The scorching heat of the summer sun and the smell of diesel and other rank odors filled the city streets. It was only the first week of June and the temperatures were already at an all time high, making everyone crabby and sweaty. Very sweaty. Kate McCallister made her way up the front steeps of her best friends apartment building. Using the extra key Gaila gave her, Kate let herself in the front door and kindly collected her mail, before heading up the three flights to apartment 24 C.

Unlocking the front door, Kate balanced a cup holder and a bag from the local Starbucks and pushed the front door open.

"Gaila! I brought breakfast!" she shouted, setting the mail down on the table.

Shutting the door, Kate made her way into the kitchen and set the coffee and bagels down on the counter and listened out for her friend. The hum of the refrigerator and the honking and shouting from outside filled the morning air. Gaila's two-bedroom apartment in the Upper West Side of Manhattan overlooked Central Park. How her friend could afford such a nice apartment was beyond her, though it was possible that Gaila had a sugar daddy paying the bills.

A low moan from the back of the apartment caught Kate's attention, as she stood in the hallway. Quietly, Kate made her way down the hall as the moans continued.

"God, are you hung-over again?" she asked, as she turned the doorknob.

Pushing the door open, Kate expected to find her friend curled up in her bed and sick. Instead, she found her friend on all fours getting fucked from behind vigorously by a slightly pudgy and balding man.

"OH SHIT!" Kate screeched, backing out of the room quickly.

The man and Gaila scrambled apart- more like the man did the scrambling as Gaila pulled herself up onto her knees.

"I'm sorry! I brought coffee and bagels!" Kate cried, as she covered her eyes with her hand. "I'll wait in the kitchen!"

Kate hightailed back into the kitchen as Gaila laughed after her, the man cursing and searching for his clothes. Ten minutes later, Kate watched as Gaila's embarrassed suitor left the apartment and the not-so-embarrassed event planner waltzing into the kitchen in skimpy lingerie.

"Can't you put clothes on?" Kate asked, as Gaila rummaged around the cabinet for coffee. "I don't need to see your bare ass! I think I've seen it enough the last ten years!"

Gaila scoffed, "Poor Katie. When's the last time you've been fucked?" she giggled.

Kate rolled her eyes as Gaila pulled plates and condiments from the fridge, before settling down across from her at the table.

"So.." she started, slicing the bagel open. "How many times have you walked in on me now?"

"Too many to count."

Gaila snorted, " My poor friend," she pouted, as she slathered cream cheese across her bagel. "Still having your dry spell?"

Kate rolled her eyes, "Can we talk about something else? I didn't sit on a hot subway and bring breakfast to talk about sex."

The red head sighed, "Fineeee," she shrugged. "There's a new guy moving in today, around noon."

"Great, another suitor for you!"

Gaila snorted, "Actually," she trailed off. "He's more like your type. From what my lovely superintendent tells me, he's a teacher and boring."

"But I'm a teacher," Kate frowned. "Do you find me boring?"

Gaila reached across the table and patted her hand, "Oh sweetie," she cooed. "You're an exception."

Kate shook her head, "Besides," Gaila continued, sitting back in her chair. "Who else can survive my sexual escapades? They'd all be dead by now from sudden heart attacks or brain aneurysms."

….

Jim Kirk picked up the waiting cup of coffee from the Keurig and walked into the living room of his apartment. With a sigh, he plopped down on the sofa and turned up the volume of the television set. Another hot day and even hotter evening, with a possible thunderstorm. After the weather, came entertainment news, which was an important part of Jim's mornings.

He watched as the reporter talked about last night's party- one that he and his team put together after many months of planning- praising how wonderful it was. All the A-listers and organizations that attended were reported to be "pleased" and "honored" to be invited to the shindig.

"I'm telling you, Matt," the woman said, turning to her co-anchor.

Jim had no idea what her name was, but noticed how hot she was. Not as hot as Gaila, but she was close enough.

"Enterprise Events is taking off with all these parties! It was truly as wonderful evening and I can't wait to see what else this company comes up with!"

Jim turned the television off and sat back against the sofa with a smile, sipping his coffee. Another evening of pure success. He needed to celebrate this moment with a friend. Grabbing his cellphone off the coffee table, Jim went through his personal contacts and dialed Gaila. When it went straight to voicemail, he sighed and dialed another number. After a few rings, a disgruntled man picked up and threatened his caller.

With a chuckle, Jim smiled to himself. "Bones!" he shouted, as the man cursed on the other end of the line. "Get your ass out of bed. I'm taking you to breakfast!"

….

Hikaru Sulu was a native to Manhattan. Born and raised, the twenty-eight year old had fond memories of his childhood home in Chelsea. But college came and so did the scholarship at UCLA. Ten years and a long-term relationship gone sour, Hikaru was back and ready to start a new chapter in his life.

His parents were thrilled to have him back, after years of short visits to and from his home in Los Angles to their tiny apartment in Soho. After Vanessa rejected his marriage proposal and admitted to having an affair with one of his co-workers- the damn French teacher- Hikaru sold their two-bedroom home and found a job at Hunter College. He could finally put his History degree to good use, taking over the Latin American classes in the department; his focus point during his own studies ten years previously.

"Turn left and drive two-point-six miles," the gps declared. "Your destination will be on the left."

Hikaru did what he was told and parallel-parked between two cars, before turning the engine off. Getting out of the car, he turned and looked up at the apartment that was now his home. The movers would arrive later that afternoon with his belongings, while he packed his more personal and very important items in the car.

"Well," he sighed, closing the car door. "Let's see what you look like."

Stepping onto the sidewalk, Hikaru made his way up the stone steps and into the unknown that would become the next chapter of his life.