Shadows

I had never met anyone like Finn before he came into my life. The day I met Finn started like normal. I did my morning routine which consisted of me running to the gym from my place then doing my 1-2 hours of exercise in the gym.

Half way through my workout I went to the vending machine to get a drink. I didn’t think of it at the time, but there was this really good looking guy smiling at me. I remember looking over at him while the machine retrieved my drink and seeing him lift up his shirt to show his well defined abdomen. I remember smiling at him and then grabbing my drink as he started to walk up to me.

After the awkward encounter with the guy near the vending machine, I did some exercises with my personal trainer Mark and then I walked back to my place.

But as I walked away from the gym Mark caught up to me to talk quickly.

“Um… so I wanted to make sure I will be seeing you next week?” he said in an uncertain tone.

“...Yes…. why do you ask?” I said confused

“Well I wanted to see if… if… you were interested in an extra session next week?... with me?” He said again in that uncertain/nervous tone

“I would have to see… but I think I can fit in another session with YOU next week” I said with a smile

“Great!” he said awkwardly with a smile

“Cool then see you next week” I said confused. I asked myself, Why was he acting so weird? He is usually so confident and funny. I shrugged it off then went back home to shower and do some work.

Later on, at midday I went to meet my friend and publisher at a bar for some lunch. My friend was running a bit late so I ordered a drink and waited near one of the bar tables until she arrived. While I was waiting I was approached by good looking guy in a black shirt. He looked so handsome with his stubble and well styled hair.

I remember him walking so confidently up to me with his drink. He leaned his arm on the table an took a sip of his drink before he asked “why is a cute guy like you drinking alone?”

“Oh no, I’m just waiting for someone”

He smiled softly then said “well can I wait with you?”

“I wouldn’t mind” I said with a smile

He laughed a bit at my indecisive response and smile and said “Cool, can I ask you your name?”

“I’m Tristan” I replied

“Tristan” he said with a pause “thats a nice name”

I smiled at his comment and asked “so what's your name?”

“You can call me Finn” he said smoothly

“Nice to meet you Finn” I said putting my hand out

“Nice to meet you too Tristan” he said taking my hand

In that moment my friend walked through the door. I waved to her and said “I am so sorry Finn but my friend just arrived and I need to talk to her, so…”

He smiled and said “Don’t worry about it”, he took out a pen and wrote something on a napkin. “Here” he said passing the napkin to me, “call me when you want to meet”.

“Thank you” I said

He took another sip and then said “you should go to your friend or you will be the late one” with a grin.

“Okay bye” I replied with a smile and walked to my friend. As I sat down, Finn stood up and walked out.

“who was that? He was gorgeous” my friend said looking at him as he walked out

“His name is Finn and we are not here to talk about him” I replied

“Ugh fine, let's get to work then” she said

We worked out all we needed to while we ate and then left about 2 hours later.

After my lunch I went to do some more things and then finally arrived at home. I was pleasantly surprised by my flatmate Derek who usually goes out at night. I greeted him and went and put my things in my room.

I walked out and went to the kitchen, when I turned around he was standing up shirtless in front of me.

I jumped when I saw him there. “What are you doing?!” I asked

“Just admiring you” he said in a soft tone

“What?” I said confused

He laughed and whispered softly “you heard me, I want you”

I looked at him confused and then he pushed me up against the fridge and kissed me. I breathed deeply as his lips touched mine, he pulled away and said “So how was that?”

“What is happening to you Derek? You are acting so strange?”

“I have always had a thing for you since the first time I met you” he said softly. He was so close to me that I could feel each word he spoke to me.

I pushed him off me, “Okay what are you playing at?” I said annoyed

“Okay fine you have me, I’m not Derek” he said

“What?” I said confused

“We went out a few weeks ago. You were wearing a blue t-shirt with an unbuttoned black shirt over it. I was wearing a black hoodie. We had coffee together.” he said in a soft yet desperate tone

“Wait what? I didn’t have coffee with you, I had coffee with this guy called Zac” I yelled

“I was Zac” he Pleaded to me

“What?”

“I shifted into him” he said

“So you are the guy from a couple of weeks ago and now you look like my roommate?” I said in a confused tone once again

“Yes! You never messaged me back and I thought we had such a good time together” he said

“I didn’t message you because I had lost my old phone” I said

“That's just an excuse” he said in an annoyed tone

“No really, I lost my phone. The one I have now is brand new” I said showing him the phone

“Oh god” he said putting his face in his hands, “so I shifted into a bunch of guys because you lost your phone? Were you going to message me again?” he asked

“Yes I was going to message you and… yes you shifted?... into a bunch of guys?” I said with a grin

“Wow you must think I am crazy. I think... I am going to go. Don't worry I understand that you won't want me to contact you again” he said in a defeated tone

As he started to walk to the door, I stopped him. “Wait… don’t go!” I said

“What?” he said confused

“I don’t want you to go and also I need to be honest I wasn’t going to message you because when we had coffee you seemed really nervous and that's not what I really like in a guy, but it takes guts to turn into a bunch of guys just so that you can try and find out if I was ghosting you” I said in an impressed tone

“So you don’t think its weird that I tracked you down and pretended to be different guys to get close to you?” he said in a confused tone

“Yes, I actually think it's kind of hot” I said

“Really?” he said softly, it was cute especially with it coming from Derek's worried face

I walked over to him and kissed him. I pulled away and he lingered after the kiss and said “what does this mean?”

“It means that I want to get to know you” I said as I took ahold of his finger and led him to the sofa. He sat down, “what do you want to know?” he asked

“What's your name?” I asked with a smile

“Finn” he said

“Like the guy at the bar?... wait, was that you?” I asked

“Yes it was” he said

I smiled and continued to ask questions about him and his abilities. We spent the rest of the night talking.