Some relief(SEMPER!)

[katherine anne Combs]

Kat had been in school only a few months now, and the 

stress was just awful, students where rude, and sometimes

even kind of mean. As for the classes they where much harder

then she had ever expected them to be. It was not all what 

she had expected from her first year starting medical school

and she had not even decided on what she wanted to do.

So many options where out their, and she felt like she wanted

the one that would make the biggest difference. 

She felt like the world around her was so sad and depressed

these days, and she just wanted to do her part to make it better.

She spent days of free time volunteering at the animal shelter,

or local schools. But that was just some times, and she was not

sure what to do to make it permanent. Which was her biggest

fault, being so unsure of herself most the time. 

Walking along the beach she found a seat out looking 

the water and took a seat and let out a soft sigh. As she pulled

out a study book and began to read through it to clear her mind

and change the focus of her thoughts. She really needed to find

something that would make her relax and just enjoy things again. 

[CASPIAN GHOST HORSE BRAEBURN]

The second most calming area in Seattle is definitely the Sound. I very much enjoy sitting on an empty bench and watching the waves hit the rocks, spraying up foam, coating the concrete wall with an endless supply of water. The sound of the boats' bells ring off the watery surface and brick walls on either side of me, as well as gull calls. Frankly, I'd much prefer the barn and the sounds of snorts and neighs, but birds and waves and bells are good enough.

I watch one chipped steel-blue boat in particular as it bobs along the waves. The mast, I swear, looks like it is about to snap in half without even any extra weight on it. The boat itself appears it could shatter due to a large wave. I lean over and watch it until it docks, hoping none of the fishermen slip while jumping off onto the rickety dock. Once they're all on land and the excitement (if you could even call it that) is done, I haul myself up and heave a bored sigh.

A walk along the Sound proves to be nearly as boring. The rocks change patterns and gulls come and go but it's still dull. I stick my hands in my pockets, starting past a girl on a bench when I pause. In her hands looks like a text book of sorts. I tilt my head, trying to see the title. Hopefully she hasn't seen me standing nearby - however, I decide to pipe up. "Excuse me, miss, but what is that book about?"

[katherine anne Combs]

She had read a few chapters now, but was not far into the book. 

but she had decided to read ahead of the class so she could maybe

understand what it was all about a little more. It was all basics,

first aid and how to apply to different people, as well as explained

different types of wounds cuts and bleeding as well. For the most

part the book seemed rather dull and boring, but she had learned

a bit from it so far. And that was the goal after all. She just was not

sure she was learning as much as she hoped she would. 

Most the time she pushed herself to be better, and always was told to 

slow down and just enjoy life a bit. But she was not able to do such a

thing. As the man spoke beside her she turned her head to look who 

had spoken and offered a smile before speaking to him herself. Since 

it was the polite thing to do."Oh.. its just a medical book from the school.

Im just reading it to get ahead a bit.. Nothing overly entertaining though."

Smiling a little she closed the book after marking her page, and handed it 

towards him so he could see it if he so desired. She doubted it would be 

of any grand interest to him, but the gesture was always nice enough at 

the very least. And she had decided to work on being nicer to people. 

It seemed like these days she was either mean, or scared people away 

with her bluntness and skills of being to honest with people. 

[CASPIAN GHOST HORSE BRAEBURN]

It takes a moment before she breaks away from her reading to look up at me. Those dark eyes find my face but I immediately drop my gaze down to the cover of her book as she closes it after marking her spot. A smile graces her face. She explains it's just a medical text book as she hands it up to me to take, and I do, running my finger along the worn spine a moment before pulling the covers open.

The pages are crisp in the way that most text books are, but I can tell they are quickly wearing with use. Very gingerly I turn the pages (damaged books never sell for more, obviously) and scan the words, picking out the headlines and examining the pictures. Most of the content seems fairly basic and I almost get a sense of pride when I understand a paragraph or two about first aid and such. A light smile of my own crosses my face; I go page by page, looking at the pictures, closing it and handing it back to her.

