Julia looked left, then right, then left again, trying to solve her dilemma. To her left was the up-scale part of the town. It was the safer part in one sense, but it was also where she had the more risk to meet someone she knew, and men might be busier and have less time to chat with her. To the right were the more popular quarters, with bars aplenty. Maybe it would be easier to collect phone numbers there.<br/><br/>Finally she headed to her right, Lin following at sufficient distance behind so that she would not be seen as being related to her. She felt very self-conscious and ill at ease. Every step seemed to push the skirt higher on her butt, or maybe it was just an impression, but she kept pulling it down. She was feeling naked, or even more than naked. Walking was also difficult because of the heels, forcing her to take tiny steps.<br/><br/>A student in Egyptology, Julia was not used to go out much. And she was even less used to be seen. Usually, peoples passed by her without even seeming to notice she was there. But suddenly all the eyes seemed to converge on her. Men and women, old and young. She was like a blemish on the nose, she was attracting the stares. Julia was so ashamed.<br/><br/>She was walking as fast as she could. She wanted to move away from the quarters she used to frequent, keeping her eyes on the ground, never crossing the eyes of those who lurked at her. Finally after about 30 minutes, she felt "safe" enough to slow down. Her feet, unused to the heels, were already aching badly.<br/><br/>This was a part of the town she was not familiar with. She had rarely come here. There were many bars and discotheques and the side-walks were busy with groups of men and women going out. Here too she was attracting a lot of attention. The girls were whispering as she approached them, wrinkling their noses in disgust. The men were more appreciative, staring at her, laughing, or whistling at her. This seemed a good thing. Collecting the 10 phone numbers would be easier.<br/><br/>She saw two men sitting on low wall with a can of beer in the hand. They had been chatting until one of them had seen her and pointed at her. The other one had then whistled at her. They looked like an easy catch. Maybe she could get two phone numbers in one shot. Julia crossed the street, smiling at them.<br/><br/>Their reaction changed immediately. From gaudy, gleefully smiles their faces turned to an expression of concern.<br/><br/><strong>"Hello!"</strong>she said in as warm a tone as her shyness allowed her to muster.<br/><br/><strong>"Uuuuh... Hello..."</strong>they answered in an annoyed voice.<strong> "Well, we did not want to mean... Uuuh... I mean... This was just a joke... You understand... We are not interested..."</strong>they babbled while standing up and turning to leave.<br/><br/>Flabbergasted by their sudden change of behaviour, Julia came closer, her heady and heavy perfume invading their olfactory space.<br/><br/><strong>"Wait! I just want to make friends!"</strong>she said as they began to walk away.<br/><br/><strong>"No, no. We already have girlfriends..."</strong>they said as if they were excusing themselves.<strong>"Free ones!"</strong>one of them added with a grin on his face.<br/><br/>Julia suddenly realised the ambiguity.<br/><br/><strong>"Wait! I'm not a prostitute. I just want to make friends,"</strong>she said fast as the distance between them was increasing. She tried to walk faster but almost stumbled down in the effort.<strong>"Wait, I just need your phone numbers, please!"</strong><br/><br/>But the two men did not even turn to reply. They were walking fast, as if they were very busy and late. Julia stopped and leaned against a wall with a deep sigh. Folding her right leg, she massaged her aching right foot through the straps of the evil-heeled sandal.<br/><br/>This was going to be harder than expected.