Valerie (Younger) AI: https://imgur.com/a/YQnbAYW 

VW Rabbit (Web): https://imgur.com/a/MygLPH3 

Valerie (Current) AI: https://imgur.com/a/dF2XD6p 

83 Dodge Omni (Web): https://imgur.com/a/IezvjVO 

Valerie had always been a practical woman - confident and self-reliant. Living alone on her quiet country property gave her plenty of space to breathe.

Lately, her 1983 Dodge Omni had been giving her grief. Ever since she’d gotten into the habit of dressing up more - mostly for herself, really - her mornings 

seemed plagued with car trouble. Valerie hadn’t connected the dots, but ever since she started wearing pantyhose regularly, her little Omni had turned into 

a stubborn mule.

On this warm spring morning, she stepped out of her house with a slight bounce in her stride. She was dressed for errands, or at least pretending to be. A 

light blue sleeveless top, a swishy black velvet mini, and her favorite pair of jet-black Sheer Energy pantyhose. They hugged her legs snugly, whispering 

softly as she walked, the fabric glinting in the morning sun. Her simple black nubuck flats clicked lightly on the gravel as she made her way toward the car.

She opened the door, settled into the slightly sun-faded driver's seat, and instinctively gave the gas pedal a few quick pumps.

thunk thunk thunk

The pedal sank under her foot, the old carburetor gurgling faintly.

Valerie twisted the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Nothing. Not even a sputter.

With a sigh, she tried again, giving the pedal several more firm presses, her nylon-covered foot moving in a practiced rhythm.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

thunk thunk thunk

“Come on, don’t do this today,” she muttered, brushing her hair back from her face and twisting the key again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-whoof-chit-chit-chit-chit

Still no start. The engine teased her with a cough but wouldn't start.

Her legs shifted, one foot curling under slightly as she tried a new pumping rhythm. More deliberate. Slower. The fabric of her pantyhose stretched gently 

over her thighs as she leaned forward again, peering anxiously over the dash, as though sheer willpower could encourage the engine.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-sput-chit-chit-chit 

Still no luck.

Valerie bit her lip and gave a frustrated laugh. “Seriously?” she said aloud. “You work every other time.” She opened the door, stepping out just briefly to 

glance around - no one in sight, not that there ever was. Her skirt swayed gently in the breeze.

Valerie slipped back inside the car. She leaned over the wheel again. Her fingers drummed the ignition key. Something about this ridiculous ritual was starting 

to feel - familiar. Almost like the car was toying with her.

“Alright,” she said. “One more try.”

Her foot pumped the pedal again, this time a little more urgently.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-sput-chit-chit-VROOOM!

The engine roared to life. Valerie grinned, breath catching in her throat for a moment. She let it idle, tapping the steering wheel with satisfaction. 

Valerie’s errands were simple enough that day - drop off some mail, pick up groceries, swing by the bank.

She stopped at the old rural post office just off the county road, the kind of place with a wooden porch, creaky screen door, and exactly one staff member 

who also knew your dog's name. Valerie slid the manila envelopes into the slot and nodded to the clerk through the dusty window.

It was getting warmer as she stepped back out, the midday sun shimmering across the blacktop. Her black pantyhose clung to her legs in the increasing 

warmth, but she didn’t mind - there was something oddly satisfying about the soft tension of nylon she felt with each step. Something comforting.

She tugged open the Omni’s driver-side door and eased herself in, adjusting her skirt carefully as she settled back. The seat was warm, her pantyhose, smooth 

against the vinyl. She reached for the key - then paused, almost instinctively.

Valerie murmured with a half-smile, giving the gas pedal a few slow, deliberate presses before even trying to start it.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

The soft slap of her flat tapping the pedal echoed faintly in the quiet lot.

Valerie twisted the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

The engine spun but didn't start.

Her brows rose. “Really?”

She tried again, her foot finding a rhythm. She shifted slightly in her seat, back arching forward, giving the pedal firmer pumps.

Thunk Thunk Thunk Thunk chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

 No start.

A breeze rolled through the open windows, ruffling her long, wavy blonde hair. Valerie blew upward at a loose strand and muttered, “You just started half 

an hour ago.”

Valerie adjusted again, one foot planted on the mat, the other fluttering up and down on the pedal. Her pantyhose flexed against her calf, the skirt riding up 

ever so slightly as she leaned forward, hand gripping the key with determination. She twisted again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-chit-chit-chit-chit

A frustrated laugh escaped her lips. “You’re lucky I like a challenge.”

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

She gave a longer series of pumps this time, toe tapping rhythmically, heel lifting in controlled motions.

thunk thunk thunk

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-sput-sput-chit-chit-chit-chit

The car teased with a short cough. Then silence.

Valerie narrowed her eyes at the dash. She wasn’t giving up. Not today.

“Alright, girl. You and me,” she whispered, as if the Omni had a soul she needed to coax into cooperation.

She held the key again and turned it.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-sput-chit-chit-whoof-chit-chit-putt-putt-putt-VROOOOM!

The engine started, grumbling at first, then settling into a low idle.

Valerie sat back with a breathy sigh of triumph, patting the dash as if to say, "Finally." She adjusted her black velvet skirt again and pulled her long blond 

hair behind one shoulder. Her reflection winked faintly in the rearview mirror, a glimmer of resolve and mystery in her eyes.

Whatever was going on with her car - it was getting harder to ignore. Something was off.

And a part of her didn’t mind. Not entirely.

Valerie pulled into the gravel lot of the corner market just off Highway 12, her old Dodge Omni humming lazily beneath her as if nothing had happened. She 

didn’t trust it, not even for a second.

Still, she was craving something sweet. Maybe a peach tea, maybe a pack of powdered donuts. A treat for surviving round two with the stubborn car.

She swung her legs out, the midday sun catching the smooth, matte finish of her pantyhose as she stepped onto the pavement. The black velvet of her 

mini skirt fluttered lightly as she walked toward the store. Heads occasionally turned - not that Valerie noticed. Or maybe she did, just a little.

Inside, she grabbed her tea and a snack, exchanging a quick nod with the sleepy cashier who seemed permanently glued to the stool behind the counter.

Back outside, she gave her Omni a sidelong glance.

