Teasing

"So far?" you asked, curious.

"You could still do something that will make me go 'Urgh', after all" Rachel said.

"Makes sense. But that makes it feel like we're on a date" you said.

"Aren't we?" the young woman asked.

"What did Dawn tell you?" you said.

"Nothing" Rachel said with a big toothy grin. "I'm just joshing." She then looked at you with a look you couldn't really read.

"What?" you asked.

"Would you like to?" she replied with a question of her own.

"Would I like to what?" you wanted to know.

"Go on a date" Rachel said with a smile.

"You know what? Fuck it. Yes" you told her.

Hearing this made Rachel laugh. "Really? 'Fuck it. Yes' doesn't sound like a glowing endorsement" she pointed out.

"Maybe not, but at least Dawn will be quiet" you told her.

"Do you honestly think so? I know her pretty well by now and I'm pretty sure she won't shut up until you actually get with me" Rachel said. "So you might as well just get it over with and kiss me."

"Huh" you said.

"What, am I moving too fast?" Rachel asked.

"A little. I also know my baby sister better than you do and if she catches wind of us macking, she'll only get on my case even more" you said.

"Well, then we might as well mack. After all, she'll be on your case either way" Rachel told you, grinning.

"Dream on" you said, "I don't just mack with girls before we even went out on date."

"Well then, let's go out on a date" Rachel said. You groaned, making her laugh again.

"Okay, fine" you said, "you got a date. Got any suggestions?"

"Actually, I do" Rachel replied, grinning.

The Saturday after the mixer you met Rachel at the sports centre that belonged to Hobbes college. Because you were an alumnus you could still work out there, something you gratefully made use of. You still paid, but not as much as you would have otherwise. Students could go there for free, something that Rachel apparently readily did. After you checked in you went to get changed and came out to see Rachel waiting for you.

"Hi" she said with a grin.

"Hey. What's up?" you asked.

"I'm going to put you through the wringer, to see just how compatible we are" Rachel said.

"I mean, I've not done any survival training on the Golan Heights or wherever you guys do your stuff, but I like to think I can keep up at least a little" you told her.

"We'll see about that" Rachel said, smirking. "Good thing you brought up my training, too, because we're going to use that as a blueprint."

"Uh oh" you said.

"Damn right uh oh" Rachel replied with a laugh. "First off, we're going to go for a jog. You coming?" she asked as she took off. Following after her, you kept up with her with ease, probably due to you being pretty tall, most of that length coming from your legs. "Not bad for a civilian" the blonde teased with a grin.

"I thought you guys were supposed to be tough" you replied.

"Just you wait" Rachel said, picking up the pace. You kept up with a little more effort, making the young woman smile. "Not bad" she told you. The two of you talked as you jogged around the track a few times, talking about her compulsory military service, family, what had made her family move here, and so on. After a few laps Rachel stopped, stretching.

"How was that?" you asked, breathing a little more heavily but doing pretty well otherwise.

"Not bad at all" she said, smiling. "Now give me some push ups!" Smirking you nodded and dropped to the floor, giving her ten pushups.

"There you go" Rachel said, "not bad. Plus now I know that you'll listen to me" she added with a laugh.

"Only so far" you told her. "Besides, I'm doing it because I want to show off, not because you told me to."

"Well, give me another ten, then!" Rachel said, laughing. You continued doing push ups, giving the blonde another fifteen instead.

"Happy now?" you asked, getting a little fatigued.

"Sure" she said. "I won't ask you to go into the desert with half your body weight on your back, so I can't get your full measure."

"But?" you asked, getting up.

"I got a good idea of what you can do. Now how about some rock climbing?" she suggested. With a grin she pointed at the rock wall.

"Is that part of your training?" you asked.

"Naw, I just want to hang out with you. Literally" she replied. "Now, are you in or out?"