Lexa gasps for breath as she finally slows to a walk on the track. It had been half a mile more than she ran last time but she is still annoyed with herself for stopping. Unfortunately, she would already be cutting it close on time. She has to clock in in 15 minutes and she wouldn't even have time to shower, at this rate. Her breath is labored but it settles after a few minutes of walking and she is able to take in her surroundings and center herself. She walks next to the rail around the inner part of the track. The track, about twice the length of a standard track, is basically just a wide walkway that makes up the top level of the building and encircles the gym equipment area on the next floor down. Below, she watches gym patrons lift weights and jog on treadmills, rolling her eyes at some particularly douchey looking "bros" flexing at themselves in the mirror. She prefers running outside, on nature trails or quiet neighborhoods usually, but she likes the way the track is set up here. She feels somehow less like a hamster on a wheel than she does on a normal track. The set up allows her to people watch at a distance and feel a little separate from it all; a little above it all.

When her breath has slowed enough, she makes her way down the stairs that lead to the second level of the gym and into the employee locker rooms across the atrium. Luckily, she finds the room empty and revels in the silence as she towels herself off, adjusts her hair, and throws on her work shirt; a green V-neck with the words Grounder Fitness on the breast pocket. She glances at the clock. Shit. She has two minutes to make it to the front desk. If she had a personal training session, she would not be as concerned but she is taking over the front desk duty for Anya for the first hour and she knows she will pay if she shows up late. She runs some deodorant under her arms, looks in the mirror, and shrugs. One of the perks of working at a gym is that you are usually going to sweat anyway, so you don't need to stress as much about being powder fresh. She has looked worse after a workout and she is actually impressed by how she got herself together in such a short time.

Probably just means you didn't push yourself enough today.

She rolls her eyes at her internal voice and kicks herself again for putting off her paper until so late the night before, oversleeping, and finding herself in this rushed state. Lexa is usually very organized, structured and punctual, but she went out for a drink with Lincoln and Anya to celebrate the first official year to make a profit on the gym. It had been tough at first. After Lincoln opened the gym, he barely broke even for a few years, but he had worked himself nearly to death and things were actually going really well now.

After dinner, she made the mistake of accepting the challenge of a game of pool, and her competitive streak punished her again. Before Lexa knew it, it was 11 and she had to go home and write her paper until 3, when she was finally able to sleep.

At least I won. She smiles to herself.

As she rounds the corner to the front desk, she sees Anya staring blankly at Carli, the bleach-blonde new-hire, who is prattling on about something that Anya clearly could not give two shits about. Anya sees her approaching and immediately walks out of the "conversation", glaring in Lexa's direction.

"You're late."

"I'm not. It is 11:30. I'm right on time."

"You are supposed to be her the second it turns 11:30. Right now its…Oh! Look, its 11:31!"

"Calm down." It's a risky phrase to use at this juncture, knowing Anya's temper, but it works out.

Anya's expression becomes slightly more pained than angry as she lowers her voice. "You know that I fucking hate dealing with the front desk. People are idiots and the company is…"she glances over towards Carli, who is flirting with a new customer, "less than desirable."

Lexa smirks. Anya's words are innocent enough, but her tone is dripping with disdain and conveys something closer to fucking idiot or worthless dumbass. She sympathizes and feels a little guilty. Anya was out late, too, and had to be here early so she probably got just as much sleep as Lexa. Neither of them is too fond of front desk duty and Carli does not make it more enjoyable. But, for now, until Carli gets the hang of everything, everyone has to work at least an hour of their shift there. And though they were, for all intents and purposes, Lincolns sisters, he didn't want to show favoritism.

"Well, I'm here. Go on. I think I saw your 11:45 client looking for you around the rowing machines. He looked a little nervous." She gave a knowing smirk.

"Ah ha, this is when my day gets good."

"You are evil."

"Why? They come here to get their asses kicked into shape. I'm just enthusiastic about my job."

"Right. I think you enjoy the 'ass-kicking' a little too much."

Anya just shrugs. "Hey, we've all got our gifts." With that she saunters off, a little more pep in her step. Lexa just smiles and shakes her head. Anya could be tough as hell with her clients, but she did get results…if they didn't quit after the first session, that is.

She walks up to the chair that Anya was previously occupying and sits down. Carli, who has finished with her customer, eyes her.

