Gym staff

[Youngbritishbitch]

The reception always felt smaller at closing time.

Maybe it was the silence after a full day--the hum of treadmills gone, the clang of weights faded into memory--or maybe it was just the way tension filled the space when there was nowhere left to hide.

Evie leaned against the desk, arms folded, keys hooked loosely around her finger, letting them jingle every now and then. She didn't look at Abbie directly--just watched her reflection faintly in the darkened window behind the cardio machines.

Abbie was wiping down one of the tables for the second time. There was nothing on it. It didn't need wiping. That didn't stop her.

"Gonna polish that thing into dust or what?" Evie said, voice light but edged.

Abbie didn't look up. "At least I'm doing something."

Evie smirked. "Yeah, because rewriting the same idea for the tenth class nobody asked for is *so* productive."

That did it.

Abbie straightened slowly, cloth still in her hand. "People actually like my classes, Evie. You should try putting effort into yours sometime instead of just... I don't know--smiling at lads and calling it coaching."

Evie pushed off the desk. "Oh, here we go."

"No, seriously," Abbie went on, turning now, her brown hair catching the overhead light. "You rock up, shout 'faster' a few times, flick your hair about, and think that's a session."

"And you think copying some influencer off YouTube makes you what? A fitness guru?" Evie shot back, stepping closer. "Boxercise? Really? What's next--Zumba because you saw it on TikTok?"

"At least I'm trying to improve the place," Abbie snapped. "Not just coasting because I've got the keys and think that makes me in charge."

Evie let out a short laugh, lifting the keys slightly. "Funny that, isn't it? I *do* have the keys."

"Yeah," Abbie said, stepping forward too, closing the gap. "And you love that, don't you? Little bit of power. Makes you feel important for once."

They were close now. Too close.

Evie tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "You've always had a problem with me, haven't you? Even back at college. Couldn't stand that people actually liked me."

Abbie scoffed. "Liked you? They tolerated you."

"Right," Evie said, taking another step so their shoulders brushed. "That why you spent two years bitching about me behind my back?"

"At least I didn't spend two years flirting my way through coursework," Abbie fired back.

Evie's smile vanished. "Say that again."

"You heard me."

They were chest to chest now, neither backing off. The CCTV camera above the desk blinked its quiet red light, watching everything.

Evie bumped her shoulder into Abbie's, harder this time. "Go on then. You've got so much to say--say it."

Abbie didn't move back. If anything, she leaned in, bumping her back just as hard. "What, you gonna do something about it?"

Evie stepped even closer until their foreheads nearly touched. "You wanna find out?"

Abbie's grip tightened on the cloth. "You don't scare me."

Evie let out a breath through her nose. "Good. 'Cause I don't throw first."

Abbie gave a sharp, humourless laugh. "Convenient, that. Neither do I."

"Course you don't," Evie muttered. "Too busy thinking you're better than everyone."

"And you're too busy thinking everyone fancies you," Abbie shot back. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, quieter but sharper: "Not everyone's interested, Evie."

Evie's eyes flicked over her face, searching, judging. "Didn't say you were."

Abbie rolled her eyes. "God, you're unbelievable."

"Funny," Evie said, voice dropping, "I was just thinking the same about you. Walking around like you run the place. No wonder nobody actually likes you."

Abbie's jaw tightened. "That's rich coming from you."

"Yeah?" Evie nudged her again, deliberate. "What you gonna do about it then?"

Abbie didn't step back.

For a second, neither of them spoke. Just breathing. Close enough to feel it. The kind of silence that felt like a wire pulled tight--one spark away from snapping.

"Go on," Evie muttered. "Come at me, bitch."

Abbie's lips curled slightly. "You wanna catch these fists, yeah?"

"Try me."

Their foreheads touched now, neither willing to give an inch.

And then--

The phone rang.

Sharp. Loud. Jarring enough to slice straight through the moment.

They both froze.

The ringing filled the reception, echoing off the walls.

Evie pulled back first, just slightly, eyes still locked on Abbie. "Probably some idiot who left their water bottle."

Abbie didn't move for a beat longer, then stepped back too, tossing the cloth onto the table. "Yeah. Go on then. You've got the keys."

