Burn Away the Stress (Andi.)

[Jalen August]

Jalen was getting tired of running laps in and around the school. She was tired of her music and was looking for something new. Her endurance for running was top notch, but her strength could really use some work. Usually school preoccupied most of her time, or wandering around kept her busy. The blonde had way too much time on her hands and not many things to keep her occupied. Reading a certain book, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo had crossed her mind, but she hadn’t so much as cracked the spine.

Instead she was at the leg press, her white ear buds connected to her iPod, but there wasn’t any music playing. It was only an illusion so people wouldn’t bother her. The blonde was sweating up a storm, her fists balled up tightly as she pushed the heavy metal plates back and forth with her feet. Her legs were aching but she knew she could do a couple more reps – the quaking thighs meant that muscle was being built, and that was the key.

Her legs were sore from riding Cody’s horses, as she wasn’t used to it. A smile crossed her face as she thought of him – no wonder he was so built. She wanted to be better able to ride the horses and not be afraid. She wasn’t sure how strong legs and getting over the fear of horses were connected, but she wasn’t going to disagree with the workout motivation.

When she finally couldn’t push her legs forward anymore, she got up forcefully from her spot and grabbed her towel and water bottle. Her hair was braided down the back in a straight line to cover her hideous scar, no makeup on. She wasn’t here to impress anybody – not anymore anyways. Jalen patted her neck and face dry, breathing hard and heavy from her workout. She wanted to do more than just her legs right now, but the floor seemed rather comfortable.

Glad that she was wearing her stretchy grey yoga pants, Jalen had no shame in sitting on the gym floor, the only thing on her torso a light blue sports bra, with the added benefit of sweat in the front and back in the shape of large triangles. The blonde was sipping from her water bottle. She was too lazy to go get more if she happened to chug it all now. It would have to last her. Taking a deep breath, Jalen set her bottle and towel down and stretched her legs in front of her on the ground, bending forward from the waist to reach her toes, wincing from how tight her thighs and calves were. “Oh I knew I was gonna pay for this...” She said to herself, letting her forehead fall to her thighs.

[Andi Thalis]

It was another one of those days. Frustrated because of certain people, but knowing she didn’t want the fun Lukas presented, for she had seen him with another girl, and it was so not jealousy coursing through her blood, she had suited up in her gym clothes – black yoga pants and a dark grey sports bra and her kickboxing shoes – and was walking towards the gym. She had known the consequences of hooking up with Lukas, if only to have sex, and she shouldn’t be feeling like this, but it couldn’t be helped. She had found the boy first, right? She grumbled all the way to the gym, plugging in her earbuds as soon as she entered.

Looking around real quickly, just to see if Lukas was around but disappointed when he wasn’t, the brunette turned on her workout playlist and drowned herself in the music as she dropped her towel and water bottle and began stretching for her kickboxing. She felt pumped, like she could take on the world right now. After the stretching, she stood and shook out her limbs before going through the routine she had in mind today, something hard and furious and fast that would take all thoughts of Lukas out of her head, projecting them on the dummy she had positioned before her.

After a while, she started to slow down, the anger and something else in her bloodstream cooling off as she took enough whacks at the dummy. She took a break and grabbed her towel, wiping her arms and shoulders of sweat before turning around and noticing the blonde, looking much like she did. Her eyes fell to the other girl’s water bottle, noticing it empty, and she went to the water fountain and refilled hers. Walking to the blonde’s side, she set her own water bottle down and grabbed the other girl’s, making a polite gesture by going back and filling it up before taking a seat in front of the blonde. “Want some help?” Andi asked politely, her usual dancing eyes unusually solemn today.

[Jalen August]

Looking up from her stretch, Jalen hadn’t noticed the other girl in the gym until her water bottle was placed before her. “Thank you very much,” the blonde said in appreciation, taking a huge gulp of water. A small smile crossed her face – who was this girl? “I don’t think anyone can help my thighs now,” she said with a chuckle, reaching over to grab her feet again, groaning as her legs threatened to snap. “Thanks for the water though,” her voice was strained and her lips pursed.

Jay finally pulled her ear buds out. Hey, the girl had been nice, the least she could do was pay attention to her. Plus, she hadn't exactly made a lot of friends around here, she wasn't about to ignore a potential acquaintance. “I’ve found out the hard way that strength training is not my thing,” she said with a sigh, breaking her stretch by leaning back onto her palms, stretching out the tops of her quads now. Jalen had no problem admitting her faults, and being friendly with others. Her dark eyes studied the pair of equally dark eyes before her. The girl seemed a little down, disappointed almost. “What about you, how you doin’?” She asked, not really being clear on whether she was talking about working out at the gym or otherwise.

[Andi Thalis]

“You’re welcome,” Andi told the blonde, giving her a small smile in return. It never hurt to be polite to other people when they least expected it; it only showed that some individuals showed more consideration to the people around them. “Strength training isn’t anyone’s thing unless you’ve done it for years like some of the boys here,” the brunette added, her smile growing a bit. “And I’ve been better in my social life.”

With that said, Andi mimicked the blonde girl in her stretching, needing to do so after her intense kickboxing session. “I’ve seen you around Hammel and Pilot Ridge,” Andi remarked casually, recognizing the girl’s voice. “You’re pretty good when you sing, or so I’ve been told. I find that cool.” She leaned forward and stretched her calves. “In town, I see you with a tall blonde guy who wears a cowboy hat. He’s pretty hot…are you two dating?” Sure, it was a personal question, but Andi wanted to get to know the girl better. “Oh, my name’s Andi,” she offered, taking a hand and presenting it to the blonde girl.

[Jalen August]

A big smile popped onto Jalen’s face at the mention of some boys being used to strength training, but the one she was thinking of definitely wasn’t in the vicinity. The girl’s next comment caught the blonde off guard, and she quirked an eyebrow upward. “Could’ve fooled me, you seem nice enough,” she said, not trying to worsen the girl’s mood. She had just finished working out and was probably feeling better, but still, there was no need to undo all of that hard work. Jalen wasn’t about to make whatever was going on in her life, worse.

Jalen smiled at the compliment. “Thanks, I’ve only ever done that once... Write my own songs too,” she wasn’t sure if the girl wanted to know, but she didn’t really care. Now she did. “Honestly, I haven’t really seen you around much, aside from on screen... at the sex seminar.” The blonde was smiling devilishly now, her eyes bright. It was sort of a compliment, right? “Jalen,” she said, taking the girl’s hand. Hopefully Andi would stick to the face before her.

“Yeah, he is hot isn’t he?” She said with a broad grin. “And yes, we’re dating. He’s wonderful,” she carried on, watching Andi with a careful eye. “You’re actually the first person I’ve told, well, formally,” she said, assuming that her friends and other people around her were getting the hint. “How about you? You dating that guy you were in the pictures with?”