In the shade of the old oak tree (the dark path)

As she stood there trying to decide which path she was going to take a group of young men, all dressed in sports gear and laughing to each other, appeared on the path that winded it's way along the Thames. They were passing a rugby ball between them, teasing each other, joking with each other in the boisterously annoying manner of young men everywhere. Their taunts quieted as they neared her, their conversation sudden hushed, muted as they passed her, a couple of them glancing at her, their gazes appraising and approving. Startled by all this sudden young attention, Sophie smiled back at them before returning her thoughts back to which path she wanted to take.

Sophie chewed on her lip for a brief moment, glancing back over her shoulder at the group that had just passed her, catching a couple of them glancing back at her, talking among themselves, obviously commenting about her. The thought that these men, boys really, were talking about her sent a delightfully naughty thrill through her. Another quick glance back at them showed that one of them was heading towards her, talking to his friends over his shoulder.

Sophie felt a sudden flush of shyness, a **** to talk to this young man, and so she turned, quickly walking up the shadowed path into the woods. She was sure that the boy would stop approaching her as she walked away, that he wouldn't follow her if she just walked away. Hurrying her steps, Sophie was soon deep in the trees, the heavy foliage blocking almost all of the bright morning sunlight. She thought she was alone as she finally slowed her walking, her dog giving her a reproachful look for all the near running they'd been doing. She smiled at the dog, telling herself that she'd give him an extra treat when they got home when a voice suddenly spoke in her ear, a hand grabbing her familiarly by the wrist.

"Hey, pretty little thing," a young male voice thrummed in her ear causing Sophie to give a short sharp cry of surprise, her pulse suddenly racing as she realized that she wasn't alone.

"Wha!!!" Sophie cried, spinning around, trying to pull her wrist from a surprisingly firm grasp as she saw the young man who had started following her standing there, his friends grouped about 5 meters behind him. "What do you... want?" She gasped, still trying to recover from the sudden shock.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you," the young man assures her with a short laugh, his grip on her wrist tightening as she tries to pull free. "We saw you back there and well, I... actually, we were wondering if you fancied some fun?"