also realized that she was starting to slow down, barely but noticeably. Looking forward again she still had several yards before she could reach any tree line. There was no way that she would make it before she was in full view of the women.

The realization made her mind race, trying to decide what to do. Keep running and hope they don’t see? That much motion was bound to catch corner of their eye.

Instead Jen dropped to the ground. She slid along the grass a few inches and then spun around so she was facing the opening of the clearing and the direction the women would be coming from. She crossed her arms into a makeshift pillow and set her head down on them.

Just a sunbather, she thought, assume I’m just a sunbather wearing a skin colored bikini, or a string bikini, something, anything. Just keep moving along, nothing out of the ordinary.

She tried to slow her breathing, inhaling deeply to sate her aching lungs, hoping it wouldn’t betray how out of breath she was should they glance over. She was looking south now and she wouldn’t be able to see the women walking by without moving her head, but she felt it was better to stay still. Maybe let them think she fell asleep while working on her tan.

Jen listened intently. The women were still talking to themselves. They had to be in view now, Jen thought, at least several feet past the trees. Her heart was thudding at a jackhammer’s speed, and she felt herself trembling with fear. She had trouble determining the exact location of the women but she was only concerned with whether they stopped where they were, or worse, came into the clearing. She was more focused on listening for any changes in their tone or volume that might indicate they noticed something unusual.

The voices carried on without any changes that Jen could notice. It was evident they were still getting slightly closer, but not at a pace that Jen made her think they were heading towards her. They were likely still on the cement path and moving along.

Just keep walking.

Soon the volume started marginally decreasing. Jen gave it several seconds and felt it they were moving away by now. Her nerves started easing at the thought that she’d gotten away with this, laying stark naked in a field and not drawing any attention. She had no clue if they’d looked her way or not.

Hell, even if they could tell I’m not wearing anything, I can live with it if they don’t let on that they know.

Soon the voices faded further and Jen allowed herself to look up. The women were nowhere in sight, their voices coming from beyond the trees at the end of the clearing. Her legs, slightly wobbly from the sudden exertion of running at full speed, Jen picked herself up and brushed the blades of grass from her body.

The fastest way back to the path wasn’t the direction she came from, but through the slice of woods to the northwest. More importantly she would be able to hide, a luxury denied to her if she stayed in the clearing.

She made her way to the trees quickly, the blades of grass tickling the bottom of her bare feet as she walked. She slipped into the strip of forestry and returned to her tentative method of walking. Checking for rocks and sticks, snaking around trees and keeping an eye towards the path to look for anyone who might come by. Soon she found herself behind a wide tree, making one final check for anyone on a bike or on foot, then stepping back onto cement.

The burn of overworked muscle made Jen’s legs feel like they were ten pounds heavier. She kept her pace as quick as she could manage. She turned a bend in the trail and saw the exit from the park ahead, leading to the parking lot. She tried to half-jog there, anxious to get dressed again, but her tired legs made this difficult. After several yards she settled back to a speedy walk.

She remained alone on the path during the entire walk to the lot. She slowed down and stepped back into the trees rather than walking straight into the lot, wanting to make sure no one was around to see her. Jen crept up through the trees and peered around. Aside from Jen’s car, two other sedans and one SUV sat on the asphalt. She looked at each car carefully to see if anyone was around-

Shit.

Jen could make someone in one of the cars. The glare of the sun made it difficult to see much of anything about the driver but she could see motion in the vehicle. The car wasn’t running, and Jen couldn’t tell if the driver had just arrived at the park or was getting ready to leave.

She looked to her left. She couldn’t see it through the trees but she knew the green steel trash can holding her clothes was in that direction. Glancing back at the car, the occupant wasn’t making any effort or get out of the vehicle or start it up to leave. Jen started picking her way through the trees towards the trash can.

She only had to go about fifteen yards before she could see where the trees ended. The trash can sat on the blacktop, just a few feet away from the nearest tree. She paused near the last trees and rechecked her surroundings. Left of the trash can was a large field with clusters of tall grass. Jen knew the city only mowed this area a few times a year, otherwise preferring to keep a natural “untouched” look to it. Beyond the trash can was more of the field before a road might be encountered, running north and south. The road wasn’t incredibly well traveled but the occasional motorist passed by. A few patches of grass between the trash can and the street would provide sufficient cover from anyone driving and Jen could stay unseen.

Looking back towards the occupied car in the lot, Jen was at an angle that gave her better visibility. The sun’s reflection rested on another part of the windshield. She recognized it was the lady who had been reading in the park. Jen waited a few moments but didn’t hear the car starting. The woman was in no hurry to leave, it seemed. Jen looked again at the trash can. Three feet out of the trees. Maybe two steps at most, but she wasn’t sure if the sudden movement might catch the lady’s eyes. Back in the car Jen thought the reader was looking downwards. Maybe tinkering with her phone, maybe reading more of her book.

Jen decided to chance it. She moved away from the tree she was hiding behind and got an angle straight to the trash can. A quick check of the ground for rocks and Jen moved forward, leaving the tree line and reaching the trash can. She stepped behind it and ducked quickly, feeling grass brushing along her bare buttocks as she hunkered down.

She adjusted her angle behind the trash can so she should be completely out of view of the lady in the car, save for her head looking over the top of it. The woman still seemed to be looking down at her lap. Jen’s hand reached into the mouth of the trash can and creeped down until she felt plastic at her fingertips. She clutched it and lifted it up, and was greeted with the sight of her blue t-shirt and jeans. Bag in hand, Jen checked the inhabited car once more before she stood and bolted back into the trees.

Once she felt well hidden in the forest she tore the bag open and let the contents fall to the ground. She seized her panties first and thrust her feet through the loops before pulling them up to her waist. Then her bra went up her arms and onto her shoulders. The clasps took a few seconds longer to lock in place than usual, the result of Jen’s hands shaking slightly due to her frayed nerves. She then had to balance herself against a tree while she worked her legs into her jeans, but she managed to put them on without falling. Her shirt came next, over her head and down her torso. Last, she slid her sandals on.

Finally dressed, Jen fell back against a tree and started breathing heavily. She’d never expected to get all the way through the park without getting seen. She’d expected someone to call the police and her day to end with an arrest. But she’d somehow managed to walk, run, sneak and hide her way through the park.

She left the trees and started walking towards her car. Jen didn’t pay any attention to the reader until she heard the motor start. The woman started pulling out of her spot and turning towards the exit. Noticing Jen, she gave a quick “hello” wave. Jen managed to overcome her exhaustion enough to wave back.

Jen heard the lady driving out of the lot as she picked her key up off the tire. Triggering the unlock button on the remote, Jen opened her car door and slid behind the steering wheel. The sun had turned the car into an oven and she left the door open after she started the car to let the air conditioner start to run cold. After a few moments she felt the temperature shifting, shut the car door and started the drive home.