don't get too attached - matt sturniolo

chapter nineteen

(a/n: after this will be the epilogue <3)

"i told you so."

"i really don't have the energy for this right now," i mumbled, perhaps the most words i had been able to coherently think, let alone say, for the past twelve hours. i trailed my gaze up at sarah, who looked smug and lofty, arms crossed and shoulders set.

"well?" she said, eyebrow raising in expectation.

i sighed, closing my eyes, a pounding headache still throbbing at my temples.

"i'm sorry. i should have listened to you," i replied, each word ringing numb.

she left with a haughty breath, and i wallowed in the silence without nick. i felt arid and dried out, as i had spent all of last night crying out every stage of every feeling i had left in me.

i heard a rattle on my desk, and turned my head to see my phone buzzing against the wood, but i ignored it. it was probably spam anyways.

the teacher started his droning, and i zoned out immediately. all i could focus on were matt's last moments with me, his vulnerability rendered breathtaking in the moonlight. he was human, raw and visceral, and he had bared his wants to me.

and i had left.

a faint burn started behind my eyes, the absence of moisture causing me to blink rapidly.

"(y/n), i wasn't aware you were such a hot commodity. but if your attention is needed so desperately, you can take yourself out to the hall." i snapped my head up, blearily registering my teacher's disapproving scowl. i grabbed my still-buzzing phone and walked silently out of the classroom.

missed call: nick 🦅
missed call: nick 🦅
nick 🦅: (y/n) we're swinging by the school to pick up some stuff we forgot
nick 🦅: (y/n)?
nick 🦅: (y/n)!!!
missed call: nick 🦅

another call lit up my screen. i sighed, heart already heavy in my chest.

"hello?" i said, voice raspy.

"there you are! where have you been?" my throat constricted at the sound of his voice.

"in class." i replied shortly.

"oh....yeah. forgot. anyways, matt's coming by to pick up one of chris's jackets and a couple notebooks i left behind." i screwed my eyes shut at the mention of his name.

"if you want, he can pick you up and take you to the airport with him, for a last goodbye?" his voice hitched at the end, and i remembered his avoidant behavior last night.

"i can't just leave school," i whispered.

"i think we can make an exception," he replied drily. i swallowed past the lump in my throat and nodded, then remembered that he couldn't see me.

"sure." i said softly.

"awesome! see you in a bit," he hung up with a soft click. i exhaled long and slow, a sense of pins and needles sweeping over my body.

i wandered through the halls for a bit, considering myself dismissed from class for the time being. i didn't have a strong urge to return either way.

i heard a locker door slam shut with such force that a few other stragglers raised their heads in confusion. i walked towards the sound, knowing who i would see when i reached there.

and there he was, clad in black with his hair draped over the side of his face. he was shoving notebooks into a duffel bag with such power that i thought the bottom would rip.