8 | cookies and cream

Be absolutely fearless about what people will say or think about you.

- Ashton Irwin

________________________

- L I L A -

"Are you okay?" I asked, my hands reaching out to steady him as he slightly lost his balance.

"Do you know when I was at your house yesterday, and we were sitting on the couch? The thing I needed to tell you doesn't matter anymore. But there is another important thing I need to tell you." He spoke, setting his jaw and smiling softly.

"Matthew, are you drunk?"

He cleared his throat and shook his head. "No, I'm just a little dizzy." Then he grinned boyishly, positioning his hand on my shoulder. "I'd definitely be giggling if I was."

I laughed and stared at him with a confused expression. "Right - giggling."

Lowering himself slowly onto the grass, he laid back, motioning with his hand to join him. "Actually, I might be. I'm not sure. I took a few shots with Isaac."

"So you're talking to him, then?"

He nodded and propped his head on his palm, toying with blades of grass. The music from the party blared, the bass pounding in my ears as he gripped his white cane harder.

Matthew had texted me earlier, asking me to pick him up from a party he didn't want to be at. If I was being honest, it did surprise me since I never had him for the partying type of guy.

"You know," he whispered gently. "Isaac says you're beautiful."

I bit my tongue and felt the blush spread across my cheeks; Matthew laughing at my silence and no doubt suspecting that I was blushing. "Did he?"

"Yeah. And this is one of the times I wish I could see because the way people describe you to me-" he exhaled a long sigh. "It makes me wish that I could see you; see your eyes."

"If it helps, I have green eyes." I weakly offered, smiling softly.

He chuckled and wet his lips. "Sometimes, I wish I wasn't blind. I wish I could see my parents, the people I talk to. Yasmine, Isaac...you."

I was speechless at how open he was being, a sad look overcoming his features as he sat up. "I've never seen my mom's smile."

And in that moment, he broke down. He began to sob, his shoulders slumping down whilst he breathed out shakily, crying into his hand.

I frowned and tentatively reached towards him, gasping when he swiftly wrapped his arms around my waist, hugging me tightly as he continued to cry. He nuzzled his face into my shoulder, allowing himself to be vulnerable.

His body shook with every whimper and sob, his hold tightening slightly as his cries became more powerful.

After he cried for a while, he pulled back, taking his glasses off and wiping his eyes. His grey eyes were slightly darker and his eyelashes stuck together, his cheeks stained. "I'm sorry." He apologised, clearing his throat.

His bottom lip continued to tremble, and with my help, we got into my car. "Are you okay now?" I asked, wincing whilst he coughed harshly, hiccuping straight after.

"I think so." He answered, taking off his jacket and laying it on his lap before undoing a button on his shirt.

On the way to his house, Matthew fell asleep, facing my direction, and I couldn't help but glance at him more than once. And occasionally, he would exhale a heavy breath, adjusting his head on his shoulder.

Once I arrived at his house, his dad was taking the trash out, walking towards my car after I stopped the engine.

Exiting my car, I sighed. "He was pretty upset when I got him, and he's drunk too."

His dad frowned and averted his gaze to the passenger seat where Matthew was sleeping. "Thank you for bringing him, I really appreciate it."

He softly shook Matthew awake, holding most of his weight as he helped him to the door, asking me to get his jacket.

Matthew stirred and began sobbing silently, clutching onto his dad. Katherine gasped softly at her son's state and immediately gave me a hug, taking me by surprise. "I'm glad he has you, Lila. Truly, you're a great friend; he likes you."

"I like him too." I smiled, noting how her smile slightly fell. She patted my shoulder, hugging me once more.

Getting to his room, I placed his jacket on his desk chair, watching him climb in to bed. "Lila?" he called out, his dad grinning as he walked passed me. "Could you come here for a moment?"

Standing at the edge of his bed, he feebly took hold of my hand, bringing it to his lips. He kissed the back of my hand, rubbing my knuckles with his thumb. "Thank you for being here for me, I owe you one."

Blushing, I took his glasses from his eyes and placed them on the bedside table. "Good night, Matthew."

"Good night, Lila."

---

Yasmine took a seat beside me, dropping her bag onto the table before she pulled out her English book. "Were you at Will's party last night?"

Turning to her, I shook my head. "I only went to go pick up Matthew."

She flashed me a smile and laughed quietly, resting her chin on her palm. "Mila is your ship name; Greg helped me out with it."

I watched her blankly. "Mila?"

