Note: Check this link to see my OCs' bios: the-rodent-gentleman/759088907734417408/template-by-phillipsgraves-templateby

A little higher up. C'mon…

Try tippy toeing, maybe that will work…

Nope, nope it won't.

How about hopping up and down?

No, best not to try that. I don't wanna cause any property damage – or humiliate myself.

I drop the hand I'd been using to reach for the book and sigh, stepping back from the shelf with a huff and hands akimbo.

It just couldn't be that easy, huh?

I turn my head to check the nearby shelves for a ladder. Oh, there was one to the left!

Way to the left. OK, no problem. I need the exercise anyway!

Exercise I don't get because all of a sudden, the book's dangling right in front of my face.

That's when I notice the large hairy hand holding the book, then turn my head back to discover a taller person behind me.

A much taller person.

Now look, I'm only slightly shorter than the average adult male, so I'm pretty sure I'm not exaggerating by saying this guy towers over me by a foot at most.

Also, he's (and don't judge me for this) stupid handsome.

Earthy brown skin that shimmers like bronze in the mid-afternoon light streaming from the nearby windows. Neatly combed back black hair with a few bangs hanging out as well as a full trimmed beard to match. Dark brown eyes umbrellaed by thick trimmed eyebrows.

He's wearing a white T-Shirt, black denim jacket, black sneakers, and blue stonewashed jeans that all really don't bother to hide how toned he is.

The book's still waving in my face, by the way.

"Uh hello?" he speaks, revealing his deep voice and smoky London accent. "You gonna take this off my hands or what?"

Crap, he's right! I snatch the book out of his hand, doing my best to not look flummoxed like some anime schoolgirl.

"Th-Thanks," I manage to squeak out before clearing my throat and standing up a bit straighter, meeting his eyes. "Not that I couldn't have done it myself. I just needed a ladder first."

The taller guy quirks a corner of his lip in an amused smirk and Lord I'm doing my best not to bite my bottom lip right now.

"And now you don't," he plainly answers. "You're welcome."

He pivots on his heel to leave when I notice something interesting around his neck, my eyes zeroing on it.

"Is that an Autobot necklace?"

He pauses to look back at me before lowering his eyes to the article in question, the shimmery red sigil visible against his shirt.

"Yeah," he confirms as his fingers start to fiddle with the symbol. "You know that Transformers movie that just came out?"

"The one by Michael Bay?"

He nods as he pulls up the insignia to give me a better look. "That one. This is my way of celebrating, you could say."

I cock my head, curious. "You're a Transformers fan?"

"Since my diaper days," he answers with a fuller smile. I can tell from that and the gleam in his eyes that I just hit the jackpot in topics with him. Then he regards me again. "You a fan yourself?"

Oop. I swallow a lump down my throat. "I…drift in and out of it. I had a few of the toys as a kid, but I'm not exactly a diehard fan. I'm more of a fantasy person."

Now he cocks his head, eyebrows arching a little in amusement.

I stumble under that gaze. "I-I mean I know that Transformers takes some imagery from fantasy stuff, but I'm talking about stuff like dragons and magic! You know, like Disney and all that."

And now I wanna smack myself straight upside the head.

Seriously, Disney? Now this guy must think I'm some overgrown baby!

Well, if he does think so, he's not showing it. He's just nodding his head, humming like he's interested.

But c'mon, there's no way!

"Disney fan then, eh? Got any movies you like in particular?"

OK, never mind, he's actually interested, holy shit!

My brain stalls a bit from the shock before I take a deep breath to refocus. Don't be weird, just be natural.

I smile back as I set the book beneath my underarm. "How about we continue this outside? I get a little excited about this kind of stuff and I don't wanna disturb anyone here."

The taller man steps off to the side and sweeps his hands words the end of the aisle, smiling like he's a prince about to escort a princess.

"In that case, after you, ah…"

"Noah. Noah Collins."

"Jai Davies," he offers back with a wink.

Yep, I'm a goner.

XXX

We're currently walking along one of Birmingham's many canals en route to one of the city's pubs, me occasionally pausing to take photos of the scenery as we chat. Jai to his credit doesn't seem to mind waiting on me at all.

"You're an archaeologist?" I ask after a shot of The Mailbox.

"Yep," Jai confirms with a nod. "Past cultures always fascinated me as a kid, so I figured why the hell not? Besides, my job's a good excuse to see the world. Never could stand the thought of a 9 to 5."

I hear him there.

"So, what places have you been to so far?" I ask.

Jai shrugs. "Peru, Ireland, Cambodia, Lebanon. India a couple times, obviously. I'm considering Syria for next year. What about you?"

I bit my bottom lip, a little embarrassed. "I've been more local until recently. Gone out of state a couple times for my photography job, but this is my first time going out of country. Heck, I only just joined my friend's television crew a few months ago, so I'm still adjusting to traveling abroad."

A large hand gently pats my back, surprising me.

"Well, from what I can tell, you seem to be getting along just fine. Don't stress yourself."

I can't help but return his warm smile.

His hand leaves all too soon. "Now I know you said you're from the States, but which in particular?"

I rub my nape, averting eye contact. "Promise not to laugh, but…it's Texas."

Jai bends over with a snort, and my elbow retaliates instantly, my cheeks flushed.

"Hey, I said don't laugh!"

