Mackenzie
Finishing my last set of deadlifts, I placed the weights back in its place. I continued on for another hour, needing the extra energy burned out.
I was trying my best to not be a creep and stare towards Thalia at the reception desk. I waved and smiled when I got here, but she only gave a half hearted wave back. I pushed aside the little hurt I felt, reminding myself that I didn't know her story.
My legs burned by the time I was through with my leg curls, my muscles sore and begging for me to stop. Drenched in sweat, I stood with my hands on my hips as I calmed my breathing.
I needed sleep and food, having gone without both since I dropped Thalia off last night. The protein shake I had this morning was long gone from my system and I just wanted to go home.
"Hey," I heard a familiar voice say to my right.
I turned to it and flinched when I saw Daphne standing there. "Hey." I took a deep breath in and held it in.
"I haven't seen you in a while. Avoiding, are we?" She leaned her shoulder against the treadmill she stood by and smirked.
I slowly released the held breath, not entirely focused on the woman before me. Thalia was at that moment, making her way towards a room labeled 'employees only.' Her eyes were as they usually were, glancing around her but not really settled on anything.
I considered each and everyone that got swept in her gaze lucky as her eyes, brown with green decorated around her irises, granted them attention for mere seconds. For a few seconds they were solely all she saw, fleeting and gone before you could register the privilege.
I wondered what she thought of, of what kept her mind occupied. What kept her up at night because it was clear to see, sleep wasn't always her friend. Nightmares, did she have them? What were they of? What did those dreams she once had consist of? Why was a smile, something so easy for some, difficult for her?
Her eyes floated over me, a cursory glance. Then those eyes stuttered, tentatively flickering back to where I stood. I wanted to rejoice, to gloat, to boast. I had her attention more than anyone else in here did.
Thalia regarded me, head slightly slanted but steps still precise. Now, more than ever, I wished I could have a peek into that mind of hers. I craved to know what she was thinking right then, why she sent me a barely there smile and looked away as she disappeared from my line of sight.
Just like that, her attention drifted away from me and I found myself wanting to throw a tantrum. It was sudden, foreign, the feeling that washed over me.
I had to will my body to stay put and refocus on the other woman in front of me. Daphne was staring at me with an amused look but I ignored it. "Just busy. With work."
She nodded, eyes disbelieving. "Want a work out buddy?"
"I'm actually done." I gestured to my appearance. "And I actually have to get going."
"Right. Well-"
"Shit," I blurted out. "I'm late. Gotta go. Have a good work out." I was already making my way to the locker rooms.
By the time I was cleaned and changed, it was well past two. Thalia no doubt would be gone. I sighed and shrugged on my leather jacket, slinging my gym bag over my shoulder.
Walking past the reception desk, another young girl sat there. I pushed the door open and rolled my sore shoulder. I was too tired to walk, but started on my way anyhow.
"You're late." Said her voice but I was startled and let out a squeal.
Hand to my chest, I looked to my right to see the shorter woman casually leaning against the gym's building. "You scared me."
"You scare too easily. Aren't you meant to be a big, bad firefighter?" She joked, I think, the expression had me trying to figure out if she was actually joking.
"I am a big, bad firefighter." I frowned. "You just popped out of nowhere."
Her eyes brightened, hardly but I noticed it. "Yeah, because I'm clearly hidden. Standing here out in the open. In broad daylight."
"Yes. Exactly." I chewed on my bottom lip. "Wait, you were waiting for me."
"Was I?" She hummed.
My lips curved into a grin. "You were."
Thalia and I had lunch that day, my fatigue gone in her company. I walked her home before leaving for mine, something less weighing on me.
It continued for the next two weeks, this time without my begging. I would either wait or she would, then we'd walk to the same restaurant and pick a dish.
The smiles were still few but boy when she smiled, the sky shined just a bit brighter and life appeared a lot less dull. I was rewarded a couple of chuckles for my goofy behavior and I found myself being more of an ass for her benefit.
Thalia seemed to enjoy my weird jokes, so I might have searched online for some just to squeeze out a laugh or two. I still got my hand smacked whenever I attempted to open a door, I still got called out when I not so subtly checked her out.