“Behave,” she muttered, sliding back into the seat. She shifted a little, letting the hem of her skirt settle just right. Her legs crossed briefly before uncrossing

 - habit. Her pantyhose-clad foot found the gas pedal almost automatically.

A few quick pumps.

thunk thunk. thunk

A pause.

Then more pumping - longer this time.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

She turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-chit-chit-chit-chit-spit-chit-chit

No start.

Valerie let her head fall back onto the seat with a dramatic sigh. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Out the window, a couple walking a dog glanced over. Valerie gave a friendly wave, trying not to look like she was trying to seduce her car into cooperation.

She tried again - this time more focused. Her flats slapped softly against the pedal. Her leg muscles shifted beneath the sheer pantyhose as she leaned 

forward, coaxing, pumping, teasing the engine awake.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-chit-chit-chit-sput-cough-chit-chit-chit

Still no start.

“Alright, you want drama?” Valerie said with a smirk. “I can give you drama.”

Valerie reached down and slid off her soft nubuck flats, letting her bare pantyhose foot rest on the pedal. It was smooth, slightly slippery against the rubber. 

She pressed slowly, rhythmically.

thunk. thunk. thunk. thunk. thunk. thunk.

Then, a few rapid jabs - her own personal ritual now.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

She twisted the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-whoof-chit-chit-VROOM!

Finally.

The engine roared to life like it had never misbehaved. Valerie sat there, letting it idle. Her foot hovered, ready for another standoff, but the rumble was 

steady.

After finishing her tea and brushing powdered sugar from her fingers, Valerie pulled onto the road again, the Omni rumbling just enough to remind her it 

wasn’t done having its fun.

She headed toward the larger market on the edge of town. She needed canned tomatoes, beans, and maybe a new bottle of olive oil. Simple things. But 

nothing felt simple when her car had a mind of its own.

She parked near the front of the store. The afternoon sun was starting to shift, casting longer shadows and highlighting the soft shimmer of her Sheer Energy 

pantyhose as she stepped out. The velvet mini skirt swayed against her thighs with each step, the material catching just a hint of breeze.

A group of three young guys leaned against the wall by the side entrance, construction vests peeled halfway off, clearly on a break. They quieted as she 

walked past. Not catcalling - just - respectfully mesmerized.

Valerie didn’t look directly at them, but the corners of her mouth curved slightly as she opened the store door and disappeared inside.

She didn’t rush her shopping. She liked the rhythm of her heels clicking down the aisles, the smooth brush of nylon between her legs with every step. By 

the time she returned to her car, her small bag was filled, and the sun had warmed the vinyl seats inside.

The guys were still outside. One of them nudged another and tilted his head toward her car.

Valerie pretended not to notice.

She opened the door, smoothed her mini skirt with one hand, and eased back into the seat. Her legs shifted as she adjusted, the sheer pantyhose stretching 

slightly over her thighs.

She reached for the key.

But paused.

Then: pump pump pump pump pump pump 

Her flat pressed down on the gas pedal firmly - then again. The pedal thudded quietly beneath her foot.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught one of the guys subtly watching. Not gawking, just - very interested. Probably couldn’t even help it.

Valerie smiled to herself and turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Nothing.

A short sigh escaped her lips. Of course. It had to act up now.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

She gave the pedal another round of pumps. Her foot moved with quiet insistence, the black nylon gleaming as the arch of her foot flexed in the sunlight.

She turned the key again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-chit-chit-whoof-chit-chit

No start.

Behind the windshield, Valerie’s posture changed. She leaned forward slightly, the hem of her short skirt shifting as her knees parted just a little. She wasn’t 

trying to put on a show - but she knew she was being seen. And somewhere deep down, she didn’t entirely mind.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk. thunk. thunk.

She gave the pedal another firm round. Her foot moved fast, then slow, searching for that sweet spot her temperamental Omni sometimes responded to.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-chit-chit-cough-cough-chit-chit-VROOOM!

The engine coughed awake, shaking lightly under the hood.

Valerie let it idle, one hand resting casually on the wheel, the other lightly brushing her long blond hair back. She didn’t glance toward the guys - but if she 

had, she might have seen one of them give a low whistle, nudging the other.

Then she pulled smoothly out of the lot, her car now fully awake - for now.

As Valerie pulled out of the market parking lot, she gave the dash a little pat. “One more stop,” she said aloud, like making a deal with a moody child. “Then 

you can rest.”

She’d nearly forgotten - she had to deposit a check at the small local bank. It was just up the road, tucked between an insurance office and a florist. She 

parked under a fading maple tree, shade dappling across the windshield.

The air was still warm, the late-afternoon sun catching the delicate sheen of her black pantyhose as she stepped out, the velvet of her skirt swaying around 

the tops of her thighs. Valerie moved with confidence, not arrogance - just a woman who knew how she liked to look and didn’t apologize for it.

Inside the bank, she made her transaction quickly, exchanged a smile with the teller, and walked back to the Omni. Her long blond hair tapped her round butt 

with the subtle rhythm in her stride.

But as she slid into the seat and turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

The engine didn’t start.

Valerie blinked, lips pursing. “Really?”

She gave the gas pedal a few pumps - deliberate, practiced. Her foot moved in smooth strokes, the sheer nylon on her calf flexing as she pressed again 

and again.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

She turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-chit-chit-whoof-chit-chit

The car groaned, teased, but didn’t start.

A couple strolled by on the sidewalk - young, maybe mid-twenties. The guy’s gaze flicked toward the sound. Just a glance at first.

Then, his eyes locked on the open driver’s window.

Valerie, leaning forward slightly, pantyhose-clad foot fluttering on the pedal, back arched as she gave the key another turn.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

She caught the movement in the corner of her eye. The guy was watching - until the girl at his side looped her arm through his and tugged, whispering 

something sharp. His eyes snapped back to her, sheepish.

Valerie’s brows lifted faintly. Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

She pressed the gas pedal again, now bare - she’d slipped off her flat somewhere during the earlier attempts. Her nylon toes flexed against the worn 

rubber pad.

She let the engine sit for a moment. Then, one more round.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-VROOOM

The engine fired back to life. Valerie exhaled a soft laugh, brushing her hair over one shoulder as if the car’s obedience had been inevitable. She sat back, 

foot resting lightly on the pedal.

