math-hall

[math-hall]

“I feel insulted I didn’t receive a signed copy,” Matthew said with a smirk, pulling his old friend into a one-armed hug. “What name did you choose for me? Adonis?”

“everytime i see my book about helios listed under fiction it makes me laugh, how our experience was so insane to ever be believed.” a smile, curving in a sense of reminiscence of an equally blessing and painful past. it seemed fitting to immortalise the story in writing. “making fake names for everyone took far longer than it should’ve.”

[math-hall]

He didn’t look up as the tv volume was raised, however the almost nonexistent noise of her socks gliding towards him made Matthew look up just in time to meet her with a smile. The flat he had found a few weeks before they had to leave the island had beautiful hardwood floors, which both the girls shamelessly used for sock-skating. “And I told you I don’t especially care for American football,” he teased her shortly before looking down to his papers. 

After he chuckled, and realized there was nothing cool he could make up, Matt decided to say the truth. “I’m preparing next week’s lectures. We are on to the Higgs boson now.”

Courtney shut Tia’s door as quietly as she could. Tip-toeing from Matt’s daughter’s bedroom to the living room, Courtney’s lips still tugged into a smile picturing Tiana’s long eyelashes when she fell asleep. She studied Matt from the living room’s doorway for a moment, chewing softly on the inside of her lip before she picked up the remote from the coffee table and raised the volume two notches. Courtney spun once in her fuzzy socks to celebrate the winning score of her favorite football team. “I told you they’d win,” she gloated in a loud whisper. After muting the tv again, Courtney utilized her footwear one more time to glide on the hardwood floors from the couch to the table Matt hunched over. “What’re you working on?” She asked, genuinely curious, quickly tucking her hair into a messy bun. 

[math-hall]

Your beauty is as profound as Euler's Identity.

[math-hall]

“Are we not the best? We are the best,” he said without a trace of sarcasm in his voice, but still beaming at her. “Here’s to no putting on pants days!” He toasted with an invisible drink. 

“I am. Mum would talk your ears off, but I guess that’s a small price to pay for a visit to the best country in the world. No offense, America.”

“That’s a brilliant plan,” Ronnie complimented hiding each trace of humor. “Sleeping until 2 PM will prevail!” 

She chuckled at her display before Matt smiled. Her lips lost their curve just enough to show the intrigue of her expression. “Are you serious? That is so kind of you. Thank you.” 

[math-hall]

Matthew tightened his hold on her, getting started on his threat as she refused to give in. “Come on, Worth! We both know you missed me, now admit it!” 

“No, no, no,” Courtney panicked, already laughing even before Matt followed through on his threat. She took one moment to compose herself before looking into his eyes as seriously as she could. “Do whatever you must to me. I’ll never say it.” 

[math-hall]

Matt took advantage of her inching closer to him to punch him so that he could wrap his arms around her, trapping Courtney. “Don’t scold me, say you missed me or I’ll tickle you.”

Courtney’s gaze fell a few inches to Matt’s curved smile. “Matthew Hall!” She scolded, punching his shoulder. 

[math-hall]

“Then let’s do a favor to the world and never let those two get to know each other, imagine if they got married and re-populated the Earth with overachievers. Us lazy-ass people would be ruined for life.”

“I mean it,” he smiled at her. “Now that I am not broke anymore you can tag along any time when I go visit my family.”

“Sounds like my brother, Blake.” Ronnie’s eyes glistened with enthusiasm. “He tried it all too. I never understood how he could have so much energy and passion for fucking everything. Half the time I couldn’t even get my ass out of bed.” 

“Well, thank you,” she bowed just a bit. “I may just take you up on that.” 

[math-hall]

“I wouldn’t know about that, though,” he chuckled. “My sister would, she is one of those people that does everything at school? And she does some musical theatre, or at least she used to do it. Now she is more into science.” 

“Either way, London would be lucky to have you.”

“Maybe I’ll just move to London. West End theatre is fucking amazing anyways.” 

[math-hall]

“Heavens no!” Matt bursted into laughter, noticing her stifled chuckle easily. “I made a gracious and very drunk exit.”

“You ran over a bicycle,” Courtney repeated deadpanned as she stifled her chuckle. “And did you ever find that poor bike’s owner?” 

[math-hall]

“Because it was none of your bloody business, Beca!” He exploded, his blood boiling as she talked about what his sister deserved. “You honestly think I don’t know what my sister deserves? Who died and made you accountable for my family?” His chest rose up and down rapidly as he tried – unsuccessfully – to contain his anger. 

“I don’t need anyone else, much less my best friend, to make me feel useless. So next time keep your ‘spare money’ in your bank account, alright?” He spat the word ‘money’ as if he had never said a naughtier word. “I’m paying you back. And I don’t give a shit about what you say. You can flush the money down the toilet, give it away, or just keep it in your mattress next to your millions. I don’t care. But I don’t take charities.”

❛   You say it as if that’s a bad thing.

Beca jerked back, biting her tongue as she contemplating her words.                                ❛   She needed the help. And Im sure we both agree she deserves the chance to go through university without being loaded with debt. Here I am with a bank account of idle money that I don’t want or need, and it should go to something good. So I saw no alternative. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d refuse my help.

[math-hall]

“I’d call it ‘amusing’ rather than ‘uncomfortable’. Unless, of course, that I make you uncomfortable. In which case I will have no option but to feel brokenhearted, my dearest Brooke.” Matthew smiled charmingly at her, inviting her to come closer to take a look into his notes. “Calculus things.”

Brooke frowned. “Wow, this is uncomfortable. Bummer,” she groaned, dropping the bottle to her side. She watched as Matt stretched and cocked her head to one side. “Math things?” she asked, gesturing to the papers in front of him.

[math-hall]

“Another debate? What the hell? Why do you Americans make things so damn complicated, can’t you just vote once and that’s it?”

Considering this is the first election where I can actually vote, thought I’d turn on the news for once, watch a debate. Huge mistake. 

[math-hall]

“I tried to parallel park once, but I ran over a bicycle. So I won’t be trying that again.”

Look, all I’m saying is that I busted my ass to learn how to parallel park for my driver’s test and have I ever parked in a parallel space? No. 

[math-hall]

Matthew swallowed hard, tentatively reaching out to put a protective arm around Alma. “I’ve got you, alright?” He reassured her before nodding. “Lindsay’s cabin is right there, maybe Evan could be useful for once if he’s home.”

❛   I need to talk to an Officer.

[math-hall]

The door opening didn’t make the mathematician look up from his papers, asymmetric and messy numbers covered the yellow legal pad pages that had Matthew’s undivided attention, since there had been no knock he assumed it to be Oliver – who would give him an eye roll, check on the sleeping Tiana and grab a book without bothering him –, or Lindsay or Beca. A minimal part of his brain expected the familiar voices, but instead he heard Brooke’s. 

Chuckling at the image, Matthew sat up, stretching. “I’m afraid not, Brooke. But I don’t mind, it probably would be best if you stayed here than if you wandered out there at this hour of the night.”

“I’m s happy to be ho-oh hey! This…may not be my cabin.”

[math-hall]

“My sister’s desk, Beca. You honestly thought I wouldn’t find out? You spent thousands of euros in my sister’s education behind my back.”

❛  Where did you find it?

[math-hall]

“Alright Alma,” Matt sighed, his hand falling on her shoulder gently. “But at least let me do something to help.”

❛  Nothing to concern yourself about.