"You go t' the school right up here, don't you?" I look at the empty space beside her. "Do y' mind if I join you? I'm Caspian, by the way."

[katherine anne Combs]

She watched him closely,he seemed happy as he read the book.

She had guessed he must be a local around here since he seemed

to know the area, as well as seemed pretty friendly. As he read through

the book her eyes diverted from him for a moment and took in the sights

that where all around her. It was rather relaxing in this place. 

she had never expected such serenity in a busy place like this,

but here she was enjoying the sound and the sounds of waves and

wind blowing while birds chirped. 

For once she was actually relaxed and not focused on her life. But

instead was focused on the things around her. It put her in a pretty

good mood as well, from what she could remember this was the

best mood she had been in for months now. No worry for  exams or

other test. Just her the water, and the rest was all vacant. Well except

the stranger that was going through her text book. Which she did not

mind all to much, since he seemed nice enough. She liked giving people

the benifit of the doubt and tried not judging people before she got to know

them. 

When he spoke she turned her attention towards him and pulled herself 

into reality again. Offering a smile and extending her hand to his greeting she 

spoke softly in a calm tone, that showed her relaxed state. 

"Its nice to meet you caspien..im kat.. and yeah I attend medical school here..

not so sure what I want to do.. just seems so stressful not always sure i can do

it all.. but im trying.." she was always honest with people,and saw no reason to 

answer his question back. And it was nice to have some interaction with another

person rather then just reading all day.

[CASPIAN GHOST HORSE BRAEBURN]

I sit down beside her and settle in. The shoreline looks just as familiar as the last spot I was at: rocks, foaming waves, and gulls searching endlessly for something to snack on. However, the company is different. Instead of sitting alone, I'm fully aware of Kat's presence beside me like some radiating warmth. Honestly it's quite nice. I won't get too comfortable here, though. Humans are humans, and unless they are a naïve young child, there is selfishness swarming around somewhere in the back of their mind, just waiting to rear its ugly head.

The smile remains on my face despite the subtle reminders to myself that she is just like everyone else, me included. (But, it's so rude to make assumptions about her after only a brief exchange of words.) I can't help but stiffen a little bit while she isn't looking at me; my hands clasp in my lap and I force the thoughts in my head to change.

School. Med school, specifically.

Kat doesn't look like the nurse type but I won't hold that against her. (I don't look like a therapeutic person.) A quick glance goes toward her and then I'm talking. "I've been thinkin' for a while about goin' for a few classes, but the medical field ain't my specialty." A light chuckle escapes me. "I know the basics but put me in some awful car wreck and I'll freeze up."

[katherine anne Combs]

She turned and paid attention to what he said. She was a bit

curious on what he did actually. He mentioned some basic

knowledge in the medical field. So she was thinking a 

care giver or something like that possibly. It was bugging 

her in truth she had that issue with always being so curious 

of things that went on around her, even when it was none of 

her concern. But that was just who she was and that was 

something that would most likely never change. She was 

far to set in her ways to make any changes at this point. 

As he sat beside her though was the one thing she was

not so sure of. She did not mind people or anything like that

but for some reason she just had a issue with staying social 

and being close to people. But she was working on it, though

it did not seem to be working just yet. Folding her hands she 

looked down at the ground and began to fidget with some lose

strings on her jeans. Had to love that nervous factor, which was

one of the reasons she was so unsure if she was going for the 

right field her hands never seemed to be still. 

His words had entered her mind, and she had herd them but for

some reason it seemed she had zone right off. It was a decent 

length of time before she actually snapped back to her self, and put

her attention back on him. "s..sorry.. umm haha.. " She flushed a 

little at her own self for having been so distracted and rude. 

"I think you should do what you desire to do.. after all life

is just to short not to make your goals and dreams come true.."

She was very convinced with what she had said, it was never an

option for her to give up on things. Stubborn and far to proud to

ever do such things. Which was why she was still now in school

even though she had no clue what she was doing most the time

which often got her called a dits or some other name. But it was 

all what ever. She was her and that was what mattered.

"so.. what is it you do? If you dont mind telling me of course.