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Ivy, Nadia, Matt and Lucas arrive at Peter and Jason's small flat. It's hard to believe it's been over a year since they graduated. Since...that...happened. But it's Halloween now, so it's not the time to worry about that. It's time to have a few drinks and sit around watching shitty horror films while catching up with old friends. They greet their guests and everyone settles in the small living room and a movie begins to play as they chat excitedly about the past year.
///
Nobody expected Matt to drink. Nobody ever intended to drink much. But as they sit in a circle at 11 pm, Matt is...Well. He's not wasted. But he's certainly not in control of himself. After watching one movie, the group decided to just catch up. As they reflect on the past year, Matt sits absentmindedly. He lies down, resting his head on Lucas's lap.
"Oh. Um. Hi."
"Hey."
"You good there, Matt?" Ivy asks.
"I am great. I might be slightly drunk," he says, drawing out the 'i' in 'slightly'.
"How?"
"I guess he's not used to it?"
"So, he's a lightweight?"
"Am not!"
"Looks like it, yeah."
"That's rude," Matt mumbles.
"Nope. Just a fact," Lucas says. Matt looks up at him.
"You're lucky you're pretty," He says with a smirk. Lucas stares at him in flustered shock.
"Um, thanks?"
"It's justa fact," he says, repeating Lucas's earlier statement and reaching a hand up to brush against Lucas's cheek.
"Oh," Peter realises.
"Peter, I don' appreciate your...your homophobia," Matt says, stumbling over his words. Peter nearly laughs at the irony of the situation, but in this weird role reversal, he wants to handle it better.
"Do you want a drink of water, Matt?" Ivy asks.
"Nah. That's boring. You know what isn't boring?"
"...being sober?"
"Lucas. Obviously." The others watch as Matt looks up at Lucas, who is blushing heavily. "I like you."
"Um..."
"I like you a lot. You knew that though, right?"
"Matt, y-you're drunk."
"I know what I'm sayin'Lucas. Can I kiss you?" Lucas turns his head away, more flustered than he's ever been in his life. He doesn't know what to say. 'No' is the obvious answer, but what if Matt remembers and thinks he's totally uninterested? Which would be far from the truth. Thankfully, Ivy saves him. "Matt, how much did you have to drink?"
"I don't know. Some." She looks to Jason, who nods in understanding and heads into the kitchen.
"Okay, maybe it's time to get some rest."
"I'm not, like, three," He mumbles grumpily.
"No, it's quite obvious that you're eighteen," Nadia says.
"ThanksNadia. You'ra goodfriend. Notlike Ivy. Not like...me." Lucas is still frozen in place. Jason returns with a glass of water.
"Matt, drink some of this," Jason says, crouching next to Matt.
"Whatisit?"
"Um...vodka?"
"Sure..." He says sarcastically, dragging the s.
"You have to sit up," Nadia says.
"'M'not drinkin' water."
"Matt, we're trying to help you."
"No, you'r'not. You're try'na makeme feelagain. I'msick of...of..."
"...Hiding?" Jason finishes. He nods sloppily.
"Matt, trust me. Have some water," Peter says. "This isn't how you want this to go."
"You're gonna be sick in the morning if you don't drink water, Matt. You know that."
"'Spent allof highschool comin' second'to you," He says, gesturing roughly to Jason. "Tryna be perfect. But...Lucas isn't...isn't perfect."
"Gee, thanks," Lucas says, snapping back to reality.
"'S'a compliment! I like that 'bout you. Ilike how...how comfortably flawed you are...you're... so...real. And I feelso...normal 'round you." Lucas bites his bottom lip nervously. Jason sighs and props Matt up against the wall. "Just drink the water, Matt." Matt's eyes meet his, and through the drunken haze, he can see not only the pain, but the understanding. Matt lifts his hands numbly to take the glass, taking small sips at first. Lucas stands uncomfortably. "I'm-I'm going to the bathroom," He announces before fleeing the room.
///
It's not long before Matt dozes off on the rug. Just in case, Nadia puts him into recovery position as Jason drapes a blanket over him. Peter stays silent, unsure of how to feel about all of this. Ivy unrolls two foam mats for her and Nadia and Lucas unrolls a sleeping bag on the couch. He doesn't speak to anyone for the rest of the night. After making sure their guests are okay, Jason and Peter head into their bedroom to get ready for bed. As they lie there together, their heads swim with thoughts.
"That was unexpected," Peter whispers after a lot of silence.
"That's for sure."
"Is it weird that I don't know how to feel about it?"
"Maybe. What do you mean?"
"I mean, he was such a dick to us about...this and now...I know he's obviously got his own shit, but..."
"That's not weird at all."
