#and some squats and some stretches. but wow those pushups did me in

[bl00dh0rs3]

Got my end of the month burst of motivation to get my shit together and did 10 push ups

[written-within-the-stars]

Was There Any doubt? – Solo by Harper

"With hard work and effort, you can achieve anything." –Antoine Griezmann

‘Finally, what time do you call this Nerd?’ She was working on upside down curls, and I had to twist my neck to speak with her.

“Leah, I told you I was working, and then I had to change before I left to come meet you.” I looked towards the clock on the wall. “Did I misunderstand the time we were to meet?” I was never late to anything; I was actually ten minutes early.

She clicked her tongue, her arms crossed behind her head. And her legs curled around the base of the punch bag. Her long dark hair pulled up into a ponytail hung to the point that it was touching the ground. You could see each and every defined muscle working at its fullest when she seamlessly pulled her body weight up to touch the top of the bag with her shoulder. And she wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

‘Nah, I had a free hour which never happens, so came early to get in some extra cardio in before you arrived.’

This was Leah Clearwater’s idea of fun. Some people would have just shown up on my door with a bottle of wine, and maybe a take away. However, not our Leah. She calls you and tells you to meet her at the gym, after work for a sparring match to burn off some energy.

‘Well, what you waiting for? An Invite? Bags down and warm up. Once I’m done, I’ll come and wrap your hands for you.’ She back flipped off the punching bag, somersaulting, to stand up straight like she did those in her sleep. Walking up to me, Leah placed her index finger under my chin and closed my parted lips. ‘The show is over Miss Jenkins. Get a move on.’

“Uhm… Ummm… yes… Uhm… warm up…” I stumbled over my words, setting my bag and water bottle down to the side. “Where would you like me to start?” I asked because I had some catching up to do now. Unzipping my jacket I set it down too, following Leah’s recommendations.

‘You’re in good shape, so I’m going to say two reps of Arm curls. Two reps of Stir the pot. Some Pushups, double up power squats, Split squats double rep, 40 Jacks, two 25s of sit ups and then we can hit the ring.’ She was stood beside her bag, her water bottle in hand as she spoke.

It was safe to say I started to pick up my things. “Uhm, you know what, I forgot…” the woman moved so fast that I didn’t see how she blocked my path.

‘Okay, okay. At least the stretches, and if you’re arse is hurting in the morning. You can’t complain that I didn’t let you warm up.’ Nodding her chin towards the ring. ‘I’m going to go show those fools what a real spar looks like, come over when you are done.’ Leah took my things from my hands. ‘Nice water bottle.’ Smirking at me as though she knew it was from Collin and Nova. With that said, she coolly sauntered over to the group of men whose eyes were everywhere but on her face.

‘Who’s up for a one on one?’ I heard her say, and they wall fell over one another to become the man in the ring.

“Poor men.” I said incomprehensibly. When Leah came to visit #Seth and us in Thompson, we had all gone hiking, worked out and we had taken her to the boxing gym. It had taken her lest than half an hour to work the whole gym over. All the men who thought she would be an easy win, were sent home with severely bruised egos, a couple of them had somehow managed to hurt their hands too.

‘Come on, you can do better than that Toby.’ I heard her say, as I started to stretch my body out. I watched Leah in the large floor to ceiling mirrors, she worked like a warrior. Her feet moved so smoothly that there was no way you could tell where she would hit next. Her body flowed to the music, and it felt like I was watching her dancing, not boxing.

Then there were the punches she was throwing, the touch of her glove to the flesh of the man names #Toby somehow looked flawless until the point where he stumbled and fell back into the ropes. His movements in comparison to that of Leah were acuter. And there was a part of me that cheered every time she touched her gloves together. She did it after each winning point, until the sparring match was done.

#Toby was hot and bothered, breathing uneven, he couldn’t stand and then there was Leah. She stood in the centre of the ring pointing to the next man. However now they all were following #Toby with their eyes, who was being helped to the benches. ‘Oh, come on, I’ll take it easy on you.’ I wasn’t sure if she was teasing them or if she really would have taken it easy on them or not.

My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my phone. When I glanced at the display it was an unknown number. “Hello, this is Harper Jenkins.” I answered on the third ring.

‘Hey there Harper, It’s Billy Black here. I hope this is a good time?’ I stilled nodding my head, until I recalled that Mr Black would not be able to view my head movement.

“Hello Chie— Uhm... Billy. Hi. Yes, yes this is a good time to speak. How may I help you?” I felt like a little girl when I heard this man’s voice. He had been such a kind person and helpful when we last met. Some parts of him reminded me of my father, which now made my heart swell at those thoughts.

‘Ahh. Good. Good. I wanted to let you know as soon as the meeting was over.’ The meeting? I thought to myself and then it clicked.

Leah and Sue had told me that the council had been in talks over my proposal. They had set two meetings to review the documentation, the plans, and the agreement I had put before them. With both #SueClearwater and the chief himself recommending the partnership with the practice in Port Angeles too. I was confident; however, you really couldn’t call the outcome of these things until they were done.

‘It is a go from the council Doctor Jenkins, they are happy to provide you with the support you need to make things happen.’ His voice was calm, however some part of me imagined that Billy Black was smiling on the other end of this call.

“Really? They… They said Yes?” my voice went up an octave, and I jumped in my spot. “Wow. Billy… How… When… How… How can I ever thank you?” I couldn’t believe that it had actually passed on the first attempt. Some part of me was ready to go back with revised plans.

‘It wasn’t me Harper, it was all your hard work, and yours was the most detailed plan they had ever seen. They were impressed with what they saw, and everything they have been hearing about your work. Congratulations. I’ll let you go and celebrate; we can talk more details later. Well done, Harper… well done!’ I smiled giving Billy my thanks and ended the call.

With the phone still in my hand, I hit call to the first number I always rang in a time of great achievement. I jumped on the spot waiting for an answer.

‘Hi, It’s William Jenkins. But you know that. You called me. I know you wanted to talk to me. However, I’m not here. You know what to do.’Beep…

My heart fell, I stopped jumping and my heart kept sinking. My eyes burnt at the fact that I had in the moment forgotten that…

‘Hey, what’s going on?’ Leah was beside me and I wasn’t sure when she had arrived. ‘Harps?’ She asked but she didn’t touch me.

“Nothing…” I cleared my throat, wiping my face with the back of my hand before turning to face her. A smile replacing the pain that my heart felt in this moment. “Uhm... that was Billy… he called to tell me that the council approved of my plans for the practice to build a partnership with the place in Port Angeles.”

Leah took the phone from my hand and pressed end on the call after seeing who the call was made to. ‘Was there any doubt that they would? Anything you set your mind to would be for the good of the animals here and in Port.’ Leah set my phone down before taking a hold of my hands.

‘Now let’s have some fun in the ring.’ Winking at me she started to wrap my hands. Asking me to explain the plans to her.

I knew what Leah was doing, and I highly appreciated it.