Umbrella in hand, Sarah took to the streets of New York. She had been spending most of her time in her apartment and at studios. Her cousin had just left from his surprise visit and suddenly she had cabin fever. Sarah should have expected it. She hadn't been spending a whole lot of time outside and having her cousin visit had made her miss the forests of Washington.  Not enough to go to her childhood home, but it did make her miss the world outside her apartment.

Of course, the day she decides to leave the building it decides to rain.  Sarah accepted the weather though and set out to wonder the streets.  She didn't expect much in the way of social interaction, but it was a start.  The brunette was self-aware enough to know she had become a recluse in response to her father's death.  She had spent over two years in a very small social circle.  It was time to get back into the world.

'No more wallowing,' she reminded herself.

Tilting her bright green umbrella, Sarah looked up at the buildings around her.  Unfortunately her inattention caused her to trip over an uneven spot of sidewalk.  The fall was over quickly, ending with the twenty-seven year old sprawled out and her umbrella several feet away.

"My life," she sighed, letting the rain pelt her face for a few moments before moving to stand.

Juliette hated the rain. She hated it more than almost anything else. When there was no rain, there was no sun. When there was no sun, there was no energy, which made her lethargic and frankly, downright grumpy. She had debated hiding out in her apartment for the entire day, but an empty pantry had lured her into the filthy city streets. I have to get out of this city, she decided with a heavy sigh.

As she walked she spun her yellow umbrella, spraying those around her with water droplets. If she were a little taller, the water might have hit their umbrellas, but since she was not, she soaked their clothes. This garnered her many angry glares from the other pedestrians. She ignored them, keeping her eyes focused on the pathway.

After a moment, she noticed a woman trip on an uneven path and fall on the muddy street. Juliette felt sympathetic; the streets of New York were treacherous for anyone not on guard. She stooped and picked up the bright green umbrella which had landed a few feet away from her. She paused for a moment, considering what she was doing. The last few times she had stopped to help a stranger, it had resulted in violence. She sighed to herself, unable to get past her nature to help people, despite the danger to her own safety.

"Are you alright?" Juliette asked her as he extended a hand to help her up. She had employed the friendliest voice she could manage in order to not appear to be in as bad of a mood as she was.

>>"Are you alright?"

Sarah glanced up between wet strands of hair to see a fellow brunette holding out a hand. "Thanks," she smiled weakly, taking the hand. Once she was standing, the kind woman handed over her umbrella.

"Thanks again." Sarah looked down at her now soaked clothes. "Well, I suppose this isn't going to help much now," she laughed, closing the umbrella.

Before she could say anymore, a taxi raced by, sending more muddy water at the waterlogged woman. Sarah rolled her eyes at the taxi, resigned to spending the rest of the day in wet clothes. At least she wasn't wearing jeans.

"People these days. I hope he didn't get you too."

After Juliette handed the woman her umbrella, she stood up and said something, but Juliette was too distracted by the obnoxious taxi driver that sprayed them with muddy water. She gasped, finding her clothes soaked to her skin. As if the rain hadn't been bad enough.

"Learn how to drive!" Juliette called after the car and let out a quiet curse. Normally she wouldn't have bothered, but she was already in a bad mood.

>>"People these days. I hope he didn't get you too."

"He did," she sighed and frowned. "Well, now there's no way I'm going to the store like this," she decided, but then stopped herself suddenly. She was being rude. This complete stranger didn't want to hear her complain about the state of her clothing, no matter how terrible it was.

"Sorry, I'm Juliette," she gave the woman a polite smile and offered a hand for her to shake.

>>"He did. Well, now there's no way I'm going to the store like this."

Sarah frowned at that. Seemed she wasn't the only one having an off day.  The brunette felt a wave of guilt wash over her.  This stranger had just been kind and then got this for the rare act.  And other New Yorkers were just walking by as if it was a common occurrence.

>>"Sorry, I'm Juliette."

"Sarah. And it's alright. Seems to be one of those days." Sarah motioned to a cafe nearby.  She was of the opinion kindness, especially in this city, should be rewarded.  "Could I at least buy you something warm? For the trouble helping me out caused."

>>"Sarah. And it's alright. Seems to be one of those days."

"It's nice to meet you, Sarah," Juliette smiled at her. She shook off her arms and legs, trying her best to get off the excess water. She frowned a little; her pants seemed to be glued to her legs.

>>"Could I at least buy you something warm? For the trouble helping me out caused."

