Chapter 12 : Contemplation

*Rowan*

The gym was far too empty again this morning. Four days in a row now, I had come down to a dark, lifeless gym. I had started to look forward to seeing Genevieve every morning. She had me looking forward to working out, excited to challenge myself and spend a little time alone with her.

Since our kiss, she had been painfully absent. I had convinced myself that it wasn't because of our kiss, then accepted that it definitely was because of it, and now couldn't decide what I believed was the cause for her absence.

I racked the weights I was holding, listening to the metallic clang as they landed back on the rack. I pulled out my headphones and shoved them in my pocket. It was worthless to try and get anything accomplished this morning, I was too distracted. Maybe I would go back to only working out two or three times a week. Working out daily suddenly seemed pointless again.

"You're up early," Budge, one of my favorite guards, said in greeting as I wandered down the hall.