A Slight Misunderstanding

CHAPTER ONE: It All Happens Now

THERE was no way she was going to the gym today. It was raining, she was ragging, and her bed was so….warm, and comfy. Her alarm had already been going off, and she hit snooze for the third time when her phone started going off. Dammit, she knew without even looking, it's Cal.

"Hello," she mumbled, starting to pull the covers off.

"Uh, yeah, you were supposed to be here like 15 minutes ago!" he barked,"what the hell, get out of bed Lena!"

"Ok ok, I am. Damn I'm such a pushover! I had already decided to stay in bed today Cal." She stood up and almost stepped on her shoes. She had been so exhausted from work last night that she stripped down the minute she closed her front door, and headed straight for bed. Somehow the shoes were the last thing to go.

"Get your ass in the bathroom and brush your teeth, and splash some water on your face. I am going to whip you hard today for trying to pull some shit!" Cal was bossy and mean, but with a smile on his face. He was going for his personal trainer certification and he was getting harder to keep up with. Meanwhile, Lena was studying business management, and working double-shifts at her uncle's restaurant-it was a classy place, so she had to dress like she was running a high-end attorney's office,and she never knew if she was going to work the bar, seat tables, carry out food, or chop onions. But she always ended up with Vince in the office, helping her Unc balance the books and run inventory. He was really helping her, because through him she was getting some serious first-hand experience on how to run a successful business. Vince loved having her around since he never went to college and he relied heavily on her academic insight. He just tried to play it off like he wasn't impressed.

Lena stared at herself in the mirror. She did not look 23, she looked 33, bags under her eyes, last night's makeup smeared around her face.

"Jesus Christ Cal I look like a corpse!"

"I-don't-give-a-shit-Lena I am headed your way. Be ready or I am taking you as-is." *click*

His clipped tone meant he was already out the door.Shiiiiit! She wiped her face with a makeup towel while trying to drag a brush through her long chestnut hair,, ran a little eyeliner around her brownies while she was brushing her teeth, and finished up in the bathroom in record time. She dug around her room, sure that there were some clean workout rags somewhere. Black tank over a sports bra, not much to work with, but ok. And shorts? Eh the grey yoga pants will have to heard the doorknob rattle as she tightened the laces on her Asics. She swung the door open and there was Cal, 6"2, 195 lbs of pure tanned blonde muscle. Light blue Under Armor today, blinding white Nike Trainers. She shook her head at him. He shook his too.

"Christ Lena you are a mess. Can't you ever coordinate?" He pushed past her and came inside, handing her an Absolute Zero Monster. Cal was very exacting, very beautiful, and very gay. Lena sighed.

"Um Cal, I don't know why you do this to me everytime, you know damn well I don't really care. It's the gym, not Prom at Prada U."

He turned on his heel."Oh really? And why do you wear eyeliner, shit I can see last night's makeup and it looks pretty good from here. Just in case you see that ginger boy again?" Cal's voice was deep and manly, she never heard him get bitchy. Just was in the words he said she knew he was getting rolled her eyes at him.

"So what, so what?" She grabbed her hoodie and snapped open her Monster."Can we just go now?"

Cal smiled his dazzling whites at her."Of course, I thought you'd never say it." As he walked out she could see the definition in his shoulders, his back, and his ass through the form fitting near-spandex outfit. He was going to end up killing her, she knew. She could not keep up with a man as built as he. Guess I'll die trying cuz I'm not giving up now, she thought. Together they dashed out the front stoop of her apartment complex into the cold drizzle that was early spring in Pittsburgh.

"Do you have to work tonight Leelee?" he asked as they ducked into his silver Toyota Ridgeline.

"Of course Cal, and you know this is probably going to freeze over tonight." She sighed and downed the rest of her B-vitamin tonic. "I should be studying, guess I am going to have to cram it all before Tuesday."

Cal sighed and looked at her sympathetically."Hey, tell Vinnie you need the night off. Lena I can see how exhausted you are."He patted her knee."But don't worry. After I stomp your ass today we can go sit in the sauna at the new gym."

Lena was surprised and puzzled. "New gym? But I paid for the year at Colt's- Cal I hope you didn't switch up, cuz I'm not."

