Liam, about to join the crowd outside Wilkos, was halted by a familiar voice calling his name. "Hey Liam!" he heard, turning to see Carly in her usual 'Beautylicious' tagged white blouse with a delicate necklace down to her chic skirt and comfortable flats. Her face flushed and her stylish bobbed blonde hair whipping in the breeze from her hurried approach from the salon. Liam's brow furrowed in confusion. Carly's unexpected appearance caught him off guard. They hadn't exactly been on speaking terms since their last encounter, maybe she was drawn by the unusual spectacle unfolding outside Wilko's as well.
"Carly?" he replied, his voice raised in surprise. "What are you doing here?" Carly slowed down, her breath catching up with her. Her sparkling eyes hinted at the excitement that had fueled her dash across the plaza, which didn't seem right. Her accessories would be minimal and tasteful, perhaps a delicate necklace or a pair of statement earrings. "I-uh, was doing catching some fresh air outside the salon," she explained, her eyes darting towards the crowd outside Wilko's. "But I noticed all the commotion..." Carly paused, her eyes darting between the restless crowd and Liam's expectant face. The anticipation hanging in the air was palpable.
"And?" Liam prompted, his curiosity piqued by the growing crowd and the hushed whispers that seemed to call him. He caught snippets of the commotion, hearing phrases like "calm down" and "please stop!" This only fueled his curiosity, making him even more eager to join the crowd and leaving Carly with whatever she had going on.
"And I need you to come with me!" Carly's voice was laced with urgency as she wrapped her hand around Liam's wrist, her grip firm yet comforting. Without waiting for a response, she tugged him away from the crowd, her determination evident in her stride. Liam, caught off guard by Carly's sudden action, found himself reluctantly following along. He couldn't help but notice the irony of the situation. Carly, with her toned muscles and unwavering dedication to fitness, was dragging him, a self-proclaimed couch potato, away from where he needed to be. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Liam couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation. Carly's sudden reappearance had stirred something within him, a spark of excitement that had been dormant for far too long.
Liam's curiosity grew as he and Carly left the Wilko's area, with Beautylicious and the commotion altogether. "Where are we going?" he asked, he called out to her, his voice barely audible above the din of the crowd that flowed around them on the sidewalk. Carly turned to him with a mischievous grin, promising a surprise that would get his heart racing. Liam's mind raced with possibilities, but Carly's reassuring words did little to quell his apprehension as he wondered about their destination and the fate of his job. Their walk wasn't far, but the familiar sight that greeted them sent a jolt of surprise through Liam's body: it was the gym, the place where they used to meet regularly.
"The Gym?" Liam exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. His exclamation drew a fleeting glance from Carly, her mischievous grin still playing on her scarlet red lips. As they ventured further into the familiar surroundings, Liam's apprehension grew. Carly approached the reception desk, her steps light and her movements purposeful. Her eyes scanning the room, spotted Gareth and greeted him. He was a regular trainer at the gym, Simon's friend and co-worker, and also Kay's boyfriend who was also her co-worker. Gareth, currently seated at the waiting area, likely anticipating his next client, acknowledged Carly's presence with a brief nod and a polite inquiry about Simon's whereabouts.
"He left minutes ago, said he's running some errands outside." Gareth informed them, his gaze shifting back to his phone as if dismissing the peculiar situation unfolding before him.
"Good." Carly remarked, a hint of 'plan going well' was palpable in her tone. Which Liam felt a pang of oddness about it all. Simon was Carly's husband, why would she be glad not to see him?
She paid for their gym access and led Liam towards the workout area, leaving him trailing behind, his mind abuzz with a flurry of unanswered questions. Why had she brought him to the gym, a place that held such memories? What was her motive? The more he pondered, the more the pieces of the puzzle seemed to scatter, leaving him with a sense of bewilderment and a growing unease.
