Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 23:16:09 -0500
From: Lucas Brimstone <lbrimstone00@gmail.com>
Subject: Blue Rider-2

       	What follows is a work of complete fiction.  Please treat it as you
would other works of fiction.  On second thought, don't do that.  Legally,
don't get yourself in trouble.  Remember to donate to Nifty so works like
this can continue to find a home.  Feedback is always welcome, and
encouraged, at lbrimstone00@gmail.com.

       Blue awoke early the next morning.  He'd have to adjust to the three
hour difference from Virginia.  That day, and every day until he lucked
out, would be dedicated to job hunting.  He made a promise to Maura to pay
the rent on time each month, and he never broke promises.  Blue picked out
a nice button-down shirt and crisp chinos.  He didn't own a suit.  There
was time for breakfast since most businesses wouldn't be open yet.

       Maura had given Blue an extra key to the apartment which he'd kept
on a nail in the wall.  The weather was perfect.  Mornings in Virginia were
pleasant, except for the colder months, but nothing compared to this.  It
was seventy degrees without a cloud in the sky.  The sun shone in hues of
pink and orange, enveloping everything in a warm glow.  Blue strode down
the sidewalk through the neighborhood towards the commercial area.  Maura
lived on a side street where the buildings were two or three story
apartment complexes.

       There was a small coffee shop near the corner of the block.  It
looked as good a place as any to get breakfast.  Blue walked in and noticed
it was empty.  The menu had a strange, and narrow, assortment of items:
half a grapefruit, decaf or black coffee, muffin of the day, and toast with
jam.  Blue was inclined to leave, but the place had a strange allure.  For
one thing it smelled like cinnamon and dark coffee; he could already feel
the caffeine in his bloodstream.  He didn't drink coffee much, but he knew
the taste.

       "Hi, can I get half a grapefruit, muffin, and black coffee?" Blue
asked the cashier.  The girl made little effort to look up, maybe she
wasn't expecting a customer.  After a few moments she punched a couple keys
on the register.

       "Six dollars. Please," she replied.  Blue paid her and hovered a few
feet from the counter in anticipation.  He was hungrier than he thought.

       The food was prepared and bagged in under three minutes.  Blue took
his bag and coffee to a nearby table.  To his surprise, the coffee wasn't
too hot to drink.  This was the first time since coming to California Blue
could relax.  Of course, he couldn't relax.  He had a lot on his mind and
even more since he'd have to get a job.  Despite his nervous thoughts he
maintained an energetic demeanor.

       Breakfast was better than Blue expected.  The muffin was cinnamon
raisin.  He finished the remains of his coffee, then shucked the grapefruit
husk, muffin wrapper, and cup into the trash.  Other shops on the street
were starting to open as the sunlight intensified.  He'd have to buy
sunglasses at some point.  Cars filed out for the commute into the city;
another day of the corporate grind.  Maybe someday Blue would join them,
but for now he'd have to settle with a less formal job.  He contemplated
going to the fitness center first since Maura had recommended it.  However,
he noticed a book store just ahead which looked like a good first try.

       Unfortunately the bookstore manager was as smooth as a cactus.  Blue
felt uncomfortable and at a loss for words.  The man made his best effort
to look busy even without any customers around.  There was no interview.
Blue left the store feeling defeated.  He knew he wouldn't be handed a job
in the first store he walked into and did his best to regain his
confidence.  In the moment, his life felt difficult.  There was no one he
could turn to for help, not like he was able to back in Virginia.  Things
would get better if he kept at it.

       Blue took a deep breath, fixed his hair, and headed towards the
fitness center.  The place was called "First Fitness" in metal red letters.
It didn't look big enough to be called a center since it was only the size
of two normal stores.  But it was new, and there was a help wanted sign in
the window.  If any place looked promising, it was this one.

       First Fitness was a lot bigger on the inside.  There was a lower
level which made up for the smaller plot of real estate.  Blue walked in to
the reception area which was just an open vestibule and glass desk.  The
receptionist on duty glanced up when he got closer to her.

       "Welcome to First Fitness, how can I help you?" she asked.

       "Hi, I wanted to speak with the manager about applying for a job
here," Blue replied.  The receptionist was much more inviting than the
bookstore manager had been.

       "Hang on a moment and I'll get her," the receptionist said and left.