"Uh hellooo Lee where have you been, Colt opened up a brand new joint and closed that old rinky-dink shithole down last month!"

Lena frowned at him."That place was not a shithole, he made it real nice, poured some cash in it. I liked it."

"You like ginger boy, Lena, and I don't care what you say I could still hear all the shit going on downstairs all the time, at least now he has it totally sectioned off. Can't wait for you to see it!"

"C'mon Cal don't bullshit me, you know you loved to hear the sound of wet sweaty men beating each other up."

"No, actually, that threw me off my A game so many times, Lena really? You were getting pissed cuz I wore my earbuds all the time. Now you know why." He pulled up in the parking lot. She could see the new neon sign, COLT'S, with bright red lit up boxing gloves swinging from it. The building was enormous, the front windows were double sided mirrors, there was even a sign listing *SHAKE BAR*. Whaaaaat?

"Wasn't this a grocery store, Publix or something?"

"Yeah, wait til you see the place, he really went all out."

Cal pushed the door open and right at the front desk was Ginger Boy talking to what looked like a plumber. When he saw Lena he grinned like the Cheshire cat. Lena looked up at Cal and gave him the 'I am going to KILL YOU' look-Cal just flashed his big pearly whites.

"Hey haven't seen you in a while,"said Ginger Boy,"you here to sign back up?"

"Sign back up, what-"Lena was irritated, but Cal cut her off.

"Yeah she needs to update her info," Cal said, and turned looking down at her, "they have to re-enter you in the system, Colt has everyone's membership info but needs address and phone number updated." And he grinned at her, complete with a conspiratorial wink.

'Cal, you're dead,"she whispered. "Ok, let's do this, won't take long right?"

"Naw just need your ID and make sure you're in the system right."Ginger Boy smiled again and leaned his arm over the counter,"I'm Henry." Lena looked at the meaty hand in front of her and took it to shake."I was here so much Colt offered me a job running the counter."

"Cool," said Lena, and handed him her ID. He stared at it for a little too long, then handed it back to her.

"I was born in '90 too," he said,and she swore he was staring at her. She was fumbling with her bag, looking away."OK Lena, think you're ready to go. Phone number still 555-1720?" Lena nodded, offering a weak smile. Cal stepped on her foot lightly but enough to let her know she was being too shy. "Alright then guys, you want a tour?"

"No that's OK Henry, I know my way around," said Cal, and Lena was inwardly cheering with excitement,"we'll see you on the way out." Cal was escorting Lena away, when Henry called after them,"Hey guys, there's a problem with the sauna, hope it's up and running by the time you guys are done."

Cal shrugged at her, pulled a face and looked exasperated."That was awful. Lena what is your problem? He practically threw it at you and you didn't even try to catch! I know you have the hots for him, Christ who wouldn't?"

Lena turned beet red."Shut up Cal, I didn't want to see him looking the way I do, ESPECIALLY up close and you knew he would be behind the counter, you ass!"She smacked his arm hard. "You set me up!"

Cal grinned at her as they coasted into the expansive weight/cardio room. Music was blaring, LMFAO mashed up with a Chili Peppers song? Lena looked up into the bright lighting and saw- a DJ booth? She blinked and saw it was an extended balcony with a staircase that ran the length of the enormous room, but there was a guy up there and it looked like he was spinning.

"Cal what the hell?"She gestured to the DJ, who waved at her and switched the track, sounded like Snoop Dogg.

Cal was bobbing his head to the beat."Um yeah Colt's nephew Ras thinks he's a DJ, he's not bad! So Colt lets him and a few of his friends spin for free. Not bad right? And they take requests!"

Lena looked around. Lots of machines, at least 20 treadmills, wow was Cal right. Some of the machines she didn't recognize but were getting used. Big burly dudes were towards the back where she could see the Smith machines and row after row of dumbbells, kettlebells, all running the length of the back wall. All the walls were , shiny, reflective. Not like Colt's old place at all.

"I-I don't know, Cal, I don't think I like this." She felt so small and exposed. "I liked the old dark stinky cardio room."

