I shift away from him again, careful not to wake him up again. "Where are you going?" I sit up and look at him then. He was a light sleeper, but then again I suppose he needed to be.
"I was going to go for a run."
"Can I come?"
"Um, yea I guess. C'mon," I say getting up. I go to the bathroom, and then come back out. "Put your sweatpants on," he listens. I pull on shorts and a tank top.
"So, why exactly do you go running?"
"I like to," I shrug. "I feel good when I do, and also to stay in shape. I like to kick box two."
"Kick box?"
"It's like fighting," I lead him out the door, and see the frost covering the ground.
"It's freezing out here," he says his arms held against his body. I raise an eyebrow at him.
"Running will warm you up."
"Is that snow on the ground?"
"No, it's called frost. It's when the dew that settles on the grass overnight, freezes because the temperature drops too low. Come on," I say. I start jogging and he follows. I do my usual five miles at a slower pace for him, to see how well he takes it. He warms up, I was right, but when we stop back at my place he immediately starts complaining.
"It is too freaking cold for this."
"Oh don't worry, this is only the end of Fall. Winter is coming, as the Starks are so fond of saying. Only our winters last 6 months out of the year, and happen every single year."
"So, you have experience with this winter?"
I laugh, "yes I do," I let us back into my apartment. "We are in the North, and we are very fond of our winters. It's some of the best times of the year."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, but I smell, so we shall finish this conversation over breakfast." I leave him in my room so I can go shower. When I get out he goes in, and I adjust the water for him explaining how to do it as I do so.
"What is this?"
"It's like… ummm do you have oatmeal?'
"What?"
"It's a breakfast food," I say eating a spoonful of Cheerios. "Just try it," he sniffs it and then takes a bite.
"It's alright I guess."
"You know you didn't do too bad earlier."
"I'm a Knight, I should be able to run."
"Tomorrow, I'll just have to test you then, won't I?"
"Oh, I'm sure I'll pass. You're just a little girl."
"I'm 24. If I lived in Westeros, I'd probably be married and have children already."
"And why aren't you?"
"Because we are in America, and women here are expected to be able to care for themselves, get jobs and not have to rely on their parents or a man."
"But you said you didn't have parents."
"Well, I didn't raise myself now did I?" I flick some cheerios that had fallen off of my spoon at him.
"Hey!" he yells. He throws some cheerios at me, and I dodge them, and stick my tongue out.
I flick some more at him, and shriek as I duck down going for the sink. I turn the water on, and avoid his spoonful of milk and cheerios. I point the hose at him and spray him with the water. He yells putting his hand up. Just when I stop he dumps what's left of his bowl over my head. I stand there dripping milk staring at him, and he stares back looking uncertain. The doorbell rings out, and we burst into laughter.
"Come here!" I say wiping my head on his chest, and stand on tip toe getting his face.
"Hey, not fair," he says. He licks his hand and before I can stop him he smears it across my face. The doorbell rings again.
"EEEWWW! That was disgusting. Jaime Lannister, I can't believe you!" I say. The doorbell rings. "I'm coming!" I yell. I go to the door and open it allowing Rachel in.
"What in the fuck are you two doing? I was beginning to think that you had died. Please tell me that that is not semen in your hair."
I blush, "it's milk. We had a little bit of a food fight."
"Why would there be seaman in your hair."
"I'm going to go shower," I say. "You're dealing with this one," I turn and walk away quickly.
I leave the water on for Jaime who avoids my gaze as I walk by him. "What did you tell him?" I ask, putting my hair back up in the towel to start drying yet again.
"I told him that semen is what comes out of his dick, when he plays with it too much."
"No wonder he seems so horrified. He was shocked at the frost this morning."
"I thought he was alive during the famed Winter in Westeros?"
"Yes, but I suppose he was shocked that it's here as well, and that it's coming so soon."
"We should take him trick or treating. Halloween is next week, and the forecast is saying we should get our first snowfall by then."
"I can't wait, and then we'll have to take him sledding, and try to teach him how to ski."
"Do you think it'll stick yet?"
"I don't know, I think the ground has frozen already. I don't think it'll stick for very long, and the first snowfall isn't usually too bad. Do you have plans for today?" she asks a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"Um, not really. I was just going to hang out with Jaime."
"We should take him four wheeling."
"What about your parents?"
"They're spending the day in town, something about viewing the shops as if they've changed since the last time they were here," she rolls her eyes.
"Alright, we totally should. I'll go have him put on warm clothes," I turn away. "Jaime?"
"Yes?" he asks. I peek in my room, and see he has his back turned to me. He's drying his hair off and I check out his butt. Rachel smacks me and he turns. I blush furiously closing the door.
"Um, sorry. Put some, put some boxers on so we can come in."
"Pervert," Rachel hissed in my ear.
"Like you weren't enjoying the view," I hiss back.
"OK, you can come in," he says. We go in and he has boxers on. "Can I help you guys?"
"Um, yes. I was just going to tell you we are doing something… exciting today? And you should probably wear a sweatshirt, and I'll find you a hat." I go to my closet.
"Why?"
"It might be cold."
"Oh, like he knows what it is. We're going four wheeling," Rachel says.
Two hours later, we are at Rachels house. "This is a four wheeler," he looks at the machine with a raised eyebrow.
"And we ride this. Like we do in a car?"
"Correct."
"Here, a helmet," Rachel pushes one into his hands.
He looks at it, "It's just in case you fall, we don't want you getting hurt."
"Why would I fall?"
"You just might, put it on," I take my helmet from Rachel, and push it on my head clipping the buckle. I look up at Jaime, and see he's struggling. "Let me help," I say. He kneels down, and I push it on his head.
"Does it really have to be this tight?"
"Yes, it keeps your head safe. And warm."
"I can't really see," I look down at his face, and see his hair got in the way.
"I'll fix that," I take it off, and brush his hair back with my fingers. It's soft, and feels really nice on my fingers. I stop myself from petting him, and push the helmet back down. "Is that better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Alright," I get up on the standard four wheeler. "Who do you want to ride with?" I ask. I watch his head turn from Rachel to me. "I honestly don't care," he walks over to me.
"I am sorry, Rachel."
"No offense taken."
"Where do I sit?"
"Behind me," he gets on and sits, his hand on my hip. I reach down and pull it around my waist so he's holding on better. "Other arm," he puts it down, and I put it around my waist as well. I turn the four wheeler on. "Don't let go!" I shout to him. I put it in drive and first gear. I start slow, following Rachel along the trail, and speed up. With every jerk and bump he holds on to me tighter. He yells, and digs his knees into my sides as we go around corners.
We stop at a small pond, and I let him get off. He stumbles a little bit and then leans casually against a tree. "That was fun," he says breathing hard.
I laugh at him, "it's much safer than riding those horses that you ride everywhere."
"I can control that."
"Oh, OK, because horses don't have minds of their own."
"Some seem not to. Let's just sit here and take in the nice air, look at the pond."
"I daresay that Jaime Lannister was afraid."
"I was not!"
"Then let's go again. You can ride with Rachel this time."
"Fine," he says climbing on behind her. I notice that even as she moves his arms around him tighter he loosens them slightly.
"Hold on tighter," she orders him, and he listens before we start back along the trails.