Finn’s Holiday (Foggy Basin Season Two)

Chapter 1 Finn

FINN

Looking at Jim James is like staring into the sun.

My eyes follow his handsome ass everywhere he goes, even to my own detriment.

I have work to do. I have a new season of shows to plan for the community theatre, and we will announce it in just a little over three months, and… I can’t stop watching him.

I mean, I am dating him. He’s my boyfriend, so it’s not as creepy as it sounds, but I’m totally captivated by his mere presence in a room. It’s annoying. I’m annoying. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and my heart has found its match.

There’s an old myth about how, at one time, all soul mates were connected physically until Zeus ripped them in two, literally with a lightning bolt, and then scattered all of the people across the face of the planet.

It was to teach us a lesson as we were growing too strong.

But the part that’s always stuck with me is how soulmates were physically connected—two people- two bodies, but actually one in a weird mythological way that has always made no sense to me.

Myths man... But when you find the missing part of you, the one that Zeus took away, you begin to feel complete again.

I felt complete.

Jim James had done that to me, and all I could do was stare at his beautiful face and his thick, muscular body and be in amazement that he actually loved me the same way I did him.

It’s only been a few months since we met and fell fairly quickly head over heels for each other. It was a little touch-and-go at the beginning, but we both won each other over, and that first kiss… Well, it was a memory that still sent tingles through my body.

I still had the house that I rented, but I was rarely there.

I spent most nights in Jim’s bed with his arms wrapped tightly around me.

His hot breath on the back of my neck had become a balm that soothed me into a deep sleep.

He had become my everything, and it scared me a little.

But Jim was not like other men. I could trust him.

I could lose part of myself in him. I was safe.

Shit.

I was happy.

I never thought that I’d find that here in Foggy Basin.

“Earth to Finn,” Buffy cackled, which made me immediately grin. “Jack called and can’t stop sneezing. He said his nose is running like a leaky faucet. His words, not mine.”

“Crap. Can you call Marty and have him on standby?” Marty had been in the play last year, but didn’t have the time this season to be Scrooge.

“He’s not in town.”

“Shit.”

“Do we cancel? How can we do A Christmas Carol without the lead?”

“We…” I sighed heavily. “I guess we pivot.”

“Maybe Jack will be better by tomorrow?” She shrugged and scrunched up her face. Her blonde hair blazed in the sunlight. You almost needed sunglasses to look at her.

“Hopefully, but we can’t have a snotty Scrooge. We’ll have to find someone else who can do the role if he’s still nasty.”

“Oh, yeah. Maybe a Scrooge will fall from the heavens. You know what has to happen, right?” She narrowed her eyes and pushed away from the door jam she had been leaning on and walked towards my desk.

I frowned, already knowing what she was about to suggest.

“You think I should be Scrooge.” The thought had already crossed my mind.

“Who else knows the show as well as you do. I mean, you directed it. Can you learn the lines in time?”

“I already know them.”

“You know the songs and the choreography, too. I hear you singing along.”

“I… would need to brush up on the lyrics, but I am totally the wrong choice to play Scrooge.”

“Twunky Scrooge can be a thing. I mean, it is what it is.”

“I hate that saying.”

“It’s also true when it’s true.”

“Hate that one too.”

“I mean, when you have a Broadway performer in town – you use them. Use what you got.”

“That would be me using myself, Buffy. But I don’t think I have much choice. Can you call Twyla and see if she has time to come and clean that wig? Jack is a very sweaty Scrooge.”

“Sweaty and snotty – what a combo. On it, boss.” She twirled in front of my desk. “Have you got Jim a Christmas present yet?”

“Did your brother put you up to this?” I laughed. Buffy and Jim were the closest of siblings, and I loved being a part of their family. One day… maybe… I would be. I mean, when things were perfect, you thought about what the future would hold, right?

“No. He’s a shitty gift giver, by the way. Last year, he got me a drill. Do I look like the kind of girl who uses a drill?”

I laughed. “I’m not the best gift-giver myself. I try.”

“Trust me!” She screamed with glee. “You are much better than Jim, just because you’re not Jim. He has the best heart and would do anything for anybody. But he does not know how to… choose a gift. Wait for it and call me afterwards.”

“I guess I have to start looking over these songs.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“What?”

“Did you get Jim a gift yet?”

“I think that I’ll keep that to myself. You have a big mouth.”

“I do not… Ok, I do like to gossip, but I can keep a secret when I need to.”

“You’ll find out eventually. I keep my secrets close.”

“Learn your lines,” she smirked and walked out of my office.

I pulled up the original Broadway cast recording on my computer and plugged in my headphones. The worst gift I could give the people of Foggy Basin was a Scrooge who forgot the lyrics during a sold-out performance.