Chapter 1

Water… Must… drink… water…

Just two more minutes and you can have your water, Hawke, don't mess this up!

I'm panting like I'm running from a dragon with my ass on fire, and I'm sweating like a dog. I eye the cold, clear plastic water bottle on the treadmill's bottle-holder longingly, the dryness of my mouth and throat almost unbearable.

I glance at the time display on the treadmill: 53:45, 53:46, 53:47…

Just a minute to go, Hawke!

I forcibly tear my thoughts away from my thirst and instead focus on the reflection in the mirrored wall facing me.

I see a pale, sweaty, shiny twenty five year old woman panting back at me, cheeks flushed red with her effort to stay on her feet and keep running. Her raven-black hair is cropped short, her pin-straight wispy bangs pulled away from her face with a black headband. She's quite ordinary looking- apart from her piercing blue eyes, that is. The blue eyes that now flit to the treadmill's time display one more time to see the much longed for '55:00' finally arrive.

I eagerly reach for the pause button and grab my water bottle, trying to gulp it down and breathe at the same time. My thirst satiated and my breath partially back, I resume the treadmill, bringing the speed down to a medium walking pace for the final five minutes of my hour long run.

As I cool down, I look back at the mirrored wall before me, this time focusing on my surroundings. I see the familiar mirrored walls all around the gym, the reflections making the place seem much larger than it really is. I see personal trainers alongside their panting, sweating clients, urging them to carry on with their various exercise routines. I see a stern-looking middle aged woman doing serious push-ups. Then, I see the time on the treadmill reach '60:00'.

I hop off the machine, gulping down more water. After a quick yet thorough stretch of my legs, I grab my towel and wipe the sweat off my face and neck, throwing it around my shoulders and heading towards the free weights section.

As I make my way towards the dumbbell rack, I approach a huffing and puffing young, blonde and extremely fit and muscular man doing some bench presses.

"Another tournament coming up soon, Al?" I ask as I pass by him.

He glances at me, gives me a quick smile and nods, before returning his full focus to the incredibly heavy barbell in his hands.

After a few sets of weight lifting, I stretch and gather my things to leave. Right as I'm about to leave the main gym area and head towards the female changing rooms, I hear someone behind me quietly clear his throat.

"Excuse me," a deep, male voice says. I quickly turn around.

"I believe this is yours."

I stare. No, I gape. Literally, mouth hanging open and all.

Right there, standing with an iPhone (my iPhone) in his outstretched hand, is a man. Not just any man; a man with the most incredible green eyes I have ever seen. I mention his eyes because they are the first thing I notice. My eyes then move to his hair, snow-white and sleek, to his skin, caramel and smooth. The last things I notice are the strange white markings on his chin. Delicate and beautiful, they appear to stretch down to his neck, but I can't tell for sure, seeing as the skin on his neck is concealed by his black turtle neck.

Huh. A turtle neck at the gym. Weird.

I quickly gather my thoughts and snap myself out of the strange trance-like state I'm in.

"Oh, right, er… thank you," I smile, reaching out for my phone. He hands it to me without touching my hand.

"No problem," he smiles, his green eyes fixated on mine. I am painfully aware of how sweaty I am. He, on the other hand, is dry, clean and smells of eau de cologne.

Obviously didn't work out yet.

I realise that we're both standing there, staring into each other's eyes, and I lightly shake my head and shut my eyes to regain focus.

"Well, I'd better… you know… get to the shower and all," I mumble, looking down at my trainers.

"Of course."

That voice.

"Thanks again," I smile. I quickly turn around and head straight to the shower.

Before I enter the changing room, however, I chance a glance back at where the strange man stopped me.

He's nowhere to be seen.