"Your boobs are getting bigger."
"Yes, I know. That is why it has come to this," Krysta seethed through her teeth. She laid face down on the bright, yellow exercise ball, legs extended and toes on the ground. She tilted down at the waist and pulled herself up again, struggling to keep her body straight. Her breasts were dead weight hanging from her chest, compounding the already substantial difficulty for someone who had not regularly exercised since she'd quit tennis in junior high.
"Pull your shoulder blades back and tighten your glutes." Alicia stood above Krysta, leaning against a basement pillar while thumbing through notifications on her mobile. Experience had taught Alicia that Krysta did not respond well to her typical hyper-enthusiastic encouragement. She had initially met Krysta's request for bi-weekly fitness training with hesitation. She preferred not to offer fitness training because she lacked the discipline to buckle down and become properly licensed. She was also hesitant to add another layer to her already tenuous relationship with Krysta and only agreed to training sessions when Krysta sweetened the deal with an offer for a monthly rent discount.
"Eighteen, nineteen, and...twenty. All right, relax."
Krysta rolled back onto her knees. If the mat were not so narrow, she would have gladly tumbled off sideways.
"That was wretched. I hate this ball. I hate my back. I especially hate my chest."
"Aw, come on. It wasn't that bad."
"I am just short of hating you."
Alicia chuckled. "Well, lucky for both of us, that's all I’ve got for today. You're gonna be crazy sore tomorrow."
"And I will be all better in time for the next session. How convenient," Krysta got to her feet and adjusted her gray workout pants. She allowed herself a minute to stretch, then moved to Alicia's side. "All right, show me the footage."
"Hold on, check this out!" Alicia held up her phone, which displayed a hand-drawn depiction of herself. "Someone made fan art of me!"
Krysta studied the image. "It is certainly you. Maybe a bit bulkier, but not much."
"I love it!" Alicia gushed, then tapped the screen. "And...favorited! I'm totally Instagramming this later." Alicia scrolled to the comments section.
"Aw, Alicia. Not the comments..." Krysta reached for the phone, and Alicia evaded her.
"Oooo, someone said I'm 'big and strong' while also 'feminine and girly.' I am big, strong, feminine, and girly!" Alicia flexed her other arm, posing for the mirror while pouting her lips.
Krysta peered at the phone over Alicia's shoulder. "Someone also wrote 'that's a huge bitch' in all caps."
"Meh, heard it before."
"What about 'my dick final boss'?"
"I guess that's kinda flattering. I mean, they'd still do me."
"It is like peeling an onion with you. Anyway, show me the footage."
Alicia switched to Instagram, displaying a short clip of Krysta powering through her first set of back extensions. The angle provided a direct view of her cleavage as she raised and lowered her torso, her face tight in focused exertion. Alicia used clever positioning, lighting, and background music to hide the fact they were in a home basement gym rather than a public one. Krysta read the caption.
"Really, Alicia? 'Gotta'? You know I don’t use slang. Not on my captions, anyway."
"Well, ya' do now. What’d you think of the hashtag?"
"Cute, but not subtle." Krysta peeled off her outer sports bra. Her breasts, freed from the confines of the double-layered spandex, settled into the gray cotton sports bra. "Also, did you have to mention my back problems?"
"Why not? Isn't that why we're doing this?"
"Yes, but I do not need people thinking I am even considering a reduction."
"There's no such thing as bad publicity. You'll get a little more buzz, which would be great with that new girl on the scene. What's her name?"
"Alexis Cheer," Krysta said, cringing. "I cannot stand that name. She actually named herself what they called her on a web forum."
"So did you."
Krysta scrunched her face, embarrassed by her impulsive oversight. "Well...yes. That is true."
Alicia sipped her protein shake while bouncing on the workout ball. "Either way, it's good marketing. Those high school cheerleading pictures are what got her on the map in the first place. She's fun too. I met her last year at Coastside Comic Con."
"Ugh, you would like her."
"She was dressed as Catwoman, and I was Sailor Scout Supergirl. I'd have taken a picture with her, but man did she have a crowd!"
Krysta continued her post-workout stretches. "I cannot imagine she made the costume herself."
