The day was supposed to be hot. But, you sure wouldn't guess it from the typically crisp high-desert morning. It's seven in the morning, not unreasonably early, but the cold air has even the birds and squirrels getting a late start.
The tumbling water in the river is the backdrop over which a few determined birds begin chirping back and forth as they venture out from their pine tree homes. The State Park seems empty and quiet until a car is heard up the gravel pathway. It's got quite a bit of winding and dust-stirring to do before it pulls into a parking spot facing the river. The birds quiet for a moment in observation of this first visitor from the nearby town, knowing that it indicates the beginning of a steady stream. Soon there will be dogs and sensibly dressed hikers dotting the woods.
The car is a Subaru hatchback. It isn't old, but it's not new either. It's simply the right car for the sometimes snowy, and often dusty roads around the small town. And, it bears the marks of loving damage by kicked rocks, potholes, and time spent waiting at trailheads. Basically, it looks like the right car for the girl who emerges.
The girl is young and dressed lightly for the brisk conditions. She's wearing loose running shorts, which look short on her long, athletic legs. She's wearing running shoes, a well fitted synthetic jacket, and her long black hair is tied up in knots above her head. She takes a few steps away from the car, stretching her legs, and her back with her hands clasped behind her. Then turns back to the car to let her dog out of the back seat.
The dog is a medium size, it's fur a short black matte. It looks as athletic as the girl, with long legs and a wild face, somewhat reminiscent of a coyote. The girl bends to scratch it's neck before the dog runs off ahead of her into the trees, doubtlessly to find it's first urinary target.
The girl hesitates in following the dog, holding her unconnected headphones in hand along with her iPhone. She's trying to decide between Punk Rock and Power Pop, when a text appears on her screen.
"Hey, where did you go?" The text reads. It's from Alex.
"I'm on a run. Can't talk." She shoots back. But, instantly feeling bad about being so abrupt, she follows up, "Took your dog too, he's mine now. See you later."
Feeling better about the mood between them, she decides on Rap.
The dog watches her impatiently from up the trail as she pockets her phone, nodding to the first lines of some angry lyrics she doesn't recognize. Before she can reach the dog though, another chime sounds and she stops read the message.
"Sam, I'm sorry for..." Reads the abbreviated text.
Not bothering to open it, Sam stands looking frustrated.
Looking at the dog, she whispers, "What am I doing, Pumba?"
Pumba, tired of waiting, turns to run further up the trail.
Unplugging and winding the headphones around her phone, Sam walks back to the car to leave her phone behind. She hides them in the car, partially from others, mostly from herself.
Pumba, not wanting to be left behind, pushes against the back of Sam's legs.
"Let's go, Pumba!" Sam says energetically, scooping her hands toward the forest to get the dog to run. She turns to close to the car door, and they're off.
Sam isn't someone who runs without music. Usually, the influence of some hyped up singer, combined with the knowledge that she'll be able to see her running times and distance later, pushes her forward. This morning however, she's loving it.
"Why does your mom have to be so great?!" Sam exclaims to an uninterested Pumba.
Running up the first hill, both girl and dog started to feel out of breath. "I mean, she's great!" Says Sam, through heavy breathing. "I think I might even love her... and I definitely love you." She says more loudly toward her running partner. "But, I've never been with a woman, Pumba! I don't even think I'm a lesbian! And yet, here I am. Carrying on with your mother like I know what I'm doing...." Her rant begins to turn into a wheezing mess as she faces another hill, yells at the dog, and allows her emotions to set PR time.
And, she speaks the truth. Sam and Alex have only been together for a brief few months, made to feel briefer still by the intense attraction the two share. Alex is confident, a true lesbian. Sam is curious, just figuring things out. And yet the two pair up naturally. Alex is strong, Sam is adventurous. Sam has begun to fit into Alex's life like a hand in a glove.
"And it scares me!" Sam yells at no-one in particular. But, loudly enough that Pumba turns, startled.
"How can I embrace all these Sam paused at the top of a hill, hands on knees as she forces out the words through struggled breath "... If I think I might just be in some stupid
phase
!"
Pumba, left behind by Sam's aggressive pace, catches up, trudging up the incline past her.
Suddenly, from around a bend just up the trail, another runner appears. Sam's caught off-guard, feeling embarrassed by her obvious exhaustion and worried he overheard her ranting.
She's quickly distracted from herself though by the other runner.
He's very athletic, wearing only small running shorts and trail running shoes. He's carrying his t-shirt in hand and glistening with sweat.
Samantha stares too long at his sculpted form, devouring his abs, shoulders, and straining quads as he bounds her way.
Their eyes meet as he passes and, smiling, he winks at her.
Feigning recovery, Sam puts her hands behind her head and stretches as she watches his glistening, muscled back retreat down the hill and around a bend.
"Son of a bitch, Pumba!" She turns to the dog who's peeing on a bush. "That's why I'm feeling trapped. Alex is amazing, and I want to be with her. I think I love her! But, Good-god, I need a piece of
that
..."
Pumba licks her leg reassuringly though his still-heavy panting and seems to smile up at her.
"I don't think she'll understand..." Sam says down at him.
"Ugh!" She exclaims before tearing her mind away from her lustful thoughts and sprinting farther down the trail, to pound away at her haywire emotions.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The apartment windows are open, letting in the warm, pine-scented breeze. Sunlight is streaming in and it's actually feeling a bit warm. If anyone were home, they might close the curtains and turn on the air-conditioner.
The room is simple, a small studio with a couch, small kitchen, and bed by a large window. There are three doors, one leading to a stairway outside, one to a bathroom, and the last to a sizable balcony. The room isn't messy, but you can tell that it's well lived in.
The faint sounds of the grinder in the coffee shop downstairs is the only ambiance, until a dog's panting can be heard outside the door and, soon after, a key in the lock.
The door opens, and Sam and Pumba come in. Pumba rushes straight toward his water bowl and scarfs down some food.
"Hey, Al..." Sam trails off, realizing that she's alone.
She sees a muffin on the counter, next to a note. "Hope you enjoyed your run. Be back later. - Alex"
Sam smiles, reaching for the pastry. "How does she know what I'll like?" she thinks to herself.
She hungrily tears off a piece of muffin as she trots toward the bed. Chuckling to herself as she kicks a stray vibrator back under the bed, she chews her muffin, and slides her running shorts and panties down her legs. She walks back toward the door, where there's a mirror on the wall and pulls her running jacket over her head.