Evie shot her one last look before reaching for the phone.

The tension didn't go anywhere.

It just... waited.

Evie snatched the receiver up--

Too late.

The ringing cut off just as her fingers touched it, leaving a dead, hollow silence in its place.

She stared at the phone for a second, jaw tight. "Brilliant."

Abbie let out a short, sharp laugh from behind her. "Nice one. Really on top of things, yeah?"

Evie turned slowly. "Oh, shut up."

"Could've been important," Abbie said, folding her arms. "But no--too busy squaring up like you're hard."

Evie stepped toward her again, the earlier pause gone like it never happened. "You were right there too, you know."

"Yeah, but you're the one with the keys," Abbie shot back. "Miss Responsible."

Evie got right in her space again. "Say that one more time."

"Responsible," Abbie repeated instantly, leaning in. "Supposedly."

Evie shoved her.

Not hard enough to send her flying--but enough to make it clear.

Abbie stumbled half a step, then came straight back, shoving Evie in return. "Oh, we doing this now?"

Evie squared up, shoulders tense. "You tell me."

"Don't start something you won't finish," Abbie snapped.

"I already told you--I don't throw first."

"Yeah?" Abbie leaned in, their chests brushing again. "Keep saying that like it means something."

Evie's eyes flicked upward for a split second--

The CCTV camera.

Still blinking. Still watching.

She exhaled sharply and took a step back, dragging a hand through her blonde hair with its red streaks. "For fuck's sake..."

"What?" Abbie said, still keyed up.

Evie jerked her head upward. "That."

Abbie glanced up. The little red light blinked back at her.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh," Evie muttered. "What, you fancy explaining this when it gets pulled up?"

Abbie scoffed, but her posture shifted, just slightly. "So what, you bottling it now?"

Evie stepped closer again, voice low and sharp. "No. I'm just not stupid."

A beat.

Then Abbie gave a small, humourless smile. "Fine. Where then?"

Evie jerked her head toward the main gym. "There. No cameras on us properly."

Abbie didn't hesitate. "Go on then."

They moved at the same time, brushing shoulders as they passed through the doorway--neither giving way, both making a point of it.

The main gym felt colder.

Darker, too--the outside light fading through the long row of windows by the cardio machines. The place was empty, machines silent, weights untouched. The support column in the centre cast a long shadow across the floor.

The moment they were clear of reception--

Abbie bumped into Evie again, harder this time. "Right. No audience now."

Evie spun back into her, shoving her shoulder. "You've got a lot to say for someone who hasn't done anything yet."

"Same goes," Abbie snapped, stepping forward until they were nearly nose to nose again.

Evie laughed under her breath. "What, you waiting for permission?"

Abbie shoved her again. "I don't need permission."

"Then do something," Evie shot back, pushing her straight into the edge of a weight rack.

It rattled loudly.

Abbie pushed off it instantly, closing the gap again, jabbing a finger into Evie's shoulder. "You think you're tough, yeah?"

Evie slapped her hand away. "Don't touch me."

"Make me."

Evie stepped forward, forcing Abbie back a step this time. "You've been doing my head in all shift."

"Oh, I've been doing your head in?" Abbie laughed incredulously. "You've been sniping all day."

"Because you don't shut up!" Evie snapped. "Always got something to prove."

"At least I have something to prove," Abbie fired back. "You're just... there."

Evie's expression hardened. She shoved her again, sharper this time. "Careful."

"Or what?" Abbie said, pushing back just as hard. "You'll actually follow through for once?"

Their voices were louder now, echoing faintly off the machines and mirrored surfaces further back.

From the reception--

The phone started ringing again.

Neither of them noticed.

"Go on," Abbie said, spreading her arms slightly. "Come at me, then."

Evie stepped right up into her space again, their foreheads almost touching. "You're begging for it."

"Am I?" Abbie shot back.

They circled slightly without even meaning to, feet shifting on the rubber flooring, bodies brushing, shoulders knocking.

Abbie suddenly glanced toward the windows.

"--What?" Evie snapped.

"I thought--" Abbie frowned, looking out into the dimming street beyond the glass. "Looked like someone was out there."

Evie flicked her eyes over, impatient. "There's no one there."

