Caught Your Eye

[Jean Lancaster]

The gym. Really, it was her second home. Much better than her original at any rate. It was practically empty in the morning when she went to workout. Usually only a handful of member came. No one likes getting up this early. Jean had gotten used to it over the years. There was something refreshing about it. Somethinng that helped jumpstart her day. And get the exercise out of the way.

Yet for its emptiness, there was one figure she always saw. Only glimpses really. Flashes of bright blonde hair that would be gone swiftly. Always in the earliest hours when the gym opened. Jean never approached for the most part. She would be busy with her own workout, and then the blonde would disappear. But not today. Today the blonde was still there even after Jean finished. Maybe she'd gotten a late start? Whatever the case she was still there. So Jean grabbed a towel to wipe off her face, then approach.

"You are one of the rare few I actually see here every morning."

[Ellen Banks]

As her feets pounded against the treadmill Ellen stared forward inwardly cursing herself, her heart pumping and sweat beginning to collect on her face staring forward totally blocking out the rest of the world. She annoyed, angry even with herself. Ellen was a creature of habit. Her entire day was dictated by her self-imposed schedule, which she had maintained to ensure that not a second.


That was how she lived her life. Meticulously planned. Right down to the nanosecond,


So you can imagine how she felt when she found out she had overslept by at LEAST a half an hour, she supposed it what she got for doing….Whatever it was she was doing the night before, she was in something of a foul mood the night before so she….relieved herself in her own particular way (None of your business how) and the night was really...It became a blur and as a result, Ellen was already behind her oh so strict schedule, meaning she had to spend EXTRA time on +the treadmill this morning. She always tried to wake up in the morning with exercising until it felt like her limbs had caught on fire.


“It’s called being disciplined” Ellen tutted when the female voice floated into her line of hearing, Ellen didn’t even give the woman a second of a look continuing to stare forward “If you don’t mind I’m busy”

[Jean Lancaster]

It was called being disciplined. Jean wasn't even spared a glance as the girl kept going. If she didn't mind, she was busy. Jean had to stare, a wry smile slowly growing on her face. Clearly the girl wasn't the most social of people. That or she was in a foul mood. Maybe because she was later than she normally was. Jean had caught her after all. Still, the bad attitude just made Jean want to bug her more. She really couldn't leave well enough alone, could she?

"Discipline, huh?" As she repeated it, she wiped the sweat from under her chin off. Then arched a brow. "Well you must've slipped a little bit today, seeing as you're here later than your usual." Why was she potentially poking the bear? Jean couldn't say, yet she couldn't help herself. "Sleep in a little, did we?"

[Ellen Banks]

…………...Who was this woman? No really. Who was this woman? She didn’t remember ever speaking to her before, she doesn’t know this person and people call her rude?! At least she didn’t go up to random people at the gym and challenge them?!



People…..no wonder Ellen had no desire to be around people.



She frowned as she continued to stare forward running



“Well, I’m glad you have such interest in my own personal sense of well being. Thanks for your concern….but maybe you didn’t hear me, so I’ll tell you again. GO AWAY”

[Jean Lancaster]

The girl clearly did not enjoy Jean's presence. Was she being rude? Yes. Did she have to be? No. Would she continue priding this girl? Most likely. She still hadn't glanced her way. A fact that both bothered Jean and made her more determined. She would make her look at least once, or she wouldn't leave the girl alone. Jean was persistent. She could wait. Could the blonde?

She was glad Jean had such an interest in her personal sense of well being. Thanks for her concern, but maybe she hadn't heard her: Go away. Advice that Jean really should've taken. But she couldn't. She was grinning now. Mischievous and wicked. "Well of course." She said smoothly. "I have to care about everyone working out here since I work here. But if you want me to go away then I will. Just look me in the eye and tell me to." A challenge posed. Bait set.

[Ellen Banks]

This girl had some issues, didn’t she? At the very least some issues with her hearing, Ellen had very clearly and calmly explained that while she’d be more than happy to talk to her but right now she was making it very difficult for her to do that.


That was the nice way Ellen could go about things.


The NOT nice way Ellen could do it is tell her to screw off and she was clearly busy at the moment and in case she didn’t notice distracting someone on a treadmill of all things is never a good idea.


But the more that this girl spoke the most annoyed Ellen got, She had no interest in where she worked. Not in the least and nor would she ever care but this girl seemed to think her life was so endlessly fascinating to her


“Oh for the love of-” Ellen punches the stop button bringing the treadmill to a stop as she turned to the girl “Loo-” Ellen started but stopped rather abruptly as she made eye contact with the woman….


For a split second, almost impossible to fully gauge, for just a moment she might have felt Ellen gaze linger on her up and down just once, her expression blank before she returned to her eyes


“Go. Away” She said quite loudly and deliberate before she turned back to her treadmill consider the matter closed

[Jean Lancaster]

Now it was abundantly clear Jean was getting on her nerves. The way she looked. How her body tensed up. In some twisted way, Jean enjoyed the fact she was getting under her skin. Finally she stopped the treadmill. Jean expected yelling. At least being told off harshly. But instead, the girl cut off for a split second. For a split second there was...Something. A crawl over her skin. She couldn't explain it. But as soon as it was there it was gone.

Go away. It was deliberate. Firm. Made with eye contact. Then broken as she went back to her treadmill. Jean had to grin. She'd won. In a strange sort of way. Nonetheless she felt victorious. She shrugged. "Alright then." It came out easily. She wasn't ruffled by the command. She found too much enjoyment teasing her. "But if all you do is running that'll only help your legs. You should probably get a trainer."