Viviane rode a public rail train to Hyperextension and when she arrived at her station, she stepped into an underground city with clean, modern design and helpful electronic signage. She looked around for directions to the gym but couldn’t find any. Hyperextension was too new, she surmised, to have signs up yet. It was always crowded and noisy in the station and people hurried along. Viviane pushed upstream against the crowd, not knowing where to go and aware that class was about to start without her if she didn’t move fast.

I can’t be late! Where is this new place?

Viviane wore workout clothes: snug athletic wear leggings and a racerback tank top. It was a typical, ordinary outfit for anyone going to a gym; this kind of outfit wouldn’t attract any special attention, but not in Viviane’s case. She attracted attention everywhere she went, even if she didn’t want to. After many years of stares and glances from strangers, she had learned that it was not her fault people wanted to look at her.

In the train station, men and women took notice of her tall, athletic body. The men stole quick glances of her. The women, on the other hand, envied the little details such as how cute her wavy, orange-sienna hair looked tied up in a springy ponytail, how the curve in her hip was accentuated by her form fitted leggings, or how her face still looked perfectly pretty, even with the lightest of makeup. Viviane pretended not to notice any of the admiring or disapproving looks.

I should probably ask someone local, but I don’t know anyone!

Viviane spotted her own reflection in a glass storefront window and looked up and down at herself.

Not my best model look, but, hey, no guy should be able to refuse a pretty girl asking for directions, right?

Viviane glanced around and spotted a young man at random who looked like he might be a local. At least he stood still as if he had no where important to go and fumbled with the buttons on his jacket. After locking her sights on her target, she steeled her nerves and walked right over to him.

Okay, confidence, don’t fail me now!

“Excuse me,” asked Viviane, “Do you know where I can find the fitness center that’s supposed to be near here?”

The young man, who at first did not see Viviane coming, looked up and saw this tall, young lady with a pretty face looking straight at him. His eyes bulged out before he scrambled to get out of the way thinking that Viviane was just trying to walk past him, but when she did not, his tongue became tied, unable to speak at first.

Viviane, on the other hand, just stood there with the most pleasant look on her face, trying hard not to look anxious while she waited for an answer.

The young man pointed at himself. “Um . . . uh . . . were you talking to me?” He looked like a really old high schooler. Perhaps he had been held back a year or two -- or four?

“Sure, I was!” Viviane batted her eyes.

The young man glanced behind him to make sure that was not a trick answer. Indeed, there was no one behind him.

A hundred thoughts ran through his head. Oh my God, this girl is so beautiful! Why is she talking to me? Something is not right here . . . she shouldn’t need me for anything! What if her bodybuilder boyfriend is just around the corner and doesn’t like me talking to her? I’ll get pulverized! Or what if she’s got a rich boyfriend with connections to organized crime? Then I’m dead meat! I don’t want to get sucked into organized crime! What do I do? What should I say?

His eyes glanced left and right, expecting at any moment either to be punched in the gut by an extremely muscular, square-jawed man with no neck or to have a gun stuck in his back by a mafioso.

His voice stumbled. “Yeah . . . I . . . don’t see anyone else . . . yet, that is, I mean . . . you’re obviously not here by yourself, are you? What was it that you want?”

“I was just hoping you knew where I could find the fitness center that’s supposed to be near here. I’m taking a new kick-boxing class and it starts in a few minutes.”

“Oh, you mean that extreme fitness place, Hyperextension? That’s right up those stairs at the end of this hall.”

“That’s the place! Gotta run . . . bye! And thanks!”

Viviane flashed a cute grin and waved her hand before turning away. She ran off in the direction of Hyperextension with her springy ponytail swishing behind her. The young man watched Viviane run away, unable to take his eyes off her. It all happened so fast. He didn’t even get a chance to get her name or even to say goodbye.

No one knew why, but the young man spoke to himself as if he were his own best friend. “Kylian, you just moved to Capital City and you’re already being approached by gorgeous women. Maybe you’re moving up the world?”

But a girl like that wouldn’t be interested in a guy like me, he answered himself, crossing his skinny arms over his stomach. I mean, I’m just a researcher doing post-doctoral work at the University and she just wanted directions. She’s probably got some awesome, athlete boyfriend already. Oh well, that’s just the way it is, isn’t it? Better not get my hopes up.

Indeed, Kylian hardly looked like an athlete. In fact, he looked quite the opposite, an “anti-athlete” if there was such a word. It was better for him not to think about women who were out of his league. After all, what were the chances he would ever see her again?