Sean brushed past Mark, heading straight for the car as he took sips of his coffee. He wanted it to be bad, that way he could complain about it... but Mark knew just how he liked it. Mark jogged around the car and Sean slipped inside. Propping his feet up onto the dashboard, Sean grumbled out dryly. "So, where are we going?" Mark smirked at him, then turned his attention to the road as he pulled out. Sean rolled his eyes, slipping another cookie into his mouth as he mumbled under his breath. "Fine. Keep your secrets..." Mark picked up his coffee from the holder between them to sip it, putting it down between his legs as he drove. Sean couldn't help taking in Mark's appearance. He was dressed in a black tank top and loose fitting black shorts. If they weren't going to workout... He was poorly dressed for the weather. Mark's fingers traced around the lid of his coffee cup, his eyes focused on the road intently. 

Sean slumped farther in the passenger seat, telling him in a light stern voice. "You shouldn't be drinking and driving. Didn't they teach you that in L.A.?" A small smile broke across Mark's face as he softly answered. "I got my license in Ohio." Sean glared at him, bluntly growling out. "You missed the point." Mark didn't look at him as he replied sweetly. "I see you're just as charming in the morning as ever." Sean reached out to take Mark's coffee from between his legs. Mark glanced down for a split second, but didn't stop him. Sean put the cup back into the cup holder, then turned to look out the window. He had to do it. It made him uneasy. They continued on for a bit in silence, before the coffee finally kicked in. Feeling more awake, Sean softly broke the silence, telling Mark casually. "I saw the article they did about you... I'm sorry. They had no right to say those things about you."

Mark let out a heavy sigh, commenting seriously. "Yes they did. I fucked up. I have no one to blame except myself." Sean looked back toward Mark, retorting just as seriously. "Mark... I still think this is a bad idea... but it's you or retirement. And I don't want to retire yet." The car slowed into a curb side parking spot, before Mark finally looked at him to say sweetly. "So, you're going to let me coach you?" Sean now let out a heavy sigh, giving him a simple nod. Mark reached out to pat his chest a bit too hard, grinning as he stated out to him excitedly. "Good! Cause you're going to hate me in a few seconds." Sean sat up feeling suddenly worried. Mark exited the car and Sean's eyes fell on the building they were parted in front of. Sean's eyes widened in horror and he staggered from the car to get a better look. Walking to the sidewalk, Sean shot a glare at Mark.

Mark raised a hand to him, quickly informing him. "Now don't say anything just yet! Here me out. What's the big reason you never bring home gold?" Sean strolled closer to Mark, his body tensing up as he snapped out. "Why did you bring me here?! Do you have any idea what will happen to me if my family sees me here?! Take me to a gym!" Mark put a firm hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes as he continued on like Sean hadn't spoken. "Working out isn't your problem, Sean. Your routines are fine, but your confidence is lacking. You've never been able to draw in a crowd." Sean gestured to the building, sneering back through clenched teeth. "First off, Fuck you! You've never brought home a silver in your life. And second, this? Really, Mark? I don't think this is what they meant by drawing people in! It's figure skating! Not a striptease on ice!"

Mark cupped his face, staring him down stubbornly as he said. "Sean, you're not seeing the big picture here." Sean swatted Mark's hands off, starting to fall into a rant as he shot back. "God damn it, Mark. I'm not doing this. My Ma will have a heart attack and don't get me started on my Da. I can't be seen here. The people in this town know my parents! If this gets out, I'll never be able to show my face to anyone again! Then I'll REALLY blame you!" Mark grabbed Sean's shoulders, telling him over his endless rantings. "Sean. Sean! SEAN! Relax! No one is going to say anything. Now come on. You're being rude." Sean stayed frozen to his spot, growling out to Mark as he moved to the glass doors. "Mark... I'm not comfortable with this." Mark released the door handle, turning to him and crossing his arms over his chest. Sean couldn't read his expression. After a moment, Mark asked him bluntly. "You have a problem with strippers?"

Sean shook his head, mumbling out embarrassed. "No, Mark. I just don't see how THIS is going to make me a better skater. Most coaches sign up their skaters for dance classes. Ballet lessons. Interpretive dance lessons. Throw them in gymnastics even!" Mark raised an eyebrow, telling him bluntly. "Do I look like other coaches, Sean? You don't need flexibility or lessons in how to look graceful. You've already got those down. You need to work on your stamina and confidence. Which you'll only find here." Sean glanced around to see if anyone was watching them, then groaned out under his breath. "Oh god... I'm going to regret this." Mark opened the glass door for him to enter in first. The place was pretty much a large open area with a set of four silver poles evenly spaced along one side. All around the studio was large mirrors that covered every wall, allowing the place to look huge and bright.