"Hey Lexa, how's it going?" She gently touches her arm. Lexa turns away from her, with the excuse of powering up the computer, and maintains her stoic expression, trying to keep her eyes from rolling. Ever since Carli got wind that Lexa liked girls, she has been flirting and fishing hard for compliments. Lexa doesn't even think Carli is into girls, but Carli sure does like attention and that is something Lexa rarely gives anyone. Objectively, Lexa could admit that Carli was okay to look at, but her personality was absolutely awful and Lexa was never good at separating those two things when she sized someone up. The second most people spoke, Lexa was over it.

"It's going okay." Lexa immediately busies herself on the computer, looking for any administrative stuff she can distract herself with for the next hour until someone else relieves her. Luckily, since they hired Carli, someone just needs to be here to make sure things are running smoothly and answer any questions outside of what Carli has learned about operations. Lexa enjoys that this arrangement keeps her interaction with people to a minimum.

"So, I got that guy to get a premium membership just now. Worked some magic." Though Lexa is not looking at her, she is certain she can hear a wink.

"Great. Well, done." It is said with no enthusiasm, but Carli latches onto it.

"Yeah, I am so glad I got this job. It is, like, really easy for me to hook these guys. I don't know what it is…"

Lexa wants to snap at her and tell her that it is her job to provide people with an opportunity to better themselves, not to trick them into paying for a membership they will never use, but she resists. It is always good to get the premium memberships, for the sake of business, but she hates how Carli is making it all sound so devious.

"Who knows?" Lexa has to hold in her smile, because Carli seems a little hurt that Lexa didn't offer up any suggestions as to why she was so good at "hooking" them. Lexa takes some satisfaction in Carli's reaction. Shallow people grate on her nerves and Carli is a perfect example, with her constant baseless bragging and that stupid fake smile she gives to customers. That smile annoys Lexa to no end. Lexa, herself, very rarely smiles at customers. Lincoln has actually complained to her about that, but at least she is not being fake. She doesn't even think she is capable of faking a smile like that. Carli, however, lays the charm on thick and, according to Lincoln, "it's good for business." Probably because Carli is not the only shallow person in the gym. This place is covered with people obsessed with their bodies who think happiness and meaning are going to come in the form of toned abs and 2% body fat.

The nature of the job, I suppose.

Lexa almost feels hypocritical because she enjoys what the gym has done for her health and her body, but she has always been more focused on feeling strong and being healthy. The body-image obsession infuriates her. She has found that, perfect body (whatever that means) or not, most people just suck.

She has finally found a list of lapsed clients that needs to be taken out of the database to busy herself with, when she hears Carli greet new customers with an overly-friendly voice. "Hello, how can I help you?"

"Um, I, uh, wanted to sign up. For the gym. I mean, a membership? Sorry, I don't know how this works. I've never really been to a gym." Lexa stirs at the voice. It's a little raspy and, somehow, very eloquent, despite the slight stuttering. She raises her head a little to see over the monitor she has been hiding behind and sees blue eyes looking in the direction of Carli and a small, kind smile curving up the corners of the girl's mouth. The girl has her blonde hair up in a bun and looks a little nervous.

Lexa watches (and feels her heart drop?) as the girl's smile falters and her expression grows a little defensive. She looks at Carli to see why and sees her looking up and down the girl's form with her eyebrows raised as if to say 'I can see you don't go to the gym.' And Lexa cannot account for the way her blood boils.

Carli, completely oblivious, spreads that fake smile across her face, saying "Let me just grab the application and I'll need a form of ID." Lexa is surprised when the girl says nothing and, with a defiant look, slams her ID on the counter without a word. Carli grabs it and hands the girl an application. "Just fill this out and we can get you started." She hands her a pen and goes to office behind the counter to grab some of the gym brochures.

Lexa has forgotten her mindless task and is furtively watching the girl fill out the application. She can still see the fury behind the blonde girl's eyes as she fills out the form in front of her. Her brow is furrowed and, while she is filling out the form quickly and without apparent trouble, it looks like she is simultaneously thinking up a storm. Lexa can almost see her thoughts racing behind her eyes. The girl's jaw clenches and a wisp of hair falls over her face. Lexa traces it with her eyes, letting them trail over smooth skin and the soft curve of her jaw. Suddenly the girl's eyes snap up and she is looking directly at Lexa and Lexa feels her heart stop. Busted.

