Running in Circles

A light rain was falling upon the Beata school grounds, a rain light enough that it wouldn't impede one's general activities, but existing enough to make someone feel their time would be better spent inside. Ashleigh was one who fell into that former category, so there she was on the track that circled the soccer field. The soccer field itself wasn't well-kept, and the rain just exacerbated its issues, as mud rose up to dirty up the area and create difficult playing conditions. However, the track was just fine, if a bit wet.

Stretching her legs, the purple-haired girl got herself ready for a sprint around the track. It was important to be dressed comfortably for such an activity, so she had donned appropriately comfortable attire: a simple purple tank top and black short shorts, plus her favorite red running shoes. A smile crossed her face: she was totally ready to rock this track. Positioning herself at the starting line - or where she pretended it to be - she bent down and pressed her fingers lightly against the ground, glancing up determinedly as she waited for the starting gun that she also made up. Three… two… one… And she was off, her legs moving fluidly as she started fast, briskly sprinting around the circular path. The rain gave her skin a light, wet coating as she got through one lap, then two, her breathing continuing at a steady, even pace. She was in her element now, perfectly perfect at what she did, and what she did was run.

Brant let out a sigh as he walked toward the soccer field and the track, his hands in his pocket as he felt the rain run down his body, and causing his ginger hair to stick to his head. He wasn't completely sure why he was out in this rain; his power didn't exactly go well with water but maybe it would be a good idea to work on it some; learn what water really did do to his fire breath. As he reached the track, he came to a pause when he realized that he wasn't alone. His gaze followed Ashleigh as she raced around the track.

What was he to do? He wondered for a few seconds, before he glanced at one of the benches that were on the field near the track and wandered that way. He froze as he stared at the wet, metal chair but sighed. Yeah, he wasn't going to sit in that; he didn't want it to look like he peed himself. So, he stood there as he watched her run, a bit amazed at how smooth she looked, even thought she was sprinting. Just watching her cause Brant to stay silent, but he did wonder if she would ever spot him watching.

As she hit a corner of the admittedly cornerless circular track, Ashleigh's green eyes fell upon a certain redheaded someone watching her run. Perhaps she had an admirer, one who enjoyed her blazing speed and never-tiring self. Slowing down to a light jog, she left the track and made a stop in front of her watcher, smiling amicably. "Hello friend," she said enthusiastically, giving him a little wave of her hand. "Are you here to stalk me? Well, I'm awfully flattered, especially since it's raining. Don't worry though: I'm totally worth it." Laughing, she gave him a playful wink and bounced back and forth on the balls of her feet. "In case you need to know, I'm Ashleigh. Ashleigh T. Cobb. But you can call me Ashleigh, or Ash, or Ashy, or beautiful."

Brant paused as Ashleigh stopped in front of him, and smiled as she started to talk. "Well, nice to meet you, beautiful," he said as he stuck out his hand for a shake. "I'm Brant Uri, but you can just call me Brant," he said, now grinning as he looked at her. He had to admit, that beautiful would be a proper nickname for her; she was drop-dead gorgeous; but maybe Brant just had a habit of falling for every girl he saw. Who knows; it was hard to tell at times and those shorts weren't helping.

Grabbing his hand, she enthusiastically shook it before laughing and let it go. "Well Brant, nice to meet ya too. So, you run then?" She gestured towards the track, becoming a bit antsy to return to her running, causing her to jog in place as she continued to converse with her new pal. "Or do you play soccer? I guess this is a soccer field too, huh? It looks awful, though! I wouldn't want to play on it." Stopping her jogging, she tapped her chin in thought, then just shrugged it away and grasped Brant's hand, pulling him towards the track. "Come on, let's get some exercise in! A little rain never hurt anyone."

He blinked in surprise. He wanted to say that he was neither; that he didn't run or play soccer but had just really wandered over here, but he couldn't say anything as he too amused himself with how cute Ashley was. Then the next thing he knew, he was being dragged toward the track. He decided not to fight it, and followed along like a love-sick puppy. Of course, the idea of running didn't exactly bother him. He did try to keep in good shape, so he was sure he could run, but he doubt he could keep up with her. "I suppose, beautiful, but I am sure I will fall behind you. Of course, I am sure I will enjoy the view I will get," he said with a small smile. Hopefully she wouldn't care by the fact he said, but he was sure she wouldn't.

