Weathered Love

DEREK

At the end of the school day, I drove Mackenzie and myself to the gym. We had decided that, yet again, we wanted to get into shape for the upcoming Track season. It was more Mackenzie's idea and, as usual, she somehow managed to convince me to shell out money every month to run on a machine in a building that smelled like sweaty socks when I didn't even want to do it for free in the fresh outdoors.

While on the treadmill, someone came and started using the machine next to mine. My insecurities started to creep up again. I hated when people used the machine next to mine (except for Mackenzie, since she would talk and I would listen), especially if there were multiple open machines much further away from me.

"Do you mind if I take this machine?" he asked. I shook my head. I was trying to save my breath. I knew I looked like a sweaty red tomato, and I wanted to save what breath I had left.

"I'm Derek by the way," he said, smiling at me. I nodded. "Do you have a name?" he asked.

"Ivy," I huffed out. Damnit, I should have given him a fake name.

"Nice to meet you," he said. He started his machine and put in some headphones, seeming to focus on the television in front of him. It gave me a chance to check him out from the corner of my eye. He was dark and gorgeous. Why would he want to talk to me?

I admired the way his shoulder-length dreadlocks bounced while he ran. I could see his perfectly sculpted body through his shirt. He either didn't need the gym or was an avid gym-goer. Either way, he was out of my league.

I turned my head to my other side and gave Mackenzie a confused look. Her jaw was propped open. Clearly, she thought he was gorgeous too. And I knew, once she put on the charm, it was over.

So, I just focused my attention on the timer that was counting down the longest half hour of my life so that I could get off the machine. I preferred weight training so much more than the treadmill. I was more impressive there, and didn't look like a red, sweaty mess.

I finished and jumped off the machine, only doing a quick wipe-down of it before bolting to the weights. I wanted to get out of the way before Mackenzie started working her magic and I started feeling like an unwanted third wheel.

I had just started doing some dead-lifts when I noticed Derek come beside me with some weights he had picked up himself and start working out his arms as well. I shifted, uncomfortably, away from him. He closed the gap between us. I tried to shift away from him again, but once more, he closed the gap between us.

"Can I help you?" I asked, rudely.

"You can give me your number," he answered.

I huffed. I felt like he was making a mockery of me. "I'm not interested in some little game or bet you might have going on with your buddies," I replied, putting the bar down and walking away from him. I heard him hurriedly follow me.

"I'm not asking because of a dare or a bet or anything. I'm genuinely interested. Unless you're not interested in me, in which case I'll leave you alone," he said. He gave me a perfect smile and I nearly melted. No, I couldn't fall for this trick. Of course he'd deny that it was a bet or a dare. Why would he admit it?

Then again, he'd also deny it if it wasn't true, I started to think. But I shook that thought out of my head. Of course it was a dare. Who would ever like me? At least, at first glance, I'm not much of a sight. I have a "great personality", and he definitely doesn't know me well enough to know that.

"I'm not interested," I said, hoping he'd mistake my blushing for being flushed after the treadmill workout.

"I don't believe you, but OK," he said, smiling again and walking away. A part of me wanted to run after him, but I knew better. If it was a prank, then I had just managed to avoid the humiliation of it. And if it wasn't, then I would completely lose face and look really pathetic if I went after him now.