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theostrophywife · 7 months

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chicken noodle soup.

pairing: mattheo riddle x reader

song inspiration: is it really so strange? by the smiths

author's note: just a soft fluffy comfort fic cause i've been thinking about matty lately and i needed cheering up after the end of kwaf. let's all laugh at the fact that i set a 1k limit on this fic only to fail miserably lmao 😭

Mattheo Riddle was not a fan of Mondays.

Most of the time, Mattheo spent the first day of the week nursing a hangover and getting higher than a hippogriff at the Astronomy Tower with his friends to achieve equilibrium. The only thing he looked forward to every week was the prospect of riling you up in class. To be fair, it didn’t take much to get under your skin. Being himself seemed to do the trick.

As he walked through the castle halls, Mattheo smiled to himself as he plotted out all the different ways he could provoke you on this dreadful day. For some sick and twisted reason, he reveled in the fact that only he could manage to rouse such a violent reaction out of you. There was something satisfying about the way your eyes blazed, your rosy cheeks tinged with heat as you told him off.

Maybe he'd flirt with you today. Tell you how good you looked in your short little skirt. Watch as you turned as red as the tie around your neck. His pretty little Gryffindor good girl. In Mattheo's mind, you were his to tease and taunt.

With his usual swagger, Mattheo sauntered into Advanced Transfiguration fully prepared to test out his new tactics on his nemesis, but you were nowhere to be found.

At first, he figured that you were just running late. Throughout the duration of your rivalry, Mattheo had never once witnessed you skip class. He would’ve bet his entire cigarette supply that you’ve had perfect attendance since first year. When Professor McGonagall started the lesson and you were still missing in action, Mattheo was understandably concerned.

The uneasy feeling in his stomach didn’t mean that he was worried about you though. This was purely about mutual benefit. Mattheo couldn’t very well have his Transfigurations partner skipping out on lessons. Even though he regularly did so himself. But still, that was different. Everyone knew he was a delinquent. You, on the other hand, were anything but. Until today, you’ve probably never missed a class in your life.

Mattheo waited. Surprisingly, the two of you had the majority of your classes together. All of which dragged more than usual since you weren’t there to yell at him for dicking around. When you still hadn't turned up for Charms or Herbology, he became convinced that something was horribly wrong. Missing one lesson was alarming, but three in a row? That was entirely out of character for you.

When Professor Sprout finally dismissed the class, Mattheo sauntered over to Granger’s desk. As always, she was surrounded by her two dimwit friends who immediately tensed the second he loomed near. Potter and Weasley shot him matching menacing glares, but Mattheo ignored them entirely.

“Granger,” he drawled, leaning against the wooden desk. “Care to tell me where my partner’s been all day?”

The Gryffindor girl appeared a bit perturbed by the question. “Why do you want to know where Y/N is?”

Mattheo sighed in exasperation and produced the set of notes he’d taken during class. A first for him. He couldn’t remember the last time he actually listened to an entire lesson, let alone take notes, but he knew that you would have a million questions for him when you returned. The notes were his way of saving himself from your relentless interrogation.

“Figured the little know-it-all would want my notes.”

“Y/N is feeling a bit under the weather,” Hermione said cautiously. “I can take the notes to her if you’d like.”

“No.” Mattheo declared rather suddenly. He cleared his throat and attempted to smooth over the sharp response. “No, McGonagall tasked me with it. I don’t want her docking points from my house when she finds out that you did my dirty work for me.”

Hermione raised a brow. “Sure.” The quirk of her mouth told Mattheo that she wasn’t convinced by his excuse. “Well, Y/N is resting up in the tower if you fancy a visit.”

After a quick detour to the kitchens, Mattheo made his way over to Gryffindor tower. It was surprisingly easy to gain access to the lion’s den. He simply threatened a third year to let him in and got on with it. They truly needed to upgrade their security measures. One glare was all it took for Creevey to crumble and cave.

With a satisfied smirk, Mattheo walked past the gaudy common room. For Salazar's sake, hadn't the Gryffindors ever heard of subtlety? The decor consisted solely of crimson and gold and the furnishings looked like something out of that muggle show his nan loved to watch—Antiques Roadshow. Antique was right. The worn out couch that he passed looked older than him.

Merlin, now he was starting to sound like Malfoy. Mattheo hurried along before he caught the urge to fold origami notes and chuck it at Potter's head. Fortunately for him, the place was devoid of the Chosen One or anyone for that matter.

By now, his fellow classmates were all in the Great Hall eating dinner, which he was thankful for. It was no secret that Mattheo’s presence wouldn’t be welcome here and he wasn’t really in the mood to fight his way through the Gryffindors just to deliver a note from the kindness of his black heart. Thank Salazar that there wasn’t a single soul in the tower to bicker with. Until he reached your dorm, of course.

The relationship between the two of you was volatile to say the least. Despite Mattheo’s reputation, you weren’t shy about telling him off. When you were first assigned as partners, Mattheo had fully intended to let you do all the work while he skipped class to smoke, but he quickly realized that this would not be the case. You hunted him down at his hideout in the Astronomy Tower and discovered him blissfully sharing some premium grade mirthroot with Theo and Draco. When you found him, you were so angry that you dragged him by the ear all the way to the library, much to the amusement of his friends. Needless to say, Mattheo never missed a study session again.

In a way, Mattheo admired you for it. Aside from his friends, everyone in the castle feared him. It was sort of refreshing to have someone call him out on his shit. Especially if that someone was a funny, feisty, ferocious Gryffindor who he enjoyed pestering every chance that he got. Mattheo always did have a penchant for girls with an attitude problem.

Even as he knocked on your door, the Slytherin boy couldn’t help but chuckle to himself when he heard you grumbling from the other side.

“Oh, for Godric’s fucking sake, what is it now?”

The door swung open, revealing a very pissed off Y/N. Clad in striped pajamas and fuzzy bunny slippers, you placed a hand on your hip and frowned. Even in the throes of sickness, you still somehow managed to inject venom in your glare. Mattheo grinned like an idiot.

“Nice slippers, princess.”

You huffed, crossing your arms. “What do you want, Riddle?”

“To make sure my partner doesn’t slack.” He waved his set of notes around. “Don’t think your sickness excuses you from studying.”

“This is payback for making you revise with me after you fell off your broom and broke your arm, isn’t it?”

