I shaved the st patch off and looked in the mirror. “Nice.” I smiled. Bald! I flexed my buff biceps ready to exercise!

  I stepped out of the bathroom and into the gym.

  I removed my biker shorts and trotted to the dumbbells. There’s nothing like being in my panties. I didn’t care if anyone stared. I had to be comfy while I exercised.

  “Hey!” a blond-haired girl smiled.

  “Hello.”

  “About to pump some iron, I see.”

  “Yeah.” I grabbed a five-pound dumbbell.

  “You a bodybuilder?”

  “No, I just like working out.”

  “That’s cool. Me too.” Her blue-eyes twinkled.

  “I come here twice a week since my boyfriend left me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “I guess I was too gung-ho for him.”

  “Oh?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m gonna be who I wanna be.” I lifted the dumbbell.

  “Good for you.”

  “I’m Cre.” I smiled.

  “Jessie.”

  “I just shaved my head in the bathroom.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. Had long gorgeous blond hair and I shaved it all off.”

  “Why?”

  “I just wanted a change. Besides, I like the bald look.”

  “So, you brought a razor and shaved your head in this gym?”

  “Yeah, crazy, right?”

  “Well, I’d imagine you’re not the first person who has done that.”

  “Yeah… men…”

  “So, do you usually exercise in your underwear?”

  “I went through a shitty experience, so I thought I’d make changes.”

  “Well, as long as it’s healthy. I’m not sure if you need to wear something more around the waist in here."

  “Yeah. I don’t care. I’m comfortable.”

  “Alright…”

  “Pardon mre for asking, but do you have someone in your life?”

  “I never had a boyfriend.”

  “Oh.” I pumped the dumbbell.

  “Well, I went on one date with a guy in my css in high school, but we didn’t click.”

  “Yeah, that happens.”

  “ And, I guess I didn’t get another opportunity.”

  “Yeah, I understand. You had friends though, right?”

  “Yes. I hung out at the mall a lot with them.”

  “Good. It’s hot in here, isn’t it?”

  “A little…”

  I removed my sports bra. My boobs dropped down.

  “Oooh! Being risqué!”

  I smiled as I picked the weight back up. I lifted it up and down.

  Jessie tied her blond hair in a ponytail. “Yeah, girl, you’ve got this!”

  “Thanks. So, what do you do?”

  “Um, I love jogging. Almost every morning I go out at seven and run my ass off.”

  “Yuck! I could never get up that early.”

  “Not a morning person?”

  “No, I get up at eight.”

  She ughed. “Big difference.”

  “Yeah.” I smiled, pumping.

  “So, you read?”

  “Um, not very much.”

  “I read every day. Can’t get enough of Stephen Grahm Jones.”

  “What does he write?”

  “Horror.”

  “I love horror movies!”

  “Then, you should read Stephen Grahm Jones.”

  “Are they on eBook?”

  “Of course!”

  “Then, I’ll check him out! I never buy books since I’m a millennial, but if I had eBooks, I might start reading.”

  “Yeah, I totally understand. I read traditional books at home, but when I’m waiting at the doctor’s office or when I’m at the park, read on my phone cuz it’s more convenient.”

  “Isn’t technology wonderful?” I lifted the dumbbells.

  “Yeah.”

  “I think I’m gonna do some sit-ups.”

  “Cool. I’ll join.”

  I picked up my sports bra and stuffed it in my bag. We walked to the mat as a guy walked in. He stopped. “Uh, hi.”

  “Hello,” I smiled.

  He kept quiet as if figuring out what to say. Then he said, “Have a great workout!” then left.

  “Do you suppose he got nervous seeing your tits?” Jessie asked.

  I shrugged. “I think I’m done with men.”

  “I understand that.”

  “They don’t listen.”

  “Woah!”

  “I’m sorry. I guess I’m still upset.”

  “If you need to talk, I can lend an ear.”

  “I’m fine. Really.” I id down on the mat.

  “OK.” Jessie sat down beside me.

  I put my hands around the back of my head. It was odd, expecting to feel hair and feel rough skin instead.

  “Wait! One sec…” Jessie pulled her pink phone out and tapped away. Then, a guitar rift pyed. “I thought we could use some inspirational music.

  I rolled my eyes. “Of course you choose a cliché workout song.”

  Jessie ughed. “You’re the best around. Nothings gonna ever something something something you down.”

  “You don’t know the lyrics?”

  “Shut up!”

  I lifted my upper body, then fell back down.

  “On a scale of one to ten, how much do you like sit-ups?” Jessie asked.

  “Uh, I guess six?”

  “That’s fair. I think I’d rate them at seven. It’s so satisfying feeling my stomach muscles working.”

  “Yeah.” I did another sit-up.

  “What high school did you go to?”

  “Keller.”

  “Where at?”

  ”Sacramento California.” Then, she sang, “You’re the best around…”

  “You lived in California? Did you experience many earthquakes?”

  “Not many. But it’s part of the reason why I moved.”

  “Oh. What’s the other reason?”

  I dropped my upper body to the mat. “My uncle got a job in accounting.”

  “I see.”

  “And after I graduated, I decided to stay here.”

