Easy does it [Dryope]

[Kara Hugg]

The weather was hot, but the wind made the heat bearable. It would be a little difficult for a beginning to get use to regulating themselves amongst their environment, but this was also perfect weather to learn. The wind made the usually placid lake ripple, and small waves crashed along the shoreline near the beachy section where people came to swim. Kara pulled back her blonde hair into a high pony tail. She wore a light orange t-shirt and black with a matching light orange stripe down the side shorts. Her Asics running shoes were on, a little dirty from being used regularly. Her left arm was just a sleeve of tattoos, all of overly large bugs. A scorpion on her hand and up to her wrist, on the inside of her wrist and ant, and upwards two half-dollar sized cockroaches. Along her bicep was a dragonfly and her deltoid had a hornet. And the only really hidden tattoo was the one that curve along her shoulder, a huge centipede. But that wasn't it, she'd been debating on getting more for awhile. She'd just, been trying to pace herself.

This morning was like any usual morning for Kara, except for the small addition being she had invited a friend to join her. A friend that was actually running a little late now that she looked at her watch. She'd told him to meet her here at eight a.m. and it was nearly ten-minutes to it now. "Come on Josh, where are you?" she wondered her brown eyes scanning the horizon. She sipped at her water turning back to watch the waves. It was still too early to have many people out on the water but there were a few. She took note of a man in a canoe fishing on the far side of the lake. She saw him there quite often around this time, and she absently wondered if he just fished to fish or if he actually ate anything he caught. She smiled softly remembering one time when her uncle had taken her fishing. That had been fun. She was about nine and eagerly put the worm on the hook and cast it into the water. She had been a little intimidated by the fish at first after she'd caught one, but by the end of the night she was pulling them off the hook herself.

She lightly whistled a tune while she waited, still staring out into the water. It was really going to be a lovely day.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Joshua Bernstein had within the last month begun attempting a healthier lifestyle. Gone were his cigarettes, with help from Sean. Gone were salty snacks, replaced by a variety of healthier options. Gone was beer with dinner.

When he had mentioned this to his friend Kara she had suggested he join her on her morning runs, and he had readily agreed. Running wasn't something he would do alone, but almost anything could be fun with company.

Eight in the morning didn't give him much time between the run and work, so he had bought a gym bag, folded up his work clothes inside, and bicycled off toward the lake. He hoped that he wouldn't get too sweaty or he might have to request runs take place earlier; he might have to ask that anyway, as it wasn't uncommon to have a court appearance at eight.

Because it was hot and humid he had donned gym shorts and an old t-shirt, a far cry from the business casual he wore even when at home.

When he pulled up to the lake Kara had her back turned to him, apparently admiring the water. He couldn't blame her; it looked a lovely day for sailing.

"Good morning!" He greeted her as he tied his bike up, "I'm sorry I'm late, Sean and I stayed up a little late last night celebrating the DOMA ruling and I forgot to set my alarm. How are you?"