Chapter 9|Stay Away From Me, Matthew

•Oh! Hi, Renée, I made this wonderful blueberry pie that I'm sure you'll love. •

Doctor Mallory Hart.

“What if I fake some kind of emergency then your mom would let you leave,”Lizzie suggested on the phone, after she called me saying texts weren't going to suffix this.

“What kind of emergency are we talking?”I asked as I put my phone on loud speaker and placed it on my desk so I could change out of my school clothes.

“Maybe I could pretend to be sick and you'd have to come take care of me because my parents aren't home,”Lizzie said.

“Umm, are you sure?”I asked,“I thought you didn't like lying to my parents and I'm not very good at lying either.”

“Yeah, but–”

“You know my mom's a doctor right? She could offer to drive over to yours so she can give you a shot or something.”

“Well it's a good thing I'm not home then, ”Lizzie giggled,“I can't remember the last time I took a shot. Hey, Syd found the perfect mermaid costume, I'm sending you a pic right now.”

“Lizzie,”I whined, “I'm in the middle of a mid-life crisis and your talking about a party that's still four days away.”

“I'm sorry,”Lizzie drew out,“but I kinda figured we could kill two birds with one stone. I help you figure out your ‘I-need-to-get-out-of-dinner-with-he-who-shall-not-be-named’ problem and also find the perfect costume for Halloween.”

“How about a witch?”I suggested thinking about my bestfriend in a tall dark hat, an even darker shade of eyeshadow–this smokey eye look thing she said she's always wanted to try but can't without the appropriate occasion and a vintage but beautiful dress.

It was the best costume ever.

“For real?”she gasped,“that's a great idea but the only problem would be to find one.”

“What store are you guys at?”I asked.

“Curses,”Lizzie answered, “you know, that one store at the mall that's only open at this time of the year. Why though?”

“I thought we saw some on display there,”I said recalling our visit to the mall a few days ago.

Lizzie gasped,“We saw witches?! I thought you were just kidding about that.”

“Kidding?”I asked, confused, “about what? Don't you wanna be a smoking hot witch for Brandon's party?”

“Oh,”Lizzie drew out and I could literally see her nodding in understanding,“you meant as a costume? I didn't get it. There are some witch cosplays here. I'll check them later so what are we doing about the Matthew situation?”

“Nothing, I guess,”I sighed,“I'll just stick with Mg till the night's over. I'm sure Matt won't try anything if Mg's around.”

“Okay, goodluck, Si,”Lizzie chirped, “text me after dinner?”

“If I'm still breathing, I will.”

“That's not funny.”

“Sorry, ”I said as I picked my phone of my desk to check the picture of Sydney Liz said she was sending.

“Just stand up for yourself,”Liz said,“he only bullies you because you let him.”

“Great talk, ”I said,“sorry you had to waste it on me.”

“I literally hate you right now.”

“Yeah and I hate blueberry fool,”I said sarcastically, “BTW, tell Syd I love her costume. Later, Liz.”

✿

I pulled my wardrobe doors open with only one purpose.

Find an outfit that Matthew couldn't possibly tease me about.

Not that I cared about what he thought of me but I was just trying to get rid of anything he could use as and opportunity to speak to me.

Sweetheart necklined blue dress with white polka dots?

Nope.

Short red dress with long sleeves and a round neckline?

Nope.

Black jeggings with comfy blue hoodie?

Yes.

A short moment later, I stood in front of the mirror with my bubble gum pink glasses on, my kinky curly hair flowing down past my shoulders and my emotionless features staring back at me.

All of a sudden, I found myself searching for the glasses Jacob had gifted me.

I found them there in my drawers where I had kept them and I slowly took them out of their case.

After I had slid on the black round framed glasses, I had to admit, they looked nice on me.

They looked detailed.

I tucked my hair behind my ears, not in the mood to style them and then I slid on grey on grey fuzzy socks and blue fuzzy slides.

I turned back to Sky who laid on the bed watching me.

“What do you think?”I asked.

He raised his head and let out a bark.

“Awwwn, thank you,”I smiled because I could tell it was a compliment.

I wasn't a dog whisperer but you could see the adoration in his eyes.

Damn, dogs were so amicable.

“I'll sneak you a bit of turkey,”I said as I lifted him off the bed and out the door we went.

Downstairs, Mg was setting the table while Dad stood at our basically none existence cellar shelf.

“Mal, what's my favorite wine again?”

“André, James,” my mom said as she rolled her eyes playfully,“I remind you all the time.”

With Sky in my arms, I opened the refrigerator door and took a piece of carrot before I returned to the dining table and settled in my seat.

Soon, after mom had the food placed on the dining table, we all heard the doorbell.

