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 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:02 pm
Laurence and Gale had texted some since their first date, but because of scheduling they couldn’t do a second date until a week and a half later. They picked a time and place, and this time they had been able to brainstorm somewhere they’d both enjoy. Laurence texted when he was a minute away and arrived right on time. He waved gale over when he saw her standing outside her house and got out of his car to open the passenger door for her. “Gale, it’s good to see you again,” he said as she got into the car. He moved hastily to the driver’s side and offered a quick smile as he slid into his seat.
“I was going to bring you flowers, but Lilies aren’t in season, yet. I know you said they were your favorite, so I really couldn’t imagine bringing you anything but the best. So, I hope it’s not too arrogant or pompous, but…I hoped this would work instead.”
He hesitated and reached into the backseat, pulling a thin, rectangular package wrapped in delicate white paper. It was about the size of his torso, but he managed to maneuver it carefully into the front seat so he could pass it to her.
The packaging might have been simple, but inside was a painting that he’d spent a good few hours on, trying to make sure it was perfect. For Gale, he had prepared a portrait of a beautiful bouquet of Lillies. He hadn’t painted for anyone in some time, so he was worried about the reception, but he had put his best effort into it and could only hope for the best.
He didn’t show how nervous he was, but he held his breath as he handed the package over.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:03 pm
Gale had been dealing with the butterflies in her stomach all day. She had fussed with her hair, making sure it looked acceptable, she had tried on no less than eight different outfits before deciding what to wear, and she had worried over if he would like the scarf that she had crocheted for him. She had to admit that the scarf was one of her best works, a new pattern that she had tried out, relatively simple, but elegant looking with a zig zagging braided stitch that ran through the whole thing.
When the time finally came for the date to commence, Gale got into the car and flashed a smile, just slightly breathless with anticipation. “You...Laurence, you didn’t have to bring me flowers but…”
She had her own gift in a small bag which was resting by her feet and eagerly she took the paper off of his present and gasped. “L-Laurence. This is...this is beautiful.”
The painting was so lifelike, so beautiful. “Did...did you make this for me? Did you paint this yourself…? It looks as though you could have gotten it from a professional...This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life…”
Gale continued to gaze at the painting and finally shook her head, reaching down and passing Laurence the bag. “I...I feel bad...mine isn’t nearly as beautiful...but I did work hard on it..I hope you don’t find the color too girly...I just...I saw the yarn and it made me think of your hair and your eyes...and I just had to, I’m sorry.”
She watched him nervously, biting her lip.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:04 pm
“Oh,” he seemed almost slightly flustered with her praise. He accepted the bag sheepishly, admittedly extremely eager to see her work. Still, her compliments caught him off guard. Usually he accepted praise with dignity and grace, but now he seemed almost shy. He was used to his parent’s response of a mostly indifferent ‘good job’, but hearing it from her meant something.
“Thank you. I was worried it wouldn’t come out right—I haven’t done realism in a while, but. It was important, so I wanted to get it right. But I’m proud of it, I think. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to give it to you.”
No, he’d have sat in front of the easel and painted until it was perfect, because he couldn’t imagine giving her anything that wasn’t his absolute best.
He opened the bag and smiled when he saw the scarf, pulling it out delicately. “No, the colors are wonderful. This is beautiful, Gale. I’ll wear it to work tomorrow and let you know if it does the job. But,” he ran his fingers over it carefully. “It seems incredibly well made, and it’s very fashionable. I’m sure it will work perfectly—better, even, than the one I’ve got now.”
He had a more plain scarf resting on the back seat in case things got cold tonight, but he instinctively draped hers around his neck. As he was fastening it, he glanced at the painting in her hand and added, “I thought it would have been pretentious if I’d gotten it framed, and I didn’t know what décor your home is—or if you’d even want to put it up—but if you want help, I can make suggestions. I have a gentleman I go to when I’m entering galleries or competitions.”
He paused, and added quietly after a few seconds, “I don’t know if I mentioned that I do that.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:05 pm
Gale gently ran her fingers over the canvas once again, swallowing. “I’m glad you like it...you...you enter competitions and galleries...did…” She looked over at him quickly, mouth gaping open slightly. “Did you have anything in the gallery that you took me to on our last date?”
For a moment Gale felt a pang of insecurity. If Laurence was so amazing...and he really was amazing...then why was he wasting his time on her? She was nothing...nothing special at all...but here he was, taking her out on dates and painting her the most beautiful pictures and caring about her and…
She felt a lump forming in her throat and tried to swallow it back, but her stomach was churning. “...You’re really Mr. Perfect...is...is my sister paying you to go out with me or something...because if she is...if you’re really not interested that’s okay. I won’t be upset...I’ll just...I’ll tell her that I like someone else so she won’t yell at you…”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:06 pm
Laurence cast her a look out of the corner of his eye. “Paying me? No, I make enough money with the pharmacy, I don’t need someone to pay me to dictate how I spend my free time. Though, she did give me money for our first date. But I think that was more because she felt obligated to pay since she sort of put me on the spot. But this is different.”
He cleared his throat. “I like you, Gale. You’re sweet, and humble, and you don’t give yourself as much credit as you deserve. You’re very clever and kind, and I’d like to get to know you more. I could tell you were something special when we first met, but I don’t want to rush into anything. Just because I think you’re a charming, beautiful young woman doesn’t mean you find me interesting, and I don’t see the harm in finding an excuse to go have a fun evening with someone regardless of whatever future outcome arises.”
