I walked the short distance downtown to The Ab Crunch , and arrived with five whole minutes to spare. Ms. Peck, the owner, was forgiving if I came in late, which happened frequently due to football practice, but I tried to be on time as much as possible. I had one sweet job and I didn't want to mess it up. I mean, where else could I get paid for working out?

Ms. Peck had inherited the gym from her husband before it even opened it's doors. They had the place just about all setup when he keeled over from an aneurism, or something like that. He died before I came into the picture, so I didn't know him. I'd seen him around town a few times, but that was about it.

I first spotted The Ab Crunch when I was walking around downtown looking for a part time job. I needed some cash because I'd just busted my third weight machine and wanted to buy myself something that would last, like a Bowflex maybe. I practically drooled when I saw the 'Help Wanted' sign in the window. I mean, me working in a gym, how perfect was that?

It was an early spring day that now seemed long ago, and I was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. When I walked in and asked about the job, Ms. Peck took one look at me and hired me on the spot.

"You're exactly what I need," she said. "You obviously know a great deal about working out, and you're a walking advertisement for the benefits of a gym."

I grinned. My body had definitely landed me the job. She gave me a whole stack of tank tops and muscle shirts with The Ab Crunch written across the back or chest. I wore them to work often, but I also brought in my own stuff. She specifically asked me to wear clothing that showed off my body, because she thought it would encourage more people to join. I guess the idea was they'd get a look at me and want to be just as built. Who wouldn't?

My job was mainly looking after the place, signing up people for memberships, taking care of equipment, showing people how to do exercises, etc. I could work out all I wanted when we weren't busy, and I had my own key, so I could come in and use the equipment whenever I wanted. I'd set out to find a job so I could buy a new weight machine, but I didn't even need one with an entire gym at my disposal. The equipment was top rate, too.

Ms. Peck got her money's worth when she hired me. I told all the guys about the place, of course, and a lot of them joined. It cost $29.99 a month, or $359.88 per year, but it was worth it. I didn't have to pay, of course, which made it even better.

Carson was my best friend, and I'd helped him get his job. Well, I got it for him. My recommendation went a long way. I'm sure his looks didn't hurt. He was hot, curly black hair, a year-round natural tan, and a damn nice build. He didn't have my size, but he had awesome definition. I'd seen girls practically drool over his tight abs. He played baseball instead of football, but hey, no one was perfect.

He came out carrying a case of power bars. We sold a lot of stuff like that in the gym, power bars, vitamin supplements, growth powders, and also work out clothing, books, magazines, and more. The Ab Crunch was a high-class gym, way too upscale for Chouteau actually, but I wasn't complaining. I would've been thrilled it existed, even if I didn't work there.

The doors chimed as Devin Lewis and Aiden Burns entered. Both were members. Devin is our quarterback if you don't remember, and Aiden is the resident bad ass of C.H.S. Aiden didn't do any sports, but he worked out like a maniac. Something about him really turned me on, but of course, I kept that to myself.

I was wearing the same Abercrombie & Fitch polo shirt I had at school, but it wasn't suitable gym attire. I went into the locker room and pulled one of my most revealing tank tops from my locker. Devin and Aiden were changing for their workouts. I saw Devin naked all the time, but not Aiden. I did need to change, but I'd made a beeline for the locker room because I wanted to get a good look at Aiden's body.

"What's up Paxton's ass?" asked Devin as he stripped off his shirt, revealing his sleek, smooth torso."

He laughed, and even Aiden smiled. Aiden had one nice body. He'd stripped off his shirt, too. He had beautifully shaped powerful pecs that tapered down to a tight, flat abdomen. He didn't strip completely nude, but I enjoyed the view of his naked torso.

"Homo. I got the job because I'm perfect for it. You know you want to look like me."

"Come on," he said to Aiden. "I don't think there's enough room in here for us and Bryce's ego."

"Jealousy is such an ugly thing," I said as I pulled on my tank top and slammed my locker shut. "See you guys later."

I checked out the showers to make sure all was well before returning to the front. A few more customers had entered by then. We did most of our business in the evening hours, because the high school crowd came in right after school or after the various sports practices ended. The older set started coming in a little later, after supper. Most were already members, and Carson and I knew them on sight, but we still had to run their cards through the scanner. It was more than a check in process. The computer kept track of how often each member used the gym, and when. I'm not sure what that information was used for, but I guess it was good for something. It also told us when someone's membership was about to expire so we could make a renewal reminder. We also used the computer to give a free month to anyone who brought in a new member. There were a few guys who really racked up the free months, and that was cool because they brought in a lot of new business.