But the girl only looks for a second, and then she is back to the form, not looking back at Lexa or changing her facial expression in the slightest, as if she hadn't even seen her. Just as she finishes up the form, Carli is back with the brochures. She takes the form and looks it over, typing some information into the computer.

"Okay! So Ms. Griffin, which membership would you like to sign up for today?" Carli begins to explain each membership level and Clarke is listening intently, trying to take in all of the information. Suddenly Carli begins to speak in a more cloying tone. "I, however, recommend the Premium membership. It includes all of that, plus access to our nutritionist, free visitor passes, and access to your own locker. That one will have ANYONE in beach ready shape in no time." Her emphasis on the word 'anyone', and the pointed look she sends in the girl's direction seems to hits a nerve in Lexa.

"Carli." Her tone is authoritative and she tries to keep her anger in check. "Go see if you can find some more brochures in the stock room. We're getting low up here."

Carli looks very surprised at Lexa's words, and takes a second to register them. "But…I'm helping a customer…" Her confusion is evident.

"I will finish up with her. Go. Now."

Carli seems caught off guard. Maybe because she has never seen Lexa volunteer to help a customer, much less do so in the middle of Carli's membership sale's pitch. Or maybe because this is probably the most Lexa has ever spoken to her. Either way, she seems intimidated enough by Lexa's tone to hurry away. "Okay…I'll be back…"

Lexa sighs as she walks over to the space Carli was just occupying and glances at the application. Clarke. Clarke Griffin. Good name. "So, Ms. Griffin, which membership would you be interested in signing up for?" She wants to apologize for Carli, tell Clarke that Carli always flirts with guys and shames girls for membership bumps, but it's not really Lexa's style. She's not even sure why she made Carli leave. Normally when she overhears the snotty comments, she just ignores them and counts down the time until she can leave the hell that is the front desk.

Maybe it was just one too many. That must be it.

Clarke's brow is still slightly furrowed as she contemplates, glancing up at Lexa, before glancing back down at the brochure with the prices and amenities list. "I think I'll stick with the basic one."

"Okay then." Lexa begins to put the information in the computer. "If you do want a personal trainer session or to attend a class, or anything else, just come to the front desk and you can pay for it separately." She chances a glance at the girl while she is typing and sees that she still has some of that anger in her eyes and is looking questioningly in Lexa's direction. It honestly makes Lexa a little nervous. Possibly as an attempt to deal with this feeling, she leans slightly over, lowers her voice and says "this is honestly the better deal, if you ask me."

Why? What are you doing? Are you trying to start a fucking conversation?

Conversations with strangers is something she avoids at all cost …particularly customers. She is pleasantly surprised, however, when she sees the girl's furrowed brow relax a little and a ghost of that same kind smile from before reappear on the girl's face. Lexa can feel her own smile make an appearance as she quickly looks back at the screen, ignoring how her heart beat has picked up.

The girl doesn't say anything as Lexa finishes inputting her information in the computer, gets her payment information and activates her entrance card. She slides the card across the counter and explains how to enter and exit through the gates. Clarke listens intently and nods to show she understands. Lexa finds herself wishing the girl would say something again so she could hear her voice. She ignores the thought.

"So, I think you are all set. Are you ready for a tour?" Clarke nods and lets a small "Sure" escape her lips.

Just then, Carli comes around the corner, empty handed, looking flustered, like she had been digging through every box in the stock room. "Lexa, I couldn't find any of those brochures. I looked everywhere!" She looks concerned. Lexa is amused.

"Oh, I found some in that drawer down there." She absentmindedly points to the drawer directly under the chair she was occupying. Right where she knows the extra brochures are kept. "My bad." Carli lets out a long sigh and has a look on her face that is a mix of confusion and exhaustion.

Lexa hears a soft giggle from across the counter and looks up to see Clarke smiling widely, looking away from the two employees. But she knows she heard. It makes Lexa feel oddly proud.

"Come on, Ms. Griffin. Let's do your tour." Lexa barely notices the rare and genuine smile that is covering her own face. "You got the desk, Carli?

Carli just huffs an annoyed response and retakes her seat.

