Free A Pretty Pill by Criss Copp Page A

item! 
    Jade pushes herself backwards out of the parking spot, and then she rides carefully off towards the exit.  I’m stumbling over everything to get to the front windows to watch her ride past... and she doesn’t disappoint.  She obviously anticipated me looking, and as she sees me, she briefly extends the one finger salute as she’s gunning her motorcycle past the shopfront.
    “Paul... how is it you have a girl like that coming to a gym like this?”  I shout out.
    Paul makes an appearance, chuckling.
    “She sees value in coming to a real gym.” He says.
    “Indeed!” I say, towelling off the sweat that I ha ve managed to create today.  “Tell me something about her that will make me believe she’s not just a total bitch.” I ask... I’ll still chase her, but it will be a whole lot nicer if she’s worth weeks of build up.
    “She’s a nurse.” He says.
    “I’ve known some bitchy nurses!” I argue, but this is kinda hot.
    “She was a top athlete throughout her teenage years?” he offers.
    “Okay... that’s pretty cool, but still, not a personality winner!” I reason.
    “She’s been looking after her little brother entirely alone since she was 19.” He says.
    “Damn, that’s what I’m talking about!  She’s nice then?” I ask, taking on the care of someone is in my books a really nice thing... not that I extend that thought to myself, because I don’t.
    “She’s nice to me... really nice.  But she gets hit on a lot here by blow-ins and stuff.  Some of them are really gross ; she’s up for your bullshit!  She’ll take you on you know!” he says smiling.
    “I’m counting on it!” I say , because she sounds like she may very well be worth it.  “She comes in daily?” I ask.
    “Ye ah... depends on her shift as to the timing though.” He throws at me... “And no, I don’t have her schedule, so you’re out of luck there Romeo!” he explains, walking back to his counter and back to his invoices.  Before he logs back into his computer, he looks up at me towelling myself and standing nearby, “Don’t fuck her over Ben!  She’s not a game!”
    Not a game?  I know she’s not a game , but the fact is, getting her to fuck me is a game!  It’s a game I’m betting on to win!  So I need to be in my best physical form!  And since I like the fiery disposition; I’m expecting to piss her off immensely by just being my cocky self!
    So now I’ve just decided that my Mum is right. I need to work on myself again, because I’m letting myself go.  So in order to improve my physique, I’m going to stop off at the PCYC on the way home and see if there’s an MMA class there, so I can do some training and sparring.
    I give Paul a knowing look and a wink, before heading to the locker room for a shower.  I know it’s a lot of effort for a fuck, but as I thought before, it could definitely turn out to be more than a one night event.
     
    ***
     
    “No, we don’t actually have a mixed martial arts class at the present, because we don’t have anyone to teach it.  But we have Muay Thai and Karate.” The middle aged female behind the counter offers.  She’s a bit bored by the looks of her; maybe she’s had a bad day so far.
    “I used to come here when I was a teenager, and I learn t Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu and Boxing. I’m a fighter now over in The States, so; maybe I can run some classes?  I’d like to get something going while I’m staying here.”  I explain.
    “Well we still have Boxing, but we no longer have J iu-jitsu.” She explains.  “What did you say your name was?” she asks, squinting at me, like she might recognise me better that way.
    “Benjamin Reynolds , but everyone calls me Ben.” I answer.
    “And when were you here?” she asks, a small smile playing across her features.
    “Um... I left Newcastle when I was 18, but I trained here right up until I went to Sydney. So, nine years ago?” I respond, doing the math.
    “Cliff!” she shouts over her