Running Shoes and Coffee Talk

After a late night at Ritchie's and more than a few drinks, Juliana had come home and collapsed in her bed. She had barely thought to turn off the lights when she drifted off to sleep with a smile sliding sleepily across her face.

The morning light was squeezing between the slats in the blinds and striking Jules across her face as it filtered through her room. Rolling over onto her back, Jules sighed with contentment. It was Sunday morning, and Jules had nothing to do other than go for a run, finish her laundry and possibly read a book while drinking something from Starbucks. Jules rose out of bed and found her running shoes, black leggings, her favorite T-shirt, a worn, gray Duke shirt and a finished off her outfit by pulling a fleece over her head.

Juliana's habitual run took her down to the tidal basin and around the mall. The sun was still bright and the air was cold and crisp as she jogged past the Washington Monument. Juliana was lost in her thoughts when a flash ran past her. She didn't think twice about the flash, until it slowed and came back towards her. Before Juliana knew it, she was faced with a very tall woman, running backwards, facing her, just a few paces in front of her.

"Hey! Sam's sister!"

"Hi, CJ." Juliana got out between breaths.

"You run here too?" CJ questioned, she was still jogging backwards, facing Juliana.

"Looks like, doesn't it?"

"Okay, point taken. Stupid question. It's just that…OH!" Even with the slowed pace that came with talking, CJ's backward gait hit a stone, causing her to stumble and come close to crashing into the ground. Juliana's outstretched arm was the only thing that saved CJ from an embarrassing fall, which would have landed her flat on her bottom.

"Whoa, you okay there?" Juliana asked. Her voice had a concerned tone to it, though she couldn't help but think that it had been foolish to run backwards on gravel to begin with.

"Yeah." Both CJ and Juliana had stopped running and stood. CJ shook off the adrenaline rush going through her body and stretched a leg as she continued to talk. "I'm not exactly what you would call graceful anyway. I'm not so sure that trying to jog backwards was the best idea."

"Hey, you've never known the meaning of the word clumsy until you've heard my stories." Jules reassured CJ.

CJ laughed. "I bet you and I would be a hoot at parties." CJ breathed in the cold, winter air and looked around at the crystal, clear sky. "So, the truth is, that I'm not used to running out here..."

"On the mall?"

"No. Just outside in general. I usually do my running on a treadmill."

"I hear there's less gravel on those things." Juliana joked.

"So, I've had enough running for today. It's a beautiful morning. Want to waste part of it in Starbucks with me?"

Juliana smiled, "Well, Starbucks was on by to-do list for today, anyway. Sure, let's go."

Starbucks hadn't been far; in fact it had just been up a side street and around a corner. CJ and Juliana had settled into two cozy, overstuffed armchairs. CJ was reclining in her chair, her legs crossed in front of her at the knees, while Jules had her legs tucked up underneath her. Both women had steaming cups of coffee in front of them. Jules discovered that CJ enjoyed the traditional coffee, picking between the three blends offered that morning, while CJ discovered that Juliana didn't enjoy coffee as much as she enjoyed a hot cup of espresso with lots of chocolate, milk, and whipped cream. Their cups sat on the small side table between the two chairs, giving off wafts steam that drifted over half eaten scones and muffins. The conversation had already covered the traditional topics of favored restaurants and bars, clothing tastes, mutual hatred of long hair on men and a variety of girly topics.

"Okay," CJ started. "I've heard some gossip here and there, and I'm dying to know if it's true."

"You shouldn't believe everything you hear, CJ."

"I don't. That's why I'm asking you." CJ said with a smile.

"So, you what, tracked me down on the mall and tripped, just to get me to Starbucks so that we could chat. That's a lot of work when you could have just asked Sam." Juliana paused her laughter to sip her mocha latte.

"I can't just go and ask Sam things like this. We're running a country you know." CJ pasted a fake look of insult on her face as Juliana snorted. "Hey! No comments from the peanut gallery. Plus, can you imagine the five shades of red that Sam would turn if I were to start asking him about your past conquests?"

"I'd actually pay to see that," giggled Juliana.

"Many people would. But, is it true that you were once engaged to the Prince of Spain? Only shortly after you dated Prince William?"

"CJ! Please! Prince William is way too young for me! And the Prince of Spain? Come on! Have you seen him? That unibrow thing he has going on just doesn't do it for me."

"Well, I hear so many things, it's hard to decipher fact from fiction. And with you, it seems so many things could be true."

"Thank you for all that credit CJ. But I'm really just a simple, normal person." Juliana seriously assured CJ.

"So, I guess I can rule out those rumors that you once dated the crown prince of Sweden and that you helped overthrow the government of Peru." CJ laughed off the last few rumors and resumed nibbling on her muffin.

"Oh, no, CJ. Those are both true." CJ almost spit out the little bits of muffin in her mouth and stared at Juliana. "Though I don't know if I helped overthrow a government so much as I gave really good advice."

CJ shook her head in disbelief.

"Seriously, those are probably the only two rumors that are true. Most of the stuff you hear is all blown out of proportion. I've just capitalized on a lot of opportunities."

"God. Sometimes it's so hard to remember that you're Sam's sister." CJ announced.

"And I work for the enemy, don't forget." Juliana added, smiling.

"That's right!" CJ added with a booming laugh. "It's just that you two are nothing alike."

"Well, CJ, I was wondering when you would notice that Sam is a boy and has, well you know, boy parts and that I'm a girl and I can guarantee that I have little girl parts." Juliana was pleased with her new friendship and was enjoying her playful mocking of CJ.

"Hey! You know what I mean. Sam is so global and idealistic. You seem, and don't take this the wrong way, analytical and calculating. For Sam's age, he seems so naïve at times and for your age, you seem worldly and experienced. And then there's the fact that Josh loves Sam, they're inseparable and then he's convinced that you're evil incarnate! See, completely different."

"CJ, Sam and I are products of two different times and places. Though, sometimes I really think it's just by chance that we share the same DNA."

CJ chuckled as she nibbled the last bit of her muffin. "Oh my god, will you look at the time!" CJ exclaimed. "I need to go into the office. There's a thing. I hate to run out on you like this, but I realty need to get going."

"I understand," Juliana replied. As CJ turned to walk out the door of the bustling Starbucks, Juliana called after her, "Hey, CJ! If you ever feel like running outside again I run every Sunday at this time. Here's my address. Stop by if you want to go running together…or if you just want to want to Starbucks, that's fine too." Juliana scribbled her address down on a napkin and handed it to CJ with a smile.

"Thanks. I will. You know, this thing, this communing with nature, could be fun. I've gotta run. I'll see you later."

"Hey CJ? Say hi to my brother for me!" Juliana called after CJ as she walked out the door. CJ responded with a wave of her hands and then disappeared around the street corner. Juliana sank back into her chair to finish the last few sips of her mocha latte and devour what remained of her scone. This morning had turned out better than expected.

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