As Clark comes around and uses her key card for the first time, she looks a little more relaxed. After entering through the gate she walks to stand next to Lexa, her bright eyes looking up at the ceiling and seeming to take in every detail of the room. Lexa gets a better look at her. She is a little shorter than Lexa, though not by much, and she is crossing her arms over her chest, like she is trying to hide behind them. Lexa notices that, though it is quite warm outside, the girl is wearing sweat pants, rather than shorts. When her eyes reach Clarke's face she notices that Clark has her furrowed brow back, and looks a little flushed and angry again.

"Look, I know I do not exactly scream "gym material" but I thought I could actually better myself by coming here. …this was stupid." The last part seems like it was said more to herself than Lexa.

What? What just happened?

"I'm, uh, I'm sorry, Clarke…is it okay if I call you Clarke?"

Clarke gives a short nod. "It's my name, so…" Lexa waits for her to continue, but she doesn't.

"Okay... Clarke….I'm not really sure what just happened…what is gym material?"

Clarke looks at the ground, but her voice stays strong as she speaks. "I'm not here to become some mindless girl with a perfect body." She waves her hand at Lexa as she says 'perfect body', and Lexa tries to ignore the tingle in her stomach. "I just want to be stronger and do something good for myself. Make myself the healthiest version of me that I can." Lexa's heart warms hearing her thoughts from early echoed back at her. "I don't want to feel judged while I'm trying to do that." She shakes her head, now looking sadder rather than mad, before looking down and turning to leave.

Lexa is still super confused and reaches for Clarkes arm before she thinks about it. Her hand wraps around Clarke's wrist and it feels warm and soft. She ignores how much she likes the feeling and gently pulls Clarke to get her to turn back around.

"Woah, wait! Just wait a second." Lexa, takes a breath and tries to make sense of things. What the fuck are you doing? Let her go if she wants!

"Look, there is no such thing as one type of gym person. Anyone who is looking to improve themselves and be healthier is welcome here. That is exactly what it is for. There are quite a few shallow assholes around," she points her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of where Carli sits at the front desk, "but…not all of the people here are like that." Clarke looks unconvinced. "And there is no 'perfect body'," She uses air quotes to get her point across. "Whatever you are here to work on, we're here to help you do it. Nothing more, nothing less." Clarke's expression has softened slightly, though her mouth remains in a tight line, and she is looking down at the ground again, apparently deep in thought.

This girl thinks too much. Lexa does not admit to herself that she is dying to know what those thoughts are.

Lexa uses the opportunity to chance another once over of the girl. She holds herself like someone who has played a sport of some kind before. There is a telling confidence in her posture that Lexa has come to recognize. And, while she seems a little self-conscious about her body, Lexa cannot understand why. Only the bottom two-thirds of her arms, and her neck are exposed, but she seems to exude something that pulls Lexa in. She is actually rather beautiful. Lexa blinks her eyes, trying to rid herself of the thought, which has caught her off guard.

"Then why do you keep looking at me like that? Is it the pants?" Clarke's voice is lower now, and curiosity has replaced the anger in her tone. Lexa feels her face burn. She freezes. What the fuck? Lexa swallows hard, trying to figure a way out of this without completely embarrassing herself.

"I, uh…" Think. Think. Say something you total and complete idiot.

"Hey, Lex! Got a new member here?"

Lincoln, you beautiful, beautiful man.

"Lincoln! Yes, this is Clarke. She is really looking forward to starting with us. Actually, would you mind showing her around? I, uh…I'm not feeling well." She looks at Clarke, whose eyebrows are raised in surprise and confusion. "It was nice to meet you, Clarke." Before she can stop it, she bows towards them, stands upright, and then freezes, realizing what she has done.

What the fuck was that? Did you just bow? WHO ARE YOU?

"Excuse me." And without waiting for an answer from either of them, she turns and walks away. Lincoln looks a little shocked at her actions, but she already hears him starting his passionate speech about the gym, and she knows Clarke will be won over in no time. When she reaches the locker room and is halfway in, she pauses. With one hand on the edge of the door, and most of her body behind it, she chances a glance back to see Lincoln speaking animatedly, and Clarke watching him intently, her expression gentle once again. Her blue eyes glance in Lexa's direction for a moment and Lexa swears there is a small smirk. And a little bit of a blush.

Lexa's eyes go wide, feeling a terror she has never known, and she turns and retreats to the locker room.