“James, get the door,”my mom said to my dad before she turned to me. “Is Sky eating dinner with us?”

“Umm, no,”I shook my head,“but he wants to stay.”

My mom shook her head at me before she went to join Dad at the door.

Then I could hear voices.

Sounds of Matt's parents talking to mine about stuff like the weather and some other boring grown up shit.

As Renée walked into the dining room, her eyes lit up as she saw Mg and I.

She placed the pie she had brought over on the dining table to free up her hands.

“Sienna, Maxwell, come give me a hug, ” she said and Mg got up first.

I'll bet he was eager to get it done and over with.

The hug they shared was awkward because Mg was so much taller than she was.

Come to think of it, my brother was taller than everybody in the room.

I guess it's one of the necessities of being a basketball player.

“Max, how've you been?”Renée asked as I quietly got out of my seat to say ‘hi.’

“I've been good, Renée,”Mg said with that different firmer voice he had whenever he was around elders.

It was to make him seem responsible.

Not saying that he wasn't responsible but I guess he tried to make the trait dominant in his voice.

“And how's college going?”Renée went on,“How's Jacob doing? I recall he's in the same college as you?”

“It's all going great,”Mg nodded,“Jay's doing great. He couldn't make it to Sisi’s birthday this year but he sent her his wishes through me.”

When Mg mentioned me, Renée’s eyes noticed my presence again.

I stood quietly behind Mg.

“Oh, honey! Sienna,” she beamed as she made her way over to me for a hug.

“I wasn't home during your birthday,” she said,“I'm so sorry I couldn't make it but Matt said he sent you good wishes though, isn't that right Matthew?”

I'm not sure that ‘I'm watching you’ could be called good wishes.

I held my breath as Matt came into view.

This was the first time since he returned that I was seeing him up close.

He looked the same though.

Raven dark messy hair, strong jaw that symbolized defiance and grey eyes that I had nightmares about.

Matt nodded as he started at me, “I did, but she didn't really appreciate it.”

Renée face fell and as her lips moved to question me, I spoke up,“he's just kidding, Mrs Davidson, I liked the wishes.”

There was no wish if you couldn't tell already that Matt was just lying.

I was 99% sure that the ‘birthday wish’ he was talking about was the creepy note he left in my locker.

Principal Braden stepped forward to shake hands with Mg and I.

Yes, Principal.

In case I forgot to mention it which I'm sure I didn't, Matt's Dad is the founder of BHS.

“Hi, Principal Braden,”I greeted.

“Mr Davidson, Sienna, ”Matt’s Dad said as he shook my hand, “you don't have to address me as principal after school.”

“Sorry,” was all I said before I returned to my seat at the dining table.

Breathing the same air as Matt Davis always skyrocketed the level of my feeling of self reservation.

I ate my food quietly as the rest of the table went on with their conversation.

My parents didn't really mind that I was quiet.

I'd been this way since I was a kid and back then was when Mom was really worried about me but when they began to get the fact that I was selective about the people I chose to be comfortable with, I guess they dropped it.

As I sliced up my turkey, I wondered if I'd ever be able to cook as well as Mom or Mg.

Cooking was a trait practiced by those who could attain perfection.

How soft the turkey felt in my mouth, the mixture of variety of spices to form this unique, tasty flavor.

Sienna.

Mom and Mg made it look so easy.

Mom cooks with so much ease that she could have a full blown argument while cooking without missing adding an ingredient.

Si?

Mg showed off his dancing skills while he worked his magic.

I'd sit at the counter, acting as his DJ and enjoying the concert.

This was his choreography.

Chop, chop, moonwalk.

Spice, spice, break dance.

Taste, taste, robot dance.

“Hey, weirdo.”

Matt’s voice sounded in my head and I looked up to see the whole table watching me.

I bit my lip as I placed my fork down and pushed my glasses up my nose bridge.

“Sisi, Braden was just asking how school was going for you,” my dad said as he took a sip from his glass.

I looked over to Matt's Dad to give an answer.

“Great,”I answered.

“And the teachers?” he asked,“anything I should know about?”

I shook my head, my hair getting in my face,“No, Mr Davidson. Everything's fine.”

“So how do you feel about the valedictorian position you'll be getting next year?”Mr Davidson asked and I choked on my food as his registered in my brain.

Valedic-what?

“All your past teachers give you a glowing recommendation plus your 5.8 GPA kind of speaks for itself, you're kind of the obvious choice.”

Hello?

Has he met me?

No one at school knows I exist.

Isn't the valedictorian supposed to be loved by all?

And I'm not the obvious choice.

Matt is.

He's smart.

Well I remember him being smart.

“That's great,”my mom beamed,“isn't it, sweetheart?”

