Susan puffed and panted as they ran up the trail, the weather was cool which was just as well as she was sweating so much it looked like she had taken a shower in her clothes.

"Can...we...stop...a...minute." she panted, watching as Jo came to a halt and stood running on the spot.

"It's better if you walk." She admonished, looking as fresh as when they started.

Susan leant on her knees and panted, "Just… need...to catch…" the trail they were on snaked up around a hill, it wasn't steep but it was constant. "Whoo, okay...I'm good, let's walk a bit."

The view was wonderful, they were only half way up but the houses were already looking tiny, the patchwork of the fields outside town was visible in the dark green of hedgerows.

"You're doing great, if you need more stops just say, we ran twice as far that time than I expected you to." Jo said encouragingly, she was still jogging at Susans walking pace. "On the way down you will likely find you hardly need to stop. Downhill rocks!"

They continued running and walking with considerably less running involved as they approached the top of the hill, Jo was carrying the backpack with their lunch in it and was making it look light as a feather. Having packed it herself Susan knew it was actually rather heavy. Along with the food and picnic blanket Jo had insisted she pack a torch, a medical kit, gloves, windproof jacket and a survival blanket, both of their phones were in there too.

The trail opened out into a grassy area at the top of the hill with an electric pylon dominating the hilltop. Susan collapsed to the ground in it's shadow, glad to finally be finished.

"Hey, you can't collapse just yet, we need a selfie. We have to commemorate your first ever trail run!" Jo said, digging the phones from the bag. She hauled Susan to her feet, "come on, there's an awesome view over here.

The view was indeed awesome, you could see for what seemed like miles from the other side of the hill, rolling countryside with the electrical lines running as straight as an arrow through the land. The furthest away pylon was so far you couldn't even tell there was one, just the vague notion of something holding up the powerline. Considering the looming mass of the one above their heads, Susan found this amazing. "Come on, get in here." Jo put her arm around her and angled the phone so that the view was visible over their left shoulders.

"I can't believe you put your arm around me, I'm so sweaty!" Susan said, actually starting to feel a little cold as the sweat dried.

"Hey, I'm showering when I get home anyway, doesn't matter how nasty I get now." She layed out the blanket over the long grass and started pulling ziplock bags out. "Geeze, are you feeding Africa or something? There's so much food here!"

Right enough, she had started with egg and cress sandwiches and added a pork pie, cold sausages, two mars bars, crisps and dip and a big bottle of fizz. "Well, I wasn't sure how hungry we would be."

"Well, I'm not going past a pork pie. Want half?" Jo asked as she munched her half. "Oh, those are good!"

They ate their meal, chatting about school and life. Eventually conversation got around to university, Susan mentioned Heather's suggestion that they all share a flat.

"I think we would need a third couple before that would work." Jo said without thinking, she covered her mouth with her hand. "Oops, I mean two more couples." Then she realised that was wrong too and she cringed scrunching her eyes shut. "Damnit, I mean… we would need to be a couple and the others pair off?"

Susan laughed at her faux pas, "I know Abby and Anne are probably an item. Don't worry, it's our secret. And you know, I'm already getting called a lesbian at school so, I don't think it will matter too much coming out."

"I'm really sorry about that, hold on, is that you saying you will go out with me?" Jo asked, holding her breath.

"Depends, are you a good kisser?" Susan teased her.

Jo pulled her onto her lap, "why don't we find out?" She drew her into a passionate kiss that lasted what seemed like a lifetime to Susan. Her toes curled, fireworks went off in her brain and it seemed every nerve ending tingled.

"Whooie, I think that's a yes." Susan said with a satisfied sigh. "If I weren't such a sweaty mess I might have let you ravish me here and now!"

"I think perhaps we should take it a little slower than that, not that I don't want to but you know, propriety and such. I don't want to take advantage of the sweet innocent new lesbian!" Susan swatted her shoulder but then leaned in for another kiss, a softer, sweeter one this time.

"I guess we should head home. Want to help me break the news to my parents?" Susan asked.

Jo looked horrified. "Perhaps you don't have to come out. In fact, yes let's keep it secret and sneak about, that's fine!"

"Oh come on, you've done it once, how hard can it be?" Susan teased her.

"Well, when you're the big bad butch lesbian who's corrupted their sweet innocent daughter, I would say it could be pretty bad." Jo replied with a grimace.

"Hey, can we keep it a secret from Lucia's parents? Apparently she's been told to stop hanging around with you because lesbians are the devil or some religious nonsense." Susan asked.

"Since when? I really don't want to get her in trouble! Perhaps I can stop hanging out with you guys at breaks?" Jo asked, shocked that she had caused Lucia problems.

"Nah, she doesn't care, her mum doesn't know who she's seeing at school. It was last weekend and you've hung out with her loads since then." Susan dismissed her concerns and finished packing the bag.

They headed off back down the trail, there were still a few upward bits but in general Jo had been right, downhill rocked.