As they entered the workout area, the familiar sights and sounds of clanging weights, pumping music, and the grunts of exertion seemed surreal, a stark contrast to the turmoil within Liam's mind. Liam couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. He remembered the countless hours he had spent here, training alongside Carly, their laughter and encouragement fueling each other's progress. The feeling of unease had gnawed at Liam's insides until he finally reached his limit. With a sudden surge of determination, he wrenched his arm free from Carly's grasp. The force of his pull sent Carly stumbling, her body spinning around until she faced him.
Liam's impatience, anxiety, and unease were palpable as he confronted Carly. "Carly, what the hell is going on?!" he demanded, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and concern.
Just as he was about to step back, Carly's expression transformed, her mischievous grin replaced by a look of genuine pleading. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, now held a depth of emotion that caught Liam off guard. "It's been a while, Liam," she began, her voice soft and tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "Remember when we used to meet up here, workout together? Did you miss it?"
Liam found himself disarmed by her sincerity, the familiar memories flooding back. He couldn't deny that he had missed their shared gym sessions, the camaraderie, the easy banter, the unspoken connection that existed between them.
Carly continued, her smile widening, "You were the skinny stick boy and I was the chubby gum bear." Her words were lighthearted, but there was a touch of vulnerability in her voice that tugged at Liam's heartstrings.
"You're still a beauty, though," Liam replied, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Just a bit stronger and more beautiful, while I'm still..."
"A skinny stick boy," Carly finished the sentence, a chuckle escaping her lips.
"Man! A skinny stick man! I'm 18 now, you know," Liam added, playfully trying to deflect from the lingering tension in the air. Carly's chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh, her joyous sound echoing through the gym.
Before Liam could utter a question, Carly's hands gently grasped his, her touch warm and reassuring. "You were like a little brother to me, Liam," she said, her voice laced with sincerity. "You were always there for me! Ever since I teased you, your skinny arms and your awkward attempts to lift weights. But instead of getting upset, you just laughed it off, your humor disarming me and turning my frown upside down."
As Carly's affection bloomed across her face, her hands gently clasping his, Liam couldn't help but be swept back down memory lane. He too had come to see her as a cherished sister, a bond forged from the moment he witnessed her laughter in response to his jokes, back when he still had reasons to be positive in life despite the turmoil he faced at home. Bringing joy to others was one of the reasons he believed life was worth living, and he was grateful that it had led him to Carly. "Remember that time you tried to bench press my weight and ended up collapsing like a deflated balloon?" Carly chuckled, her laughter echoing through the gym. Liam couldn't help but grin. "I was just trying to impress you," he admitted, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I didn't realize that my skinny arms couldn't handle such a challenge." "Well, you certainly succeeded in making me laugh," Carly replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Your humor was always your best asset, Liam." His heart swelled with a warmth that spread through his body. Carly's laughter had always been a balm to his soul, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was still room for joy. "And your infectious energy," Liam added, his voice laced with admiration. "You always had a way of making me forget my troubles, even if it was just for a little while." Carly's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with affection. "I guess we had a good thing going there, didn't we?" she mused, her voice barely a whisper. Liam nodded, a silent agreement passing between them.
Their connection, once a vibrant part of their lives, had been dormant for far too long. But now, amidst the familiar sights and sounds of the gym, it was beginning to reawaken, stirring emotions that had been buried deep within their hearts. Liam's gaze fell upon Carly, his height advantage making their eye contact unavoidable.
A subtle change in Carly's appearance caught his attention. Her eyes, once a vibrant azure, were now a mesmerizing shade of green. "Green eyes?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued. "Are you wearing contacts?" Carly flashed a mischievous grin, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Maybe," she teased, leaving Liam to ponder the mystery behind her sudden change. With a stammer, Liam tried to articulate his thoughts. "Well... I mean," he began, his words stumbling over each other. "It's certainly different. But I guess I kind of like it. You look like a mermaid." His words were met with Carly's infectious laughter, a sound that echoed through the room like a melody. Her eyelids fluttered slowly, a subtle cue that encouraged Liam to maintain her company.
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