She looked up from her book and shrugged. "It was either that or Latthew, and that doesn't really sound nice."

"I like Mila better than Latthew, though. It's a cute ship name."

Yasmine glanced at me and shrugged, smiling slightly. "Mila it is, then."

Once Mr Robertson walked into the classroom behind Matthew, I stared at his appearance as he sat down with a groan. "Remind me to never go to a party and take shots."

He kept his dark glasses on, stretching his body out as he yawned. Then, he turned to me with a smile. "My dad told me that you drove me home yesterday, I hope I wasn't annoying."

I returned the smile, and wondered whether he could remember what happened the night before. "You fell asleep, so you weren't."

Matthew winced and rubbed his forehead. "God, I'm so sorry."

"The best part is when you started snoring and drooling," I lied, laughing at his horrified face.

"I snore?" he asked in disbelief, his mouth agape. He placed his elbows on the table, and rested his head on the table, sliding his hands at the nape of his neck. "I'm embarrassed now."

Placing a hand on his back, I chuckled. "I'm joking; you didn't snore. You were out like a light."

After that, Mr Robertson began his lesson, Yasmine glancing at Matthew and me with a sly smile. She raised her eyebrows pointedly and grinned widely.

"Love is in the air." She whispered, leaning towards me with a smirk.

_____

Isaac came into view as he turned the corner, smiling at the same time I shut my locker, watching with a vacant expression.

"Give me a smile, Lila." He started, raising his hands to poke the corner of my lips.

Swatting his hands away, I rolled my eyes. "Why are you so forward, Isaac?"

His smile didn't falter and, if it was possible, he smiled even more. "I'm just nice, unlike you who always has to make a sarcastic remark."

"I'm nice." I said defensively, crossing my arms.

He stared at me and shrugged. "To people you like, and I'm getting the impression that you don't like me."

I gave him a questioning look and lowered my eyebrows. "Why would you think that?"

He ruffled his blonde hair and frowned falsely. "The fact that you won't give me a smile."

"I'm just not in a smiling mood." I replied blankly, walking passed him to the cafeteria.

He quickly followed in my pursuit, smiling at me. "Is it because you haven't seen Matthew?"

I rolled my eyes again and shook my head. "I sat next to him in English this morning. And besides, I have math next."

He cringed, laughing through his nose. "That sucks, I have..." pausing to check his timetable, he groaned and began to fake cry. "...math. I won't be able survive." He dramatised. "Math sucks the life out of me."

We both went to the lunch line together and gathered our trays. Deciding there wasn't anything appetising, I grabbed a tuna sandwich. "Math sucks the life out everyone, it's literally the most despised subject in the history of despised subjects."

Isaac laughed in agreement, walking with me to the table that Matthew, Yasmine and Greg were seated at.

"Matthew?" Isaac called out, digging into his spaghetti. "Are you free tonight?"

"If there's another party, no." He deadpanned, smiling when he noticed my presence. "Are you free after school, Lila?"

Isaac feigned an expression of hurt and continued to eat his food through fake sobs. "And here I thought I was your best friend."

Matthew chuckled loudly. "You are. You're such an idiot, Isaac."

"I should be, why?" I responded, opening my sandwich and gripping it in my hands.

"I want to show you something important."

Yasmine piped up and winked at me. 'He's taking you on a date.' She mouthed, holding a thumb up and blushed when Greg kissed her hand, saying that he was taking her on a date too.

Subconsciously rubbing my hand, I could still feel Matthew's lips on the back of it, a faint smile appearing on my face.

When I lifted my head, Isaac was already looking at me, and his blue eyes were gleaming with an emotion I could only decipher as mischief. "Hey, Matthew?" he said, not dropping my gaze.

Matthew lifted his head and hummed in response, halting in his movements. "Are you taking Lila out on a date?"

I allowed my eyes to follow Isaac's as he looked at Matthew, restraining his grin whilst his best friend blushed profusely. He stuttered over his words and in the end, decided that it was best to continue eating.

"Lila." Isaac turned to me. "He's taking you on a date tonight."

Yasmine squealed and clutched my arm. "I'm coming over after school."

Matthew sat up straighter and tilted his head in the direction of Yasmine voice. "I'm taking her somewhere after school, though."

Yasmine raised her eyebrows. "You're going on a date with her tonight. And I'm helping her out after school."

Uncertain of whether or not Matthew and I were going on a date, I took his silent smile as an answer.

Looks like I have a date tonight.