Fools in Love

14. The Eldest Sibling Always Suffers

The end is upon us. And by us I mean me.

Three o'clock rolls around. I should be ecstatic to end my shift, but there are only nerves. Today, Matt and I are hanging out. This should be no big deal, but it is. It definitely is. Especially when my nerves are amplified by a million and one when stepping out of the shop to discover Matt is already waiting.

Ah, it's a pictorial.

Matt's leaning against his car like every chic MC from the movies. His black shirt has sleeves that are a tad too long, reaching to the knuckles of his hands. Those that walk by tend to give a second glance, either in shock of who he is or giggling over the fact. My stomach twists into a knot because, damn it, stop treating this like a photoshoot!

When he raises his gaze and spots me, the dumbass lingering in the doorway, he smiles.

"Dana, ready to go?" he asks, slipping his phone into his pocket. He opens the passenger door. My gaze switches from left to right, observing those on the sidewalk. Thankfully, it's rather empty. Most are in class or have already gone home.

"I-I can walk," I suggest again, but still waddle my way over to the car. I smell like the backroom of Subway, which isn't pleasant. Matt makes no mention of it.

"Get in," he says, acting as if I never made a suggestion. There's really no point arguing either when he's already here so I slide in. My cheeks are on fire when he closes the door behind me.

He's been in too many drama's. Who even does that anymore?!

The ride is silent. I'd call it awkward, but Matt appears alright. If anything, I'd say he's a little giddy. His fingers tap against the wheel. When he happens to catch my weird staring, he smirks. That's dangerous. He shouldn't be allowed to do that. It's against the rules. I don't know who made the rules, but they're there for a reason and that reason is to keep my heart from exploding.

"Do you want to come up?" I ask when Matt parks at the dorms. "I need to get a shower. Um, Tori has class so--"

So what? Why does it matter if he isn't there? I don't know and suddenly I regret asking. It'd be better if he stays here, but it's too late to take that back.

"Ok." Matt steps out of the car without another word.

This is very bad.

We walk side by side to the front doors of the dorm. He has to sign in under my name before taking the elevator. He's peering about the halls. I'm going to assume he's never been in the dorms, which aren't all that grand. I guess I was eager when coming here for the first time too though. I end up fumbling with the keys since the door won't unlock until I realize we're at the wrong room.

"Oops." I nervously laugh, going one more door down and swinging the door open easily. There's shoes in the entryway so I kick them out of the way. "Ah, sorry for the mess."

"It's fine," Matt says, following behind me. He kicks his shoes off. There's really nothing much in here other than our beds, two small desks, two dressers and a TV stand. I gesture for Matt to take a seat wherever he wants, which ends up being the desk chair.

"I-I won't be long," I mutter, swiftly grabbing the clothes I laid out earlier. He already has the TV on so at least he won't be sitting in silence while I get ready.

"What are you doing, Dana?" I whisper once in the bathroom. The shower water is running. I check the temperature with the tip of my fingers, hissing from the heat. "Stop being weird. Stop, stop." I pat my cheeks a few times with a determined huff.

That determination fades the moment I've changed and following Matt back downstairs to the car.

"Is there anywhere you want to go?" Matt asks on the way down. His question stumps me long enough for him to realize I don't get why he asked. He snickers. "It's too early for dinner."