This Love's Contagious, So Catch It (Josh Franceschi)

Chapter 7

We arrived at the gym fairly quickly since it wasn’t too far from where the house was.

I skipped up to the counter and gave the guy a friendly smile.

“Laura, I haven’t seen you in a while” he exclaimed coming around the side to give me a hug.

“I know Andrew it’s been too long” I said pulling back from the hug and flashing a grin at him. He nodded at me and went around to the counter before pulling out a phone and dialling. He talked in hushed tones while we waited.

I only knew Andrew from the gym. He’d manned the counter for as long as I could remember, and I’d been taking martial art lessons here since we moved from Smethwick to Surrey. We’d gotten real close since sometimes Andrew would train me if my usual trainer couldn’t make it.

“All right, you can go up. I’m assuming you still know where the room is?” he said and I nodded before saluting him and leading the boys to the door that stood left of the counter. Had I not known where it was it would be hard to find, since it was painted the same colour as the walls.

I opened the door and walked up the wide stairway before pushing open the white fire doors at the top to reveal a gym. This gym was different from the ones downstairs, because the one downstairs was for the public to use. The gym that we were in now was for private clients. Now I wasn’t rich, but it didn’t cost much, and the private clients got private tutoring, whereas downstairs the training was done as a large group.

“Wow” Josh and Taylor said at the same time, and I knew what they meant. I was shocked when I first came in here.

The room itself was huge. At the far back by the windows were thin mats where the martial arts were taught. Running down both sides towards the door were all sorts of equipment, such as running machines, rowing machines and equipment for weight lifting. There were also skipping ropes hung up on the far left hand wall and a stereo played music from the window ledge.

“Laura!” a voice exclaimed in delight and I turned to my right to see my trainer walking out of the door, which led to a room that had its own toilets and showers.

“Hi there Aaron.” I grinned at him and he shuck his head.

“It’s been too long, but I see you have been keeping fit” he said eyeing me up and I rolled my eyes at him while laughing. He always used to hit on me, but we were good friends. Training together every day did that to you and I’d always found him fun to be around.

“So I’ve brought some guys with me today. Aaron this is Josh and my brother Taylor” I said gesturing to each and Aaron shuck hands with them both.

“Ahh the famous big brother. I’ve heard lots about you Taylor” Aaron grinned and I rolled my eyes.

“So what brings you here?” he asked turning to me and I shrugged at him, but told him anyway since Aaron was like the best guy friend anyone could ask for.

“We had nothing to do and Taylor wanted to hang out today, plus I had an argument with Toni so I decided that the gym would be the best place for me” I announced and Aaron nodded looking at me carefully before he turned to Josh and Taylor.

“So feel free to use whatever you want. I’ll be training with Laura for a while but don’t be afraid to ask for my help if you need it” he said to them and they both nodded before picking out something to go on.

I walked over to the mats with Aaron and he handed me some boxing gloves. I slid my hands into them and he did them up for me.

“Boxing first to warm up with and then we will move to karate” he said grinning at me and I rolled my eyes at him as he guided me over to the punching bag, on the far left side of the mats.