A Little Bit of Everything and Everyone

Running (Derek Luh)

"If I have to go then you have to go pal," I say cheerily through the phone. I hear my boyfriend, Derek, groan.

"Fine, I'll meet you at the gym after I get out of the studio. What time again?" he asks.

"6:30. I'll see you after I get out babe," I say.

"Love you Soph," he says.

"Love you more D," I respond with a smile on my face.

"Not possible," he says before hanging up. By now I'm sure you're wondering what the hell we are talking about. My parents own a gym and their gym is putting on a 5k race with a two month training and everything. My mom signed Derek and I up without asking us so now we have to do it. Neither of us run but we both are gym junkies.

"Is Derek gonna come to training tonight?" my mom asks from behind me. In addition to them owning the gym, they also suckered me into working here. At least the pay is decent and I get free membership perks.

"Yeah I guess so," I respond.

"Cool, oh, I volunteered you to take over Mindy's dance class while she's on maternity leave, it starts in ten minutes," my mom tells me. I jump up from behind the counter.

"Mom! You gotta give me a little more warning than that!" I say before sprinting off to the aerobics studio.

At 6:30 Derek strolls into the gym. He kisses me and waves to my parents in the back office.

"Training is outside since it's not too hot out for once," I tell him. We walk outside to the group.

"Just a nice easy mile today guys," the leader, Jason, says. We stretch before heading out. Derek jogs next to me even though I know he's faster than I am. I plug one of my headphones in, hating the sound of my heavy breathing when I run.

"C'mon mami you can run faster than this," Derek says after a few minutes. I look over at him and narrow my eyes before cranking my music louder.

"Soph, are you listening to my music?" he asks as Lifestyle starts playing through my headphones. I show him the screen and grin.

"What can I say? I'm your biggest fan," I say. I jog a little faster in front of him.

"Nice ass ma," he says from behind me.

"Quit lookin' you're distracting me!" I call back.

"Maybe you should run faster, then no weirdos can look at your butt," he says, catching back up.

"Stop talking to me I'm trying to focus on my breathing," I snap.

"Run faster Sophie, I know you can. C'mon," he says, running in front of me. I change my song, annoyed with him.

"Sooooophieeeee," he whines as he sees me start walking.

"Stop. You know I hate running. I get enough shit from my mom for having a sucky mile pace. I don't need it from you too," I tell him. Machine Gun Kelly's Wild Boy starts playing and I start running again, this time plugging both headphones in.

After a while we finish our mile. We stretch with the group before I head back into the gym to clock out and do my nightly workout.

"How was it?" my mom asks as we walk in. I shrug.

"It was okay I guess. I need to clock out and lift though," I say, sliding past her. Derek follows me but I'm still annoyed with him. I clock out and grab my bag from under the front desk.

"See you at home babe," I say to Derek. I peck his cheek before going to meet my trainer, Lance.

After lifting I am in desperate need of a shower and food. I haven't ate since lunch and I'm starving. I do grab an apple from my moms desk when I go to say bye to her and my dad. I head home, Derek's car obviously already in the driveway. With shaking legs and a killer headache, I walk into the garage and through the door.

"I'm home!" I call. I don't hear Derek as I set my bag down. I walk into the living room and see a trail of rose petals leading up the stairs.

"Luh I swear to god if this is some prank I will strangle you!" I yell, following the petals up the stairs and into the bedroom. I find Derek laying on the bed, surrounded by roses.

"What'cha doin?" I ask as I walk in.

"Waiting for you. I know you're stressed and sore and tired and that I annoyed you today but I wanted to make it up to you. So I have a hot bath waiting for you and while you're doing that I'll be in the kitchen cooking dinner and then I'll give you a massage," he tells me. I grin and wrap my arms around him.

"You, sir, might win the award for best boyfriend ever." I peck Derek's lips and he smiles into the kiss.

"I know. Now go relax mami," he says. I kiss him again before walking into the bathroom.