       The main floor was empty.  Past the reception area were studios for
cardio classes to be held which formed a hallway down to the other side of
the building.  At the end of the hall was a set of stairs leading down to
another area.  Blue guessed the free weights and locker rooms were below.
It wasn't the best layout, but it made use of what space was available.
One nice thing was everything was brand new and clean as a whistle.  The
floors were a cutting-edge bamboo material and most of the walls were
mirrored or a shimmering steel.  Light from the windows bounced throughout
the space.

       "Hi, I heard you were asking about job openings," the receptionist
had returned with the manager.

       "Hi, that's right.  My name's Blue Rider," he said and offered his
hand to shake.

       "Nice meeting you, I'm Jessica Tromble," she shook his hand.
"Follow me and we can continue in my office."

       Blue followed her down the hall past the studios.  They headed
downstairs into what he'd correctly guessed was the free weight area.
There were also a few treadmills, but no weight machines.  Tromble's office
was next to one of the locker rooms. It was small.  Blue took a seat after
Jessica had.  He noted that there must have been a rather small portion of
the budget dedicated to furnishing her office.  But this meant the money
was being spent on things which mattered more to the customers.

       "So, Blue, what interests you in a position here," she asked.

       "Well, to be frank, I moved in to California just yesterday.  I live
a block away from here.  I'll have to pay the rent at some point like
everyone else.  But I thought, what better place for a new kid than a new
place.  Plus I played a lot of baseball in school so I know my way around a
gym," he replied.

       "It's good that you've got some experience.  What did you study in
school?"

       "Excuse me?"

       "In college, what did you complete a degree in?"

       "I'm sorry, but I've only just completed high school.  I'm
eighteen."

       "I thought you were applying for the position of a personal trainer,
but I'm not sure you're qualified."

       "Honestly I'm applying for any open position you think would best
suit me.  I know a lot about personal fitness, and I'm great at helping
people."

       "What experience do you have with computers?"

       "I would say I'm proficient in most computer programs.  I have a
laptop and took a class in school."

       "And would you say you're an organized person?"

       "Yes, I keep a schedule for everything and keep files for my
important records," Blue lied.

       "Well, then I'd like to ask if you'd consider being the receptionist
for First Fitness.  You'd be responsible for taking class reservations,
helping new and existing customers, and signing in guests.  Do you think
you could handle that?"

       "I would gladly accept the offer, but what about your current
secretary?"

       "That's my sister," she chucked.

       "In that case, sign me up," Blue said.

       "I'll get some paperwork together, could you leave your number and
I'll call when everything's set?"

       "Sure thing," Blue wrote Maura's phone number down on a slip of
paper.  His next task would be getting a cellphone.  "That's my Aunt's
phone number, I still need to get a new cellphone here."

       "I'd say that should be the next thing you do.  I'm glad to have you
here, you seem like a great kid."  Blue shook her hand again and went
upstairs to leave.  He waved goodbye to the receptionist and realized he'd
soon be in her position.

       Blue was excited about his new job, even though he had yet to learn
any of the details.  Following Jessica's advice, he went to the Verizon
store a few blocks down the road.  On his walk over he wondered how close
he was to the ocean.  Blue signed up for a new phone contract and got a
basic smartphone.  He was able to use his existing bank account since it
was with a national institution.  Blue had modest savings from before
moving, but nothing he could sustain himself on.  All he had to do now was
wait for Jessica to finish with the papers.  Well, he had to wait for Maura
to get off from work to let him know if Jessica had finished with the
papers.

       Maura got home around six and informed Blue of the message Jessica
left.  Dinner felt like torture since he couldn't stop thinking about
getting back to First Fitness.  This was his first step to starting a new
life in California.  Soon he could get a car and a place of his own.  But
he still had a ways to go until then.  Once he finished dinner and cleaned
the dishes, it was the least he could do, Blue headed down to First
Fitness.  Technically it was closed, but Jessica was still there so Blue
could sign the contract and start work that week.

       He knocked on the glass since the door was locked.  Jessica unlocked
the door a few minutes later.  The two went downstairs to her office to go
over the terms of Blue's employment.  He'd work every day from seven until
four, and Sundays from noon until six.  Jessica would cover some of the
hours he wouldn't be around for.  The hours seemed like a lot at first, but
he'd be paid eleven dollars an hour.  Blue couldn't be happier with the
wage.  They discussed the policy about calling in sick or giving notice for
a vacation days which had to be approved. He signed at the bottom of the
page.

