Anastasia

Here I am, back at the gym at 4:00 AM. I couldn't sleep so I decided that I might as well make the most of it.

It's been a week since my co-workers broke into my house and I'm getting the hang of work. I'm at my usual gym doing my normal reps when the door opens and someone yells.

"I told you she was here!" I hear Theo's voice boom throughout the gym. I turn to him raising one eyebrow in question. "We saw your bike" Noah said.

I nod my head as they all enter and start to get ready for their workouts. I'm about to do squats with a barbell on my shoulders. I'm trying something new by doing 250 pounds so I'll need someone to spot me.

I look around the gym seeing if some on the guys on the team are free, but they're all in the middle of reps. When my eyes fall onto Gray, -who might I add is shirtless and sweaty-, he is only drinking water and taking a break on the bench.

I could ask him, but I don't want to seem weird. Since I'm doing squats and he will be behind me it might look weird. And I don't want him to be uncomfortable. So I turn to Noah, whom I have been getting closer with over the past couple days.

He's really nice and a good friend. I walk over to him and ask. "Hey Noah, can you spot me for a rep after you're done?"

"Sorry Ana, I'm trying to keep the workout non stop for an hour, maybe ask JJ?" He replied with. "Okay don't worry about it." I walk over to JJ and ask the same thing.

"Hey, JJ do you mind helping me with my squat reps once you're done?" " Sorry Ana, I can't right now, maybe ask Gray, he's free." He says. "Okay." Is all I reply with.

I guess I have to ask him. I slowly walk up to him. He's currently on his phone typing something. " Hey boss, do you mind if you spot me while I do my squat reps?"

He looks up from his phone, his hair falling over his eyes. He is still sweaty and his hair is wet. "Yea sure, no problem." He replied with.

Now I'm kinda wishing he said no because what if I can't carry it. He stands behind me "what's your goal?" He asks me.

"Ummm, maybe 25 with it on my shoulders per rep and about 3 reps?" I question myself. "Alright, whenever you're ready." He said. I nod and turn around. Getting ready to lift the bar, making sure my hair is tight and my hands are in the right place, I pick it up.

I get it on my shoulders first, then I go to squat, Gray follows me down and back up, counting one. We continue to do this 22 more times. By now I'm drenched in sweat and I don't think I can do anymore.

Just as I open my mouth for him to help me get it off my shoulders, he speaks. "No you only have 2 more you can finish." I'm about to protest when he speaks yet again. "You don't seem like the type of person to give up, come on you can do it. The longer you try to get out of it, the longer you're going to have to have 250 pounds on your shoulders. Now let's go" he finished.

I take a deep breath and go for one more. The whole time I'm trying to get back up, all I hear is his voice.

"Come on!"

"You can do it!"

"Let's go!"

"Get up!"

Finally I get up and fix my stance. Then I do it again. Once I'm finally finished he takes the barbell off of me like it weights nothing. But I don't miss seeing his veiny arms. Damn those are fine!

As soon as it's off my shoulders I lay on the floor thankful that it's over and I won't have to do it again for another couple days. That is until Gray ruins my moment.

"Let's go, you still have 2 more reps." I groan out loud. Before speaking. "It's fine. That was good enough." I say. But Gray did not have it.

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I almost started crying. Almost. He made me do the last 2 reps and on the last 5 squats he didn't let me take a break. It was pure torture. Unfortunately I have to get up in order to leave then I have to drive back home.

Ughhhhhhhh! Life hurts right now. I see Noah from the corner of my eye and I see him smirking.lending me a hand to get up he says, "that looked like it hurt huh?" I nod my head, wincing whenever I took each step.

The whole group gets together just sitting on the mats, resting before we go home. "Okay guys it's the final countdown!" James yells. "Oh yea! 36 more days till I'm scoping out all the Brazilian ladies on the beach!" Liam adds on.

That's right. 36 days till I have to see those sexist assholes. But at least I get 11 days to relax and do whatever I want.

I am worried however, about my scars. I don't know what they will think of them or if their opinions on me would change. I can't just hide them though.

It's not like I'm gonna go to Brazil and just not wear shorts or a bathing suit. I've been pretty careful over the years with my scars. Also with hiding them from the team.

But when they invaded my house, I'm pretty sure Gray saw my leg scar because I didn't know they would be there and I was in shorts.

I guess you can say I'm insecure about them. I think they make me look ugly, or unattractive. And that hurts a little.

"What about you Ana?" Lucas asks. "Huh? Sorry I zoned out." I say. Lately they have been calling me Ana which I am totally okay with. I think it's nice. A lot of people call me that anyway.

Just as long as they don't call me Stacie or Stace. Only my brother can call me that. But he's not exactly here to call me that. Other than him, no one else is aloud to call me that.

"I said have you gotten anything for Brazil? We're gonna be going on 3 different team dinners in celebration" Lucas repeats.

"Oh right! No I haven't yet. But I'm sure I can just find something in my closet." I said. Even though I haven't worn a bathing suit in about maybe 7 years?

So I'm obviously going to be needing one. And maybe a dress for a dinner because I think I'll need to look nicer.

"Hey! We can go shopping together. It will be fun! We can help each other pick out clothes." Theo suggested. "Sure that would be nice" I say. My legs are feeling better but still sort of hurt. I get up and go grab my things.

"I should get home and shower." I say to everyone. Some of them get up as well, agreeing that we all smell. While the others are going to continue.

I leave the gym and get on my motorcycle. Securing all of my stuff, I kick the kickstand up and drive off. Sending a wave to everyone standing and talking in the parking lot.
Third persons POV

Anastasia makes her way home. But little did she know that she was being followed.

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Hi guys! A bit of a cliffhanger there! I hope you all are doing well and thank you so much for all the reads! I really appreciate it! I'm trying to move faster past all the boring filler stuff but I swear it will get better. I'm planning for so much shit to happen in Brazil it's gonna be crazy! Thanks again! Love you all💗 and please vote!