Getting to the gym

Jerry walked along the side walk approaching the entrance to SpaFreu, tugging a black elastic hair tie from his wrist. The wind had picked up, tossing his shoulder-length blonde hair into his eyes and across his face. He grumbled under his breath and tried to tie it back, but the band snapped with a sharp flick. The limp string fell to the ground as his hair fluttered in the breeze, giving him a tousled, windblown look.

"Perfect," he muttered, brushing the strands away in frustration as he looked down at the broken traitorous rubber string. Tossing it away he pulled open the glass door and stepped into the front lobby, the gym’s familiar floral scent drifted over him. The small entryway buzzed with the light hum of conversation and the same low music. It was there for background sound, only really there for guests to the gym and employees.

Coming inside Jerry saw the young woman he was looking for behind the counter, Reina, she stood chatting with the two front desk workers, their heads bent close together as they shared something on a phone screen, giggling.

Jerry paused for a moment. From across the lobby, he caught Reina’s laughing, she had been so nice to him he thought, seeing her laugh with friends and coworkers made her seem warmer, brighter. When she turned at the sound of the door and her expression lit up upon seeing him brought a spike of joy to his heart.

Stay, you feel safe here. Join SpaFreu.

"Geraldine! You're early," Reina said lout enough for her voice to carry ass she walked around the counter toward him with easy strides. "That’s a nice surprise. I was just going over some things with the girls."

Jerry tried to sweep his hair back again and failed, the use of that name hit him like a physical ****, but he didn’t say anything. He knew she would only bring up the spear ruler thing or how her name meant queen or royalty, she felt like she could have been, but he also knew he had a bias.

Geraldine is a beautiful name. It feels natural. It suits you.

While Jerry’s internal thoughts were out of Reina’s grasp, she did see frustration on her client’s face as they fought with their hair. Cocking her head slightly she took notice. "Hair trouble today?"

He nodded. "Stupid band snapped. It’s everywhere."

She gave a sympathetic little pout. "Aww, I hate it when that happens. I can get you fixed right up if you like."

Jerry cleared his throat, brushing hair away from his eyes again. Her running her fingers through his hair very much sounded like an enjoyable way to spend his time, but he had also been reminding himself about the questions he wanted to talk to her about, or more accurately trying to build up courage too. Some of it was normal stuff but asking her about clothes when she had given him such feminine articles before had given him pause. "Yes, but umm actually, before that... I wanted to talk to you. I came in early to ask you a few things."

Reina’s expression softened as she nodded. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”

Jerry hesitated a moment, like he often did. Then gestured vaguely toward his face. “The stuff you gave me yesterday. The lotion, the foundation. Am I supposed to use that stuff every morning? Or is it just after a shower?”

Reina smiled, folding her arms casually, the question striking her in a positive way, showing just how quickly Jerri was growing. “It’s not strict, Geraldine. It’s about building a good routine. I’d say morning and night for the moisturizers, especially after that waxing… and anytime your skin feels dry. Consistency is how you keep skin healthy.” She said nodding as she spoke.

Jerry for his part nodded along slowly not noticing he was mimicking her affirming gesture.

You want to take better care of yourself. Body hair is for men, not someone as feminine as you, Geraldine.

“As for the foundation,” she continued, “It’s your base.” She motioned to her own face. “It evens everything out, keeps your skin protected. It was what you build from. You should wear it daily. Just not while you sleep.” She winked. “I can get you a cleanser that’ll make removal easy. I’ll add it to your profile. You do want to grow and be better don’t you?” She added when she thought she saw some hesitation in the girls expression and making a mental note to help the poor dear understand it is okay to wear makeup, to express herself.

He blinked. “Oh. Yeah…okay, I guess”

You trust your personal trainer. They want to help you, be the real you.

It is okay to show your feminine side. You feel more confident being feminine.

“And Geraldine?” Her voice dropped slightly, more thoughtful. “We’ll curate a look for you soon. That foundation is a great start.” Reina took Jerri’s hand in her own, giving it a light squeeze. “I will have you glowing and confident in no time.”

Jerry opened his mouth to protest even as the beat of his heart picked up at her touch. “Some men wear makeup, but I’m… not really that confident.”

She gave the timid things hand another squeeze, patting the top of it with her other hand. “You aren’t just some guy. You are Geraldine Cole and so long as you work with me you won’t just be confident; others might even think of you as a fierce bitch. That will just come in time.” Reina spoke each of them on a different page.

