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she liked to call a fitness center.
    â€œOver my dead body.” Taylor called out to her.She had done it again, managed to get all up under my sister’s skin.Shayla looked back and grinned. “Whatever.”
    Shayla was the type who liked to throw stuff in a person’s face any chance she could get. Ever since Taylor started working there they’d been rivals. My sister was the best at what she did. People came from all over the city to work with her because she was the ultimate fitness instructor and personal trainer. Since Shayla owned the center up thestreet, she didn’t like the competition Ms. Arlene’s place was giving her. The word on the street was her rich, several franchise owning husband bought it for her right after the wedding, which by the way was quite an extravaganza in and of itself. She went from tired aerobics instructor to entrepreneur extraordinaire almost overnight. Taylor had been livid ever since.
    I sat on that exercise bike, pumping my legs into oblivion as I watched Shayla strut out the front door in her designer labels. Then my sister took off running into her boss’s office. I could only imagine what Taylor was saying to her because The Push It Fitness Center was Taylor’s whole life.
    About twenty minutes later, Taylor came out of her office and walked over to me with her head bowed.
    â€œWhat happened?” I knew it was nothing nice.
    Her nostrils flared and her breathing became heavy. “Ms. Arlene doesn’t understand. I live, eat, and breathe this center.”
    â€œWhat did she say?”
    â€œShe’ll be retiring in about six months and selling the place. Six months ain’t enough time for me.” Taylor sighed.
    â€œI’m sorry, Taylor.”
    â€œYeah, me too. I begged for my job. I said I’d help out more, but it’s just not enough . . .”
    I felt sorry for her because I knew how much she, unlike me, loved her job. Being in fitness was the only thing she ever wanted to do with her life. “Don’t worry. You’re young and ambitious. I’m sure it will all work out for the best.”
    â€œYeah, right.” She turned on the balls of her feet and plopped down on a weight lifting bench where she rubbed her head against the chrome bars.
    Her petite co-worker, Bria, came over to stand beside her. “Well, at least she’s giving us plenty of notice.”
    â€œWhat am I going to do? It’s May now, and I’ve only got up until November.” Taylor turned to her.
    â€œJust look for another job like I will.” Bria sat down on an exercise ball and started rocking back and forth.
    â€œBut I love it here. I don’t want another job.” Taylor slammed her hand down against the bench. “I always thought I’d leave here when I was ready to open one of my own.”
    â€œWell, why don’t you?” I was always good at motivating other people, but never myself.
    â€œWhy don’t I what?”
    â€œOpen your own,” Bria said, smacking her gum.
    â€œI would but—” Taylor looked annoyed that I was interfering.
    â€œBut what?” I dug deeper because I had nothing to lose.
    â€œI need to get my act together to be able to do that. And six months is not a lot of time.” Taylor shook her head in despair.I wasn’t used to seeing her broken like this.
    â€œSo get it together then. You’re no punk, who is stopping you?” Bria gave her a playful punch in the arm. Taylor gave her such a venomous look that Bria stepped back.
    â€œI’m stopping me; cause even though I want it real bad, I know I ain’t ready.” Taylor stood up and started to walk away.
    â€œYou’ve got some time.” Bria looked at her fingernails.
    â€œProbably not enough time, but I guess I’ll give it my best shot.”
    â€œNow, that’s the Taylor I know,” I said.
    When my long workout at the gym finally came to a close, I was