He chewed on the inside of his cheek and added, “Although, if you aren’t having fun, we can try something else. I know the gallery last time wasn’t…I mean, yes, I did have something up there. But I tried to avoid it. I would have been horrified if you’d thought I just brought you there to show off. Truthfully, the only reason I knew that restaurant was there was because it always smells so good from the gallery. But I thought dinner might be too uneventful and, blind date or not, I wanted it to be something different.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:07 pm
Gale felt as though she were going to cry, both at how sweet his words were…and at the fact that she couldn’t bring herself to believe them. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to believe them…it just didn’t make sense that he would be saying such things about…her. She wasn’t something special at all…and one day he would wake up and realize that and she would end up alone on the floor sobbing again…
And maybe this time Evan wouldn’t be there to stop her from jumping.
Finally she tried to force the thoughts from her mind and looked back at Laurence, forcing a smile. “I didn’t realize that you had paintings in there, I…if you don’t have other plans…would you want to eat at that Italian place again? And go back to the gallery? I would love to see which works were yours…then we could go and do whatever else…I…”
She tucked some hair behind her ear and her eyes dropped to the lilies again. “I would love to see more of your art…and if you know where to get this framed…I’d love to look into that as well. I want this to go in my bedroom so I can see it every day…”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:07 pm
Laurence seemed flustered once more; it wasn’t like him to lose composure but he wasn’t used to people actually being invested in his personal life or talents—at least, not on a friendly level. On a competitive level, sure—but he had to shove it in his face that he was good at something.
He didn’t like to think that he was arrogant—he just knew that he had talents, and he tried very hard to make sure that they weren’t overlooked. At least, to make sure his parents didn’t overlook them. He had a complex about it and he knew.
He didn’t want Gale to know, though.
“Are you sure?” he asked, a bit surprised. “I mean, I don’t mind.” He glanced at the clock’s time. “It’s still early enough that we can cancel the reservation I made and go there instead. I mean, I have to be honest, I don’t know if the piece in my gallery is my best, but I can show you. I’ve…never actually had someone go to the gallery to look at my things. I’ve always attended all of the gallery showings alone. Would it be egotistical to invite you to one next Thursday? I have to pick my art up from my framer on Monday, I could take you there and we could let him work on that?” he asked, nodding towards the flowers.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:08 pm
She glanced over at him and gave a shy, almost sad smile. “No, no I don’t want to ruin the plans that you’ve already made, I’m sorry, but...I would love to go with you on Thursday, I really would love that.” Gale still felt as though she was pressing her luck to even hope that he would really follow through with the invitation...though…
If it was already issued...he couldn’t really take it back...could he?
Quietly she sighed and flashed another attempted smile. “So...what are your plans for us today? I didn’t mean to belittle them, I guess I just got excited that some of the art was yours, maybe I could visit the gallery again on my own...are they marked? Or could you tell me which ones they are so I can go and see them?”
Gale’s hands were curled around the painting, griping it just a bit too tightly, though her hands felt as though they were going to just tremble if she didn’t. “I’m sorry I’m being so weird today...I guess...I guess I’m not really having a good one. Not...not because of you...I just…”
He already knew she had depression issues. The worst she could do would be to scare him off...but…
“I guess I keep wondering what you’re doing with a girl like me, and even though you said all of those nice things...I don’t know. I don’t think any of them are true, and I’m still just waiting for you to deliver the punchline...and...that’s all, I guess. But. If I keep it bottled up and I’m wrong...I’ll just end up forcing you away anyway so…”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:08 pm
Laurence immediately glanced at Gale, glad that he’d reached a stop sign. “I’m not much for jokes or punchlines. I like to think I’m rather blunt when it comes to certain topics, and I’m not one to play with anyone’s heartstrings.”
Well, no, he sort of was. But that was only when he was powered, and mostly it was to save his own skin. It wasn’t like this.
“I like you. I want to get to know you. I had fun last time, and as long as you had fun, too,” he shrugged. “We could go out and do anything and I’d be happy. I mean—you’re not belittling my plans, either,” he said earnestly. “We’ll just push them back to next time. I don’t mind at all.”
He offered her a soft smile. “You don’t have to worry about upsetting me. I’m happy to be out doing something, no matter what, with someone whose presence I enjoy. But if you’re not feeling well, I don’t want you to push yourself too hard. Though, I suppose you seem like you’re a little too hard on yourself sometimes, aren’t you?”
His expression was gentle, reassuring. “If there’s anything I can do to make you feel better, let me know? We could go to a movie instead, if you aren’t up for talking much? There is one right by the gallery, just a few blocks away. So really, it all works out. And I can make reservations anytime, really—it’s just a phone call, Gale. So it’s nothing to worry about. I figured, reservation at a nice restaurant to show that I can be professional and think out a date, and we could go play some mini golf, because that’s fun and relaxing. Both things that can easily be moved to another night.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:22 pm
Gale swallowed, trying to blink back the tears that had come into her eyes. “You’re...you’re really, really nice, Laurence...I’m not sure how my sister found you...but I’m really, really glad that she thought of me.”
Perhaps this wasn’t a joke after all…perhaps he really did like her…and perhaps that meant that they could honestly…work out. If she could get the stability in her head to let them work out. That was going to be the biggest obstacle.
But…he could help her. He had already promised to help her out with her depression so…she just had to…trust. And while that was a terrifying concept…Laurence seemed like a person who was worthy of her trust.
Reaching out, Gale took Laurence’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “No, let’s do our date. I want to talk. I want to feel better…I’m glad that you’re not seeming like you want to give up on me, it means the world and…and I’m excited for our date, so let’s get to it, okay?”
The smile that she gave him was genuine, even as the tears which had built up slid down her cheeks. “I’m excited.” And she was. And…even if she wasn’t…she would be. Eventually.
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