Karlie slung her backpack over her shoulder, grabbed her blender bottle, and locked her car. It was her second week of classes. Although she was 43, she was finally pursuing her dream of getting a master's degree. Through a stroke of luck, she had qualified for an on-campus job allowing her to work toward her degree full time. From 9-5, she managed the student gym, and then took classes each night from 4-7. It was the perfect schedule, and made her 40 minute commute bearable.
Karlie thought about the path she had taken to get here. She had barely finished high school! After finding out she was pregnant at only 18 years old, it had taken every ounce of willpower she had to finish her high school degree. With a daughter to support, she had taken up wage jobs around town, until she landed a job as a desk clerk at the local gym. She had worked at the gym for the past 25 years - first as a desk clerk, then as a personal trainer, and finally as the manager. She was now getting her Master's of Business Administration in hopes of being able to start her own gym.
25 years in the gym had done wonders for Karlie's body. At 5'10'', she was tall, and naturally lean. She was young when she had her daughter, so she regained her figure quickly. With daily workouts and the benefits of constant access to the gym, Karlie had spent a lifetime honing her physique. Her shoulders were defined, but narrow. She had a six pack, defined thighs, and the calves of someone who led spin classes twice a day, four times a week for several years. She had spent her life pushing her own boundaries, and had spent different phases of her life playing different sports. She had done marathons, triathlons, and most recently had begun rock climbing. Karlie dyed her natural blonde hair a mousy brown color when she had become the manager at her gym, hoping it would help the clients take her more seriously; the brown hair only made her green eyes more alluring. At first glance, Karlie hardly looked 30. The only sign of her age were the beginnings of wrinkles beside her eyes and at the top of her nose when she laughed.
When Karlie got to the building's entrance, she checked her phone. She still had 5 minutes to get to class, but noticed her phone was only on 7% battery. She had forgotten to charge it as she navigated to campus. Fine, she had her charger in the car and could charge the phone as she sat through class. When she got to the car, she cursed under her breath. She had locked her keys in the car, and class would be starting any minute. She was late to class last week, and didn't want to be late again. She banged her fists on her driver's side windows in frustration, then turned to the building. She would have to work it out after class.
Class went by uneventfully. The teacher lectured endlessly in the basement classroom. As her mind drifted, she found shapes in the water stains onthe drop tile ceiling, and counted the cinder blocks in the windowless wall. During the 10 minute break, she checked her phone. 4% battery.
B, locked keys in car like a dumbass. Phone's dying. Pick me up at 7?
She texted her daughter. She turned off her phone so she could receive her daughter's reply after class.
During the second half of class, Karlie was paired with Tony for a partner project. Tony was only 21, but he had finished his undergraduate degree in business and was in Karlie's master's cohort. He was 6', black, and 185 lbs of muscle. He was impeccably easy to talk to, and he had a big, genuine smile. His straight teeth looked beautiful and white framed by his full lips, and his chiseled face and dark features were universally handsome. Karlie was startled to find she was able to relate to Tony despite the age gap. In fact, after only a few minutes, she had completely forgotten about the age difference.
Tony, on the other hand, was very aware of the age difference. He had noticed Karlie during the first week of school. Her green eyes, large breasts, and long legs had stood out to him when she walked into class 10 minutes late. He was taken by how confidently she carried herself. He had always been into older women. He had masturbated while fantasizing about her twice in the previous week. When they had been paired together, he couldn't believe his luck. He spent the hour they had together trying to learn more about her to feed his fantasies for the upcoming week.
Before the pair had completed the assignment, all of the cell phones in the class went off - with the exception of Karlies, whose was off.
Emergency alert - FLOOD WARNING in Smythe region
...
"Fuck." Karlie said. She was cursing herself, yet again, for locking herself out of her car, and letting her phone go dead.
"What's wrong?" Tony asked, sincere in his concern. He was taken by the small furrow she had in her brow.
"My phone is dead, I'm locked out of my car, I live 40 minutes away, and now it's flooding. I texted my daughter to come get me during break, but I haven't checked to see if she's on her way. It's too dangerous for her to come get me. What do I do?"
"Use my phone, and tell her to stay home."
"Really? Thanks" Karlie was sincerely grateful for Tony's kindness. She didn't want to have to worry about her daughter driving in a flood warning.
She quickly typed her daughter's number into Tony's phone and wrote a quick message: