Matt
Deciding that I had enough human interaction after that one conversation with Aimee, I headed straight towards the direction of my car, jogging down the hill so I could take a little snooze. I quickly dozed off and didn’t wake until the clock on my dashboard glowed 2:07 am. Crap. The girls were probably waiting for me as they huddled by the dying fire, shivering and thinking that I had deserted them. I shuddered, imaging the glare and mouthful I was no doubt about to receive from Addison. I could hear her lecture now.
She would have her hands on her hips as her sights lasered in on me. “Where were you? We could’ve frozen to death out here, you know. It’s 50 degrees, Matt. 50!” She would point at her lips, purposely chattering them for dramatic effect.
However, that was not the sight that greeted me. Vanessa was by the fire but Addison was nowhere to be seen. V looked up at me sleepily, giving me a warm smile when she saw me. “Hey,” she greeted, yawning. She was running her hands over the goose bumps on her arms, making me feel all the more guilty for falling asleep.
“You cold?” I moved to take off my jacket and placed it around her shoulders. She flushed slightly but pulled it closed around her. Did she just sniff it? I shrugged, giving her a sheepish grin. “Sorry, it’s been awhile since I last cleaned it. I didn’t think it smelled but I guess I’m just used to it.” Her brown eyes grew wide and she covered her face, presumably so I couldn’t see her cheeks turn even redder.
I looked away so she could compose herself without being watched. We sat there in comfortable silence as we gazed at the fire with only the sounds of its soft crackle and pop to be heard. After some time had passed, I glanced over to check on her and noticed that her eyelids were fluttering closed. Her head started to bob as she drifted off and it slowly began leaning closer to me until it came to a rest on my shoulder. I smirked at her, fairly certain that she wasn’t even aware she was doing it. It was cute.
She looked so peaceful in the light of the fire. I reached out to brush a strand of hair away that had fallen into her eyes and as my fingers grazed over her creamy complexion, I noted how soft and smooth her skin was. I didn’t totally hate the idea of staying like this on me for a while.
However, after a few more minutes of her snoozing had gone by, she opened her eyes, wiping the drool from her mouth. She lifted her head and her gaze darted around as she tried to make sense of where she was. When her sights fell on mine, I gave a small wave. Instantly, a scarlet flush crept onto her cheeks and she bolted up. “I...I….I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t even realize I had fallen asleep.”
I laughed, thinking nothing of it. She really didn’t need to be so skittish about everything. So she had laid her head on my shoulder. It was no big deal. It wasn’t like she had reached out and started groping me in her sleep or anything weird like that. There was no need for her to be embarrassed. I nudged her with my elbow. “Come on, sleepyhead. Let’s go find Addie and get you home.”
***
Vanessa
When the annual Winter Formal rolled around again, I didn’t even bother to ask Addison if she thought Matt might invite me as his date. After last year, the three of us had developed an unspoken pact to go to all of the dances together. This is why I was rather surprised when Addison announced she would be bringing a date. Ultimately, I was happy for my friend but later admitted to her while we were sitting on my bed that I was worried Matt wouldn’t still be interested in going if we all weren’t going together.
“Dances aren’t really his thing, Addie. If we both aren’t attending with him then he’s probably going to want to bail and just stay home.” I leaned forward to blow on my toenails that I had painted a silver shade of polish to coordinate with the Ice Castle theme for the dance.
“Don’t be silly, V,” Addison replied as she dragged metallic, blue-coated bristles across her own nails. “He loves hanging out with you. Why else would he want to go to that old musty bookstore all the time? Of course, he will still go.”
I elbowed her, sending a streak of polish across her skin. “It’s not musty.”
“Hey!” She shrieked, reaching for a cotton ball to wipe up the mess.
I sighed. “He likes to read Addie. That’s why he goes, not because he wants to spend time with me.” I got up and started pacing the room, biting my nails as we spoke. “Plus this is different. Wouldn’t it feel like too much of a date for him? I don’t think he would be into that.”
