Challenge Accepted(A Barney Stinson/HIMYM Fan-fiction) BOOK ONE

Chapter Nine: This Sucks

~~~Barney~~~

After a few weeks, Lauren was back on her feet and went back to her apartment. I hadn't seen her in a while...I should really call her...I sat in the bar with Ted, as he told me the story of how he wouldn't go to his room to get a pizza coupon because it was too far.

 "I wound up shame-eating the whole pizza. I woke up all greasy and sweaty. My sheets looked like what they wrap deli sandwiches in."I chuckled, taking a sip of my drink. "Maybe I should join a gym. Do you go to a gym?"

"Well, I go to Total Rip Fitness, but I don't work out there. " I told him.

"What do you do?"

"I invest." Ted furrowed his eyebrows at me. "Come on, I'll show you."

~~~

"Look, there goes one of my investments now. Cheryl, hard work's payin' off. Keep up the good work." I called.

"So, your investments are women?"

"Yes. Women who...how shall I put this delicately? They fat.  So, I come here, give them lots of attention now. Then, when they get hot, who's the first guy the run to? The one who invested in them when they weren't."

"Wow. I can't decide if I'm thoroughly disgusted or really, really impressed." Ted told me.

"Of course, not all investments pay dividends. See the girl over there at the vending machine, Tanya?  She is one Kit Kat away from junk bond status."

"Who is that?" He pointed to a brunette running on a treadmill. Her back was to us, but her body...

"No idea. I've never seen her before...but I intend to find out." She stopped, climbing off and grabbing a towel, wiping off her neck before turning around to reveal a rather familiar face.

"Barney? Ted? What are you guys doing here?" Lauren asked, tightening her ponytail. What was I doing? Why was I perusing these women when this one was right in front of me.

"Barney was just explaining to me his in-"

"-terest to start working out here." I cut him off. He gave me a weird look. "Yeah, Ted and I were just scoping out a few gyms."

"Hey, Barney." Becky said, waving at me. As if on command, I responded with,

"Hey, Becky. Elliptical machine's really working for you. Nice stuff." I froze, realizing what just happened, turning back to Lauren, who's eyebrows were raised.

"Yeah...sounds like the gym wasn't all you were scoping out. But if you are looking into a gym, I just started going here, and it's pretty nice. I highly recommend it."

~~~Lauren~~~

When I showed up to Total Rip Fitness the next morning, I saw loads of familiar faces. Barney, Lily Marshall...Ted and Robin...

I was getting better. I was still angry with them, but, I wasn't sad anymore. I mean, Ted and I weren't together for that long.

"Hey guys." I said. Robin and Lily were stretching while Ted and Barney stood near by. Barney wasn't in work-out clothes, which didn't surprise me in the slightest.

"Oh, hey Lauren." Lily greeted.

"I love it here. It's just normal women who want to get in shape. I don't have to put on make-up, do my hair, wear some trendy outfit. "

"Yeah, this place is great. We're meeting our friend Robin here. I hope you don't hate her. She's pretty hot." I laughed.

"Shut up. Lily, tell him to shut up."