"How have you forgiven him so easily?" Peter asks, suddenly teary-eyed. "How have you forgiven me?" Jason sighs and pulls Peter closer, kissing the top of his head gently.
"Peter, you can't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault. At all. You just got wrapped up in the whole thing." Peter's arms curl tightly around him as he begins to sob. Jason runs his hand gently through Peters soft, strawberry-blonde hair soothingly. "What's done is done. And I'm here now. We're all here. And trust me, I am not going anywhere, so you're gonna have to put up with me for a while yet." Peter laughs shakily.
"I think I can handle that." He kisses Jason and they settle down, slowly drifting off to sleep.
///
Matt wakes up with a throbbing headache and foggy memory. He knows he drank last night, and then they had some deep chat, but his memory stops there. Slowly, squinting as the sunlight peeks through the cheap blinds, he sits up, stiff, presumably from falling asleep on the floor, which he does not remember doing. Ivy is awake, sitting quietly on her phone.
"What time is it?" He mumbles.
"9:30. How are you feeling?"
"I've...been better." The bathroom door opens and Lucas steps out groggily. Matt's heart skips a beat. Even like this, he looks amazing. "Morning, Lucas!" He says. Lucas's eyes flicker over to him and then to the floor. "Um...hi."
The bedroom door opens, and Peter steps out. "Morning, everyone." The others greet him. "Are you okay, Matt?" Matt shrugs. "Want some water? Aspirin?"
"Um...that would be great, thanks." Peter goes and retrieves them from the kitchen. He sits on a dining chair after handing them to Matt.
"I guess sleeping in is a McConnell thing?" He asks, gesturing to Nadia. Ivy nods. "I usually just leave her if her alarm doesn't go off."
"Anyone want a tea or a coffee?" Peter asks.
"If that's okay, I'd love a tea," Ivy responds. Lucas has already pulled a Monster out of his backpack and is drinking it. The sickly sweet smell wafts through the room, making Matt's stomach churn.
"You really shouldn't drink those," He comments.
"Matt, remind us of what you drank last night?" Ivy responds. Matt laughs.
"If I knew, I would tell you." The room goes still. "What?"
"Matt?" Ivy asks.
"Do you remember what you told us last night?" His heart drops. If he wasn't feeling sick already, he definitely is now.
"N-no? What did I say?" He asks, but he can already tell.
"I would love a coffee," Nadia interjects suddenly awake.
"Seriously, what happened?"
"Well..." Peter starts.
"You kinda..."
"You basically laid on Lucas's lap, called him pretty, told him that you liked him because he made you feel normal, touched his face a bunch and asked if you could kiss him," Ivy finishes. "Oh, and you called Peter homophobic."
"...Fuck." He knew it would be something along those lines, but that...that is something else. "Sorry. Sorry, Peter."
"It's fine." He turns to Lucas.
"I'm really sorry, Lucas."
"We can help you make the drinks," Ivy offers. Peter nods and heads into the kitchen with the girls, leaving Lucas and Matt alone.
"Lucas, I-."
"It's fine," He responds, quickly and harshly cutting him off.
"I just wanted to say, well, first of all, sorry. That was...it must have been weird, I'm really sorry."
"It's fine, Matt-."
"Also, I wanted to say that, um...this is the hard part..."
"Seriously, don't worry about it."
"It's true," Matt blurts. "Um, everything I said last night...I was drunk but...I meant it. Except for the whole 'Peter being homophobic' thing..." Lucas gives a slight, uncomfortable laugh.
"Matt, I'm sorry, I just..." And he's heard this all before. He's lived this nightmare. "I think you're really great, and you're my friend, but..."
"I get it. It's okay. I'm sorry."
"I really do like you! Just...as a friend."
"Yeah. It's fine. And I know you're seeing Scott."
"Oh, actually, we broke up."
"Oh. Sorry."
"We just decided we were better as friends."
"Yeah, that's fair."
"I'm going on a date with Lex tomorrow though."
"That's cool."
"Sorry, I shouldn't rub that in your face."
"No, no! Not at all! I don't want things to be awkward." They sit in silence for a bit. "But...I don't know if that's gonna happen..." He admits as the tension remains.
The others walk back in with their drinks. Nadia flinches. "Yikes."
"Well, that didn't work," Ivy says.
"What do you mean?" Matt asks.
"We thought if we left you two alone you would, like, kiss or something," Peter explains.
"Um, Lucas doesn't feel the same, so...we're just better off as friends," Matt says, trying to brush it off with a smile. The others see through it easily. Jason walks out of the bedroom sleepily. He walks over to Peter and kisses him on the cheek as Peter hands him a steaming mug of coffee. He looks over to Matt and Lucas and processes the situation. No one really knows what to say. They sit down awkwardly. Lucas has moved off of the couch, so Peter and Jason make themselves comfy. They drink in silence. Lucas pulls out his phone and starts typing.
