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It was cold as hell, but Dani didn't feel it. She was nearing the end of her jog, her breath making predictable, steady little puffs in front of her mouth as she beat a familiar path through the park, her posture excellent and pace consistent throughout. Behind her, her hair swayed with the motion of her body, a thick blue braid that should have, by all rights, given her a massive headache due to its weight alone. She didn't seem to notice, or mind; she also didn't notice the annoyed looks of people as she obviously and rudely jogged right past them, sometimes close enough to graze their arms with her own as she went. It wasn't her fault they were going slower than her and getting in her way; if they wanted the path to themselves, they were in the wrong place.

Dani Rymner didn't slow down for anyone.

Well. Anyone except Parker. But he was busy that day, and she'd wanted to test herself, anyway. Parker was something like a carrot at the end of the stick: on the days where he sat and read while she jogged, she wanted to finish faster so that she could spend more time with him. Without his presence, one might have thought she would take it easy, but it was exactly the opposite. Dani wanted to run faster, harder, so that next time, her time would be even better.

Dancing around a fallen branch, she checked her watch, pleased to see that she was a good ten seconds faster than she'd expected. Maybe it didn't seem like much, but she could feel the satisfying glow all over her body from the exercise, and though sweat sheened her face and neck, it was worth it. Despite the obvious effects of exercise, she still managed to attracted a lingering look here and there, which her ego appreciated.

Not that Dani felt like she needed to impress anyone. Her jogging suit was plum and fit snugly, and it was obvious she was in shape, but she wasn't too worried to begin with. Parker liked her just as she was, and Parker never minded that she was sweaty and flushed after a jog when she went to sit beside him after her cool down. Actually, Parker might have appreciated that particular combination overmuch, but she wasn't going to hold it against him.

She was, after all, pretty hot.

Her jog finished, she began her cool down routine, expression pleased and satisfied for the duration of it. She'd pushed herself and come out on top, which she always loved. She was actually in a fantastic mood.

And she had a ton of time on her hands. What was she going to do?

Bracing her hands against the small of her back, she popped it, well out of the way of any joggers still fighting the good fight. It wasn't snowing, but there was still a good collection of snow on the ground, and she debated playing in it.

Nah, it wouldn't be much fun unless Parker was there, too.

Dani might have been used to appreciative looks, but very rarely did anyone actually approach her. Glancing at a fit girl who was jogging and admiring the view was human and natural, and she didn't tend to think much of it. Actually taking the time to walk over to one and start up a conversation? Should have probably been flattering. Had that been the case, she would have indulged the person with good humor, wasted a bit of time getting to know them. That was what she had done with Parker, after all, and that had turned out out to be the best decision she'd made in a long time! But this was not just a fellow coming over to have a chat.

No, he'd used a pick-up line on her. A terrible one, she thought, as one blue brow slowly arched and her quizzical look became unimpressed around the edges. The guy looked to be around her age, probably a bit older, which likely meant he was out having a good time with his buddies and wanted to show off. A quick glance behind him all but confirmed her suspicions, and when she looked back, her pretty green eyes had distinctly cooled.

Ugh, she really hated when guys assumed that because she was A) attractive and B) alone she wanted to be hit on. She was taken, thank you very much -- did she expect this to be common knowledge to all of Destiny City? apparently -- and anyway, just because a girl spent a little bit of time alone now and again didn't mean she was lonely. Dani valued her personal time very much. It was not like she was attached at the hip to Parker, or anyone.

Nevermind she might enjoy being attached at the lip to Parker, but that was neither here nor there.

After a brief silence, the entire duration of which she expressed perfectly the are you actually serious, oh my god, you really are, that's kind of sad expression that only teenage girls could, Dani said finally, "That line -- is really tired."

She planted a hand on her hip, cocking it to the side, and rolled her eyes. "And my great shape doesn't come from just running, I do all kinds of exercise." -- she couldn't resist saying -- "But I am also completely seeing someone, so you might want to start this conversation over."

The look she gave him indicated that might actually meant definitely, though she wasn't entirely hostile. Yet. She was still mostly in a good mood from her run.

Besides, she would give the guy a second chance now that the record had been set straight. The Dani of a month before would have been annoyed if a random stranger had assumed she was seeing someone just because she was attractive; the Dani of today was annoyed that people didn't immediately realize that she was, in fact, completely unavailable.

Sassy look intact, she waited, expression expectant.

Damian was just about forgiven in an instant. Not only was he properly disappointed by the news that she was off the market, he'd solidly taken the hint and was no longer directly flirting with her. Complimenting her, sure, but that came naturally -- she was pretty and he couldn't help it if he noticed. That aside, as long as they both understood she was completely happy with her boyfriend, she didn't mind being reminded of the fact. Her smile warmed, and she thrust her hand out, gripping his and shaking it cheerfully.

"Dani Rymner. It's okay, I am pretty cute." It was said in the tone of someone who wasn't joking, but she sounded good-natured about it. No confidence issues with this one. "You're pretty cute too, actually, so I can see why you would open with a pick-up line."

When her ego was stroked, Dani was generous. Compile that with her good mood from earlier, and it was difficult to tell she'd just been giving him a look full of so much attitude. "I'd work on the line, though, unless the just-about-hopeless-but-still-adorable approach is what you're going for. Some girls find that appealing, I guess, but it's definitely not fail-safe."

Flipping her braid behind her shoulder, she pursed her lips, giving him a brief survey. He seemed nice enough. After a moment, though, she added, "You probably shouldn't pine after me. I worked pretty hard to convince my boyfriend to go out with me because he's kind of insecure, so I don't think it would be a good idea for any of us. The last thing I need is for Parker to think he has competition," she added, trailing off into a thoughtful silence.

She didn't mean to rag on him. Dani really liked Parker. She just also really wanted things to work out well between them, and she had the sinking suspicion that he still didn't trust her. It grated, and she was going to convince him otherwise if it killed her, but she didn't want to make that any harder.

She also didn't realize that Damian was not being serious about pining after her. Well, another point for Dani's tremendous and terrifying ego.

This guy was all right when he wasn't hitting on her, but she was beginning to notice that he had a bit of an ego. Well, no one was perfect, and she supposed that some girls really did go for that sort of thing. Ugh, that was why she'd been determined not to date. Well, until she met Parker, anyway, and he hadn't exactly put the smooth moves on her to try to sway her into letting him into her good graces. Parker just wasn't smooth, period, but she liked that about him. He was frank and blunt and she never had to worry about his motives.

She had a feeling she would often have to worry about Damian's motives.

Glancing behind him again, she noted his friends, and looked back to him. "Not to be rude-" Because she never really tried to be. "-but aren't your friends waiting for you?"

After another moment, she added, "I'm kind of on a schedule, too, so I can't like... join your game or anything. Though it looks kind of fun." Maybe if she had more free time, she would have. She could probably become good in no time, since it looked simple enough, and she was athletic and sporty.

But she didn't have too much time. Well, actually, she had some time. With interest, she eyed the other boys again, wondering.

How hard could the game be, anyway?