Inspiration

With a huge gulp of air, Donna stopped short and bent forward, winded. She waited for a count of ten before straightening and slowly walking, allowing her body a proper cool down. She inhaled deeply, feeling the flush to her cheeks; the light May breeze chilled her temples where are fair amount of perspiration had formed. It was refreshing and invigorating.

With deep personal pride, Donna smiled to herself. Two miles. She'd run two miles. It wasn't much. Not by a long shot considering the little Barbies and body builders who had passed her, some a couple of times, in her circuit around the local park. But for her, those two miles were a marathon.

She'd started out slow, just walking. Then walking faster and faster until her feet seemed anxious to pick themselves up a little higher and at a greater speed. She'd felt lighter and lighter with every step and before she knew it, she'd been jogging like any fitness freak out in the morning when she'd normally just be hitting the snooze button for the eighth time.

Wiping her brow, she stretched a little as she continued her walk home. Why hadn't she ever noticed the park that had been right down the street from her before? It was such a lovely little place. There was even a small pond where they'd let you fish once in a while. The idea of it made her already luminescent face sparkle just a little more.

She rounded the corner to her street and stopped dead in her tracks.

"Oh, shit," she exclaimed and checked her watch. Ten o'clock.

"He's early!" she said, mortification wiping away the color to her cheeks. She stared for a second at Lee's car, parked in front of her mother's house. They were to go to lunch; he was going to pick her up at eleven and they'd have a nice day in the city.

But he was there. And here she was, hair pulled back in a ratty ponytail, sweaty ill-fitting shorts, muddy trainers and without a lick of make-up. She took a few tentative steps toward her mother's house and then stopped, debating what she should do.

Maybe she could sneak in the back and run upstairs without anyone noticing. Or she could run inside and up the stairs quickly before they'd realized she'd come in. Or maybe Gramps had taken Lee up to see his star gazing set-up. Not that it would do any good at the moment.

Oh! Why the hell was he here early!?

A neighbor's door opened, and Donna frowned. She couldn't remain standing in her street like an idiot forever. Futilely, she patted her hair down and adjusted her sweats. Well, if he really likes me like he says he does, he won't care. She swallowed, trying to be as cool as she possibly could as she opened her mother's front door.

Just as she feared, Lee was in the sitting room, chatting with her mother. He immediately stood up, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree when he saw her.

"D-d-donna!" he exclaimed, walking over to her.

His happy face relaxed her a little, but her hands shot up when he got closer. "Oi! I'm a mess!" she exclaimed. "You don't want to come near me. I'm all sweaty."

If anything, his smile grew in an appreciation that made her cheeks warm all over again but for an entirely different reason. She smiled shyly as the clock chimed quarter passed the hour.

"You were supposed to be here at eleven," she said, hoping her tone wasn't accusing.

He blinked. "T-t-ten," he said. "We're going to br-br-brunch in So-h-h-ho," he said. He took out his mobile to confirm.

Donna groaned. "Oh you're right!" she said. "I'm sorry!"

He shook his head kindly. "No pr-problem," he assured her. "It's g-g-g-good you g-g-got your run in."

Sylvia strode over. "I was just telling Lee all about your new regime," she said, pride in her voice.

Donna's shoulders sank. She hadn't wanted Lee to know. She wasn't sure why, but she had wanted to keep it to herself for a little while. "Oh, it's nothing."

"It's not nothing!" Sylvia exclaimed. "Eating nothing but salads and lean meats, sometimes even going vegetarian, exercising and not drinking as much…"

"You make it sound like I was a bum!"

Lee laughed, his eyes remaining on Donna. "You lo-o-o-k gr-gr-great!" he said.

Sylvia smiled knowingly and patted her daughter's arm. "I'll leave you to it, then," she said and vanished.

Lee leaned in and wrapped his arms around Donna, whose attempts at protesting were weak at best. "You smell good," he whispered.

Still a little winded from her exertions, Donna felt light in his arms. She scoffed playfully. "I am disgusting," she corrected.

He laughed and shook his head. "I d-d-didn't know you were d-d-doing this," he said.

Embarrassed, Donna stepped back. "Yeah, well," she tried to sound casual. "You're all into healthy stuff, and I thought it would be…"

He frowned. "You're not d-d-doing this be-c-c-cause you think I want you to."

Donna blinked. "No, it's more like…"

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I like you just as you are."

Donna swallowed the lump forming in her dry throat. "Well, I've always hated my more jiggly parts."

Lee turned to make sure Sylvia was safely out of earshot before stepping closer to Donna, a perfectly wicked little grin on his face. "I like all of you."

She pushed him away, chuckling a little. She inhaled and held herself up taller. "I'm not doing it because I think you would want me to," she clarified. "It's more like you've inspired me. I'm doing it for me, and I have you to thank."

"S-s-sounds pr-proper to me," Lee said stepping closer again. He wrapped his arms around Donna again and spun her a round a little. Despite herself, Donna giggled and clung to him.

When he set her down, it took a moment for Donna's vision to refocus. Grinning, she walked to the stairs. "Give me a half hour," she said, practically flying up the rest of the way.