Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

MONSTER

My muscles are sore from practice as I walk into the library an hour before Eliza and I are supposed to meet. I could say that the reason I’m here so early is because I want to work on some homework before our scheduled tutoring session, but there’s really no point in lying to myself. The real reason I’m here well before I need to be is to catch another glimpse at the person I’m beyond intrigued by. Eliza keeps telling me I need to talk to them, and I’m really considering it even though I’m terrified. But I have no idea what I’m going to say if I do get up the nerve. At least I have time to think about it.

I grab the same table Eliza and I used last week and pull out my laptop and books in order to look like there is a purpose to me being at the library. Who knows, maybe I’ll actually get some homework done while I wait for them to show up.

I’m about halfway done with an assignment for a class I’m not struggling in when a joyous laugh rings out through the library. I instantly look up and my eyes land on the person who caught my attention two weeks ago.

They are wearing a white ruffly top with patch work jeans and a pair of white high heels. Their eyes are covered in a bright blue shadow and their lips are the same bright red color I’ve seen them wear every time I’ve laid eyes on them—which is only three times now, but still.

I try not to stare too much, but it’s hard to pull my eyes away from them. They are just so full of life, and I really want to get to know them.

My eyes stay on them for too long and when they look my way, I swear I see a hint of anger before I cast my gaze back to my laptop.

Shit. I don’t want them to be upset by me watching them, but I get how it could be perceived. So much for gaining the nerve to talk to them. I’m scared to even look at them now.

Hands slap down on the table in front of me and I quickly glance up to see the face of a very beautiful and very pissed off person.

“What is your problem?” they ask with fire in their sapphire blue eyes.

“I-I don’t have a problem,” I stammer.

“Then why do you keep staring at me?” they question, still glaring at me.

“Because you’re just so… so…” I struggle to get out what I mean but am cut off.

“So… what? So weird? So flamboyant? So wrong? What kind of insult were you going to hurl at me? I promise I’ve heard them all.”

“I… I… was going to say… so magnetic! You intrigue me, and I can’t help watching you. I didn’t mean to offend you” I whisper.

For a second they look taken aback and shocked, but that quickly turns into a look of disbelief including an epic eye roll.

“No really,” I assure them. “I’ve been trying to get the courage to talk to you, but I’m not the most outgoing guy.”

“You wanted to ask me out?” they check, trying to clarify what I meant.

“Umm, well as a friend, yeah. I’m not really the dating type, but I wanted to get to know you better. You just seem so confident, so sure of yourself, and it’s refreshing to see that in a person,” I tell them.

“So, you weren’t thinking that I was some kind of freak?” they ask, narrowing their eyes once more at me and I immediately shake my head.

“Not at all,” I assure them. “Would you like to have a seat and get to know me before your study group shows up?” I ask, praying they’ll say yes.

They stare at me for a moment before shrugging and pulling out the chair across from mine.

“I’m Monster, and my pronouns are he/him,” I tell him, reaching my hand out across the table.

They eye it for a second but eventually shake it, and I’m surprised by just how soft their hand is.

“I’m Finn,” they murmur. “And my pronouns are also he/him.”

I try to keep an even expression and not show the shock I’m feeling on the inside, but I’m pretty sure I don’t do a good job because he rolls his eyes.

“I know it can be hard to tell from the way I dress but I’m just a boy who likes feminine clothing and makeup. We do exist, you know.” His tone is sharp, and it makes me wince a little.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to seem surprised,” I reply feeling bad, but he waves me off.

“No, I should be sorry,” he tells me. “It’s a common misconception and I’m just being a dick even though you don’t deserve it.”

“It’s okay,” I assure him. “I get why you’re a little standoffish. I was the guy staring at you, after all. I’m sure not everyone who does that has good intentions.”

“You could say that again,” he mutters under his breath.

“I promise I’m not a bad guy. I really did just want to talk to you and get to know you not to act like a creep. I’ve never been good at talking to people first. All of my friends are the extroverted type and they pretty much just decided to adopt me,” I confess, earning me a gorgeous smile.

“You don’t look like you’d be the shy type,” he tells me, and I nod.

“I get that a lot, but it’s true. I might turn heads when I enter a room because of my size but that doesn’t mean I want the attention.”

“I used to be similar,” Finn admits. “I didn’t want everyone staring at me, but I wanted to be myself. I wanted to wear what felt good on my skin and not hide in a closet. Now though, I don’t mind the attention. Maybe it’s because I know the majority of it is positive and that I’m not going to get attacked at this school. Although I’ll admit I still have a chip on my shoulder as you can tell by the way I reacted to you staring at me. I’ll also admit I’m a little bit biased against baseball players.”

I tilt my head to the side, studying the man in front of me for a second. Yes, he’s gorgeous with pale skin, plump red lips, and mesmerizing sapphire eyes, but I can see the hurt behind them. Who would do that to such a vibrant person like Finn?

“I’m sorry someone made you dislike baseball players, but I can promise I’ll never hurt you,” I assure him.

He rolls his eyes and shrugs. “You can say that, but I also know people lie,” he murmurs. “But since I am trying to be less judgmental and make new friends while I’m here I’ll try to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“Thank you,” I tell him with a warm smile, earning me a grin in return.

“What are you doing over here?” a redhead asks Finn then stares at me for a moment, like she’s trying to figure out if I’m a good guy or not.

“Just chatting with a new friend,” Finn tells them. “Chantell, this is Monster. Monster this is Chantell, my bestie. She’s also a stage five clinger, so if you feel like you already have enough friends, steer clear of this one,” he stage whispers, making me chuckle.

“And you’re a brat,” she responds before sticking her tongue out at him.

“Guilty,” he responds then winks at me and a weird kind of tingle shoots up my spine.

What the fuck was that?

“I guess I should be getting over to our study area,” Finn responds before pushing back his chair and standing. “I’ll see you around.”

I nod and wave at him as he walks away.

I’m really glad that conversation ended well, but now I want to get to know him even more. I want to know what makes him tick, what he’s been through, everything.

I just hope I don’t stick my foot in my mouth before I earn his trust.