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usually turned up about twice as fast as my own. Also, she didn't under-
stand me.

"Do you listen to any music, Amber?"

"Well, I really like Depeche Mode:' she answered, smilingly,
expectantly.

Cunt, I thought to myself, ending the conversation there.

After cardio, Dwight would guide me through a twelve-
exercise weight training routine. It went with four sets of ten-to-twelve
repetitions for each exercise. I made fast improvement in my endurance.
Dwight could still lift much more than I could, but then again, he had
been at it much longer. Seamus would Spot him while he bench-pressed,
and then they would switch. They would Spot each other by strad-
dling one another on the bench, and the spotter would lean in to the
lifter. They told me that this was to ensure proper technique-so the
full range of motion would be used, and so none of the wrong muscle
groups would get accidentally thrown into the lift. This was to make the
exercises more efficient. However, neither one would do this when they
spotted me-and I consider myself fortunate for this fact. I can't imag-
ine being straddled by a sweaty, muscle-bound black guy to be much fun
in any capacity.

After exercising, I would always stand and drink at the water
fountain for a prolonged period of time. I had always liked water for its
. refreshing mouth-feel and its neutral, unobtrusive Ravor, but it seemed
that water was even more refreshing after an hour of strenuous exercise.
After that I would hit the shower, take a quick splash in the hot water,
and change back into my street clothes. I'd run outside for a cigarette
and then walk back in to meet Dwight and Seamus in front of the
locker room door. They would always take longer than I did-at the
time, I couldn't guess at why, but one day, I found out exactly what was
taking them so long.

That day-a Wednesday, I think-I wandered back in after
my smoke break and didn't find either of them outside the door. After
checking around the gym for a while (wondering if, perhaps, one of
them had decided to take in a few more sers.) I walked into the locker
room to look for them. In a secluded corner in the back, I found them
both sitting on a bench, shirtless, embracing and making out tenderly.
At first, my brain broke entirely-neither of them had seemed to be that

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