Matt's Story Part 2

Matt’s Story Part 2

So Nathan left. He’s left me feeling somewhat deflated in how he’s just run off as he did. What could Lara possibly want that’s so important!?

Finding it too depressing to sit alone in my room, I’ve joined Jade downstairs in front of the TV

I have no idea what Jade’s put on for us to watch. Honestly, I couldn’t focus on anything but the messages between Nathan and me. It’s been over twenty minutes since Nathan messaged back, and he’s left me on messaged read!

“I can’t believe she’s just said that!” Jade complains, getting animated at the TV.

Her reaction makes me look up from my phone at the screen. She’s watching some reality show. I don’t dislike the eye candy, but not something I’m overly interested in.

“Whats happened…?” I ask, looking down at the phone screen, not really interested in what she says.

“Well, Tracy is clearly interested in Steven,” Jade says, causing me to glance at her as soon I realize I have no new notifications.

“Oh,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders. “Which one is Steven?”

“He’s the one with his shirt off.”

“Ah.”

He really is an absolute unit. Lovely to look at, but I bet there is not much going on up top.

“Which one is Tracey?” I then ask.

“She’s that tramp with the long curly hair,” Jade replies, turning up her nose as she points at the TV. “She’s messing Steve around just for attention. It’s getting on my nerves!”

I watch the program for a second and quickly make up my mind.

“Ah,” I say, uninterested. “I think Steven might be gay anyways.”

“You think so!?” Jade squeals, getting excited. “Why do you think that!?”

“I don’t KNOW, Jade,” I reply in frustration, as I check my phone to find still no message from Nathan.”

Jade huffs and folds her arms tight. I quickly look up to see that I’ve annoyed her. I didn’t mean to; I’m just grumpy because of Nathan. Of course, I wouldn’t tell her any of that!

“What's with you tonight?” Jade grumbles, giving me a sour look.

“Nothings wrong with me…!” I instantly reply, sticking out my tongue in her direction. “What's wrong with you!?”

Jade flicks her hair and sighs at my reaction.

If I know my sister, she’s going to keep asking questions. She loves the gossip.

“Nathan comes around—then quickly disappears, and now you won’t stop looking at your phone,” Jade says, staring me down. “Have you had a lovers tiff!?”

I feel the blood rushing to my face. Has she worked us out!? No way!

“We aren’t lovers!” I’m quick to reply, glaring at her as she gives me a stupid smile.

“Whoa…..!” Jade reacts, holding up her hands in surrender. “Touchy tonight, huh?”

“No, I’m not!” I moan, now focusing on the TV rather than her silly-looking face.

Jade then quickly gets up from the armchair across the room from me and sits on the sofa next to me.

I turn to look at her as she pushes up against me. I look at her smug grin and shake my head.

“Is…it…girl problems…?” She asks, poking me in the cheek and giggling. “Is that Sonya being high maintenance? Mum says she seems a bit uptight!”

Poking at my face, she smiles wide—trying to wind me up. Pushing away her hand, I’m starting to feel really uncomfortable with the questions. What if she finds out who Sonya really is!

“No….,” I answer, leaning away as she stares at my face. “And she’s not uptight!”

“It is her!” she squeals, slapping me hard on the thigh. “You’re having girl problems…aren’t you!”

“Stop it, Jade,” I whine back at her, rubbing away the sting lingering on my thigh.

“My little brother is getting all growed up!” she giggles, nudging me playfully in the side.

Rocking as Jade nudges me, I sigh and rub my face in frustration. I could just push her away, being much taller…

“You wanna talk about it!?” Jade asks, getting all excited and up in my face. “Being a girl…I might be able to heeeelp….!”

I look down at her and shake my head.

“I doubt it—it’s complicated,” I reply. “Sonya’s…… an extraordinary different kinda girl.”

Jade's face lights up! She starts bouncing in her seat next to me.

“It is girl problems then!” she laughs. “I was right!”

Confused by why she’s excited by that, I give her a sour look. Folding my arms tight, I remember that I must be careful with what I say to her.

“Why are you excited by that?” I ask, rubbing my forehead.

Jade instantly stops bouncing and gives me a warm smile.

“Well……,” she says, sitting back in her seat. “I hear about that group of boys who have been giving you issues at school. I’m glad to see that’s not why you’re being all mopey.”

Barry and his goons have been pretty annoying, yes. Nothing I can’t handle. He knows he’s no match for me

“Those dicks and eat one,” I answer, turning to look at the TV. “They don’t bother me.”

“Such the big man,” Jade giggles, nudging me again. “Don’t act too much like the hard man, or I will start to think you are overcompensating!”

Overcompensating…? What she’s trying to say!?

“Oh, hush it, Jade,” I grumble. “It’s not them that’s annoying me. Can we just leave it at that!”

