by Sam Crescent
Evernight Publishing ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2016 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-1-77233-883-6
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To everyone who has doubts. Believe in yourself and love yourself for who you are.
FAT
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2016
Chapter One
“Here comes chubby.”
“Fatty.”
“Ugly.”
“She’s waddling.”
“You’re going to break the chair, you’re so fat.”
Nearly everyone in Elsa Quinn’s life had judged her because of her weight. Her fellow pupils at school, her parents—even though they tried to be nicer about it, no matter how many times a person suggested a diet, it still hurt.
No, that was wrong. It was her mother, not her father, who cared about her weight.
Tapping the steering wheel of her car, Elsa stared up at the neon gym sign, and wished she was one of those natural beauties who didn’t have to be considering this on a Saturday. She wanted to be at home, in her bedroom studying, or even going over to her friend Kimberley’s house, but no, she had decided to make a change. It was the start of school, and she didn’t want to keep being known as “the fat girl”. She’d be going away to college next year, and the aim was for the new her to be gracing the halls of the college she picked.
First, she needed to get her ass out of the car and into the gym. She’d already paid for her membership over the phone. When she was asked if she’d like a personal trainer, she had declined. There was no way she was having some woman, or worse, some guy telling her she was too fat. If she needed that, she’d work out at school.
“I can do this. It’s just about going on inside, getting my pass, and hoping no one sees me.”
She had gone over to the next town in order to be covert about what she was doing. Blowing out a breath, she grabbed her bag, and just decided to go for it. She was going to go in there and start a whole new life for herself. There were a couple of cars in the parking lot, which was a good sign. Maybe everyone would stay at home, and she’d never meet another person. She’d be in and out before anyone even knew it.
I can do this.
Happy me here I come.
But she was happy, for the most part. Her father never judged her. He only went along with what her mother said, if he was even paying attention. Of course, her mom did love her, but she just wanted her to be better, thinner. God, she hated that.
“You’d be so happy, Elsa, if you just lost a little weight. You’d get invited to parties, and you may even have a boyfriend.”
Those were her mother’s words pretty much every week. Most parents wanted their daughters locked away so no guys came near them. Not her mother, no, she wanted her daughter to have a boyfriend, and maybe even go to a party.
Her father was a criminal lawyer, a really good one who made a shitload of money for his trouble. So her mother was part of some country club, and Elsa refused to participate in the games that other mothers did by entering their daughters in beauty pageants. If it wasn’t for her grandmother interfering when she was five years old, she’d still be fighting to try to win.
Elsa hated beauty competitions, and there were times she hated how her mother caved to pressure from other mothers.
Anyway, that was stress for another time. She was a good student, never caused trouble, and her one downfall: she was fat.
Up until a week ago, Elsa didn’t care about her weight. She liked to eat, and she liked to cook. Her paternal grandmother was an amazing cook, and had always told her that back in her day, she’d be considered a hot piece of ass, and full women would soon make a comeback. So Elsa had stayed happy in her own skin.
Then last week she’d left her bedroom to go and get a glass of milk, and heard her mother sob as she broke down in front of Bill, Elsa’s father.
“I don’t know what to do, Bill. I’m the complete laughingstock of the club. Elsa hates me, and all I want is what is best for her. I’ve seen her walking through town, and besides Kimberley, she has no real friends. No boys.”
“We should be happy she’s not coming home pregnant. I heard Gate’s daughter had been caught last week, and he had to handle it. Now there is a shotgun wedding. We don’t want that for Elsa.”
“I don’t want her to be miserable, Bill!”
Elsa had heard so much pain, so much fear that she had decided that enough was enough. She was going to make her mother proud of her, or at least stop stressing about her.
Entering the gym, she walked up to the main desk, where a chipper looking brunette was typing on the computer.
“Can I help you?” she asked. Her name badge read Sarah.
“I’m Elsa Quinn. I called the other day.”
“Ah, yes, Bruce told me you were coming.” Sarah left her chair, going to a little box behind her that she unlocked with a key. “Here is your key, your access pad. This allows you into many different parts of the gym including the, erm, pool. It’s cleaned on a Saturday until nine, but after then, you can go right on in. Are you with a personal trainer?”
“No, I’m just going to do this myself.”
“Oh, okay. We do advise all new starters have a personal trainer to help them see where they should focus during their workout.”
“I’m just going to hit it running, and hope for the best.” Her cheeks were heating, and she was so embarrassed. “I’m going to go.”
“Okay, have a nice workout, and if you need anything, please let us know. We want you to have a full treatment experience at Bruce’s.”
