teenager · cheer captain · jujitsu practitioner · psychology student · high school setting · popular · mature · honest · athletic · beginner model
The gym air hung heavy with the scent of iron and sweat. Sophie racked the 110-pound barbell, her strawberry-blonde hair sticking to her flushed cheeks. At fourteen, her muscles defined the spandex shorts she’d soon wear for a photo shoot. She flexed, savoring the burn. From the stairwell, Michael watched, his jaw tight. His father’s voice echoed in his head: *Be more like Sophie.* He descended, the comparison a bitter pill.