KILL, BABY KILL

IT FELT FOREIGN, walking back up to the backside of Matthew's house, climbing up to his window. It was something reminiscent of better days, of days long gone. However, he had to swallow his nostalgia (and his pride) as he knocked on the window of his ex-boyfriend's bedroom.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Matthew opened up the window but didn't move to let Grayson in. Although he had definitely anticipated this reaction, it still hurt. At least, it hurt until he remembered he was the one who broke Matthew's heart. He totally deserved this.

"I would offer to let you punch me, but I already had that happen and I'm pretty sure my nose is broken," Grayson joked in a selfish attempt to lighten the mood. It didn't work. "I'm here to talk, to apologize, can you let me in before I call to my death?"

Matthew rolled his eyes but moved away to let him in any way, "Unfortunately, you wouldn't die from that fall. You want to apologize? I'm all ears."

"Okay, first things first, I know me saying I'm sorry isn't going to change what I did or make it okay and you totally don't have to forgive me because I'm a douchebag and I don't deserve it, I just want you to know: I am truly sorry. When I did what I did, I wasn't even thinking about how it would affect anyone besides me and that was selfish and terrible and you deserved so much better than what I gave you. It's not even just the cheating I'm apologizing for, I'm apologizing for the fact that I pursued a relationship with you when I knew I wasn't over Steve and that was unfair to you from the start. It was unfair because from the very beginning, you were all in and I was already half out and that is just a dick move and you didn't deserve that. So, I'm sorry, mainly for the cheating but also for that. I just, I absolutely deserve a punch in the face and you should never ever talk to me again, I'm surprised you're even giving me the time of day right now because I suck so bad—"

Surprisingly, Matthew was laughing as he cut him off, "Okay, I think I get it. You're sorry."

"I am, I really am," Grayson sighed, leaning against the window sill. He remembered the nights they would spend in this room, just enjoying each other and being happy. "But I think the thing I'm most sorry for is telling you I loved you when I didn't. That was the worst thing I could have possibly done and it was just messing with your feelings and I'm sorry."

"It's okay," the boy shrugged. "Well, it's not okay, you did a lot of shitty things and I got totally screwed over, but I accept your apology. Just, don't do that to anyone ever again, okay?"

"I think I can do that."

"Good," he nodded, his eyes shifting towards the ground and away from Grayson, "Also, if you and Steve do end up together, I just, I hope you're happy."

Grayson shook his head, "No, you don't have to pretend—"

"It's not pretending. This is high school, hearts are gonna get broken, it happens. I'll move on and so will you, it looks like you already have and that's okay. If you get your chance to be happy now, take it, because you don't know when a chance like that is gonna come around. I'll get my chance eventually, it just wasn't with you like I thought it was. That's okay. I genuinely hope you two are happy together, I'll find my happiness with someone else."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Grayson offered a half smile, finally meeting Matthew's eyes. "You're too good of a person for me, I never deserved you."

With a laugh and a heartwarming smile, Matthew shook his head and said, "No, you really didn't."

"Also, how did Tommy know about me and you? And me and Steve?"

"I made the mistake of getting drunk at a party around him," Matthew shrugged, "It was stupid and I was shitfaced because a certain boy had just broken my heart. So, really, it's your fault that he knows. Who punched you, by the way? You said—"

Grayson scoffed, "Jonathan Byers, of all people. Granted, he was fighting Steve and I made the mistake of trying to separate them. Instead, I got a bloody nose. No big deal."

"Well, if your nose heals crooked, you're gonna lose some of your charm," the brunet boy laughed.

"Nah, I still have my winning smile," Grayson said with a grin, causing both boys to laugh, "In all seriousness, thank you. For letting me redeem myself and talk your ear off."

Matthew just shrugged, "I mean, redeemed or not, you're still an asshole, but maybe one day we can start over. As friends."

"That sounds really nice. I'd like that."

"Now," the boy said suddenly, causing Grayson to wonder what was going to be said next, "Something tells me there's another boy you need to talk to. Go get him."

That was all the permission Grayson needed. He bid his goodbyes and climbed back out the window. He began walking around town, heading towards Steve's house which was almost all the way across the town. Then, as he walked past the movie theater, he saw Steve, of all people, on a ladder cleaning off the vile words he had painted there earlier in the day.

"Fancy meeting you here," he called, getting the boy's attention, "Where's Tommy and Carol?"

Steve sighed, still cleaning the marquee, "I don't really think we're friends anymore. They're kind of assholes."

"I thought we knew that already?" Grayson asked, looking up at him. "Do you want help?"

"I want you to stop distracting me," Steve joked, "If you want, you can give this guy a break and hold the ladder."

It was then Grayson noticed the movie theater employee holding the ladder. He nodded for him to move, "Take a break, dude, I got it." The employee listened and Grayson grabbed onto the ladder before addressing Steve again, "This is a weird sentence, but I think, I think I got Matthew's blessing for us to like... you know."

Steve laughed, "Oh really? I'm glad. Nah, I think I need to apologize to Nancy, you know? Not only did I accuse her of cheating, I also cheated on her so it's kind of like, a double jeopardy of douchiness."

"Yeah, kind of," the dark-haired boy agreed, a smile ghosting across his face, "What are you doing after that?"

"Why? Are you asking me on a date, Grayson?"

"Maybe," he shrugged.

The boy on the ladder nodded, "Okay, how about this, I go apologize to Nancy, you wait in the car, and then we drive until we reach the sunset. How's that?"

"We have school tomorrow."

"We'll come back for school," Steve laughed, finishing off the last of the graffiti before climbing down the ladder and meeting Grayson face-to-face, "but after that, it'll be just me and you, how does that sound?"

"Perfect," Grayson wanted to kiss him right then and there, but they were in public, "It sounds absolutely perfect."

okay so the next two chapters are probably going to be the last of episode seven and then episode eight and then the last 4/5 chapters will be leading up to Christmas (which is like... the official end of season one i guess) and then it'll be done after a nice 20 chapters! Thinking about this story ending makes my heart hurt, but I don't see the point in dragging on their happy, healthy relationship into season two because I don't wanna have to tear them apart for the sake of cheap conflict, ya feel? I think you guys will get some nice closure with them :)