Imperfect Fit

Chapter 5-Meddling Friends

Song for the Chapter: Flowers ~ Miley Cyrus

A/N: Am I happy in my relationship? Yes, yes I am, but this song has been on repeat this last week. It's a powerful reminder and anthem for self-love; we don't need to be in a relationship to be happy, just like the character Joanna is learning and discovering---although, love does happen unexpectedly, too sometimes! 😉😘

SAGE

It's the end of the first week of the bootcamp and overall I'm happy with the commitment most of the participants have displayed. Including my two cadets.

Oli is full of energy and enthusiasm, but gets distracted easily and tends to give up too quickly. But I like that she pushes herself with some encouragement.

Joanna is stronger than she appears. She doesn't complain when I give her a higher weight to lift. A part of me wonders how much of it is due to sheer will and stubbornness.

Most of the time, there's no mystery wondering how she's feeling based on the glares she gives me. These last few days have also confirmed she's one of the most clumsiest people I've ever met. She trips on nothing, walking from one place to another.

Her legs are shaking indicating muscle failure is near doing her last set of barbell squat presses. Oli is doing lunges with free weights, breathing heavy as she finishes, dropping the weights and crumbles to the floor.

"Stretch while you're warm." I walk over to her and gesture for her to lift her right leg. Olivia groans and struggles to bring her leg up to my outstretched hand. I push her foot toward her and she grimaces.

"Ow, Coach. I ain't made of rubber. This shit hurts!" She squeezes her eyes shut tight. I have her alternate the other leg and then I hear Joanna groan as she sits down next to Oliva and begins stretching.

After I finish with Oli I focus on Joanna. "Lay back."

She lifts her head from her thighs, still bent over touching her toes. "Why?"

"You need to stretch, too."

Her dark eyebrows pinch and she looks down at her legs. "What do you call this?"

Such a smartass.

"Just lay back, Joanna."

Rolling her eyes, she falls back laying like a starfish. I kneel next to her and her eyes shift down to my hand when I pick up her foot and lift it up bringing it to her chest.

"Tell me when to stop." Pushing her leg further, I find myself leaning over her at her surprising range of motion.

"Show off." Olivia mutters next to us. Joanna flips her off even though she laughs.

"This doesn't hurt?" I question, hovering over her, fighting off images I shouldn't be having.

"Should it?" She questions, cheekily. But then her face scrunches in pain and she hisses. "Ow, ow, ow." I let go of her leg immediately but she sits up grabbing her other leg. "Cramp." She mutters.

Moving to her other side, I begin pulling her foot to flex it and massage her right calve. She grabs my hand to stop me.

"It hurts."

"I need to rub out the tightness, it should go away quickly." Her muscle spasms under my fingers at first, but then it becomes soft and pliable not long after. "You need to make sure you're hydrating before and after. Sometimes client's stomachs' get upset when drinking during a workout, so as long as you're doing it before and after you should be good."