Do Exercise

It's another week before something else happens. You get used to making food for Jeff, and fall into an easy routine. Weekdays are easy since you only have to worry about breakfast and already wake up early for school anyways. Weekends are a little harder. You've had to stop staying up late gaming with friends just to be able to wake up early enough to cook for Jeff. And on top of that, he added making lunch to your chores as well on the weekends.

You set a plate on his desk in mom's office. He's taken over since she's been gone, and started using it as his own workspace when he works from home. He occasionally works on the weekends.

"Oh, thanks, tiger," he says, eyeing the plate of pasta. You start to turn to leave when he stops you. "Oh, one sec there, buddy. I wanted to talk to you about something. Have a minute?"

You stop. "Uh, yes Sir?" you say. You've gotten better about calling him Sir. You still slip up sometimes, but he doesn't have to remind you as often as before.

"It's about your habits. I know we cracked down on the oversleeping thing, but I noticed you haven't been going out much, or getting any exercise really. I couldn't rightly tell your mom I had been doing the best for you if I didn't correct that."

"Uh, correct it, Sir? I don't understand..."

"Oh, I think you do, Aiken. You're a couch potato, and we need to fix that. You don't have a bad figure or anything, but that can pretty much be attributed to good genes. One day your metabolism is gonna catch up with you, and when that happens... well I won't be the one to blame. So I've taken the liberty of signing you up for a few extracurriculars."

"S-some what?" You did not like where this was going.

"Some sports, pal! To get you into great shape! I just picked a couple at random that I found on your school's website. Gymnastics and swim team. Both are great cardio and great flexibility training. A lot of people underestimate the value of a good stretch."

This wasn't happening. You hated athletics. Sports were the last things on your mind, and now you were going to have to do two at once? And swim and gymnastics, at that?

"Why those two, Sir? I mean... wouldn't soccer or basketball, or football be, I don't know... more manly?"

Jeff smirks. "What, and have you go from a couch potato to a bench warmer? No, I don't think so. I wanted to make sure you had to get into shape and wouldn't just be on the sidelines watching real men- I mean, real athletes- compete. With swim and gymnastics, I can go watch your progress every now and then and make sure you aren't just mailing it in. If you do well enough, I might just reward you!"

You feel your stomach churn. He was going to watch you? That would be humiliating. A step-parent showing up to any kind of practice was a social **** knell for a senior in highschool.

Jeff continues. "Swim meets early in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. And Gymnastics meets Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. That leaves Sunday all to yourself! Isn't that great?"

You groan and put you head in your hands. "Jeff- I mean... Sir... I'm not really into swim or gymnastics..." You add a little quieter, "I'm not really into anything athletic..."

Jeff laughs it off. "Oh don't worry, it won't be that bad. It'll be good for you to get out and interact with actual people. All I ever hear you do is play those silly games of yours. If you don't like either of those, I can sign you up for ballet. Would you like that?"

You wince and shake your head. "No, Sir... Swim and gymnastics will be fine..."

Jeff grins. "Good. Now what should you say to me for going through all the trouble of signing you up?"

"Thank you... Sir..."

"Good boy! You would have looked great in a tutu, though!" Jeff chuckles.

You blush and quickly leave, Jeff's laughter following you down the hall.