As the couple disappeared down the street, Valerie watched them go - just a little smile playing at her lips. Not because she wanted the guy's attention, 

but because she knew she'd had it.

And maybe, the Omni did too.

Because this car, for all its faults, seemed to have a very particular sense of timing.

The rest of Valerie’s drive home was uneventful.

The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, casting golden light through the trees as she pulled to a stop in front of her garage. She paused a moment before 

turning off the engine, almost daring it to try something when she had to restart it later.

She unpacked her groceries and made herself a light dinner. Then, as twilight began to settle over the property, she remembered: she’d left her phone 

charger in the car.

She padded back outside across the wooden porch, her pantyhose whispering softly with each step. The air was cool, and the nylon hugged her legs 

snugly as she moved toward the Omni. She still wore the same black velvet mini skirt and soft blue top, and in the amber glow of dusk, her silhouette 

shimmered slightly.

She opened the car door.

And paused.

Because she was tempted.

It wasn’t just about the charger anymore.

It had become a ritual. A quiet, curious game. Valerie climbed into the car and sat down slowly, adjusting her skirt over her thighs and leaning back into 

the seat like she belonged there.

Her eyes settled on the dash. The key waited in the ignition.

She reached down and slipped her soft black flats off, bare pantyhose toes brushing the gas pedal now.

thump. thump. Pause. thump.

She twisted the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Nothing.

Valerie smirked. Of course.

Another set of pumps - slow and smooth, her foot arching, heel lifting, toes pressing firmly. Her pantyhose slid lightly across the pedal’s surface. She could 

feel the vibration of the plastic beneath.

thunk thunk. thunk. thunk.

She tried again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-sput

The engine gave a little gasp, then went silent again.

From the road beyond the trees came the hum of a passing car - likely a neighbor. Valerie didn’t look up. Her focus was here, in this bubble of soft pantyhose, 

worn vinyl, and mechanical defiance.

She gave the pedal another series of firm strokes. This time, more purposeful.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

She turned the key with a flick of her wrist, and -

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-VROOOOM!

The engine caught hard, louder than usual, as if startled by her determination.

Valerie smoothed the pantyhose on her thighs as the engine was purring softly under the hood, and, still barefoot in her sheer black pantyhose, rested one

 foot lightly on the gas as it idled. The night air was cool now, but she felt energized - not ready to be done yet.

She smiled to herself.

“I deserve ice cream,” she murmured.

A quick trip to the fast food place just off the highway - five minutes there, five back. What could possibly go wrong?

She slipped her flats back on and shifted into gear.

The old Dodge hummed along the backroads, her headlights slicing through the dusk. The parking lot of the fast food restaurant was half full - teenagers 

loitering near the entrance, a few families finishing up, and two guys leaning against a pickup under the streetlamp, sipping milkshakes.

Valerie parked in a spot not far from the entrance. She moved with her usual quiet grace as she stepped out - her black velvet mini skirt fluttering gently in 

the breeze, her long blond hair tapping her firm round butt as she walked, the warm parking lot lights highlighting the shimmer of her Sheer Energy 

pantyhose. Even after a long day, they clung perfectly to her legs, hugging every curve.

Inside, she ordered a soft serve cone. Small, simple, just sweet enough.

She walked back to the car slowly, licking the cone, casually aware that eyes followed her. One of the guys near the truck nudged the other, murmuring 

something with a faint grin. Valerie gave no reaction, but her lips curled slightly at the corners.

She climbed back into the driver’s seat, set the cone in the cup holder, and reached for the key.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

She turned the key. 

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

The engine whined but didn’t start.

She tried again.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Pause. Thunk. Thunk

Her foot worked methodically, deliberately.

She twisted the key again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-chit-chit.

Still nothing.

The windows were down. The warm summer air carried every sound. Every pump. Every attempt. She knew the group of teens across the lot could hear it. 

The guys by the pickup definitely heard it. Their conversation slowed, heads tilting just slightly her way.

Valerie leaned forward, gripping the wheel with one hand. Her skirt pulled tighter across her lap as she shifted. Her leg muscles flexed beneath the matte 

black pantyhose as her foot gave the pedal another determined series of presses.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

She turned the key again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

She sighed, loudly this time. A touch dramatic. Just enough to draw more attention.

A couple walked past, heading for the restaurant. The guy glanced sideways - right at her legs, her posture, the familiar struggle. His girlfriend noticed. 

She slipped her hand into his and tugged him away, whispering something irritatedly. He blinked and looked down guiltily, letting himself be led inside.

She smirked.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. 

Another set of pumps - this time more aggressive. Her foot moved with a rhythm now, part frustration, part performance.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

And then, with one final twist -

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-VROOOOOOM!

The engine howled to life, almost defiantly. Valerie didn’t move for a moment. She let it idle, sat back against the seat, and casually took another lick of 

her cone.

She didn’t look at the boys by the truck. Or the couple. Or the kids across the lot.

But she knew they were looking.

And for a moment, as the engine settled into a steady hum, she couldn’t help but feel like she wasn’t entirely alone in this strange little game between her, 

her pantyhose, and her temperamental Omni.

The soft-serve cone was almost gone by the time Valerie reached the edge of town.

The streets were quieter now. Shop lights flickered off. Porch lights were on, but no one lingered on stoops. The orange wash of streetlamps stretched long 

shadows across the cracked pavement. Valerie drove slowly, humming to the radio, feeling the comforting grip of her pantyhose around her legs, the smooth 

tightness a familiar presence by now.

She passed the corner gas station and slowed, spotting a vending machine glowing beside the building. She had a craving for a cold soda - something sharp 

and fizzy. A nightcap.

She pulled into the lot and parked under a flickering light. No one else was around. The station was closed, only the machines and a payphone left running. 

Crickets sang from a nearby ditch.

Valerie stepped out barefoot, again slipping off her flats and walking lightly across the warm concrete, her sheer black pantyhose soft against the pavement. 

Her skirt and long hair swayed and bounced with each step. The soda machine rumbled as she pushed the button, a can clunking into the tray below.

She cracked it open, took a sip, and turned back toward the Omni.

It sat there like a shadow with headlights - quiet, patient, waiting.