"Just shut up, gimme your bag chick, I'm stuffing it in a locker." Cal took off to a wide hallway that split in two, one side for men, one side for women. Lena stood there and peered up at the DJ, and she couldn't help but smile. He was nodding his head and was totally into what he was playing, which was another mash-up of House of Pain and AC/DC. Requests, huh? She was going to use that privelidge.

Cal dragged her over to the treadmills for a warm-up. She was slow going at first, while he ran and made her feel like a fool. But then the endorphins kicked in and she didn't care anymore. Of course he started huffing out orders to her and she had to push harder, getting up to a brisk jog and then barking at him when he ordered her to run."No!" she gasped, her girl cramps were knocking her senseless. Cal shook his head and waited, he had hit his zone and was ready for weights. She slowed then stopped, glaring at him."I hit my target too, Cal, you're not ragging I am."

She headed over to the flye machine, today would have to be arms and shoulders, she couldn't do legs, not today. Cal was nowhere to be seen so she just settled in for her usual routine, when "Bleeding Love" set to a uptempo beat started playing. Instantly she knew Cal was jacking with her, and she laughed in spite of herself. Cal came swaggering into sight, a smile split his lovely chiseled face.

"You are such a shit."

"Yes-I-am. Stop." And he moved behind the machine. She knew he was adjusting the weight.

"C'mon Cal, please take it easy."

"No. More weight, less reps. Move your ass."

"Fffffffuuuuuuhhhhhck." He had to have added 20 lbs.

The entire workout was like that, and then it was time for another round of cardio. Twenty minutes again, max heart rate again. She got on the treadmill and began. She was dripping sweat and panting, meanwhile Cal was clipping along, bopping to the music and smiling like he was on a float at the Rose Parade. "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica was on, and it was perfect. The bell was tolling for her to get home and shower. She still had 27 minutes to go, when she looked up and saw someone she had only heard and read about getting on a treadmill in front and to the right of hers. Not as tall as she expected, looking kind of scrawny compared to the pics and footage she had seen. Tommy Conlon? No way.

She looked over at Cal and he was agape, for the first time he looked like he was actually working out instead of barely breaking a sweat. The man ahead of her pulled on a black hoodie and started off on a full-book run, like he was being chased by the cops. No warm up for him. He was sweaty to begin with, must've been at the weights already maybe, and his grey sweatpants were baggy but looked wet in spots as he continued tearing it up, long striding legs pinwheeling. Her time was nearly up when he finally slowed down and then just quit, gasping for breath yet controlled somehow. He wiped at his face and stalked off to the men's hallway.

Cal and Lena looked at each other, and Cal got off his treadmill and started making his way quickly to the men's room. "My bag!" Lena called after him, wiping her face with a towel. It was 12:15, she was starving, and she had to be at work at 4. She remembered she had some business of her own to attend to and started heading towards the hallway, patting her face down, when the treadmill man knocked right into her. She looked up right into the most piercing grey-blue eyes she had ever seen. He stunk to high heaven and was soaked with sweat."S'cuse me," he breathed and deftly sidestepped and moved past her, walking as fast as he could to the door. She watched from afar as Ginger Henry said something to him and the man just put his hand out-she wasn't sure if it was a wave or what, but Ginger Henry immediately cut his talking short and just watched him leave too. Henry turned around and caught Lena staring out at the door, looking puzzled. Henry shrugged at her and waved, turning back around to fiddle with the computer at his desk.

Cal walked up on her quickly."C'mon let's go,"he said,"the sauna is down until who knows when, sorry girl."

"No time anyway," Lena said pulling her bag over her shoulder,"I'm fuckin' starvin'."

As they headed out, Cal was talking a mile a minute and wouldn't shut up."He is sooo intense Lena I went into the locker room and he was acting like his house was on fire!"

"I don't get it, is it really him?" She buckled her seatbelt and Cal took off. She knew he was headed to the Pita Pit, hummus and chicken with alfalfa, tomato, and cucumber, yum.

"Yeah, definetly, I know there were a few times I would go up to Colt's with my mom, you know the first place he had? Colt introduced me to him once, it was seven years ago I think? He said my mom made the best lasagna. He was really nice then. Now he looks like a crackhead, acts like one too."

