[Kokopelli25]

Ellie tip-toed down the empty hallway. A small part of her mind was telling herself that it was true - the halls of her old high school did indeed feel smaller now that she was back visiting for the first time, three years after she had graduated from this place. That same small part marveled at how tiny the lockers were - had she really kept everything she needed in one of those? The room numbers and most of the teacher names brought back memories, some good, some not. If it had been daytime she would have stopped by a couple rooms where her favorite teachers held class. She wondered if they’d remember her, not sure if she had made a lasting impression on them or not.

Of course, if they were to see her now she was sure she’d leave a lasting impression, considering Ellie was completely naked.

*******

Ellie had returned home from college for Spring Break - most of her friends were down south for the week, and while she wanted to join them the way she had the past two years, she was headed to Europe this summer and had to save every dollar she could for the trip she was taking with two of her friends, Natalie and Caroline, both of whom had also headed home for what they thought would be a boring break. Actually theirs was probably less boring since they lived near each other and they were planning to get together partway through the week.

Before going their separate ways, they had gone to their favorite pizza place to relax. It was during dinner that Caroline had complained about the impending boredom and Natalie had said “I’m sure we can find some way to liven things up”. The way she said it made Ellie both irritated and relieved she wouldn’t be with them. None of the three were what you’d call adventurous, but lately Natalie had been on a mischievous streak, daring her friends to do risky and risqué things, most of which they ignored - drunk dialing a guy she liked was the farthest Ellie had gone.

When she remarked that she’d be even more bored than the other two, Natalie was quiet for a moment before asking “Didn’t you tell me once that your dad is a teacher at your old high school? He’d have keys to the building, wouldn’t he?”

Ellie nodded without thinking, and then as her brain caught up she looked at Natalie with narrowed eyes, “Why?” Natalie smiled and explained the dare.

“No, absolutely not - are you insane?? There’s no way I’m going to break into my old school and take a naked selfie - no way!!” Ellie said forcefully.

“Okay, jeez, calm down. Just a thought, forget I even mentioned it.” As much as Natalie liked to dare her friends, she didn’t have any power to compel them to do what she said, and most of the time she wasn’t serious about her dares anyway.

“Fine, I will” said Ellie, who had every intention of forgetting it.

********

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Maybe it was the boredom, maybe it was the thought that Ellie had been wanting to push her limits. She had never had a steady boyfriend, but lots of first dates, most of whom had expressed interest in seeing more of her - a lot more of her than she was willing to show. Even by herself in her own bedroom she typically wore sweatpants and a t-shirt to bed. Her figure, which honestly she was proud of, was also a source of embarrassment; she didn’t care for guys staring at her breasts, or her legs, or any other part of her. She never walked around naked at her apartment, choosing to get dressed as soon as she stepped out of the shower every morning. She would never be the stereotypical naked woman with a towel wrapped around her head calmly walking around her home; even now the thought gave her shivers.

Of course, there was nothing typical about walking through one’s old high school completely naked.

Ever since that pizza dinner a few nights earlier, Natalie’s dare was all Ellie could think about. On the plane ride home, laying awake at night back in her childhood room, even while running errands for her family. Everyone had the dream (nightmare) eventually, of finding themselves naked at school. Ellie actually had an opportunity to make it a reality.

********