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cycwrites · 5 years

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Switching Gears Part 2 - W.T.F. Just Happened?

Words: 4683

Rating: M (Eventually. I think.)

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Also on AO3 and FFN

As always, thanks to @tiny-maus-boots for all the Beta’ing and support.

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~S~

“I’m sorry, you need what?”

Stacie paced in front of Chloe’s desk. “Bolt cutters. Some crazy woman just locked my bike to one of the racks with her chain.” She was still seething over the absolute insanity of it.

She’d walked outside and blinked stupidly at the second chain wrapped above hers. Looking up she’d searched the crowd around her before her eyes locked on the blonde from earlier. Who then had the fucking nerve to smile at her and ring the bell on her handlebars as she rode off.

Stacie could still hear the trill of it in her head and every time it echoed it took on an increasingly mocking edge. Needless to say any zen she’d gotten from her yoga class was rapidly dissipating.

When she’d double checked that the lock was indeed in place and she couldn’t just unwrap the damn thing, she’d stormed back into the building, people parting before her like a wave. She’d made her way straight to Chloe’s office to get the bolt cutters kept on hand for locks left on lockers.

Chloe watched her, confused. “Why would she do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Chlo!” Stacie threw her arms up in the air. “Because she’s fucking nuts?”

“She just… randomly chose you out of the several dozen bikes that are out there at any given moment?” Chloe tried to be neutral but Stacie could hear the amusement layered under it.

“She accused me of ‘taking her spot’.” Stacie stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Like it had her name on it. Said she’d been waiting for whoever had been there to leave, like it’s a parking lot at the mall.” Stacie’s hands shot into the air again. “I didn’t see anyone else in that spot for the three minutes it took me to ride up and get off my bike. Then suddenly this blonde woman who had been on her phone like ten feet away is yelling ‘That’s my spot!’”

Chloe twisted her lips like she was trying to keep from laughing. “Oh.”

“That’s it?” Stacie stared at her. “Just ‘oh’?”

“What else am I supposed to say, Stacie? ‘Let’s track her down and call the law on her?’” She grinned but Stacie was still too pissed off to find it funny.

“Do you think that’d work?” Stacie muttered.

“No.” Chloe said, still showing a complete lack of concern. “But I am tempted to look back through the security footage to find out who has you so riled up.”

“Would you ban her for life?” Stacie resumed her pacing, too agitated to be still.

“Stacie.” Chloe chided.

“You’re too nice a person.” Stacie accused.

“And I don’t want to get a bad reputation now that Stretch has finally become noticed.” Chloe watched her. “Please sit down, you’re making me want to get up and pace with you.”

Grudgingly Stacie took a seat. “One person wouldn’t – “

“One bad review and the whole thing could fall apart,” Chloe interrupted. “You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?”

Deflating slightly, even though she knew that Chloe was exaggerating on purpose, Stacie slumped in her chair. “No.” The two of them had been best friends since middle school and Stacie would never do anything that could potentially hurt Chloe’s dream.

Chloe had been working non-stop for the past four years to have Stretch It Out become a central point for almost all fitness needs. What started out as a dance studio, with her as the only instructor, had grown to encompass so much more: Spin classes, yoga, aerobics, dancercise – which Stacie still rolled her eyes at; ‘What’s next, that whole horse prancing thing, Chlo?’ – and she was hoping to hire a CrossFit trainer by the end of the year. Stacie was trying to convince Chloe to hire a self-defense instructor and/or someone who could teach kickboxing; she’d always wanted to learn and if she could do it cheaper thanks to her lifetime bestie discount it was even better.

“Aw, you do love me.” Chloe stood up from her chair and walked over to stroke her hand along Stacie’s hair. “Come on, I still wanna see the mystery woman.” She leaned down and grabbed Stacie’s hand and tugged. “Bolt cutters are in Security anyway.”

With a sigh, Stacie let herself be pulled to her feet. “Fiiiiine.” She followed Chloe down the hall to the door unobtrusively marked ‘Video’. “But if you’re not going to let me try and press charges I don’t know what the big deal is.”

