A week had passed.

Evan and Jasper ambled through the large doors of the venue’s main entrance. Jasper had been giving Evan’s suit a few looks but didn’t say anything about it. They both knew what was going on; he didn’t have to.

Surrounding them were a myriad of art pieces hanging on walls that were specifically constructed for them. The pieces consisted of paintings, photography, and even excerpts of writing printed out and placed in frames. They were all so different, though mostly of an experimental and sexual nature.

“Huh…”

“What? No snarky comment?”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Jasper smiled, as he led him through the room by the arm.

“Isn’t it great, though? So many ideas and messages these people want to get out. I love getting enveloped in all this energy and the different lives of these artists.”

“How romantic.”

“Okay, not the word I’d use, but fine.”

Evan chuckled.

“I mean… I do get what you’re saying. Kind of. Maybe.”

“As long as I've made you think, I’m happy.”

Evan went quiet.

“I… I've been wondering. Why do you want me to understand all of this?”

No response. Jasper had even dropped his arm. He was narrowing his eyes at ‘something’ behind Evan.

“Gavin?”

Jasper's voice was low. Someone?

Evan turned his head to where he was looking and saw two men heading in their direction.

“Oh, funny meeting you here.” One of them spoke up; his tone was sharp. The guy next to him was leaning against his arm.

“At my own event? Yeah, crazy.” Jasper visibly tensed up. This man’s presence alone was doing something to him.

“Hey now, no need to act like that. I’m here to look at you and your friends’ work after all.”

Jasper’s brows furrowed.

“There’s absolutely no need for that. I’ll be alright without your filthy eyes on it.”

With mock surprise, Gavin turned to the one wrapped around his arm.

“Can you believe that? You’re just going to let your friend talk to me like that?”

The guy didn’t respond. He only looked apologetically at Jasper.

“Really? You’re making your boyfriend stand up for you?”

“He’s actually very good at that, you know. Just… when he wants to be. Isn’t that right?” Gavin gave the man next to him a pleading look as he leaned closer to him. He completely missed Jasper's point, which was probably intentional.

This time he got a soft smile from him. They got closer, and to only Evan’s surprise, locked lips. It only lasted a second, but oh, was it an unbearable one. Jasper rolled his eyes.

“Mhm… And how does my dick taste, Isaac?”

They both stepped away from each other, giving Jasper the hardest glares Evan had ever seen.

That moment made him crudely aware of the fact that he was still there, listening to what was becoming a surprisingly personal conversation.

“You can’t just say that.” Gavin sounded desperate. Especially so when he saw the man next to him briefly drive his fingers over his own lips.

“Ah? Am I supposed to just forget how much you loved suc—“

“Jasper.”

“—king me off.”

The silence was palpable, and it first broke when Evan let out a faint chuckle. Gavin gave him a cold side eye, before returning his gaze to Jasper.

“Unbelievable.”

“You know, you could just tell me if this is why you broke it off.”

He had to think about that.

“…Honestly? Yes. That was part of it. You never shut up.”

Jasper snorted.

“Well, I wasn’t going to do that any time soon, if ever. So this is for the best.”

“Agreed.” With a huff and one last look at Jasper, the two pushed past him.

Jasper stayed quiet, finding it a bit difficult to look Evan in the eyes.

“Sorry. That guy brings something out in me.”

They finally made eye contact

“It’s okay. I found it kind of funny anyway.”

“Phew. Yeah, uh, that was the last guy I’ve ever had a relationship with. It sure doesn’t help that he ended up with my old friend.”

“Sounds like a mess.”

“It’s… not so bad. I just risk running into them at places like this since Isaac sets up exhibitions with the rest of us.”

“Fair enough. …Last ever relationship, huh?”

Jasper glanced off to the side.

“Love didn’t end up being for me. I guess it doesn’t really fit with my job either.”

“Ah…” Evan wasn’t too good at responding to such personal information. Never had been.

“We’re on the same page about that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright… great.”

It had been unspoken until now, but there was something nice about putting it into words.

Jasper's attention had been taken once again, and from what Evan could see, it was just one of his own photographs.

Only when Jasper hurried in that direction, did he notice the two people standing in front of it. More trouble was brewing.

But he was too intrigued to not go and see what that was all about.

“Hah, as vile as ever, these are.”

“Why are you even here?” Jasper sounded exhausted already. This time it was a man and a woman, who were both a great deal older than Jasper. Evan didn’t have to speak to them to know they were the definition of the kind of people Evan expected to see here.

“We just like to support the locals. I’m sure you understand.” The woman interjected, sounding incredibly holier than thou.

“How generous of you. I really appreciate it.” Jasper’s voice was monotone as he looked between the two of them.

“You could learn from some of your more… tasteful friends though.”

“I’m not asking for unhelpful criticism. Thank you.”

“Tsk. Whore…”

The man whispered under his breath, as the pair passed by Jasper. Evan’s eyes widened, but Jasper just smiled.

“You forgot to add ‘proud’.”

All he got in response was a huff, and soon they were out of view.

“Ah… how friendly.” Evan was being deliberately cautious, not sure what he was allowed to say after that.

“Oh, yeah. It’s always a delight to speak to them. But hey, if there aren’t some people who don’t get it—or even hate it—then it’s no fun.”

Evan could admire that sentiment. Still, their behavior was branded in his mind.

“That’s a good mentality to have. But… there are a lot of elitists like that, aren’t there?”

This time, Jasper's glare was directed at him. He got that sinking feeling in his stomach, as the face he had been giving the others all evening was being directed at him.

“You’re like one sentence away from asking if all of us are like that, aren’t you?”

“Well… I mean… That's all I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m starting to get pretty tired of those comments, Evan. You don’t know everything, so stop acting like you do.”

“But I’m kind of right, aren’t I?”

Jasper didn’t respond right away. That was probably the worst thing Evan could have said. Not to mention, Jasper was probably feeling quite tired after those hostile conversations.

“Just… leave. This place clearly isn’t for you.”

Evan didn’t know why that got to him as much as it did. The venue was feeling more and more unfamiliar—claustrophobic.

“I…”

Evan turned around in a rush. He looked back briefly, then headed for the door. There was nothing he could say to that. Nothing.

A few days had gone by since the event.

Evan was sitting in his living room, lost in thought. He watched the cityscape that unfolded outside the room’s wide window. Down there, so many stories were being made and told by the minute…

Evan sighed and pulled his phone out. He found the right name, pressed it, and held the overpriced thing to his ear.

“How nice of you to call.” Jasper‘s voice was steeped in sarcasm and apprehension. But he wasn’t being outright dismissive.

“Jasper, I’m…”

First now did he realize he had no idea what to even say to him.

“Speechless? Why don’t you come over, and I’ll fix that for you.”

The shift in tone caught Evan off guard. Thinking back on it though, their first time together was initially motivated by some form of anger. So there was a good chance Jasper enjoyed getting his frustrations out that way.

“Are you sure you want to see me right now?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t need to say more. Evan knew where he was going.