“One two, one two,” the aerobics teacher instructed.
“This – is –is hard,” Christina panted heavily as she continued with the difficult procedure repeatedly. She had been in the aerobics class for only half an hour but it felt as if she’d been there for ages. Large droplets of perspiration trickled down her face.
“Trust me. It’s good for you,” Anna replied as she concentrated hard on the right moves. Both of them had applied for an aerobics class, basketball team, swimming team, and the mountain biking team. It was something that Anna had said that would keep Christina’s mind off Nick for a while, and then forget him completely.
“What do we have after this?” Christina asked tiredly as she danced to the upbeat music.
“Uh… swimming – I think,” Anna answered, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath.
“Bummer,” Christina groaned silently in her head.
“Tell me about it,” Anna said as she watched the instructor closely imitating her every movement. Just when she thought she was going to collapse, the aerobics teacher announced a rest.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Nick! That’s the third time that I told you not to stick your left foot out! It’s your right foot to the left and twist! What’s wrong with you today Nicky?” Fatima Robinson, the Backstreet Boys choreographer, asked with an annoyed and tired expression on her face.
“I’m sorry Fatima, guess I wasn’t concentrating,” Nick replied upset.
“I would definitely say so as well! Okay, time out guys! Our Nicky can’t handle it!” Fatima announced to the rest of the boys.
Brian was the first to approach Nick, “Is it CNN?” He asked knowingly.
“Yeah.”
“Did you call her?”
“No, it was too late to call her last night and we were too busy today so I didn’t call her.”
“Want to go call her now?” Brian suggested.
“Okay,” Nick’s face lit up slightly. He picked up a mobile phone next to him and dialed Christina’s phone number. One ring, two rings, three rings. No answer. More rings, still no answer. Finally, Nick gave up and hung up the phone, “No one’s home,” he told Brian disappointedly.
“Where could they be?” Brian wondered as he watched Nick walk to a corner with his head down and sat down looking very upset. “I wish I could do something…”
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“This is so much better than aerobics,” Christina sighed as she floated on top of the water and waited for her instructor to arrive.
“Yeah,” Anna agreed as she bobbed underneath the water for a brief moment.
“Everybody! Get out of the pool and do some warm ups!” The instructor yelled suddenly as he appeared from behind the male’s changing room door.
“Guess I was wrong,” Anna groaned and pulled herself out of the water.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“I’m so tired!” Christina exclaimed as she dropped onto the sofa with her red gym bag. She saw the answering machine’s red light flicker furiously and she pressed the button to listen to her messages.
“You have 2 messages,” came the mechanical voice of the answering machine.
“Christina dear, it’s your mom and I wanted to tell you that my return from my second honeymoon with Derek will delayed because of some accident that happened at the airport. Don’t worry though, I’ll call you a few days before we arrive, you know, so I don’t walk into a middle of a kissing session. Hehe, well, that’s it honey, call me if anything happens. Kay? Oh yes, and um, I told your teacher that your return to school will be delayed as well – so go cheer!” It was the cheery voice of Christina’s mother.
<>“Kissing session?” Anna echoed with a smirk on her face.
“Argh, don’t remind me of what happened that time okay? That was so embarr–” she immediately hushed when she heard Nick’s tired voice make through the static.
“Uh… Chris? It’s me, Nick. Um… just wanted to make sure you were all right. Uh… we’re doing great here, sold out concerts. Uh… talk to you later? Nick” Nick’s sounded hesitant.
“What does he want?” Christina asked confused, putting a hand up to her head as if she had a headache.
“No idea Chris, anyway, you don’t have anytime to think about him, we’ve got to be at the sports institute in half an hour for the mountain biking!” Anna cried out, realizing that they were going to be late, she grabbed her own bag and Christina’s and ran out the door, taking out their bicycles. She climbed on it and got in a ready position. “Hurry up Chris! We’re going to be late!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Christina mumbled as she climbed on her own bike and tried to catch up with Anna.