Racking it Up

[Aries]

Clunk, clunk, clunk. The metallic cacophony of numerous men lunking and grunting weights is thick in the air at the local Golds Gym in Grand Rapids, Michigan. However, today it has a special in the shape of OCW Hall of Famer, and advisor to Sid Harrison, Aries.

 

The former world champion is sitting at the edge of a bench near the free weight section performing bicep curls with a 30kg dumbbell, right handed of course. He finishes his set, and rises, returning the dumbbell to the rack, taking care not to drop it or cause too much noise. He takes a deep breath before heading across to a drinking fountain, pushing the button and lowering his head to drink.

 

SLAP.

 

He jolts upright, someone stupid having smacked him in the back. With a face like thunder he turns to confront his would be aggressor only to encounter the smiling face of his best friend, Jacob Trance.

 

Jacob Trance: “You’d think a wily veteran like yourself would know better than to leave his back open man.”

 

Aries chuckles and shakes his head.

 

Jacob Trance: “Should have said you were coming down without the kid, we could have worked out together just like in the old days when we were competing in old warehouses for that guy… What’s his name… The one that got sent to Guantanamo bay, anyway, that’s old news, but seriously, no offence, that kid is a bit of a see you next Tuesday.”

 

Aries: “Did you even have to remind me of our former employer? I donated money to terrorism, God damn it! I thought that the portion of my paycheck was going to a good cause too. Did you know that he’s out now? He’s seeking “investors”. Idiot. And ease up on the kid. He’s young. He has a lot of potential. Unfortunately; I think he’s just spent too much time lifting weights rather than lifting books.”

 

Jacob winks and raises his left arm above his head and reaching down his back, stretching out the tricep.

 

Jacob Trance: “I’m pretty sure they said that about me, eh? You training the next Jacob Trance to finally beat you old timer?”

 

Aries: You sure it wasn’t the other way around, chunky? I recall me beating you on several occasions. Hell, even when you had Brandon and that other one...what was his name? Hazmat? Hazrat?”

 

Jacob coughs; “Hazard.”

 

Aries: “Yeah, that’s what I said.”

 

Jacob Trance: “So, how are you feeling after your beating of biblical proportions?”

 

Aries scowls, before retorting.

 

Aries: “Says the guy that got beat worse than the Cubs.”

 

It’s now Jacobs turn to scowl, his hands falling to his hips.

 

Jacob Trance: “That’s just low.”

 

Aries: “Just like their spot in the Wo…”

 

Jacob interrupts with a loud, obnoxious groan.

 

Aries: “Right, right… I’ll stop. So, I see you’re in a gym, flapping your gums, are you on the treadmill for a couple of minutes or should I ask the question...”

 

Jacob looks bemused.

Jacob Trance: “Question?”

 

Aries: “Do…”

 

Jacob Trance: “Don’t you do it…”

 

Aries: “You…”

 

Jacob Trance: “Aries…”

 

Aries: “Even…”

 

Jacob groans.

 

Jacob Trance: “Stephen… Please… Stop.”

 

Aries: “Lift… BRO?!”

 

Jacob smashes the palm of his hand against his face.

 

Aries: “What’s wrong, Jacob? Cheese burger got your tongue? Come on. Sit your cellulite ass on that bench. I’ll spot you. You’re going to learn today., because punching yourself in the face is improper form.”

 

Jacob Trance: “Oh? Am I going to learn to be as cool as you? Are you going to teach me how to quote internet fads, Stephen? Please tell me you’re going to teach me how to get my cat to wear a slice of white bread over it’s skull!”

 

Aries: “Such anger. Wow. So mad.”

 

Jacob growls and Aries buckles with laughter before punching Trance on the arm, heading towards the free weight Area once more, taking a barbell from the rack this time around, resting it on the bench, locking it in place before returning the the rack of weights and loading it up. Roughly 300lbs are stacked up on there, and Jacob stands, slack jawed.

 

Aries: “Well… It’s not going to lift itself…”

 

Jacob Trance: “Can I not, and say I did?”

