Toe Pick: a set of teeth at the front of the blade of an ice skate

Rosaura checked the time once more. It was nine o'clock. Usually, she was up before then but today her schedule had been flipped upside down—courtesy of Brea. She wanted the two of them to hang out and even when Rosaura told her she had training, the girl volunteered to tag along. So, Rosaura now had to drive to Brea's house and pick her up before going to the new gym.

Rosaura put on a muscle tee over her black sports bra before putting on her matching running shoes. Grabbing her keys and an oversized sweatshirt she had stolen from Val, she made her way back to the garage and turned her car on.

Nearly an hour later, Rosaura was heading to the gym with Brea by her side.

"I can't believe you dragged me to the gym." she said with an exaggerated huff.

Rosaura smiled. "I didn't tell you to come with me. I said I had training, you were the one who wanted to tag along, remember?"

Brea stayed silent as she remembered the truth. Through the weeks, Rosaura had learned a lot about Brea. She was popular at school but didn't have very honest friends and that is why she loved hanging out with her. If Rosaura was being honest, Brea really grew onto her as well. She would go so far as to calling her one of her closest friends. Rosaura started stretching before she went on the treadmill.

"Aren't you going to join me?" she asked Brea.

Brea shook her head and laid down on one of the yoga mats. "I like where I am, I'll watch you."

For the next couple of minutes, Brea kept Rosaura company by telling her all the school gossip. Rosaura found it fascinating. She had been homeschooled for most of high school since Val and her decided to train in Europe for a while.

Rosaura moved towards the weights still listening to what Brea was saying but only half-heartily. The gym doors swung open and she heard male voices as they strolled into the gym. Immediately, Brea was on high alert and she jumped up from her resting position.

Rosaura frowned at the source of noise. Although there was a gym closer to her apartment, it didn't contain all the facilities that this gym did, and so, Val had recommended her to switch over to where he was training. He explained it as a quiet, state-of-the art gym facility and Rosaura had believed him—until now that is.

"I thought we had the gym to ourselves." Brea said in a poor imitation of a whisper.

Rosaura shrugged her shoulders but when she saw who the group was, she nearly dropped the weight she was lifting.

Brown eyes gazed at her and Brea in shock. "What are you guys doing here?" Xavier asked.

It was Brea who answered. "Exercising, duh. What else does someone do at a gym?"

Xavier snorted. "Brea, you don't exercise at all."

Brea was about to answer when another dark-muscular man stepped in. "Is there going to be a problem?" he asked the two of them.

Brea shook her head. "No, as long as he and his stupid friends keep away from me and Rosaura. We don't need them leeching at us."

Xavier looked appalled that his friends would do such a thing but one of the other guys pulled him away. Rosaura was aware of every movement that Xavier and his friends were making. Although she wasn't exactly staring at them, her peripheral vision was trained on what they were doing. When Rosaura looked at Brea, it was quite apparent that she was staring at them.

"Stop staring," Rosaura hissed to Brea.

Brea sighed. "I can't help it, look at him. He's gorgeous!"

Rosaura willed herself not to look but asked, "Who are you talking about?"

"That shorter, lanker dude with the swopping haircut."

Rosaura looked briefly in their direction to see who Brea was talking about. "I'm pretty sure his name is Jett. Haven't you met the guys on the hockey team before?" she asked.

Brea pouted. "No, Xavier keeps them away from me. Which sucks."

Rosaura snorted. She knew exactly why Xavier kept his friends away from his sister. Brea was gorgeous, and it was clear he didn't want her heart to be broken. Returning to her arm exercises, Rosaura found herself being unable to concentrate. She could feel the eyes of someone and whenever she looked, she saw Xavier's gaze before he would go back to his exercise. Back and forth they went, trying to be coy about looking at one another.

After a while, it seemed Xavier had been caught by one of his friends and Rosaura heard a part of their conversation. "...are you going to keep staring or actually talk to her?"

Rosaura pretended to be oblivious and instead glanced at Brea who was trying to tackle on one of the machines—incorrectly.

"What are you doing?" Rosaura asked alarmed as she tried pulling Brea from the machine.

"I'm trying to exercise." Brea replied.

Before Rosaura could say anything else, another voice stepped in. "That is not how you exercise Brea."

Rosaura whipped her head to see Xavier standing behind the two of them.

Brea glared at the two of them. "Well then, show me how it's done!"

Xavier glanced at Rosaura as if asking for her permission. Rosaura stepped back to allow Xavier some room. He slowly went through the steps and waited until Brea got the hang of it.

He turned towards Rosaura, "She'll be okay."

Rosaura nodded. "I have to be my ab workout, if you'll excuse me." She moved towards the other side, but Xavier joined her.

They worked on completing a set of sit-ups in silence. Rosaura knew she was probably looking sweaty and gross, but she didn't care. She had come into the gym to keep up with her training regiment, not to impress Xavier. Rosaura chugged down her water bottle, knowing that Xavier was still staring at her.

"How come I've never seen you at the gym before?"

Rosaura didn't look at him directly. Instead, she focused on Brea who was doing her exercise correctly. "I usually go to another gym, but Val recommended that I come here."

"How come Val's not here?"

Rosaura wanted to roll her eyes. This wasn't twenty questions, but she answered his question anyways. "He was feeling sore, so he told me to go ahead without him."

It looked like Xavier wanted to say more but one of his friends came over to the two of them. "Xavier, we are heading out to the diner, I don't know if you want to join us or stay here." he finished off uncomfortable.

"No, I'm coming. Give me five minutes. I'll see you at the diner." His friend nodded and the rest of them left through the gym.

Rosaura raised an eyebrow, "That was a short workout."

Xavier laughed. "Usually, we go more hardcore, but we're pretty banged up from the road trip."

Rosaura nodded at the explanation.

"Do you want to join us for lunch?"

Rosaura's head whipped around to look at him. "Pardon me?"

"Join us for lunch." He said with a shy smile.

Rosaura didn't know what to respond. She didn't really like hanging out in big groups, but this would give her the chance to have more friends.

"Rosaura, come on! It will be fun." Brea interjected out of nowhere.

"You're not invited." Xavier said to Brea.

The girl didn't even raise an eyebrow. "I don't need your permission. I'll just drive with Rosaura and coincidently meet you at the restaurant."

Xavier scowled but didn't say anything else. Meanwhile, Brea looked towards Rosaura pleadingly. Rosaura sighed in acceptance. "Fine, we will be joining you both."

Brea leaped in to give her a hug and Rosaura returned it. She was sure she was going to regret this. 

-----------------

This chapter is in dedication for Tessa and Scott's fifth Olympic medal and second gold medal in an individual competition! So, what do you guys think of this chapter? Do you like Brea as a character?