"Shall We?"

As I walked through parking lot to the gym with my water bottle in one hand and my gym bag on my back, I noticed how my legs were already burning. God damn it. I was annoyed that I had to park all the way in the back of the parking lot, I didn’t even start my workout or let alone get inside the gym, but my legs were saying otherwise.

Once I opened the door to the gym, the humid smell made me scrunch up my nose. I have always hated the smell of this place, but I sucked it up and I walked over to the treadmill. If my legs weren’t burning before, they were going to hate me later.

I stood on the treadmill; I pressed the start button, and I began my work out. I wanted to at least jog two miles and speed walk three. Before I could even finish the second mile of my jog, I felt my legs go numb. It felt like they were saying “Fuck you, Anthony.” I decided that I should give my legs a break before they collapsed.

I moved over to where the dumbbells sat. I found myself grabbing two twenty-five-pound dumbbells. I sat down on a bench, and I started to do curl-ups. I started to look around the gym while doing my exercise, there were a lot of shirtless men there. I couldn’t help but look at their abs, I mean it’s not gay to admire a fit male body, right?

There was this one guy who caught my eye. He was wearing a blue shirt with the gym’s logo that rested on his pec. I watched him as he walked around and checked on other gym members to see if they needed a spot or any help. He walked past me, and as he walked, I found myself staring at how his sweatpants hugged his calves. I had already forgotten about the guy I was looking at earlier. Damn; I would die to have that body.

I started doing overhead sets, and I saw him turn around and come back behind me with the corner of my eye. Few minutes went by, and I was still focused on my sets, and a voice came from right behind me, and me startle.

“You need a spot?” I look back to see who it was, and sure enough, it was the guy I was basically drooling over.

“Uh, yeah. Just let me get something a bit heavier.” I didn’t want to seem weak, so I walked over to the bench press, and I put one-hundred pounds of weights on the bar. I felt his burning eyes on me, I tried to ignore the feeling as I laid underneath the bar, and getting ready to lift it.

“You sure you’ll be able to lift all of that?” He looked down at me, I wasn’t able to tell if he was worried or if he was teasing me.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes as I said, “Yes, I think I can handle a hundred pounds. Not like I haven’t done it before.” I was surprised when I said that, because it was an absolute lie. Why in the hell would I even try to lift a hundred pounds? But I knew why, for some reason I wanted to look strong, hell maybe impress him if I could.

“Well, I’m still going to spot you. How many sets and reps are you going to do?” His face went back to its serious state, the one that he had when he was asking the other members if they needed help.

“I was thinking one set of five reps.” I knew that if I survived this, my arms were going to hurt like hell, they have never had this much of an intense workout before.”

“Ok, Sounds good. Start when you are ready.”

I took a deep breath; my grip grew tighter around the bar after a few seconds I lifted the bar off of the resting stand. My arms were shaking as I held the bar in air, damn I really regretted putting a hundred pounds of weights on that. I moved my arms down to my chest, as I tried to move them back up, they started to shake violently. I struggled for what felt like an hour before I felt the bar being taken away from me and being placed on the resting stand.

The fit gym-worker kneeled Infront of me before asking, “You ok, small fry?”

“Yeah, I just-” I realized what he called me, my jaw dropped a bit, and my eyebrows raised. “Did you just call me small fry?”

“And if I did?” He teased with a smirk. When I didn’t say anything after that; his smirk grew even wider than it was before. I felt my face turn red, oh for fuck’s sake! Out of all times why did I have to blush then? “What’s your name?” He stood up, and stared into my eyes deeply, it was really intimidating.

“Anthony” I decided I wanted to stand up, my ass was hurting from siting down on the hard bench for too long. “And besides a gym jockey you are...?” My lips curled as I teased, I really wanted to know his name, why? Why were my hands shaking? Why was my heart pounding?

He held out his hand as he said, “My name is Alex, nice to meet you, Anthony.” We shook hands, then our arms stopped shaking, but we still had each other hand-in-hand. I looked up at Alex to find that he was already looking at me. We just stood there, staring at each other, I got lost in his astonishing light blue eyes.