Mattheo cringed as he recalled the quidditch accident that sent him to the infirmary for a week. In true Y/N fashion, you were sitting by his bedside with a stack of books in your lap the second he woke up. Madam Pomfrey hadn't even put his arm in a sling yet before you were drilling him on proper spell enunciation and wand movements.

“You terrorized the infirmary with your mnemonics,” Mattheo said with a dramatic sigh. “It’s my turn now. This is sweet revenge, Y/N.”

You squinted at his barely legible handwriting. “I’m just surprised you took your head out of your arse long enough to take notes.”

“Glad to see that illness hasn’t lessened your bite. If anything, those teeth seem a little sharper than usual.” He leaned against the doorframe and smiled down at you. “Feeling a bit feral, princess?”

“Why don’t you come a little closer and find out?” you quipped, baring your teeth at the aggravating boy.

The gesture appeared intimidating for a full second until you sniffled and launched into a coughing fit, which made Mattheo frown.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course I am. I regularly cough my lungs out on nosy Slytherins whose sole purpose of existence is to make my life a living hell.”

He pressed the back of his hand against your forehead. The way his brow furrowed strangely resembled concern. Mattheo trained his chocolate brown eyes on you, examining the rosiness of your cheeks and the slight pinch of discomfort in your features.

"You're burning up." Mattheo's hand dropped from your forehead to the side of your neck. He pressed his fingers against your pulse point, feeling the erratic beating of your heart underneath his touch. It was strangely intimate. "You have an elevated heart rate."

You flushed and swatted his hand away. "Well, yes. That usually happens when one is ill."

"Come on, you should sit down."

"Don't tell me what to do, Riddle."

Mattheo rolled his eyes before dragging you by the elbow. Your protests fell on deaf ears as he barged his way into your dorm and walked you over to the bed. You watched as he pulled up a chair next to you before rifling through the contents of his backpack. Out of the sordid mess of his belongings, Mattheo produced a small container of soup. With a flick of his wand, he conjured a spoon.

“Here, have some of this. It should help.”

As soon as he pried the lid open, the heavenly smell of chicken noodle soup filled your senses. Mattheo scooped up an equal amount of soup and noodle and blew on it to cool it down before tilting it towards you. The sight of him offering you food like you were some helpless toddler was only slightly insulting. You swore to Godric that if Mattheo started making airplane sounds, you’d strangle the bloody twat.

“I can feed myself, you know.”

“Just eat the damn soup, Y/N.”

You rolled your eyes in return, but obliged nonetheless. Despite the source, you could never resist comfort food.

“Chicken noodle soup?”

As soon as you tasted it, you knew that it wasn’t just soup. It was your favorite soup. The very same one that Winky made every third Wednesday of the month. You knew because you looked forward to it every time. It was even marked on your calendar. That’s how much you liked it.

Mattheo nodded absentmindedly. “Yeah, I know it’s your favorite so I bribed Winky to make some.”

You furrowed your brows in confusion. “How do you know it’s my favorite?”

For once in his life, Mattheo looked utterly uncomfortable. He averted his gaze and busied himself by stirring through the carrots and celery. “You, uh, mentioned it in class once.”

You couldn’t help but smile. Maybe it was the fever talking, but you thought that was sweet. “You remembered that?”

Mattheo looked up, a stray curl kissing the tops of his cheekbones as he met your gaze. The shy smile on his face was alarmingly endearing. Sometimes when you looked at those angelic curls and stupid big, brown eyes, you forgot that you were supposed to loathe him. “Of course. It’s my favorite too.”

You chuckled, sniffling a little. “It’s like a hug in a cup, right?”

The curly headed boy nodded. “It totally is.”

After you finished the soup, you expected Mattheo to take his leave. Instead, he inspected the vials of potions laying out on your night stand. He read through every label, frowning a little.

“You should really have some pepperup potion in here.” Mattheo remarked as he arranged the vials one by one. “Are you sure this dose is potent enough? Maybe you should ask them to brew something stronger.”

“Pomfrey prescribed them herself. No offense, but I think I’ll take her years of healing experience over your expert opinion.” Mattheo gasped rather dramatically, which made you chuckle. “As much as I appreciate the notes and the soup, I don't think it's wise for you to stick around. I’m feeling a bit better, but I might still be contagious.”

Mattheo shrugged. “It’s alright, I’m not scared of a little cold. Besides, I still have to go over the Transfiguration assignment with you.”

“Aren’t you worried that I’ll get you sick?”

“Not really,” he said, waving off your concern. “I know you’re going to pester me about everything you missed in class, so I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone.”

To your surprise, Mattheo’s notes were extremely detailed. It was a bit hard to read given his boyish scrawl, but with a little help in translation, you were making great progress in becoming fluent in Riddle. The more Mattheo explained the concepts and ideas that were discussed in each class, the more baffled you were. You've always known that he was smarter than he let on, but this was borderline impressive.

“How do you know all of that?”

“I asked.”

“You asked?” Mattheo stared blankly at your surprised expression. “You never ask questions in class.”

“I never had to since you're always there interrogating the professor like the little know-it-all that you are. Thanks to your absence, I had to fill your role in class today.”

You grinned. It grew wider and wider, spreading until your cheeks hurt. Mattheo glared at your joyous expression. “What? What’s that shit eating little grin for?”

“You missed me.”

Color flooded Mattheo’s cheeks. You were surprised to find how well crimson suited him. It was almost the exact shade of your house colors. “Don’t be ridiculous—”

“Riddle, you asked questions in class. You took notes for me. You brought me chicken noodle soup." Mattheo flushed as you pointed out the obvious. "You totally missed me.”

“If you tell anyone, I’ll hex you.”

“Admit it, Mattheo. Your day was utterly dull without me.”

Mattheo rolled his eyes, sighing in defeat. “Fine, you’ve got me. I was bored out of my mind without you around. How else am I supposed to pass the time if you’re not there for me to argue with?”

“There’s plenty of other people in the castle that you could bicker with.”

“Yeah, but they’re not you.”

He seemed a little shocked by his own statement, but he didn't try to retract it. In fact, Mattheo almost seemed resigned to it.

“Careful, Riddle. It almost sounds like you have a crush on me.”

“I’d have to be a bloody idiot to fall for a girl who absolutely despises me.”

