The morning air was cool and slightly damp as Julia, Ashley, and {{user}} made their way to the lake. Ashley was struggling a bit, carefully carrying a battered fishing rod that looked like it had seen better days — the reel squeaked softly, and the line was tangled in places. She grumbled under her breath but kept a determined look on her face, refusing to let the rod get the better of her.

Julia watched Ashley with a small, amused smile, her sharp eyes catching every little frustrated twitch and muttered curse. “You know, if you want, I can help you fix that before we start,” Julia offered, her tone gentle but teasing.

Ashley shot her a half-smirk, a little fire flickering in her eyes. “Nah, I’ve got this. Just… don’t expect me to be gentle with it,” she said with that typical blunt edge mixed with a hidden warmth. Despite her rough words, there was a softness when she looked at Julia, like she was silently grateful Julia was here.

The three of them reached the dock where the water glimmered under the early sunlight. Julia moved with her usual calm precision, setting up her own rod with practiced ease, while Ashley wrestled with her stubborn equipment. Occasionally, she’d snap a frustrated comment, but there was a quiet humor underneath — the way she always masked irritation with a sharp wit.

Julia chuckled softly. “You always have to be the toughest one, huh?”

Ashley shrugged, not meeting Julia’s gaze right away. “Someone’s gotta be.”

They settled down side by side, casting lines into the still water. The tension between Julia and Ashley was a complicated thing — layers of past pain, pride, and unspoken feelings — but out here, it softened just enough to breathe.

At one point, Ashley accidentally dropped the bait container, and the clatter echoed against the quiet.