Chapter 13: The Voice of the Gym
Jake clapped his hands loudly, calling out over the steady hum of weights clinking and sneakers squeaking.
"Alright, everyone! Gather up! Our fearless leader's got something to say!"
The members—old, new, and somewhere-in-between—paused their workouts, curious. They shuffled toward the center of the gym, forming a loose half-circle around Alex, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.
Jake winked at him from the side. You got this, big guy.
Alex cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh… yeah. Thanks for coming."
The room was silent, expectant.
Alex gripped the back of his neck, eyes darting across the crowd. He looked like he was about to just mumble something and run for it—
—but then he saw them.
Faces tired from life's struggles. Shy smiles from people who probably never felt strong before. The small girl in the back who looked terrified of the free weights. The middle-aged guy gripping the strap of his gym bag like it was a lifeline.
Something shifted in Alex's chest.
He straightened up, voice steady but full of something deeper.
Something real.
"This gym..." Alex started, voice louder now, "...it's not just for lifting weights. It's not just for building muscle. It's for building yourself."
The crowd leaned in.
"Some of you walked in here feeling broken. Lost. Weak. I know because I did, too."
Murmurs swept through the room.
Alex's voice grew stronger. "Strength isn't just about how much you can bench. It's about showing up when you're scared. Fighting even when everything tells you to quit. That's the strength we believe in here."
Jake's throat tightened unexpectedly. He gave Alex a proud thumbs-up.
Alex smiled at the sea of faces. "So we're holding an event. Newcomer Day. Three days to share your story. To show who you are. And to find out—you were never alone."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then—
CHEERS.
A wave of applause shook the gym. People high-fived. Some even whistled. The air buzzed with something electric.
Jake clapped the loudest, grinning from ear to ear.
That's my best bro right there.
The excitement swirled through the gym like wildfire—people chatting about hiking trips, asking about what games they'd play, making new friends before the event even started.
But beyond the celebrating crowd, five shadows watched through the glass door.
Luke. Remy. Suk. Ted.
And their ringleader—Kram.
Their faces twisted in scowls.
"That speech makes me wanna puke," Luke muttered.
"Bunch of losers hugging it out," Remy sneered.
Ted cracked his knuckles. "Told you they'd be gathering the nerds."
Kram's eyes glinted with malice. "Doesn't matter. Let them have their little party. When we show up...we'll make sure it's a celebration they'll never forget."
The troublemakers melted back into the night, already plotting.