Elsa nodded and made her way toward the door with a stick figure of a girl on it. “The new me is just exercise away. Once I start, there is no turning back.” She held in a whimper and pushed through the door, determined to try this out.
The changing rooms were empty, and she found a cubicle, locking the door behind her.
“So far, so good.”
She didn’t waste any time in getting changed into her workout gear, which was a pair of shorts that were a little tight and one of her father’s old ratty shirts. Her mother wouldn’t allow her to buy clothes bigger, so she made do with what her father gave her.
Tying her ratty brown hair back into a ponytail, she was good to go.
She found a locker with a key, stashed her crap inside, and left.
Entering the main gym, she didn’t have a clue what she was doing, but she was surprised at how many people were actually there. Entering a room with running machines, she saw at least ten people, six men and four women.
Staying at the back, she stared at the scary looking running machine. It couldn’t be that hard to get started. Stepping onto it, she looked at all the buttons, and pressed for the machine to walk.
“Okay, I’m going to walk. This is going to be easy.” She muttered the words under her breath wishing she’d brought some kind of music.
“Can you believe he wanted me to eat a salad with the dressing?” One of the women was talking so loud that Elsa couldn’t help but listen in.
“Really? That’s got like a thousand calories.”
“I compromised and allowed there to be chicken, but then they went and added cheese. I mean ser
iously, there’s no way I was going to go for that.”
Great, it’s a health nut.
What was the point in eating at all if you forgo the meat and the dressing? It was just a bowl full of lettuce. Ew, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
The image of her mother sobbing made Elsa keep on walking, and she ignored the conversation going on up front. There was not going to be a change to herself unless she worked out, and work out she was going to do.
She only hoped her diet would allow more than a bunch of leaves in a bowl.
****
Noah Stewart made his way into the gym to find Sarah already had his key in her hand.
“Saturday morning, eight-thirty every single week unless we’re closed for holidays,” she said.
“You know me, I like to be predictable.”
“Yeah, why don’t you work out in your own town? Don’t they give you a special discount or something?” Sarah asked.
Noah sighed. He could work out in his own town, and it would be easier than making the trek four times a week, but he liked Bruce’s Gym. He was left alone, allowing him to train. None of his football buddies were there, and he didn’t have to worry about them trying to hook him up with some of the chicks in high school. Ever since girls had discovered he had a dick at fifteen years old, he’d experienced nothing but drama.
Working out was the one area where he got to relax. He was the kind of guy who found lifting weights, running, or swimming relaxing, but still, it’s what he liked to do, and he intended to make a career out of it. If he didn’t make it through football, he’d make it through becoming a sports medic, or teaching. He happened to like a lot of things, and he was smart. Bruce had even offered him a chance to earn some extra cash as a fitness instructor. The first week he was hit on three times, and that was not what he wanted for himself, so now, he focused on just practicing.
“Stop worrying about how much I’m being charged. Anything new with you?”
“I think Eric may propose. He’s getting all serious.”
Eric was her serious boyfriend, who she completely adored, but refused to show it. This was what his friends ribbed him about every chance he got. Not only was he known for being a hit with the ladies, but he was also a nice guy, which made girls annoyed. They couldn’t hate him even if they wanted to, and also, he was a hot guy. He was tall, muscular, with messy blond hair that looked hot on a guy and ugly on girls, and blue eyes that made girls think of the ocean when he was screwing them. Not to mention he’d gotten some wicked ink during a trip to Vegas his dad took him on to see a game. It made him pretty badass, and his friends wanted to get one afterward.
It was damn good being Noah Stewart. He loved his life, and nothing was going to change that.
“You make sure I’m at the wedding.”
“Shut up, Noah. Oh, we had a newbie today. She joined via the phone, wants absolutely no help.”
“That’s not unusual.”
“Yeah? She looks like a fish out of water. I think she’s just hoping everything will fall into place for her,” Sarah said.
This was what he liked about Sarah, she didn’t judge anyone. At some of the gyms he’d visited there was a horrible feel to the place where people trying to lose weight were made to feel like shit. Bruce, he had a motto, you came to his gym for a reason. He’d leave you alone until you asked for help.
“You know, she looked close to your age. Maybe you know her?”
“Doubt it. I go across town to avoid the chicks in my area. You know that.”
“How could I forget the whole screaming girl incident, where one of your conquests tried to hit you with a weight?” Sarah asked, chuckling.
“Look, it’s not all my fault.”
“Yeah, yeah, being young and hot is a curse.”
“You should know. You’re hot.”
“Shut it, and I noticed you didn’t quote young.”
“I can’t lie.”
She threw a towel at him, laughing. “Go, before your body starts to go into withdrawal because you’re not working it.”