“That wasn’t a denial, you know.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose like the very idea of it vexed him, but you caught the little smile he hid beneath his fingers. Mattheo snatched the notes from your hands. “Focus on the lesson, will you?” He grimaced as soon as the words left his mouth. “I can’t believe I’ve just said that. Look at what you’re doing to me, Y/N.”

“You’ll live, Riddle.” You poked a section of his notes that you hadn’t quite deciphered. “Now what in the bloody hell is the Gobstopper Ruffian?”

“The Goblin Rebellion. Merlin, my handwriting isn't that bad.”

“Are you kidding? A kindergartner writes more legibly than this.”

The hours passed while you bickered and bantered. You hated to admit it, but you missed arguing with him too. Laying in bed all day had you positively bored, but yet time passed within the blink of an eye as you went back and forth with Mattheo. Somewhere between discussing the possibility of Longbottom running an underground exotic plant ring and arguing over the best Smiths song, the sun had set over the horizon. Mattheo rubbed his eyes and yawned.

“You look knackered, Riddle,” you teased, patting the spot beside you. “Do you want to lie down for a bit?”

Chocolate brown eyes widened at you. “Lie down? With you? On your bed?”

“Yes, that’s typically how people do it.” You smirked as he shot you an apprehensive look. “Unless you’re too scared.”’

Never one to back down from a challenge, Mattheo lifted the covers and gestured for you to make room. “Scoot over, then.”

The jest seemed to have backfired on you because now Mattheo was crawling into bed and making himself completely at home. All the apprehension from earlier melted as he pulled you against him, his chest pressed against your back as he nuzzled into the crook of your shoulder. You stifled a giggle as Mattheo released a satisfied little sigh.

Mattheo wrapped his arms around you until you were covered in the scent of amber, cinnamon, and leather. You never expected to unearth the fact that Mattheo Riddle was a great cuddler, but yet here you were, reaping the benefits of this newfound revelation. He slipped his fingers through yours and nuzzled closer.

"Who would've known that Mattheo Riddle was such a great cuddler?"

"If you tell anyone—"

"You'll hex me. Put a curse on my family. Set my possessions on fire. Yes, I know, Riddle. You keep threatening me, but you never follow through. I'm starting to think that you're losing your touch."

Mattheo squeezed your hip before twining your legs together. "I wouldn't test me, Y/N. You're in a very vulnerable position right now."

You chuckled as he scooted even closer. "Maybe, but you won't do anything."

"Why's that, princess?"

"You like me too much," you retorted, chuckling as Mattheo buried his face in your hair. "One day without me and you're already a needy mess."

"You infuriate me," Mattheo whispered against your ear. "But you're also the best part of my day. I couldn't imagine fighting with anyone else but you, my dear nemesis."

"I totally loathe you, Mattheo Riddle."

He chuckled as you snuggled into him. "I loathe you too, Y/N Y/L/N."

The irony of the statement contrasted with how tangled up you were wasn't lost on you. For two people who supposedly hated each other, cuddling with your enemy had never felt so right. The steady beat of Mattheo's heart lulled you towards sleep. You were slowly succumbing to its hypnotic lullaby until Mattheo's voice broke through the silence.

“Y/N?” He murmured against your hair.

You shifted, your eyes feeling heavy as his warmth enveloped you. “Hmm?”

Mattheo’s voice was low and gravelly, flowing like honey in your ears. “This is nice.”

You smiled against the pillow, staring at your intertwined fingers. “Better than chicken noodle soup?”

You felt him grin against your skin before he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on your temple. “Way better than soup.”

TAGLIST

@annaisabookworm @bubybubsters @criesinlies @niktwazny303 @therealallisonspear @athenalikethegoddess @clairesjointshurt @vixzwrites @elle4404

#a cuddle from him could reset my brain chemistry #mattheo riddle #mattheo riddle x reader #mattheo riddle smut #mattheo riddle x you #mattheo riddle imagine #mattheo riddle fluff

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melziss · 4 months

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cassie: while I’m gone, mattie, you’re in charge.

mattie: yes!!!

cassie, whispering to julia and anya: you’re secretly in charge.

julia: obviously.

anya: *laughs*

#madame web #cassandra webb #julia carpenter #mattie franklin #anya corazon #madame web incorrect quotes #incorrect quotes generator #cassie mom of three #mattie is a menace

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blondwhowrites · 1 month

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i feel like the slytherin gang would love to grope raccoon!princess in public

obviously mattheo takes lead on this but someone is always touching princess, whether it's matty with his hands on her boob, princess sitting on pansy's lap, theo with his hand under her skirt...

You literally cannot go out in public with any of them—

No matter where you are or who you are with there is always a hand on either your boob or ass and most of the time it's both. Mattheo, Theo, and Enzo are the most common ones to grope you shamelessly because they just always need to have a hand on your body—they say it calms them down 😌

Pansy will pull you onto her lap and just cuddle with you and glare at anyone who stares at you two weirdly, and she absolutely loves any rolls or stretch marks you have on your body!!!!!!! (I love you my plus size queens please give me a chance I will worship you PLEASEEEEEE)

Draco and Blaise aren't really big on PDA because of how they were raised (Mattheo and Theo were also raised like that but they just don't give a fuck) but they will hold your hand and give you the most subtle amount of PDA

I also think Mattheo would be subtle with his groping, he isn't too big on PDA but he just needs his hand to be on you and all his reservations are thrown out of the window.

Mattheo, Theo, and Enzo are the three menaces. They will literally team up to tease you and torture you the whole entire day just because they feel like it 😐

Look they just wanna smash that bomb-ass pussy

Enzo is known to finger-bang you in the library and he'll have you literally crying in the corner of the library and everyone knows what's happening because Mattheo and Theo are just guarding them and enjoying the show.

Theo and Mattheo will both pull you away and just rail you in an empty closet or classroom

Basically if you see any of the three boys and they give you a smug smirk—run.

#reader insert #slytherin boys #harry potter #chatting•°. *࿐#shitpost(⁠づ⁠｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡⁠)⁠づ #slytherin boys x reader #mattheo riddle x reader #mattheo riddle #mattheo riddle smut #mattheo riddle blurb 🐍

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365-partygirl · 3 months

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i CANT stop thinking about this

#its just the #usage of grammar that gets me idk #He does not #matty healy #a menace to society #i love him #the 1975

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fahye · 3 months

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US cover reveal: SWORDCROSSED

are we readyyyyyyyyyyy

Illustration by Cynthia Sheppard, art direction by Christine Foltzer. Yes those are RED SPRAYED EDGES and yes this is a ROMANCE CLINCH.