"Sorry, sorry!" he responds, not sounding sorry at all. "It's just not the first place that came to mind, looking at you."

I roll my eyes, amused. "Oh yeah? Why, cause I ain't swaggerin' like some cowboy or waltzin' around like a Southern gentleman? Well, I don't see you chugging down tea and biscuits every five seconds."

"Oi, you keep my country's staple out of this," he playfully admonishes, wagging a finger at me. "Not my fault your Yank taste buds can't appreciate fine tea" – I open my mouth to protest – "and no, the bottled kind doesn't count."

Shit then. I huff through my nose and pout like a little kid. I know I'm too old to pout, but sometimes I can't help it.

Jai nudges my shoulder with his elbow this time, chuckling. "C'mon. Just me bantering with ya. With all the crazy stuff I've heard about your state, I'd have figured you'd be, you know, a bit bigger than life."

Ah, well that was a fair assumption, I suppose.

"I'm more of a backstage kind of guy," I answer with a shrug. "Never was one for showing my face if I could help it."

Jai arches a brow upward at me. "A shame. Nice face like yours deserves a lil' attention."

Did…he just flirt with me just now? I find myself tripping on a crack in the sidewalk but manage to get my footing back.

Out the corner of my eye, I notice just in time Jai retracting his hand like he was about to catch me.

He's quick to clear his throat. "Sorry. I might've crossed a line with that one. We only just met, ya knowl."

"No! No, no lines crossed!" I wave my hands frantically. "You just surprised me is all…but thanks. That was really sweet of you to say."

I smile to show him it's all cool, and it works cause he returns the smile back.

That stupid, charming smile.

Crap, what was I saying again?

"But hey," Jai speaks up again. "No shame in staying out of the spotlight. If that's how you feel most comfortable, what does it matter to anyone else?"

I double finger-gun in approval. "Exactly! Ain't no compromise worth bending over backwards."

At the baffled look Jai gives, I get nervous and fiddle with my hands. "At least, that's what my grandma always told me. She always had a bunch of quotes like that ready. Honest, if not for her, I probably wouldn't be here right now."

Jai cocks his head, curious. "Is she why you got into photography?"

"Oh no, that was my mom. My grandma's the one who got me interested in other cultures. She was an archaeologist like you. Every trip, she'd come back with a whole bunch of stories to share about the places she'd been."

Turning my eyes to the canal, I can feel my eyes get misty as I continue. "I wanted so much to be like her as a kid, to have stories of my own adventures."

"Would you say it panned out?" Jai's voice is gentle and tentative.

I huff out a bit of air from my nose. "Maybe a little. I don't mind where I am, but there are definite times when I feel like I could be doing better for myself. Does that sound silly?"

Jai sets his jaw in a way that makes his lips stand out beneath his beard and moustache. "Nah. Sounds more like you could use feedback. Someone who'll let you know how you're doing."

I idly swing my foot forward. "I've got my own blog where I post pictures and get comments. That's mostly how the station I work for now noticed me."

Jai nods again, humming in thought. "OK then. How about someone to keep your spirits up every now and then? Ya know, a personal cheerleader?"

That offer gets me to pause, the sound of water lapping against the canal's walls in the wind adding background music. I regard Jai and his patient gaze with an appreciative smile.

"I wouldn't mind."

After all, what's one more person in my corner?

XXX

It's early evening by the time I get back to the Ibis Styles Birmingham Centre.

Elena smirks once she catches sight of me. She doesn't look displeased much to my relief, just a little amused.

"Finally decided to join us, did you, Noah?" I blush dark red at her question. "We were just going over some last-minute rearrangements for the show tomorrow."

Despite myself, I perk a brow, curious. "Anything major?"

"Oh, just a few changes in schedule. That said, we're gonna need you to redo some of the photos you took yesterday. Turns out some of the areas we were supposed to cover are closed for renovations."

Was that all? I raise both hands in easy acceptance. "Fine by me. Oh, and sorry for not answering your text right away earlier. I got a little caught up."

Wait, why she is smirking at me like that?

"Oh, I believe you," she answers. "I mean being around a stud like that's bound to make anyone forget."

Stud, what?

That's when I realize she's craning her head to peek at over my shoulder. I look over too and realize she's eyeing the man who walked me back here, Jai, his back to us as he walks off into the distance, hands in his jacket pockets.

Oh crap. I swivel my head back around instantly, plenty sure that my cheeks are burning even darker red now!

"I can explain!"

Elena has her arms crossed, that amused smirk even bigger now.

Doesn't help that our cameraman is trying to crane his ear our way, pretending to still check the equipment.

I pull on the best scowl I can. "It wasn't a date. Just two guys sharing their passion with each other."

…Wait no, bad wording!

"I meant passions! Two guys sharing their passions, as in interests! That's what I meant! Sure, we gave each other our cell numbers but for perfectly platonic reasons!"

I note the lack of change on her face and drop my arms. "OK, seriously, can you stop smiling like that? You're starting to freak me out."

Elena merely shrugs before turning to go inside the center, our cameraman following suit. "Just happy to see you making friends."

Yes, friends. And nothing else. The way she says it be damned.

That said, right as I'm about to go inside too, my cellphone beeps. I pull it out and notice there's a message on my text app.

Let's chat again sometime. ;)

- Jai

I take a deep breath to smother a giggle.

Yeah, most definitely friends.