“That’s okay ,” Chloe shrugged and opened the door with her key. “You don’t have to.” She waved Stacie in. “After you.”

“So kind,” Stacie rolled her eyes then smiled at the woman sitting in front of a station of five monitors. “Hey, Amy.”

“Skyscraper.” The Australian nodded at her. “How’s the weather up there?”

“Nothin’ but blue sky, Ames.” Stacie leaned against a filing cabinet.

Amy nodded at Chloe as she shut the door behind them. “Boss.”

“Can you pull up the camera for the racks in front and run it back about…” Chloe trailed off and looked at Stacie who checked her watch.

“What?” Amy interrupted before she could answer, looking at Chloe with confusion. “You can do that?”

Chloe stared at her for several seconds. “You’ve been here a year and you didn’t know that?” She rolled her eyes. “Tell me again why I hired you?”

Amy clicked her tongue. “You gotta keep me around so people remember why they’re here.”

“Amy!” Chloe gasped as Stacie frowned. “Don’t talk about yourself that way.”

“What, are you saying I’m not hot?” Amy eyed her carefully. “That’s why people do all these classes of yours, don’t they? To be hot?”

Stacie couldn’t help but smile. She was confident but no one was as confident as Amy. “You’re absolutely right, Amy.”

“Right.” Amy nodded at her. “Maybe I should read the manual…” She turned her chair to look at the thick binder resting on the desk next to her.

“Maybe,” Chloe said dryly. “But for now, let me in there so I can check the feeds.” Amy pushed her chair out of the way but made no move to stand.

Stacie could see that Chloe almost asked for the chair and decided against it. Instead she just stood in front of the console and looked back at Stacie. “After yoga class?” She clicked a button and the front entrance camera filled the center, and biggest, monitor.

“Yeah, after my shower.” Stacie scowled at the screen as Chloe turned a dial and the image began to run backward.

“You were naked with someone in the shower?” Amy asked teasingly from behind them. “I didn’t think Chloe allowed that kind of –”

“No!” Stacie cut her off and crossed her arms. “I did not have anyone in my cubicle with me.”

“Pity.”

“Found it!” Chloe suddenly said and Stacie’s eyes darted back to the monitor, now paused on the image of the uptight blonde kneeling by Stacie’s bike, chain through Stacie’s front tire. “Oh…”

Stacie turned sharply. “Oh?” Chloe’s tone had been somewhere between surprised and amused and it caught her attention.

Chloe chewed on her lower lip and Stacie couldn’t tell if it was in worry or to hide a grin. “That’s Aubrey.”

Bemused despite the slight renewal of her anger, Stacie half grinned at her friend. “Seriously, do you know everyone?”

‘Aubrey.’ Stacie rolled it over in her mind. ‘Why does that name sound familiar?’

“A good business owner is friendly and gets to know their clientele, Stacie.” Chloe said absently, her eyes still on the monitor as she let it run forward again. “But…”

It finally clicked and Stacie snapped her fingers, making both Chloe and Amy jump. “That’s her!” She pointed an accusing finger at Chloe. “That’s the hottie from spin class, isn’t it?” She frowned. “Wait, she rides her bike here, takes a spin class and then rides home or whatever? Isn’t that… overkill? She’s clearly even more insane than I thought.” She looked back at the screen. “Maybe her broom is in the shop.” Her eyes narrowed on the hand that had just lifted from the bell; even though there was no sound Stacie could still hear it ringing. “I’m going to steal that fucking bell.”

Without looking Chloe lightly poked her in the stomach. “Well, yes. That’s… her.” Chloe looked up at Stacie. “I’ve never heard her having any sort of altercation with anyone before.” She faced the desk and turned the dial, the image once more going in reverse.

“Gee, my lucky day.” Stacie resisted the urge to pace again.

“What’s the matter, you fancy her?” Amy said as she twisted lightly back and forth in the chair.

“I fancy strangling her.” Stacie muttered.

“Didn’t know you were into the kinky stuff.” Amy whistled appreciatively. “I now see you in a whole new light.”

“I don’t… that’s not…” Stacie stared at her. “I didn’t say that.”

