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OLIVER FLETCHER

PAST
JANUARY 2019

Alone days in the art studio were my favourite kind of days, music blasting through my headphones, belting lyrics at the top of my lungs as I painted to my heart's content. This was my happy place, my safe haven and I loved how it made me feel.

Paintbrush in one hand, staring back at the canvas which was half completed. The practical part of my coursework was my favourite part, where I could get lost within the realms of creativity and inspiration.

The world felt like it stopped for me to enjoy moments like these.

Nothing could take this happiness away from me. Nothing.

My eyes glide over my canvas and then to the wall for a brief moment, turning my head to the left and jumping instantly. A deep gasp escaping my lips as I press my hand to my chest, trying to calm myself down.

Max grins back at me as I pluck my headphone from my ear. "Fucking hell, I told you to stop creeping up on me like that," I grumble out as I push his shoulder, a splodge of white paint transferring from my finger to his leather jacket.

"Shit," I mumble as I step forward to wipe it away. "Sorry."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "It's okay," he tells me as he brushes off my hands. "It's just a bit of paint."

My eyes look up at him, not realising that my lips were stretched out into a full blown smile.

He drops down into one of the chairs beside my table, shrugging off his backpack. "I didn't know I was going out with Diana Ross," he comments, his eyebrows motioning towards my headphones.

Rolling my eyes towards him as I remove my other headphone and place down the brush that was still in my hand. "You didn't have permission to come in here and listen to me sing like that," I grumble out, wiping my hands down onto my messy jeans.

"I liked it," he smirks in my direction.

"Of course you would," I sigh out, pressing my hands to my hips. "If you're here to distract me then it's not going to work."

Max raises an eyebrow like this was a challenge, pushing up from the chair and gripping onto my narrow hips. "Oh yeah?" He smirks. "It worked last time."

He dips his head to my neck and peppers warm kisses along my cool skin, not wanting to give in but I enjoyed his affection. Saying no was almost impossible but this was my time, to spend alone, to be independent, to do what I love.

"Max," I mumble out. "We can save it for later." I tell him.

He groans against my neck and presses his forehead to my collarbone. "Fine," he sighs before raising his head to me, moving closer to press a sweet kiss to my lips. "Let me see what you're creating then."

"It's not complete," I shake my head. "It's a working progress."

My back turns to show him my canvas, I was practicing painting water and the different dynamics of how to create texture in a 2D painting.

"Wow," Max exhales as he throws his arms over his chest to examine my art work. Then he doesn't say anything for a few moments more, watching as he takes another step closer. "Oliver, this is so fucking good."

My head nods. "Yeah, it's getting there." I say as I clasp my hands together in front of me.

"You're so talented," he exhales as he glances at me for a second before looking straight back at the canvas. "I honestly, had no idea you were this good."

"Thanks," I murmur out.

"No I didn't mean like that," he rushes. "You just haven't really shown me any of your pieces before, I wasn't sure what exactly you were hiding. And honestly? I still don't know, this is beyond amazing."

My cheeks burned from smiling so much, praise was the best. Especially when you work so hard on something and others enjoy it. That is exactly what art is, sharing with others to entertain, enjoy and connect.

"Guess I'm just a little afraid of criticism," I admit with a sigh.

Max turns to me with a frown. "That shouldn't stop you from sharing your masterpieces."

I snort sharply. "Wouldn't call it a masterpiece."

"You know what I mean Oliver," he shakes his head to me, taking another step closer and wrapping his arm around my shoulder, pulling me tightly into his side.

We both stare back at my work for a few moments. "Criticism isn't always bad," Max tells me. "Sometimes it's helpful, and insightful. It helps us to grow, it helps us to learn."

"I know," I say in agreement. "I just don't want people coming up to it saying that it's shit or I should give up. That's what I'm afraid of."

"And even if they do," Max rotates his head to mine, pressing his lips to the crown of my head. "They can go fuck themselves, what you need is selfvalidation for yourself. No one else, if they're being nasty then they're probably doing it to loads of other people too. There is no denying your talent, they're acting jealous if anyone ever said that to you."

My head moves to rest down onto his shoulder. "You're the best," I mumble. "Have I ever told you that?"

Max chuckles from beside me. "A couple times." He squeezes my shoulder.

We stay silent for a couple of seconds, Max presses another kiss to my head before taking a step away from me. "You wanna stop by mine after?" He questions as he reaches for his backpack.

I nod towards him. "Yeah sure," I smile. "I'll probably only be an hour or so. I don't want to overload myself and make a mistake."

He smiles back at me. "Don't overwork it," he says as he flicks the strap of his back over his shoulder. "You've got plenty of time to finish it. The deadline isn't until February."

"I know," I tell him. "I just wanted to get a good head start."