High heat. Low stakes. Sharp steel.

Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family’s wealth, something that Matti has been trying—and failing—to do for the past ten years. What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere. Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his hometown. He didn’t plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible—and inconveniently handsome—wool merchant like Matti. However, neither Matti’s business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what they seem. As the days count down to Matti’s wedding, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti’s house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca’s secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the question: how many lies are you prepared to strip away, when the truth could mean losing everything you want?

Preorder US (October 8th)

Preorder UK (October 10th)

Add on Goodreads

(UK/Commonwealth readers, there'll probably be a different cover for us, so watch this space! Or subscribe to the author newsletter to get all the essential updates.)

#swordcrossed #freya marske #it's so beautiful!!#will I ever get sick of marketing this #with YES THE SWORDS DO CROSS #while sniggering #signs point to no

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kirby0strombolli · 2 months

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Ghostface | Matt Sturniolo P2

'What's the matter Sidney? You look like you've seen a ghost.'

ghostface!matt x reader

Chapter 2: ghost.

part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4

warnings: kissing, blood, that's probably it.

______________________________________________________________

As she hastily pulled on her cowgirl outfit, complete with a fringed vest, denim shorts, and a wide-brimmed hat, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach. The events of the night still lingered in her mind, casting a shadow over her thoughts.

But little did she know, things were about to get even more intense...

As the darkness engulfed the room, leaving her heart racing and her mind swimming with fear, a sudden knock on the door shattered the eerie silence.

Her breath caught in her throat as she hesitated, her pulse quickening with each passing second. Who could be knocking at this hour?

With trembling hands, she approached the door, her thoughts consumed by the terror of the unknown. Yet, as she swung the door open, relief washed over her like a tidal wave.

Matt stood there, leaning casually against the wall, his eyes widening in appreciation as they fell upon her. But something was off about him. He wore a cloak draped over his shoulders, and in his hand, he held a menacing mask.

"Wow," he breathed, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Let's ride, cowgirl."

Her cheeks flushed with warmth at his words, her heartbeat quickening at the sight of his approving gaze. Despite her lingering suspicions, she found herself unable to resist the pull of his charm.

Feeling a twinge of disappointment that Matt hadn't opted for a matching costume, she remarked, "Matty, we were supposed to be matching," giving him a playful pout.

"I know, baby, just a...little change of plans, that's all," Matt replied with a charming smile, though she couldn't shake off the feeling of suspicion that nagged at the back of her mind.

After all, they were heading to a halloween party, and Matt was known for his eccentric sense of humor.

Putting her fears aside, she flashed him a shaky smile and joined him as they made their way to the car.

______________________________________________________________

As they drove to the party, Matt's behavior became increasingly erratic. Her heart raced with a mixture of fear and confusion as Matt's touches grew rough and demanding.

As they made their way to the party, she couldn't shake the feeling of Matt's intense gaze burning into her. His grip on her thigh was tight, almost possessive, sending shivers down her spine.

And when their eyes met in the dim light of the car, she couldn't help but notice a hint of something dark and sinister lurking behind his usual charm.

"How do I look?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

She couldn't help but giggle at his attempt at humor. "Like a ghost...face?" she replied playfully, gesturing to his mask.

Matt's eyes widened slightly, causing suspicion to arise once again about his demeanor.

But before she could dwell on her suspicions any further, Matt's lips crashed down on hers, his kisses rough and demanding. Lost in the heat of the moment, she melted into his embrace, her doubts momentarily forgotten in the rush of desire.

"You look so good, baby," Matt whispered huskily between kisses, his touch growing more insistent with each passing moment.

Her breath hitched as she melted into his embrace, her skin tingling with anticipation. Their kiss deepened, fueled by an undeniable passion that threatened to consume them both.

Her fingers trailed along the curve of Matt's jawline, her nails grazing his skin with a tantalizing tease. With a low groan, Matt deepened the kiss, not pulling away, leaving them both breathless.

Matt's hands roamed eagerly over her body, igniting a hunger that pulsed through her veins.

Lost in a haze of desire, she barely registered the sound of laughter echoing outside the car until someone knocked on the car window, their mocking taunts piercing the night air.

Their passionate encounter was interrupted by the sound of mocking laughter echoing outside the car. Matt's mood shifted in an instant, his grip on her thigh tightening even further as he leaped out of the car to confront the intruder.

"Stay here," he commanded, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.

As she sat alone in the car, her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. Fear, desire, and suspicion battled for dominance as she tried to make sense of the events unfolding around her. But as she stared out into the darkness, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.

Something wasn't right.

And as she watched Matt disappear into the night, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was about to plunge headfirst into a nightmare from which there would be no escape.

But as she sat alone in the silent darkness, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air, jolting her from her stupor. With a racing heart, she stumbled out of the car, her eyes scanning the deserted street in search of the source of the sound.

In the distance, a masked figure darted away into the shadows, leaving her frozen in terror.

At that exact moment , her phone buzzed twice, breaking the tense silence that hung in the air. With trembling hands, she retrieves her phone from her pocket, her heart pounding with apprehension as she reads the messages from Matt.

matt go ahead to the party, baby :) i'll be right there

With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she made her way to the party, her mind clouded with uncertainty. But as she stepped into the crowded room, surrounded by masked strangers, one thought echoed in her mind:

where was matt?

As she searches for Matt in the dimly lit room, she's surrounded by a chaotic mix of Halloween costumes. Everywhere she looks, there are ghosts, ghouls, and monsters, each one scarier than the last, staring at her, like she was covered in blood.

The air feels heavy with suspense, and the flickering lights create creepy shadows that seem to move on their own. It's like walking through a haunted house, with every step sending a chill down her spine.

That was when she finally spotted him, her shock undeniable.

He was carrying the Ghostface mask.

"No way," she murmured to herself, unable to believe what she was seeing. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts, refusing to accept the possibility that Matt could be involved in something so...so evil.

He was carrying the Ghostface mask. 'The same mask-' But her thoughts were interrupted as Matt strode over to her.

She freezes on the spot as her gaze flickers to a flash of red and a glint of something being tucked into his waistband, causing her to recoil slightly in apprehension.

