Gym Rats - Jackson Olson x OC

5

Jackson's POV

I'm standing in the locker room with a few of the guys on the team for some early batting practice. I'm getting my gear together as Dalton walks in.

"You sent her tickets for this weekends game right?!" I ask Dalton, immediately looking over at him. I slide on my scooby doo headband while I wait for his response.

"Yes! Like you asked me to!" He says, looking over at me. "She's not gonna come. She's busy!"

"Maybe she will!"

"She's training for the Olympics she doesn't have time for a bananas game."

"Our games are timed for a reason!"

I pick up my bat and immediately leave to go to the cage. I let the machine feed the balls to me as I angrily hit each one. She's beautiful, she's driven, she likes musicals, and loves the bananas. I have to have her. After about 15 minutes, I pause to take some video on my phone. I insert my phone into the tripod we have on hand, and get right back to swinging.

Once I'm finished with that, I have to go back inside so that we can rehearse the entertainment for this weekend. I sit on one of the many couches as Jesse goes over what needs to be done. I allow my arms to cross and my leg to shake a bit. I'm not usually impatient, but today has just felt off.

The mob goes out to rehearse what Jesse has given us. I practice some infield dances with our pitchers amongst other things. After that, it's right into baseball practice. I warm up with some tosses to Dalton, but I'm a little mad at him, even though I shouldn't be. I shake off my feelings and allow myself to indulge in the defense drills we are about to do.

After those two hours of practice go by, I go back to my locker and check my phone. 7:30. Nothing from Cecelia, as I expected. I take my defeat and pack up all of my gear into two bags, before picking them up and leaving the stadium for the day. I get to my car and turn it on, deciding to text Cecelia on Instagram.

jacksonolson_: I'm gonna watch Newsies tonight. I'll update you when I'm done.

I put my phone down and pull out of the parking lot to head back to my apartment. I only live ten minutes away from the stadium, but I find myself pulling into the parking lot of the gym. I put my forehead against my steering wheel and laugh. I cannot be serious. Well! A little cardio won't hurt.

I walk into the gym and immediately find myself at the treadmills overlooking the pool. I got lucky, it's the busiest time of day at the gym and I got the last treadmill with a view. But not just any view.

I'm looking down as I see Cecelia in the pool. She's not hard to spot, she's fast, she has a beautiful butterfly stroke, and her swim cap proudly says "Gators" on it. I make sure my treadmill is going slowly so I can watch her swim and learn a few things. I see a man— who I'm assuming is Sean, talking to her from the end of the pool. The two of them laugh, and she turns to face the building to get ready and swim again. She looks up at the treadmills, sees me, shakes her head with a big smile on her face, and begins to swim.

She's putting on a show for me too. I guess it's just what her coach told her to do, but she's swimming insanely fast. Just watching her brings a smile to my face. She is powerful.

Time moves so fast and I find myself on the treadmill for an hour as I watch Cecelia get out of pool after her workout. She talks with her coach for a bit, before walking inside the gym. I get off of the treadmill and head back to the lobby. I stand there for a minute, pondering if I should wait for Cecelia. I stand there for a little too long, and I find that she's coming up the stairs.

"Jackson..." she says, shaking her head a bit with a smile. "Why are you here?"

"Needed some post-banana practice cardio," I said, smiling right along with her.

"Okay, sure," she said, rolling her eyes playfully.

"Are you lifting tomorrow?" I ask her.

She shakes her head, "No. Double swim tomorrow."

I nod my head. Dalton and I didn't have plans to go to the gym tomorrow anyway. "Did you get the invitation to the game this weekend?"

"I would go but I have to train," Cecelia quickly tells me.

"Is it because you have to or because you're avoiding me?"

"It's hard to avoid you, Jackson," she says, "because you're a stalker."

We both start laughing as we make our way out to our cars. As we're walking, the conversation continues.

"Is it... bad that I'm a stalker?"

"In some ways. I don't mind having fans," she says with total cockiness in her voice.

"Then can I have your autograph?"

She walks to stand in front of me.

"No. Have fun with the Newsies tonight!"

She read my message. I look at her in awe as she starts to walk back to her car, which is further away than mine. As I inch backwards towards mine, she turns around and gives me a wave goodbye.

"The games are timed for a reason!" I say to her.

She laughs and gets in her car. I turn around and get in mine. I laugh to myself gently. I have hope that she'll come.