{irl, social media, imessage}
-

"Is this cute?" Blake asks, holding up a blue off the shoulder cropped tee

Matt and Iris spent another night together, finding comfort in the warmth of the body next to them. The entire morning consisted of scrambled eggs, and boring movies playing on the living room tv while they flood the room with laughs and conversations. Eventually Iris had to get dropped off at home to go shopping with Blake, Nailea, and Kennedy. The entire night Iris could only focus on telling the news of the offer to Matt, but she was afraid. She knew she would have to tell him about offer eventually. Right now was too soon for her liking. She was afraid to make a big deal out of something that could be nothing.

"For you" Iris laughs, turning her attention back to her

"Is everything okay?" Blake asks, putting the shirt back on the rack once deciding it was not what she was looking for. She always knew when something was on her sisters mind

"Everything is okay" Iris answers

After a few seconds go by, she sighs and shakes her head in defeat. "Actually, I do need to talk to you. My mind is going crazy, I can't stop thinking about yesterday"

This would have been the easiest decision a year ago. After these past two months in Los Angeles, she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. To leave all of this? Happy mornings with Matt, late nights with friends, living with her sister? Without Los Angeles, Iris wouldn't have rekindled a strong friendship with the triplets. She would have never of known she could like Matt so much. But it's UPenn.
UPenn where her art is. UPenn where her mom once was. Everything familiar and everything good.

The four girls check out and grab lunch from the food court, finally sitting down and focusing all attention on Iris.

"So...UPenn offered me a full ride in their art program" Iris sighs

"As in University of Pennsylvania? As in the damn ivy league school?" Nailea was the first one to freak out as Iris nods her head and bites a fry "Iris that's fucking a once in a lifetime opportunity"

"So you think I should accept it?" Iris asks. She expected a different reaction

"Why wouldn't you? Nai is right, not everyone gets this chance. You'd be saving thousands of dollars and accomplishing something huge" Kennedy asks

"I don't know... I don't know what to do" She answers

"What did Matt, Chris and Nick say about this?" Blake asks "Do they know yet?"

"You three are the only people i've told. I don't want it to get to Matt unless from me. No reason to raise alarm until it's serious" Iris says

"It's a hard decision, please do what's best for you. We all want to see you happy. Of course you'd be missed here but to see you finally become a legit, professional artist...Wow Iris... That's your dream" Blake says

"It is my dream" Iris laughs, running her hands through her hair causing a messy free fall "But everything is here"

"You mean Matt is here" Nailea says

She realized that Matt is exactly what brings confusion to this situation. She had already found out Blake and her friends would be okay, but what about Matt?
Would he wait for her again?
Iris felt her heart ache with the thought of not having him around everyday again.

Was she really going to let a silly crush change her decision?

Everything felt confusing.
Did Matt even know about her feelings? Was she worried about losing their friendship or losing the possibility of a relationship?

"I think that is what I mean" Iris sighs

"Babe you need to tell him how you feel for him" Kennedy says "It is going to hurt more if you never say anything. Don't let yourself live with what ifs"

"When did everything get so fucking complicated?" Iris groans, momentarily placing her head on the table in frustration "And when did you guys get so fucking smart?"

"If it makes you feel better, I'm pretty sure Matt has always had feelings for you. I think you're the only one who has never seen it" Blake laughed

"Absolutely not" Iris chuckles, glancing at her other two friends and expecting them to be laughing as well "Matt is only my best friend"

However, they were nodding in agreement.

"You're crazy"

"We're serious. I don't know what damn world you evaded but in this world friends don't flirt with each other." Kennedy says

"Or cuddle together every night. Or have special shared playlists. Or...consider staying home from U of fucking Penn for" Nailea adds

Iris knew they had a point. She had never done any of that with Nick or Chris, but Matt was different. Everything felt easier with Matt.

The four girls soon returned home from their daily shopping trip, but Iris's decision of college and wonderment of Matt's feelings stayed with her. Soon, her phone dinged.

matt (:
your place tn?

goo :>
is this becoming a regular thing

matt (:
i know you miss me too
keep trying to hide it
i already know
😊

goo :>
the sass
yes my place
(i do miss you)

-

Not before long Matt and Iris were in pajamas inches away from each other in a dark room. The moon outside dimly lit the room and they enjoyed the moment.

"Can I ask you something?" Iris says

"Go for it" Matt responds

"How come you haven't gotten with anybody in Los Angeles yet? I mean there's so many pretty girls out here. And you're you" She says

"Iris" Matt laughs "They're not you"

She smiled and allowed the dark room to showcase her flustered cheeks.

She began to believe her friends were right....

@IRISLILLY made a new post!

tagged ;; @blakelilly @kennedyclairewalsh @naileadevora

@IRISLILLY:  my friends deserve a therapists salary
liked by @matthew.sturniolo, @nicolassturniolo, and 2,420 others
view all 300 comments

@kennedyclairewalsh: true dat
↳ irislilly: SORRY

@naileadevora:  run me my check
↳ irislilly: is payment in the form of compliments accepted
↳naileadevora: yes.
↳ irislilly: ur cute

@user:  goals

@matthew.sturniolo:  pretty girl
  ↳irislilly: brb blushing

@christophersturniolo: goo i NEED that hat
↳irislilly: idk if it'll fit over ur head soz
  ↳christophersturniolo: because of my big brain right
  ↳christophersturniolo: hello?

@blakelilly:  i've already learned to be prepared for the trauma dump

@nicolassturniolo:  😍😍

@user2: actually iconic
  ↳user3: ^^

@IRIZZ made a new post!

@IRIZZ: for once in my life let me get what i want
liked by @nicktootired, @undercovertrip, and 200 others
view all 15 comments

@ilovepepsi: haven't had a dream in a long time?
↳ irizz: i <3 the smiths

@nicktootired:  okay lyric queen
↳ irizz: 🎶 👸🏻

@user1: in the priv!!
  ↳user2:  SAME

@user3: mother feeding us good

@livlaughluv: car selfies 😍

——
sorry for the break in between chapters! it was a busy weekend but i am back and excited to write some more. really hoping everything comes together <3!