Whirlwind

14

[Riley]

"You feel the burn yet Ry?" Leslie challenged, shouting over the sound of heavy machinery being hammered repeatedly by both our Nike Air Max.

"Because my got damn thighs are boiling right now!"

I let out a faint chuckle as the perspiration forming across my forehead began to creep down the sides of my face. We both had just hit the two mile mark on the treadmill after spending nearly forty minutes on the elliptical prior. The level five speed and incline we had elevated to were killing my calves and causing my thighs to burn like hers but our workout was far from over. We still had to live up to the weight challenge we found in Cosmopolitan earlier this month because no one wants a toned set of legs and a horrible upper body. I knew for sure I didn't, so I refused to opt out now and even if my body as a whole was becoming limp as we speak.

"Come on Ry, this shit is killing me!" she continued on whining. I merely grabbed my phone, lifting it up in clear view to show her I was raising the volume of my music in efforts of ignoring her. Nothing Leslie said after that, which I'm sure was smart, was going to be heard. There was a goal I had in mind and a little less than fifteen minutes to accomplish it with or without her.

The only thing that was giving me the drive to keep propelling my legs forward was Vivrant Thing blasting from the ears of my Beats. My eyes were now closed as my body began to feel like it was being take to aerial heights. I'd like to think we all have those moments where we feel fearless during a workout. We get so used to the routine, our body becomes so accustomed to the level of adrenaline flowing through it that everything around us becomes invisible. We're now in our own channeled world and fighting the urge to give up. The task becomes nothing for us. I was feeling exactly like that right now. The burning in my thighs was slowly fading and the running was becoming effortless and almost graceful. Nothing could stop me but a force that is always to be reckoned with that goes by the name of Leslie Mitchell. How could I possibly think my music was enough to mute and null her out for the rest of this workout? That would be absurd but I did and she proved me wrong when her palm slammed against the emergency stop button. Thank God my brain and the other parts of my body needed to save myself from flying backwards cooperated in time.

"Bitch are you insane?" I nearly shouted as my hands gripped the sides of the machine tightly, allowing it and my feet to slow down their pace. "I could've died a horrible death you damn maniac!"

"Calm down. You know better than to shut me out with music, it's rude."

"Save that for my funeral eulogy. I should smack you but my feet are done for so I'm gonna sit down over there for the time being." I muttered while the treadmill came to a complete halt. Leslie then grabbed my towel and bottled water as I towed behind her to a nearby window seal. Sweat was running profusely down my face and onto my neck and chest while the cool air blowing out from the vents above was enough to slowly dry it up. Had Leslie not cut me short the dampness and fiery sensation my body was enduring would have all been worth it.

"It's almost two o' clock anyways, we have to go and head over to Onieals."

"Oh that was your real reason for interrupting my work out? To go eat?" I quizzed while snatching my water bottle to take a swallow. Leslie wasn't impressed by my humor though, she instead stood before me with her hand glued to her hip. This had to be where I got my sass from, she had definitely rubbed off on me over the course of our friendship and it was so obvious as of now.

"And if it was? I was tired and besides, we both have healthy and killer bodies. So I don't know why you were running like you stole something on that thing anyways."

"Because I had a goal, Les."

"Because I had a goal, Les." she mocked with her hand out to help me back up. "Is that your reason for interrupting the time I need to get dressed?"

"You know, I really can't stand you." Our hands locked around each other as I managed to stand and shake the tingling happening in my legs. I needed to get them moving again to keep the blood circulating. "I guess I could do the shower as an alternate to lifting weights."

"You can, now let's go."

As she dragged me along and into the women's locker room toward the back of the gym, I began anticipating the crowded showers and sauna room. We had already started our day off late by coming to the gym at noon on the weekend, a time when everyone is present and active on nearly every machine. Without a doubt I knew the locker room would be the same and as it is known, I hated small spaces with more than three people occupying them. Once we walked inside I was elated to see just the opposite. It took no time for me to strip out of my moist workout clothes and into the comfort of a towel before stepping inside the broiling yet soothing sauna room.

"This feels amazing." Leslie admitted lowly, sitting down in the corner opposite of mine.

"It does. I need to get one installed in my bathroom, it would be so nice to unravel in there just for the hell of it."

"Well it's huge enough so you should. Actually your entire loft is made for a small family so there's a lot you can add to it."

"If I had the time and patience to then I would. I just want to get myself together before making any adjustments to my place. I could move out of the city for all I know."

"And go where? Is Dr. Washington feeding that to you now?" I rolled my eyes.

"No, I'm just saying."

"Mhm. How's it been going though, I mean your meetings?"

"Surprisingly well actually. Now a days I'm open to his advice and maybe because I'm realizing it is indeed time for me to stop making myself content with my hurt and the unhealthy lifestyle I grew into. I can't keep ignoring things that bother me and drinking when I feel under pressure from it or just stress in general. I have to take my baggage head on or else I'll never be happy. My doctor actually told me, word for word, to take more chances, control the situations I end up in which means I have to become the director of my train." Leslie let out a laugh as I sat back against the faux wooden wall and did the same. advice sounded corny at times with the manmade phrases he used but he was stating nothing but facts. That is once the almost Dr. Seuss like lines sunk in and connected to reality.

"He said know where you want to go, know the route you want to take, know who is on board and any safety precautions that need to be taken along the ride." I added as the heat began to draw up some of the sweat that was coating my skin.

"Dr. Washington says some weird shit." She blurted, trying her best to keep her compliment ironically inoffensive.

"But it all makes sense. I mean think about it, if I follow his advice and take control of my life I can then avoid all danger zones, areas where congestion may be and ultimately get myself to where I need to go. In realistic terms, he's just saying to take charge of all aspects of my life so that I can live and live healthier and happier." Leslie stared back at me blankly for a few seconds before nodding.

"I get it and it does make sense...to some extent. I'm just glad you're finally hearing what he's saying and actually utilizing it. You're so headstrong sometimes that you'd rather disregard what you're recommended. Sometimes people are advising you for a reason, you just don't want to take it."

"Well this time around especially since we're going into a new year in a few months, I'm willing to make use of this all before I die a miserable life from angst one day. Also because I have to pay for some of my sessions out of pocket so something better be applied and effective."

"You're so over the top you know?"

"Yeah, maybe." We both slipped out a mutual laugh while continuing to sit in the heated haze that was just the calm we needed to set the tone for the rest of our day.