[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

The next few days were mercifully uneventful, allowing Jess and Roxy to get back to their usual routine. Work provided a welcome distraction, with everyday tasks to focus on. Yet that constant undercurrent of stress was still there, beneath the surface. Jess tried to ignore it, along with the thought of the next arrangement, but neither was something that could be ignored forever.

Jess had expected them to keep skirting around the elephant in the room with their typical terse exchanges of conversation, although the bowl of questions helped somewhat. Instead, one morning, Roxy brought up a subject she'd mentioned a while back. Self defense training.

With a nod, Jess approached the training area. [color=teal]"Yeah... I'm still up for that if you are,"[/color] she replied, recalling the swimming session, how it had helped both of them work off tension. [color=teal]"And I have to say, those moves of yours... They're impressive."[/color]