Abbie hesitated, scanning the pavement, the reflection of the gym lights staring back at her.

Nothing.

"...Probably nothing," she muttered.

Evie let out a sharp breath. "Yeah. Exactly. So can we--"

She stopped.

Another quick glance--this time past the main gym, toward the small studio with its mirrored walls.

Her expression shifted slightly. Calculating.

"Come on," she said.

Abbie frowned. "What now?"

Evie jerked her head toward the studio. "In there."

Abbie's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Evie gave a thin smile. "More space. No distractions."

Abbie held her gaze for a second--then smirked.

"Yeah," she said. "Alright."

They didn't touch this time as they moved.

But the gap between them was barely there.

And the tension followed them straight to the studio door.

The studio door swung shut behind them with a dull thud.

For a split second, neither of them moved.

Then--

Abbie stepped forward first.

"Go on then," she said, voice low but edged. "You dragged us in here. Do something."

Evie let out a short breath through her nose, rolling her shoulders like she was shaking something off. "You're still talking."

Abbie smirked. "And you're still not backing it up."

That was enough.

Evie shoved her.

Abbie staggered half a step, then came straight back into her space, barging her shoulder-first. "That it? That your big move?"

Evie pushed again, harder this time. "You've been asking for it all night."

"And you've been all mouth," Abbie snapped, shoving her back toward the mirrored wall.

Evie's trainers squeaked slightly as she caught herself, then she lunged forward again, bumping straight into Abbie. "Say that again."

"All. Mouth." Abbie leaned in, their foreheads nearly touching again. "No follow-through."

They stood there, breathing hard, neither willing to step away.

"Look at you," Evie muttered, eyes flicking over her. "You try so hard it's embarrassing."

Abbie gave a sharp laugh. "Better than not trying at all. You look like you've just rolled out of bed half your shifts."

"Yeah?" Evie shot back. "At least I don't look like I've copied my whole personality off Instagram."

Abbie shoved her again. "At least I have a personality."

Evie stumbled a fraction, then straightened, pushing straight back. "Oh yeah--'look at me, I've got another idea, everyone listen to me'--it's exhausting."

"It's called actually caring about the job," Abbie snapped. "You should give it a go."

They circled slightly on the studio floor, trainers squeaking faintly, reflections multiplying them in the mirrors--two versions of the same standoff from every angle.

"Caring?" Evie scoffed. "You don't care, you just want attention."

Abbie stepped in again, jabbing a finger toward her shoulder. "And you don't? Please."

Evie slapped her hand away. "Don't point at me."

"Make me stop."

Another shove. Another step back. Then forward again.

The rhythm of it was building--push, return, close the gap.

From somewhere out in reception--

The phone started ringing again.

Sharp. Persistent.

Neither of them even glanced toward the door.

"Everyone sees through you, you know," Evie said, voice lower now but cutting. "All that effort and you still come off fake."

Abbie's jaw tightened. She stepped in, bumping Evie harder than before. "Funny, coming from someone who can't even be bothered to try."

"I don't need to try," Evie snapped. "That's the difference."

"Yeah," Abbie said coldly, "and it shows."

Evie's expression hardened instantly. She shoved her again, driving her back a step. "Careful."

"Or what?" Abbie shot back, pushing forward again, refusing to give ground. "You'll actually do something this time?"

Their voices were louder now, echoing off the mirrored walls, bouncing back at them.

"Keep going," Evie said. "See where it gets you."

"Oh, I will," Abbie replied. "I'm not the one who--"

Evie's head snapped slightly to the side.

She frowned.

"...Wait."

Abbie blinked. "What?"

Evie held up a hand, just for a second. "Shut up."

"The hell--"

"Just--listen."

The phone was still ringing faintly out front.

But underneath it--

A different sound.

Muffled. Distant.

Evie's brow furrowed. "That's... my phone."

Abbie frowned. "What?"

"My ringtone," Evie said, turning slightly toward the hallway that led to the changing rooms. "It's in my locker."

Abbie listened for a second, the tension not gone--just... paused.

"...Yeah," she admitted. "I can hear something."

Evie glanced toward the studio door, then back at Abbie.

The moment didn't break.

It just shifted--tight, unresolved, hanging there between them.

