exercise never did anyone any good...

[1000_cranes]

Charlie was trying to get into the habit of running a mile or so every day after breakfast along the sand, to get herself used to distance again, used to the stretch and pull of her muscles when she ran. She'd forgotten how good it felt to do something that she was just good at...all her life, Charlie had been good at two things: waitressing and

Comments

[not_a_tosser]

Outspan sees Charlie fall, and in an instant he's up from the place where he's been sitting in the sand and running towards her. He kneels beside her and puts his hand on her shoulder, his face the picture of concern. "Are ye alrigh'? Is it broken?"

[1000_cranes]

Charlie manages a pained, stretched smile at Outspan, who she likes and sees around a lot. He looks so concerned and she doesn't want him to worry.

"Oh, yes, sugar," she said, slightly breathless, feeling faintly nauseous. "I'm just a damn idiot."

[not_a_tosser]

"Take it easy now," he says, still frowning slightly. "D'you need some water? Or maybe ice? I can run back to the compound an' get it..."

[1000_cranes]

"That's miles, sugar," says Charlie, still wincing. "I ain't havin' you run around miles for me. You reckon you could help me get up there and get a doctor to look at it?"

[not_a_tosser]

"Sure, if you're okay goin' that far," Outspan says, standing and brushing the sand off his jeans. He extends a hand to Charlie so he can help her up.

[1000_cranes]

"I'll be okay, sugar," said Charlie, taking his hand and gingerly easing herself to her feet, sand clinging to the backs of her thighs under her shorts. "They build 'em strong in Texas."

[not_a_tosser]

Outspan smiles slightly as he helps her up, but his look of concern lingers. "Easy," he mumbles, more to himself than to Charlie, and once she's up he asks, "How d'y'wanna do this?"

[1000_cranes]

"Umm..."

Charlie is standing awkwardly on one foot, her hands on Outspan's shoulders to steady herself, barely putting any weight at all on her bad ankle, just leaning on the outside edge of her foot.

"If you put your arm around me, I could lean on ya?" Charlie smiled faintly. "Dreadful sorry for the imposition."

[not_a_tosser]

"Nah, it's fine, whatever works." But he still blushes a little bit as he puts his arm around Charlie's waist. It's not like that, Outspan's just always been a bit awkward with girls. He looks at Charlie to make sure she's okay before they set off.

[1000_cranes]

Charlie hooks her arm across Outspan's shoulders for support, her fingers fisting in his shirt as they start to walk, slowly, with Charlie favouring her foot.

"I didn't drag you away from anythin' important, did I? There's gotta be better ways to spend your mornin' than draggin' me around the whole damn island."

[not_a_tosser]

"'Course not," Oustpan responds, smiling a little. "Without me guitar I'm useless." And he's only half joking, because in truth he is feeling bit listless without it. "Besides, wha' better way is there to spend my morning but by helpin' a damsel in distress?" He takes his eyes off her injured ankle and looks her in the eye, grinning crookedly.

[1000_cranes]

"Oh, I'm sorry, sugar," said Charlie. She couldn't imagine being without something as important to her as that guitar must be for him.

She matches his smile, and her's is a little crooked too.

"I don't reckon I've ever been called a damsel before."

[not_a_tosser]

"It's alrigh'. Besides, I've a friend here with a guitar, and apparently t'ings just show up sometimes, so maybe I'll get lucky," Outspan responds, trying to convince himself that maybe his guitar will show up out of nowhere.

"Tha's odd... I always t'ought chivalry was still alive an' kickin'. Unless you mind bein' called a damsel, in which case I offer a heartfelt apology."

[1000_cranes]

"You'll have t'play for me some time," said Charlie, a little breathlessly as she placed her weight ont he wrong side of her foot.

She thought about it for a second.

"You know, I think I rather like it."