Capture that Flag

Hannah

Parker stayed for about an hour before saying he needed to go home and get some work done.

He did freelance graphic design for a design group that developed websites. As long as he had his laptop and WiFi, he could work pretty much anywhere.

I, on the other hand, was forced to work a nine-to-five. I also did some computer graphics-related work, but mostly I made my company look polished to the outside world.

Parker found it kind of ironic that I worked on branding and social media while my own Facebook page was locked down like Fort Knox and my Instagram was empty.

Somehow, I still managed to get eighty-something followers with no posts and no profile photo.

My job was to make the product look good. And I was good at it. I just didn’t want the same lens people used to view all the beautiful people on Instagram to be applied to me. Part of me liked being anonymous.

Coach Jordan

Check those emails and notifications Team Green Machine. The first team challenge starts in two days. I need everybody on board

I opened my email, and sure enough, there was a message.

~Welcome to this year's fitness challenge. This is my fifth year coaching, and this will be my fifth win. Team Green Machine is in it to win it.~

~

Well, he sounded motivated. And more than a little cocky.

~You’ve come to us for a reason, and this is our time to hit personal records and goals. I want you to come up with your most outrageous goals and post them on the Facebook group.~

~

~Nothing is too big. Even if you don’t complete it, trying will get you more success than setting your bar too low.~

~

Yeah, okay, Mr. Motivated. I’d like to be a size 12.

That was how big I’d been in high school. If I could get down to that size again, I’d consider that an outrageous goal met.

~We’re all here to work hard and stay focused. This is the place to share tips and tricks with your teammates.~

~

~This is NOT everyone out for themselves.~

~

Yes, the top three winners will get a cash prize... but the top team will get a special dinner hosted by the coaches. This is something you won’t want to miss.

I’ll be updating the page with recipes and my personal meal plans. Clean eating is key to keeping you in top condition to work hard at the studio.

Don’t throw away your hard work with wasted calories and empty snacks. You wouldn’t put the wrong fuel in your car, don’t put it in yourself.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be in the studio during my regular personal training hours and class times.

Those of you night owls may also see me in a class or two. I am a big believer in practicing what I preach; I’ll be sweating it out with you.

Coach Jordan Mathis

“Well, that was...” I mused, not sure what to think about his message, “motivational…”

This Jordan guy seemed to be very focused. I hoped he was as nice as Nurse Kellie made him out to be. I couldn’t deal with a super jock with a chip on his shoulder.

“Let’s see what this Facebook page looks like.”

I opened the app, and sure enough, there was my invitation to join the group. As well as one to join the fitness studio’s page and one for Jordan Mathis, Fitness Coach.

There were thirty-five members in the group. I guess that meant around one hundred people were participating if there were three coaches. The odds were not in my favor.

I had to keep my competitive streak in check for now. I didn’t want to injure myself trying to keep up with the others.

Eight weeks is a long time—but it can also pass in the blink of an eye. I need to get focused and stay there. I can do this. I can be successful for myself.

If I manage to pull this off, then maybe I can avoid the look of disappointment on Dr. Isaacs’s face in eleven weeks.

Parker

The dragon is making us do weekly weigh-ins

Hannah

I didn’t see anything mentioning that for my team.

Parker

is your coach hot?

Hannah

That’s what we’re focused on?

Parker

Might help with motivation.

I clicked on his Facebook picture, and it took me to a page devoted to his coaching. There were some pictures, but you couldn’t see his face in any of them.

They showed his profile, one of him jumping with a soccer ball, a few doing full handstands, but they were all taken in a way that concealed his face.

After I swiped to the last one, I had to wipe a little bit of drool from the corner of my mouth. Almost all the pictures featured an entirely ripped body with no shirt on.

Holy shit, he had a beautiful body.

I saved the last one to my camera roll and texted it off to Parker, knowing he was gonna lose his shit.

Parker

Um… I think I’m on the wrong team. My coach does NOT look that hot.

Hannah

Your coach is plenty hot, she just has a vagina, so you’re not interested.

Parker

so true.

Parker

so…what does this guy look like?

Hannah

No clue. He doesn’t have any pictures with his face in them.

Parker

…

Parker

what trainer doesn’t show their face on social media? Aren’t they all narcissists?

Hannah

I guess not this one

Parker

Send me the link to his page

I knew he’d keep asking, so I sent him the link to his Facebook page and his professional page.

Parker

he’s like a hot, buff ghost.

Hannah

but we don’t know if he’s hot

He sent me an enlarged version of Jordan’s profile picture.

Parker

if he isn’t hot I’m gonna cry

I laughed. Of course, Parker would focus on the coach’s hotness.

Hannah

you coming to the Monday night class with me?

Parker

…

Ugh... Parker.

Parker

I’ve got a Tuesday morning deadline. Was gonna take the Sunday class so I can focus on work all day Monday

Parker

…

Parker

I can move some things around if you really need me.

Dammit. Why did he have to be sweet?

Hannah

No…that’s okay. I survived one class by myself; I can survive another.

Parker

that’s the spirit. I’ll be cheering you on from home.

I could handle it. I knew that inevitably we wouldn’t always be able to work out together. Getting used to going by myself was something I’d have to do eventually.

I could do it... right?