Drinking To Cope

Distractions (Chapter 5)

Tristan dropped the weight; the matted floor of the gym caught it and didn't damage it. His dead lifting was way over 200 pounds for his small stature. He sat down, splashing some water on himself. His spotter, a bigger bear, applauded him.

"Damn, I didn't know you had it in you."

The fox was soaked in sweat; he wasn't scared of showing off his body and his skill. Just in a tank top and loose shorts. There were sweat spots near his armpits, under chest, and on his upper back

"I used to lift back when I was bigger."

He said, between gasps of air, that he stretched once more before signalling for him to come spot him again.

"Bro, you're wasted for the day."

"Damn, I did more than this. Guess the body changes but your mentality doesn't."

He nodded while helping him put up all the weights, it had been an hour while they were there, and Tristan had become more confident in the gym. Once they all had it put up, Tristan grabbed his phone and saw a new message from Zach.

"Ima go to the showers; you need me to spot you, or are you okay?"

"I'm going to do some other things; you go on without me."

Tristan nodded, grabbed his water jug and phone and walked towards the showers. He entered the locker room, grabbed his towel, soap, and clothes, and headed for the showers.

"Did you see that fox? He's looking good."

"He's got his mind set on working out and improving himself, what caused it?"

"I don't know; breakup, loss of somebody, we may never know. Maybe he just wants to improve his life."

"Maybe you're right, man; there isn't a reason or a need to better yourself and go to the gym."

...

Tristan overheard the conversation as he closed the door. He wasn't sure if to feel glad he was being complimented or a bit upset that he was being associated with doing this because he had bad feelings. Well, he did: His best friend not texting him and leaving him with nobody alone in a bar while she hooked up with someone.

It kept replaying in his head and he had no idea how to stop it, so he just started living life as he wanted to. He went to the gym, he started eating healthier, he applied for jobs, and he was making a better life for himself.

He walked by a mirror and couldn't resist but to pose in front of it. Zack paid for his gym membership and Tristan had been coming regularly. He had noticed more change in his body, which he liked. More growth caused him to not be the 'skinny toothpick' Antonio, Zack's boyfriend, always teased him about.

He finished flexing, stripped himself, walked to a shower cube and closed the curtain. He turned on the water; it was cold. It ran down his sweat-drenched fur and cooled him down. His muscles calmed down and he felt better. He started scrubbing in soap to clean his fur.

Once he was finished, he used a towel to dry off and exited the cube. He was always a bit insecure about what people would say whenever they saw him, but he didn't mind it anymore. The guys weren't here to judge; they were here to workout, shower, and improve themselves.

He turned on his phone and read the text message: 'I'll be out; I'm leaving the keys under the mat. Lunch is in the fridge, and I'll pick you up when it's time for your shift.'

'Thanks, man; I just finished working out and I'll be heading back home.'

He walked back to the locker room, put his dirty clothes in his duffle bag and grabbed the clean ones. He started to put those on: regular jeans with a tank top. They were one of the only things he had before he had enough to go shopping again, but he never minded it.