She bit her lip as she looked at the cafe Sarah was pointing to. "No, I can't let you do that..." Juliette sighed, not wanting her to feel indebted to her for a simple kindness. However, she really liked the idea of a warm drink. "Why don't we go in together?" She suggested.

>>"It's nice to meet you, Sarah. No, I can't let you do that... Why don't we go in together?"

Well it wasn't exactly what she had in mind. But they would get out of the rain. It'd work, though Sarah could easily afford paying for two. "Alright," she shrugged. "Shall we get out of this rain?"

The cafe was looking more and more inviting as the cold rain fell on her. Throwing a smile to Juliette, Sarah started for the doors. The shorter of the two women held the door open for her companion, all the while trying to ring her dripping hair out.

"Welcome!" the cheery barista called out.

"Afternoon," Sarah called over her shoulder.

"Thank you," Juliette smiled at Sarah as she walked through the door. It was a nice cafe, and it looked rather cosy. She breathed in and rubbed her arms, trying to get rid of the goosebumps. She smiled at the barista and stood in line, waiting for Sarah to join her.

She scanned the menu for a moment, before deciding that nearly anything warm would do just fine. She made a final decision of a simple cup of coffee.

She glanced around the cafe, wondering if it would be too much of a risk to absorb some light from the lamp close to her. Probably, she decided. It would have made her much warmer, though. Perhaps she could convince Sarah to sit by the fire. At that point, seeing her ring out her hair, it didn't seem like it would be too much of a stretch.

"Do you want to sit in those seats by the fireplace?" Juliette asked Sarah with a small smile. "After we order, of course."

Sarah finished with her hair and turned to join Juliette. She looked as cold as the twenty-seven year old felt.  Though they were both soaked and it wasn't anywhere near warm outside.  The artist wondered if the cafe had any blankets.

>>"Do you want to sit in those seats by the fireplace? After we order, of course."

That would work. "Yes please. Warm up faster that way," Sarah laughed, before going back to the menu.

"What can I get you ladies?" the barista asked when they got up to the front.

"A large, hot apple cider, please," Sarah ordered.

"And you, miss?" the barista turned to Juliette.

>>"Yes, please. Warm up faster that way."

Juliette smiled at her and breathed a sigh of relief. She hated being low on energy, and even a little bit from the fire would make her feel a thousand times better. She only hoped that Sarah wouldn't notice. Or wouldn't care. Either would work although the latter would be unlikely.

"A coffee, please," Juliette told the barista. "With just cream."

She paid for her order and sat down in a big armchair next to the fireplace to wait for Sarah to join her. She sighed deeply as she absorbed some of the light from the fire, which flickered and dimmed slightly. She prayed that her companion wouldn't take any notice of it.

Sarah paid and then waited for their drinks. She didn't mind. Juliette was looking a bit better now that she was by the fire. That was good. The barista eventually handed her the two drinks and Sarah went to join her new... acquaintance?

"Here's yours," she said, handing over the coffee cup. Once she was seated, Sarah kicked out her legs to get closer to the fire. "Much better. You alright? You looked a little pale earlier."

"Thanks," Juliette smiled as she took her cup in both hands, letting the warmth run through her. The cold seemed distant now, like a dream. All she could focus on was the warmth that now enveloped her.

>>"Much better. You alright? You looked a little pale earlier."

Juliette bit her lip, "I'm fine. I think it must have just been the weather." She turned away quickly, pretending to study the fire. She was a terrible liar, and anyone with eyes would be able to see right through her. Quickly, she sipped her coffee to cover some of her face.

Sarah raised an eyebrow at her companion. She may not have been very social the last few years, but Sarah still knew body language better than most. Nonverbal communication was actually something artists strove to understand. But then again, it could be anything from being uncomfortable to something genetic. No point in calling attention where it wasn't wanted.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living?" she asked before taking a sip of cider.

>> "So, if you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living?"

Juliette set her coffee down on the little table in front of her, relieved that Sarah hadn't pressed her about it. She tucked her feet under her for warmth and turned back to her. "I'm a nurse. Working in the E.R. right now. And you?"

>>"I'm a nurse. Working in the E.R. right now. And you?"

"Wow. I don't think i could do that. Working in the E.R. You sure are something, Ms. Juliette." Sarah took another sip of her drink. "I'm an artist. Most of my stuff is shown is small studios or commission work. Not as exciting, huh?"