He nodded again, giving up on the name thing and thinking about how he could see her point with the foundation. It could hide his blemishes and if their version could also help his skin was it really something he should be fighting her on? No, he didn’t think so. “Oh! That reminds me,” Jerry said suddenly. “I’ve been thinking about…uh, meal shakes? For breakfast maybe. You know, healthier options? It came to me this morning and I just couldn’t shake the thought so I well… figured I would ask you about something like that and umm my other questions.”

Reina lit up. “You are amazing! I was just setting you up in the system for that yesterday after you left. I love clients like you!” Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug—a burst of warmth and enthusiasm. Jerry froze for a second, then awkwardly hugged her back. She had no idea Jerry had continued to listen to the music from the gym app when not here, so her client bringing it up felt like kismet. The hug to her was nothing, just a regular expression of joy, to Jerry though being hugged by someone he was attracted to after being ignored by girls his entire life had his mind grow a bit fuzzy.

When she pulled away, Reina added, “You know what? Let me give you my number. That way, you don’t have to wait till you come in and we can you know, talk about whatever is on your mind.” She could practically see dollar signs every time she spoke to the her newest and greatest client. Even with the messages not everyone was an easy sell and getting them on a product they would have to keep buying was like finding the goose that laid the golden eggs.

Holding onto her own phone she gave Jerry her number so they could text her.

Unknown: Hey, its me

The message popped up and she added the girl to her contacts. “Perfec, got you saved.”

Geraldine “Jerri” Cole - Client

He slipped his phone back into the single pocket his leggings had, the spot seemingly made for it. Making it so anything else he wanted to bring with him had to be in the gym bag.

Jerry wanted to talk to her about more things and despite how well things were going. The girl lighting up when seeing him, holding his hand, getting a hug he still hesitated, then gave a sheepish laugh. "Also, kind of related, but not really but it is a gym thing. I’ve been having issues with the boxers I wear. They bunch up in the leggings, and it’s super uncomfortable."

Reina’s expression turned sympathetic, and she touched his arm again with gentle empathy. "Oh, Jerri. We both know what the real problem is."

Jerry frowned slightly. "Yeah… the pants.”

She gave a little shake of her head. "No, sweetheart. It’s the underwear. You’ve got to lose them. They’re holding you back, feeding into that tomboy energy we’re trying to move away from."

The word tomboy sat awkwardly in Jerry’s chest. Being described as a type of girl didn’t sit well, but he didn’t push back. Not out loud. The girl was so sweet but every so often she used language she had probably gotten used to with just having female clients, either that or it was like how his coach back in school always called the boys ladies to get under their skin to motivate them. He sighed. "I guess that means I need new underwear. Which means shopping… and I hate shopping."

Reina lit up, thinking she understood the deeper meaning. "Maybe you just never had the right company. We should go out together sometime, make it fun."

Jerry blinked. "Like... together together?" The word date rang in his mind despite it not being used by either of them.

"Of course. You’ve trusted me this far, haven’t you? And besides, I think you’ll like what I pick."

Before Jerry could respond, Reina turned to the topic at hand to her paychecks benefit. "Now, you mentioned your gym clothes. One set isn’t enough, right? I know it isn’t for me, but I practically live here."

He nodded. “Yeah, and… I’m not a huge fan of pink. Plus, laundry everyday kind of sucks.”

She tilted her head, misinterpreting. “So what I’m hearing is, you want options. Variety. That’s totally normal.” Taking a step back she held the sides of the skirt of her dress, the white collared polo tennis dress. “What do you think, do you like my sense of style?”

Jerry wasn’t great, or even good with girls, but knew that even if the outfit hadn’t looked so great on her, and he loved seeing her in it, that he would have still answered in the affirmative. “Yeah, you look… beautiful.” He answered, the last word coming out more timid than he had intended. The girl had just asked him out on a date, an actual date. Sure it was just to do some shopping but still she had done it and he still felt being uneasy being bold enough to give her a direct compliment.

“Aww, you are sooo sweet! If you weren’t already my favorite saying things like that would have shot you right up to the top. We have some time…” she took a look at the time on her phone that was still in her hand. “Come with me, let’s get you some more clothing and…if you really trust me I can take care of your underwear problem too. I will get others giving you the same compliment if you keep trusting me.”

“Beautiful?” Jerry asked hesitantly, he would rather she have said handsome or hot, but would take what he could get. “Yeah… I mean of course I trust you.”

“Wonderful!” she giddily clapped her hands, it looking a little awkward with her phone in hand. Panties weren’t exactly things they sold in the gym store, but the idea of buying some online for the girl and charging her account for a convenience fee sounded amazing.