"Probably nothing," Abbie said, but quieter now.

Evie didn't answer straight away.

Her grip on the keys tightened slightly.

And the ringing--faint, persistent--kept going.

Evie didn't move straight away.

She just stood there, head slightly turned toward the corridor, listening--really listening this time.

The faint ringing from the changing rooms.

The sharper, more insistent ringing from reception.

Both going. Both unanswered.

"...That's not right," she said quietly.

Abbie folded her arms, though her posture had lost some of its bite. "What isn't?"

Evie looked back at her, something different in her expression now--less fire, more focus. "That's the third time the reception phone's gone."

"So?" Abbie shrugged. "Someone's lost their trainers or--"

"After closing?" Evie cut in. "And calling back again and again?"

Abbie hesitated. "People do, though."

Evie shook her head slightly. "Not like that. And not this late."

The faint ringtone from the back continued, muffled through the walls.

Abbie glanced toward the door. "Could just be your phone making it seem like more than it is."

Evie didn't answer. She was thinking--running back through the last half hour.

The missed call.

The second one.

The way it kept ringing.

Her grip tightened around the keys in her hand.

"We should've locked up ten minutes ago," she said. "Alarm should already be set."

Abbie frowned. "You didn't say anything."

"I was a bit distracted, wasn't I?" Evie shot back, but without the same venom as before.

A beat.

Abbie exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. "Right. So what--what are you saying?"

Evie glanced toward the studio door again, then toward the corridor. "I'm saying... it might not be some random customer."

Abbie's expression shifted slightly. "You think someone's still in here?"

Evie didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she took a few steps toward the door, then stopped, listening again.

The gym itself was quiet.

Too quiet.

"No one came to the desk," Abbie said, but softer now. "We would've seen them."

Evie looked back at her. "Would we? We've been at each other's throats half the shift."

That landed.

Abbie's jaw tightened slightly. "Don't start--"

"I'm not," Evie said, cutting her off. "I'm being serious."

Another ring from reception echoed faintly down the corridor.

Abbie glanced toward it this time. "It's... weird."

"Yeah," Evie muttered. "Exactly."

The anger between them hadn't disappeared--but it had been pushed aside, replaced by something else. Uneasy. Uncertain.

Evie lifted the keys slightly, the metal clinking in the quiet. "I've still got to lock up. Set the alarm."

Abbie looked at the door, then back at her. "So we check it. All of it."

Evie raised an eyebrow. "We?"

Abbie hesitated for half a second--then squared her shoulders. "Yeah. We."

Evie studied her for a moment, like she was deciding whether to argue.

Then she gave a small nod. "Fine."

Another faint buzz from the changing rooms--her phone still going.

"Start there," Evie said. "If my phone's going off, I want to know why."

Abbie moved toward the door, then paused, glancing back. "And if someone is actually in here?"

Evie stepped up beside her, keys clenched in her hand.

The earlier tension hadn't vanished--it had just changed shape.

"If they are," she said, voice steady now, "we deal with it."

Abbie gave a tight nod.

Evie reached for the studio door handle.

For a split second, both of them hesitated--listening to the overlapping rings, the empty silence of the gym beyond, the fact they should have been gone by now.

Then Evie pushed the door open.

And together, they stepped back out into the darkened gym.

The gym felt different when they stepped back out.

Not loud. Not busy. Just... exposed.

Every footstep seemed to carry further. Every small sound stood out.

Evie led the way toward the changing rooms, keys clenched in her hand. Abbie stayed close behind--not quite shoulder to shoulder this time, but not far off either.

Neither of them said anything.

The faint ringing got louder as they reached the door.

Evie pushed it open.

The changing room lights flicked on with a soft hum, revealing the rows of lockers, benches, and closed cubicles. Everything looked normal. Empty.

Except for the sound.

Clear now.

Evie walked straight to her locker, fingers moving quickly as she unlocked it. The ringtone cut off just as she pulled the door open.

"Perfect timing," she muttered.

She grabbed her phone, the screen lighting up in her hand.

Abbie hovered a step behind. "Well?"

Evie frowned slightly, eyes scanning the notifications. "...Missed calls."

"From who?"

Evie's expression shifted. "Ben."

