Preferably with him

***Taylor's POV*

The way in which his hand encompasses mine, is just a small detail that makes me fall harder. I'm not doing well at staying casual, if anything I feel like I'm uncontrollably falling further and further under his spell.

We enter the pub and straight away I feel at home. There's an open fire with various pictures hanging above it. Real wooden beams come down from the ceiling. There's a smell of fantastic homemade food and lots of chatting from the patrons. It's relaxed yet special.

"Could we have a table for two please" he says to the waiter.

The waiter smiles at us and shows us to a table near the window looking out at the rose garden, there are two double doors which open out into the garden. It's fairly private.

I realise the pub is much larger than it first appears. It's not just one large white washed room like you get in most modern restaurants. And the outdoor space just goes on and on.

The waiter asks what we'll be drinking, I opt for a glass of rosé to start with and Matty goes for Diet Coke, because he's driving. The waiter leaves some menus and goes to get our drinks.

I can't help myself but feel grown up being able to ask for wine at a Restaurant. I take in all of the surroundings the pictures on the walls, one is a photograph of the royal ballet, another is a hand painted autumn landscape. There's lots going on and I'm drawn in by it all. It doesn't look over decorated to me at all, I want to explore it all.

The music isn't soo loud that you can't hear yourself think or so that you can't talk without straining your voice. I finally rest my eyes on Matty who is a piece of art in himself. He's smiling at me, and I feel instantly embarrassed having his undivided attention.

He pushes his hair back, his leather jacket hanging off of his chair. We haven't even ordered or eaten any food and I know already that I have decided how I feel about him. I'm in deep here, and not just because he is gorgeous or irresistible.

He smiles at me, "what's caught your eye?" He asks me. Clearly he witnessed my staring.

"The royal ballet picture, it's an older one. And the autumn painting" I say a little shy.

"Oh and then you" I laugh and blush a little.

He laughs. I like it when he is happy.

"When did you start dancing" he asks interested.

"I started young of course. My mum always wanted me to dance. She always said it was a nice girly thing to do. She used to take me to Saturday classes and dress me up for shows" I recall.

He chuckles. He's a good listener.

"So I studied ballet, but I like contemporary" I add.

"I know what ballet is I'm not completely common, but contemporary? What's that" he asks me.

"Contemporary is kinda hard to define, it can have elements of all genres of dance I like to add my ballet technique into it" I say

"I'm boring you sorry" I smile at him. He reaches his hand across the table to grasp mine smiling.

"You are not boring. And don't apologise to me" he says genuinely

"It makes a change to talk to someone who has a real interest in something" he adds.

The waiter brings our drinks, and menus for food and then discreetly leaves us to it.

"So what's your thing Matty, what do you like to do?" I say sipping my wine.

"Oh no I am the boring one" he says clearly deflecting the conversation away from himself.

I am not having that, I want to know him more.

Seeing my defiant expression he says "Choose some food, and then I'll tell you about me."

He passes me a menu.

I let him off for now.

I browse the menu the food looks gorgeous I'm stuck on what to pick, I want to try so many things. Matty looks at me, a big smirk on his face. His menu is down and he appears to have chosen his starter and main already.

"What?" I laugh "you've been here before you have a head start."

"Take your time, I'm not rushing you babe" he says cheekily winking at me.

I decide to go for pasta arrabatia. I didn't want to contend with a burger in front of him. Matty orders a mixed grill for his main and orders some bread for the table and a jug of water.

"I'm into drawing, I'm not great at it I won't lie to you. But I like doing it, it keeps my hands busy" he says looking down rather than into my eyes. He's embarrassed and I briefly wonder if his friends know about his love for drawing. I notice that he is tapping his fingers to a beat lightly as he is talking.

He looks up, as I remain quiet.

"That's great, I always really wanted to be good at art, but I'm just so bad at it" I say back

"For me it's all about practice. I love films too being a media student of course" he says

"That's something we share" I say

"of course yeah we're gonna be in the same classes next year" he remembers smiling.

The waiter brings over our food. It looks great no tiny portions like these posh places do.

My phone suddenly buzzes in my bag.

"Mind if I check it?" I ask him

"Go ahead" he says as if I have no need to ask him.

It's Rhea. The heat drains away from my face. I thought it was going to be Tom. She's asking how it's all going and tells me they're off to the park now.

I type a quick reply, a thumbs up and that we may join them later. Not sure if Matty wants too but I'm guessing he would normally anyways.

He continues eating un-phased by the disruption.

" Rhea", I tell him. "I kind of told her that we were going out for food and she wants to see if I'm okay" I say, smiling.

"She's nice checking in with you" he says

"no she's nosey but I would do the same" I correct

"You two must be close, how long have you known each other?"

"Since secondary school so about 8 years or so" I tell him

"That's a serious friendship, she must be a good friend" he adds.

We continue eating, the food is awesome and I make a mental note to return here with or without Matty. Preferably with him.

After we finish our mains we decide to share some ice cream. And he gets me another glass of wine. I realise he doesn't really like sweet food as he barely touches the ice cream but he ordered it for my benefit. I finish my wine feeling decidedly tipsy and he refuses my money saying it was his idea to come here.

After freshening up and touching up my lipstick which luckily didn't end up all over my face. We walk out into the cool air which smells like roses and various wild flowers. He pulls me towards the vines and flowers and we walk along together, the sun is beginning to go down and within an hour and a half it will be dark.