Exploding Hearts (bxb) | ✔

F I V E

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OLIVER FLETCHER

PAST
NOVEMBER 2018

Max had managed to get me to attend another date, then before I knew it we were on our third and then our fourth. And then here we were, at a private realism gallery in central London.

He told me that he had a surprise for me and I felt overwhelmed when we went through some dodgy alleys and through a back door of this grotty building. And then boom, he surprised me with a gallery that I didn't even know existed.

To say I was blown away would be an understatement, all we had really done up to this part was eat food and talk about shit. But he remembered that I liked realism and brought me to this unknown gallery and my heart felt like it was about to fall out of my butt. I had no idea what to do with my feelings, my overriding emotions of content and comfort around him.

Max invited me back to his after which I agreed to, we hadn't gone to each other's residence yet and I was grateful that this felt like an actual dating phase. He respected my space and my comfortability, he listened when I said trust needs to be earned.

Yet he excited me so much it felt like I had forgotten all about that.

He shows me to his room and instantly puts on a vinyl of a record from the 90s, his taste was different to mine but I enjoyed his choice of music.

His room smelt like a mixture of rosewood and aftershave, glancing up at his wall of vinyls and clothes scattered across the floor.

"Thanks for taking me to the gallery today," I tell him as he flicks through a range of different vinyls on his desk.

He turns to glance over his shoulder at me. "That's okay, I thought you would appreciate it."

"I did," I say instantly. "It really helped with my mental block, seeing other peoples work is refreshing and helpful and I appreciate it Max."

"Don't thank me," he shakes his head as he turns and leans back onto his desk, throwing his arms across his chest. "I just wanted to help."

"Sorry, I've been going on and on about that project when you're in your final year and your work actually counts towards your grade." I sigh as I adjust my septum piercing between my nostrils.

Max smiles towards me and breathes out sharply through his nose. "I don't mind," he says. "I like listening to you talk, getting more than four sentences out of you is rare. So I love it when you talk about your art, you're so passionate and it means a lot to you."

I shrug at his words. "I guess art saves us all, huh?"

"You get lost in it?"

My eyes find his as he states his question. I nod towards him. "Sometimes I like getting so lost in art that I forget what the real world is like."

"I understand," he tells me. "Sometimes I spend afternoons to myself just doodling, getting all the thoughts out of my brain onto some paper. It's refreshing."

"I feel the same," I express.

"I wish you told me more about you," he says slowly.

"I have," I nod once.

"No, you've told me a lot about your art. But I want to know more about Oliver."

Just hearing my name fall from his lips sparked something inside me, warmth and comfort. I didn't want to admit it but I loved it, I loved the way it made me feel.