Fantasy Great Day for It by TMaskedWriter

[Ramesh_Rocky]

"Great day for it!"

"Huh?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I heard you up ahead going off the trail, figured you heard me too. I'm Julie."

"Oh, uh, Claire. I didn't. Sorry about... this... "

"Hey, pepper spray's a perfectly reasonable precaution, least you didn't spray me."

"Thanks. Wish I'd taken more precautions, though. Water bottle ran out a couple miles back."

"Well, lucky for you, I always pack extra for a hike. Here, I haven't drank out of this one."

"Oh, thanks."

"Welcome. Good clearing you've found. Perfect spot for a rest."

"Yeah, it's really nice. I found it last time I came up. I... uh... had more water then."

"Well, you didn't bring enough water, but you packed pepper spray... I know why *I'M* alone today; who bailed on you?"

"Couple friends. Decided it was more a nice beach day than a nice hike day, but I had my heart set on this."

"I can see why. My boyfriend would have come with me but he's doing something for his Ph. D. today."

"Oh, in what?"

"Economics. He's always been really good with numbers."

"How long have you known him?"

"All my life. Literally."

"Really?"

"Yep, fell in love with the nice boy next door; one of those 'went around the world to find true love and it was always right in front of me' deals."

"Aww, that's nice."

"It is. It really is."

"Well, what'd you bring for protection?"

"Oh, I can take care of myself. The boy said he wouldn't feel right if I didn't take the sat phone, though."

"I'm sorry, I've finished this."

"That's ok, it's pretty hot out today. Here's another, I got plenty. Long as we're talking about him, I should give him a call real quick, d'ya mind?"

"Mmm, no, go ahead. And thanks again. I really needed this."

"Thanks. Hey, Boy. ... Yeah, I'm up on the trail. ... No, it's all good. Just ran into someone nice who's here by herself too. ... No, not yet. ... OH? Oh... Ok, ok. I'm going to turn off the phone for a while, do the whole nice 'get back to nature' thing, ya know? ... Yeah, I will. ... Yeah, later. ... Hee hee, no, THAT later too. ... Ok, get back to your numbers. ... Aww, I love you too. ... Ok, bye. That's done, power off, and now it's just you, me, and the trees."

"Hee... and I've still got this if we run into the Big Bad Wolf."

"I am the Bad Wolf. I create myself."

"What?"

"Something from a show he likes."

"Ah. Hey, didn't mean to listen in, but... 'no, not yet' what?"

"Oh, er... he asked if you brought up my hair yet; it's usually the first thing people ask about."

"Too busy being grateful for the water, I guess. It's... good! This isn't fancy imported water, is it?"

"Well, I ported it here with me, but nah; with an economist boyfriend? He's not cheap, but he wouldn't go for that. Poor guy, stuck in the library on a day this hot. Missing all of this nature, all of this beauty."