“You’re also not actually saying you’re not.” Amy nodded. “But I get it, you’re embarrassed. You shouldn’t be. We like what we like.” She tilted her head and Stacie began to wonder if she was dreaming. “Though, if Chloe likes the blonde, I don’t know if you should go poaching.” She put her hand to the side of her mouth and whispered, “At least not when she’s around to see you do it.”

Stacie’s mouth worked but all she could come up with was “I would never go after someone Chloe likes.”

“Tyler Winston.” Chloe paused the feed again as she turned and leaned her hip against the security desk, a smirk on her lips.

“He doesn’t count,” Stacie said indignantly. “I had just moved to town and had no idea you had your baby blues on him!” She put her hands on her hips. “We weren’t even friends then!”

Chloe tilted her head from side to side, considering. “Alright. That’s fair.”

“See? I would nev–”

“Kasie Carson.” Chloe cut her off.

“C’mon, Chlo.” Stacie groaned. “She was hot and I was a hormonal teenager.”

“Like that’s any different now.” Chloe turned to Amy. “Kasie was one of the members of our high school dance team. She transferred in from another school – by that time Stacie and I had moved past Tyler and had become best friends – and she was raven haired and gorgeous.”

“Did you ever smash that?” The Australian looked between them.

“No.” Chloe said and Stacie echoed it.

“No, because after Tyler we made a pact not to go after anyone we both liked.” Stacie threw her hands in the air. “Which I have never done, as you well know.”

“So you guys have been friends for a while then?” Amy leaned back in her chair.

“Oh, totes.” Chloe grinned at her. “Since seventh grade. In high school we were inseparable; we took the same classes, the same extra-curricular activities.”

“Like dance team.” Amy nodded slowly, looking between them. “I see.” Stacie knew there was more she wanted to say when her lips pursed.

“Any time we had competitions away we always shared a dinky hotel room.” Stacie offered, more to see where Amy would go with it though she was pretty sure she had an idea.

“So you slept in the same bed.” Amy nodded sagely. “I see,” she said again, one eyebrow arching up.

“Yeah.” Chloe nodded back at her then frowned. “Not sexually.” Stacie waited, knowing it was coming. “Well, there was that one time.” Chloe turned and winked at her.

Stacie shrugged but smiled back. They’d decided to see if there was anything more between them and while the night had been... amazing… they’d both decided they worked better as friends. Nothing had changed between them; if anything it had deepened their friendship.

And, okay, maybe they’d had a handful of such encounters over the years when they were single and the mood struck them, but that certainly wasn’t any of Amy’s business. They had fun together but neither of them had ever talked about it being anything more. She supposed she ought to examine that one day, but for now it was enough that she knew the two of them would always be together even if they weren’t together.

“But now tall, dark and gorgeous wants your spin class hottie.” Amy interrupted her thoughts as Chloe turned back to the controls.

“Yes.” Chloe said over her shoulder, still grinning.

“No.” Stacie said over her, with enforced patience. “I am not asking out the crazy lady!”

“Then why are we looking into the footage?” Amy asked, almost reasonably. “And why is she crazy?”

“Because she locked my bike to the rack with her chain.” It didn’t get any less surreal the more she said it. “I need the bolt cutters, by the way.”

Amy jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “In the closet.” She moved to push herself up but Stacie waved her down.

“I got it, no big.” She moved to the door and opened the closet, digging around until she found the heavy duty cutters.

“And here is the first encounter. This oughta be interesting.” Chloe resumed playback on the video and zoomed as much as the system would let her. “Boy, she does look pissed.”

“She sounded it too.” Stacie studied the screen, the image clearer than she would’ve expected.

“You could you know.” Chloe said absently and Stacie turned her attention away from the monitor as their encounter continued.

“Could what? Press charges?” While she was still pissed, Stacie was over the worst of it. “Nah. It’d cost more than it’d be worth.”

“No,” Chloe turned to face her. “Ask her out.”

“I don’t want to ask her out,” Stacie said, waving the hand not holding the bolt cutters.

“You know nothing ever happened between Aubrey and me. And I’m not an insecure teenager anymore. It never happened. Or she wasn’t interested.”

