White Rock Lake
A reservoir, White Rock Lake covers 1,254 acres and was once used for a portion of Dallas' drinking water supply. Now that it's use as a water source has been supplanted, the area has become one of the favored recreational locations in the city. The forested shoreline is dotted with numerous small cabins, fishing piers, and sailboat docks.
The lake is surrounded by White Rock Lake Park, which is home to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Running through the park is a 9 mile trail designed for hiking, running or cycling.
Though swimming was banned here back in the '50's, it is still a popular location for area teens who generally enjoy the more deserted areas, using the beautiful backdrop as a makeout spot.
There are those who no longer care to walk at night, but despite the possible dangers, Steve persists in doing so. Despite the hour, it's only just gotten dark, since these are the long days of summer. Steve leans on his cane as he approaches the moonlit reservoir, his eyes fixed on the reflection on the water's surface.
The nighttime isn't so dangerous, not in her opinion. Either that or she just is numb to it all. The darkness makes her overdress almost acceptable, but even now she must be hot. Despite the temperatures, Katherine walks along, her arms folded about each other as if she were holding herself. Currently the young woman's head is down, her thoughts elsewhere and her respect gone. The goal is the reservoir, to think and perhaps to throw herself into, depending on how her thoughts flow. What the battered woman doesn't seem to notice in doing so is that there is another around.
Steve limps his way on up to the shore. When he gets near the water, he lifts his bad leg just a little, bending the knee slowly and then carefully straightening it in front of him. He grunts and puts his foot down again, frowning.
Depending on how much attention that he's paying during his moment of rest and attempt of comfort, Steve just might hear the rustle of someone behind him. That someone is on a course directly towards him but then suddenly comes to a stop. It's his grunts that finally alert Katie to his presence. "Oh, oh. S-sorry." She then begins to back up, her eyes pointed directly towards the ground due to the bother she's caused.
Steve glances over his shoulder when he hears the little apology. "Oh, no problem," he says casually, giving a little smile. "It's a pretty big lake. Room for everybody." He turns back to look at the water.
"I, um, if you say so." It honestly is a little voice that she speaks with, even if she appears as if it should be much stronger. As if the obedient little slave, she almost does as almost instructed. So she walks around the man, being careful not to get close to him. Katie then takes a seat on the ground, just far away from him, and pulls her legs up to her chest. It's the best way to enjoy the lake without actually throwing herself in.
"If I say so? You don't think this big old lake's big enough for the both of us?" Steve wonders. "Cuz I'm pretty sure we can share." He rubs his jaw, then is struck by a thought. "Oh. Unless you came out here to be alone or meet someone or whatever. I can get lost."
It's almost as if she's flat out forgotten that he's around, at least until he's asking her questions. Questions generally denote that answers are required. "What? Oh, no." There's a moment where Katie blushes before she lowers her head into her knees, as if she's about to be punished for it. "I just don't want to interrupt your evening. I'm used to getting lost, myself."
"Interrupt my evening?" Steve asks. He looks vaguely bewildered but smiles and shrugs. "Nothing really to interrupt. Just…lookin' at some water, here."
"Oh." Then she falls into silence, as if she's been spoken to enough and commanded to do so. It allows the man to sit and just enjoy the water. Eventually Katie wraps her arms around her legs even tighter, her eyes remaining far from him. "Sorry." It's a late apology, but it's there all the same.
"What for?" Steve wonders, looking up toward the moon. His gaze focused on nature, it's doubtful he notices her failure to make eye contact.
It's pretty much easy to ignore her even when not staring away from her. The moon is quite a sight to behold but it just can't pull her. "I'm not exactly sure," Katie finally answers. "It just felt right to say."
Steve doesn't seem to be ignoring her. Just not looking at her. He shrugs. "Okay," he says, tone remaining friendly. "Free country. Say whatever you want. But far as I know, you haven't done anything to apologize for."
Even though she hasn't done anything wrong, she sure feels as if she has. "I… uh…" Slowly Katherine gets to her feet, then turns to walk away. "Well, yeah. I'm sorry." So with her head down, she begins to walk away, massively humiliated for no reason at all.
"Don't know why," Steve says. "But see ya round." He seems content to stay where he was, watching the moon and its reflection on the water.
