gym buddies •r

2. spotter

You were happy for Mikasa.

Really you were. It was about damn time her and Eren got together, but the dating meant that your gym trips were now solo. Mikasa took your words to heart and now went to workout earlier in the day whilst you went by yourself in the evenings. She sent you a picture of her smoothie every time though, and send a caption saying "Drinking in your honor <3" and you'd do the same.

Living in the same apartment complex though meant you still saw Mikasa. She told you all about her dates with Eren after you'd beg her for the details. She'd tell you the compliments he'd give her, the places he'd take her, the way he'd flirt with her. Finally, a guy she deserves. You knew Eren and you knew he cared for her.

But as happy as you were, you were lonely and frustrated, and not just at the gym. And of course as soon as Mikasa wasn't your gym partner anymore, you wanted to start doing more things than just your routine on the treadmill. You were ready to start lifting some weights and using some machines. When it came to those things though you were clueless. You thought about texting Mikasa a couple times while you were at the gym but didn't want to interrupt anything.

One evening though, after sipping the last bit of your smoothie, you were determined to walk by those treadmills and walk to the weights. You were hyping yourself all day, you'd just go in there, grab a couple dumbbells, find a corner and figure something out.

Tossing your gym bag over your shoulder, you walk into the gym. Head held high, making your way to the locker room so you could put your stuff away. You shoved your bag into a locker, twisted your hair into a low bun, some pieces still framing your face. You locked your bag safely then turned to the mirror.

You wore dark red leggings today with a snug white tee shirt on top. Pulling out your phone, you took a quick selfie to send to Mikasa as your "proof of gym" picture of the day.

Pulling out spotify, you queued up your go-to gym playlist and slipped your headphones over your head. You reminded yourself to stay looking confident as you walked out onto the gym floor again, phone and water bottle in hand. You grabbed a yoga mat off a rack and found yourself a little corner near the weights to work out. Noticing the gym wasn't that crowded today, you were grateful.

Now it was just gathering the weights. You wanted to work out legs, since that was the area you were the most confident in. 35lbs would probably suffice for today. Walking next to all the big men huffing and puffing around you, you had your eyes locked on those dumbbells. You weren't gonna let any stares scare you away today. You were just gonna blend in, like you've done this before. You got this.

You reached for the dumbbells to pick them up. Suddenly, a much larger hand bumped into yours, reaching for the same dumbbell.

Gasping slightly, you pull your hand back and look up to see some familiar hazel orbs looking back at you. It was the same guy you were gawking at a couple days ago. Of course it had to be him.

He stood in a tight black tee shirt and grey sweats, headphones sitting on his head. His eyebrows were furrowed, but he wasn't angry, just surprised. He reached his hand up to his headphones and slid them down to his neck, and you do the same, realizing he's about to talk to you.

God this is just want you didn't want to happen.

"I'm sorry- which ones were you grabbing?" he asks you in a deep, raspy voice. You feel your chest melt.

You cleared your throat and tear your eyes away from his, pointing at your goal. "O-Oh, just the 35s", you answer.

He raises an eyebrow at you, as if he was questioning your answer. The silence is awkward and when you look back up at him, you watch his eyes pop from your feet to your face and back down.