“Umm, thanks Mr Davidson but I'm not the right candidate for that,”I said as I tore of a piece of my turkey to give to Sky who laid at my feet beneath the table.

“What?”my dad asked in disbelief,“it would be great on your college applications. Don't you think you should think about it?”

I let out a small sigh as I tucked my hair behind my ears.

“Dad,”Mg said,“I think she knows that but that's next year's headache. Let her enjoy her junior year. There's no need to put pressure on her to keep up her grades so they're better than everyone else's.”

I looked over at Mg, communicating my gratefulness to him through my eyes.

My parents were awesome.

The very best even and I know I got lucky in that parents department because they weren't pushing me towards something I didn't want but towards something the thought I deserved.

“But you'll think about it, won't you, sweetie?” my mom asked and I nodded and I wasn't going to just do it, I was going to work towards it but at my own pace.

“So, Matt, ” my mom said,“Renée tells me you're thinking of joining the football team?”

“Yeah,”Matt nodded, “I was a football player at Britain and it was pretty fun so I was thinking about bringing the fun to the state.”

Dinner's main course went by soon and then we were having desert.

Well, we were about to have desert.

Mom and Renée were preparing the desert meals.

Matt had left the table to use the downstairs and I was to.

I left the table heading upstairs to my bedroom to have a breath of fresh air in my balcony.

Though nothing totally terrible had happened, I guess I still needed a moment to breath.

I held my breath when I opened my bedroom door.

He always had this effect on me.

It was like he took my breath away but in a bad way.

Matt sat on my bed like he was just waiting for me to come in.

Like he knew we were going to meet this way tonight.

“Don't act so surprised, Sierra,” he said with a bored expression on his face. “We both know we were going to meet this way sooner or later.”

So he knew?

Lizzie's words from before started coming back.

Just stand up for yourself.

He only bullies you because you let him.

“It's Sienna, Matthew, ”I corrected, summoning all the courage I could, “you know that so stop calling me Sierra.”

“It's Matt,” he corrected me too,“you also know that so I don't get why you keep calling me Matthew.”

“Because that's what it says on your birth certificate,”I said,“you know that, I know that so correct me if I'm right.”

Matt watched me with amusement in his eyes.

“Ballsy now, aren't we, Sierra?”he chuckled at my annoyance like it was funny, “just so you know, Sierra sounds so much better. I think you should have a talk with your parents about a name change.”

“What are you doing in here, Matthew?”I asked, “you've been here enough times for dinner that I'm sure you can find your way to the bathroom perfectly fine.”

“Yeah, I can but I wasn't trying to find the bathroom,” he said with a now serious look on his face as he got off the bed and made his way over to me. “I was trying to find my way to you.”

I blinked once then twice as Matt slowly pulled me to him and shut the door quietly behind us.

“W-what?”I asked unsure of what I was hearing and he bursts into laughter.

“You’re so gullible,” he chuckled,“I guess Jason couldn't change that part about you. He made you bold but you're still nerdy Sierra who'd believe anything I say.”

“What do you mean ‘Jason’?”

“Owen saw you both head upstairs at his party,”Matt said and instantly I knew what his perverted mind had concluded it was.

“What? Eww! No,”I said with irritation,“he only took me upstairs so I could barf my eyes out.”

“So how was your first time then?”

“I said that wasn't what it was you–”

“I meant the alcohol,”Matt said, his eyes dancing with amusement,“wasn’t that what made you vomit your guts out?”

As my lips moved to reply, we both heard a knock on the door.

“Sienna?”Mg voice called out, “mom said to bring you back down for desert.”

Matt smiled down at me and slowly pulled my glasses slowly away from my face.

“Black,”he said as he toyed with them, “cute. Though I personally prefer the pink ones. They make your eyes pop.”

Dumbfounded, I stayed silent as he gently slid them back on and then let his fingers you with my hair.

“I’m sorry,”Matt said softly, “I wasn't really trying to be mean to you.”

He gave me a smile and at that moment, a small part of me didn't totally hate Matt Davis.

Wait–What?!

What the heck was I saying?!

Of course I still did.

Some dumbass apology wasn't going to make the past years he taunted me okay.

This guy terrorised me.

I was scared to walk into a room because I knew something bad was doing to happen and something bad always did happen.

Surprisedly, I turned out fine an extent and I have Lizzie to thank for that.

“Stay away from me, Matthew,”I said as I turned and placed my hand on the doorknob ready to leave the room,“I'm done being a victim of all your dumb jokes. I know you're bored so find an after school activity or something and leave me out of it. Stay the hell away from me. I. Mean. It.”

And with that, I opened the door and walked by Mg not sparing him a glance or a chance to question me.

I'll tell him about it later.

I felt good.

I felt happy even.

This is exactly the kind of twinkling I'm talking about.