Nia lost it completely. The rhythm broke as a chain pulled too hard, and she went wild.
She planted her feet wider on the bench, thighs flexing so hard the muscles jumped and burned under her slick, glistening skin, calves knotting tightly from the strain, every tendon standing out sharp as she rose into a whole, savage squat.
Her ponytail whipped wildly in circles, blue strands flying like a banner soaked in sweat, sticking to her flushed neck and shoulders with wet slaps, the ribbon coming loose and dangling by one thread.
Sweat poured off her now, flinging off in perfect, glittering arcs that caught the hot pink lights and shone mid-air as liquid diamonds, some droplets hitting the tile with tiny, sharp plinks, others splattering warm and salty across Alicia's arched back in front of her.
She started jumping, like real animal jumps.
