Page 12 of Taylor
11 months ago…
Livingand working in London has always been a pipe dream. I want the opposite of the small village I grew up in. I want hustle and bustle. I want vibrancy. I want to not be the only gay in the village—even though knowledge of that fact was kept a hushed secret because my wanker stepdad is not only an abusive arsehole, but alsohomophobic.
I’d been researching possible photography jobs in London for a long time in the hope something would appear at the right time for me, but it wasn’t happening and I was beginning to get disheartened. Maybe it wasn’t meant tobe.
Then, I went to spend the night with Caleb and remembered why I loved London. I remembered everything I’d said I wanted and I knew I couldn’t give up getting there. I’d be perfectly happy living in a shithole flat like he was just so I could say I was living my dream. I may have taken the piss out of where he was living, but I totally understood what he wasdoing.
I got chills the second I looked at the photographs he’d left out on the coffee table. It wasn’t only because he looked incredible, but the style of the photographs just spoke to me. Yes, I was excited about looking at Caleb laid out on that decorating table in only his underwear, but in that moment, I felt a renewed belief that I could do it; that I could find my way to a life where I would be taking photographs likethat.
I continued staring at the array of photographs laid out before me but Caleb soon rushed over and scooped them up. I could tell he was embarrassed by them; the thought made me laugh. He never needs to be embarrassed of looking that good. Before he took all of them, I managed to get a good look at the back of the one he dropped. I needed to know who was taking those photographs and I needed to get in touch withthem.
* * *
“CanI speak to Mr Bentley-Cox please?” a very polite woman asks when I put my phone to myear.
My hazy eyes focus on the alarm clock next to my bed and alert me to the fact it’s only just gone 9am. Who the hell rings me this early in themorning?
“Yes,” I manage before clearing my throat. My mouth feels like the bottom of a bird’s cage. I knew those shots last night were a badidea.
“Mr Bentley-Cox, it’s Carly calling from Capture Photography about your recentapplication.”
Suddenly, I’m wide-awake and sat bolt upright inbed.
“Yes.”
“Unfortunately your application for junior photographer hasn’t beensuccessful—”
All the breath I was holding in hope comes out in one big rush as the disappointment settles in. I knew it was a long shot. I’ve got no real experience, so this was what I wasexpecting.
“Okay, well, thank you for letting me know,” I say, disappointment obvious in my voice. “Goodbye.” I go to hang up but my name being called down the phone stopsme.
I put it back to my ear. “Yeah?” Iask.
“Please, let me finish. Your application for that job was unsuccessful, but…” I feel all my hope bubble back up to the surface with that one ‘but’. “Paul and Nancy were really impressed with you. They would like to offer you an assistant job to get you the experience you need to hopefully progress in thefuture.”
“Are you fucking joking?” I respond, totallyunprofessionally.
Thankfully, it makes her laugh before she says, “NoMr—”
“It’sTaylor.”
“Okay, well, no, Taylor, I’m not joking. They loved you and your work and would love for you to join theteam.”
“Fuckme!”
“I’m okay,” she says, again with a laugh. “Do you need a moment? I can ring back with details when it’s settled in,” sheoffers.
“No, I’m fine. It was just a bit of a shock. Go on,” I prompt, wanting to know all thedetails.
“I know it’s short notice but Paul and Nancy would like you to start in two weeks. We know you’re not in the area so they have said they will help with accommodation in the short term if you need it. Is that going to bepossible?”
“YES!” I shout, because I’d make it work if they wanted me there tomorrow. “Can I let you know about theaccommodation?”
“Of course. I will put everything in writing and send it out this afternoon. Please have a good read through and if you’re happy, sign and sendback.”
“Yes. I can’t believe it,” I say, stillshocked.
“Well, believe it. And if I didn’t say it before, congratulations. I think you’ll fit in very well aroundhere.”