I pulled back my hand and cleared my throat before looking away from Alex for a second. What was that? What was that feeling?

I tried to distract myself, so I lied back down underneath the bench press bar. I put my hands around the bar and gripped it tightly.

“Anthony...”, Alex stared to say as he walked back behind the bar again. “We both know you will not be able to bench press that. Maybe take some weights off.” I caught his gaze on me; he had a mix of seriousness and concern on his face. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

I blushed and quickly turned my face away from his; I didn’t want him to see what he did to me. But there was only one question, why was he doing this to me? Why was my heart pounding, like it was trying to escape my chest. What did this mean?

“Yeah, maybe it’s best that I don’t do that. My whole body is aching.” I chuckled even though my arms and legs were begging for mercy. I decided to stand up next to Alex; taking in his appearance before he started to talk again.

“This is my first time seeing you here; you knew here?”

“Uh, yeah” I rubbed my nape, “Moved here from Maine about two or three months ago. The last time I really had a workout was moving boxes into the new house.” I remember that day, it fucking sucked. It made me realize that I defiantly needed to start going to the gym again.

“You have any friends here yet?” He started to walk towards a bench a signaled me to follow before he sat down. The bench was quite small, so when I sat down our knees were pressed against each other. All I could do was just sit there and stare at his knee. I have never been big on physical touch, especially when it was a stranger. But for some reason I didn’t really mind it this time.

I cleared my throat and looking back at Alex’s face before talking. “No, not yet. This is the first time I left the house, besides shopping trips.” I wasn’t lying, I only went out a total of four times since I moved to Florida. Three of the four times were to buy new clothes, food and furniture for my room.

“Well, if you want a gym partner or just a friend in general....” Alex lifted his shoulders and slightly tilted his head before he finished his sentence. He chuckled a bit before saying, “I slid my number in your gym bag when you weren’t looking, so if you want to hang text me.” I’m sorry, what?! He said he put what in where?! I felt my cheeks turning red, but it got worse once he ruffled my hair, making it somewhat messy.

He stood up and started to look at me again, I wanted to crawl inside my skin and hide. Something about his gaze felt... intense, the way his eyes stayed on me, damn this felt just like earlier. My eyes drifted to his lips, fuck, they look so plump, so soft, and kissable.

Alex cleared his throat again before saying, “Alright Anthony, it’s getting late, and it’s the end of my shift. So, like I said, if you want a gym partner or just a friend, you know where I work, and you got my number.” Just like that, he waved and walked away and left me to myself again on the bench.

I sat there, trying to figure out why I was thinking such things a few minutes ago. I kept mumbling to myself “What does this mean?” I couldn’t wrap my mind because I felt like he had me wrapped around his finger. Sure, he’s attractive, but was that why I felt confused? Confused about everything, hell maybe even my sexuality. Just maybe.

I peeled myself off the bench and walked outside, it was dark out by this point, the sounds of cars passing by and distant car horns could be heard as I took the long walk through the parking lot to my little red Toyota.****

I got home, unlocked the front door and snuck in, seeing that the lights were off meant that my mother was asleep. I wouldn’t get in trouble if I got “caught” I don’t have a curfew; I am eighteen years-old after all. I do know that my mother would be pissed shall she be woken up.

I quietly walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge to grab something to eat. My eyes stubbled on a bag of leftover pizza from last night, I grabbed the bag and took a slice out of it. From across the kitchen, I looked at the microwave. “Fuck it.” I said barley above a whisper as I took a bite into the cold pizza, sometimes cold pizza hits the spot.

I sat down at the dinner table, and put my gym bag infront of me, as I was emptying it, I found a blue sticky note that read:

“Here’s my number; don’t be a stranger, small fry

Alex.”

I wanted to bring myself to text him, but my nerves got to me. I wanted to call him, I really did. I stared at the sticky note again, and I trace my finger over his name. What are you doing to me Alex?

After I ate, I took my bag, and the sticky note upstairs with me to my room. I dropped my bag next to my desk before I collapsed on my bed. As I looked at the sticky note, that was still in my hand. I thought, ’Should I call him? Is it a good idea?” I found myself staring at his number, but I never got my phone out to do as little of texting him.