"Are you messaging Lex?" Matt asks.
"Um, no. Scott."
"I thought you broke up."
"Dude, chill. You don't have to act invested in my relationships, I don't mind."
"Wait who's Scott? Who's LEX?!" Ivy asks.
"Um, Scott's our friend from college. I dated him for a little while, but we broke up. Well, we're still friends. And Lex is another friend who I'm going out with tomorrow."
"Ah..." The air is so thick now it might as well be solid.
"Um, anyway, I think I should go," Matt says, getting up quickly.
"I drove you here," Lucas says, but Matt is already halfway out the door.
"I can get a cab," He says. The front door shuts. After waiting for Matt's footsteps to disappear, Lucas groans.
"What's wrong?" Ivy asks.
"I made a mistake. I made a huge, gigantic, massive fucking mistake."
"Lucas, what did you do?" Nadia asks.
"I think...I think I'm in love with Matt, so I panicked and told him I wasn't interested." There's an eruption of objections from the group.
"Dude!"
"Lucas, what the actual fuck?!"
"I know, I know. That's why I called things off with Scott."
"What about Lex?"
"I made that up."
"Oh my god."
"Lucas."
"I know."
"You are so fucking stupid."
"I know."
"I think the energy drinks impair your brain function," Peter says, sipping his tea.
"That's very kind, Peter, but I didn't have any brain function to impair."
"It's the weed."
"Are you guys gonna help, or what?"
"Yes, yes, sorry," Nadia says
"Okay. What do I do?"
"I don't know," she responds.
"Text him?" Ivy suggests. He nods and pulls out his phone.
LC - Hey, Matt. Can we talk?
"I used perfect grammar to impress him."
"Good thinking."
ML - I think i just need to get some rest
"Oh no."
"What?"
"He responded without perfect grammar. He's upset."
"Of course he's upset, dipshit, he's heartbroken."
"Ouch. Okay."
"Sorry."
LC - I'm really sorry about earlier. I really think we should talk."
ML - no its all good honestly im kinda hungover ahaha
LC - :(. I hope you feel better soon. <3.
Nadia snatches his phone.
"You sent him a heart?!"
"Yeah!"
"He thinks you're not into him, so it's just like you're messing with him."
"Oh. Fuck."
ML - thanks lucas <3
///
When Lucas gets back to their dorm, Matt is, in fact, asleep. He's crashed on his bed, fully clothed. Lucas ignores the pain in his heart and drapes a blanket over him. He grabs a glass and heads into the bathroom, filling it with water before leaving it on Matt's bedside table. He then sits on his own bed, playing mindless mobile games until Matt stirs. He opens his eyes slowly and inspects the blanket, smiling slightly. He looks up to Lucas.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"What time is it?"
"3:32. How are you feeling?" He stretches.
"Better. Sleepy." His eyes fall to his bedside table. "Did you..?"
"No comment."
"You didn't have to."
"I lied about having a date with Lex."
"I take it back. You're an asshole."
"I know."
"Why?" The question hangs in the air.
"I got scared," He admits. "I got scared because I like you too. A lot. And I panicked." Matt processes his answer for a second, taking a sip of water as he sits up.
"Lucas, that's not funny."
"I'm not kidding. I've liked you for...like, a year. Longer, I guess. We were still at school, so..." Matt doesn't speak. "I'm sorry I lied."
"You're not joking?"
"No."
"You're telling the truth? You promise? Because I swear to god, if you-."
"Matt, I promise. I like you."
"So...we like each other?" A small flicker of a smile appears on his face.
"Yeah. Yeah, we do."
"...I don't know what we're meant to do now," Matt confesses.
"Me neither. I mean, I've been in relationships, but never in this kind of situation."
"Do you wanna, like, go on a date or something?"
"I'd like that."
"Cool." Matt smiles, warmth filling his chest. "Um, I'm gonna take a shower and get dressed," He says, gesturing to yesterdays clothes that still cling to his body.
"Okay. Cool." Matt heads to the small bathroom at the end of their room with a bundle of fresh clothes. After he hears the clock click, Lucas grins. He opens his phone to see a brand new group chat labled 'help lucas squad'. Rude. But fair.
IR - yo what's up with u and Matt???
NM - did u make it worse?
PS - Nadia!
NM - sorry lol
PS - have u spoken to him yet?
He doesn't know how to respond. What if Matt doesn't want them to know that things might be working out? Lucas closes Messages and reopens the mobile game he's currently addicted to, waiting for Matt to return.
TBC