Jade gives me a stern look as she flicks hair from her eyes. I can tell she’s not impressed by my attitude.

“So touchy!” she remarks. “I see you keep checking your phone for messages—I was going to offer my help to understand the girl, but now maybe I don’t want to.”

Rolling my eyes at her, I know that’s not true. I can see it in her eyes that she wants me to discuss it more. I really should just get up and walk out of the room.

Still, I do want to talk to someone about all this. I’m confused by Nathan, and I’m beginning to think he’s not into me!”

“Do you really want to help Jade?” I ask, already knowing that she’s going to say yes.

“YES!” she swiftly answers with a bright smile. “Tell me what happened!? What has she said!?”

I look down at my phone and fiddly with the case. Then looking back at her, I give her a frown.

“It’s not like anything has happened or that she’s said anything,” I say softly, checking my phone for messages. “She’s just acting really different with me, and I don’t know why.”

Jade narrows her eyes.

“Did you do something to upset her?” she asks, clearly assuming I’m in the wrong

“No!” I say with my mouth wide open in shock. “No way would I do anything to upset her.”

“Good. So how is she acting differently?”

“Well, she doesn’t seem all the keen to hang around with me anymore. Well—not since last weekend.”

Jade scrunches her face. Her puzzled look makes me feel very nervous.

“Well…what happened at the cabin?” she asks, gently scratching her nose. “You guys are so tight-lipped about why you came home early.”

Rubbing my chin, I think back to it. A lot happened at that cabin. Some things were great; some things weren't so great. Nathan kissing me was one of the good things!

As I go to answer, I see Jade staring at me intently. I feel myself blushing as she gawks at me.

“Erm…well—we kinda got together at the cabin,” I reply, bashfully rubbing my arm. “We kissed, and I told her how I felt.”

“Do you….,” Jade grins. “Looove her?”

I look away from her as the heat of embarrassment stings my cheeks.

“I do,” I answer quietly.

“Oh, crap!” Jade screeches, pushing my shoulder. “Do you actually love her?”

“uhuh,” I say, looking at the excitement on her face.

“I’m even more keen to meet her now!” Jade giggles.

“Don’t get too excited. I’m starting to think she doesn’t feel the same.”

“Why..!?” Jade loudly groans.

“It’s complicated!” I mutter. “Our friendship hasn’t been the same since I told her that.”

Flicking her hair again, Jade leans back in her seat and stares at the TV. Not saying anything; I hope her questions are over! Believing that to be the case, I go to stand up.

Just as I shift forward, Jade grabs my arm to stop me.

“So, what’s the last thing you guys said to each other?” She asks, grabbing my arm tight.

“Errr,” I mumble, looking down at her arm holding me. “I just said it’s not cool that she doesn’t want to hang out.”

“Matt….,” Jade grumbles, rolling her eyes. “Don’t be clingy.

“I’m not!” I innocently deny

“Well, what has she said back?”

Looking down at my phone, I swipe it open. I can’t remember what Nathan said, so I opened the message.

“She erm….,” I say, rereading it to remind myself.

Reading the message doesn’t make me feel any better. Plus, I have to be careful what I say so Jade doesn’t realize it’s Nath.

“Let me have a look!” Jade giggles, snatching my phone from my hands like a masterful ninja,

As she pulls the phone from my hands, I instantly try and grab it back. My heart beats like made as I fight Jade for possession, and somehow she manages to keep it from me.

“Let me read it!” Jade whines, darting away from me.

“Please don’t!” I say, desperately swiping at her to get it back.

Jade’s face then soon drops. I see the look of total disbelief wash across her face.

“Jade!” I cry out, snatching the phone from her hands in anger. “I told you to give it back!”

Jade’s expression doesn’t change. She allows me to grab the phone but just stares at me with a wide-open mouth.

“Nathan.” She says, looking at me, completely stunned. “Those messages are from Nathan!?”

I can’t bring myself to say anything or even look at her. All I can feel is my heart thudding hard in my chest and the blood rushing to my face.

“Matt…..,” she continues, glaring at me. “What's going on? Why have you been sending messages like that to Nathan?”

I look down at the floor.

“Just leave it!” I cry out, feeling my body shake all over. “Just LEAVE IT!”

Feeling the tears behind my eyes, I stuff my phone into my pocket. All I wanna do is go hide in my room! What on earth possed me to talk to Jade about any of this! She’s the biggest gossip I know. Nathan is going to be so upset with me!

“Matthew,” Jade says softly, taking me gently by the hand as I begin to turn. “Tell me the truth.”

“No way!” I growl, sharply pulling my hand from her grip.

“I see the way you look at him!” Jade cries out, desperately grabbing my hand once more. “I see it, Matt…I see it.”