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Cody isn’t someone who gets a lot of attention. He doesn’t have the highest self esteem, and when he does get attention it's often negative. All Cody is someone to like him. Someone to pay attention to him. Someone he can pour all the love in his heart into.
Unbeknownst to Cody, he was soon going to get that very thing. Though not in the way he’s dreamt about.
He was in science class doodling his and Gwen’s names in his notebook rather than paying attention. Though he was quickly brought out of this when a new student arrived. He was tall, with caramel skin, shoulder length brown hair, narrow green eyes, a soul patch, and a muscular physique. Cody couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of him.
Which only became an even bigger problem when he was sat right next to him. Cody felt like he was going to swallow his tongue. It was strange. Normally it was only girls who had that effect on him. He’s not sure he likes it.
“Hello. I am Alejandro Burromuerto. And you are?” He asked.
Cody shook his head to clear it. “Uh Cody. My name’s Cody. Pleased to meet you Al.”
“Alejandro if you’d please.” The Spaniard said.
“If it's not rude, may I ask why you want me to use your full name?” Cody asked.
Alejandro took Cody’s hand in his and looked him in the eye. “Because hearing my true name from your lips is beautiful.”
Cody quickly pulled his hand away. Its not that he’s not enjoying Alejandro’s attention, its simply that he doesn’t know how to feel about it. So instead, he turned back to his notebook and continued to doodle his and Gwen’s names. What he didn’t see was Alejandro’s frown.
Over the next month there were several more incidents like that. Cody dropped his pen, and Alejandor picked it up. “Careful, you wouldn’t want to lose this. He whispered, placing the pen into the geek's hand and closing it.
“Uh, yeah, Thanks?” Cody managed to choke out.
Another time Cody tripped over the doorway and it was Alejandro who helped him to his feet. “You simply must be more careful. You’re beautifully delicate.”
“I’m not delicate! I’m swarthy!” Cody said, curling his bicep. There was no perceptible difference.
“It’s not a bad thing.” Alejandro said.
Yet another time Cody had managed to tie his shoes together, and of course there’s Alejandro to help him out. He worked at the knot as he talked to Cody. “You have lovely fingers.” He noted. “I saw you tying this knot. Strong yet delicate. Have you played an instrument?”
Cody blushed. “Uh, yeah. I play keyboard. I mean, its not like it’s a true piano or anything.”
“Nonsense. Playing the keyboard is perfectly valid.” Alejandro replied.
Cody simply didn’t get it. How was Alejandro around him so often? How did he know when he needed help? Why didn’t he notice him? Alejandro wasn’t someone you wouldn’t notice.
On top of all that he’s still trying to deal with this whole attraction to a guy thing. Cody’s never been into a guy before. It’s new, and strange. He doesn’t know if he’s comfortable with it or not. So lately he’s been redoubling his efforts to win over Gwen. His crush on her is simple, easy to understand. She’s a hot girl. He’s a guy.
Right now Gwen was between boyfriends, and though she’d told Cody she wasn’t interested in him, he hadn’t stopped trying. Especially now, because if he could land Gwen, then he wouldn’t have to worry about his strange attraction to Alejandro.
It had caused some problems. Both in regards to Gwen’s disposition towards him, which had understandably gone from tolerant if a little annoyed to outright hostile, and his friendship with Alejandro.
Alejandro didn’t understand why he was pursuing Gwen. “She doesn’t even like you Cody. All your love and affection is wasted on her.”
Cody sighed. “I know, but I think I can win her over.”
“You shouldn’t have to.” Alejandro said. “Working so hard for love and affection from someone who doesn’t want to give it to you is draining. Trust me. I know.”
“Look, I get it, but I’m comfortable with my crush on Gwen.” Cody told him.
He sighed, about halfway up the stairs to the second floor of the school as he reflected back on all this. He was getting nowhere. His crush on Gwen was clearly unrequited and he was ruining their friendship trying to win her over. On top of that, his attraction towards Alejandro was no less obvious.
