100 reasons to love our lives

Friends with benefits

Will

There was no better time to be at the gym than early in the morning. No sane person planned their workout that early in the morning, and therefore, I was almost alone. Only two other people were there, and they didn't talk to me. Nothing was worse than people chatting while working out. The only one who was allowed to talk with me while sports was Nico; and that was because he was my boyfriend. He could compliment my muscles and flirt with me; he was the third reason I even worked out.

I didn't have an eight pack anymore, but as I realized, a sixpack was more than sufficient in our society. Nico also had made an off-hand comment about me looking cuter with my current look, and I liked to be cute.

And working out channeled my thoughts better than anything else did. Sure, being with Nico made me happy, being with Celine made me consider every word I spoke, but doing sports was just... venting all that frustration, about college, about relationships, about myself.

Technically, I knew I should talk to someone. But who could I tell my struggles? Celine would use them against me, and Nico would use them against Celine. Maybe I could talk with Kathy? She didn't strike me as the type to spill out secrets. But, she too was occupied keeping Celine safe while Nico was with me. She didn't need to be bothered with my problems. I didn't know Yassy or Heinrich enough to trust them.

Suzanne? She was the reasonable option. Every Saturday, I wanted to say something. There is that girl that brings me down. But didn't I already know the answer? Didn't I know what my therapist would say?
That was all so frustrating!

”Hey, Will!“, a voice suddenly said. I sat up to look at the newcomers.
Dean and his group. Martin was absent, but mohawk and baldhead from cinema were paying the basketball player company. Did I want to talk to him? After what Celine did, I decided I had to be friendly. ”Hey, Dean“, I therefore said. ”And Adrian“, the baldhead said. ”But you couldn't know that, therefore you're forgiven.“
”I'm Gabe“, mohawk now told me.
”I haven't seen you in - like, forever“, I said, making Dean chuckle. ”We were busy with basketball. But now, the season is over.“
”Yeah, because Dean won it for us“, Gabe explained, warming up his muscles. ”That girlfriend of yours? She really challenged his pride back then.“

”She's not my girlfriend!“, I objected. ”Really not?“, Adrian asked. ”But you spend basically every free minute with her!“
”And you put up with every of her demand“, Gabe acknowledged. ”That's what you do when you're a boyfriend.“
”Well, I am gay“, I explained. ”I'm in a happy relationship, with a man.“
”Told ya“, Dean meant. ”Nobody is giving up sucking cock, especially not for that chick.“
”Well, you know what you're talking about“, Gabe giggled. Dean jumped up and started to chase him through the gym.

”Did I miss something?“, I asked. Adrian started to lift weights, also grinning while watching the young adults tackle each other like four-year-olds. ”Dean has been our team slut throughout the season“, he told me. ”I swear, he gives the best blowjobs.“

”Okay?“ That was a little too much information. I decided to never tell Celine. ”Oh sorry!“, Adrian immediately said. ”I didn't want to freak you out or something.“
”It's okay“, I reassured him.

”Look, I've never been actually fucked by men, alright?“, Dean gasped, letting himself fall on the bench next to me. ”It just relaxes them if they can get off before a difficult match.“
”Our little Dean, always looking out for his friends“, Gabe teased, getting a death glare from Dean.

I just started my last exercise. Adrian told me: ”He just mastered that skill. You know, I'm totally straight, but he can do it even better than most women.“
”Yeah, what's your secret?“, Gabe asked. Dean gritted his teeth and started doing push-ups.