Addison rolled her eyes. “V, if he doesn’t realize by now how incredibly awesome and beautiful you are, it’s his loss. And besides, you’ve been talking about him nonstop for the past year and a half. It would be the perfect night to finally do something about it.”
I considered this for a second. This was true. Addison would be busy with her date and I could have Matt all to myself. Maybe we would slow dance in the dim lights of the gymnasium and he would lean in close. I closed my eyes, starting to sway to the imaginary music in my head. He would brush a lock of hair out of my face and then-
“Who wants tacos?” Snapping my eyes open, I nearly jumped out of my skin as Matt burst into the room holding up two Taco Bell bags. He gave me a look and I briefly wondered if he had the capability to read thoughts.
“I do!” Addie snatched one of the bags from Matt’s hand and began pulling out tacos, shrieking in delight as she discovered he had also brought fries. “Nacho cheeses fries! My favorite kind of fry.” She flung her arms around his neck and started planting kisses all over his cheek. “You are the best! I love you so freaking much.”
I looked on as he smirked at her before pulling away, envying the way she could just so naturally toss kisses and compliments at guys without so much as a blush or a stammer. I would turn to putty the second my hands even made contact with him.
Addison sat down on the ground, already inhaling the fries. “So, Mattie boy,” she said in between mouthfuls of food, “I was just telling V here that you two are flying solo for the Winter Formal this year. I got myself a date with the hottie on the baseball team.” She did a little dance as she spoke. “You know the one; the guy with the cutest butt I’ve ever seen.”
Matt wrinkled his nose. “No, Addie, I actually don’t know the one and I prefer to keep it that way.” His gaze shifted over to where I was standing, staring at him like a deer in headlights. I shrugged helplessly and bit my lip, impatiently waiting for his response. He raised his shoulders, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Ok, but just know that I don’t dance V,” He said tossing a wrapped taco at me.
Catching it with one hand, I stuck my tongue out at him. “Who said I wanted to dance with you anyway?” Addison raised an eyebrow at me but I shot her a warning look before she could say anything.
“I’m wounded that you would say that,” Matt replied, sauntering over to me. “Now come here, sugar. Let me make your day.” Taking me by surprise, he grabbed my hand as he pulled me up and gave me a quick twirl before dipping me down low. “I happen to be a fantastic dancer, thank you very much.” He made a kissy face at me and I honestly could have dropped dead right then and there. My heart was pounding so hard, I thought it was just going to give out in the middle of my bedroom.
Addison looked with her mouth agape as I straightened my shirt back out, my face beet red. “I…um…taco…yes, where’s my taco?”
I couldn’t even look at her for fear that Matt would be able to read any glances that passed between us and cry out, “Aha! I knew you liked me.” Then he would double over in laughter as tears streamed down his face. In between gasping breaths, he would say, “Do you actually think you stand a chance with me, the most gorgeous guy in school? That’s the best joke I’ve heard in a while.”
Addison cleared her throat. “This is a high school dance, Matt. Not ballroom dancing. Please, don’t embarrass yourself or Vanessa by doing that to her ever again.” I smiled at her gratefully. I could always count on my best friend to diffuse any awkwardness just as much as I could count on her to create it.
Matt flopped down on my bed, getting himself comfortable amongst my sheets. He laid his head back against my pillow and I gulped at the possibility of him leaving his scent behind. I would never wash that pillowcase again, I vowed. It would go right into my Matt memory box. Closing his eyes he said, “Ok. You have my word; I’ll never dance with her again.” He cracked one eye open at me. “You don’t mind, V, right?”
I shot Addison a glare, now wishing she had never opened her big mouth. She shrugged at me apologetically. “Well, maybe you would be alright with slow dancing,” she chimed in. “You can’t embarrass yourself too much by just shuffling your feet around. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
He let out a laugh. “Nope. No way, no how. Not going to happen. I will not dance.”
Frowning, I took a seat beside Addison on the carpet. And just like that, all my hopes of a romantic evening and first kisses had gone out the window.
***
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