He was distracted enough to slip on the next step up the stairs, causing him to fall down them. Luckily it was only a few steps down until Alejandro caught him. In a bridal hold. “My, my Cody. I was hoping you’d fall for me.”
Cody swallowed. “Uh. I.”
“Cat got your tongue?” Alejandro chuckled. He leaned forward, his lips puckered. Cody’s heat beat quickly.
He pushed away. ‘Uh no. Nope. Got my tongue right here.” Cody said, sticking his tongue out.
Alejandro sighed. “Listen Cody, I was wondering if we could meet under the bleachers after school? There’s something I want to show you.”
Cody sighed. “I guess. I do kind or owe you.”
Despite his promise Cody spent the rest of the day wondering if he should bail. In the end though, he couldn’t bring himself to do that. So after school he went behind the bleachers. He blinked. Alejandro didn’t seem to be here, though there was a cat. “Hey buddy. How’d you get here?”
That was when the cat turned into Alejandro. Cody blinked. “Okay I must be dreaming.” Alejandro pinched his arm. “Ow! Hey!”
“This is no dream Cody. I’m a shapeshifter. I can take on the physical appearance of anyone or anything.” Alejandro explained. “That’s how I always knew when you needed help. I was posing as different students so I could watch over you.”
“Okay.” Cody took a deep breath. “So you’re a shapeshifter. Why tell me?”
Alejandro sighed. “Because I wanted to show you that I can be whatever you need.” He shifted into a dog. “I can be an emotional support animal.” He shifted into one of the Teacher’s. Mr. McLean. “An authority figure.” He changed into Cody himself. “I can even be you if you need me to.”
“I mean that’s cool. Do you like, have a true form or anything?” Cody asked.
Alejandro shifted back to the form Cody had met him in. “My true form is more of a shapeless gas than anything else, but this is the form I feel the most me in. And Alejandro is the name that feels most like mine. Nothing about this persona came from another person. I created it from an amalgamation of everything I saw humans found attractive.”
“Why that?’ Cody asked.
“Because I feed off of love. Any love and affection I can get sustains me. So naturally I wanted to take advantage of what humans found attractive.”
“I see. So why do you want me to know that you can be anything you need me to?” Cody asked.
Alejandro frowned. “Look, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I don’t know if you’ve noticed Cody but I really like you. I really do. You have so much love and affection in your heart. So much passion. And yet you give it to someone who doesn’t appreciate it. I want your love and affection Cody.” He shapeshifted into Gwen. “No matter what or who I have to be to get it.”
Cody froze. He could be Gwen? He could look exactly like Gwen? Cody could fulfill all of the fantasies he’d ever had through Alejandro as Gwen. He was excited for a moment, but then he sobered. That wouldn’t be right though.
“Alejandro I can’t do this.” Cody sighed.
Alejandro frowned. “Is it because you love Gwen so much you can’t even pretend with me because its not really her?”
The geek shook his head. “No. Because it wouldn’t be fair to you. You shouldn’t have to pretend to be someone else for my love.”
“Cody. I’m a shapeshifter.” Alejandro said, still transformed into Gwen. “My entire life is pretending to be something I’m not.”
“No it isn’t.” Cody said. “You said yourself that Alejandro is the name you feel is yours the most. And the form you take when using that name is one that feels the most you. So if we’re gonna date. I’d like to date the you that feels like you.”
Alejandro’s eyes filled with tears as he changed back to the form Cody was most familiar with. “Thank you. I’ve always wanted to hear someone say that, but are you sure you want to date me? What about Gwen?”
Cody smirked. “I’ll be honest, the whole reason I’ve been trying so hard with Gwen was to distract myself from my crush on you.”
Alejandro laughed and kissed Cody.
“Well then, where should we go for our first date?” Alejandro asked.
“You like video games?” Cody asked.
“I don’t know much about them.” The Spaniard admitted.
“No way! I totally have to teach you. I have a laptop in my backpack and there’s a coffee shop not far away with free wifi!” Cody beamed.
“As long as it’s with you. I’m up for anything.”