Casta walked with Nate down the beach,they had gotten away from the sleaze and saw no sign of him. She walked beside him,a good 3 feet between them."Youre freind is a firefighter,right?Are you?"She asked.

"Most of the time, I pick up hours doing EMS too though, I'm not full time at the fire station yet, I'm not as tenured as the others." Nate said. Talking about it made him check to see if his phone was on his belt. It also had a two way radio which was used to contact him when he was on call. Which Nate was most of the time. Satisfied he hadn't lost the thing in the club he let his hand fall back to his side and move with the natural rythym of hi s walking again.

"So what do you do Casta?' he asked. Occupation seemed a safe enough topic.

Casta looked over at him."I diffrent things, train a few self defence classes, work in a book store,I'm thinking about joining the colloge." She felt she could be slighty open with him,he was being kind and polite.She felt at ease.

"Ah, What sort of classes then?" he asked picking up some stones to throw into the surf while they walked.

Casta laughed,"Great,you just reminded that have no idea what I want to take!" She watched him throw stones into the water. "So...,tell me a little about you. You did just save me from your friend and that sleaze,so I think I should know more about my savoir." She was surpised by her forward manner,oh but he was nice and handsome. Stop it Casta,you still have to be gaurded this could all be an act,she reminder herself.

"I didn't save you, Scott would have fallen over and passed out. I'm sure you could've ditched the other guy alone too. I mean it isn't like I came and got you out of a burning building. " He said sheepishly. "Not much to tell really. I moved here a couple years ago after firefighter college. Couldn't get full time work so at night I took all my EMS certifications around volunteer firefighting and working as a waiter." He told her.

Casta shook her head,"You're right about your friend but face it the sleaze he wouldn't have given up that easily. So you still helped me."

She walked down to the water,slipping of her shoes,holding them in one hand,while she walked,her pants and feet getting wet." It's pretty much the smae with me,expect I'm not a firefighter or a waiter." Casta said,laughing a litte.She looked out over the water."My family is rich,I won't deny it.But I needed to get away and I came here,determined to make my own way, you know?" She looked over to him then back at the water."I just needed to get away from-' she stopped short not contuining and walked in slience.

"My folks were both int he Airforce. My dad does all sorts of contract work for Martin-Lockheed now, and my mom has a civil service job. They move all the time, might as well still be military. I just wanted to find someplace and try staying in it longer than two years.....I just never have." He said. "I'm not a waiter anymore, I just did it to pay for my certs, now I do the EMS stuff when I'm not fire fighting."

Casta smiled over at him."My Mom died a year after I was born,so I don't rember her. My Father..." She sallowed hard."He was more interseted in making himself rich."Casta finished. She couldn't tell him the truth about her Father what he did to her. Casta wrapped her arms around herself,half from the night chills,half from her memories, she gave Nate another smile,walking a little deeper into the water.

"How has life been for you here so far? Friends, your work?Girlfriends?"

"I just hang out with the guys from work. Not any serious dating since before I moved here. You cold?" he asked noticing the way she'd wrapped her arms around herself.

She smiled shly at him."Yeah,a little.Then again chilly weather and water don't mix well,right?" Casta said laughing and walking out of the water,not bothering to put her shoes back on. "You're only the third person I've met here. I mean I'm actually talking with you,instead of bumping into someone,exchanging pleasenatries. I haven't dated either. Lots of one night stand offers like from sleaze ball,which usually end in them being hurt in a certain place. Don't really need self defence to kick up a knee."

"You moved here really recently then?" He asked genuinely curious. "Maybe we should look for some place a littel less windy."

"Yeah,just a few months ago. Where could we go? I haven't been around all thee City, I actually wandered into the dark by mistake." She bent down slip her shoes on.

"Well you wantto get a coffee and a brownie from the Bean or something?" he suggested. the coffee shop was still opened and likely less sleazy than the bar.

Casta nodded."SUre.I'd love too."

They walked up the beach. He was glad to see she put her shoes back on when they reached the concrete again though.

It was not too long a walk to "The Half Baked Bean" The place was not crowded at all tonight, there was only one person ahead of them at the counter. Once they reached the front Nate ordered a Latte and a brownie. "What would you like Casta?" he asked.

Casta shurrged,"I'll take what your getting." Once their orders had been given to them,Casta led them to a table in the corner. After they had been sitting down,she looked up at Nate."Did you always want to do what you do today?" She asked.She was interseted in Nate,she couldn't say as in an atrraction since her past made her fear such relationships,but something.Plus she hadn't ever met someone who was so kind,shy and thoughtful,not in a man at least.

"Well for a little while I wanted to be an astronaught, and for a littel while a doctor, but I always was interested in firefighters even when I was small. So in a way I guess I did." he told her smiling between sips of coffee.

Casta smiled,sipping at her own coffe."I never really wanted to be anything,strangly enough.I just wanted to live life,you know. Father was pretty controlling,never letting me do anything." It was partly true.What she didn't say was that she wouldn't let her out,because of her bruises and he feared she would someday tell someone what really went on. She took a bit of her brownie,putting her hand up to catch a few crumbs."Chocolat is a gift from heaven." Casta said laughing,her mouth full.

"It is pretty good stuff, I like a good steak more though." he said chuckling at her.

Casta giggled."Who doesn't love a good steak? Though I'll go for Buger King Double Whooper with everything any day as well."

"No mustard and I'm with you on that one." He said finishing his own brownie. "Though you'd be surprised, some chicks don't do steak....."He sipped the est of his coffee.

"You talk to anyone in admissions at the college yet, that might be able to give you ideas of what you'd like to study." he told her.