"What's that?" she asks, her curiosity tinged with dread.

"Somethin' for later, don't you worry your pretty face about it," he smirks, a mischievous glint in his eyes as she blushes furiously.

She looks down at her shoes, her mind racing with unease, but her thoughts are abruptly interrupted when Matt gently lifts her chin.

Her eyes widen in horror as she catches a glimpse of a shiny knife, its blade stained with blood.

A chill runs down her spine as her laughter dies in her throat, fear gripping her heart in its icy embrace.

Matt's eyes bore into hers, and in that moment, she feels a sense of overwhelming dread wash over her.

Frozen in place, she pales at the sight of the bloody knife, her mind reeling with the implications of what she has just witnessed.

"What's the matter, y/n?" he asks, his voice low and menacing. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

a/n: let me know your thoughts on this one!

taglist: @lexisecretaccx @itssophiasstuff @junnniiieee07

comment if you want to be added to the taglist! I have no idea how those things work but yeah :)

#matt sturniolo #scream movie #ghostface #sturniolo triplets #horror

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heyidkyay · 7 months

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And I'm petrified of being alone, now |

Part Seven

Matty Healy x reader

Summary: She’s just trying to get by, really. What with being a single parent to her four year old son whilst simultaneously trying to kick start a successful career as a radio presenter. She’s got everything she’s ever wanted though, friends close by, a mum who’s merely a phone call away, and of course her baby boy. What else is there to wish for? But then, it’s not long before her relatively normal life gets upended and turned on its head, and she’s suddenly forced to deal with situations she’s never even thought to imagine.

What happens when one mention of a certain controversial singer on her show sends a flood of unexpected challenges her way?

Authors Note: Another part, honestly so amazing to see how much this series is getting already! Means a whole lot, thank you. Just a quick note though, there will be msgs exchanged in this part so the green text is reader!

Masterlist

"Teddy!" I called out as I chased after the toddler currently streaking through my living room, the boy shaking water droplets all over the place like a wet dog.

I had only turned my back on him for a second! Simply to grab a new wash cloth from under the sink, but Teddy had taken the opportunity, quite literally, and ran with it, having darted out of the bathtub within the blink of an eye.

And now, the absolute menace was running rampant through the flat, cackling away without a care in the world, a little hellion in the making, whilst I fought to keep up with him.

In truth, it wasn’t exactly how I’d pictured spending my Saturday morning, but the life of a single parent was always so eventful, full of many surprises.

But, speaking of surprises- I huffed in defeat just as my phone lit up with the sound of a new notification. I rubbed at my temple before I glanced over towards where I'd left it, perched on the arm of the settee. I watched as it buzzed again, then again, before my eyes finally returned to Teddy.

The little tyke was now standing across the room from me now wearing a bright eyed smile, he mimicked me when I arched a brow, forcing the both of us into a right old fashioned standoff.

"You’re a terror, you know that?"

I gave a soft shake of my head, hiding the small quirk of my lips from my son’s view before ambling over towards the sofa to pick up the phone, my eyes only flickered to Teddy once I'd steeled my own expression. Though, his grin had only seemed to widen at my words.

"You have until I'm done with this..." I told him whilst gesturing towards the mobile, "To get your bum back in that bathroom." I pointed a stern finger at him, but it did nothing to hide the laughter dancing in the kid’s eyes. "Got it?"

"Got it." Teddy parroted, and he nodded once before running back down the hall.

I could only groan loudly and look to the ceiling when I heard Teddy’s footsteps go on a little too long, and didn't flinch when the slamming of the toddler's bedroom door echoed throughout the flat.

"Teddy!"

The only response my warning tone got was when I heard a buoyant giggle and I chuckled quietly to myself before lowering my body down onto the edge of the armchair. I was only twenty-three but my rumbustious son seemed to have aged me beyond my years, my knees aching as I finally settled in.

Flipping the phone the right way up in my hand, I watched as the screen brightened before a small hum escaped me.

A text from Matty. Or rather, several.

Messages now Matty:)!! I'm just about ready to kill Jamie If anything happens, know that I'll be halfway to Morocco by the time the Old Bill show up at my doorstep He's had me up since four, Squeaks Four!! It's completely inhumane Just made a break for it! Hiding out in a musty old broom cupboard but I can still hear him bitching And get this, he won't even let me skive off early to buy a bloody penguin! Can you believe that??

I snorted at the absurdity of Matty’s many messages.

Not that it wasn't anything too out of the ordinary for the musician. Yesterday, he'd had me up until gone two, nattering on about the batty old bird- his words- who lived in the house beside him. She had the tendency to pound on whichever wall was closest with her heavy metal cane (apparently the thing was an extension of her left arm) whenever she thought he was being 'too rowdy'. It was safe to say they didn't get on.

The texts were something that had started up right after Matty's impromptu visit earlier that week. Though I sometimes struggled to keep up, and often ended up leaving Matty waiting on a reply for a long while when I grew too busy, I found I didn't mind them.

In fact, I think I rather enjoyed opening up my phone to find yet another text waiting for me. They never failed to make me smile, either. Something which both Finn and Adi had not failed to take notice of.

I rubbed at the bridge of my nose whilst I thought up a reply, then frowned when I spotted a couple of stray Playmobil figures hiding under the tv unit. I exaggerated a stressed sigh, having only just tidied up in here an hour before.

Well now I know where you'll be hiding out if worst comes to worst BUT What if I break under interrogation? Or they make me out to be your accomplice?? Idk if I’d do well under pressure, Matthew Besides I quite like Jamie, reckon I'd miss his texts if you ended up killing him off He also has a strange knack for the paper's daily crossword.. But I can't disagree with you on the timing, I'd be on the verge too What the fuck needs doing at four in the morning?? And also I can't believe I even have to ask this, but what kind of penguin are we talking about here?

I was only slightly disappointed to find out that Matty was, in fact, talking about the chocolate bar, and not a horde of Antarctic birds in the next text that came a minute later. I hurried to fire one back.

What's wrong with a good crossword! And don't get all jealous on me, Healy, he likes to ambush me some mornings when I'm on my way into work I guess the early mornings do make sense though, life of a rockstar and all that ALSO of all the chocolates you could possibly choose from, why a penguin?? Honestly criminal.

I had to toss my phone back down onto the cushions then, knowing that I'd left Teddy alone for far too long already and that, if I let him, Matty would probably keep me distracted for as long as he pleased.

