Chapter 15

Celeste

I could still feel the heat of Sabrina's cruel words when Matt's commanding voice filled the space.

Sabrina whipped around, her haughty air momentarily faltering, replaced by an expression I had never seen on her before: uncertainty.

“What was that, Matt?” Sabrina snapped, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

“You heard me,” Matt said. “You’re a bully. Get out; this is no place for someone like you.”

Sabrina stared up at Matt in shocked silence for a long time. She was kneeling on her yoga mat, already having returned to her workout now that she had driven me away. Slowly, she stood, placing her hands on her hips.

“You’re joking,” she growled.

Matt took a deep breath, his stance firm and unwavering. “This is a gym, Sabrina, a place for people to come and feel better about themselves. Not to be torn down by the likes of you.”

Sabrina huffed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, come on. It was just a little harmless fun.”

“I'm on duty tonight. As the part-time manager of this gym,” Matt said coolly, “I have a responsibility to ensure everyone feels safe and respected here. If you can't do that, you're not welcome.”

Her face paled. “You’re kicking me out?”

Matt nodded. Sabrina’s face blanched even more. “You… You can’t be serious!”

Matt fixed her with a stern gaze. “Leave, Sabrina. Maybe you can return when you decide to be polite to other gym-goers. And remember, everyone has to start somewhere. Do I need to tell everyone how you couldn’t hold a plank for twenty seconds when you first started coming here?”

Sabrina’s face somehow turned even more pale. Scoffing, she rolled up her pink yoga mat, then shot me one last venomous look with her pale blue eyes before she stormed off.

The sudden departure of such a malicious presence seemed to lift the weight in the room. I heard scattered laughter, although now I realized that it wasn’t directed at me. It was directed at Sabrina.

I was still reeling, struggling to process everything that had happened when Matt approached me, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and kindness.

“Hey,” he began gently, his tone far softer than it had been moments ago. “Are you okay, Celeste?”

Suddenly, I felt Fiona’s hand on my back. With a firm shove, she pushed me toward Matt, causing me to stumble over my feet.

I nodded, trying to steady my voice. “Y-Yeah,” I murmured, swallowing hard. “T-Thanks to you.”

He gave a slight smile. “She had no right. You’ve taken a bold step towards a healthier lifestyle, and that's commendable.”

My eyes were fixated on the ground, embarrassment still holding me captive. That was when Matt crouched down, trying to meet my gaze.

“Mind if I give you a couple of tips on your form?”

I looked up, surprised. “You'd do that?”

He chuckled. “Of course. Let’s start with your squats. I noticed you're using weights. Great choice, by the way.”

“I just don’t want to get too bulky…” I admitted, glancing towards the barbells with trepidation.

Matt laughed, shaking his head.

“Celeste, look at me.” He paused, and flexed his enormous biceps. I felt my face turn a deep shade of red.

“Um…” I began, at a loss for words.

“Do you honestly think getting big muscles happens overnight?” he continued. “Besides, muscles, especially in the legs and glutes, are incredibly attractive on women. It's a sign of strength and dedication. You shouldn't fear them.”

He led me over to the free weights, away from the machines. He picked up a dumbbell and held it in front of his chest, demonstrating the perfect squat. His calf, quad, and hamstring muscles bulged beneath his shorts, making my face turn an even deeper shade of red.

He then handed the dumbbell to me and began explaining the proper posture, making me adjust my stance slightly. “Hold the weights like this,” he instructed, positioning my arms. “Your form is crucial. It helps prevent injuries.”

“Really? I didn't know that,” I admitted.

He nodded.

“And when you feel ready, maybe you can even move on to the barbells for heavier weights. Just slowly work your way up; no more than five pounds per week to start, but move at a pace that feels right for you. When the day comes that these dumbbells are too light for you, come to me.”

“Could I lift as much as you someday?” I asked.

Matt laughed again. “Maybe,” he said. He opened his mouth to say something else, but quickly shut it; I felt my brows furrow. Was there something else that he wasn’t saying?

I thought back to the way that he lifted so much weight with such ease. It really was uncanny, but I supposed that he had been working toward it for years.

“Thanks, Matt,” I whispered, feeling the warmth rising in my cheeks again, but for a completely different reason this time. “I really do appreciate the help.”

His close proximity, coupled with his genuine kindness and encouragement, was making me feel a mixture of gratitude and something else that I couldn’t quite place.

“No problem, Celeste. And remember,” he leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “it’s healthier to aim for muscles than to starve yourself or overdo cardio just to look like a twig.”

I blinked, processing his words. He was right. It was a completely different perspective from what most magazines and TV shows peddled. It was refreshing and oddly empowering.

As Matt walked away to attend to his own duties, I felt Fiona's gaze on me. Turning to her, I was met with a huge, knowing grin stretching across her face.

“Well, well,” she teased, “seems like someone's got a new personal trainer.”

I groaned, my face even redder now. “Don't start, Fi.”

“Oh, I've only just begun,” she said with a wink.

Despite the earlier turmoil, the evening had taken an unexpected turn. With Fiona's teasing, Matt’s kind words, and a newfound determination, I felt ready to tackle any challenge.

Fiona and I walked out of the gym that night with smiles on our faces and a newfound hunger in our bellies, which we quenched with two healthy smoothies from the campus center.

“Gym again tomorrow?” Fiona asked, sipping at her mango smoothie.

I nodded, smiling around the straw as I gulped down my own green smoothie. “Yep,” I said, feeling accomplished. “And the day after that, and the day after that…”

Fiona smirked. “Slow down there, o’ wise and beautiful Athena, goddess of wisdom and war,” she teased. “Rest days are important, too. You’ll see Matt plenty. Don’t worry.”

My cheeks blushed, but we both laughed, our shoulders bumping into each other as we walked back to town.

I felt invigorated with a new sense of confidence in my body and my abilities. It was going to be a long haul, one that didn’t just end on the day of the Moon Goddess Festival ball, but I knew now that it would be worth it.

And maybe, just maybe, the gym wasn’t such a bad place after all.

But when I walked in through my front door, after parting ways with Fiona, I saw a sight in front of me that made my heart sink.