“Because you never asked her out,” Stacie countered. “Anyone with eyes is interested in you, Chlo.”

“Timing.” Chloe shrugged. “Never seemed right.” Chloe had first mentioned Aubrey a year ago and Stacie kept waiting for the details of their first date but it had never happened. Chloe hadn’t wanted to seem like she was hitting on the clientele and Stacie couldn’t believe Aubrey hadn’t asked her out. Of course now that she knew Aubrey was crazy it made more sense and she figured Chloe had dodged a bullet.

“Excuse me.” Amy interjected and they both turned to look at her but she was watching the screen. “But what did you say to her right then?”

Chloe ran the footage back, both of them having tuned it out while they talked. “Oh. No, I was wrong before. Now she looks pissed.”

Stacie thought for a second and then laughed. “I told her she should try yoga, it might help her unclench.”

“Oh, Stretch.” Amy shook her head. “That’s not how you woo a woman.”

“I WASN’T TRYING TO WOO HER!” Stacie yelled.

“Alright, alright.” Amy patted the air. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, jeeze.”

“Stacie,” Chloe pulled her attention back. “Then what did you say to her?”

“I said…” Stacie stopped abruptly as her words came back. “Nothing. Why?”

“Because whatever it was, I’m shocked you’re not dead from the glare she just gave you.” Chloe paused the footage and smirked at her. “So?”

“Yeah, spill.” Amy joined in.

Stacie tried to shrug nonchalantly. “That she’d be cuter if her face wasn’t pinched.” There was no way she was giving them the rest of it. She didn’t even know why she’d said it – except it was true. Somehow the way the other woman – Aubrey’s – nostrils had flared the angrier she got was… cute. And, now that she wasn’t being yelled at, Stacie could admit Aubrey was an attractive woman; toned arms and legs, glossy blonde hair, exactly the kind of woman that Stacie – and Chloe – would be attracted to.

Except she was also just nuttier than a fruitcake.

“She is cute.” Amy agreed. “When are you going to ask her out?”

“Oh my god.” Stacie covered her face with her free hand. “Never.”

“You should.”

Stacie’s head snapped up at Chloe’s words. “Are you kidding me? Not only is she insane, she obviously hates me and will probably pop my tire if I’m ever in ‘her spot’ again.”

“You started assigning spots to the bike rack?” Amy pointed at Chloe. “I hope you don’t expect me to police that – it wasn’t part of my job requirement when I signed on.”

“I didn’t assign spots, Amy. It’s a long story.” Chloe held up her hand to stop Amy from speaking. “I’ll tell you later.”

“I’ll hold you to that. I don’t get nearly enough gossip.” Amy sighed. “It’s horrible being stuck in this room all day.”

“Amy.” Chloe shook her head. “You go hang out with Emily at the front desk all the time. All you two do is gossip.” She pressed another button and the monitors reset to live feeds.

“She’s good company.” Amy paused. “And really easy to tease.”

“You be nice to my cousin,” Stacie warned. “I don’t wanna have to kick your ass.”

“Yeah yeah.” Amy waved away the threat.

“C’mon, let’s go get your bike out of bondage.” Chloe put her hands on Stacie’s shoulders and turned her around.

Stacie just groaned as she let herself be led from the room and back through the halls until they reached the lobby and passed back outside into the late afternoon sun. “I still can’t believe this is a thing that happened.”

“You did seem to make a lasting impression on her,” Chloe said as she crouched and gave the chain a tug. “That’s a pretty heavy duty one too; probably cost her a pretty penny.” She tugged again. “It might take the two of us to cut it.”

“Think the lock would be easier?” Stacie ignored the looks they were getting from other people going in and out of the building.

“Nah. Locks are always worse.” Chloe stood back up. “Alright, let’s get it done.”

Between the two of them they were able to get enough force to cut through the chain though at one point Stacie thought they might have to go get Amy to help.

“Freedom!” Chloe yelled as the metal finally gave way.

“Thank god,” Stacie panted as she straightened up, stretching out her back. “Hunching over like that was starting to hurt.”

“Are you getting old?” Chloe shoulder bumped her.

