twenty-two:
[special chapter: the meet up part two]

It seemed as though time had slowed down. Like everything was going in slow motion.

You know in movies when the person meets their one true love, and it just goes slow motion as they ran into each other's arms and kissed in the rain? This was it; minus the kissing, the rain, and the 'one true love.'

Matt stood there shocked by the doorway, not believing that the girl he had been talking to for the past 4 months was standing infront of him.

"The one and only." I finally replied, after what seemed like hours of staring at each other.

And as soon as I spoke, time suddenly sped up. Matt came rushing towards me, forgetting the bags of food that he had dropped and his precious kinder eggs, forgetting that any one else other than the both of us were there, and just picked me up by my waist as though I weighed nothing.

I've never hugged anyone harder in my life, with both my legs and arms wrapped around him, head buried in his neck, his large arms around my waist, supporting me, hugging me; I've never felt more content, more happier.

"I can't believe this is happening." He mumbled into the burrow of my neck. "You're actually here."

I chuckled as he set me back down after what seemed like hours, but in reality, it was only minutes. As I stood infront of him, staring at him and only him, forgetting the presence of anything else, I took in his features, his details, his everything. He was beautiful. And here I thought that he couldn't get any hotter than what I saw on my computer screen, but in person, he was honestly mesmerising. His eyes, his cheekbones, his lips, everything about him was perfect, better than I had ever hoped.

"I'm fucking crying, I think I'm going to have a heart attack."

Harry's words broke Matt's and I's gaze, reminding us of the fact that we were not alone, but instead, everyone was standing in their directed positions, phones in hand, looks of mixed and unknown emotions plastered on their faces, except for Harry and Alberto, who looked like they were about to die.

  "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up." He panted dramatically, hunched on the floor with a hand clutching his heart. 

  Emeraude patted his back sympathetically, muttering, "Harry, it's okay, we know they're cute as fuck, but we need to get through this."

  I smiled sheepishly at them all, who were staring back at the both of us with wide grins.

  "That was beautiful guys." Alberto said, wiping a fake tear from his eye.

  Kat rolled her eyes and turned back to me. "So, how do you feel?"

  I let out a shaky breath, wiping my sweaty palms against my dress. "Honestly, I'm sorta fangirling inside because I'm with you all."

  Matt chuckled at that, before pulling me into another hug and kissing me on the head. My cheeks heated up dramatically and my heart began to thump wildly.

  "And that my friends," Dom started off. "Is maria becoming so fucking real."

x x x

  "You know guys," I started as I grabbed a can of Coke, popping it open. "I haven't seen the new shadowhunters episode yet."

  Alberto gasped as I felt something soft hit my head. "You fake fan!"

  I scrunched my nose in confusion. "Did you just throw a pillow at me?"

  "That is besides the point! We need to watch it now!"

"Um," Matt said from beside me with a sheepish smile. "I didn't watch it either."

Alberto gaped. "Wha- You're in the fucking show!"

Matt made a weird noise, which sounded like a mixture between a cat being strangled and a whine. "I didn't have time."

I smacked the back of his head before grabbing the bag of Doritos out of his lap. "There's always time for Malec."

"And Maria." Harry retorted.

I flipped him the bird, and turned to Em. "Do you have the episode?" She nodded and stood to go to the television to put it on.

"We need to make ourselves comfortable!" Matt exclaimed. "We just just sit on the couch like tramps."

I snorted. "Then where do you want to sit? On the chandelier?"

  "Stop being mean to me, I didn't do anything." He whined.

  "You're such a baby, God." I replied. He reached for the Doritos bag but I retracted and held it above my head. He pouted and attempted to reach for it again, but instead I threw the bag at Alberto, who caught it with ease.

  "You're all such bullies, I'm forever getting attacked." He complained again, now crossing his arms like a child.

  "Matty, get over it babe, you're just so vulnerable and easy to bully." I took a sip from the Coke can and placed it on the coffee table.

  "She called him babe!" Kat suddenly shrieked.

  Oh for the love of God.

  "Can you guys just get married please, thanks." Harry said in a whiny voice.