She climbed in, set the soda in the cup holder beside the now-empty cone wrapper, and let out a soft exhale.

It was late. She wanted to get home.

thunk. thunk.

She gave the pedal a quick pump.Then another. Then, five more.

thunk. thunk. thunk thunk thunk.

She twisted the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

The engine spun - and spun - and nothing.

Valerie blinked.

Another deep breath. More pumps. This time, her foot moved more insistently, bare pantyhose toes flexing against the pedal’s curve. The nylon whispered 

and stretched with each press.

thunk thunk. thunk. thunk. thunk.

She leaned forward over the wheel, shifting in her seat as the car stubbornly refused to cooperate. The hem of her skirt crept up noticeably, the soft fabric of 

her pantyhose catching the light.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

She gave the pedal another long, slow set of strokes. Her breathing slowed to match the motion, her foot moving almost like a rhythm, like she and the car 

were dancing in their own little world.

thunk thunk thunk thunk Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

She turned the key again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-pit-pit-VROOOOM!

The Omni came to life with a deep, gravelly purr. Valerie smiled softly to herself and sat back.

She didn’t rush to put the car in gear. She let the engine settle into its idle hum, foot still resting lightly on the pedal. The pantyhose on her legs glinted faintly 

in the dashboard light.

She glanced around - no one was watching.

But it still felt like a show.

And she didn’t mind giving it.

Valerie turned onto a quiet backroad, sipping her soda and feeling the hum of the engine beneath her. She wasn’t far from home now, maybe ten minutes if 

the Omni behaved.

But as she passed the edge of a familiar clearing—the old, unused picnic area with its crooked benches and overgrown hedges—something tugged at her.

She hadn’t been there in years.

Impulse won.

She eased the car off the road and parked beneath the skeletal remains of a broken lamppost. The lot was cracked, the gravel uneven. Trees leaned in 

around the edges. No one else was there. Just her, the wind, and the ticking of the cooling engine after she switched it off.

She stepped out, pantyhose catching a breeze that moved through the trees like a whisper. The moon peeked out between clouds, silvering the tops of 

her thighs and the soft folds of her skirt.

It was peaceful here. Isolated. And a little eerie.

She stood for a minute by the hood of the Omni, sipping the last of her soda.

When she climbed back into the car and turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

The engine spun. But didn’t even try to catch.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Not even a cough.

Valerie blinked, then gave the gas pedal a few presses.

thunk. thunk. thunk thunk thunk

Her foot moved confidently, fluidly, like muscle memory.

Another turn of the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Still nothing.

She gave a soft, humorless laugh and leaned back in the seat, staring at the roof of the car.

She just sat there for a moment in the stillness, fingertips gently tapping the rim of her half-finished soda. Her sheer pantyhose glowed faintly in the light of 

the dash. A breeze stirred through the open window, cool against her skin.

And suddenly, the memory came.

Unbidden. Clear. Sensual.

Back to the first time.

She remembered it as clearly as if it were last week: she was 19, still living in the suburbs, fresh off her first retail job paycheck, and giddy with independence. 

She’d just bought her first real pair of pantyhose - beige HeyUU pantyhose,  soft, thick with a subtle matte sheen - and they perfectly matched with a new pair 

of beige espadrille wedges - with the soft canvas ties around the ankles. Not practical for driving, maybe, but she hadn’t cared. They looked pretty to her.

It was early fall. Cooler air, golden leaves, the scent of wood smoke in the distance.

It had been the first day Valerie dressed up just for herself. No occasion, no reason. She wore a clingy blue sweater dress, beige pantyhose, and beige 

espadrille wedges. 

She had looked at herself in the mirror before leaving and thought, This feels - right. Grown-up. Poised. And yet there had been something else - an edge

 of vulnerability, maybe even power.

She had planned to drive across town to the farmer’s market. Just a little outing.

She had looked at herself in the mirror before leaving and thought, This feels... right. Grown-up. Poised. And yet there had been something else—an edge 

of vulnerability, maybe even power.

She had planned to drive across town to the farmer’s market. Just a little outing.

But as she turned the key in the Rabbit, the engine sputtered. Coughed. Refused to start.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-pit-pit-chirp-chirp

She had blinked, unsure. It had worked perfectly that morning. She gave the pedal a few tentative presses, her wedge sinking into the mat beneath her foot.

plump. plump. plump. plump.

The sensation was new - how the soft pantyhose hugged her toes, how the wedge’s slope arched her foot just enough to make the pedal feel -  alive beneath her.

She pumped again. The fabric rubbed lightly at her heel as she moved.

plump plump plump plump plump 

Not loud. Not frantic. Just… instinctive.

She twisted the key again.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp

Nothing.

Embarrassment had bloomed first.

But then - something else.

A strange warmth low in her hips. A flutter between her legs. A pulse she couldn’t name. Her breath had caught when she realized the engine still wouldn’t 

start, and yet,  she didn’t want to stop trying.

She had leaned forward, skirt tightening across her round hips. Her legs moved in long, smooth motions - pumping, pausing, pumping again. Her wedge 

pressing deep. Her soft pantyhose glowing in the afternoon sun pouring through the windshield.

She twisted the key.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-pup-pup-chirp-chirp-chirppup-chirp-chirp-chirp-pup-pup-bruuuummmmm

Valerie had only driven five minutes from home, headed toward a thrift store downtown, when she stopped at a red light.

And the car... stalled.

Her brows furrowed. She twisted the key.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-pup-pup-chirp-chirp-chirp

Nothing.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp

She tried again.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp

Still nothing.

It had never done this before. Not once.

Her heart beat faster. Not in fear - just confusion. Maybe a little embarrassment.

plump plump plump plump plump

She gave the gas pedal a few quick pumps, the soft sole of her espadrille pressing firmly. She could feel the pedal through the slight cushion of rope beneath 

her pantyhose-covered foot.

plump plump plump plump plump

She turned the key again.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-prruup-prruup-chirp-chirp-chirp-pup-pup

Still no start.

Cars began to pass around her, no honks, just looks. She could feel their eyes. Some impatient. Some curious. And then, she caught it - through her side 

mirror, a man in a pickup behind her, watching.

Not angrily.

Just - watching.

