The Story of Finneas - [COMPLETED]

7.

It had been a few days since Finneas kissed me, yet I still couldn't forget it. It probably had been engraved in my mind, and I remembered every detail of it. How it happened, how it felt. I remembered how his warm fingers were holding my cheeks, how his eyes were closed first, how it felt when my skin brushed with his stubbly skin...

"Hey, why are you blushing?" An unfamiliar voice appeared beside my ear, almost making me jump. I instantly turned and found a tall guy standing closely behind me. He looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out who he was. "Are you okay?" He asked once again with a concerned expression on his face.

I stepped away from him and looked down, trying to hide my face. "I'm fine."

"Did you just... Did you just think about inappropriate things at work?" The guy smirked playfully, still staring at me through his black-rimmed glasses.

I stared back at him as I wanted to defend myself. "It's none of your business," I uttered, and continued walking towards the cupboard to get a cup for my morning coffee.

I hoped the guy would go away, but he kept following me. "Brooke, isn't it?" He stood beside me and helped me get my cup, and since he was tall—even taller than Finneas—he could reach it easily.

"How do you know?" I looked at him with my eyes squinted.

He laughed and shook my hand with an unexpected strength. "I'm Hans from third floor. A few weeks ago, you parked your car besides mine too closely and I couldn't get in and had to wait for you to move your car. Remember me?"

That memory came into my mind and I nodded slowly. "I remember now. Sorry about that, anyway."

"It's fine, you already apologized back then," he seemed glad that I remembered him. "I guess it took you a while to remember me because of this brand new mustache," he smirked again and twisted one end of his mustache. His black curly hair, blue eyes, and that 70s' pornstache reminded me of young Tom Selleck.

I tried to hide my cringing. "Probably. Are you trying to look like Tom Selleck or something?"

His eyes widened in delight. "How did you know? I love Magnum P.I.!"

"Well, you'll look like him more if you lose the glasses," I said while waiting for the coffee machine to finish pouring my coffee. I glanced at him once again, and he wasn't bad looking. He could pass off as Tom Selleck's son or something.

"I thought so, but I need my glasses to see. Contact lenses irritate my eyes, so they're a no-no."

"I see," I grabbed my cup of coffee and threw a smile at Hans. "I'm gonna get back to my office now."

"Right. I guess I'll see you later, then." He waved and smiled back.

After reaching my desk, I sat down with a long sigh. When I'm alone like this, the image of Finneas always comes back to me. I sipped my coffee and it tasted weird. I guess the machine needs to be repaired, since it tasted great when they first bought it.

All of a sudden, my phone buzzed. It was Finneas who called, and I anxiously answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Brooke. Listen. What time are you getting off work?" His voice sounded eager and serious, which was something unusual.

"I can get off early today, maybe at 4. What's up?"

"Okay, that's great. I have a flight at 7. I'm going back home for a while."

I honestly didn't expect him to say that. I was afraid he'd meet his ex again, and that would ruin our chance to be... an item? I don't even know. "But—why?"

"My dad had a stroke. I have to go see him."

It was silent for a while before I replied, "I'm sorry to hear that. I can take you to the airport later, if you'd like."

"That's great, thanks. I'm gonna continue packing now. See you later, Brooke." As always, he hung up before I had a chance to say anything.

***

When I arrived at Finneas' apartment, he got into the car without saying anything. He didn't talk much like usual, yet he stayed quiet throughout the ride to the airport. I was too nervous to say anything, either. We got into the airport and sat together for a while before he checked in.

He had this sad and worried expression on his face, and I didn't like seeing him like that. He sipped his coffee quietly and stared off into the distance.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, nudging his feet with mine.

He lifted his head and looked at me. "I don't know. I have this uneasy feeling, and I don't like it at all."

I nodded, running out of words to say. We spent a few minutes in silence, and I was so anxious that I finished my coffee quickly. As I stood up to look for a trashcan, Finneas grabbed my hand. "Brooke," he called.

"Yeah?" I answered, trying to avoid his eyes.

He put his coffee on the seat beside him and stood up, facing me closely. "I think we need to talk about what happened."

"What happened? You mean the..." I couldn't finish the sentence, but I absolutely understood what he meant.

"Yeah, the kiss. Listen, it's not that I don't like you or something. I like you, I really do. It's just... I have a lot to think about right now. First the ex thing, and now my dad. Do you mind if we keep being... just friends? I think it's not wise right now to be—exclusive." He put an emphasis on the last word.

At that moment, I wanted to smack him and say "we're exclusive, damn it!", but I just couldn't. Instead, different words came out of my mouth. "I understand. Yeah, let's just not be exclusive right now."

I was very sad, but seeing the relieved smile on his face, I didn't mind. I didn't like this kind of plot in the movies, where you had to just settle for being happy when you see your loved one happy; but when it happens to you, you just can't do anything. I obviously can't force him to love me, to be with me. Now I want to smack myself instead.

"Thank you," he said sincerely. I only replied with a smile, still didn't feel like talking. He then picked up his bag.

"Are you checking in already?" I tried to keep my voice from trembling, and damn, it was so hard.

"Yeah, I kinda want to be alone right now. Thanks for accompanying me here, though." He smiled sadly, and I felt like I wanted to cry even more.

"No problem," I muttered. "Safe flight, then."

"See you later, Brooke."

He smiled once again and walked away. I waved for a while until he went in, and quietly walked back to the parking lot. My legs felt weak.

He said he was gonna go home for a while, right? He didn't say he was going back for good. I think his things are still in his apartment, as well as his scooter. I couldn't bring myself to ask him how long he's gonna be there. So what if he's gonna be there for a while? So what if he meets his ex? He said they haven't contacted each other since that last text he told me about.

I kept assuring myself to be calm and collected on the way to my car. I guess it didn't work well, because I immediately cried as I got into the car and sat behind the wheel. It started raining again—so cliché, like in the movies. I remembered how he appeared in front of my door, wet from the rain. I remembered how I forgot to give his beanie back. I felt so crushed.

That night, I cried all the way back to my apartment.

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[Author's Note]: Phew! It's been a long and heavy chapter, isn't it? I know my story hasn't been read by a lot of people, but I still get motivated to continue (and hopefully finish) it, thanks to those who keep reading! I may not be the best writer, but I'm writing stuff which I love and it feels so wonderful. What do you think so far? If you liked it, please drop a vote or a comment, that means a lot to me. Thanks a lot to you who have been reading this far! <3