•Familia•

Chapter 9: Workout

Aaron POV
Every morning I start of my day with a workout. It's an instinct at this point. Roni understands that I like to be fit, who doesn't? She just doesn't why it's so important to me. I didn't realize why until recently. I used to be made fun of as a kid. I was nerdy, as I am now. I was also a little on the chubby side. I was always ran over. It was never a competition but Alex was always looked at as the "more attractive" brother, or the "jock". I was looked at as the "nerdy", "geeky", and "hopeless romantic". I hated that because my interest shouldn't determine my life. I moved away from North Caroling to get away from that. I worked super duper hard to get in shape and become a better me. I struggled to find roles as an actor and worked in a hospital for a while. I was not walked over them but I was over looked. It still wasn't a good feeling. I eventually ended up getting a girlfriend. I truly hid my real identity them. No nerdy ness, no dumb jokes, no awkward Aaron. To be honest I think that's the reason that Sarah liked me. She thought I was just some cool Hollywood hunk. It was a struggle keeping that up, because that wasn't really who I was. It will never be who I am. I slowly started releasing more and more of my real personality. That when our relationship started breaking apart. She started showing disinterest in me. My smiles showed and her didn't. It was a horrible feeling. I felt as if no one ever really wanted my real personality. It was very depressing. This is when the whole hitman attack thing happened and I thought Sarah committed suicide. This really hurt me. I was conflicted. I was mad at her for hiring someone to kill me but also leaving me. I was sad that she left me. It was just a strange time in my life. I was back at my all time low. I let myself go again and there I was being walked all over. I started a YouTube with hopes of an income and Alex dragged me places. I started getting back in shape, though it wasn't who I was before. The more I worked out, the stronger I felt. My life was changing. So working out became therapy to me because I thought it made my life better. After being shot I felt so weak, like a man took away my manhood. How could he just leave just lying there? I felt helpless. It was the same feeling I felt before. I hurt and I couldn't deal with that. I worked and worked and worked. I've never stopped and I do plan to. I never want to to be walked over again. I understand that it ok to stop. Sometimes I take a break but this is my way of getting my anger out a staying level headed. I wouldn't be the guy I am now without it. I wouldn't be able to not make mountains out of mole hills, I wouldn't be able to keep my calm. Working out has taught me a lot.

Occasionally Kian will work out with me. I don't know the reason why but he will. He's with me for at least four days. Alex may show up at some times. I know his reason why. He wanted to escape that whole childish label that he had on. Everyone thought he was this immature guy and when he was crossed he just couldn't take it anymore. He hates being underestimated. He worked so hard that he basically lived at the gym. I felt his pain. It's sort of like it's in our genes that working out as our therapy.

I'm thinking about all this stuff and my head is all caught up in it. I'm in my own head so much that I don't even realize that I've been on the treadmill for almost an hour.

"You ok?" Alex asks me. I know he would understand if I explained it to him but this is something that I'm just going to keep to myself for awhile. Just to figure out why I feel this way.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm just working on cardio." I lie. It snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Your stronger than me because I could never work on cardio for that long. I hate it"

"I do to but sometimes you gotta push yourself you know?" I says. It builds on to my lie. I slow the pace down on the treadmill and get off. I dab the sweat off of my forehead.

"The time is almost here" Alex says. It takes me a while to catch on to what he's talking about but I eventually do.

"You excited?" I ask

"Yeah. I can't wait until my baby boy gets here"

"Less than a month" I say

"Fourth at my place?" He asks.

"Why not? That the only holiday we consistently spend at yours" I say. We always have the Fourth of July celebration at Alex's house. It's the only holiday we spend at his house.

"See ya there" he says and waves me off. I hurry out of there before my mind goes somewhere else. My brother always puts a smile on my face, especially when there's a smile on his face. He's been so happy about this kid. I'm happy for him. His always been a family man and his family is expanding just like he wants it to. I shake off all the thoughts that I had while I was on the treadmill. They all wash off in the shower I take after. I'm greeted when I sit back in the couch by the best feeling in the world, my wife giving me a kiss and my kids jumping in my arms. Nothing beats this feeling and I wouldn't trade it for the world.