Ashleigh laughed loudly, smirking broadly at the audacious redhead. Cute. "Well, I'm sure you will. No one's been disappointed with it before." Turning back towards the track, she swayed her hips in an exaggerated, deliberate way, glancing over her shoulder and grinning at Brant before starting to run once more, slower than she had before, but fast enough that it would take her new compatriot an effort to catch up. "Don't get left behind, Brant, or you'll have nothing good to look at!"

Brant grinned as he took off after her. "I'll try not to!" he shouted at her as he ran, huffing slightly. He wasn't going to let himself get shown up by her, no matter how beautiful she was. So, pushing slightly harder, he tried his best to catch up to her, but knew that it was it was most likely nothing more than a dream. So, all he hoped for was that when he fell over wheezing, he wouldn't start wheezing up flames.

With her vast stamina, it was much easier for Ashleigh to keep a good distance from Brant, but where was the fun in that? So, in the interest of good sportsmanship, she slowed down enough that the redhead could get reasonably close, though she wouldn't let him catch up without effort. "Enjoying yourself?" she called back effortlessly, turning herself around so that she could watch him, running backwards almost as easily as she had been doing the normal way. "You don't need to answer. I can see that you are. Let's have a change of scenery, shall we?" She gave him a teasing grin and a wink.

"You...Are...Enjoying this...Way to much, aren't you?" Brant said between breaths as he ran, but there was still a playful twinkle in his eyes. However, he already felt the burn from this running, and was awe-stuck with how smooth she still was, even as she ran backwards. He huffed slightly, his throat growing warm for a few seconds and he knew he was about to breath some fire. However, what would of been a small flicker of flame turned to steam the moment it left his mouth thanks to the rain, and he blinked slightly in surprise. Huh, so that is what happened when he breathed fire in the rain. His gaze shifted back to Ashleigh, wondering if she had seen that. Maybe if she hadn't, he could use it to maybe startled her. He couldn't help but think about how amusing it would be.

She hadn't noticed it. The rain had gotten a bit heavier while they were running, so the steam got lost to her amongst the precipitation. Maybe she was too busy being a teasing bitch to notice something that should've been more noticeable. Regardless, she could tell that he was running out of - pardon the term - steam, and slowed down even more until they were almost stepping in synch. "Well well, looks like someone is already slowing down. We haven't been running for that long, have we? Oh well, we'd better quit before you die out here and I get in trouble or something." Placing her hand on Brant's shoulder, she forced the two of them to slow into a gentle jog, then a walk, until they were finally ready to stop. Without the running as a distraction, the rain became that much more obvious.

"One good thing about running: you forget about how soaked you are," she laughed, placing her hands on her hips. "I guess I'd better get back to my room and shower. Won't you be a gentleman and take me home? I'm in autumn." She gave him a sly smile. "And you?"

He let out a small sigh of relief as they stopped. He glanced at her, a soft smile on his face as he dipped his head. "Of course, my lady," he said in a soft mocking tone, before he stood up straight once again. "Autumn, huh? Well, I am a summer, which fits my power to a T."

With that, the two of them began walking back towards the dorms, autumn specifically. The rain had refused to lessen up, and now Ashleigh could feel her clothing start to stick to her skin. "Is that right? Must be because you're hot." She smirked playfully at Brant, seeing the dorms looming larger in the downpour. They were close. "So what is your power, specifically?"

Brant grinned as he glanced at her. "My power? I can breath fire. Of course in this rain it doesn't really work right." He took in a deep breath as they walked, and felt his throat grow warm once again. He let the air escape with blow,. You could faintly see the flame exit his mouth, but it quickly turned into steam which hide what would of been the flame. He shook his head, sighing. "All I really get is steam." He however just shrugged it off. "How about you, beautiful? What is your special gift?"

"Well then, you'll just have to get inside then, now won't you?" That would be rather hot then, huh? "And you saw my power. Tireless energy. Pretty neat, huh? I can run for hours without even breaking a sweat." For emphasis, she moved her legs up and down in a jogging motion.

Eventually though, they reached the dorms. Finally, when Ashleigh pushed open the door and stepped inside, they could stand there without getting rained on. Their soaked clothing dripped water down upon the previously clean floor. "Well, thank you for escorting me to my dorm, Brant. You are quite the gentleman." With a coy smile, she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a kiss on the cheek before backing up and, with a wave of her hand, turned around and started walking towards her dorm, glancing over her shoulder as she called back, "Good luck with the rain!"