Gym Rats - Jackson Olson x OC

1

Cecelia's POV

The grind doesn't stop. I just came back from my college graduation yesterday, now finding myself leaving my new apartment in downtown Savannah to go to the athletic club that's not too far away. I took a lot of time while in school doing private swim lessons, so I accumulated quite a bit of money over the last four years, as I went to the University of Florida on a full athletic scholarship.

I don't know exactly what rest looks like. I'm laser focused on the Olympic trials in June, so all of my work needs to be done. It is May 5th. I only have a month left to prepare. I arrive at the gym with my swim bag, planning on getting in the pool today and swimming for two hours at 7 in the morning. Then, I'll come back for another swim at night. Tomorrow, I'll lift in the morning, then swim at night. That's my schedule.

And it's been working. I qualified for the Olympic Trials simply by being the best butterflier in the nation. I grew up loving butterfly. It was my favorite stroke to learn, and to do, which is rare. Usually breaststroke is the favorite. Regardless, I am trying out for the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and the 200 individual medley. I'm a sprinter at heart, so the event I'm least excited for trying out is the 200 butterfly. But, regardless, if I can get just one... that would be a dream come true.

I scan into the gym and meet up with my personal trainer, Sean. He's been coaching me since I was 8 and he was 20. When he saw that there was potential a few years later, he asked my mother to personally train me. He's much less of a coach to me, but a brother. He still works me hard and it's definitely a tough-love relationship. Regardless, I wouldn't be where I am without him. He plans my swims and my lifts, he's the best of the best.

"I have about two hours planned for you this morning," he tells me.

"Great. I'm ready," I tell him.

"Mostly endurance type stuff today. Need to prep you for the 200 fly."

"You know I'll do anything."

"You would follow me off of the face of the Earth."

"Absolutely I would."

We make our way outside to the pool deck, a beautiful 50-meter pool that was recently renovated. Of course, nobody is here at this slightly ungodly hour, so I get my pick of lanes. I set my swim bag down on one of the plastic lounge chairs, taking out my cap and goggles. I pick my mesh bag back up, as I had dropped it on the ground in order to take off my Gators T-shirt and my sweat shorts. I tie my long blonde hair up into a bun, then putting the Gators swim cap on top myself. I'm wearing a bright pink swim suit today that ties in the back. I set the bag back down by the lane I'm taking, before Sean stands in front of me.

"800 swim, 800 kick, 800 IM."

And in the pool I go. When I swim, it's as if the world around me disappears. My life has been dedicated to this sport for so long. I don't think about much when I practice like this. Maybe towards the end I think about what food I'll eat, but that, I feel, is normal for anyone who works out intensely like I do.

Nobody works harder than I do.

I finish my warmup, then taking a quick rest as Sean explains my set. He wrote down the first part on a whiteboard for me. I nod, then looking to the clock on the wall of the storage shed to my left. I start my endurance set, which makes me use my fins, and once I'm on a rest I look up to the second-story window of the gym. There are treadmills that overlook the pool. I see an old man on one of the treadmills before I have to start again.

By the time I finish my workout at 9:30, I get out of the pool and collect all of my items. Sean says goodbye, and he leaves to go home to his wife and kids. I walk over to my black swim bag, wrapping my towel around me and settling my cap and goggles in my bag where they should be. I then go back inside to go to the locker room to get dressed.

After I'm done, I treat my hair with anti-damaging product, brush it out, then get ready to leave. I check my phone, only receiving a text from my roommate Lola.

Lola is my childhood best friend. When we moved to Savannah, Lola lived next door to me. We instantly became best friends. She stayed local, having graduated from Georgia Southern University, now she works from home as a certified financial planner.

Lola: Having a guy over rn. Don't come home until noon plz :)

"Fuck, why the fuck," I mumble as I start to walk up the stairs to the gym's exit.

You owe me one.

I text back. I'm looking down at my phone before running head first into the person in front of me. They grab onto me, and I look up at him, startled.

I know exactly who this is.