The day I finally learned to love

I headed out to the gym floor, and jumped on the treadmill next to Prem he looked at me and said, "Guess who's here"! I replied, "who"? He said, "The guy that turned you down at the club" and busted out laughing. I smirked I said, "I know I bumped into him in the locker room he acted spooked again when he saw me". "Weird right"? Do you two recognize him? They both nodded and said no simultaneously "The only place we saw him was at the club that night when you were turned down for the first time". As we headed to lift weights his stationary bike was directly in front of where I was, I couldn't help but steal looks at him even sweating he looked perfect. I sat there lifting my weights thinking about what he was listening to in his headphones and what he was doing after the gym. I decided I would talk to him once we were done with our workout. In what seemed like forever I saw him head to the locker room I glanced back at my cousins and said I think I'm going to call it a day! I'll see you tonight at the races, right? Prem said, "What's the rush we just started" Jimin said "he's like a dog going to chase his owner down" Both started laughing hysterically. "They both said yes we will see you there" and smiled at each other I walked into the locker room, and I guess he was in the shower already so I waited on the bench for him to come out when he did, I said "Hey, Can I talk to you for a minute". He looked at me and then behind him he said "Are you talking to me" in a quiet voice almost as quiet as a mouse. I said, "Yeah you who else". He said, "Sure what's up". I said, "I am Max by the way I didn't catch your name the other night at the club"! He looked at the floor and said, "I'm Charlie, but my friends call me Pooh since my dad and I have the same name and my friends think I'm cuddly like Winnie the Pooh". I smiled because that nickname fit him well. I said, "You know I have been thinking about you since that night at the club wondering why you lied to me". "You said you were leaving but as I headed out you were out by the bonfire with your friends laughing if you didn't like me, you could have just turned me down". He glanced up and said, "It's not like that I'm betting you don't remember me if you did you would know why". I looked up at him puzzled and said, "Have we met before are you one of my previous one-night stands"? I don't think you are I would remember you. He shook his head and said, "No I don't know you from that would you like me to remind you"? I shook my head yeah; he said, "I used to be your neighbor before your parents died, I went by Kritten back then". I told you when were in middle school after you had moved in with your cousins that I had a crush on you, and you told me to get lost and that you didn't date losers like me. So, I went home that day and cried for what seemed like forever but then I moved on I'm still the same as back then so why you would want to buy me a drink baffles me as it seems you're still the cool kid and I'm still the dork. I glanced at the floor feeling ashamed of myself I was such an ass back then and didn't care about anyone's feelings I hated the world and everyone in it. I slowly looked up and said, "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings back then I have changed can we start over". He took a second and looked up at me and said, "Why should I"? "How do I know you've changed or what your motive behind this is"? Am I just another notch in your belt of one-night stands or is this you not wanting to have a rejection on your perfect streak? I looked at Pooh and said, "I am sorry for how I acted back then I'm not the same person I used to be". Pooh looked down again I could see he was deep in thought but, then he looked up and smiled and said sure. I quickly took the opportunity and said, "I race tonight will you come watch after we can go get a coffee there's a coffee shop not far from the track". He seemed hesitant so I said bring some friends and I'll bring my cousins we can all hang out he said OK what's the place and time I said what's your line ID and I'll send you the location. My id is Poohkritten my phone buzzed I smiled and said I guess I'll see you at the race.