I heaved a massive sigh as I pulled myself back onto my feet.

"Teds, you better be dressed by the time I get there!" I shouted out and laughed quietly to myself when I heard the little boy squawk in retort.

The old Victorian style fireplace, which warmed the entirety of Finn's flat, was the one thing I truly envied most in the world.

It was a pretty thing, opulent and shapely. It stepped out from the white wall Finn used to hang a majority of his canvased photographs on and had intricate little carvings etched into its fine wood trim, swirls and staggers that always managed to capture my attention. I was drawn to every quaint detail it had to offer.

I only just managed to draw my eyes away from it when my phone vibrated against the jean of my upper thigh, picking it up then proceeding to chuckle quietly to myself as I moved to type up a quick reply.

Clicking it off a second later and feeling rather content, I looked up to grab my mug from off the coffee table, which hosted a vase full of vibrant daffodils, and paused when I felt the daunting gaze of the man I was seated with fall upon me.

"Alright there, Finn?" I questioned as I drew my limbs back in slowly.

He merely cocked a brow in retort as he relaxed further into his preferred seat, one no one dared touched now that we knew better.

"You tell me. Who's got you grinning like that on a Saturday afternoon?"

My lips tugged upwards unconsciously, something I was quick to hide behind the rim of my cooling mug. "Dunno what you mean."

Finn rolled his eyes so hard I was honestly a little concerned for his well-being, but then he spoke, "You know exactly what I mean. Come on, tell us! Is it that Healy bloke?"

Tongue in my cheek and drink cradled in between the palms of my hands, I huffed a light laugh but was fortunately saved from answering that particular question just as Teddy bounded in from the kitchen.

"'Pen."

I blinked at the biscuit packet that was currently being shoved, rather forcefully, into my face, before taking it from my son's tiny grasp. "Open, what?"

Teddy's brows pinched as he jabbed a chubby finger at the package in which I now held. "'Pen that." His t's sounding a lot more like d's.

Finn, the twat, snorted over in the little corner he’d made for himself and immediately tried to cover it up by clearing his throat. Teddy, as smart as he was though, caught it all the same and gifted his godfather a crinkly eyed smile. Me? I glared halfheartedly.

"No, Teds. I meant, what do you say after asking for something?"

"Ta."

I withheld a far too exhausted sigh and purposely ignored the muffled giggles now spouting from my best mate.

"It's thank you," I reminded for what felt like the millionth time, even though I knew it was all in vain. It seemed as though my son had been spending far too much time with the irresponsible Northerner sat across from us. "And yeah, that’s correct, bubs, but only after. What do we say before?"

Teddy glanced upwards at the ceiling, lengthening his already impossibly long lashes, as he pondered away.

I was forced to wrinkle my lips in a futile attempt to dampen my ever growing fond grin and listened to my son hum obnoxiously before his whole demeanour suddenly shifted.

"'Peas! I say 'peas!" Teddy exclaimed excitedly, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Proud as ever, I smiled and opened up the packet for him, handing them back over.

"Good lad. And what do we say now?" I coaxed whilst pulling Teddy in closer to peck at his forehead and card a gentle hand through his curls.

Teddy peered up at me and grinned, all toothy. "Ta."

I shook my head amusedly at the boy before sweeping him swiftly off his feet and settling him onto the sofa beside me. Playfully, I blew a loud raspberry into Teddy's neck and decided that it was better for me to pick my battles. Especially with a child I knew had inherited my own string of stubbornness.

"Where's your auntie anyway? She knows she's not supposed to be giving you treats after you've just had lunch."

Teddy wrinkled his nose as he happily munched away on the procured biscuits but didn't bother with a verbal response, simply extended his arm out towards the door.

"Oi, Wells!" Finn called out for me and grinned when he heard Adi's muffled acknowledgement. "You better not be in there eyeing up my tarts!"

A bang was heard before a ruffled Adi appeared, sweeping back into the room with an air of aloofness. "You're a right tease. What’s the point in making them if they're only there to look at!"

"I already said that you could have one when they were ready!" Finn retorted whilst Adi marched her way across the rest of the living room to flop down into the armchair beside him. "They need to cool." He tutted.

Ads groaned unhappily.

I blew out a light chuckle as my eyes flickered towards her slumped form before swiping away a few stray crumbs that Teddy had created. "You just ate, Ads."

"And? I was told that there'd be tarts for dessert. Here I am, and no tarts to be had!"

"Yet!" Finn added, exasperated now, and I snorted quietly to myself whilst the duo continued to bicker back and forth, as they tended to do whenever they were together.

"Mad, aren't they, Teds?" I whispered mockingly after having leaned in closer to my son's side.

Teddy merely held a biscuit up in retort and so I bit into its edge, grinning as I chewed away. "Ta." I winked in conspiratory.

Teddy giggled before his attention was caught then again by my exuberant friends.

I could only release a breathy laugh as I watched on too, before startling slightly when my phone sent a ring of vibrations echoing down my leg. Which always left my bones there feeling all weird and tingly.

Messages now Matty:)!! How important does a person have to be before they're assassinated vs. murdered??

I forced my eyes shut momentarily at the outlandish question, but couldn't quite control the full fledged grin that blossomed.

Matty over text was rather different to the person I’d met in real life, I’d already decided after having only texted him for a few short days.

He was just more... open? Forthcoming? Candid, perhaps. He was incredibly inquisitive about everything I mentioned, even the little things, and a whole lot less reserved than the man I remembered meeting at the studio for the very first time. Matty loved to send a million messages at once and then pick out all the best bits of my reply to respond to. And would text me at every and any time of day.

It had been quite the change of pace at first, I hadn't expected much from Matty asking for my number, figuring it was just playful jealousy at having been beaten to it by Jamie. And even after I’d given it to him, I thought I might just receive a simple text to say that he hadn't forgotten our short-lived encounter.

But no, Matty was almost animate in all of our conversations, he always had a witty reply, or an anecdote to bring up and ponder over.

It had, quite rightly, made my head spin after receiving the first handful of texts. I really hadn't been expecting such a vast contrast and had even gone as far to question whether Matty had typed in the correct number. But it hadn't taken me all that long to get used to it, I actually rather enjoyed being the person Matty sent all of his strangest thoughts to.. Or at least that’s what I told myself.

