gym buddies •r

1. dumbells

thanks for reading!
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"You were right, this is better than that strawberry banana one." You say, sipping on your smoothie and walking out of the juice bar.

"I tried to tell you," Mikasa says, a small grin on her face as she tucks her wallet under her arm and follows you out.

She wasn't lying. For the past two weeks you stuck to your favorite strawberry banana smoothie that you always got at that juice bar, regardless of Mikasa telling you that the raspberry pineapple one blew yours out of the water. But you and her both knew you were a creature of habit, rarely stepping out of your comfort zone, but you happy you finally did. Even if it was just for a different flavor smoothie.

Speaking of habits, this juice bar become you and Mikasa's favorite habit before your other habit, the gym. Both establishments were right next door to each other, so it only made sense. Over the past two months, you'd carpool together, grab a smoothie, sit outside on one of the many tables, soak up some sunlight then hit the gym. Five days a week, and you haven't missed any days. You were really proud of yourself for being so consistent, and so was your close friend Mikasa.

You told her you felt out of place at gyms before in the past. The walls around you seemed so cramped, all the eyes seemed like they were on you, and no machine around you made any sense. It was just so intimidating to you. You accepted your fate of at home YouTube workouts and screenshots of TikTok workouts. It took her awhile but Mikasa finally convinced you to come with her to the gym. You had been friends for awhile and figured that going to the gym with a female friend would end up working for you and it did.

Walking out of the bar, you guys took your seats at your usual table outside. It was a nice summer evening, the warm air felt nice against your skin.

"What you hitting today?" You ask, swirling your smoothie around with your straw. You noticed that this smoothie wasn't as chunky as your previous favorite.

"Back and shoulders." Mikasa responds, setting her drink down to put her arm up and over her head, tugging at the elbow to get a little stretch in. "And you?"

You smile, "Oh, the usual. I got a date with the treadmill."

Going to the gym with Mikasa didn't mean you were on her same level. Mikasa was the most in shape girl you knew. Carved out arms, nice toned back, ripped abs and some of the sexiest legs even you could acknowledge as so. Mikasa pushed herself at the gym, "It gets me out of my head," she had told you one day. She lifted weights, participated in kick-boxing classes and she spent some time in the aerobics room with the punching bags too. You, on the other hand, did dabble in the weights and other machines but found yourself falling in love with cardio. Specifically, that 12/3/30 trend you saw on TikTok. It was challenging enough for you to notice a change in the mirror but at the same time it was where you were comfortable at the moment. You liked it, you would often listen to an audiobook while doing it or queue up the perfect strutting playlist to walk to the beat to.

Mikasa chuckled, "You know, I could show you around the weights again. Get you using some machines. I promise it's not as bad as you think."

You whined a little bit, "Yeah, I know. But I'm enjoying what I'm doing, it feels good. I was actually considering going for a jog on the treadmill today actually. I got more energy than usual."

"Well, that's good," she smiles. She knows not to push you into doing something you don't want to do. Maybe with time she'll take you off that treadmill.

You enjoy the rest of your smoothies and share some more small talk with one another about your summer classes and the show you guys started watching before tossing your cups in the bin. You walk next door, ready to get your sweat on.