The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of the training facility, casting golden rectangles across the mirrored walls.
Hailey stood with her arms crossed, watching eight junior stunt women stretch on their exercise mats.
The familiar smell of rubber and sweat usually comforted her, but today it just made her feel more irritated.
"Alright, ladies, gather round," she called out, her voice echoing off the walls.
The women quickly moved into a semicircle around her.
Sarah, the petite brunette with a dancer's posture.
Emma, the tall redhead who never complained.
Clara, the blonde with freckles and endless energy.
Melanie, quiet but determined with her perpetual ponytail.
"Before we start today's session, I need to remind you of something crucial," Hailey began, pacing in front of them.
"What's that?" asked Jessica, a newer trainee with short curly hair.
Hailey looked at her. "Your body is everything in this business. Without it, you're done."
"We know that," Clara said with a slight smile. "You tell us every week."
"Do I? Well, apparently some of you need the reminder more than others," Hailey replied.
Sarah raised her hand tentatively. "Are we talking about nutrition again?"
"Among other things. What did you eat for breakfast this morning, Sarah?" Hailey asked.
"Um... coffee?" Sarah answered.
"Coffee is not breakfast," Hailey stated.
"It is if you add enough sugar," Emma joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Emma, what about you?" Hailey asked.
"Protein shake and a banana," Emma replied.
"Better. Melanie?" Hailey continued.
"Oatmeal with berries and nuts," Melanie said.
"Finally, someone with sense," Hailey said, continuing her pacing. "Listen, if you think the training here is tough—"
"It is tough," interrupted Jessica, rubbing her sore shoulder.
"Then you're definitely not ready for the real world. Real stunt work is ten times harder," Hailey declared.
Clara stretched her legs out in front of her. "How much harder are we talking?"
"Forty-foot falls with nothing but a wire keeping you alive. Car chases at sixty miles per hour through actual traffic," Hailey explained.
"Actual traffic?" Sarah's voice went up an octave.
"Real cars, real roads, real consequences if you mess up," Hailey confirmed.
Emma leaned forward. "Have you ever been hurt doing a stunt?"
"Everyone gets hurt. It's not a matter of if, it's when," Hailey said matter-of-factly.
"That's encouraging," Melanie muttered.
"It's realistic. This isn't dance class where the worst thing that happens is a bruised toe," Hailey replied.
"Hey!" Sarah protested. "I've had some pretty nasty dance injuries."
"Like what?" Hailey challenged.
"Pulled my hamstring so bad I couldn't walk for a week," Sarah said.
"Try pulling your hamstring while falling off a motorcycle at thirty miles per hour," Hailey countered.
The room fell silent.
"The point is," Hailey continued, "if you can't handle what we do here, you need to find a different career. Fire stunts where the flames are real. Water work where you're fighting currents and drowning is a legitimate possibility."
"You're really selling this career path," Clara said dryly.
"I'm being honest. Which is more than most people will do for you," Hailey replied.
Jessica shifted uncomfortably. "So what do we do to prepare?"
"You dig deep. You find strength you didn't know you had. And you stop whining about every little ache and pain," Hailey instructed.
"We don't whine," Emma said defensively.
"Don't you? Yesterday, Jessica complained about her shoulders. Sarah whined about being tired. Clara couldn't stop talking about her sore back," Hailey pointed out.
"Those were legitimate concerns about our bodies," Clara shot back.
"Were they? Or were they excuses?" Hailey challenged.
The women exchanged glances.
"Alright, enough talk," Hailey announced, walking to her clipboard. "Let's see what you're really made of."
"What's the torture du jour?" Emma asked with a weak smile.
"Fifty push-ups, fifty sit-ups, fifty squats, and a two-minute plank. No breaks," Hailey declared.
"No breaks?" Sarah squeaked.
"You heard me. And I want perfect form. I'd rather see twenty perfect push-ups than fifty sloppy ones," Hailey clarified.
The women spread out on their mats, assuming push-up positions.
"Everyone ready?" Hailey called out.
"As ready as we'll ever be," Melanie replied.
