6. Jess

6

JESS

G rocery weekend. Jess' fridge was officially a wasteland—land of the wilted lettuce and questionable cheese chunks.

Ugh, the grocery store was a jungle on Saturdays, but she was able to fight through the crowd. Basket in hand, she weaved through the produce section, dodging rogue elbows and mentally ticking off the list. Eggs, milk, bread—the holy trinity of any respectable fridge. She grabbed some frozen veggies, then headed towards the hygiene section.

Her skin had been freaking out lately, so she needed a new moisturizer. There were a million options, all with names that sounded like they belonged in a spaceship.

Just as she was about to grab a random bottle with vaguely appealing packaging, a voice cut through her internal debate.

"Ooh, that one's not bad, but have you tried this?" She looked up to see a woman holding a different bottle, a familiar smile plastered on her face.

Wait. Was that…? No way. Of course it was Sam. Her ex. Here. In the moisturizer aisle. Couldn't she have just picked another grocery store? Another planet?

Sam smiled hesitantly. "I've been using this one for months and my skin loves it." She held up the bottle for Jess' inspection.

Great. Just what she needed. Moisturizer advice from the woman who broke her heart two years ago.

"Thanks, but I think I'll stick with this one," Jess mumbled, grabbing the bottle she was originally eyeing.

"Jess, hold on a sec," Sam said, reaching out and grabbing her wrist.

Her grip was surprisingly gentle, compared to the way she ripped their relationship apart with a cold, "I just don't love you anymore" two years ago.

"Uh, can I help you with something?" Jess forced a smile, her voice tight.

"Can we just talk for a minute?"

"Shoot."

"I just wanted to apologize."

Jess scoffed, the sound sharp and dismissive. "Apologize? For what, Sam? For falling out of love? Newsflash, that's a pretty good reason to break up with someone, wouldn't you say?"

"No, that's not…" Sam stammered, searching for the right words. "I… I shouldn't have said that. It was a terrible excuse."

"Maybe so. But the damage is done, isn't it?" Jess said, her voice devoid of emotion.

She was reminded of the time she spent piecing her shattered heart back together while Sam… Well, who knows what Sam was doing.

Truth be told, it had taken a while to get there. Months of sleepless nights, tear-stained pillows, and the suffocating weight of a love that felt so one-sided. Even the mere mention of Sam's name could bring tears to her eyes. Every song, every movie, every shared memory felt like a fresh stab wound.

She replayed every conversation, every argument in her head, searching for some clue, some missed opportunity to fix things. But there was nothing. Sam simply fell out of love.

She'd poured everything she had into that relationship, always available, always willing to bend over backwards to make it work. But in the end, it wasn't enough.

There was a part of her, a tiny, bruised part, that still wondered if it was something she did. Was she not attentive enough? Too clingy? But logic drowned out the whispers of doubt. Love, real love, shouldn't be this easy to walk away from.

"Jess, I…" Sam started again, but she cut her off with a gentle shake of her head.

"Honestly, you don't need to say sorry. I've already moved on."

She excused herself with a polite nod, maneuvering around Sam's cart and heading towards the checkout.

As she reached the front of the line, she stole a glance back. Sam was still standing there, a lost look on her face. Maybe a part of her regretted letting Jess go, but that was a bridge she burned down a long time ago.

Seeing her today was a confirmation. She'd moved on. Her life was full; her career was thriving, her apartment felt like a haven, and having a relationship was ruled out entirely.

Maybe someday she'd open herself up again, but for now, she was perfectly content being alone.

Scrolling through her social media feed, Jess' perfectly manicured finger paused over a post titled, "Yoga for Everyone: 5 Simple Poses to De-Stress."

The accompanying picture showed a woman, Jamie Nguyen, in a downward-facing dog pose, a basic, beginner move. Jamie Nguyen looked tall and all lean muscles and ridiculously flexible. She had dark glossy hair and big grey eyes.

Jess scoffed. Sure, that all sounded lovely, but where was the challenge? Where was the push that forced you to confront your physical limitations and emerge stronger on the other side?

These "gentle flow" yoga routines were all well and good, but for her, the real magic happened when she was digging deep, muscles burning, sweat dripping—that's when she found true mental and physical resilience.