  “Cool. My dad’s a math teacher.”

  “Really?”

  He teaches seventh grade at Miller Middle School a couple blocks from here.”

  “Cool!” I performed another situp.

  “He loves teaching factors. I don’t know why.”

  “Do you see him often.”

  “Yep. I live close so I visit him regurly.”

  “Cool. I wish I could visit my parents, but they moved to Florida after I graduated high school.”

  “Why?”

  “My mom got a better job.”

  “In Florida?”

  “Yes, She’s a guide at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum in Cape Canaveral.”

  “Wow! Cool. I bet that’s a fun job!”

  “Yeah. Although I don’t get to chat with them much though.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, now I don’t have a boyfriend.”

  “That sucks. Things will get better.”

  Before I could stop myself, I hugged her. “Thanks.”

  ”Anytime.” She patted my bare shoulder.

  I smiled. “I’m gd I met you. You’re cool.”

  “Thank you. I’m gd I met you, too. I’ve never met a bald chick before.”

  I ughed. The song ended.

  Jessie asked, “Aren’t you getting cold? You are in your panties after all.”

  “No. I’m surprisingly comfortable!”

  “Alright. Wanna go on the treadmill?”

  “Sure, gimme a hand up.”

  Jessi grabbed it and pulled me up.

  I followed her over to the Pelotons.

  “Lose your clothes there?” A woman sporting a yellow tank top smirked.

  “Ha! Yeah, I worked out too hard and they flew off!”

  She rolled her eyes and looked back at the screen.

  I got on the Peloton and logged on as a guest. Once I chose the park simution, I started jogging. “I’m gd they finally released new scenic paths!”

  Jessie stepped on the peloton next to me. “Ooh, you’re in a park! Looks fun! I’ll choose that one too!”

  “Ma’am,” a male voice said. “You’re not allowed to be topless in here.”

  “But, I’m more comfortable like this.” I turned around to face the curly brown-haired guy.

  “I understand, but women can’t be topless in this gym.”

  “What if I tell you I’m trans?”

  “You need to cover your chest.”

  “But men are allowed to be topless.”

  “Ma’am, put something on or I’ll ask you to leave.”

  “Then, make me wear shirts.”

  “OK, fine, you can stay like you are, but if there’s trouble, I’m gonna ask you to leave.”

  “I understand. Thank you.”

  The jackass walked away.

  I flipped him off.

  “Yeah, God forbid us woman shows our boobies in public.”Jessie rolled her eyes.

  “I’m so done with men!” My bare boobs going up and down. I couldn’t believe I was in my panties in a public gym. Since the breakup, I wanted to do something crazy. I guess to somehow make me feel better. And I accomplished that.

  “You py videogames?” she asked.

  “Not very often. I py Mario on the Switch.”

  “Cool. I py Donkey Kong a lot.”

  “On the Switch? Does it have Donkey Kong?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Cool, I’ll have to check it out.”

  “Maybe I could come over sometime and py.”

  “That would be neat. As I said I don’t py very often.”

  She pushed buttons and sped up a little. “That’s OK. I’ll just ugh in your face when you fuck up!”

  I pyfully slugged her.

  She ughed.

  “Wanna make a bet?”

  “Sure.”

  “I bet I can get to the ke before you.”

  “You’re on!”

  I pressed the button that put me at the beginning of the path to the ke. “I’m set on the second level of resistance.”

  Jessie pushed the buttons on her machine. “Ok, I’m on that level, too.”

  “Go!” I shouted.

  I peddled my legs as fast as I could.

  Jessie and I kept looking at each other’s screen. Every time she started getting ahead, it motivated me to pedal faster. My legs were really feeling it.

  “Half mile.” Jessie panted.

  “Half mile,” I said. I didn’t think I was going to win, but Jessie started pooping out. Her panting increased and her pace gradually decreased. I closed my eyes as I pushed my legs to their limit. I was puffing, too, but hadn’t slowed as much as Jessie.

  Jessie looked over at me. “Are you sure you’re on level two?”

  “I win! You have to buy me ice-cream now. Check it out if you don’t think I’m on level two.”

  “Dammit!”

  I ughed.

  “Great ride though.”

  “Thank you. I’m thirsty now!” I hopped off.

  “Yeah, we worked our asses off.”

  “Yeah, we did!” I raised my hand and she high-fived.

  “We make a great team!”

  I jogged to the water fountain and gulped some water down.

  “You do have a nice body.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What do you wanna do now?’

  “Let’s go outside and soak up some sun!”

  “OK.”

  I picked my bag up and started towards the door.

  “Woah! Aren’t you gonna put your clothes back on?”

  “I am wearing something, aren’t I?” I smiled and opened the door.

  “You got guts!” Jessie stepped out with me.

  “Ooh, bright!” I shield my eyes. The sun warmed my bald head. I snatched my sungsses out and put them on.

  “I can’t believe you’re in your panties outside!”

  “I didn’t feel like putting my clothes back on.”

  “Aren’t you embarrassed?”

  A woman walked by. She looked at us, then continued on.

  “Nope.” I smiled.

  “You’re crazy, but I can tell we’re gonna be good friends!” Jessie said.