Two weeks, I got two weeks of her company and I was beyond grateful.
~●~
"Hey!" I greeted enthusiastically one night at the bar.
Thalia rolled her eyes at me. "Are you drunk?"
I nodded quickly, too fast. "Yes. I drink. Can I have more?" I held up two fingers.
"I'm cutting you off. Go home, Kenzie." She pointed at me.
I slumped on a stool. "Whaa? Why? You don't wanna be my friend anymore?"
She gave an expression of confusion before shaking her head. "I mean, I'm cutting you off from the alcohol, dumbass."
"Oh, then that's okay." I waved a hand and got mesmerized by the way my hand floated. I kept gliding it through the air, my drunken eyes following the movement. "Wow."
"Put your hand down, you look crazy." Thalia said with a smack to my floating hand.
I pouted but listened, rocking my head to the music. "I hope that things don't change 'cause I love it this way, I pray that these feelings don't fade. You come into my life and I need you to stay, 'cause I'm feelin' some type of way. So baby, would you roll with me? Baby, would you ride for me? Baby, would you roll with me? Baby, would you ride for me?"
"That's not even the song that's playing." The brunette snorted as she wiped down the counter.
"You don't know!" I said too loudly then jumped. "Shh." I pressed my finger to my lips. "Not so loud, Thal."
She narrowed her eyes on me, turned and walked towards the manager's office. I frowned and looked around the almost empty bar. I'd come alone and thought it best I leave now.
I took out my black wallet, slipped out two bills and put it on the counter. I placed the straw container on the money to keep it from blowing away. I stumbled out of the bar and looked around for a few seconds, trying to remember which direction I came from.
I closed my eyes and I pointed in a random direction, spinning once. When I opened my eyes again, I was dizzy but at least I knew where to go. I tried to walk as if sober but I wasn't sure it worked.
"Kenzie!" I heard in the distance, a hand grabbing me and pulling me around. "Where are you going?" The little lady asked.
I giggled at the thought of Thalia being a little lady. "My apartment. Would you like to go to my place with me? I have drinks. Water and juice. Coffee. You don't drink coffee. I don't have tea. You want tea, don't you?" I rubbed my forehead.
"Why did you get this drunk?" She asked.
I shrugged, trying to remember why but I couldn't quite focus on anything other than the woman. "I am incapable of remembering what possessed me to have the amount of alcohol it takes to be this intoxicated." I said very slowly. "You are very beautiful." I reached out and caressed the ends of her short hair.
Shocked eyes followed my touch, climbing up my arm to my face. "I'm taking you home. Come on."
"Okay." I happily agreed and went to continue on the same path I picked, but Thalia yanked me in the other direction.
We somehow made it to my floor and I pushed the keys into the doorknob. "My eyes never left the screen since I saw you, the one that I been after. I could watch you over and over, filled my life with laughter. And if life was a book, you'd be my favourite author. I'd read your words night and day and I would never bother to leave. You're the only book I would read, yeah, yeah." I mumbled rather than sang.
"Do you always sing this much?" Thalia asked after I shut the door behind us.
"I like songs." I whispered and walked to my kitchen. "I don't have tea. Juice?"
"No, that's okay. You should get in bed and I should go home." She started towards the door.
"Coffee?" I hurriedly asked to stop her from leaving.
Thalia stared intently at me, sighed and walked to the kitchen. "Coffee, I guess."
"How do you like it?" I rubbed my eyes, feeling my mind coming down from the alcohol slowly.
She hummed. "Black and sweet."
"Oh, so like me." I smiled and set my eyes on her. "Black and sweet."
The woman chuckled, it was quiet and lovely. A polite and gentle song in my silent apartment that still didn't feel like home. "Shut up."
I bit my lip, still smiling.
"Let me do that. You're gonna make a mess." She pushed me out of the way.
I sat while she asked where everything was to prepare the coffee. Soon enough we were on my sofa, not talking but just sitting in comfortable silence.
I fell asleep, I wasn't sure when. And when I woke up the next morning, Thalia wasn't there anymore.
-E