Chapter 2:

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The next day.

Astrid got up earlier as she was the one opening the gym today. It was 5am and the gym opened at 6:30am for those who wanted to work out before work.

Astrid went to take her breakfast, same as the day the before and went to change in her clothes. She got ready pretty fast and then finally left.

The same weird feeling was playing in her guts but she ignored it again. She didn't know why she felt this way. That feeling like something is going to happen soon but she had no idea what.

She shrugged it off and drove to work.

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It was still dark but the sun was already showing his first ray since it was summer. She parked her car and went to unlock the stores but stopped in her tracks when she saw a guy in a wheeling chair.

Hayden Haddock.

-"Oh hi.. Hayden?", she called.

-"Hi. I'm here to learn how to walk again.", he said with a bit of annoyance.

-"This early?", Astrid raised an eyebrow.

-"I have a doctor appointment sooner and I need to work out before.", he sighed.

-"Oh. Okay then. Let me just open the gym then we will be able to start.", she nodded.

He didn't answer and just watched her opening the gates.

Once opened, Astrid went to turn on the lights and put some music on in the background. She came back to Hayden.

-"I'm going to check in and change into my shoes. Lemme bring you to-"

-"I know where the room is.", he cut her and rolled to the back room.

She just watched him go and sighed.

She went for the lockers and put her bag in it. She stretched and drank a bit of water before finally going to join Hayden.

When she opened the door of the room, she saw him trying to stand on his own but always fall back on his chair. He was obviously frustrated so Astrid rushed by his side.

-"Wait, let me-"

-"I don't need help to stand!", he snapped.

He tried again but the chair rolled backward and he lost his balance again. But this time, Astrid was there to catch him before his butt reached the floor.

-"You're okay?", she asked.

-"Does it look like I'm okay?", he groaned.

Astrid sighed and put it back in his chair.

-"Maybe if you lock the wheels..", she inclined a stick that blocked the wheels from moving, "...it will be easier.", she smiled.

Hayden blinked and groaned. He leaned on the elbows of the chair and got up on his own, without the chair breaking his effort.

He was standing on one leg and hissed when he tried to put his prosthetic on the floor. It was still to sensitive. So Astrid walked closer and spoke softly.

-"How about we start by just doing one step today? Just so you can know how it feels on your upper leg. Just going easy and at your own pace.", Astrid proposed.

Hayden sighed and nodded.

-"Alright. Give me your hands.", she asked.

He looked at her for a few seconds and finally gave her his hands. She smiled and put them on her shoulders. She hold his arms and looked at him.

-"Okay. You're going to lean on me and try to just put your prosthetic on the floor and have your leg straighten. If it hurts, just tell me and we will stop.", she said gently.

-"Okay.", he swallowed.

Both of them stared at his fake leg and watched it moving really slowly. Hayden lifted his knee and leaned delicately his talon on the floor. He started to put more pressure on it and leaned more and more on it. He was gritting his teeth, the pain of the metal stinging his stump. When he finally straightened his full metal leg, he hissed loudly and got back on one leg.

-"It's okay. You're doing very good for now. Take your time.", Astrid encouraged.

-"Whatever. It's useless anyway.", Hayden groaned, still leaning on Astrid.

-"No it's isn't. You'll get use to it don't worry.", she tried to reassure.

-"Use to what?! Having a fake leg?! No I don't think I can! I'm missing a limb and can't do anything on my own! It's called being useless!", he snapped, pushing her away.

But he lost his balance and fall on his right side. He yelped at the sudden pain and groaned. Astrid rushed to help him but he literally slap her hand away.

-"I don't need anyone. I'll be fine.", he sighed and crawled to his wheeling chair. He unlocked the wheels and went to the door.

-"No wait!", Astrid ran to catch him, "Please, don't say that. You can do it, you just need to believe in you. I'm here to help you along the way.", she tried with a sweet smile.

Hayden stared at her and scoffed.

-"Really? If your boss weren't paying you, would you have still helped me?", Hayden asked rudely.

Astrid blinked and her voice got stuck in her throat. She was taken aback.

-"Thought so. You said it yourself. You never did this before. And it bothers you to do it cause you're not working out with your friend anymore. I know I will have to come back tomorrow but you won't need to help me anymore, I'll just be waiting for my dad and pretend my leg hurts too much to walk.", he said.

Astrid leaned her head down, not knowing what to answer to that. She heard his wheels rolling away. She saw him heading for the door. So she shook her head and went to stop him.

-"Wait!", she closed the door before he could opened it, "Look, it's true that I'm paid to do this but, I really do believe that you can do it. And I really do wanna help. Please. At least, give it another try.", she begged.

Hayden looked at her for a moment and sighed.

-"Please. Trust me. I really want to make you walk again.", Astrid said.

-"Why should I trust you?", Hayden raised an eyebrow.

Astrid frowned and smiled.

-"Because I'm not going to let you go until I see you walking on your own. Without help I mean. Even with a cane.", she put her hands on her hips, showing him she was serious.

Hayden blinked and laughed.

-"I hope I won't be using a cane. I'm not that old yet.", he said.

Astrid sighed and laughed with him. That was a progress.

-"Fine. I will give it another try. But if I feel it's going anywhere, you will let me go out of it.", he warned.

-"It will go somewhere but whatever, sure, I will let you go.", she nodded with a grin.

Hayden scoffed. Astrid opened the door for him and watched him leave, where his dad was waiting for him.

She sighed and inhaled a deep breath. What a morning.

A few customers were finally arriving and settling on the machine and she went to the reception.

-"Hey girl!"

-"Oh hey Claire!", Astrid greeted her friend.

-"So, I heard you had another re-education session with that guy from yesterday?", Claire winked, hanging her coat on the hanger behind the reception.

-"Well yeah. It's my job. Beside he really needs help. It takes time to make someone walk again and he thinks he can just give up. Well I'm not going to let him.", Astrid said firmly.

Claire scoffed and walked away.

-"What?!", Astrid whined.

-"Nothing. I didn't say anything.", Claire waved innocently, going to her locker.

Astrid shook her head.

Claire was the kind of girl that wanted to make things right and especially with her friends. She wanted Astrid to know love and everytime she was coaching a guy, Claire was near to tell her to go for it.

But Astrid never wanted to fall into these things. Relationships were a curse for her. She always fall onto idiots or perverts and she was done with dating. She was just fine on her own and didn't want to deal with the drama of couple fights.

She was single and was determined to stay this way.