Along the other side was a set of very few gym machines that looked designed for strengthening legs and upper body. Sean took in a woman dressed in a tight silky black two piece outfit that revealed A LOT of her skin. All down her legs were spandex looking rope wraps that overlapped down her legs from her thighs down to her ankles, showing off her leg muscles. The woman flipped her long dirty blonde hair off her shoulders with a devilish smile as she approached them. Mark pushed Sean in farther, introducing Sean to her warmly. "Sean, this is Torrance. Torrance, this is Sean." Sean gave her a blushing nod, then turned on his heel to head for the exit. Mark grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him back with a small chuckle. Torrance giggled, putting a hand on her hip as she asked Mark in a thick Romanian accent. "You're friend is very shy, yes?" Sean leaned closer to Mark, whispering anxiously. "I can't do this... Mark, please?"

Mark gave Torrance a smile, innocently informing Sean. "You haven't even tried doing anything yet. Relax. She won't bite unless you ask her too." Sean narrowed his eyes on Mark, listening to them both giggle as he growled back at him. "That's not funny, Mark." Mark rolled his eyes, muttering aloud. "Oh come on, Sean. It will be fun. Just try it." Sean shook his head, whining out. "Mark, I don't want to try it. I'll only make myself look like a fool..." Mark gently shoved Sean toward a pole, telling him seriously. "Too bad. We're not leaving until you try it." Sean leaned his shoulder against the pole, giving Mark dark looks. Torrance moved closer, swaying her hips as she moved into position to face the mirror, asking Sean sweetly. "You want to do warm-ups with me? You are brave enough to do those, yes?" Sean broke eye contact with Mark and turned to face the mirror like her.

Torrance spread her legs and bent over to touch her hands completely to the floor. Sean copied her, but couldn't get his palms to touch the ground like she had. Torrance showed him how to stretch his legs in different ways to loosen the muscles up as much as possible. Sean expected that Mark would do it to, but he wasn't. He was just watching him. Torrance straightened up, showing him next how to stretch out his arms. Sean was already feeling a lot more limber than he had in months. Though, he could have done these stretches anywhere else and had the same effect. Once he was loose enough, Torrance told him happily. "Would you like to try something more challenging now?" Sean raised his eyebrow curiously. How complicated could stretches get? Torrance bent over, slowly inching her toes back until she was braced in a push-up position without anything else touching the floor. Her back was completely straight and she looked fine holding that position for a good few minutes.

Sean bit his lip, slowly copying what she had done. She made it look so fucking easy! However, it was more upper body strength than he had. Sean shifted his weight to his legs and fell to his stomach. Weakly sitting up, he told her seriously. "See? I don't have the body for this... Clearly." Torrance chuckled, straightening back onto her feet as she giddily told him. "You have a nice body. Though you are right. I don't have your... parts. So, I won't be teaching you the good stuff, sadly. I'm just here as support." Sean blinked at her with slight shock, asking her curiously. "Ok... Than who will be my teacher for this?" Torrance pointed in Mark's direction. Sean's eyes went wide and Mark uncrossed his arms from his chest, bellowing out with pride. "What? You didn't catch that part in the article? What other job could a shamed figure skater get? I had the body for it. So, that is how I have survived. At least, until Stacy contacted me and brought up the idea of me coaching you."

Sean carefully climbed to his feet, still trying to process this new information. When he was back on his feet, he stared at Mark more closely, asking dumbfounded. "You're a male stripper?" Mark chuckled flatly, reaching out to ruffle Sean's bangs as he told him wickedly. "You can't stay innocent forever, Ireland. You're no longer a young skater. It's time to show the world something they've never seen before. At least... not from you." Sean sarcastically chuckled, then lost all humor as he snapped out. "I'm going to kill ya, Mark." Mark sauntered up to him with a cocky smile, whispering close to his face in a challenge. "One day, maybe. Not now though. You've got work to do." Mark took hold of his shoulders, turning him back around to face the mirror. Sean glared at Mark's reflection in the mirror. Mark leaned closer to his ear, whispering in a deeper and more personal voice. "How do you expect to beat me? I've gotten VERY good at holding peoples attention. I'll melt the ice before you even get on it." Sean couldn't resist accepting Mark's challenge. To Be Continued...