the ghost of you ☔︎ shaymien

Four

Shanye had no clue what to tell Courtney as he stood at the top of the wooden staircase in a floral button-down and black jeans. It's not like a could exactly say that some random guy he met in a graveyard invited him for coffee after a few minutes of talking without her thinking he's insane. Courtney didn't even know anything about the entire flower-graveyard incident.

As he fathomed an excuse he felt a hand on his shoulder. The sudden contact made him jump out of his skin. "Why are you just standing here honey?"

Shayne cringed at the nickname. It didn't feel right. Nothing felt right anymore. "I was just lost in my thoughts and zoned out I guess. I'm going to meet an old friend at this coffee place, I'll be back in a couple hours, " Shayne half-lied. He was going to meet someone at a coffee shop, only it was a complete stranger.

"Okay, babe I love you."

"I love you too, " I said before kissing the top of her head. The words felt stale and overused. He's been saying it too much the words held no meaning anymore. The only way for the expression to be saved was for him to stop saying it. Or to stop using it incorrectly. Those words were meant to be said with passion, a burning passion. So much passion that could only be deciphered as love. Not in just normal everyday conversations.

He hastily scurried down the stairs and out the door. A cocktail of excitement and nerves bubbled in his stomach as he shut the door behind him. This guy could be a murderer for all he knew.

As his Nike's collided with the cement of the sidewalk they made a soft padding noise. The blistering heat of the LA sun seemed enough to melt a person.

Shayne arrived at the coffee shop within five minutes as it was really close to his house. He immediately took notice of the warm and welcoming atmosphere as he entered the building. Damien was seating at a booth in the corner when he waved Shayne over. "Hey, " he smiled warmly. "I already ordered you a drink. I didn't know what you like so I just got my favorite thing here."

"Wow, this is also my favorite drink. What's up?" Shayne asked as he took a seat across from the brunette, copying the other man's smile. It was pretty infectious.

"Nothing much, how about you?"

"You know, just wondering why you invited a complete stranger that you literally met in a cemetery for coffee, " Shayne casually said like it was no big deal. He watched Damien's eyebrows raise and the corners of his mouth slightly downturn.

"I don't know, it just seemed right. This sounds weird but I feel like I have a connection with you, " Damien answered sincerely. Before Shayne got a chance to respond a guy with fucking crazy-ass hair came by. There were neon green, orange, and pink checkers and the only thought in Shayne's head was why. What about that is okay? He had to admit, it took a talented hairdresser to do that but just because you could doesn't mean you should.

"Hey, have either of you guys seen a black guy with a large brown hat and sunglasses?" he asked, "He said he would be here but I can't find him."

"He actually left a few minutes ago, " Damien informed the kid. He looked pretty young, not like a young child but as an adult.

"Goddamnit Keith, " the boy said before turning away. "Thanks!" And with that, the boy was out.

"Well that was weird, " Shayne chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. Damien just happened to do the exact thing at the exact time like their actions were mirrored.

"Yeah. What was up with his hair?" Damien asked in a rhetorical manner. He lifted his cup to his lips again as he waited for Shayne's response.

"I don't know but whatever it was shouldn't be legal, " Shayne stated, Damien, nodding in agreement. Shayne allowed his ocean-colored eyes wander the beautiful man in front of him. He was just a pleasant sight to look at. His facial features were just very aesthetically pleasing. The brunette just looked so soft and adorable but in a way where he could be smoldering if he wanted to.

The was a moment of silence where neither man spoke. The only sounds were the conversations happening around them, but that seemed obsolete compared to the quiet sipping sound when they drank their coffees. All other noise had been drowned out as if they were alone in the building, just drinking coffee. No one else mattered except for them in that blissful moment.

The blonde man shattered the silence. "Damien?" Shayne loved the way the name tasted and felt in his mouth. The way his tongue pushed off the roof of his mouth for "Da" and his lips coming together to make an m sound for "mi". Finally, his tongue returning to the roof of his mouth in "en". It was a perfect cycle, starting at the top of his mouth and ending there. It was a beautiful combination of sounds.

He carefully said the name so each syllable would be enunciated properly. He never cared this much about saying anyone's name, but for Damien, it just felt right. Everything about Damien felt right.

"Yeah Shayne?" Damien responded. The blonde also loved the way his name sounded when it came out of Damien's mouth. His name had never sounded so beautiful to him. Only when Damien said it. He couldn't get over the way Damien said it.

"Wanna play twenty questions?"

-

They've been talking for hours at the coffee shop, wanting to know every single thing about the other. Shayne loved talking to Damien because he loved the way his mouth formed words and how he pronounced syllables. Everything sounded so beautiful when it came from Damien's lips.

After they exchanged contact information, they started to walk separate ways. But their 'goodbyes' weren't enough. At least not for Damien. "Shayne wait?"

"Yeah Da-"

Before Shayne could say his beautiful name he was cut off by soft lips being pressed against his. Their lips danced harmonically with each other, again like an exact mirror image. Shayne forgot about Courtney at that moment. Courtney didn't exist at that moment, just two guys kissing in the middle of the street.

The kiss only lasted a few seconds before Damien pulled away and left Shayne again, only this time with a burning sensation on his lips.