       "I'd like you to come in tomorrow afternoon so we can go over the
computer system.  Our grand opening is in two days, Friday, so you should
be ready by then," she said.

       "I can come in at one tomorrow, if that works," Blue replied.

       "I'll see you then."

       The training for the computer system was easy enough.  It was a
pretty basic database system equipped with a barcode scanner for client
IDs.  Blue was also shown the program used to schedule clients for the
classes offered.  He spent most of the day with Jessica's sister, Skyler,
while his boss interviewed applicants for the open instructor and trainer
positions.  Blue was so glad he had a job at such a great place, and the
location made it convenient.

       Blue woke up early Friday morning.  Jessica asked him to wear a polo
shirt and anything that wasn't shorts or jeans.  He thought working at a
gym meant he'd be able to wear athletic attire, but he was the receptionist
so he had to look presentable.  At least Jessica said so, and she was his
boss now.  He showered and dressed according to code.  Maura was out the
door five minutes before he was.

       The same blasé girl took his order at the coffee shop.  Today's
muffin was blueberry swirl.  The swirl was cinnamon.  There was no hurry to
eat fast, but Blue had to fight to contain his excitement.  He was a little
nervous too.  It was almost like the first day of school.  The grapefruit
this morning was tarter than he had remembered from last time; the sun was
just as bright.

       A surprising number of people came to the grand opening.  They
toured the facility, and some of them signed up for membership.  Fitness
First took members on monthly contracts, and clients which signed up during
the grand opening had their first month free.  The location must have
appealed to the locals sick of commuting into the city to find a gym.
Anyone could jog or ride a bike in the area to keep in shape, but the
facility offered classes and weights to increase anyone's fitness regimen.
Blue managed to keep a clear head even when there was a line of people
waiting to be entered into the system.  He smiled and chatted with each
person while keying in their information.

       There was one moment when Blue was nervous.  He had been so caught
up in moving and the new job that he wasn't think about any personal
desires.  Part of his new life would eventually be someone to share it
with, and Blue wanted sex just as much as the next guy.  He knew gay men
wouldn't be falling into his lap like leaves, but he figured he'd meet
someone eventually.  While processing an older woman with an enthusiasm for
hot yoga, Blue noticed a guy towards the back of the line.  His stomach
fluttered.

       This man was stunning, at least in Blue's opinion.  The guy checked
off almost every box for what Blue found attractive.  He had dark hair and
a rugged face with even darker stubble.  Blue could tell he was involved in
some sports league.  The guy looked like he already knew his way around a
gym.  This was incentive to process all the other customers faster.

       After six new clients he arrived at the heartthrob in the line.
Blue readjusted himself in the seat and mustered up his willpower to keep
from getting hard on the job.  He squinted at the screen and tried to take
little notice of the guy, like the girl at the coffee shop.

       "I'd like to sign up," the guy said.  His voice was like supple
velvet with only a slight rasp.  It was disgusting how attracted Blue was
to him.

       "Sure, let's start with getting your name," Blue said.  He didn't
feel as talkative anymore.

       "Sean Reed," he replied.

       "Alright Sean, can I get you birthday?"

       "September sixteenth, nineteen eighty-eight."

       "Thanks. Sex?"

       "What?"

       Blue blushed right away.  He didn't have to read every line on the
screen.  Now Sean would think he was a creepy idiot.

       "Sorry, my mistake.  You're obviously a male," Blue said.  He
couldn't make eye contact or he might melt.

       "Right," Sean laughed.  Blue printed out his ID card with his new
client number.  He took the form with billing information and called for
the next person on line.  Blue watched Sean leave out of the corner of his
eye; his butt hugged perfectly by his shorts.

       Blue had something else he'd never told anyone.  Of all the boxes
Sean checked for Blue's ideal physical attraction, there was one left
empty.  Blue realized soon after he accepted he was gay that he had a thing
for bigger guys.  It wasn't something everyone would be accepting of, but
he was what he learned was called an encourager.  There was a threshold to
how big he'd want someone to get.  But he found a well-muscled body,
complimented by a well-fed belly, very arousing.