"No, she's only a model, but she's up-front about that. She gave the designer lots of credit, and she looked amazing."
Krysta sat down on the weight bench. "I doubt she even reads comics! How does that not bug you?"
"Because she's working and hustling just like us."
"You’re determined to be cool about her, aren't you?"
'She likes going, and the fans love her. I mean, check this out." Alicia brought her phone to her face. "Siri, show me that awesome gif of Alexis Cheer jumping on a trampoline topless." Seconds later, Alicia showed Krysta a looping GIF of a topless, smiling Alexis Cheer jumping on a trampoline with pompoms in her hands. Alexis was a 5'9" blonde with sports car curves, large bright eyes, and a personality as bouncy as her 32G wonders. "Look how fun she is! How can you not love her?”
Krysta let the animation loop a few times. A faint grin appeared at the edge of her mouth. "Okay, yes. That does look fun. Honestly, though. I have no issue with her. She is a lovely girl, but with her on the scene, griping about back problems makes me seem old.”
"You're twenty-seven!"
"And not getting any younger." Krysta scrutinized her body in the mirror. She pressed her fingers into her stomach and pinched a few rolls, then slid her hands to the underside of her breasts. She hoisted them up and down, letting them jiggle in her hands. "...or firmer."
"They sure aren't getting any smaller." Alicia grinned mockingly at a glaring Krysta. "If you're afraid of gaining weight, you should probably do more cardio."
"I cannot do cardio. Sports bras were not made to support the weight of two infants."
"Let me off the hook entirely for rent this month, and I'll make you a sports bra."
"Pay your already discounted rent this month, and maybe you will earn the right to propose such a deal."
Alicia scrunched her nose, looking like the world's largest angry bunny rabbit. "Rrrrgh! You are so mean! Anyways, don't blame the bra. You can totally do cardio. Use the elliptical or stationary bikes at the college gym." Alicia slapped her palm to her forehead. "Oh, wait! You won't go to the gym because everyone will stare at you." Alicia rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Really?" Krysta huffed. "You, of all people? The girl who will not go to a public gym because she’s afraid she will inadvertently kill the first douchebag who makes a crack about her 'manly' muscles?"
Alicia tightened her lips. "Don't, Krysta."
"I am simply pointing out, if you are allowed to use social anxiety as an excuse for avoiding public gyms, then I should be as well." Krysta held her hand out to Alicia. "But that is all beside the point. Fair is fair. You said you wanted me to take pictures of your butt?"
"Abs first, while I'm benching," Alicia peeled off her t-shirt and, wearing only her sports bra, patted the dense, taut muscles of her abdomen. "Get a good angle too. I want people to be able to count them. Also, I'm upping my reps to 255 today, so I may need a spotter."
"Alicia, that is almost twice my weight. What the hell am I supposed to do, dive under it?"
"You'll figure something out." Alicia loaded two 45's and a 10lb weight on each side of the bar. "I've been doing three of twelve at 235 for a month, so I should have this in the bag," She rolled onto the bench and gracefully wrapped her fingers around the bar. After a long exhale, she hoisted the weight from the rack. Her powerful arms and shoulders guided the bar down and pressed it up, pumping the weight in steady, controlled motions. By the fourth rep, Alicia even cracked a smile, her face glowing with adrenal bliss.
Krysta captured it all on film from various angles, focusing mostly on Alicia's abs while also snapping occasional shots of Alicia's triceps, chest, and legs. She then took a few steps back for some wide shots. Alicia had completed nearly all of her reps when her final press stopped halfway, and she grunted with apparent frustration.
"Help! Too much! Too much!"
"Alicia!" Krysta yelled, rushing over to aid her, only to have the bar suddenly raise and rack, just before she could reach it. Alicia smiled at the camera and stuck her tongue out.
"Gotcha! O-M-G, you should have seen your face. I didn't know you cared!"
Krysta framed Alicia's face and snapped a close shot of her impish grin, before setting the camera on Alicia's stomach and turning towards the stairs.
"You are so goddamned annoying."
"Thank you for the pictures!" Alicia yelled. Krysta responded with an extended middle finger. Snickering, Alicia gleefully replayed the video Krysta had taken.
That's gonna make such a great Vine.