Wolves Den

Even though I'd gone to bed early, I still slept through the first two alarms, but the third played an upbeat melody. It wasn't a song I was familiar with, but it got me up.

I was staring at the clock on my screen… there were days… when there just wasn't enough coffee in the world. I was on his fourth cup before lunch. Donna had been cracking jokes that I would be joining the caffeine addicts anonymous before I was six months in. I wasn't even six days in yet…

I wasn't sure if the song had worked or not… I was awake… not cranky… but still tired as all heck.

My phone vibrated drawing my attention. Dreading another message from Robby, I grudgingly checked the message. It was from Jack.

Hey, hitting the gym tomorrow and Friday at six if you're interested.

I blinked, glancing at the Athena training video that still had twenty minutes, I quickly responded.

I have work tomorrow, but Friday is cool, location? I would have to catch the first bus.

Cool, pin location. I opened the pin, the gym was only a mile and half from the apartment… maybe I'd just walk.

"Hot date?" Donna asked looking over her shoulder.

I nearly jumped out of my skin, "Huh?" I asked swiveling in my chair to see Donna's raised brow.

"You're smiling so wide I could see it with my back turned, text from a hot date?" Donna asked nodding to my phone.

I blushed, "No, uh, some friends, well, invited me to the gym." After the last few days Donna and I had been chatting about our personal lyves.

"Oh, that guy who helped you get the interview?" Donna asked as she rotated her wrists.

"Uh, no, the two cousins who helped me move, so Friday I'll see them." I explained. We chatted a bit longer, then returned to our personal tasks. After this video I'd be back on voice mail duty. I tapped on the call logs, over 1500 voicemails… at least I wouldn't be bored.

I blearily searched for my phone to turn off the alarm. After accomplishing a feat that would make Hercules proud, I rolled out of bed. Literally. Ace's waking up tips were still kind of hit or miss, but less misses after a few days.

I stood up, eyes closed as music started to play. Another song I wasn't familiar with but it got my blood pumping. I might add this one to my playlist.

Today's idea was only having one alarm set, after turning it off music would start playing. My goal? Be out of bed before the first song ends. I wasn't sure if it was the music filling the apartment, or not having the extra alarms as harbingers of the day to come… but this may be how started my days going forward.

"Water! Oh! Water first! Hydrate or die!" Tony exclaimed as he bounced around my feet.

"On it, yawn." I promised as I went for the kitchen first. I didn't usually drink lurk warm water, but… I'd promised Tony after I woke up severely dehydrated from all the caffeine I'd guzzled over the week. Taking the several moments to chug half the bottle down, I finally felt awake.

I watched as the dolls also drank some water as I headed off for the bathroom to get ready. I had about twenty minutes before I had to start walking, I wanted to show up a little early.

After brushing my teeth, hair, washing my face, and getting dressed, Tony was about to explode. With a laugh I returned to the kitchen for something light.

I didn't want to go to the gym on a full stomach… hmm.

"Bananas are great, bananas are good! Perfect as a pregame meal!" Tony chattered away as he circled the last two remaining bananas.

"Sounds good to me." Thankfully, Tony didn't breakout into a parody about how great bananas were for you. Tony was great, helpful for cooking tips, healthy food options, sending me down the foodie rabbit holes. Now… if only he learned to sing better. I checked the classes, none cracked… yet.

I ate one banana, slicing up the second into seven portions. Half for Tony, the other half split into six pieces. "Okay, I'm ready."

"And we're off! Gym day! Let's. Get. Wrecked!!!!" Ire bellowed has he shrank to fit onto my key chain with the others.

I didn't stop my grin from Ire's excitement, it was kinda contagious. Thankfully, most of the time the sins just hung around in their dolls. As the morning breeze blew in I shivered. I quickly locked the door as I slung my backpack on. Now my universal carrier of all things work, shopping, gym, and more. Unfortunately, one of the straps was starting to fray… either I'd have to learn to sew or buy another one.

I kept his phone in hand to follow the directions, not that I'd ever get lost. Yeash it was cold!

I glanced at the gym, Wolves Den. Two wolves were growling at each other. One grey, one brown. After a brief hesitation, I jogged up the stairs to enter.

A brief glance almost had me turning right around. It wasn't the clean floors, or spacious juice bar that caught my immediate attention. Not the long rows of mirrors with all sorts of machines, not wall behind the counter full of tennis rackets, basketballs, towels, gym memorabilia. No, not at all. The first thing I saw when I pushed past the glass doors… was that every person in sight had turned to face me like it was some old western movie.

All chatter had stopped, beefy guys in the middle of reps had stopped, even two girls at the juice bar had turned to stare.

I was so caught off guard I froze like a deer in headlights. "Uhh, I'm um, looking… uh, was… invited?" I only had one foot through the door, but I could easily turn around. Turning around might be good for my health.

"He's with me." An irritated voice snapped.

I jerked around to see a red headed man built like a tiny brick house. He wore basketball shorts, red and white head band, a black tank top… all while carrying a metal bat. More importantly, I had never seen this man before in my life.