{ irl, social media, imessage}

-

The door slowly opened to a wave of cold air. So plain, so empty. Iris didn't know how a boring place like this could ever become her home.
Boring walls.
Boring floors.
Boring neighborhood.

It's too quiet for Iris' liking. She was never comfortable in silence, and that's all this house was. Silence.

"It'll feel comfortable here before you even realize" Blake, her sister, says as she rolls her suitcase into the living room of the new house

"Right..."

Iris would support her sister through thick and thin, exactly the reason she moved with her into a new town and new house. She hated the idea of her sister being alone and would do anything to be there for her. She never understood the whole 'fame' idea. It just wasn't her.

Blake however, totally understood. Her content that started out as stupid 'spend the day with me' videos eventually evolved to two million people genuinely interested in her entire life. She figured the best place to be to grow her career was Los Angeles.

"Have you talked to Matt, Nick, or Chris yet?" Blake asked, slowly walking towards her bedroom to get set up "They still agree to come help us, right?"

"Not since we've landed" Iris says "I'll text Matt"

-

goo 🧐
hello matthew
bernard lollll
what is the eta?

matt 🦕
hello iris
marie
maps says we should be there in 10

goo 🧐
gracias!!!
matt 🦕
de nada amiga

goo 🧐
no texting and driving
hurry

matt 🦕
big talk for someone without a license

goo 🧐
i'm blocking you sturniolo....

matt 🦕
NO WAIT
goo 🧐
😌😌

-

Matt, Chris, and Nick grew up with the sisters back in Boston. When they moved to Los Angeles everyone stayed in touch, but seeing each other face to face had been a while. At least a year and a half. Iris couldn't help but to think if things would be different.

She would be lying if she said the thought didn't cross her mind. Would she have to figure out their group dynamic again?

While lost in her mind, the door has one knock on the other side before swinging open. Those three familiar, blue eyed, faces land on Iris with smiles.

Without anyone speaking a word, they dissolve into a long group hug. The reality of being together again hit in that moment. It was nice to be together and to have their presence again.

"No fucking hello?" Nick snaps sarcastically with a smile after pulling away, poking Iris's shoulder gently

"Get off my ass" Iris widens her eyes, smirking and crossing her arms, sarcastically as well

"We taught you better than this Goo" Chris teases and shakes his head, ruffling the hair on her head

They have always called Iris by her nickname, Goo. The minute they found out she was named after the famous GooGoo dolls song it was over for her. She would rarely be referred to as Iris again, though she didn't quite mind.

Blake jumps into the room, excited to see her friends. Even more excited to get her couch built and have a place to sit.

"Do you wanna help me get started with your bed?" Matt asks, eyes fixed on Iris "Or should I say watch?"

"You should definitely only say watch. Pretty faces never sweat." Iris says jokingly as she skips towards her new room, Matt following

The room was big and white, with white carpet. Iris had no furniture set up yet, only boxes and finished paintings she did in Boston.

Art was her life. When she couldn't express her feelings, all she had to do was pick up a brush. Half of her canvases were drenched with tears, paint, and passion. Art was always there for her. It had no opportunity to leave or suddenly disappear. Art doesn't die. That's what she loved about art.

"Yeah this looks simple, shouldn't take too long" Matt says as he evaluates the instructions. He begins to build the frame alone

But that's what best friends are for, right? To build your furniture while you decide which photos to post on Instagram.

Matt didn't mind. Matt never minded for Iris. For their whole friendship, he always dropped what he was doing for her. He didn't admit his feelings for Iris to anyone except Chris and Nick, and even they advised him to keep it a secret. Matt found it extremely hard to not tell the world when he already knew what he wanted. Her.

Iris however had never considered Matt in that light. She never considered anybody. She has always been single and never looked to change that. Her focus has always been on the next step, whether it was one milestone or the other.

"I did a damn good job" Matt smiles, admiring his completion "Give it a go"

Iris playfully hopped on her bed, leaning back and enjoying the comfort after her long day of traveling.

"I guess I should say thank you" She said

Matt looked at her and shook his head.
"None needed"

"You gonna make me lay alone?" Iris teased, wiggling her eyebrows at him

Matt lays right next to her. Her hands travel to his hair, messing it into a playful style as she always had. He didn't mind, he enjoyed the butterflies in his stomach. The two lay in silence, the only silence she didn't mind was with her sister and the triplets.

To her the house was far less quiet now. She needed a little bit of home.

"If i'm being honest..." Matt starts, earning the look from the girl next to him. Her eyes gazed into his, waiting to hear what's next "I'm surprised you're here with Blake. I thought you were going to school in Philadelphia?"

"I couldn't let her do this alone. School will always be there, but this is now" Iris sighs

"Is this what you really want?" Matt asks

Iris takes a moment before responding. No. Her dream was in Philadelphia, in that classroom expanding on her potential. But how could she say no to this? How could she say no to being present for her sister?
Is this what she really wanted? No.

"Yes" Iris says

Before the conversation could continue further, familiar footsteps enter the room with a loud presence.

"I'm surprised the bed is standing considering Matt built it" Chris says, walking into the room kicking the empty box that once held the bed

He sits next to Iris, soon joined by Nick and Blake. They were all together again.

Conversations flooded the room about what's next to come for the house: decorations, chores, guests.

Iris realized they were all the same ole group, as if time didn't pass and as if they were simply together all along.

This was exactly what she had been hoping for.

@IRISLILLY (private account) made a new post!

tagged ;; @christophersturniolo @matthew.sturniolo @nicolassturniolo @blakely

tagged ;; @blakely

tagged ;; @christophersturniolo

@IRISLILLY: had some guest appearances on the iris show today 👻
liked by @matthew.sturniolo, @nicolassturniolo, and 97 others
view all 12 comments

@blakely: i'm calling the cops on your ass for that photo of me
↳irislilly: shiver me timbers 🏴‍☠️

@user: miss you!

@user2: ate these up AGAIN

@matthew.sturniolo: why did we put on old yeller if you weren't gonna watch it with us
↳irislilly: I ASKED FOR HARRY POTTER
↳nicolassturniolo: boo fucking hoo 😷

@user3: the face card was accepted 😍

@christophersturniolo: mirror game go hard
↳irislilly: ew
↳christophersturniolo: jk nvm

@NICKTOOTIRED made a new post!

tagged ;; @irizz

tagged ;; @irizz @livlaughluv @ilovepepsi @undercovertrip

@NICKTOOTIRED: sometimes self timers are okay 👍🏻
liked by @irizz, @undercovertrip, and 1,025 others
view all 490 comments

@user: random crossover but i like it...

@irizz: who makes u laugh when i'm not around??
↳nicktootired: ask ur dad
↳irizz: NICOLAS.

@user2: BLAKE AND THE TRIPLETS????
↳livlaughluv: ❤️❤️

@user3: is this for a new video??