 

Aries: “Nope, a cameras been following us the entire time.”

 

Jacob Trance: “What… No way!”

 

Jacob turns, and stares right at the camera crew, a blank expression on his face.

 

Jacob Trance: “Oh man how didn’t I see them! I mean, they blend in so well with the crowd!”

 

Aries: “Just shut up and bench already.”

 

With a sigh, the North American champion sprawls on the bench and lifts the weight off the rack with the aid of Aries before beginning his set, all the while Aries shouts, surely, inspirational and not in anyway distracting slogans.

 

Aries: “COME ON! YOU CAN’T HIT THE TARGET IF YOU DON’T SHOOT!”

 

Jacob Trance: “WHAT?!”

 

Aries: “YOU CARRIED CODY THROUGH A FEUD! SURELY THAT WEIGHS MORE THAN THIS MEASLY 300LBS!”

 

Jacob Trance: “THIS ISN’T HELPING! AND DIDN’T YOU CARRY HIM TO A COMPOUNDING VICTORY?!”

 

Jacobs grip wobbles.

 

Aries: “I THINK I LEFT THE OVEN ON AT HOME!”

 

Jacob Trance: “WHY?!"

 

Jacob Trance: “IS THIS HAPPENING?!”

 

Aries: “Is this real life? Or is this just fantasy…”

 

Jacob Trance: “YOU’RE NOT FREDDIE MERCURY!”

 

Aries: “Easy come, easy go, you’d be champ if you weren’t such a wide load.”

 

Jacob Trance: “YOU WILL RUE THIS DAY!”

 

Jacob gives in and slams the weight onto the bar and wipes the sweat from his forehead as Aries walks off in fits of laughter, Jacob closes his eyes as he attempts to slow his heart rate down.

 

Aries: “Good enough for someone who looks like he smells like french fries.”

 

Jacob Trance: “I never got the fat jokes. I mean...am I REALLY that fat?

 

Aries: “Compared to a wrecking ball….”

 

Jacob Trance: “Don’t you even dare!”

 

Aries: “I cam--”

 

Jacob Trance: “NO! Just… Just stop, go to the shower or something, jeez! Wanna get something to eat after?”

 

Aries: “Sure. I could go for some seafood, honestly.”

 

Aries throws a freshly folded “just happened to be there” towel around his neck and pats his old time friend on the shoulder.

 

Aries: “Get up, tons of fun. The shower isn’t going to come to you!”

 

Jacob, trying to catch his breath some more, shoos Aries away. With a ridiculous hyena like laugh, Aries walks towards the showers, leaving Trance to compose himself. He picks up the towel placed beside him by Aries, and wipes the beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. Jacob inhales deeply and looks up towards the ceiling. He prepares to get up from the bench, but begins to hear footsteps in the distance.

 

Jacob Trance: “Are you done already?! For once, someone didn’t get lost in Narnia whilst showering.”

 

Jacob shakes his head and lets out a slight chuckle. Just as he rises from his feet, a swift left hook lands on Jacob’s jaw. He falls back onto the bench, dazed and confused. The camera pans over to the right, revealing none other than K. D’Angelo. K.D. throws another punch, but this time a right hand. His punches land incessantly on Trance’s face, not allowing him any room to react.

 

Trance slumps over the bench and KD notices the bar still resting in the rack. He lifts it with ease and sets it down in front of Jacob, standing it upright. Quickly, he moves behind and reaches over with his left hand, gripping the top end, then through Jacobs legs he slides his right arm, grasping the bar. In a monstrous show of strength he proceeds to black rack press both the 300lb weight and Trance all at once. Once up right he pulls the bar down onto Jacob who begins screaming in pain as his lungs are slowly but surely being crushed. His shrieks of pain bring Aries running out of the shower, wearing a pair of shorts and flip flops.

 

Aries: “What the… KD!”

 

At this, KD drops the weights first, and Trance second, turning to glower at Aries. WIth a little smirk he looks down at this prey, and then back to the former World Champion before walking away without another word, leaving Aries to tend to his friend.