She’d never thought about being seen that way before. In that moment. In those clothes. She became intensely aware of the way her foot moved on the pedal, 

the way her pantyhose glowed just slightly in the light, the way her dress shifted every time she pumped the gas pedal.

plump plump plump plump plump plump 

She pumped the pedal again, slower this time. Her ankle flexed in the wedge, her calves taut beneath the dark sheen of nylon. She turned the key.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-prruup-prruup-brruuummm

The engine finally came to life, almost shyly.

She drove the rest of the way with her cheeks flushed, heart racing - not from the embarrassment anymore.

From something else.

She had felt it.

Something raw. Undiscovered. Something sensual in the motion, in the struggle, in the isolation of her and the machine. The car’s refusal. Her insistence.

She had never told anyone.

She buried it. Chalked it up to stress. Blamed the old Rabbit. Told herself it didn’t mean anything.

But it had.

It had been humiliating. But weirdly exciting.

People had watched. A man in sunglasses walked by. A girl across the parking lot who gave a smirk. And Valerie had felt something she didn’t fully understand yet: 

like she was being seen differently. Not as helpless. Not as silly.

As… intriguing.

Ever since then, any time a car wouldn’t start under her, a part of her slipped into that same space - vulnerable but in control, frustrated but completely focused. 

It was intimate. Personal. Like being caught in a dance she hadn’t choreographed.

And now, all these years later, sitting in the quiet dark inside another misbehaving car, pantyhose clinging to her legs and breath slightly shallow from another 

drawn-out engine struggle.

Valerie finally admitted it to herself.

She liked it.

She always had.

Now, in the dark, she looked down at her legs. The jet-black Sheer Energy pantyhose shimmered faintly in the light from the dash.

She lifted her foot again, pressed the gas.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

She turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-

Still dead.

Her brows furrowed.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

She pumped again, a slow rhythm, but this time, it felt almost like a ritual. The nylon of her pantyhose shifted gently with each movement, her foot arching 

with smooth familiarity.

But the engine didn’t respond at all.

Valerie sat still in the driver’s seat, surrounded by silence, save for the whisper of trees and the occasional click of the cooling engine metal.

She flexed her foot slightly against the pedal, the smooth nylon brushing the rubber.

thunk thunk

She didn’t try the key right away.

Instead, her mind wandered again - this time to something she rarely let herself think about.

That other feeling.

Not the embarrassment. Not the frustration.

The one deeper down.

She had always told herself it was nonsense. That it didn’t mean anything. But each time her car resisted… each time she had to pump the pedal again 

and again, feel the arch of her foot flex, the press of nylon against vinyl, the thrum of effort through her leg…

There was something more there.

Sensual.

It wasn’t just the movement—it was the focus. The vulnerability. The attention. Her foot becoming part of the machine, coaxing it, controlling it, needing it to 

respond. That connection had always stirred something in her—something she’d ignored. Denied. Smoothed over like static.

Until now.

Valerie's lips parted slightly, her breath slowing as she let her heel press down once more.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk-thunk.

Her calf tightened subtly beneath the pantyhose. She let the pedal rise and fall beneath her nylon sole, her eyes on the dash.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

She turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-whoof-chit-chit-chit

The engine teased. Coughed. Almost… almost.

She gave the pedal a burst of firm presses.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

Turned the key again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-sput-chit-chit-chit-chit

Still nothing.

Her fingers tightened on the wheel. She leaned forward, the edge of her skirt riding a little higher, unnoticed. Her posture focused, intense. The night air 

brushed against her skin, and the isolation of the place wrapped around her like a velvet curtain.

She didn't want anyone to see her like this.

And yet… if someone did…

If someone had been watching this entire time, hiding in the trees, or beyond the brush…

Would she stop?

Would she want to?

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

She gave the pedal another long set of pumps, toes flexing, heel rising, her leg now moving in a slow, practiced rhythm that made her feel completely in 

her body.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

She turned the key one more time.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-sputter-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Still no ignition. But closer.

So close.

Valerie exhaled slowly.

She felt alive.

The silence inside the car grew heavier, not empty—but full. Full of tension. Of expectation. Of something she couldn’t name.

Valerie stayed still, her fingers draped over the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the empty road ahead. Her chest rose and fell slowly. Her legs, stretched just 

slightly in front of her, were still. The matte black pantyhose clung like a second skin, holding the warmth of her body beneath the open night air.

She knew the Omni wouldn’t start yet. Not just because of some mechanical hiccup, but because it… wasn’t ready.

And neither was she.

A breeze blew in through the open window, brushing her bare arms, cooling her heated skin. Her foot hovered over the gas pedal. She slid off her flat again,

 the shoe falling softly to the floorboard. Her nylon-clad toes rested on the pedal with delicate precision.

She began to pump. Slowly. Silently.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

Each press a conversation. Each rise and fall a wordless pull between her body and the machine.

The car made no sound.

She tried the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sput-pit

A flicker. Then silence again.

But that flicker hit something inside her. Need.

Not to get home. Not to escape the stillness.

She needed the car to respond to her.

To her voice, her rhythm, her presence in the seat, pantyhose pressed firm to the pedal, skirt stretched tight across her thighs. The way she curled forward 

over the wheel, every pump of the gas a silent plea - or was it a dare?

She gave the pedal a new series - faster now.

thunk thunk thunk thunk

Pantyhose squeaked faintly against the pedal’s worn surface.

Her leg trembled faintly - not from effort, but from the strange, rising pressure within her. Emotional. Physical. Unspoken. Familiar in the way a secret 

becomes more powerful the longer it stays hidden.

She turned the key again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-sputter-chit-chit-chit

Still no start.

Valerie bit her lip, eyes fluttering shut for a moment.

She could feel the tension building in her like a current. All her senses dialed in - foot, leg, fingertips on the wheel, the stretch of her pantyhose, the brush 

of her velvet skirt against her hips. Her breathing had deepened.

It wasn’t about attention anymore. 

This was between her and the Omni.

And the Omni wasn’t giving in easily.

She leaned forward again, thigh brushing the edge of the seat, long blond hair falling loosely across her shoulder. Her toes flexed inside the thin black 

pantyhose, arching over the gas pedal.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Every press now was deliberate.

Sensual.