“I’m younger than you,” Stacie replied automatically as she hefted the cut chain in her hands.

“Gimme, I’ll chuck it in the dumpster out back.” Chloe held out her hand and Stacie dropped the chain into it.

“Thanks. I’ll return the cutters to Amy.” Stacie lifted the tool to rest on her shoulder. “Thanks for the help, Chlo.”

“That’s what best friends are for.” Chloe said as they walked back inside, waving at Emily at the counter.

“And you’re the best.” Stacie paused outside Amy’s room. “But I am not asking out your hottie.”

“Notice I didn’t bring it up this time.” Chloe kept walking down the hall but turned to walk backwards, smug grin firmly in place. “You know – with all the denials… you haven’t actually said you weren’t interested…”

Stacie opened her mouth, firmly intending to unequivocally put an end to it once and for all, but what she said was, “Stop trying to set me up with crazy, Chlo.” She frowned at herself.

Chloe’s grin widened slowly like the Cheshire Cat. “Oh, Stace. You don’t even see it.” Before Stacie could ask her what the hell she was talking about, Chloe turned with a laugh and headed toward the back of the building, the chain swinging lightly from her hand.

With an annoyed grunt at her departing friend, Stacie knocked on the security room door. “Ames, it’s me. Returning the bolt cutters.” After a moment the door opened a crack and Amy peered out at her for a moment before opening the door all the way.

“Got yourself out of bondage then?” Amy grinned at her and took the bolt cutters Stacie held out.

“I should’ve expected that,” Stacie shook her head. “Yes, thanks for your concern.”

“Any time.” Amy hefted the cutters. “If you piss off any more women who are into chains…” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I want all the dirty details.”

“That’s…” Stacie sighed. “Goodbye, Amy.” She turned to go and caught sight of the binder sitting open on the desk. “You decided to give it a go?”

“Yeah.” Amy looked over her shoulder and then back at Stacie. “There’s some footage of me and my man in the shower after hours last week that maybe I don’t want the boss to see now that I know it records.” She shrugged. “Not that I’m ashamed, but she might not understand.”

By sheer force of will Stacie kept herself from laughing. “Nope, I get it. It’s doing her a favor, really.”

“Exactly!” Amy stepped back and started closing the door. “I knew you would understand, what with the whole chains thing and all.”

“Right.” Stacie turned and paused as a thought came to her. “But… there are no cameras in the showers or locker room?”

“We may not have stayed in the shower the whole time…” Amy pursed her lips. “Sometimes passion cannot be contained to one room.”

“Right…” Stacie said again, nodding slowly and firmly telling herself not to allow that image to form. She’d met Bumper and she’d never be able to look at either of them the same way again. She backed away from the door with a final wave. “See you later.”

As she reached the lobby, she paused by the counter. “Still on for dinner tomorrow?”

Emily looked up from the schedule she was putting together. “Yup. You still cooking?”

“I suppose it’s my turn.” Stacie pursed her lips. “Does pizza count as cooking if it’s DiGiorno?”

Emily’s head tilted from side to side as she thought. “It kind of sounds like cheating, but since you’ll let me throw whatever I want on it, sure.”

“Deal.” Stacie nodded. “Tomorrow then.”

“Later,” Emily said as she turned back to her chart.

Trying not to think too much about the last time she’d gone through this process, Stacie unchained her bike and stowed the chain and lock. She put in her earbuds, started up her favorite playlist and did her very best to not think about Aubrey and the whole ridiculous encounter. It was a fluke, it’s not like they’d crossed paths before and she probably wouldn’t see Aubrey again.

Except that every time she stopped actively thinking about anything else the rest of her night, she found her mind circling back to one very angry blonde staring her down.

By the time she woke up the next day, the encounter was far enough removed that she only thought of it in passing, mostly when she was riding her bike to and from work. And even then it wasn’t for very long and was nothing more than a mental snort of derision.

Until, that is, Emily came over for dinner. Then her cousin grilled her on what had happened the day before, since she’d seen some of it through the glass doors.

“So are you asking her out?” Emily asked curiously as she dried the last of the dishes.

