Blood rushing in my ears, I straighten and stumble off the machine. The weights slip out of my hands and land on the padded floor with a muffled thud. Pervy Gym Guy is looking at his phone, which he just used to take a picture of my butt.
My heart sinks and my vision blurs. I don't know what to do; I feel so disgusted and violated. I want to cry or slap that pervert or run away and hide. I want to yell at him until his head explodes. Destroy his phone with a barbell. Instead, I stand here helplessly, staring daggers at him, without doing any of those things, without grabbing his phone and bashing him with it.
Before I can blink, Mr. Blue Eyes is in Pervy Gym Guy's face, and Mr. Blue Eyes's arms are gesturing wildly.
I rip my headphones out so I can hear what he's saying.
"—the fuck raised you? I've never seen something so disrespectful. Who the fuck do you think you are to treat a human being like she's only here for your disgusting lonely jerk-off session later tonight?" Rage radiates off Mr. Blue Eyes, I can feel it from all the way over here.
"Whoa, chill out, dude. She's hot—"
"Chill out?!" Mr. Blue Eyes is bigger than Pervy Gym Guy, and gets even closer to him, making Pervy Gym Guy shrink into himself.
I glance around the gym, and everyone is looking at us. Looking at me.
My breathing turns shallow, and my head spins. I hate being the center of attention. I hate causing a scene. I hate everyone staring at me.
I don't know what happens next, because I scramble out of there and into the changing room before more people come over to judge me, to get a look at the girl too weak to speak up for herself.
Why violate someone like that while they're in the gym? This is the second time in one day I've had an issue with that guy. I should've said something harsher the first time instead of floundering the moment he talked back and embarrassed me. I should report him to management. I should tell Faye so she can rip him a new one. I should do something.
Throwing all my things into my bag without bothering to zip it up, I grab my car keys, faltering as I exit the changing room. People are looking at me. A group of girls in the corner are whispering and gawking. A bunch of guys close to them are doing the same, and one points at me. My breath halts. I'll tell management another time. I need to leave. I need to get out of here right now.
Racing through the gym with my head down, I'm almost at the door when a voice behind me calls out, "Hey, wait up!"
Even though everything seems hazy, I spot Mr. Blue Eyes jogging toward me in the reflection of the glass door. I should've known it was him calling out to me. Even his voice is perfect. Deep and silky.
If I was too embarrassed to talk to him before, no way do I want to face him now, after he had to start a fight with a stranger because I froze, too worried about other people staring to demand Pervy Gym Guy be brought to justice.
The cool evening air hits me as I exit the gym, the setting sun turning the sky shades of pink and purple. I inhale the summer freshness, my heartbeat already steadier. It must be around eight, and the calmness of the night helps me clear my head. I don't think anyone followed me, so I relax my pace, strolling along the side of the redbrick exterior.
"Hey! Hold on a second!"
A quick glance behind me reveals Mr. Blue Eyes jogging my way. He doesn't have any of his belongings with him; it looks like he ran out when I did.
My stomach drops. I increase my pace, lengthening the distance between us, and right before I cross the street, the end of my mortification only seconds away, I stumble and drop my bag and keys. I sense him gaining on me, and I need to get to my car before that happens, so I hastily swoop down to pick up my stuff, not looking back but knowing he's close.