Abbie straightened. "The owner?"

Evie nodded slowly. "Yeah."

There were multiple missed calls.

And one voicemail.

The two of them exchanged a look.

"Play it," Abbie said.

Evie hesitated for half a second--then tapped the screen and lifted the phone slightly so they could both hear.

A brief crackle.

Then a man's voice--tight, rushed.

"Evie, it's Ben. I've had the security company on to me--the alarm hasn't been set and no one's answering the gym phone. If you're still there, call me back, yeah? Just let me know everything's alright."

The message clicked off.

Silence filled the changing room again.

Evie lowered the phone slowly.

Abbie let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. "Right... so that explains the calls."

"Yeah," Evie said quietly.

From out front--

The reception phone started ringing again.

Both of them looked toward the door.

This time, neither hesitated.

"Come on," Evie said, already moving. "We need to answer that."

Abbie nodded, falling into step beside her.

No more shoving. No more circling.

Just urgency.

They moved quickly through the gym, past the silent machines and the dark windows, straight into reception. The phone rang sharply on the desk, filling the small space.

Evie grabbed it before it could stop again.

"Hello--Glossop Gym," she said, slightly breathless. "Sorry, we--"

A pause.

She listened.

Then her shoulders dropped, just a fraction.

"Yeah," she said. "Yeah, everything's fine. We're still here--just running late. Sorry about that."

Abbie leaned against the desk, watching her, arms folded--but not tense this time.

Evie nodded along to whatever was being said. "No, alarm's not set yet--we're about to do it now... yeah... yeah, all locked up in a minute."

Another pause.

"Alright. Thanks. Sorry again."

She hung up.

The silence came back--but it wasn't the same as before.

Abbie exhaled. "Security?"

Evie nodded. "Yeah. They'd been trying the desk, then rang Ben when no one answered."

Abbie gave a small, tired laugh. "So all that..."

"...was us being idiots," Evie finished.

A beat.

Then, reluctantly--Abbie smirked. "Bit, yeah."

Evie huffed a quiet laugh, shaking her head as she picked up the keys again. "We nearly had a full scrap over nothing."

"Wasn't nothing," Abbie said, though there was less bite in it now.

Evie glanced at her. "No. Maybe not."

Another pause.

The tension was still there--but dulled. Different.

Evie moved toward the door to start locking up. "Come on. Let's actually do this properly before he rings again."

Abbie followed, grabbing her things from behind the desk. "Yeah. Probably a good idea."

Evie stopped at the entrance, keys poised, then looked back briefly.

"Hey," she said.

Abbie raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Evie hesitated--just for a second. "Next time you've got some big new class idea... maybe don't bang on about it all shift."

Abbie snorted. "Next time you're on shift, maybe do more than the bare minimum."

Evie smirked slightly. "Fair."

Abbie nodded once. "Fair."

It wasn't an apology.

Not really.

-----‐--------------

The alarm panel gave a final confirming beep as Evie set it, the small screen glowing green in the dim reception.

Locked.

Finally.

They stepped outside together, pulling the door shut behind them. The evening air hit cooler now, the street quieter than it had been earlier. The gym lights dimmed behind the glass.

For a moment, they just stood there.

Not looking at each other.

Not arguing.

Just... there.

Abbie adjusted her bag on her shoulder, glancing down the road. "Well. That was a mess."

Evie huffed a quiet breath. "Bit, yeah."

Another pause stretched between them--awkward, unfinished.

Then Abbie gave a small shrug. "See you tomorrow, I guess."

Evie nodded once. "Yeah."

Abbie turned and started walking off down the pavement, her footsteps fading gradually into the quiet of the street.

Evie watched her go for a second.

Then--

"This ain't over," she called after her.

Abbie stopped.

Slowly turned back, a few metres away, streetlight catching the highlights in her hair. She tilted her head slightly, a faint, knowing smirk tugging at her lips.

"Wouldn't expect it to be," she replied.

A beat.

Then she turned again and carried on walking.

Evie stood there a moment longer, keys still in her hand, the locked gym behind her and the echo of everything that hadn't been said hanging in the air.

Then she turned the opposite way--

And walked off into the night.

[Youngbritishbitch]