Butterflies (boyxboy)

Chapter 14: Bribery

"Don't tell me no...Just turn around!" 

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A week had passed Tamesh by and as he suspected, there was no return of Blake. 

It felt strange, weird somehow. Tamesh felt a little deflated, he felt confused about what had happened. Maybe things got too intense. Too personal too quickly. He didn't know how to remedy the situation and was now left at odds and with yet another unfinished canvas. 

He hadn't placed the advertisement back in the window. This experience had not been great and he didn't want to go through the rigmarole of getting to know someone else. Blake had set the bar high in Tamesh's eyes and he knew he would just be comparing everyone else and that would be unfair. 

There was also this hope. This tiny slither of hope that he might just come back. Blake might just walk through that door any minute and he could finish his painting. 

Just then the gallery doorbell tingalings...

Tamesh looks up, hoping it is just the guy, but feels a little deflated when he sees it's just Alfie carrying a small box.  "Ah...Hey Alfie."

"Don't sound too pleased to see me." Alfie replies, a little offended by the lukewarm response. He places the box on the counter in front of Tamesh.

Tamesh just about manages to grace a smile on his face. "I'm sorry, I just thought you might have been someone else." He looks down a little guilty at his negative display. 

"Nam told me about that." Alfie replies, now resting his arms on the counter. "You've not heard from him then?" 

Tamesh shakes his head. 

"What was his name again?" Alfie asks in question. 

"Blake." Tamesh simply replies.

Alfie furrows his eyebrows a fraction. "What....just Blake? You didn't even get his last name?" 

"I didn't think it was necessary." Tamesh insists. "I only wanted to paint his picture. I wasn't expecting to hear deep thoughts from him, I wasn't expecting to feel..." Tamesh suddenly stops himself from speaking. He had said too much and hoped Alfie was not going to notice...but of course he would! Alfie is finely tuned to spot these kinds of slip ups. 

"Wait...back up." He holds his hands out in front of the artist. "You need to finish that sentence. You weren't expecting to feel... what?" 

Tamesh instantly turns his back to Alfie. He can feel his cheeks heat up. His ears go red and he finds himself mumbling.  "I...I didn't expect to feel attached like this."

"Hey. Turn around."

"No." 

"Tam..."

"I said no!" 

Alfie leans across the counter and pulls at Tamesh's sleeve. "Don't tell me no... just turn around!"

A huff exits Tamesh's mouth as he swings back around. Alfie can see how awkward he looks. This was a new side to Tamesh Alfie hadn't seen before.  "Tam, what's up?" Alfie's voice now laced with concern. 

Tamesh finally looks up at his friend. "I miss him. It's stupid I know, but I miss his company. We were getting on so well and I don't know what I did wrong." 

"Hey, from what Nam told me, you did nothing wrong. Maybe he has issues and maybe he's just not ready to face them yet. That's all." Alfie tries to portray a convincing smile. He now turns his attention to the box he had placed on the counter. He opens the lid to reveal three rows of chocolates. "Hey, try one of these... I promise, they're nice." 

Tam looks at the rich dark chocolate spheres and takes one from the box, looking up at Alfie a little warily. 

"Prosecco bombs!" He says, urging his friend to give it a try. 

Tamesh pops it in his mouth. They release a tangy fizz accompanied with a chocolate hit. "They're really nice!" Tamesh attempts to grab a second one, but Alfie smacks his hand away.

Tamesh looks at his friend with a slightly hurt expression. "What was that for?''

"If you want more, you have to come out with me later." Alfie now portrays a cunning look on his face. 

"Where exactly?" Tamesh questions. He could already see his bedtime routine of his hot chocolate and good book before sleep being disturbed. 

"A party." Alfie now grins, biting his lower lip. 

Tamesh instantly shakes his head. "No chance! You know I hate that kind of thing." 

Alfie lifts up the box of chocolates and begins to flaunt them under Tamesh's nose. "You come with me, I'll give you these."

Tamesh shakes his head. "That's not gonna work on me, I'll just go over and buy some." 

"No you won't." 

"Why?"

"Limited edition." Alfie smirks. "This is the last box and I won't make any more ever again unless you come out with me. Do you want my customers to be disappointed?" 

Tamesh is now staring at Alfie through squinted eyes. "Don't even think about blackmailing me." 

Alfie smacks the chocolate box lid down with force, his lip pouting heavily.  He decides to try a different tact. "Please Tam, come with me! I really want to go, but I'm not gonna know anyone there."  

"Who's party is it?" Tamesh questions. 

"I don't know the guy, but it's a friend of Dale's. Come on Tam, come with me!" Alfie now looks desperate. 

It was a shameful sight for Tamesh to see and he wanted it to end. "Ok, ok! I'll come with you to this stupid party!" Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get a change of scene. He may even become inspired.

Alfie beams widely. "Ah you're the best." He turns to exit the shop, leaving the chocolates on the counter. 

"I guess I'll get to keep the chocolates then." He calls after Alfie.

"Sure! I have plenty back in the shop." Alfie gives a cheeky wink as he looks over his shoulder to Tamesh.