' Dinner' even though, -I would hardly call that a dinner-, was a bit awkward. But then again we were nothing more than strangers brought together by circumstances. I was forced down their throats. I wouldn't be too chirpy either.
Training with Graham wasn't going to be the highlight of my days, but there was nothing I could do about that. I had to make sacrifices if I wanted to roam free. Otherwise, I would have to walk around with an escort. Not something I was keen on.
I liked my freedom. Even though I was a self-imposed recluse by choice and nature. I still had a choice.
After slipping out of my clothes and donning my pyjamas I slide into bed and call it a day. Because it has been a day. My brain is still going faster than the world spins on its axis but I hope that it will quiet down and let me have some sleep.
■■■■■■■
A fitful sleep is all I had through the night. I tossed and turned, all night. Sleepless nights had become a new norm. I suppose I'll sleep when I'm dead. Because it won't happen in this lifetime.
I crawl out of bed, drained, with no intention to do what Graham has in mind today.
The lights come on, one by one, as I move about the room, and put on a pair of linen trousers. Probably not the best choice for intensive physical activities.
But, then again, any kind of exercise is my mortal enemy. So, I'm half expecting to fail at what Graham will have me do.
I call for Shay, and he appears at my feet, and from there we appear in an empty room the size of the entire ground floor of Northenhay. It's massive, and completely empty, with one exception. Graham.
" How are you feeling?" He asks with a cheeky smile and hands me a cup of coffee. And that gesture has me immediately pacified. Just like a crying baby, until you put the dum-dum in his mouth. The snarky retort dies on my tongue, and I'm instantly gratified when I take my first sip. He makes a mean cup of coffee.
" Better now," I look around the room and wonder what on God's green earth he has in mind. Shay has plopped himself in a corner, with his snout resting on his front paws, watching us. He doesn't look happy.
" Drink your coffee. And we will begin," He says resolutely and I look in my cup praying that is bottomless. I know, I need to do this but doesn't mean that I want to.
Graham drains his cup, walks to the wall places it on the floor and then turns to me and gestures for me to drink faster.
Glaring, I finally bottom out the coffee cup and walk to where he is and place my cup next to his.
Graham is smiling when I face him, while he takes stock of my form. He clasps my forearms with his hands, giving them a little squeeze. He must be disappointed. He frowns and takes a deep breath in.
" This is worse than I thought," He muses out loud," Where are your muscles, babe?" He smirks, " Have they had enough of you, and your moody attitude, and moved on to greener pastures," Bastard.
" No. I'm a library rat. Not a prairie one," I grumble, self-conscious of my physical appearance.
" I'm just teasing. In spite of your lack of stamina and lack of muscles," He says, " I can make this happen. Get you into pique form. It will be a challenge for both of us. And it will be fun," He finishes, as he does a full circle around me and stops at my side.
" Will start with a little warm-up," He says, " Twenty laps," He does a full circle with his hand, meaning that I have to run around the damn room twenty times. And I already know that by the end I'll be begging for my life to end.
" You may begin," He mockingly gestures to me to go ahead with a flourish.
" Are you not warming up with me?" He laughs at my question.
" And miss the show" I'm his entertainment. Fantastic," Not a chance in this lifetime babe. Go on. Show me what you're made of," He urges me once more and I begin to run mostly because I just want to get on with it.
The first lap wasn't so bad. And I'm convinced that this won't be as bad as I thought. By the tenth lap, I'm practically crawling on the floor, and Graham is rolling on the floor with laughter. Shay doesn't look impressed, either. Worse, I'm disappointed in myself. I genuinely thought that I could do more than ten laps.
Bracing against a wall, I stop. My lungs are on fire, and every cell in my body is about to spontaneously combust. I'm wheezing, breathing so hard that every single breath I take is fucking painful. Graham is still laughing.
After a while, he settles down and wipes his tears away, " Now we know you are made of butter. Because you are melting," He says as I slide down the wall to sit on the floor because my legs have given up on me and refuse to keep me upright anymore.
" You're such a wet blanket," He starts laughing again and all I can do is breathe, barely.
At least I have Shays's solidarity because he has tilted his head looking at Graham like he has lost his mind. At least we agree on one thing. The man won't stop laughing.
He calms once more, and opens a door in the wall, brings me some water and a hand towel. I'm drenched in my sweat.
" I was right. This is fun. Ready to finish your laps? So we can begin with basic training." He says in a more serious tone, and I don't think I have the energy to stand, let alone do another ten laps.
I shake my head and take a sip of water. Graham frowns and lowers on his heels in front of me.