Max takes a few steps closer to me and presses a kiss to my forehead. "I'll see you in a bit," he murmurs into me.

"See you," I say as I watch him walk out of the art studio, leaving me alone once again.

PRESENT
FEBRUARY 2021

I felt like shit the next day, drinking a bottle and a half of wine was one of the stupidest ideas I've ever had. Knowing that I invited Max round, shouted at him and then kissed him. Followed by asking him to leave and telling him I wished that I never met him.

My head had already been spent down the toilet this morning, dry heaving but nothing wanted to come out. Nausea was rushing around my body like there was no tomorrow, the hangover was the least of my worries.

All I could think about was Max, just seeing his face sparked something inside me and now I miss him. But then I keep reminding myself what happened and he's not the person I thought he was.

No one leaves you without an explanation if they love you.

So I lay in my bed flicking through my phone of old photos and videos of us. I never had the courage to delete them, I couldn't. They held such a special place in my heart even though looking at them hurt, they comforted me at the same time.

My eyes brimmed with tears as I pressed play on my phone, watching back a video of us on a night out. Our arms were linked and we did a tequila shot, the salt, the shot and then the lemon. Max slams the shot glass down onto the table and grabs my face between his hands, planting a kiss on my lips passionately.

Watching it cut through my soul, he pulls back and we stare at each other for a moment. Completely beaming towards one another, anyone could see how happy and content we were, you could physically see the love in our eyes.

A knock at my door stirs me from my thoughts as I push away my tears. "Come in," I croak and hear the door handle push down and Jamie emerge into my room.

"Hey," he smiles as he leans on the door hinge. "Are you okay?"

My nose sniffles and I contemplate lying but I couldn't, so I shake my head. "No," I whisper back.

Jamie frowns and strolls over to my bed, perching on the edge as he looks at me. "Max came round last night," I tell him through my watery eyes.

He purses his lips but doesn't say anything, waiting for me to explain.

"I was drunk and we kissed and then I told him to leave," I sigh out into my pillow.

"You kissed?" He repeats.

My head shakes. "I know I shouldn't have done it but when I see him it's like I'm stuck and mesmerised by him completely. Fuck, I feel so confused."

"Did he leave?"

"Yeah," I croak. "Then I told him I wished I never met him."

"Fuck," he curses out quietly.

I push myself up from my bed. "Was that nasty for me to say?" My eyebrows dip with concern.

"I'm not going to lie, Oli, what he did was a million times worse. Don't feel bad for saying one thing when he literally ripped your heart out and didn't have the decency to drop you a message or a call whilst he was away."

"But I feel so guilty," I mumble out, feeling bile rise in my throat at the thought of his expression. "That was such a cunty thing to say."

"Well do you?"

My lips part at a question, thinking about when I first met him, how amazing I felt when I was with him, like I was unstoppable.

"No," I shake my head. "No matter how bad he hurt me, he still changed my life."

"Don't dismiss how he made you feel Oli, your emotions and feelings are still valid. They are always valid, please don't forget how he treated you. This isn't something that is fixed with one conversation, he should be on his knees grovelling if he wants you back." Jamie tells me with a stern look, I knew he wouldn't take any shit.

Jamie despised Max, especially considering he was the one to pick up the pieces after Max left. I was a mess and I think Jamie worried about my health, forcing me to eat, sleep, drink and shower.

It was awful and I don't blame him for being concerned about him coming back.

"Why don't you get out of bed and we can go for a walk, try and clear your mind?" He suggests. "It's almost one o'clock."

I groan and collapse back onto the bed, there is nothing worse than trying to get out of bed when you're hanging out of your ass.

"Or do something at least," he tries again. "I refuse to let you sit here withering away, crying your eyes out," he leans forward to grab my phone, watching it flash up in his face. "Watching videos of you two together."

"I can't help it," I cover my eyes with my hands, feeling my throat close up.

"Stop torturing yourself and get up," he says as he rips away my duvet, the cold air instantly whipping my legs.

A deep groan ripples through my chest as I sit up. "Fine," I mumble out, knowing that I'm never going to hear the end of this.

Jamie smiles and drops the duvet onto the end of the bed. "It will do you wonders, even if you don't want to."

My eyes watch him for a few moments. "I know," I agree. "Give me a few moments to get ready."

He nods once back to me before taking a few steps out of my room. My eyes scan around at the clothes and mess scattered across the floor, finally ripping myself from the bed and attempting to get myself ready for the day.

. . .

Read up to chapter 13 over on Patreon. Link in bio or link is www.Patreon.com/dreammcatcher

Hello my loves! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, slowly but surely we are getting to know their relationship more!

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Sorry for the missed post last week I was on holiday, a much needed one at that!

Getting back into the swing on writing again, I had missed it so much.

See you guys on the next one, love Sav x

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