A mischievous glint crept into her eyes. Jamie Nguyen, huh? Sounds like someone needed a good dose of reality. This might ruffle some feathers, but a little controversy was practically her middle name. After all, if it wasn't generating a buzz, was it even Jess Thompson?

Tapping on the post, she read through Jamie's spiel about the benefits of gentle yoga for stress relief and overall well-being. It was all fluffy language and basic stretches—nothing that would get your heart rate up or leave you feeling truly accomplished.

She crafted her comment.

Simple? More like snooze-ville. If you're serious about results, skip the downward-facing dogs and get yourself to a proper boot camp class. Sweat, strain, feel the burn – that's what gets you toned and stress-free, not holding a pose for 30 seconds.

Adding a fire emoji for effect, she hit post , a thrill of anticipation coursing through her.

This was bound to stir the pot. People craved a little debate, and Jess Thompson was always happy to provide it.

Her phone buzzed with Jamie's reply.

Jess, intensity is great, but it's not everything. You wouldn't expect to build a house with just a hammer, would you? Yoga builds the foundation - strength, flexibility, focus - that allows you to push yourself even harder in other workouts.

Okay, that metaphor was actually kind of good. But she wasn't about to let her have the upper hand.

Maybe not, but you wouldn't get very far just laying the foundation either, would you? Sometimes you gotta put on the hard hat and get to work!

The comments were lighting up faster than she could refresh the page. One user chimed in, seemingly on Jamie's side:

Preach, Jamie! Yoga isn't just about stretching – it's built mental grit too. I used to get winded walking up the stairs, but after a month of yoga, I hiked a whole mountain! Strength comes in many forms.

Another user threw their support behind her:

Jess is right though! My friend went from barely being able to do a pushup to crushing her first Spartan Race after joining boot camp. You gotta push yourself to see real change!

The argument kept going for hours nonstop.

Who is this bloody Jamie Nguyen anyway?

The insistent ring of the doorbell cut through the apartment. Groaning internally, Jess pushed herself away from the computer, expecting the usual delivery guy, probably standing there with the boots she ordered.

Instead, a familiar face broke into a wide grin, framed by a mess of wild red curls that accentuated their sharp cheekbones. They were rocking a band t-shirt and ripped jeans, the very image of effortless cool.

"Hey girl! How's the queen of boot camp been ruling the fitness world?"

"Isa!" Jess shouted, throwing her arms open in surprise.

Her childhood best friend, Isabel, stood on the doorstep, their backpack slung over one shoulder, a mischievous glint in their hazel eyes.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Mexico for another month?"

Isabel, non-binary and fiercely proud of it, threw their head back and laughed.

"Surprise!" they said, pulling Jess into a tight hug. "Turns out, Mexico got a little too… relaxing. I needed some real Jess energy in my life."

Here, in front of her, stood the person who'd known her since scraped knees and trading Lisa Frank stickers, the one who'd patiently listened to her rant about boys (and now, maybe, fitness instructors) for hours on end.

"Come on in," Jess said, pulling Isa inside and shutting the door behind them. "Let me get you some water, and then you need to tell me everything about your trip."

Pushing open the fridge, Jess scanned the shelves, bypassing the sparkling water in favor of two cold beers.

Isa flopped down on the couch, flinging their backpack onto the floor with a dramatic sigh.

"Here you go," Jess said, handing them a bottle. "Local IPA, perfect for rehydration after a Mexican adventure."

Isa took a long swig, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Mmm, that hits the spot. So, what's all this I hear about you stirring up trouble online?" they asked, a playful glint in their eyes.

Jess knew this wouldn't stay a secret long. Isa always had a nose for drama, even from miles away.

She grinned. "You know me too well," she said, taking a long swig. Briefly, she explained the back-and-forth with Jamie bloody Nguyen, the yoga instructor practically living rent-free in her head.

There was something about Jamie that drew her in and pissed her off all at once.

"Jess, you instigator! You know you could have just scrolled past her post, right?"

"But where's the fun in that? Besides, someone needs to stand up for the glorious world of boot camp sweating!"

Isa took a thoughtful sip of their beer, then grinned. "Okay, okay, I get it. But seriously, can't there be room for both yoga and boot camp in the fitness world?"

