Photographing Love

Chapter 4

Duncan Lewis

We get in my car and drive a short distance to Andrew's condo. When we pull up outside Andrew looks hesitant. "I can go up with you if you want me to." I suggest. He shakes his head, "It's better if I go alone, I'll only be a minute." Andrew replies before getting out.

He disappears into the condo building and I hold my breath. A few minutes later he comes back down, yelling over his shoulder. He has a suitcase in one hand and two duffel bags over his shoulder, a box in his arms. Another male comes out behind him.

I tense up, preparing to jump in if things get ugly. Andrew opens the back door and throws his things in, slamming the door shut and turning back to the other male. They argue for a few seconds before Andrew makes his move, slapping the man across his cheek.

Without hesitation he gets into the passenger seat, "Drive." is all he says. I do as told until we get back to my apartment. I turn to face Andrew, he hasn't spoken other than the command as soon as he got in. "Are you okay?" I ask with a solemn expression.

Andrew turns to me, tears brimming in his eyes as he does so. "Four years. We were together for four years. We were supposed to get married in the spring." he mumbles. Without thinking I pull him to my chest, ignoring the console between us as I do.

Andrew sits straddling my lap with his legs on either side of my waist, his head buried in my shirt as he cries. I run my hands down his back soothingly, murmuring that it's going to be okay. Suddenly his lips are on mine, his hands roaming my chest feverishly.

I let myself get lost in the kiss for a few seconds but pull back when he starts to tug my shirt up. "No." I say hoarsely. He pulls back, a look of hurt on his face. "Please, I just want to forget." he begs. He tries persuading me by kissing my neck and palming me through my jeans.

I shudder, but my resolve is still there. "I'm not going to take advantage of you like this." I say. "Like what?! I'm fine!" Andrew says. I shake my head, "You're not. You were just cheated on and I'm not going to let you do this and then regret it all later on." I say with a sigh.

Andrew pulls back, wiping the tears from beneath his eyes. "I would love to have something with you, but I want it to be when you're in your right mind and aren't just using me because of him." I say quietly. Andrew leans forward, kissing me passionately.

He drags my bottom lip between his teeth and I groan, this seems to encourage him as he grinds down on me. My door opens and he gets out, winking as he does so. "You're shit, you know that?" I respond dryly as I help get his things up the stairs to my apartment.

We put everything in the guest room and Andrew checks the time, "Right, well I have to be at the shop in thirty minutes so I'll see you later." he says. He grabs his jacket before rushing out, I go into my own bedroom. When I hear the door close I open my closet.

I get up on my tiptoes, pulling a small shoebox from the top shelf. Inside are close to fifty polaroids, each with the date taken written in sharpie across the bottom. I pull a new polaroid out of my back pocket, scrawling the date at the bottom of the picture with a sharpie.

The picture is of Andrew earlier this morning before he woke up. His eyes are shut as he clutches the pillow, curls tousled with sleep. His shoulder blades are well defined as he curls his body slightly around the pillow. Early morning sunlight filters through the window.

It casts a mottled pattern across his skin, his lips upturned in a faint smile. The white duvet pools around his waist, making it appear as though he's naked even though he wears a pair is sweatpants beneath the covers. A small blurb of happiness bubbles in my heart.

I put it into the box before replacing the box in the top of the closet and going to take a shower. After my shower I pull on a pair of sweatpants before going into the kitchen and making a pot of coffee. I grab my laptop from my desk and sit on the couch, powering the device up.

I insert my SD card from my camera and begin the process of reviewing the photos I took yesterday, occasionally deleting or editing them as I wait for Andrew to come back...