  My cheeks heated up again. Thankfully, the lighting was dimmed, therefore no one could see my blushing, otherwise I wouldn't hear the end of it. "Um, Em how's that episode coming?" I said in attempt change the subject.

  "I've got it, hold on." Moments later, she returned to her spot on the floor, and Dom — whom I never even realised left — returned with a bundle of throws and pillows. Em grabbed a few and made herself comfortable.

   Matt grabbed a large blanket and wrapped it around the both of us. "Thanks." I quietly mumbled, as the start of the episode began.

  "Previously on Shadowhunters, Jonathon Christopher, J.C, Jace. I don't know who I am anymore..."

  Harry yawned. "So dramatic. Dom fix up."

  "I'm sorry but does it look like I wrote my own character?" Dom retorted.

  "This Camille bitch man." Alberto piped up, as they showed the previously occurring events between Simon and Camille.

  "I'm getting married..." Matt's voice said from the television set.

  "Yeah, to Aria." Harry cut off.

  I aimed a pillow at his head, which landed directly where I was intending. "Will you stop?"

  He grinned in return. "Never."

  "Okay shut up it's starting."

  Minutes passed as they all watched the episode, with many sarcastic comments and multiple "Shut up's" here and there, I realised how bad of an idea it was to watch anything with these lot.

  "Alec is so moody. Does he ever smile?" Dom said.

  "Says the one who's crying because he fucked his sister."

  "Correction, they didn't fuck."

  "Still incest."

  "Correction, they turn out to actually not be siblings so, whoops."

  "But when they thought they were, they still made out."

  "So? They weren't actually siblings."

  "But they thought they were and they still involved themselves in sexual activities, they didn't know they weren't actually related, but that didn't stop them did it?"

  "Love works in weird ways my friend. You should know, you're the one who left your fiancé on the wedding day for a warlock."

  "And that warlock is sitting right here."

I rolled my eyes at their silly argument which caused us to miss out on important parts of the episode. I am definitely going to rewatch this when I get home. "Isn't it weird?" I asked suddenly, bringing up a new topic to talk about.

  "What's weird?"

  "Watching yourselves on tv, don't you feel weird? I hate hearing my own voice and you just watch yourselves and shit."

  Alberto shrugged. "Sorta, yeah."

  "It definitely is weird when you're watching a hot makeout scene that you're in." Dom replied.

  Kat gasped. "I feel like that is slyly directed at me and I am offended. You do not feel weird watching our scenes."

  Dominic threw his arm around her shoulders. "Of course, Kat, our scenes are the best."

  "Oh won't you look at that, the episode finished." I sighed. "The only thing I got from that episode was how hot Matt looked in that leather jacket." My eyes widened as I realised what I had just unthinkingly blurted out. Of course, during watching the episode, the only thing I was focused on was Matt, and believe me, it did not help that he was sitting right beside me.

  "Because you only have eyes for me." Matt said teasingly for a wink.

  "Why, of course."

  "Okay, okay, break it up love birds, now let's do something more fun." Em grinned.

  "Like...?" I said apprehensively.

  "Well," Em said in a 'duh' tone. "Let's do what we actually came here to do, and that is to party."

x x x

  I was never a party person. I'm not the most sociable person, especially in loud environments. I was the girl at prom that stood awkwardly to the side drinking the punch, or the girl that sat quietly on the couch at a high school party, with nothing to do and not wanting to embarrass myself by dancing horridly. So it was no wonder that instead of singing and dancing with everyone else, I found my self in Em's kitchen, sipping on a glass of water.

  I set the glass cup down on the island and sighed. Today has been amazing so far. I finally met my best friends, my crush — whom is definitley a better person in real life than via text. Just like Emeraude had warned me, he is a five year old. In the space of 5 hours, he's eaten 11 kinder eggs, storing the 'surprise' toys in his pockets. The fact that he loved them so much, I found adorable. He was amazing in every single way.

  "Hey jerk." A deep voice said from the doorway, cutting off my long chain of thoughts.

  I jumped in surprise and turned around to see Matt walking towards me. My face soon relaxed and I let out a small smile. "Hey bitch."

Matt chuckled and stood opposite me on the other side of the island. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the counter top. Several seconds passed as he said nothing but gaze at me, a light smile playing across his lips. Soon, I began to feel awkward under his gaze, "What?"