"Begin!" Hailey commanded.
The room filled with the sounds of synchronized breathing and bodies moving against mats.
"Keep your core tight, Sarah," Hailey instructed, walking among them. "Your back looks like a rainbow."
"It's hard," Sarah panted.
"Life is hard. Push-ups are easy," Hailey replied.
"Says the woman standing up," Clara muttered between repetitions.
"What was that?" Hailey asked sharply.
"Nothing. Just... breathing loudly," Clara said quickly.
Hailey moved to Emma. "Good form. Don't hold your breath."
"Trying not to," Emma gasped.
"How many are we at?" Jessica asked.
"Don't count. Just keep going until I tell you to stop," Hailey instructed.
"That's cruel and unusual punishment," Melanie said.
"You haven't seen cruel yet," Hailey warned.
As the exercise continued, Clara turned slightly toward Melanie.
"What's with the drill sergeant routine today?" she whispered.
"I don't know. She's been extra cranky since we started," Melanie whispered back.
"Do you think something happened?" Clara asked softly.
"Like what?" Melanie replied in a whisper.
"I don't know. Boyfriend trouble?" Clara murmured.
"Does she even have a boyfriend? She never talks about anyone," Melanie whispered.
"Everyone has someone. Even if it's complicated," Clara said quietly.
"Maybe that's the problem. Maybe it's really complicated," Melanie whispered.
Their whispered conversation continued as they did their push-ups.
"She does seem more uptight than usual," Clara continued quietly.
"Way more uptight. Yesterday she was fine," Melanie agreed in a whisper.
"Something definitely happened between yesterday and today," Clara murmured.
"Work drama?" Melanie suggested softly.
"Or personal drama. Work drama doesn't make you this moody," Clara whispered.
"Unless it's really bad work drama," Melanie replied quietly.
Unfortunately for them, Hailey had excellent hearing from years of needing to catch warning shouts on dangerous sets.
She heard every word.
"Why are you two talking?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the room like a whip.
Everyone stopped mid-exercise and looked up.
Clara and Melanie froze, their faces flushed with exertion and embarrassment.
"We weren't really—" Clara began.
"I don't want to hear it," Hailey cut her off.
"We were just—" Melanie tried.
"Just what? Just gossiping about my personal life while you're supposed to be focusing on your training?" Hailey snapped.
The other women watched the exchange with wide eyes, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"We're sorry," Melanie said quickly.
"Sorry doesn't cut it. If you have enough energy to chat, you have enough energy for twenty more push-ups. Both of you. Now!" Hailey commanded.
"Yes!" Clara and Melanie replied in unison, immediately dropping back into position.
The other women resumed their exercises without comment, suddenly very focused on their own form.
"Anyone else feel like gossiping?" Hailey asked the group.
A chorus of "No" filled the room.
"Good. Because we're here to train, not to speculate about people's private lives," Hailey declared.
Sarah managed to speak between push-ups. "How many more?"
"Keep going until I say stop," Hailey replied.
"My arms are dying," Jessica whimpered.
"Then they're getting stronger," Hailey said.
"Is that how it works?" Emma asked skeptically.
"That's exactly how it works. Muscles break down and rebuild stronger," Hailey explained.
"This feels more like breaking down than building up," Clara panted.
"The building up happens later. Right now we're in the breaking down phase," Hailey replied.
"Wonderful," Melanie gasped.
The room continued to fill with the sounds of effort and controlled breathing.
"Twenty more," Hailey announced.
"Twenty more what?" Sarah asked desperately.
"Push-ups. Then we move to sit-ups," Hailey clarified.
A collective groan rose from the group.
"I don't want to hear complaining," Hailey warned.
"We're not complaining," Emma said. "We're just... expressing our enthusiasm."
"That's one way to put it," Jessica muttered.
"Focus on your breathing," Hailey instructed. "In through your nose, out through your mouth."
"I'm breathing through every pore in my body right now," Clara said.
"As long as you're breathing, you're still alive. As long as you're alive, you can keep going," Hailey replied.
"Motivational," Melanie said sarcastically.