He gave her a wave and made his way toward the changing rooms. There he changed into his workout clothes before heading out. He did some light stretches on his way into lifting some weights. The definition on his arms helped him to catch the girls, but it also gave him the strength he needed while playing. Noah didn’t know what he’d do with his life if he didn’t have the option of playing ball. It gave him focus.
Several of the guys nodded at him as they made their way to different apparatus. This was what he liked about training here, he got left alone. The last thing he wanted was a scene. He’d been there, done that, and he wasn’t interested in the experience again.
After he was sufficiently warmed up, he started light on his arm reps, building up, alternating between each arm. When he was happy there, he started to do some squats, lifting the weights out either side of his body, and drawing them back in.
For the next hour, he worked the whole of his body, building up a sweat. He was warmed up, pumped, and ready to hit the treadmill. With a towel around his neck, he walked into the running room, and saw several people he recognized. Looking to his left, he froze when he caught sight of a chick he did recognize.
What the fuck was Elsa Quinn doing in a gym?
He paused, glancing around the room, and then back at the girl from his own high school. She didn’t look back at him, nor did she appear to care who was in the room. She wore one of the largest, ugliest shirts he’d ever seen. He saw the signs of perspiration under her armpits. Her thighs were also swallowed up.
She had interrupted his place of peace.
Was this the girl who Sarah was talking about? No, she was going to have to go. This was his place, his gym.
Moving toward the running machine closest to her, he started at a steady walk. “What the hell are you doing here?” he asked.
She tripped, and caught herself by holding onto either side of the machine, turning to look at him.
Her eyes were so dark as she stared at him. Noah forced himself to look right back at her. There was always something … inviting about her eyes. During high school, he’d noticed how dark they were, and how they stared at something, trying to figure it out. They were beautiful eyes.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’ve been coming to this gym for the past year. What is your reason?”
“You don’t own the gym. You can’t stop people from coming here.”
“Are you here with a gang of girls? Did they put you up to this?” Noah looked around, wondering if at any moment one of his ex-conquests was suddenly going to pop out and make an appearance.
“I can’t believe your ego. I don’t have to take this. There are other rooms.” She pressed several buttons, and left the room.
His peace had been ruined because he didn’t trust her. Turning off his machine, he followed her, finding her standing in the weight room. She looked like a fish out of water, exactly as Sarah had described her.
“Do you have a clue what you’re doing?”
“God, do you own this room as well?” She walked back into the main hall, and there were several people walking toward them. Grabbing her hand, he pushed her into one of the private sauna rooms. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You don’t have a clue what you’re doing here, so tell me who put you up to this.”
“No one?”
“You just happened to be at Bruce’s gym out of pure coincidence.”
“No, and I don’t have to tell you.”
“I’ll make your life hell at school!”
She glared. “I dare you, and I’ll make sure every single girl knows you’re here on a Saturday.”
They both stared at each other, neither of them showing signs of winning. “I’m here because it’s the only place I get peace and quiet. You must have heard what Jessica did?”
“I heard about the scene. Who hasn’t?”
“Exactly. I
come here so I can work out and be left alone. Now, I’ve told you why, you tell me?”
She sighed. “I just want to point out that you interrupted my training time, not the other way around. You could have run anywhere else, and I wouldn’t care.”
“Fine, just tell me.”
“I’m doing it as a surprise to my mom.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Look at me. I know you all call me fat, cow, whale, chubby. I embarrass my mom, so here I am, trying to make her proud.”
He’d heard all the names she’d been called, and he’d laughed at a couple of them. But really he didn’t see a problem with her weight. So she was a couple of pounds heavier than people would like, so what? He happened to like her tits. There were many times during gym at school where he’d stared as her tits bounced. Out of all of the girls in high school, she had the biggest rack.
Damn.
Now his gaze landed on her breasts.
“Seriously? My eyes are up here, you creep.”
“You don’t have a clue what you’re doing.”
“So? I’ll figure it out, and come college there will be a dazzling new me, and there will be no sobbing in sight.”
“What you’re trying to do is lose weight. Where is your trainer? What are your starting points? What about your diet? There’s a lot more to losing weight than just getting on a treadmill, and hoping for the best. You want to be the best that you can be, then you need some help.”
“I don’t want to make this complicated, okay? This was just about doing something in private with no one knowing, and now you know.”
“Believe it or not, I won’t blab.”
“Sure you won’t.”
Her sarcasm was grating on his nerves.
Chapter Two
This couldn’t be happening. Her perfectly ordered plan of losing weight without anyone knowing was about to be completely ruined. Elsa forced back the tears as she stared back at the star of her high school.