Messages now Should I be worried?

Matty:)!! What's that meant to mean?

You're quite the figurehead?? Should I be prepared to cancel any future plans of mine to make time for your imminent funeral?

Matty:)!! God no! Actually wait maybe Can never be too sure can you? Death is a very unpredictable thing, Squeaks Unless it's premeditated Then I suppose you're asking the right kind of questions Whilst we're on the subject though, will you make sure that there are crows at my funeral? And a mysterious woman stood in the far back with a sturdy umbrella Oo and cake! Lots of cake Make sure Ross is sat upfront too Can't have him making a proper scene at my wake Probably still manage to make it all about him though SOMEHOW Wouldn't put it past that tosser So with that thought, be a dear and make sure his invite gets lost in the post will you? X

I snorted at the cluster of texts that seemed almost never ending. My phone buzzing against the palm of my hand at a mile a minute, often before the last vibration even had a chance to cease.

Before actually knowing The Matty Healy™, I never would have once pegged the gritty, solemn rockstar we had all seen plastered across the morning papers to be such a massive melodramatic diva. But now, I honestly couldn't picture him any other way.

Can get behind the cake, but why crows? And this woman, how mysterious are we talking here?? Yet to meet Rossward but am sure he’d be a blubbering mess if you popped your clogs and didn't invite him to your funeral babe Can just picture it now, WHAT will the papers say!? Also are you prepared to face his wrath when he eventually follows?

Matty:)!! Make sure it's something shit like red velvet or coffee or something And crows add to the overall sombre Plus my mums terrified of em Woman’s got to be incredibly mysterious BTW I want the whole shebang Sunglasses, trench coat, high heels and one of those massive fuckoff floppy hats I'd ask you to try and aim for a rainy day as well but that's almost a given And tell Ross I'll be there waiting!! Reckon my ghost could pin his in a fight

"She's grinning again." Adi sang, causing my distracted gaze to snap up and see the mischievous glint in her eyes.

"When's she bleeding not, whenever she's on that thing!" Came Finn's unhelpful addition, he flapped a hand haphazardly towards the mobile I held. "It's like we aren't even here!"

"'m here!" Teddy announced solemnly, having since finished his biscuits, crumbs dusting the corners of his mouth and rosy cheeks. He shuffled over towards me then and planted himself firmly in my lap to peer closely at the phone's now dimming screen.

I stifled a heavy groan at the sudden weight and silently winced instead, my nose wrinkling with it. Adi laughed loudly.

"Who that is?" Teddy asked me, already reaching out to run his grubby little paws across the screen. I steered him away, whilst the faces sat opposite us lit up like a bonfire in August. I hastily buried the phone in my back pocket.

"Yeah, Mouse. Who was it?" Adi prompted unnecessarily, a vicious smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth- more than amused. "Don't leave us in the dark!"

I bit down a few snipping words, feeling them bounce against the back of my teeth, and instead opted for drawing Teddy's attention elsewhere. "Ready to head on over to the park now, monster?"

Teddy beamed at the very idea and squirmed in my hold to be let down. I let him go, but only after lightly tickling at the boy's sides.

"Go on then, grab your coat and trainers for me, bubs."

Without a second thought, Teddy dashed off towards the hallway where his shoes sat neatly by the front door.

Slowly, knowing there was no use in trying to avoid it, I turned towards the two idiots waiting expectantly for me and gifted them both a drawn out sigh.

"You each get one question before Teddy comes back. Make them count."

Adi squealed and tugged her feet up onto the armchair in her anticipated excitement. Whilst Finn chose to stare long and hard at me, obviously debating on just what to ask exactly.

The briefest of seconds passed before Adi went to open her mouth, a question on the tip of her tongue. But Finn cut her off with an outstretched hand and gestured her closer.

"We'd like to configure." He informed me with a sly smile before angling his body inwards to whisper in Adi’s ear.

I narrowed my gaze, not liking this at all. But carried on watching them closely whilst the duo murmured back and forth. It was then that I heard Teddy fumble with something out in the hall and grinned triumphantly.

"Time's running out." I taunted, ticking now.

Adi rolled her eyes at me and said one last thing to Finn before they both fell back into their seats, looking moderately calm and collected.

I raised a brow.

"So! Do you, or do you not, in fact fancy the pants off of the person you've been texting all day, also known as the notorious Matthew Healy, singer-slash-twat-slash-extraordinaire?"

"I'm quite sure that there was two questions in there somewhere." I argued pointlessly.

"Was there?" Adi hummed innocently, before then turning towards Finn. "I only heard one, how about you?"

"Definitely one." The man affirmed with a sharp nod.

I scowled. With them, it always ended up being two against one.

"I don't fancy the pants off of anyone." I replied as casually as I could, throwing an arm over the back of the sofa.

"Liar!" Ads laughed jubilantly, jabbing a finger my way. "You hate texting! And for the past few days you've done nothing but constantly message him back and forth!"

She wasn't wrong. But still, that disclosed nothing.

"I enjoy finally being able to talk to someone of a similar intellect." I snarked back, going for nonchalant whilst shrugging with a smile.

Adi knew better, shaking her head at me. "You're a filthy fibber! You and I both know, you only want to get into his trousers. The papers will have a fucking field day!"

I snorted with a roll of my eyes. "We're mates, Ads. I can just have male friends without the underlying matter of me wanting to shag them senseless."

"Senseless you say?"

When I cut his eyes at her, Adi simply cackled, a hand coming to slap at her knee.

I huffed then tilted my head over towards an unusually quiet Finnley. "Let's get it over with then, hit me with it."

He smiled and it wasn't conniving nor mirthful. Simply a smile that made my entire being still. It was the same smile he'd given me when I'd told him about the car crash I'd been in as a kid and then when I'd broken down on his doorstep over the fact that I was about to become a mum. I had no fucking idea as to why he was giving it to me now.

"Why didn't you mention it sooner?"

I hadn't quite expected him to ask that.

I swallowed before shrugging mulishly, letting my focus stray towards the fraying hem of my favourite jumper, picking at its loose threads.

"There wasn't any need. I- we're just friends. He's this big off singer and I'm just me. I figured it would fizzle out sooner or later."

Finn pressed his lips together and moved forward so that he was now perched on the edge of his seat. "Babe, even if that was the case, we'd still want to know. I've never seen you smile- or laugh, for that matter- so much as I have during these last few days. And so fucking what, you're just you? You're incredible! This Healy lad is lucky to have your attention. Fuck him if he doesn’t realise it."

