CHAPTER FIVE
Emma
“I can't believe he just walked,” Claire says, pausing to take a bite of her salad, then immediately continues, “into your office and asked you out. Just like that, huh?”
“Yup. Just like that. First, Chad walks in without knocking or even saying hello. I tell him I'm busy and ask what he wants. Then, just like that, he asks me if I'd go out with him tonight.”
“And you obviously said no, otherwise you...” Again, Claire stuffs a fork full of dressing-drenched lettuce into her face, finishing the sentence with her mouth full: “...wouldn't be having dinner here with me right now.”
“That's right.”
“Why'd you say no?”
“Because Chad was a total asshole in high school and it doesn't seem like he's changed one bit. He sat next to me in several classes and pretended that I didn't exist. I would've preferred it if Chad was rude to me. He just ignored me. Even when I tried to talk to him, he'd pretend like I was invisible. I guess I got off easy, though. Chad used to really make fun of some of the other overweight girls in our classes. And the way he treated some of the poor, overweight, and unpopular guys in school was atrocious. Chad was a real jerk.”
“Ah, I see. He sounds like a real asshole. Didn't you say he's like super handsome, though?”
As much as I wish he wasn't, Chad is incredibly attractive - physically, that is. Emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually, he leaves a lot to be desired. Actually, I take that back. Chad's quite intelligent, now that I think of it. He was in many of the same classes as me in high school and I took mostly advanced placement courses. In spite of acting and often talking like an idiot, Chad's quite smart. There's no denying, though, the man looks like a statue of a Spartan warrior. Muscular body, handsome face, great hair, perfect skin... I could go on and on thinking about how good looking Chad is, but I won't: I need to answer the question.
“Yeah. Super handsome. Chad's certifiably, unquestionably pulchritudinous.”
“Say what...” Chomp, chomp, chomp. “...now? What's that mean?”
“It's means he's fucking flawless – physically.”
“You got a picture of him you can show me?”
“No, but it shouldn't be too hard to find one. He said he's a well-known fitness model online.”
With her fork in one hand, still shoveling salad into her face like she's in an eating contest, Claire takes out her cell phone with the other.
“What's his name?” Claire asks. “Chad what?”
“Taylor.”
“Wow! Is that him?” she asks, holding up her phone after a quick Google search.
“Yeah. That's him alright.”
“I know you said Chad's a jerk and all but, sweetie, you may wanna reconsider going out with him. You said he was good looking but you didn't tell me he was that good looking! Damn, Emma! It's like if Ryan Reynolds, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Robert Pattinson, and Channing Tatum somehow had a baby and that baby grew up and lifted weights everyday for ten years, you'd get Chad Taylor. He could be the biggest dick on the planet and I'd still go out with him!”
“You already did go out with the biggest dick on the planet. I'm sooo glad you finally got rid of Jeff.”
“Me, too.” Chomp,chomp. “But we're not talking about me right now. We're talking about you and the Greek god that asked you out today. There isn't at least a little part of you that wants to go out with him?”
“I mean, maybe a little. Claire, would you please chew with your mouth closed? You're driving me nuts.”
“Sorry. I'm just so hungry since I started this all-salad diet. I need to eat as much as I can to fill me up for the rest of the night.”
“Claire, I've told you a thousand times: There are much better ways to lose weight. I'm a registered dietitian. Let me help you come up with a healthier way to get rid of the little bit of fat that you have. You don't even really need to lose weight, if you ask me.”
“Well, no offense, sweetie, but I didn't ask you. Eating only salad has worked for me in the past and it'll work again. Now stop changing the subject. Don't you think it would be like, I don't know, satisfying to go out with him after he ignored you all throughout high school? Does it at least make you feel good that he asked you out?”
“I mean, it does, yeah. But if I was still fat, I bet Chad wouldn't even look at me.”
“But you're not. That's my point. You're gorgeous, girlie! Embrace it. All I'm saying is, think about it. It's Friday night. You're not gonna see him until Monday, right?”
“Right.”
“So, mull it over this weekend. If you still don't wanna go out with Chad come Monday, then forget about him. But, I don't understand how you or anybody could say no to that face. That body!”
Claire holds up her phone again, showing me a shirtless photo of Chad leaning up against some kind of farm vehicle. I'm not gonna lie: Every time I see Chad, I get a goosebumps – just a little bit. There's no denying that the man is as handsome as the sky is blue. Maybe Claire's right: Maybe I should give Chad a chance. It's only one date. Maybe he'll be different when it's just me and him. I don't know. I have to think about it. Good thing I have all weekend to myself before I’ll see him again.
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Monday mornings, no matter where you go, always have a certain feel to them. I first noticed it in high school, then in college, at the different minimum-wage jobs I've had, and now here at Fit World. Everyone seems a little more optimistic – a little more full of life. Maybe it's the afterglow of having two days to yourself without having to worry about clients, customers, bosses, and employees. By Tuesday, though, reality sets in and everyone's usually back to their normal I-hate-my-job, I-hate-my-life selves.
