Chapter 4: The Grind
Aiden's sneakers squeaked on the gym floor as he racked a pair of 25-pound dumbbells, his arms burning but not shaking like they used to. It was mid-November, three weeks since he'd started feeling like the gym wasn't trying to kill him. The Westbridge Fitness Center was busier today, the after-school crowd filling the space with clanging weights and the hum of treadmills. The air smelled like sweat and cleaning spray, and the hip-hop playlist was still on repeat, though Aiden was starting to recognize the songs. He wiped his forehead with his towel, catching his breath. His black T-shirt was damp, clinging to his shoulders, which were starting to look less scrawny. He wasn't jacked, not even close, but the mirror didn't lie—he was changing.
Sophie was across the gym, finishing a set of deadlifts. She'd been there almost every time Aiden showed up, always with a quick nod or a tip on form. Today, she was in a green tank top, her short dark hair tied back with a clip. She caught his eye as she racked her barbell, walking over with a grin. "You're not half bad now," she said, grabbing her water bottle. "What's it been, two months?"
"Almost," Aiden said, tossing his towel over his shoulder. "Still feel like I'm faking it half the time."
She laughed, the sound sharp and real. "That's how it works. Fake it till you're not. You coming to the college party tomorrow? Some of us from the community college are throwing it at Jake's place downtown."
Aiden's stomach did a quick flip. A college party? He'd never been to one, unless you counted the time he and Ryan crashed a bonfire last year and left after ten minutes because no one talked to them. "I don't know," he said, shifting his weight. "I'm not really a party guy."
"Come on," Sophie said, nudging his arm. "You're not that awkward kid who showed up here dropping dumbbells. Live a little. Bring a friend if you want." She took a sip of water, her eyes teasing. "Unless you're scared."
Aiden smirked, his nerves easing. "Not scared. I'll think about it."
"Think fast," she said, heading toward the locker room. "Text me if you're in. I put my number in your phone last week, remember?"
He nodded, his face warm. He hadn't texted her yet, mostly because he wasn't sure what to say. Sophie was cool—confident, easy to talk to—but he wasn't sure if she was just being friendly or something else. Either way, the invite was a win, another sign he wasn't invisible anymore.
He finished his workout with a set of push-ups, managing twenty before his arms gave out. As he grabbed his bag, the guy with the shaved head from his first day—still lifting weights like a machine—gave him a nod. Not a big one, but enough to notice. Aiden nodded back, his chest a little lighter. He biked home under a gray sky, the cold air biting his face. The streets of Westbridge were quiet, the strip mall's neon lights flickering as dusk settled in. He felt good—sore, tired, but good.
At school the next day, Aiden was in the cafeteria, his tray loaded with a burger and fries. Ryan was across from him, hunched over his laptop, muttering about his startup. "I got an email from this guy in the city," Ryan said, his eyes lit up. "He's got a tech incubator, says he might fund my app if I can get a prototype done by spring."
"That's huge," Aiden said, stealing a fry. "What's the app again? Some coding thing?"
Ryan rolled his eyes. "It's a platform for freelancers to track gigs and get paid faster. You'd know if you listened."
"I listen," Aiden said, grinning. "I'm just busy becoming a debate superstar."
Ryan snorted. "Superstar, huh? You didn't choke at practice yesterday, so I guess that's progress."
Aiden laughed, but he was proud of yesterday's debate. He'd argued against school dress codes, and while he wasn't as slick as Priya or Matt, he'd held his own. Ms. Torres had even said, "Nice structure, Carter. Keep it up." Regionals were next week, and he was starting to think he might not completely embarrass himself.
His eyes flicked to Lila's table across the cafeteria, a habit he couldn't shake. She was with Jess and Mia, as usual, but she wasn't laughing today. She was staring at her phone, her expression tight. Aiden looked away before she could catch him. He wasn't going to let her mess with his head again.
After lunch, he headed to his locker, swapping out textbooks. The hallway was a mess—kids shouting, lockers slamming, someone blasting music from their phone. He was shoving his history book into his bag when Lila appeared, her denim jacket slung over one arm. "Hey," she said, her voice softer than usual. "Got a sec?"
Aiden's stomach tightened, but he kept his face neutral. "Kinda busy," he said, zipping his bag. "What's up?"
She hesitated, her fingers twisting the strap of her backpack. "I just wanted to say... you're doing cool stuff. The debate thing, the gym. It's impressive."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, his voice cool. "Thanks. Just keeping busy." He wasn't going to give her more than that. Not after the rally, not after two months of pretending he didn't exist.
Lila nodded, like she was waiting for him to say something else. When he didn't, she pushed on. "I'm covering the regional debate for the school paper. Maybe I'll see you there?"
"Maybe," Aiden said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Gotta go." He walked away, his heart pounding but his steps steady. He could feel her eyes on his back, and it took everything not to turn around. Let her feel what it was like to be brushed off.
Ryan caught up with him in the next hallway, his laptop under his arm. "Dude, you're savage. She looked like you punched her."
Aiden shrugged, but his chest was tight. "She'll get over it."