“Oh. My. God.” Stacie dropped onto her couch, being careful not to spill her wine. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

“Because she’s pretty.” Emily followed her into the living room and sat down with one leg drawn underneath her so she could face Stacie. “And she’s really nice.”

“She chained my bike to the rack. There is nothing nice about that.” Stacie took a bracing drink. “She’s crazy.”

“No, she’s not.” Emily insisted. “She always tells me hello when she comes in and goodbye when she leaves. Flo loves her in class because she’s so energetic and friendly.” Emily poked Stacie in the knee. “So you should definitely think about asking her out. You’ve been alone too long.”

“I’m not alone,” Stacie countered automatically. “You’re here. I got Chlo…”

“You haven’t dated in months.” Emily raised one brow. “You never not date.”

“Eh.” Stacie shrugged. “I got tired of the same type of people. No one is ever interested in more than just my boobs.”

“Gross.” Emily’s nose wrinkled.

“Exactly.” Stacie shrugged. “And while that was fine in college, it doesn’t have the same thrill that it used to.”

“Aw, are you finally maturing?” Emily ducked when Stacie tried to flick her in the nose. “Hey, no cousin on cousin violence.” Eyeing Stacie warily, she leaned her shoulder against the couch. “Seriously though… I don’t like to see you alone.”

“I’m okay, really.” Stacie smiled at her. “Thanks for the concern though.”

“Since you won’t date Chloe – who I still say would be good for you – then you’re going to have to start branching out of your comfort zone.” Emily nodded sagely.

“Crazy should be outside of everyone’s comfort zone. And Chloe and I… that just seems weird after all these years.” Stacie shrugged. “I love her, of course, but I don’t know that I’m in love with her.”

“That’s not a good enough reason to not date and figure it out, but I get it.” Emily half shrugged. “And, seriously, you could do worse than Aubrey.” She sat back up, her expression earnest. “And I’m not saying you have to ask her to marry you, just coffee! Sit down and talk!”

“I’d be too afraid that she’d chain me to my chair.” Stacie paused, one corner of her mouth twitching into a grin as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Although…”

“Ew, gross. No more putting the sex thoughts in my head.” Emily shook her head rapidly. “I take it back.”

“I thought so.” Stacie took another drink of her wine and gestured at the bookcase. “Go pick a movie, Nerd.”

“Just for that, I’m goin’ with a sappy romance to put you in the mood,” Emily threatened as she pushed herself off the couch. “And you’re not going to fall asleep this time.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Stacie got up as well. “Then I’m getting the bottle.” She paused in the entryway to the kitchen. “Besides, I’m probably not going to see her again. We’ve gone this long without passing each other, so you and Chlo need to just stop the match making.”

“Ooh, Chloe’s on board too?” Emily spun to face her, eyes sparkling with glee. “Excellent.”

“Make that two bottles.” Stacie walked into the kitchen.

~*~

A week and a half later Stacie rode to the studio for her yoga class.

As she hopped off to park her bike in the closest rack, her eyes flicked to the one that had been the scene of so much chaos. It had become a habit every day she was there, though she wasn’t sure why. She froze in the act of unwrapping her chain from the bike frame.

Sitting in ‘her spot’ was Aubrey’s red bike. Stacie knew it was hers because no one else in town had a stupid bell on their bike. The second she laid eyes on it she had the echo of its ring go through her head. She eyed it narrowly, noting that it wouldn’t require any sort of tool to remove.

Locking her bike to the rack she made her way inside, ignoring the way Emily waved at her excitedly and gave her a thumbs up with an overly exaggerated wink.

“Guess who is here?” She stage whispered the second Stacie was close enough.

“I don’t care.” Stacie walked past the desk toward her class. “Bye Emily.”

“But…” Emily said behind her but stopped when Stacie kept walking. “Spoil sport.”

‘If it’s still here when I leave, I’m going to steal that fucking bell.’

Feeling slightly better with a retaliation plan in place, even if it felt extremely petty, Stacie went to her locker to get her yoga mat.

#staubrey #stacie conrad #chloe beale #aubrey posen #wlw #fat amy #emily junk #cyc writes #switching gears

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