I was so good at selling clothes and other stuff that Ms. Peck gave me a commission on top of my salary. I never tried to sell anyone something they didn't need, so customers knew they could trust my word. I could've sold more stuff if I lied about it, but that would've ruined my reputation. Ms. Peck even conferred with me on new products and discontinued those I told her were no good.

Most of the customers were guys, but some were female. A few of our female patrons joined only because Carson and I worked there. There weren't a whole lot of girls our age who were members, a fact much bemoaned by Carson, but there were several older women.

Ms. Sanchez, the art teacher, came in while both of us were at the front desk. She was a regular.

"I wouldn't mind popping her one bit," he said when she'd headed for a treadmill.

"Yeah, you are pretty pathetic. You probably couldn't give away what you've got in a nursing home."

"Ah, we're best buds, you know that," I said. "I'll tell you what; I'm going to do you a favor. Let me see if I can hook you up with Ms. Sanchez. I'll turn on the old Bryce charm."

"You're not serious," he said as I began to walk toward the far edge of the gym where she was working out.

"Bryce! No!" he said, trying to speak loud enough for me to hear without being overheard by others.

I walked over to Ms. Sanchez, started speaking to her, then looked back to Carson. He was as pale as a ghost. I whispered to her, and we both looked in his direction. He was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and I halfway expected him to hide behind the counter. Her and I both laughed while looking at Carson again, then I returned to my friend.

"Okay, okay. Calm down. First, I asked her if she'd help me mess with your mind. Then I said, let's both look toward Carson and freak him out by making him think we're talking about him."

"No," he said. "I'm going to work out while you keep an eye on things. You owe me!"

I got my chance to work out a couple of hours later. I stripped off my shirt and hit the bench press machine wearing only my sneakers and shorts. I much preferred working out in public to working out at home. Of course, I hadn't been able to work out at home since my machine busted but that hardly mattered now. I enjoyed the looks I got from the customers. Okay, I'm sure you think I'm a conceited cock, but why wouldn't I enjoy what I've got going for me. I deserved my body. I made it into what it is. Why shouldn't I be proud of it?

I was used to others checking me out while I knocked out reps. Both guys and girls watched me. Maybe some of the guys were queer. I didn't know, but most of them wanted what I had, and that gave me a good feeling. The girls, on the other hand, usually wanted to feel what I had, and I was more than willing to oblige.

Okay, I'm probably confusing you here. I'm gay; I've told you that. When I think about sex, I fantasize about guys. I learned a long time ago, however, that girls could make me feel good. I'd take a guy over a girl any day, but that's way too risky, so I made d o with what I've got. There are certain things I won't do with a girl for anything, like go down on one. Gross! Mostly, they want to make out, give head, and do the deed, and it's easy enough to pretend I'm with a guy most of the time. Besides, popping a few girls preserves my reputation. With a body like mine, I've got to nail a few babes or the other guys would be way to suspicious.

I didn't get any offers this time, but one girl was looking at me hard. Some of the guys in the gym noticed, and I know they were jealous as hell. I loved it.

Carson took off at nine. He worked shorter hours than I did. The gym was open until ten, but I had the place to myself for the last hour, because it usually wasn't too busy. I handled Saturday and Sunday mornings alone, too. Sometimes I let him have the hours, just to be a friend, and sometimes I had something else to do. Mostly, I wanted all the hours I could get, because I was saving up for a new car. My car was cool enough, but I wanted something kick ass.

The girl who'd been eying me while I was pumping iron had left before Carson, but she returned just before closing time. The gym was practically empty by then, but she hung around, working out on some of the aerobics machines. Right at ten she came and asked if I'd show her how to use the bench press machine properly. By then we were the only ones left in the gym.

I locked the door, turned on the closed sign, then returned my attention to my admirer.

Just before I was about to get on the machine, she said, "could you take your shirt off first?"

I knew where this was going, and that was fine by me. I needed some relief. I explained how to do a bench press, although I don't think she really cared. Her eyes were glued to my pecs as I pumped out the reps. When I finished a set of ten, she ran her hand over my chest, feeling my taut pecs.

She looked to be in her middle twenties, and I wondered if she knew I was just sixteen.

She ran her hand down over my abs, which aroused me. Yeah, she was a girl, but I got excited when anyone touched me like that. Pretty soon, she had her hand right where it counted. I moaned, she dropped to her knees and got to work.

I didn't realize until she'd finished me off that we could've been seen by anyone passing by. We were some distance from the front, but there was a danger still. I guess it didn't matter, but I was sure Ms. Peck wouldn't have appreciated it.

She gave me her number as I let her out the front. I tossed it in the trash as soon as she was gone and turned out the lights. It was time to go home, do some homework, and get to bed.

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Secrets

by Victor Thomas

Chapter 2