After thirty minutes, I finally got some courage and took my phone out of my pocket. After putting his number into my phone as a contact; I lost my courage again. My fingers glided on my screen as I typed and deleted words. Why is it so damn hard to send a text message suddenly?

My fingers never stopped dancing on my phone, as I tried to make the ‘perfect’ text. I went to delete what I had typed, and I accidently hit send.

Anthony (11:42pm)

Hey, It’s Anthony; found your sticky note.

I saw that the text had sent, and my heart started to race. I turned off my phone, and put it faced down on my bed. I still couldn’t believe I did that. I rested my head on my pillow, and my eyes were looking up at the celling; I started to get dizzy from anxiety. I started to relax when my phone vibrated.

I mumbled to myself, “Oh fuck, please don’t be him.” I slowly moved my hand and reached for my phone. I flipped my phone over to see; that it was indeed Alex texting me back.

Alex(11:43pm)

I was starting to think that you wouldn’t text or call at all😆

How would I even reply? I wasn’t planning on doing anything at all. Well, after all I did send him a text; too late to back out now.

Anthony (11:43pm)

It’s late, aren’t you trying to sleep?

Alex (11:43pm)

Wasn’t going to, but I’m starting to get tired.

When I read his text, I was reminded how exhausted my body was.

Anthony (11:43pm)

Yeah, I’m going to sleep too.

Goodnight

Alex (11:44pm)

Goodnight, Anthony

I reached over to my nightstand and plugged in my phone. I covered myself in my blankets, for my eyes were getting heavy.

***

I looked around my surroundings, and I was at the gym again. This time something felt off, there was nobody there. I walked in the empty gym, trying to remember how I got there. I saw a man all the way in the back of the gym, so I started moving towards him. The closer I got, the more familiar he looked.

He was shirtless and his back was towards me. The man was sat on a bench doing curl-ups. The way his arm muscles bulged and exposed themselves looked so intimidating, yet so hot.

As I stepped closer, I kept on admiring his body; I never saw anybody with a form like that. I got curious on who that body belongs to.

“Hello?” I said trying to get the attention of the man.

He turned around and revealed his face. I blinked a few times thinking they were playing a trick on me. The man sitting there was Alex.

“Hey, I didn’t see you there.” He said with a grin as he started to walk towards me.

The gap between us was getting smaller and smaller until there was barely any distance.

“There is nobody here, it’s just us” His voice was husky. He sounded hungry, and not for food.

Alex put two of his fingers on my chin, he slightly lifted my head up. I didn’t protest anything, soon I found myself staring into his amazing blue eyes. He started to glance from my eyes to my lips.

I moved in, and I glued my lips to his. They were so damn soft, I felt his hand on the back of my head, while his other landed on my waist. The kiss lasted for what felt like an hour. I started to pull back; while doing that, Alex softly bit my bottom lip before letting go completely. He pulled my neck to move me towards him; our lips collided again. This time it lasted way longer than before. I was addicted; to him, to his taste, and to the feeling of his tongue in my mouth, which he hadn’t done the first time. I felt his hand slide down from my neck, and it slid down to my lower back.

At that point, the kiss was almost aggressive. Our tongues chased after each other, as if they were playing cat and dog. He pulled me in even closer; deepening the kiss. It felt so damn wrong, but so damn good at the same time. Alex slowly pulled away as he bit the corner of his own lip.

“Did you like that, Anthony?” He asked with that same tone as before.

“Yes, I did” I replied.

“That’s a shame.” Alex stated with a sigh.

“How?” I was so confused. I just kissed a guy and suddenly it’s a shame that I liked it?

“Because....” he started to say as he turned around and walked away from me. “None of this is real.” He snapped his fingers and sat up quickly in my bed, I was panting and my body felt so sweaty.

My phone vibrated on my nightstand. It’s a message from Alex.

Alex (8:06 am)

Morning

Great, it was all a dream, but why did I have it? Why did I enjoy it?