My Love From The Canvas

Chapter 5: Trying out Patrick's taste buds

Jamie’s POV

Once the door closes I focus my attention on my best friend who asks me “How are you feeling today, any pain?” I can see the concern in her eyes as she looks me over.

“Today is much better thanks for asking. I shouldn’t be here for long. The nurse said I can be discharged as soon as a week. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

“Easier said than done I’m just glad you're okay.” She looks so worried and I feel bad for being the one to cause that. My mother steps up and asks “Do the police have any leads on the man who shot you?” Before I can respond my step-father asks “Do you need somewhere to stay? You can stay with us until you feel better.” 

“Firstly, I don’t have any clue who shot me or how far into the investigation the police are. But I do remember that there were three men of that I’m sure. Secondly, I don’t need anywhere to stay. I'm fine. I feel good and I still have work at the restaurant on the weekends and your house is too far away. Okay?” Besides if I moved in with my parents where would Patrick stay he said it himself I’m the only person he knows.

After about an hour of assuring my parents and best friend that I was fine they finally stepped out to get something to eat. A little after the door closed it opened again to reveal Patrick. I almost forgot how attractive he is. Almost. He walked towards me and sat at the edge of the bed, looked me in the eye and said “Fire away.”

“How did you get out?” I had to ask I mean what if other paintings can just come and go as they please. He looks thoughtful before answering “I didn’t know for sure if i could as I had never tried before but seeing that you were in danger I was willing to try anything so I just started to push. And I guess it did the trick because here we are.” I like knowing that me being in danger is what brought him out. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. “You just pushed your way out?” That answer seemed almost too easy. “I guess, I’m not completely sure of the mechanics of it all.” That’s fair I mean how could he.

“How long do you plan to stay?” I was a little too eager to hear his answer. The thought of him leaving makes me sadder than it should. “I don’t know I’m not even sure if I can go back. However going back is not exactly on my mind right now.” I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding at least he was here for a little longer. Wait, what does he mean that’s not on his mind. “What do you mean? Shouldn’t that be the only thing you’re thinking about.”

“I want to stay with you for as long as I possibly can.” I don’t even need a mirror to tell me that my cheeks are bright red. He wants to stay with me. I can’t think of any words more wonderful and coming from him they sound even better ‘I want to stay with you.’ I repeat his words over and over in my head. “If you want to stay you need some more clothes. We can go after I get discharged.” His eyes widen, seemingly shocked that I want to help him.

“I have some money saved up for a rainy day, you know should I lose my job or should any wayward paintings come to life and need clothes.” He laughs at the last part and I don’t think I’ve heard a sound more wonderful. It’s deep and throaty but also warm and his eyes crinkle and make the flecks of gold and green sparkle and I just want to get lost in them. But before I get too lost my stomach lets out a loud whine in a plea for food. I cover my face with my hands in embarrassment. A split second later and the room is enveloped in that laughter that I love so much. Patrick peels my hands from my face and holds them. My modification stops me from enjoying the warmth like I know I would have. Then chuckling he says “Before you think about getting discharged, maybe we should feed the beast in your belly.” 

Then he starts laughing again not letting go of my hands, now that I am a little less embarrassed I can finally enjoy the warm and security that comes from his hands holding mine. When Patrick notices that I’m staring at our joined hands he drops mine and takes a step back one hand goes into his pocket while the other scratches the back of his neck as he looks down and a blush covers his cheeks and seeing him look so adorably nervous makes my heart flutter in my chest.

Patrick took me down to the hospital’s cafeteria. “Go and sit down, I'll get you something to eat.” I go and find a table to sit and wait for Patrick to come back with my food. As I see Patrick walking towards the table I suddenly realise that I never told him what I wanted. When Patrick sits down with the tray I see that he got all my favorite foods then he says “Here I got all your favorites: Ham and cheese toastie, apple tango, sour cream and chive chips and cheesecake; strawberry for dessert.” He looks up at me then his eyebrows crinkle in the middle and his perfectly kissable lips form a pout and I just want to kiss it away. But before I can he asks “What? What’s wrong?” 

“You really have been paying attention all these years haven’t you?” His lips change from a pout to a shy smile. “Does that creep you out? Are you going to go running for the hills?” He looks genuinely worried that it’ll scare me off. That worried look in his eyes makes me want to assure him. “No that doesn’t creep me out and if I was going to run for the hills I would have done it already.” I watch as the worry melts from his face and is replaced with shining eyes and a heartstopping smile.

“That’s good I don’t know what I would have done if you left me. I promise I’m not a stalker, it's just that when you live in a painting you don’t exactly have any other option but to people watch and you were the most interesting thing around.” 

“Anyway time for you to feed the beast. Eat up.” He puts his hands on the table then rests his chin on his hands then just looks at me. All of a sudden I notice that all of the food on the tray is for me so I ask “Didn’t you get anything for yourself? Aren’t you hungry?”

“I don’t know. What does hungry feel like?” It didn’t occur to me that he wouldn’t get hungry. I guess it makes sense, in a way he’s not even human. “It feels like an emptiness in the bottom of your stomach when you’re really hungry but when you just feel snacky it’s just kind of a dull gnawing feel.” Trying to describe hunger is harder than I thought.

“I don’t feel anything like that but I’ve also never eaten before. What does food taste like?” Another hard question. “Well different foods elicit different responses in people which is why some people don’t like certain foods. Take me for example I love ham and cheese toasties but my step father hates them. Here try it.” I tear off a piece of the sandwich and hand it to him. He puts it in his mouth and chews and swallows then his eyes widen and a wide grin spreads on his face. “Wow. I like that.”

“Here try this too.” I use my fork and cut a piece of cheesecake and put it to his lips. He opens his mouth and I get distracted watching his full lips form around the fork and pull the piece of cheesecake off. Once it’s in his mouth his tongue darts out to catch some loose crumbs. His face scrunches up probably at the new texture. “That was so mushy, but it tasted really sweet. I like it.” That’s good I don’t think we could have been friends if he didn’t like cheesecake.

“Good because I make it a point not to befriend people who don’t like cheesecake. That’s my deal breaker. Last but certainly not least sour cream and chive chips.” He takes a bite and startles a little at the crunchiness then shakes his head saying “Nope I definitely do not like these. How can you eat them.” I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing and the look on his face was amazing.

We continued to try out Patrick’s taste buds to figure out some more of his likes for example cucumbers (which I hate),  pizza with pepperoni, red onion and extra cheese, cheetos (the crunchy ones) and mango and passion fruit juice. As we walk back up to my room Patrick and I are joking back and forth I never thought a painting could be this funny. 

We got back to my room and I opened the door to reveal my parents. Their eyes flash to Patrick and I realise that as far as they know we met when he saved me. I guess I have a little explaining to do.