Intimate.

The car remained silent.

But Valerie was trembling now—not with fear.

With anticipation.

And a part of her didn’t want it to start.

Not just yet.

thunk. thunk.

One more pump. One more twist of the key. One more flicker of the engine sputtering to life - only to falter again.

thunk thunk thunk thunk

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-prrruup-chit-chit-chit-prrruup-chit-chit-chit

And then, it happened.

A heavy wave rolled through her hips - hot, electric, and disarming. Her breath caught. Her leg stiffened. Her toes curled slightly against the pedal as her 

heel trembled on the mat. She gasped - softly, involuntarily - eyes wide as the sensation bloomed and broke in her core like a match struck in darkness.

Her moan slowly turned to a dull growl and a high-pitched gasp.

Then silence.

Stillness.

Her body melted slowly back into the seat, as if she’d been holding herself up against something for far too long - and it had finally given way.

She blinked once, twice, staring at the dashboard with a dazed, open softness she didn’t recognize.

Valerie didn’t understand what had just happened. Not completely.

The hot tension inside of her had finally been released between her legs. A knot she hadn’t realized she was holding. A tension she had ignored, denied, 

resisted—and now, surrendered to.

Her chest rose and fell in slow, uneven breaths. She felt flushed, light, floating.

Her fingers grazed her lap. Absent-minded at first. Then deliberate. She felt the pantyhose under skirt. 

The pantyhose beneath her fingertips was warm and slick—the jet black Sheer Energy pantyhose hugging her skin as if clinging to her experience. She 

traced a line down her thigh with slow care, grounding herself in the texture, the memory still echoing faintly through her hips and spine.

She lingered.

Silent.

Wide-eyed.

Alive.

The car sat dead around her.

Still no start. Still no spark.

But in a strange way, it felt like the car had given her something else instead.

Not movement.

Not progress.

But release.

Valerie swallowed hard. Her hand now rested softly on her warm thigh. She stared forward, the moment still humming in the quiet. A curl of her beautiful 

blond hair slid down her shoulder.

“…What was that?” she whispered.

The wind outside rustled a low reply. Nothing more.

She didn’t try the key again - yet.

She didn’t want to break the spell.

Not just yet.

The cabin was still and warm, a bubble of silence floating gently in the rural night.

Valerie sat alone, eyes soft and unfocused, her breathing calm now - almost shallow. The engine hadn't made a sound in minutes, yet she remained in the 

driver's seat as if caught between worlds. The dashboard lights had dimmed again, leaving only the glow of a streetlamp far down the road reflecting 

faintly in the windshield.

Her hand moved again—slowly, curiously—trailing along the soft stretch of nylon across her thigh. She followed the curve with her fingertips, tracing the 

faint shimmer of the pantyhose where it hugged the skin just above her knee. The sensation was feather-light, almost meditative.

It grounded her. Reminded her she was still there. Still herself.

But something had changed.

She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

Why had she started wearing pantyhose again, anyway?

She hadn’t worn them since high school. Not seriously. Not like this - every day, under skirts and dresses, even when no one was around to see. At first, 

she told herself it was for polish. A certain femininity she hadn’t indulged in lately.

But it had become more than that.

The way they made her feel - how they hugged her hips, slid across her legs, whispered against the seats of her car - there was something deeply personal 

about it.

Sensory.

Focused.

Alive.

And the car trouble?

That should’ve made her furious. An old Dodge stalling every other errand, leaving her stranded in grocery store lots and outside gas stations. It should’ve 

made her want to scream. It used to.

But not lately.

Not today.

Somewhere along the way, the struggle had transformed. The grinding starter, the stubborn choke, the feel of her foot rhythmically working the gas pedal 

- all of it had become something else entirely.

Something… intimate.

It was like the car didn’t just resist her.

It challenged her.

Drew something out of her she hadn’t known was there.

And every time she slid into the seat, pantyhose smooth against the worn fabric and reached for the key.

Her body remembered.

The warmth low in her taut round hips. The way her breath caught when the engine sputtered. The subtle build between her legs and the pedal, between 

control and denial, effort and stillness.

Something… intimate.

And every time she slid into the seat, pantyhose smooth against the worn fabric, and reached for the key…

Her body remembered.

The warmth low in her belly. The way her breath caught when the engine sputtered. The subtle build between her legs and the pedal, between control and 

denial, effort and stillness.

Valerie stroked the inside of her thigh slowly, thoughtfully, her nails lightly grazing over nylon.

Why does this feel good?

She didn’t know.

But she no longer felt the need to fight it.

The reflection in the rearview mirror caught her eye—soft face, cheeks slightly flushed, hair tousled, lips parted.

A woman in the middle of discovering something.

Alone.

Curious.

And no longer afraid to feel it.

She looked down at her foot, still hovering near the pedal. She flexed it slightly, just to feel the way the pantyhose stretched across her arch.

The car was silent.

But her body was humming.

And in that quiet, Valerie smiled softly.

She key twisted once more.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-prrruup-chit-chit-chit-prrruup-

The engine teased. It stumbled and growled just shy of turning over. Then fell silent again.

Valerie inhaled sharply.

Her fingers gripped the steering wheel.

There it was again - that rising heat. That tight, rushing pressure blooming low in her hips, deep in her hips. Her legs tensed subtly beneath her mini skirt, 

her pantyhose catching faintly against the seat.

She wasn’t prepared for how fast it came this time.

That raw, breathless anticipation - the rhythmic pedal, the car’s stubborn turning, the mechanical struggle she’d come to crave. It all pushed at something 

inside her she used to ignore. Now, she felt it every time she turned the key.

And her body - responded.

She let her foot rest on the mat again and exhaled slowly, feeling the wave pass. Not gone, just - eased. A warm pulse remained - throbbing, echoing.

She closed her eyes.

Valerie let one hand trail down from the wheel, drifting under her skirt again. The pantyhose felt cool now - her skin still flushed beneath. Her fingertips 

moved gently, exploring the curve of her leg, grounding herself in the sensation.

“I’m not crazy,” she whispered to the quiet cabin.

The car gave no reply.

And yet, the silence said something.

It welcomed her.

Held her.

Let her stay in that place of rising tension and tender release.