"Finn’s right- as always." Ads added, smiling over at me and making me feel all small. "I don't care if he's toured the world or had sodding dinner with the Queen! He's got nothing on you, babe. Just friends, or not."

"Ta." I chuckled softly, a puddle of warmth flooding my chest, not all that used to this touchy feely shit even after having been friends with these two for nearing half a decade. "What would I do without the pair of you, hey?"

"Fuck knows." Finn snorted, his serious expression having morphed into something a little more amiable now that the seriousness had alleviated slightly. "I can only imagine the havoc you'd wreak if left to your own devices."

"Piss off!"

And that was the moment Teddy chose to come stumbling back into the room. His eyes lit up and he didn't even hesitate to repeat the ill-timed phrase, causing both Finn and Adi to fall into a fit of hysterics whilst I rushed over to hush him. Noting that my expression must have been priceless.

Putting Teddy to bed was somewhat of an excessive task. The toddler had been struck with an endless stream of energy that had lasted right up until the very moment he finally crashed.

It was tough going but I eventually managed to slump down onto the settee at a quarter to nine and sighed at the relief of allowing my body to relax. I knew I'd have to get up in a minute to start on my own dinner- something which happened most nights when we’d spent the entire day running about- but I was so close to just calling it quits and putting myself to bed, empty stomach be damned.

I inhaled sharply at the loud sound my phone made then, informing me that I had a new notification, not even having realised that I’d let my eyes slip close for a second. My lids fluttered and I rubbed at my tired face to tug my phone out from where it was squished between the cushion and my backside so that I could unlock it.

I'd only turned it off its habitual silence feature when I'd parted ways with Adi at the park earlier, having wanted to know that she'd gotten home safely. But I must’ve forgotten to snap it back, seeing as Twitter had decided to disturb my impromptu snooze.

Really, I sighed to myself. I only ever received notifications from the people I followed nowadays, ever since the show's following had upped in numbers. It had just been too much of an inconvenience.

Adi @/AdelineWells_ 17s ago Laughable.

In a state of confusion, I frowned down at Adi's newest tweet. She was known for her amusingly snide comments on the app, but this felt a little different. Then I caught sight of the few more tweets that followed from a haze of varied users below.

Me&G @/user1 41s Lmao he looks so done

Notliving @/user2 37s They're back??!

Chocolate @/user3 29s AH I've been waiting for this!!

Robbingross @/user4 23s Wait, is Adi's tweet related?

Mayosucks @/user5 8s I'm TIRED of this shit someone tell me when it's over pls

Honestly, I debated on just messaging Adi then and there to ask what was happening, but instead happened to scroll down a little further, wondering what on earth everyone else was going on about.

The Sun @/Thesun 5m Matty Healy, 1975 frontman, spotted out in London with ex-girlfriend. The singer and model were pictured venturing into Piccadilly Circus together early this afternoon to stop for something to eat! We've missed seeing this favoured twosome! So can we now expect to see more of them?

Oh.

I read the tweet once, twice, before clicking on the affiliated link.

The webpage was excruciatingly slow to load but I soon found myself staring at Matty’s now familiar figure. There were three pictures stationed just below the oversized headline and it created a fragmented frame of Matty himself entering a high-profile restaurant with an unfamiliar woman on his arm.

I dragged my teeth over the curve of my bottom lip as I continued to read through the rest of the article. It didn't give up any more information than the tweet already had but still, I found myself analysing the pictures closely.

When I did catch myself though, I immediately turned the phone completely off and let it slip into my lap.

I felt dizzy and so squeezed my eyes tightly shut, dragging a hand across the expanse of my face before I let my head loll back.

I hadn't quite expected that. Nor to have reacted in the way I had. A strange feeling had since pooled just under my ribs, hollowing and encompassing me all at once. My mind was unable to focus on anything but the article, Matty’s stance, his face. The girl.

I worked my jaw, licking at my now swollen lip, and then let my hand rub at my tired eyes.

The sudden newfound attention had been nice, I’d liked it- that much had been fucking obvious. But who wouldn’t in my position? I was single. A single fucking mother. And Matty had practically fawned over me, simpered for my attention day and night via our texts, acted like a stray puppy who constantly yipped at my feet. And I had let myself get wrapped up in it all.

Because well, Matty had felt somewhat like a pipedream. I hadn't expected to grow... attached. Was I even attached?

Typically, I didn’t choose to linger too long on the people who weren't important. On people I knew could only ever be temporary. I had Teddy, Finn, Adi, and my mum. I was happy keeping everyone else at arm's length. People had to earn a way into my life. Into Teddy’s life.

And now? Now I’d gone and fucked all of that up. Forgotten it. Over a man with haunted eyes and a seemingly tragic backstory.

It was a major misstep.

There had been others before. Because of course there had been. Before London, before Uni, before Teddy. It had all been too much of a struggle though. A confusing time. But then my baby had come along, and apart from the odd stranger in a backroom or a random flat, I hadn't wanted to introduce anyone new into my son's life. Not that that was what this was. I would never expose Teddy to the life Matty so obviously led.

Fuck, it wasn't anything even like that! I'd just taken a fancy. Gotten too caught up in the swarm of attention I'd been so obviously starved from. Matty was a friend, a mate, someone who would probably end up leaving once things got too busy or too much. He was just temporary.

I forced myself to shake my head, desperate to clear my many thoughts and their many webs of misconceptions. Then I picked myself back up and dragged my feet into the kitchen.

Almost on autopilot, I pushed the window sat over the sink onto the latch and popped the leftovers I'd stowed away yesterday into the microwave to be reheated, then leant against the counter whilst it hummed.

Deep down, I knew I shouldn't but I couldn't really help the way my fingers trailed their way over towards the stash of cigarettes I kept hidden behind the bread bin. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. Not that it helped much on nights like these. It seemed as though the stress of the day had affected me more than I'd first thought.

So with the melodic buzz of the microwave to break up the quiet that always settled once Teddy had fallen fast asleep, I lit a much needed fag and took a long drag. Watching as the smoke I exhaled pillowed out of the small gap in the window and into the night, grey melting into a murky black. Desperate not to think about the swell in my chest- it was just down to the smoke. That was all.

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