"Well didn't he get into some shit after that big fight? Your mom still talks to Paddy right?'

"Yeah not so much anymore though, he got real fucked up again and my mom wasn't gonna deal with that, so…" Cal pulled up to the Pita Pit drive through. Thankfully the drizzle had quit, but now the wind was blowing like hell and Cal was freezing with his sweat-soaked head out the window.

"Can I get two Super Chicken pitas please? No cheese. And one of 'em extra meat-"

Lena elbowed him."Both of em Cal!"

"Scratch that BOTH of 'em extra meat! Two diet cokes-no,no fries thanks." Cal sat back and pulled around, grabbing his debit card. He saw Lena going for her wallet and he stayed her hand."I got this babe."

Lena threw four bucks on his dash."I love you Cal but sometimes you act like my boyfriend. Please take it. Thanks for getting me up, I actually feel better."

"Told you so beeeeiiitch," he laughed and grabbed the food through the window,"And anyway I am your boyfriend, remember? You are never gonna get a man, I am the best thing you got. Quit fuckin' hiding anyway, you're gorgeous already without that warpaint you put on your face for work. Next time you see Ginger Boy, just try, TRY to be friendly? OK? It's a sure thing."

Lena smiled shyly."You think so?"

"I know so. Damn you know I got that radar. And he's so obvious!"

They sat in the truck and ate, slurping their Diet Cokes when they should have had water and protein drinks. But fuck it, she was on the run now for sure. 1:30 pm. Damn. She couldn't stop thinking about Crackhead Tommy though. His eyes were haunting her. She had seen pictures of him years ago, and he didn't look the same. "Didn't Tommy Conlon go to jail for going AWOL?" she asked, trying to pull an alfalfa sprout from in between her front teeth.

"Jesus, look at you, cavewoman. His last name is Riordan, you know that. Yes he went to jail. I dunno, I'm gonna ask my mom if she's talked to Colt lately." Cal's dad had been a fighter, and he had gotten knocked around so much one terrible night that he had a fatal brain hemorrhage. He had trained with Colt for years, they had gone to high school together. Cal was only 14 when it happened, and Colt did everything he could to help Cal's mom with bills and whatever she needed. He was helping put Cal through school. Cal had wanted to fight, but his mom, Rita, would never allow it. She would bring him with her all the time, whenever she needed to talk to Colt or when she wanted to bring up some food for the guys. Cal guessed she was trying to keep his dad's memory alive, letting Cal hang out with the fighters and spar when he thought she wasn't looking. A boy needs his father, that's what Rita would always yell at his dad when they would argue over another fight she didn't agree to. Cal shook his head and backed up the Ridgeline. "Tommy probably did his time and now he wants to get back in. But I'll tell ya he's got a long way to go."

Lena nodded her head. "How old would you put him at, Cal?"

Cal shot her a look."Well, he wasn't older than 27 or 28, I think, for the very first Sparta, so…..you do the math Major."

"33 or so I guess?" She shrugged. Jail is hard on a person, she saw what it did to her dad. He did 9 years for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder…..another story she didn't like to reminisce over. She shuddered.

"I know what you're thinking,"said Cal knowingly.

"Oh yeah? What am I thinking Karnak?"

"If it bothers you we don't have to go back to Colt's-"
"No way, why would it bother me? Cal, really?"

"I know you too well Lena, and if he ever weirds you out just be honest and tell me, OK?"

"OK,"she smiled,"I don't think he will. No worries."

Cal pulled up to her apartment façade,"You want me to walk you in?"

"No I gotta get going, Cal, I'm going to be late at this rate!" She kissed his cheek and hopped out the truck, keys in hand to open the locked entry way.

"Have a good night girl!" Cal slipped his sunglasses on against the rays that were starting to peek out through the clouds. He slipped into traffic and was gone, and Lena was already in her apartment running the shower. She could see the Legendary Tommy, crackhead Tommy now?- charging ahead on the treadmill everytime she closed her eyes and she wondered why he was on her mind, and wondered how to get him out.