She traced a line down her pantyhose slowly, from mid-thigh to knee, then back again - her touch soft, thoughtful. Not hurried.

She wasn’t running from this anymore.

Not tonight.

And maybe not ever again.

Valerie finally moved.

It had been nearly forty-five minutes of stillness, reflection, and slow breathing before she even shifted her posture. Her skirt settled again around her 

thighs. Her fingers slid away from her lap.

Whatever had passed between her and the Omni—it wasn’t over. Just paused. Her senses still buzzed, but now there was clarity in her expression. Focus.

She looked down.

The gas gauge hovered just above a quarter tank.

“Plenty,” she murmured to herself.

She licked her lips and rolled her shoulders back. Her hand found the key. Her other foot flexed, heel anchored as the soft arch of her pantyhose-clad 

foot settled again onto the gas pedal.

She began to pump.

Steady now.

Thunk. Thunk. thunk thunk thunkthunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

Her leg moved like clockwork - each press slow and smooth, rising and falling in a rhythmic motion that stirred the quiet air inside the cabin. The taut nylon 

around her knee and thigh shifted subtly with each motion, a faint swish, a soft pull.

Then she turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

She didn’t let go.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

The sound filled the space - dry, metallic, stubborn.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Still no engine.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

Still no fire.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

She let off, exhaled through her nose, and went back to pumping - this time deeper. More deliberate. The ball of her foot sunk into the pedal, then rose, 

then pressed again. Her heel never left the mat, but her entire body leaned forward with the motion.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

The repetitive rhythm had a hypnotic pull now. Her breathing synced with it. Her hair slipped forward across her cheek, but she didn’t brush it back. Her 

eyes never left the dash.

Again, she turned the key.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-CHUHHHH

A sputter. A near start.

Then nothing.

The engine sighed and died.

Valerie closed her eyes for just a second. The sensation of the pedal beneath her pantyhose-wrapped foot, the firm resistance of the car’s refusal - it wasn’t 

just familiar now. It was expected. Needed.

Part of her.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

She pressed again.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

Longer this time. Slower.

thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk 

She could feel her calf flex with the effort, the soft friction of sheer fabric hugging her leg.

thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk 

And somewhere inside that repetition… a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk 

Not frustration.

thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk 

Not annoyance.

thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk 

But something between challenge - and craving.

thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk 

She twisted the key once more.

The Omni growled.

chit-chit-chit-chit-CHIT-CHIT-chug-chug-CHIT

Still no start.

But something was building again.

And Valerie wasn’t ready to walk away.

Valerie’s fingers stayed curled around the key, her breath shallow as the starter dragged again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chhit--chit--chhh--chhit-chhit-chhit

A noticeable hesitation.

The sound was thinner this time - less confident. The once-sharp rhythm of the starter had grown tired, like a voice trying to shout but now only whispering.

She froze.

Eyes wide.

“Oh no… not the battery,” she whispered aloud, her voice barely above the soft hum of the cooling evening air.

Her heel stayed planted. Her nylon-clad foot, instinctively, returned to the pedal—pumping gently, as if coaxing the car to stay with her.

Thunk… thunk… thunk-thunk.

She changed the rhythm. Slower. A little more pleading in the stroke. Her ankle moved with practiced care, but now a tiny flicker of urgency crept in. The 

intimacy of the act didn’t fade - it just deepened. It wasn't just desire anymore.

It was need.

thunk  thunk  thunk

She twisted the key again.

chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit

A long, low groan from the starter. The battery hadn’t given up yet. But it was warning her.

Valerie bit her lip and leaned forward, tightening the angle of her knee. The seat shifted faintly under her as her body adjusted, driving her motion through 

the full length of her leg.

thunk  thunk  thunk  

The jet black Sheer Energy pantyhose clung to her skin with each pump.

thunk  thunk  thunk  

She could feel it more now.

thunk  thunk  thunk  

The warm texture of pantyhose. The glide of her pantyhose. The pressure in the arch of her foot as it pressed the pedal down again and again.

thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  thunk  

Her fingers trembled lightly on the key, but she held herself still. Centered.

This was delicate.

Private.

She whispered again.

“Come on… stay with me.”

Another twist of the key.

chit-chit-chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit-chhhhh-prrrummp

A sputter. A flicker. Then silence.

But not defeat.

The tension in her body remained - a coil waiting to spring, hips still tight with focus, breath just slightly off balance. Her free hand slipped down to the edge 

of her skirt and rubbed gently on her thigh, grounding herself in the feel of the soft pantyhose. As much a part of this moment as the car itself.

She let out a breath.

There was still time. Still just enough charge.

And Valerie wasn’t done.

Not yet.

Valerie drew in a slow breath, steadying herself.

The battery was fading. Not dead - not yet - but the sound of the starter had grown softer, more strained. The engine was clinging to its last sparks like 

threads slipping through her fingers.

And still - she stayed.

Not out of stubbornness.

Not yet out of frustration.

But because there was something in this closeness - this private moment - that called to her deeper than she wanted to admit.

She pressed the pedal again.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk  thunk thunk

Slower.

thunk    thunk    thunk  

Deeper.

thunk      thunk      thunk

Her heel never moved from the floor mat, but her entire leg stretched out with intention, her belvet skirt tugging faintly as her knee extended. The black 

pantyhose  gleamed faintly in the dying light, catching the tension of every movement. The pantyhose had warmed to her skin now - molded to her - 

becoming part of the way she felt the car, the pedal, the resistance.

thunk    thunk    thunk   thunk    thunk    thunk

The sound was softer now. More drawn out. Like a whispered chant. Like the last few drops of a ritual not yet complete.

She closed her eyes and turned the key again.chit-chit-chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit… chhhh--chhit-prrrruummp

A single cough from the engine.

Then silence.

She didn’t flinch. She waited.

The battery wasn’t done - not entirely. But it was thinking about giving up.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

The friction of pantyhose against vinyl. The soft rub of sheer pantyhose over muscle. Her breath hitched with each motion, every pump now drawing not 

just fuel, but energy - from her body, her focus, her tension.

She turned the key again.

Held it longer.

chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit-chhit-Ch-chit--chhhhrrr-CHUH--ch-woompff

It almost caught.

A flutter in the engine - like a shiver. Then nothing.

