The Breeding Grounds

Edmonton, AB, CN

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

2:25 pm

"Yeah, I'm here. It's not as cold as I thought it would be." An attractive voice spoke into his expensive touch screen phone as he navigated the long Edmonton airport in search of his luggage.

"Did you think it was going to be some kind of frozen wasteland? And sweetheart your indoors I should hope it's warm." Was the giggled response he got, he smiled as he readjusted his iPad under his arm.

"Well of course not, frozen wasteland? That sounds ridiculous." He held his phone between his shoulder and ear as he shifted his duffle-bag and briefcase into a comfortable holding position. His awkward readjustments causing walkers by to look and smile at all of the things the young man was trying to balance as he attempted to retrieve his luggage from the conveyor belt before it got out of his reach. "I was just worried my sweater wasn't going to be very good protection against the elements."

"Well no need to worry about that here, Australia is quite possibly too warm." A slight pang of jealousy rippled through the handsome man, he silently wished he had been assigned Australia instead of Canada and later on, Ireland. January was a bitter month for him back in California, he was not mentally prepared for snow. Hanson was probably wearing shorts and a stylish crop top with some brand name flip flops like she had this summer when they visited the beach. Her floppy sun hat and largely framed sunglasses were a personal favorite of his.

"Well that may have to do with the fact that you're experiencing summer while I am about to get raped by frostbite. I hate winter."

"Are you not a winter baby?" She laughed into the receiver.

"I'm about the only good thing that has ever come out of this awful season. Speaking of Australia, how was the kid? He seem interested?" He zipped up his new coat and moved his hood over top of his beanie on his head as he walked towards the exit rolling his navy luggage next to him.

"Easier than the first one. Harvey at least seemed genuinely curious. He's a bright kid, but..."

"Isn't he the rebel case? No collage, angry father, surf all day everyday..." The man interjected

"Yeah that's him, I think the prospect of getting away from his dad nagging him is a big selling point. Jersey seemed ore rebel than little surfer boy. Which one are you hitting up?"

"The future actress with a flare for self defense and cold! Cold, cold, cold!" He had made his way to the revolving doors and outside. He held his sweater to his chest as he let out shaky breaths. All he heard from the other end of the line was a woman's charming laughter. There were taxis' waiting for a flight to let off, so at least he wasn't waiting very long but any moment out in the frozen air was a moment too much for the easily chilled man.

"Calm down Sage, I'm sure your fine. Let me know when you're back in California. Maybe we can get together without Taylor and his charming... attitude."

"Alright, enjoy the beach you lucky little..."

"Oh I will. Don't screw up, remember I'm two for two." And with that, they both hung up. He instructed the cab driver to the mall, he would be staying in the fantasy hotel and he did not want to have his lime green Nike duffle bag hanging from his arm when he went to talk to his assigned student, that was much to unprofessional for someone as classy as him. They had trained him better han that.

He tapped away at the screen of his iPad, studying his case file on the ride that seemed to be taking a lifetime. Why was this airport so far away from the damn city? And since when was -36 degrees cecilus a thing?