  "Nothing." He said with a shrug  Despite the fact that it was 'nothing', he continued to stare at me. I cocked an eyebrow at him, at which he chuckled to. Sighing, he added on, "You're just so much more beautiful in real life than in pictures."

  Oh, that's what it was about.

  I looked down, shielding my face with my hair to hide my reddened cheeks. Who knew that this 5 year old bully could be so cheesy? Definitely not what I expected.

  "Are you blushing?" He teased, rounding the island and heading closer to me.

  "No, shut up." I cut back, taking a few steps back.

  "You so are." He continued to tease, heading closer and closer. He was now inches away from me, towering over my petite frame.

  "I am so not."

  Matt raised a single, perfect brow. How is it fair that his eyebrows are better shaped than mine? "If you aren't blushing, then why are you trying to hide your face."

  "I'm not hiding my face." I said, whilst still attempting to cover my face with my hair.

  His hand delicately held the side of my jaw as he tilted my head up so I was staring directly at him. My heart thumped in my chest and he came closer and closer, the small gap between us becoming smaller and smaller.

  "W-What are you doing?" I said.

  "Nothing, what are you doing?" He smirked, bringing his face closer.

  Well, if he wanted to play it that way, then fine.

I inched my face nearer to his, until we were barely millimetres apart. Instinctively, Matt's hands went to my waist, pulling my body closer. I drew my lips right infront of his, until his erratic breath fanned my face. Just as our lips were about to connect into what would've been an explosive and passionate kiss — at least that's what I wanted it to be — I said in a quiet tone, but just loud enough for him to hear me, "Oh Matt, if only there was somebody that loved you."

He froze and pulled away, eyes widened. "You did just fucking not."

I smirked. "Oh, I just did."

"That was so evil, Aria." He whined, hands falling from my waist and to his side. He crossed his arms with a grumpy look on his face, and turned away from me. "You can't tease a guy like that."

I pouted and placed a hand on his arm. "Aw, is little baby Matt mad that I didn't kiss him?"

He turned back around and faced me again. "I'm not a baby."

"Oh, but you are."

He huffed and rolled his eyes playfully. Then he leaned on the counter and returned to the god damned staring.

I threw my arms out exasperatedly. "What now?"

"You know, I was planning to surprise you, instead of the other way around." He randomly brought up.

"Oh yeah?" I said. "How?"

"Well I was going to ask you one day what you were doing, say you were going to the park or whatever, and I was going to just, show up." Matt explained.

I grinned, heart warming at his planned surprised. "But I beat you to it."

"I'm glad you did." His fingers drew circles around the countertop with a smile across his face. "After I found out we lived so close to each other, I couldn't stop think about meeting you. A thousand different scenarios ran through my head on a daily basis, ones being total failures, and others being so cheesy it made me cringe just thinking about it. But how it actually turned out," He took a deep breath, eyes drifting off as if he were reminiscing the moment. "It was better than I could've ever imagined."

A comfortable silence fell over us, allowing me to process what he had said. My mind was whirling with different ideas, different theories; did he feel the same way as I did? Did his heart practically jump out of his chest when we were at such close proximity of each other? Or is he just giving me mixed signals? His words made the butterflies in my stomach roar up again, and for the what seemed like the 50th time tonight, my cheeks burned up.

"The reason why I asked you what neckline you preferred the other day," I said nervously, licking my lips. I don't know why I was telling him this, being not that relevant, I just didn't know what to say. "Was so I could get a dress for today with that neckline."

As if he really had just noticed that I was wearing a dress, his eyes travelled from my head to toe, briefly pausing for a little longer at that area, much like Kat had predicted. He then looked up at my with an innocent smile. "Well I'm glad you did, because you look hot as fuck."

   Before I could say or do anything else in response to those words which made me restless, someone interrupted us.  "Ah, what are my favourite love birds doing in here away from the party." A male voice called from the doorway of the kitchen. The rest of the crew all stalked into the kitchen, grins on their faces.

I faced away from them for a brief moment to cool my yet again, reddened face, then turned back around with a sheepish smile.

