My Knights in Shining Armor

You're a Cherry-Flavored Cough Drop?

A/N it's been too long but my sister forced me to update today

i hope you're happy @happylilcinnamonbun

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Days turn into weeks, and slowly but surely summer is passing. I've been so busy trying to keep up with the Knights that I've hardly noticed.

Cal is still teaching me how to cook, and I've gone over an entire week without ruining anything. Cal says it's really nice to not smell burnt hair in the kitchen anymore. I tell him he's not the one missing a few inches of hair on the left side.

Blair drags me along for runs every morning. And when I say morning, I mean ass-crack-of-dawn morning. Like, not even the birds are awake yet. By the time we get back and shower, the only other people awake are Anne and James. Anne likes making breakfast at least once a week before disappearing into her office to work, and James needs to be at his job early, being CEO and all.

I've even managed to spend time with Felix, who is determined to teach me how to play generic teenage boy video games. I beat him for the first time in the middle of July, and he was so excited he threw his controller at me and ran out of the room, pouting.

I love this family.

Even the pain of losing my mother has dulled slightly. I'm trying to be strong, and the fact that I'm surrounded by such a supporting family makes it a little easier. I've taken to talking to her every night before I go to bed, recounting my day. It helps me feel closer to her.

My first slap of reality that summer is almost over comes one morning, when Blair and I get back from our morning run. It's a Wednesday morning (I think. I'm terrible with dates during the summer.), and Dakota greets us as we enter the kitchen.

"Good morning, guys," he says, sipping from a glass of orange juice as he scrolls through his phone.

"Hey," I pant out, still trying to catch my breath. "Blair, I still don't understand why we sprint at the end of a five-mile run."

"Please. That may seem like sprinting to you, but that's my cooldown pace. Just wait until track season comes around. Then you'll see real sprinting." He grabs his water bottle from the kitchen table and takes a long swig.

"Are you really saying that to the fourth-best high school D2 female long jumper in the state of Oregon? Are you really saying that?"

"Wow," Dakota lets out a whistle. "That's awesome, Cherry." He takes another sip of orange juice before cracking that Knight smirk I've grown to know and hate. "Fourth place in a sport, that's so cool! It's not like you're in the presence of a two-time forensics state champion of improv. But wow, sports. You're so cool."

I snort, stealing Blair's water bottle and taking a sip. "Whatever. What are you doing up so early? It's," I check my watch, "7:30. The last time you were up this early is when we pulled that all-nighter last month."

"Well, I'm glad you asked. My summer production is performing this weekend, three weeks before school starts like always. Tech week, which is the week of the performance for you sport people, includes long hours and lots of pizza. I'm expecting to see you at every single performance."

No way is summer almost over. I voice this opinion, only for Dakota to roll his eyes.

"Have you checked a calendar recently?" He asks, getting up from his barstool and stretching his arms. "It's August 2. Keep up, Cherry."

"Whatever. Can I shower now? I stink to high heaven, and Blair wouldn't even let me swim in the pond."

Blair snorts. "It's because the pond is gross, and they don't want people dirtying the water. We drink that water, you know."