Flares - Book 1

0.2 - Workouts

The Gym was close to the school.

Luckily for Klara and Tom as they crossed the parking lot, looking down the road where the gym was located. It was a grey building, built with three floors for recreational uses and covered with a bright red, metal roof. "Bortot Fitness' read the large sign over the glass entrance, name given by the owners of the large establishment.

Tom held the door open for Klara, her mumbling a thank you as they walked into the main foyer located on the far side of the building. They waved at the receptionist, signing their names on the class roster for the teacher to keep track of who shows up and doesn't. Across from the reception desk was the indoor pool and skating rink, both separated by a thick wall, connected by a single hallway. Behind the desk was the stairwell leading all the way up the building.

The pair sent a final wave as they walked to the stairs. The stairwell was surrounded by glass, allowing those to look outside as they walked. The second floor was connected to the third. Change rooms were next to the stairwell; separated by gender with a family room in between.

"Hey guys!" Bethany Bortot - the new personal trainer - waved excitedly. Her red hair was pulled in a low ponytail, sweat sticking to her exposed skin as she walked over to them. "Did you see our new change room?"

"New? No, I don't think so." Klara shook her head confused. Bethany just smiled, pointing over to the far corner. Klara and Tom followed her hand, eyes widening at the new addition to the gym.

'Gender neutral' read the sign at the end. "A couple folks requested a safe place to change, we've been keeping it under wraps the last few weeks until we had the budget completed and finished constructing. We had to shift into the boys change rooms a bit, sorry Tommy-Tom." Bethany squeezed her eyes at the accidental nickname, knowing the name was reserved for Klara. "Sorry." She winced.

"Don't be." Klara spoke for Tom. She didn't understand the importance of her nickname, not caring who used it. Yet, it held value to Tom, so instead of questioning it, she pushed past. "That's really cool though, I'm sure it's made a lot of people happy."

"Yeah, it's cool, your parents have really been outdoing themselves." Tom nodded in agreement. The Bortot's moved to town 7 years ago, since then they've taken the old plot of land and built the large business, along with holding activity days to raise money for charities, and donating money to other local businesses and the school, the Bortot's really were a blessing to the small community. They were loved not only for their outstanding help, but also for their kind personalities; Mina was a small woman with a delicate touch, always helping with the community gardens and volunteering at the daycares; Samuel was a tall man with a kind smile, he was a councillor in his hometown and once he moved he decided he'd work all of his cases pro bono.

"Thank you guys. Anyways, I won't keep you long. You know what'll happen if you run late."

"I'm not doing any laps." Klara rolled her eyes as the girl laughed.

"You tell him that."

Klara and Tom waved the girl off, walking to their respected change rooms. The girls room had a small hallway lined with single showers on each side, a row of toilet stalls next to it and a row of sinks across the stalls. Along the walls were lockers with a couple rows in the center of the room for extra use. Klara walked to the center of the room, pushing her combination lock to open her locker and placed her bag inside.

"Good afternoon, Klara." Emberly Forsyth greeted. Emberly was a classmate too Klara, going to school as far back as kindergarten with the girl. She was already dressed in her gym attire with her black hair pulled in a high ponytail.