"Did you both just have a quickie in here?" Harry suggested, a cheeky smile playing across his lips.

"No!" Matt and I shouted simultaneously at him. Harry's arms arms shot up in a defensive way, backing up.

"They even talk at the same time," Kat exclaimed. "So adorable."

"So are you dating now or?" Dom trailed off.

Taking a deep breath, I said to change the subject, "Well won't you look at that! It's one in the morning, better head on home!"

I attempted to flee the kitchen, but Em just grabbed onto my arm, pulling me back. "Oh no you don't, you're staying."

"I am?"

She nodded. "Yep, you, Kat, and I, staying over."

"Staying over?"

Kat sighed. "Yes Aria, like a sleepover. Ever heard of that?"

I groaned. "But-"

Emeraude shushed me. "No ifs, no buts, you're staying and that's final."

I sighed in defeat. "Well, I don't even have my pyjamas."

Em waved her hand dismissively. "That's no excuse, I'll give you a pair."

Alberto's eyes brightened up as he clapped his hands together. "Ooh, can we stay?"

"No." Kat and Emeraude said at the same time. Alberto pouted, hands placed together in a begging motion. "Girl's only, sorry Al."

"We'll have our own sleepover then." Matt said childishly, arms crossed. "Guys, my place, let's go."

"Yep, perfect idea, we don't need you three to have fun." Harry said, arms crossed as he stomped out of the kitchen.

"Yeah, whatever." Dom said lazily, as he too followed Alberto and Harry of the door. Matt soon followed in suite.

Kat rolled her eyes. "Boys."

We made our way out of the kitchen and to the front door, where the four "grown men" we're putting on their jackets, getting ready to leave.

"We'll swing by tomorrow Em, don't worry." Harry grinned at her, shrugging on his jacket.

Em crossed her arms and raised a perfectly arched brow. "Oh I thought you didn't need us to have fun? That's it, all four of you are henceforth disinvited from my house."

Alberto gasped. "That is so evil!"

"Fine, then you three are disinvited from mine." Matt said challengingly.

I mocked hurt. "You're disinviting me to your home and I haven't even been there yet? Rude."

"Okay fine, you're all disinvited except from Aria."

Kat coughed whilst muttering, "Favouritism."

I playfully stuck my tongue out at her, at which she returned with a sarcastic smile.

"So," Dom said, "Thanks for the party Em."

"You're actually thanking me? Please, it's nothing." She said before reaching out and giving Dominic a tight squeeze. He came and hugged Kat, and then me.

"I'm so happy we've finally met you." He said mid hug.

"Didn't think you'd be happy to see me," I replied before adding on, "Domidick."

"Never mind," He retracted quickly. "I take it back, you coming was the worst thing that has happened."

"No bullying Aria!" Harry screamed from beside the door. He rushed over to me and took me into a bear hug, literally sweeping me off of my feet. "Forget what that blonde bitch says, I'm over the moon that you came."

"Likewise, Harry Potter." I said, hugging him tightly. Once he let go, and I said my farewells to Alberto too, they started to file out the door. Kat and Em went out to where their cars were parked to talk about whatever, whereas I hung back with Matt, him standing on the doorstep, and me leaning against the doorframe.

"So, you're going." I said, not wanting him to leave so soon.

He nodded slowly. "Don't worry though, you'll see me sooner than you think."

I chuckled. "I hope so, today was too short, even though it's been like 7 hours."

"Can never spend to much time." He sighed, and pulled me into a hug. Wrapping my arms around his waist and softly squeezing him, I inhaled his scent, trying to remember it. He smelt like Vanilla and cologne, a smell that could draw any girl — or anyone — in.

Reluctantly, I sighed sadly and pulled away. Looking up at him with a soft smile, I said, "May we meet again."

"I understand these 100 references you know." He teased. I lightly pushed him at which he chuckled to. Stuffing his hands in his pocket, he finally replied, "May we meet again, Aria."

[a/n: yay!! finally I updated. This chapter is over 3000 words and I still think it's shitty. I decided to write a long chapter as a thank you for 4k reads!! it's been like a month since I started this book and I already have that many reads. It makes me v happy :)) Please comment what you thought of this chapter!]