Ryan grinned. "You're a new man, Carter. Speaking of, you going to that college party Sophie texted you about? I saw your phone light up."
Aiden's face heated up. "You checking my texts now?"
"Chill, it was on your lock screen," Ryan said, laughing. "So, you going or what?"
Aiden hesitated. "Maybe. She said I could bring a friend. You in?"
Ryan's eyes lit up. "A college party? Hell yeah. Beats coding in my basement."
That night, Aiden was in his room, scrolling through his phone. His gym selfie from last week was up to thirty likes now, including one from Priya, his debate partner. He'd posted another one yesterday—a quick shot of his sneakers next to a dumbbell, captioned Grind don't stop. It wasn't much, but the likes kept coming—classmates, a few debate kids, even Sophie again. He wasn't used to this, people noticing him. It felt good, but weird, like wearing someone else's clothes.
He opened his laptop, pulling up the debate team's group chat. Matt had posted a mock schedule for regionals, with tips on handling judges. Don't rush, Carter, he'd tagged Aiden.
You've got the facts, just sell it. Aiden typed a quick Thanks, will do, his fingers hovering before hitting send. Matt was one of the popular kids, the kind who'd never given Aiden the time of day before. Now he was giving him advice? It was small, but it mattered.
His phone buzzed—a text from Sophie. You in for tomorrow? 8pm, 112 Maple St. Bring your A-game. Aiden stared at the message, his thumb hovering. He typed back, Yeah, I'll be there. Bringing my friend Ryan. Her reply came fast: Cool. See you. He set the phone down, his stomach doing that flip again. A college party. With Sophie. This was new territory.
Downstairs, Mike was in the living room, watching a car show on TV. Aiden grabbed a soda from the fridge, leaning against the counter. "You're out late tomorrow," Mike said, not looking up. "Where you headed?"
"Party," Aiden said, popping the can. "Some college kids from the gym invited me.
Mike raised an eyebrow, turning to face him. "College kids, huh? You're moving up in the world."
Aiden shrugged, but he couldn't hide his grin. "It's just a party."
Mike nodded, his expression serious. "Have fun, but don't do anything stupid. And don't let this new you go to your head. You're still Aiden, not some hotshot."
"I know," Aiden said, but the words hit harder than he expected. His dad had a way of cutting through his bravado. He thought about Lila in the hallway, the way she'd looked at him—like she was seeing him for the first time. He wasn't doing this for her, he reminded himself. But the thought of her reading his posts, maybe even showing up at regionals, gave him a rush he couldn't ignore.
Across town, Lila was at a school event, a fundraiser for the journalism club. The gym was decked out with streamers and a makeshift stage, kids selling baked goods and raffle tickets. She was supposed to be taking photos for the paper, but her mind was elsewhere. Aiden's face kept flashing in her head—his cool dismissal in the hallway, the way he'd walked away without looking back. She'd seen his latest gym post, too, the one with the sneakers. He was different now, not just physically but in how he carried himself. It shouldn't bother her, but it did.
Maya was at the event, helping at the bake sale table. She caught Lila staring at her phone and smirked. "Still creeping on Aiden's profile? You're obsessed."
"I'm not obsessed," Lila snapped, shoving her phone in her pocket. "I'm just... surprised. He's changed."
"Yeah, because you crushed him," Maya said, handing a cupcake to a kid. "You're jealous he's not pining over you anymore."
Lila's face flushed. "I'm not jealous. I just didn't expect him to... I don't know, get so confident."
Maya laughed. "You messed up, sis. He's out there getting swole and charming people, and you're stuck writing about bake sales."
"Shut up," Lila said, but there was no heat in it. She grabbed her camera, focusing on a group of kids near the stage. Maya wasn't wrong, though. Aiden wasn't the same guy she'd rejected at the rally. And the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if she'd made a mistake.
She'd been so focused on her internship, her college apps, her perfect plan. But seeing Aiden today, hearing about his debate team, his gym routine—it threw her off. She wasn't used to feeling like she'd missed something. She pulled out her phone again, opening his profile. The sneaker post was still there, the caption simple but bold: Grind don't stop. She hesitated, her thumb hovering over the like button, then closed the app. She wasn't ready for that yet.
Aiden was back in his room, lying on his bed, staring at the debate flyer on his wall. Regionals were a week away, and the party with Sophie was tomorrow. He wasn't sure which made him more nervous. His phone buzzed again—another like on his post, this time from a girl in his English class he barely knew. He set the phone down, his mind racing. People were starting to see him—really see him. Not as the kid who got shot down by Lila Bennett, but as someone who was doing something. Going somewhere.
He thought about Lila's awkward attempt to talk today, the way she'd fidgeted with her backpack. Part of him wanted to believe she was sorry, that she saw him differently now. But another part—the part that still stung from the rally—didn't care. Let her squirm. He wasn't that guy anymore. He was grinding, building something new. And tomorrow, at that party, he'd take another step. He closed his eyes, the faint ache in his muscles a reminder of how far he'd come. He wasn't stopping now.