"Who cares?"

"Maybe you can challenge Jamie to a fitness fusion class—half yoga, half boot camp. Winner gets bragging rights for a month!"

The idea sparked a fire in Jess, both hilarious and oddly compelling. "You know what, that might just be the perfect way to end this whole thing."

They both laughed.

"But seriously though, why don't you just stay out of it? Yoga, boot camp, who cares? People can choose what works for them."

Jess smirked. "Yeah, you're probably right. Besides, I'd rather be catching up with my favorite travel buddy than arguing with some internet stranger about downward-facing dogs."

Suddenly, Isa reached into their backpack and pulled out a small, brightly colored package.

"I brought you a little something from Mexico."

Jess took the package. Isa always knew how to make her feel special. "You shouldn't have," she said, carefully unwrapping the paper. Inside sat a beautiful silver necklace with a tiny cactus pendant.

"For the toughest trainer this side of the equator. Besides, it reminded me of you—strong, resilient, and thrives in the heat." Isa said with a wink.

Tears welled up in Jess' eyes. "Isa, you're the best," she managed to choke out, pulling them into a tight hug.

"De nada. You don't need to thank me."

Finally, Jess pulled back, wiping her eyes. "So, how are things with your folks? Did they come around to the whole, you know, not-a-girl-not-a-boy thing?"

Isa's smile faltered for a brief moment. "They're trying. There's still a lot of… confusion, on their part. But hey, at least they're not disowning me anymore. Besides, I'm not holding my breath for a Pride Parade invitation anytime soon, but baby steps, I guess."

Jess squeezed their hand sympathetically. "That's good. Change can be hard, especially for older generations.

"How about your mom? And Riley?"

"Mom's good. She actually loved the scarf you sent for her birthday. Said it was perfect for those chilly evenings. And Riley loves those video games."

They chatted for a while longer, catching up on everything from Isa's adventures in Mexico to the latest gossip with their old friends. Finally, Isa yawned widely.

"Whoa, traveling home has caught up to me," they said, stretching their legs. "Maybe I should hit the hay."

"Yeah, probably," Jess agreed, glancing at the clock. It was later than she realized.

She walked Isa to the spare bedroom, making sure they had fresh towels and everything they needed.

"Hey," Jess said as Isa was about to close the door.

"Yeah?" Isa asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"How about tomorrow, we hit the gym together? You can be the judge of who has the better workout, yoga or boot camp."

Isa's eyes lit up with a familiar challenge. "You're on," they said with a grin.

Just as Jess stepped out of the room, her phone chimed, revealing an email. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Whoa!"

"What is it?" Isa came running.

With trembling fingers, Jess showed them the email.

The subject line screamed at her in bold letters:

Subject: Ultimate Body Battle: Interview Invitation

Dear Jessica Thompson,

We'd like to invite you to interview for a spot as a trainer on the upcoming season of Ultimate Body Battle!

The interview will be held on Tuesday, May 14 th at 10:00 AM at our Los Angeles studios. During the interview, you'll have the opportunity to meet with our production team and discuss your training philosophy and experience.

We're excited to learn more about you!

Sincerely,

The Ultimate Body Battle Team

"Holy Moly!" Jess breathed, a mixture of shock and exhilaration coursing through her.

Isa snatched the phone from her hand, their eyes scanning the email with amusement.

"Well, well, well. Look who stirred up a little too much trouble online. Seems like your internet brawl caught the right attention," they said with a smile.

"You think this is because of that whole yoga-versus-boot-camp thing?"

"Bingo!" Isa said, snapping their fingers. "Did you think that after stirring up all that trouble online, you wouldn't get noticed? Looks like your troublemaking has paid off, Jess! You totally deserve to be on that show."

Excitement bubbled in Jess' chest, threatening to overflow. "I know, right?" she said, grabbing Isa in a spontaneous hug. "This is huge! This is a big reality tv show! Drinks are definitely on me. How about we head over to the bar? My treat to celebrate... and maybe strategize for this interview?"

Isa raised an eyebrow playfully. "Strategize, huh? Sounds like you're already planning to win."

"Well, someone's gotta bring the heat."

They laughed.