But that moment - that flicker of life - sent a jolt up her spine.

Valerie opened her eyes, narrowed with focus.

She went back to the pedal.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk

More pumps - this time tighter. Quicker. Each one a conversation between her foot and the fading heartbeat of the machine beneath her.

The battery had just enough left.

Just enough for a few more tries.

And Valerie was going to use every one.

Because this wasn’t just about the car starting anymore.

It was about control.

It was about surrender.

It was about being right on the edge - and choosing not to let go.

Not yet.

Valerie could feel it.

That final edge.

The way the starter strained under her last few twists of the key - no longer brisk, no longer rhythmic, just a drawn - out sound like breathlessness. 

Like exhaustion.

And she felt it too.

In her thighs, tight from the repetition.

In her hips, pulled inward by the tension that had built over every press of the gas pedal.

In her chest, rising and falling in shorter, more shallow waves.

Still, she pumped.

thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk 

Each motion now was a threadbare echo of all the ones that had come before. But no less meaningful. In fact, more - because she knew the end was 

near. Not just for the battery.

But for her.

She twisted the key again.

chhit-chhit-chhhit-rrhh-chhhit-chhhhit-Ch-chhh—rrrhh—click.

A dry, empty cough from under the hood. A shudder.

Then she let go.

Another pump. Her foot moved with memory, with want, with defiance.

She turned the key once more.

click click click click click click click click click click 

No crank. Just the faint tick of a battery that had nothing left to give.

And in that moment - everything inside her let go.

The tension she'd carried for so long, curled deep in her hips, her spine, her gut - unraveled. It surged and broke all at once. A sharp, low tremor rolled 

through her core. She tensed - her heel lifted, her thigh stiffened - and then her body convulsed in the seat, a soft cry escaping her lips.

She slumped back.

Eyes wide.

Breathless.

Still.

The dashboard lights dimmed and faded. The silence wrapped around her like a warm fog.

No ticking engine. No failing spark.

Just her body, pulsing quietly in the aftermath.

Spent.

She placed a trembling hand on her thigh again, over the warm nylon. The pantyhose clung to her like a second skin - familiar now, comforting. Her other 

hand gently released the keys, which hung motionless in the ignition.

The Omni had nothing left to give.

And for now - neither did Valerie.

She closed her eyes.

A single exhale escaped her lips.

“…That’s new,” she whispered, cheeks flushed, lips barely parted in the stillness.

And she let herself rest.

Alongside the battery.

<<< a few hours later >>>

A soft chill kissed Valerie’s skin.

Her eyes fluttered open.

It was dark now - rural silence wrapping around her like a blanket. The last blush of twilight had given way to deep blue sky, pinpricked with stars. Crickets 

chirped faintly in the distance. A single moth tapped against the windshield.

She sat motionless in the driver’s seat, arms folded loosely across her lap, her head against the seat back. The warm imprint of her day lingered along her 

legs and across her hips. Her pantyhose felt cool now - smoothed against her skin like a memory.

A good one.

She blinked slowly, adjusting to the quiet.

And then, almost without thinking, she reached again for the key.

A breath.

A glance at the dash.

The battery light glowed steady.

Her hand turned the ignition.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit

The engine spun strong.

Her breath caught.

Again.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chhit-chhit-chhhhit—chuhh—chit—chhhuhhh

Still no start. But it sounded healthy again - no longer fragile, no longer on the edge of silence.

Her foot moved to the gas pedal instinctively.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Just a few gentle pumps now. No urgency. Just touch. Habit. Connection.

She twisted the key one more time.

chit-chit-chit-chit-chhit-chhit-CHIT-CHUH-CHUHH-VROOOOMMM.

The engine caught.

Alive.

Strong.

A low rumble vibrated through the frame of the car, and Valerie smiled - wide and quiet, the kind of smile that belongs to someone who knows they’ve made 

it through something.

She let the engine idle, humming low like a purring cat beneath her.

No one else was around. No lights. No noise.

Just her.

She sat back again and let the warmth of the engine fan across her legs. The motion of the day—the ritual, the release, the surrender—all of it lived in her 

still, folded into her body like creases in silk.

She touched the key gently.

Then whispered to the night:

“Good girl.”

The Omni idled smoothly in reply.

Valerie didn’t drive off just yet.

She stayed a little longer, hands resting in her lap, grateful - not just that the car had started…

…but that today had taken her somewhere unexpected.

Somewhere deep. And oddly beautiful.

Valerie eased the gearshift into Drive.

The soft lurch forward was smoother than she remembered—like the Omni itself had taken a long breath and finally decided to cooperate.

The road home was empty.

No headlights behind her. No signs ahead.

Just the hum of her tires on cracked pavement and the muted glow of the dash lighting her thighs in a dusky amber. The velvety pleats of her skirt barely 

shifted as she settled back into the seat, one hand on the wheel, the other still lingering near the ignition - as if hesitant to let go.

She rolled down the window.

The cool night air met her skin with a gentle kiss. It played across her cheeks, tangled a few strands of her blond hair, and snuck beneath the hem of her 

skirt, brushing her pantyhose-clad legs like a whisper of everything the day had left behind.

She smiled.

A real one.

Tired but calm. Still tingling from the memory of tension, but no longer overwhelmed by it. The sense of release hadn’t vanished - it had simply softened. 

Settled.

She drove slowly.

There was no need to rush.

As the trees gave way to open fields, and the old wooden fence of her rural driveway came into view, Valerie felt something strange.

She didn’t dread the next time her car would act up.

In fact,

She kind of looked forward to it.

She parked beside the house as the engine idled steady and warm beneath her. She didn’t turn the key yet. Not just yet.

She sat with it. With herself.

Then, finally, gently - she shut the car off.

The engine stopped. But something inside her kept humming.

Valerie stepped out onto the gravel in her soft black nubuck flats, the weight of the day sinking into the quiet around her. The night felt different now.

More hers.

She glanced back at the Omni. Still. Waiting.

“Good girl,” she murmured again, softer this time.

Then she turned and walked toward the porch, the crunch of gravel beneath her feet, the sway of her hips softened by the twilight, and the comfort of 

sheer matte pantyhose gliding over her legs with each step.

Home.

At last.