𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐒, 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨

₂₂. 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒐𝒓

"𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞"

♫ rumour has it - adele

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CHAPTER 22
"NEW RUMOR"

✎ᝰ.

ㅤ♡ྀི ₊ real life ♡ྀི ₊

chris follows matt into avi's room. "matt! what the hell was that?!" he exclaims, closing the door as matt sets avi down on the carpet. the little girl glances at chris before yelling, "what the hell!" matt's eyes widen, and he quickly kneels down, covering avi's mouth. "avi, no! that's a bad word," he says nervously, hoping melina didn't hear from downstairs.

matt stands up and walks over to chris, slapping his arm. "you're an idiot!" he snaps, making chris groan in pain. "you and melina are being extremely aggressive toward me today! it needs to stop!" he says, shoving matt lightly. avi giggles as she hands matt a fake cupcake toy.

chris sits down on a small chair, running a hand through his hair. "anyway, i'm talking about what you just said in the living room! are you stupid?" he says, then groans when matt gives him a warning look. "sorry," he mutters, glancing at avi, who puts mickey mouse ears on matt's head. "well? are you going to explain, or sit there with those mickey mouse ears pretending you can't hear me?" chris asks. matt groans.

"what did i even say that was so shocking?" matt exclaims, annoyed, not understanding why it was such a big deal.

chris stares at his brother as if he were wearing an 'i'm stupid' t-shirt. "oh my god, matt! i'm talking about you implying that you and melina have a relationship!" chris exclaims, making air quotes, now more frustrated that matt was either acting confused or genuinely clueless.

matt lets out a slight laugh. "i didn't say that," he says, picking at a string on his pants. chris groans, grabbing his head. "i hate it when you use your gaslighting tricks on me!" he groans, frustrated. "you did say that! and you know it. god, talking to you is always so much work," he mutters, as matt rolls his eyes.

"shut up, i didn't mean it like that, obviously," matt snaps, throwing his arm up in frustration.

downstairs, izzy continues to eat her chicken while melina flips through netflix, finally pressing play on an episode of new girl. izzy glances at melina, who's playing with the pokémon pin in her pocket. she smiles, staring at the t.v. "so, how's that project coming along?" she asks, setting her soda down on the couch's cupholder.

melina lays her head back, pushing the button on the pull-out couch. "it's going well, i guess. i already finished the part about seth. but i'm struggling with writing about matt, which is just great, especially with him being a confusing moron!" she exclaims sarcastically.

matt had always given melina a hard time, but honestly, when hadn't he? it was always complicated with him. he seemed to love giving melina more reasons to want to bash his head through a wall.

the doorbell rings, and melina whines, "my brain is hurting, i can't get up." izzy snorts. "don't worry, i've got it," she laughs, heading for the door until she hears quick stomps on the stairs, followed by a shove on her shoulder.

izzy gapes as chris yanks open the door. "you're a fucking nitwit!" she yells as melina laughs from her spot on the couch.

"where's layla?" chris asks, turning to nick, who ignores him, walking into the house with his film booklet in hand and a furious look on his face. "mel! oh, great, you're here! where's matt?" he rushes, speeding over to the couch.

melina laughs, confused. "he's upstairs with avi. what's wrong?" nick sighs, annoyed. "MATT!" he shouts toward the stairs, making everyone jump. noah walks in, also holding his film booklet with a smile. "hi, guys, melina, thanks for inviting me over," he greets sweetly.

"hi, noah, you're our friend too now. you're welcome over anytime," melina says, smiling.

matt finally makes it downstairs with avi on his hip. "nick, why are you yelling? you scared avi!" he says, annoyed, letting avi walk down the rest of the stairs. instead of replying, nick grabs matt by the wrist, pulling him roughly toward the couch. "hey, relax! what's your problem?!" matt exclaims, pulling his arm back from nick's grasp before sitting on the couch next to melina. he glances at her quickly, then looks away.

avi runs over to the couch, waving at noah before sitting on matt and melina. she lays her head on matt's shoulder and her legs on melina, neither of them bothered by it.

as chris, layla, madi, and nate walk in, finally closing the door, nick groans and blurts out, "what the fuck did you say to josie?!" he yells. everyone flinches at the mention of her name, except noah and layla, of course.

matt gives nick a confused look. "what? nothing! i haven't even talked to her!" he snaps, offended by nick's accusation. "i'm getting really tired of hearing you two blabber about things i haven't even said!" matt exclaims, gesturing toward nick and chris, who both sigh loudly before, in unison, saying, "shut up, matt."

ignoring matt's angry stare, nick sarcastically continues. "oh really? then why is she telling people that you two are dating?" he exclaims, making air quotes toward matt and melina.

everyone gasps loudly. "WHAT?" matt and melina shout, making avi jump. nick nods. "yeah! that little bitch is spreading lies to people at school! i saw two girls in the library saying they heard you guys were 'official,'" he says, adding air quotes.

melina makes a gagging noise, looking over her shoulder. "oh, i'm gonna puke," she says, while matt glances at her with an offended look. "now's not the time for your dramatics, melina," he snaps, sighing. melina scoffs and laughs. "me? dramatic? says you. who else here cried over having to eat fries with ketchup for a dare?" she says, rolling her eyes as avi looks back and forth between them.

chris looks down at the pair sitting in front of him, still bickering. "oh yeah, they're totally dating. what a nice couple we have here, ladies and gentlemen," he says sarcastically, making madi, layla, and nate laugh quietly next to him.

nick groans. "hey! can you guys please focus on the real issue here? you're both dramatic now, shut up!" he yells, pacing back and forth. matt and melina fall silent, knowing nick was right—josie was the main issue.

melina sits quietly, thinking hard. of course, josie would start a rumor for her own amusement—it was so typical. she glances at matt, whose side profile is now in full view. the ends of his hair are as wavy as always, his jawline sharp, his skin dotted with a few blemishes. a small scar marks his eyebrow from an old accident. as melina studies his features, a revelation hits her.

melina glances at the ground. "oh my god," she says aloud, making everyone glance at her.

"what?" layla asks.

melina looks up at everyone, shaking her head. "wow, she is so petty."

matt furrows his brows. "care to explain what you mean?" he asks. melina sighs, ignoring his question.

instead, melina stands up, grabbing matt's hand and pulling him up from the couch. "come on, we need to talk," she says, as he breathes in deeply, looking into her now sincere brown eyes. she pulls him away from the group and into the backyard.

everyone else is quiet for a moment until nate speaks up. "so... that kfc chicken is pretty good, if i do say so myself," he says, and everyone happily agrees, changing the subject.

———

🔏 hehe dramaaaa ooo!
ngl think this one might be my best (i say that for every single one lmfao) idk you let me know. enjoy!
- vee <3