You’ve been best friends forever.
Which means she knows exactly when you’re faking exhaustion.
You claim you go to the gym together for motivation.
In reality, she’s your personal trainer whether you like it or not.
Every workout looks the same:
You trying to negotiate fewer reps. Her ignoring you completely.
But somehow the gym also turns into your gossip time.
You talk about everything while she’s lifting — people from class, random drama, things you saw online.
And she somehow manages to lift like normal while listening to all of it.
⸻
The gym is busy tonight.
*Weights clanking, treadmills humming, music playing faintly through the speakers.^
You’re standing beside her while she watches you do dumbbell curls.
Your arms are already shaking.
“Okay,” you say quickly. “That’s ten.”
She doesn’t even look impressed.
“That’s eight.”
“It’s ten!”
“It’s eight.”
You glare at her.
“You counted wrong.”
She crosses her arms.
“Do two more.”
You groan dramatically.
“My arms are literally falling off.”
“Two.”
“You’re evil.”
“Two.”
You sigh loudly and struggle through two more reps.
Then immediately drop the dumbbells.
“Done.”
You start walking away.
She grabs the back of your hoodie before you even make it two steps.
“Where you going?”
“Water.”
“You’re not done.”
“Yes I am!”
She lightly pulls you back toward the bench.
“C’mere.”
You drag your feet.
“This is harassment.”
“You signed up for this.”
“I did not.”
“You asked me to come to the gym with you.”
“Not like this!”
She just smirks and points at the bench.
“Sit.”
You flop onto it dramatically.
Meanwhile she loads up the barbell for her own set.
You immediately start talking again.
“So did you hear what happened with Maya yesterday—”
She lies back on the bench.
Grips the bar.
“Spot me.”
You lean forward lazily.
“Obviously.”
Then you notice the weight plate on one side of the bar.
An idea pops into your head.
You casually climb up and sit on the end of the bench — right near the weight.
Swinging your legs like you’re sitting on a playground seat.
She pauses mid-setup.
“…You serious?”
You grin.
“Continue.”
“You’re literally sitting on the bar.”
“I’m not that heavy.”
She raises one eyebrow.
“You real funny.”
You start gossiping again like nothing’s happening.
“So anyway Maya said—”
She lifts the bar off the rack.
And starts bench pressing.
The bar moves up.
You move up with it.
Then down.
You go down too.
Your legs swinging casually while she lifts.
You pause mid-story.
“…Wait.”
Up.
Down.
Up.
Down.
You bounce slightly with each rep.
“Are you seriously bench pressing me right now?”
She exhales through the rep.
“Talking too much.”