Logan

My name is Zane Logan Hayes. The fun people call me Logan and the lame ones call me Zane. I’m not your average white guy that tries to befriend everyone around him. Everyone around tries to befriend me. Which is why I’m still single.

“Alek, get up!” I burst into his room. “We’re going to be late.”

“Oh, please. When are we ever late?” he asked into his pillow.

His name is Aleksander Knighton. We’ve been friends for unnamable years. We’d be identified as brothers, since we hung around each other a lot. I heard from someone a couple days before that he liked me. I had no doubt in my mind with all the social distance. I never brought it up to be on the safe side.

I snatched the blanket off of him, “I will literally bite you.”

“I’ll just open the curtains.”

“No, me pruebes,” I whispered into his ear. (don’t try me)

Alek rolled to the other side of the bed and sat up. I straightened myself up and walked to the door. When I turned back around, he was already walking into his bathroom. That was the fastest I ever saw him move when it came to going to work. Speaking of which, I never said where we work.

We’re personal trainers under Don Saladino. He works us till our bones are screaming. Which is why we’re always out late. Well, we’re always out late because we go out to get something to eat. We chat a little to pass time and next thing we know it’s night out.

We learn the basics up to the intermediate. Every day was a different pain. Whenever we finally got a break, Alek and I would go out to have fun. It’s not recommended for someone under twenty. Your body might not be able to hold on. We shouldn’t have done it either, but it was a mutual decision.

“I made breakfast,” Eduard said when he stopped me in the hall leading to the kitchen.

Eduard is a Russian and the brother of my crush. I only stay over every now and then to make sure Alek wakes up and to see Eduard’s friend. I have to admit that she’s the only one that makes me rethink my life decisions. Eduard is another story.

I looked down at him, “What changed your mind?”

“You.”

“Are you flirting with me?” I whispered.

He moved closer, “What if I am?”

“Then I would throw up because this is too cringey.” Alek stood on the stairs.

I laughed, “Let’s eat and get out of here.”

Alek and I headed to the kitchen with Eduard following behind. I smiled at Mina as we entered the kitchen. She smiled back, but Alek did like that. Him and I both share the same crush, but he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t have to know that.

Park Mina. She was Eduards only girl best friend. When it came to Eduard secrets, we only knew them from her. Every now and then, she’d come over to his place to stay the night or whatever. I say ‘whatever’ cause I’m not there all the time. If she was then I would reconsider.

I smiled, “Mornin’, Mina.”

“Mornin’ Mina,” Alek mocked and took a seat at the island in the kitchen.

“Are you like this with everyone or is it just with me?”

“Does it mat-”

“Do you like me?” I interrupted.

“What?

“Do you like me? It’s a genuine question.”

“No,” he answered.

I sat down across from him, “Interesting.”

“How so?” He ate a mouthful of syrniki. A Russian breakfast food.

“A little birdie told me that-”

Eduard ‘cleared his throat’, “Eat or you’ll be late and hungry.”

Alek and I gobbled down what made us full and went to the car. Don preferred that we walked to the gym to get used to moving. I thought we should rather save our breath for the harder things. He’s a nice guy, but he’s too into his job. I prayed that we didn’t turn out like him.

“What were you trying to say in the kitchen?” Alek asked when we got in the car.

“Nothing really,” I started the car and backed out. "I was just pulling your leg.”

It was a short, silent drive to the gym. Eduard never really liked the gym, and I never knew why. He took me as a gym rat with his body shape and all. He had muscle for weeks and months. I wanted to get ripped like him, but I never had the mindset for that.

When I left Alek at the entrance of the gym, I saw Don drag him inside in the rearview mirror. I was so tempted to just drive away and never return. I knew that if I did, I would’ve had it worse the next day. We were always sore by the end of the week from the excessive training. I feel sore even now from just thinking.

I snuck inside the gym looking around every corner, “Hayes!”

I froze and cursed to myself. It was really awkward being in the gym. Everyone knew Alek and I by our last names. No one knew us personally, but we had a gym reputation. Terrible work outs, communication with the trainees, etcetera.

“Yes?” I turned around.

“We didn’t change locations so why are you going that way?” Don asked.

“I had a drink this morning and now I have to take a-”

He put his hand up, “Don’t go into the details; just hurry up.”

“Right. I’ll be quick.”

That was a lie. I want to waste as much time as possible before I come back. Fifteen minutes in the rest room and I called Alek’s phone. There was only one way to get him out of the training for a bit.

“Hello?”

“I have a problem,” I made a grunting sound.

He cleared his throat, “Don is glaring at me, so hurry up and say it.”

“There’s no toilet paper.”

“Why are you telling me?” he asked in a quiet voice. “I can’t do anything about it.”

“Mmcht. Do you want to get out of the training or not?

Alek hung up and I took a quick leak. The gym restroom was the best place to be. If you wanted to make up an excuse of being late that was the one. It didn’t take long before I heard him coming.