Trouble at the gym

"Oh no, she's here!" Josh heard his daughter suddenly yelp. He looked towards her, and saw her frantically looking around in panic, her cheery demeanor and big smile fading from her round face. Before he could ask what was going in, he saw a woman coming in their direction. "Oh hello, mandy! Didn't suspect they let people like you in here." She said with a high pitched voice. The woman was very tall, and very slim, built like a twig. She had straight dark hair, currently tied up in a simple bun, and she was wearing a matching set of purple sports bra and shorts. Something about the woman seemed very familiar… but Josh couldn't place it right now. While he didnt know who she was, judging from Mandy's expression of pure dread, he was on edge.

The woman spoke again "What mandy, cat got your tongue? Or maybe all that garbage you eat finally rotted your mouth?" The woman then laughed like a psycho for a few seconds. God, this was a real nasty bitch, Josh thought. He understands what his sister told him once - female bullies are on a different level. He felt a squeeze on his body, as “his daughter” moved behind him, grabbing his arm for support - tears were swelling in her eyes. The bully continued "Oh my god, gonna hide behind mommy now? What a joke! You are truly weak." Josh could not believe how bold this lady was. Seeing Mandy's ashamed face, a motherly instinct kicked it, and he knew he had to do something. Despite effectively being strangers, he would not let this innocent, beautiful woman get bullied in such a horrible manner. He stepped forward "Hey lady, stop talking to my daughter like that!" He said sternly, staring in the woman’s eyes. The bully scoffed "Or what, you gonna sit on me? I'm not afraid of no lardass, no matter their size!" The woman laughed again, this time with a snort. “Don’t even try, fatso. As your pathetic daughter already knows… nobody fucks with Hether and wins.”

Wait… Heather? Gears started turning in Josh’s head. Could she be… he looked at the woman again. Her long jet black hair, the purple clothing, the snorting laugh… the small beauty mark over her upper lip… Josh gasped as he realized who this nasty woman was.

Heather Barrett! She was Josh’s childhood friend. They lived right next to each other for a while, and hung out almost everyday as kids, constantly having sleepovers at each other's houses. After elementary school, she moved across town and cut off all contact with her friends, and Josh never saw her again… as he looked at this imposing, elegant woman, he now only saw the weird kid he knew from back then.

Josh smiled his trademark grin. While this woman he inhabited might’ve just turned the heel and run, he had an opportunity to make this right.