My morning is busy and goes by quickly. I start looking for Chad in the late morning, early afternoon when he usually strolls in. It must be nice to come and go as you please. Lunchtime comes around and I go out for food, expecting Chad to be in by the time I get back. When I return from lunch, though, he's nowhere to be seen.
The afternoon goes by slowly, much slower than the morning. It's almost the end of my work day and Chad is nowhere to be found. I go on the computer and check to see if I can pull up his schedule. All the employee schedules are there, including his. Hmm. It looks like he usually works Mondays but, for some reason, has today off. My curiosity gets the best of me and I ask someone where he is on my way out of work.
“You're a trainer here, right?” I ask a woman wearing a shirt that says “Fit World” on the front and “TRAINER” in big letters on the back. I'm guessing she's a trainer here.
“I am, yes,” she replies. “Samantha. You're the new dietitian, right?”
“That's right. I'm Emma. It's nice to meet you.”
“You too, Emma.”
“I was wondering if you know why Chad Taylor's not here today?”
When I mention Chad's name, Samantha's face lights up. She has the same look in her eyes that every woman around here seems to get when his name is mentioned.
“Chad? He flew out to L.A. for some fitness expo. He does that a lot. Chad's famous, you know. I'm sure he'll probably be back tomorrow. Why? Are you trying to get with him?”
“No. No, nothing like that. I was just wondering. I've known Chad for a long time. We went to high school together.”
“Oh. That's cool. I was gonna say, if you're into Chad, take a number. Every woman in this place wants a piece of him.”
“You don't think he's a bit...um, rude?”
“I guess. But have you seen his abs? And he's got like a million followers on Instagram. I don't care how rude he is. I'd go out with him in a heartbeat and so would just about every other woman I know.”
“He is a good-looking guy. Well, thanks Samantha. I'll see you around. Nice meeting you.”
“Nice meeting you, too, Emma.”
I get home from work and have the apartment to myself. Claire's out on a date for the evening. After making myself dinner and getting comfortable, I curl up on the couch and put on the TV. There's nothing good on but I can't focus anyway. No matter how hard I try to think about anything else, my mind keeps finding its way back to Chad. I remember what Samantha told me about him being at a fitness expo in Los Angeles. I'm sure Chad's posted tons of pictures and videos all over the internet.
Social media isn't something I care much about. I use Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends, but that's about it. I don't use Instagram or any of the other million social media apps. Not until now, that is. With no roommate to talk to and nothing good on television, I decide to download Instagram so I can see what Chad's up to in L.A.
While the Instagram app is downloading, I remember that he said he's got a YouTube channel, too. That's something I use all the time. Whether I'm looking for healthy recipes or videos of cats getting involved in funny catlike mischief, YouTube's got it all. I open the YouTube app and search for Chad Taylor. His channel comes right up.
The first video was uploaded just a few hours ago. It's of him in Los Angeles, meeting fans. I watch the video and I have to admit, I'm impressed. It's of Chad sitting at a booth at the fitness expo with one young man after the next thanking him for inspiring them. Chad's fans really look up to him. Teens, men in their twenties, thirties, and even forties, thanking him for the informative and motivating videos he's put out. For the first time, I'm seeing Chad in a whole new light.
I watch a few of his videos and I can certainly see why Chad's got so many fans. He comes across as both knowledgeable and inspiring. And it goes without saying, Chad looks immaculate in each of his videos. Maybe I've been too quick to judge him. I mean, Chad has helped a lot of people. He's basically doing what I'm trying to do, just on a much larger scale. It's obvious that Chad has a knack for helping people.
Perhaps I should give him a chance. What's the worst that can happen? It's been a long time since high school. Maybe Chad has changed. He still comes across as kinda rude but it's not like he was back at Massasoit High. I think I will let Chad take me out on a date - one date.
Bing!
A notification pops up on the top of my screen telling me that Instagram has finished installing. Now I can see what all the fuss is about. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person on the planet that isn't on Instagram. I create an account and agree to the terms of service without reading them. Does anybody read the terms for apps like Instagram? Okay, let's find Chad. Chad Taylor. Ahhh, here is is.
I scroll down Chad's Instagram page and am disgusted by what I see. It's littered with pictures of him with different women - a lot of different women. There are pictures of Chad grabbing womens' asses, pics of him with his face buried in womens' tits, and a variety of equally disturbing photos. And the captions are some of the most sexist things I've ever read in my life. It's not like there are only one or two - there must be hundreds of pictures like this on his page.
My heart is pounding out of my chest. I can't believe I was actually gonna go out with such a pig. I can't believe that I was even considering going out with such a macho jerk. Chad hasn't changed. He's still the same douche bag that he was in high school. I wanna scream, I'm so angry at myself. How could I be so naive? People like Chad don't change. If anything, they get worse.
I've seen enough. After scrolling through dozens of pictures of Chad and a bunch of random bimbos, I close Instagram. Just as quickly as I installed it, I delete it permanently from my phone. Gradually, my heart beat returns to normal. I can't stop thinking about what a jerk he is. Why do I care so much? This shouldn't be bothering me as much as it does. I can't help it, though. I really wanted to believe that Chad is a decent guy. Like, really wanted to believe it. But now I know better than ever that he's not.