Runner

Chapter 1.

I had just arrived at the gym half an hour before my shift started, I always arrived early to get in a small workout before having to deal with the customers it's just what I did, it was my distraction from the previous day's stress and the oncoming stress of the day.

I walked into the counter and signed in to the system, letting it know I was there for my workout, and walked to the locker room where I put my bag in an employees-only locker, grabbed my water bottle, and left the room to the treadmill where I started the short workout, which I ran for about five minutes slowly easing up from a steady paced walk to a sprint; I'd run in a sprint for as long as I could handle it, which by now is a long while. From the treadmill, I then moved to the weights, where I picked up two fifteen-pound dumbbells and walked over to one of the benches, and started to do some leg workouts. Already half of my workout is done. I set the weights back on the rack, grabbed my bottle of cold water, and took a large gulp from it. I picked up the next set of weights faced the mirror and started to do some lunges. I was facing the mirror and ignoring everyone else around me, focusing on my breathing while lifting weights every time I lunged forward.

As I did that for another ten minutes I put the weights back, picked up my bottle, and walked back into the locker room where I grabbed my bag, showered, and changed into my work uniform.

I clocked on shift and hummed along to the music that the manager had playing over the speakers, pulling my hair up into a high pony-tail so my hair was off my neck, I would sign some of the members into the system while putting on a semi-fake smile and scanned their card letting the system know they were here to workout or to use the tanning beds before they left to go do. I would start to wipe down countertops after signing the members in, trying to help keep the place and the front desk as hygienic and clean as possible, we were a gym, and we needed to make sure the place was sanitary for all members.

As I was wiping off the counter, I heard someone clear their throat, I guess I didn't hear the 'ping' of the door when they walked in. I looked up, getting ready to greet and apologize for not hearing the 'ping', I nearly froze in my place, dropping the rag that'd been in my hand as I quickly realized who was in front of me. I'd come back to my senses after a few short moments, I tried to keep my breathing and words even as I swallowed what anxiety I had that was building up in me. "H-Hello, How can I help you, Sir?" I nearly kicked myself for the small stutter as I tried my best to put my best customer service skills forward. I knew it'd be a long shift today, but I didn't know it'd be this long of a shift. The world froze, the only thing I could see was him, the fear I felt was my own and the only thing I could hear was my own heartbeat through my now ringing ears.