Boot Camp

22: Old Version

I'm not tired anymore. Which maybe isn't strange because all I've done in the past two days is lie in my bed and rest, in an attempt to overcome the sudden sickness.

I feel much better now as I walk down the dorm hallway to the bathroom, peeking inside and seeing that it's empty. I close the door behind me and walk through the room, a faint smell of lemon-scented cleaner lingering in the air.

As I look into the mirror, I realize I really do look different. My face seems much slimmer, a sharp jawline beginning to show. I take off my baggy shirt to reveal my tight black tank, noticing the hints of muscle in my arms when I flex them. I press my hand over my shirt and my stomach feels much firmer, as if a layer of muscle is about to peek out.

As I change into a pair of black Adidas shorts, I notice that even my thighs, the one place where all the bagels, muffins and popcorn in the world seem to go to, actually look firmer.

Maybe I finally am becoming stronger.

After I finish washing up and put on a shirt, I head back out the hallway and outside, taking a detour to the dining hall, even though it's not even breakfast yet. More times than one, Martina has snuck in and brought us both actually palatable food before meals are served, so I'm out to do the same. I quietly slip through the door and keep the lights off, walking to the way end of the room where Martina told me she has found some of the good stuff.

And she wasn't lying. On the table is a platter of blueberry muffins.

Bingo.

Carrying the one with the most blueberries, I head out and eat it quickly, disposing the wrapper in one of the trash cans outside. Then I stop in my tracks and sigh, knowing I have to head to an early morning workout.

It's been two days since I've seen Axel, and I'm glad, as strange as it sounds. I needed those few days to really think through things and maybe more importantly, try to forget the way it felt to be so close to him.

I'm supposed to want that feeling...right?

I stretch out my back and walk into the Central Building, greeted by a rush of cool air. I take my time walking into the gym at the end of the hallway and step back when I see all the equipment there.

I feel dizzy just staring at it.

"Good morning."

A voice jars me from behind, and I turn around, seeing Axel there in a black shirt and shorts to match, his hair tousled from sleep. He drinks from a large cup of coffee and walks towards me.

"Good morning," I respond, my hands fiddling with my hair to put it up in a ponytail. There seems to be a slight tension between us as he opens his mouth to say something.

"You've missed out on two valuable days of training, so today I have a slightly more vigorous workout planned," he says with that I'm-not-messing-around-anymore look on his face. Oh boy. "We'll take it slow first, don't worry."

We go through a quick stretch and warm-up, mainly consisting of jogging in place, also one of the top ten things on my "Activities that I Think are Dumb and Pointless" list.

"Let's start with twenty push-ups," he says, and I chuckle at the word "start." I think I'd consider twenty to be a good workout in itself, but I have no choice but to listen. I try my best to not stick my back up in the air, but that transfers the strain to my arms as I have to lift my whole body weight. Not that that isn't the whole point of this exercise.

I push my arms down to perform yet another, but Axel crouches down right near my face.

"They should be more like this," he says, pressing his hand between my shoulder blades to make me bend down lower. I purse my lips, avoiding his gaze. "See?"