Chapter Text
Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd were old childhood friends turned rivals. They always saw eye to eye on everything but also were extremely competitive. So when the two opened fitness gyms on the same side of town right outside L.A., California, it was chaos. Both gyms were highly popular; Carli’s gym having a more intense cardio approach, and Hope’s having a more fun, dance focus. The two gyms raised in popularity, having visitors from all over the nation, until, an earthquake occurred, shaking the two buildings and destroying the interface of the buildings, including the wiring for electricity and the water supply. Construction to recover the two gyms was discovered to take years. So, the two began to take stock of lots, both finding the perfect building to host a new expanded gym in, the only problem was-
“No fucking way.” Hope (Owner of Harmony Mind Body Fitness. Teaches Kickboxing (with various fun music selections she must add)) crossed her arms over her body, settling back in her chair.
“Agreed. No way.” Carli (Owner of Synergy Fitness Clubs. Teaches various levels of boot camps, complete with ropes and tire lifts) said, nodding at Hope.
A financial advisor sat in front of them, rubbing his temples.
“Ladies listen. Your gyms were both highly successful, it’s actually amazing in fact. You both could buy this lot easily and start the gym. However, the amount of money that you’ll have to put in at the beginning: buying the lot, services for the building, the gym equipment; would be too much for either one of you. There won’t be enough profit to keep you afloat.”
Hope snorted, Carli responding with an annoyed eyebrow lift.
“I’m telling you both, go in together. You’ll maximize profit, you’ll have old customers and new customers, and you’ll have a great financial backing.”
The women continued to sit in silently, stubbornly looking forward at the advisor.
The advisor sighed as he closed the folder. “Listen ladies, you both came to me for the best option and this is it. Call me if you have any questions, or possibly how to move through this decision.”
Harmony Mind Body Fitness
“Can you believe this? He said that our beautiful gym should pair up with that one across the street.”
Hope paced, yelling and throwing her fists in the air. Her three best friends, and the most popular class instructors in her gym sat silently watching.
“That gym that was across the street? They are so lame, it’s so serious over there.” Kelley O’Hara (Teaches Zumba, and is pretty kick ass it if she says so herself) yawned and leaned back.
Kelley threw a wink to the girl sitting next to her, who laughed.
“If anything, our classes would probably boost in popularity if we partnered with them, which could be good for us, right?” Julie Johnston (Teaches the Vixen Workout, and various hip-hop classes. (It’s not zumba, there are more squats involved.)) Offered.
Hope sighed as she sat down on the floor in front of the three girls, head in her hands.
“Hope, I’m not sure if I understand. I know we hate them, but why?” Christen Press (Teaches Yoga and various versions of it, including Bikram) asked.
Kelley and Julie sucked on their teeth, shaking their heads. Christen was the newest member of the HMB Fit, brought in by Kelley due to them being long term friends. She had known nothing about the feud between them and she could care less, her being a laid back personality.
Hope shook her head and glared at the girl. “ We are not talking about that.” She snapped.
“I understand that you don’t want to work with them, but it seems like we cannot afford to not do it. We owe it to our favorite customers.” Christen said, shrugging as though she could care less either way.
Hope shook her head as she pulled out her cell phone and stared at it.
“Damn. Guess I have to make a call.”
Synergy Fitness Clubs
“Damn, those bitches are crazy.” Allie Long (Teaches Cycling (as fun as Soul Cycle but, ya know, safe.)) chuckled.
Carli nodded as she did some curls with 20lb weights. She had to work out while she was stressed.
“Carli stop, you’re being too much right now. “ Alex Morgan (teaches Barre (guaranteed to have the best ass in town after a couple classes)) shook her head. “Is this our only option?
Carli put down the weights after three sets of 15 and began to stretch her arms.
“No, we could go in solo, but that means we would have to bid higher than them and then paying for everything else…it would be too crazy of a price tag, even with all of our regulars coming back.” Her eyebrows were knit tight.
“So what’s the problem? Sounds like we only have one option so let’s take it.” Tobin Heath (Teaches Body Step Aerobic classes (she honestly just wants to get back to the gym because she has a new trampoline class she’s been working on.)) reached her arms behind her head.
The other girls all whipped their heads at her, various emotions displaying on their faces.
Tobin had always been the most laid back of them all but they would have thought she would have been against it seeing as how she was the teacher whose been at the gym the longest, working with Carli while she was still in college and witnessing most of the feud between Carli and Hope.
“I mean come on guys. We really don’t have another option and only more problems will come if we wait any longer.” Tobin said, looking at Carli the whole time.
Carli collapsed down, resigned. “Fuck. Guess I have to make a phone call.”
A day later, Hope and Carli found themselves in front of the huge building that would now be their gym.
“Home Sweet Home.” Carli muttered, receiving a snort from Hope as a response.
“She has a long way to go before I call her home.” Hope responded as they walked in.
“She could use a fresh coat of paint.”
“And some new light bulbs. And decorations. The feel of this place is all wrong.”
“Oh God don’t get started with that harmony bullshit again.”
“You’re going to be begging for that harmony once I kick your ass.”
“Oh really? With your army of butterflies?”
“At least my group doesn’t see to have dumbbells stuck up their asses.”
The two women glared at each other interrupted until they heard a throat being cleared.
They spun around to see both of their staff watching the scene.
“This is cool.” Tobin put some crates holding resistance bands on the ground and started surveying the place.
“Has kind of an underground feel. I can dig it.” Kelly agreed.
“It isn’t staying like this.” Hope quickly responded before Carli could, exerting her authority. “We are going to have to start renovating quickly, around the clock.”
“And what about classes?” Allie responded, her eyes staring hard at Hope.
“The insurance companies for both of our gyms have agreed to replace a lot of the equipment and provide generous renovation checks, and the equipment should be here any moment,” Carli interrupted, throwing a quick smirk at Hope. “So, classes start tomorrow, get ready team.”