{irl, social media, imsg}
-

Iris began to sneak out the next morning after saying goodmorning to Matt with a kiss on the forehead. They have done several sleepovers in Boston before, but they made sure to never let anyone find out.

Iris and Matt separately didn't have strict parents, but neither sides ever understood the fun of the situation. Ron, Iris's dad, didn't like the idea of his daughter sleeping in the bed with a guy, little less three guys. He knew the triplets were trustworthy kids, but who would he be if he didn't watch out for his daughter? MaryLou and Jimmy didn't agree with the idea of the sleepover either.
It was easier if they didn't know.

Iris had only ever slept over with Matt. Nick doesn't like to share his bed, or stay up late, and Chris could not keep a secret to save his life. Matt was the perfect sleepover host.

Due to nobody knowing, many mornings in the Boston air were spent quietly shutting doors and skipping squeaky stairs.

With her back to the hallway, Iris silently shuts Matt's bedroom door before turning around.
A confused Chris was staring at her.

"Goo?" He questions, rubbing his eyes groggily

"Hey!" She says, stunned with an awkward wave gesture. They looked at each other, both equally having their own questions and thoughts. Both just as confused as the other

"Why are you here at 5am? Did you spend the night?" He asks

"No...." She starts before realizing there is no point in lying "Yeah" she sighs

"In Matt's clothes?" He questions again, his eyes suddenly widening and his jaw dropping to the floor "Wait. Did you guys-"

"No! Chris who do you think I am" She shakes her head as she cuts his sentence off, immediately knowing his head was in the gutter

"It is a valid question" He chuckles

He obviously did not expect to run into anyone at this time of morning, especially not in his own house. He was wearing plaid pajamas bottoms with no top, but his hair was in a bed head state. Chris's eyes had a morning puff.

"No, Chris. It is not a valid question" She shakes her head again

"Do you do this often?" Chris asks

"Is there any point in lying and saying no?" Iris questions, receiving a face of disapproval from Chris with a sigh and his arms crossing "More often than you know"

"Sneaky. I like it. Don't let me ruin your vibe" He laughs "Careful not to run into Mom on your way out. She's always been convinced I would be the first to sneak a girl in"

"She obviously has never seen you try to pick up a girl then"

Iris smiles and rolls her eyes as a goodbye, continuing downstairs and quietly shutting the back door behind her. She walks to her own home next door, noticing a note lying on the dining table.

Her dad (who was a semi-truck driver) wrote that he got called into an overnight shift, apologizing for his absence during her time home. But he would be home in the next night or two.

Iris takes a shower and lays back in bed, slowly drifting to sleep again for four hours until her phone ringing causes her to wake up.

"Hello?" She answers with a groggy morning voice

"Hey hey" Matt says over the phone "Did I wake you up?"

"No I've been up" She lies, wiping her eye and pulling the blanket to her chin. She places the phone on speaker and drops it next to her pillow on the bed

"Really? If I know you, you're in bed still...Probably still in your pajamas. I would even say completely wrapped in the blanket" Matt laughs "How does that sound?"

"It sounds- Shut up" She replies

"How are you?" Matt continues laughing

"I'm doing good. Home alone because Dad got called into an overnight" Iris answers "How about you? Everyone gone?"

"Yeah, after breakfast they headed out. Feels weird to be here alone especially without Chris or Nick, but the meeting couldn't be rescheduled"

"Speaking of Chris. I had a little run in with him this morning" Iris giggles

"What do you mean?" Matt asks

"Meaning as I was leaving, he caught me and made me tell him why I was there" Iris responds

"Made you? What did he do?" Matt laughs

Silence came from Iris's side of the phone. Matt erupted in laughter, causing a silly fake pout from Iris despite his inability to physically see her reaction. However, Matt already knew what she was doing because he knew her well

"No pressure and you still folded?" Matt questions, a hint of laugher to his voice

"Shut up" Iris rolls her eyes jokingly "You are on fire this morning. What did you want?"

"I can't just call my girl to see how she's doing?" Matt sarcastically replies, making Iris's cheeks to burn up

"Matt" She blushes

"I actually just wanted to make sure you got home safe. And to tell you that i'll walk over to get you around 5. Dress super comfortable" Matt says

"I can't wait" Iris smiles

"I'll see you later ,pretty girl" Matt says before hanging up

If her cheeks weren't on fire before, they definitely were now. She slipped out of bed with a smile and prepared breakfast while scrolling through social media. An email popped up on her phone from UPenn, requesting to schedule a zoom call with her.

With a sigh, she schedules the meeting for thirty minutes and gets herself decent looking (a plain black shirt, and light makeup) while finally opening her laptop to the zoom app.

Iris felt her stomach turn into a pit when the loading other user symbol popped up.

"Iris Lilly! Hello!" The man greets "I'm Mr. Yarberry"

"Hello sir!" Iris smiles back "It is nice to meet you, thank you for agreeing to meet in such short notice"

"It is my pleasure. No inconvenience at all. Let's start, shall we?" Mr. Yarberry begins, opening an already prepared file of papers on his desk in front of him "I see you graduated Valedictorian, and were previously on the road to be enrolled here at the University. To be honest with you, everything here looks absolutely great and the school very rarely hands out offers such as yours. We are experiencing confusion with this specific case. The University of Pennsylvania has prepared to offer you a full ride scholarship, you would only have to handle housing funds. To be frank with you Ms. Lilly, where is the hesitation? " He slides off his glasses and sets the papers back down

"I completely understand. I am exceptionally grateful to be the recipient of it" Iris nods "Things have been complicated lately, but it would be an honor to be enrolled at your university, sir. If it is not considered inappropriate, may I request more time to think over my decision?"

"Iris" Mr. Yarberry sighs "The most the school can offer you is two more weeks. There are other students who would surely take up this offer in a heartbeat. However, we believe you are an asset to obtain. Two weeks from today, I will schedule another call and email you the details. We need your answer day of."

"I appreciate your willingness, Mr. Yarberry. Thank you for your time" Iris smiles before ending the zoom call. She sighs and allows herself to fall into her chair slumped over, running a hand through her hair

Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Is it really valid to let a guy swoon her decision?
But he wasn't just any guy. This was Matt.

Things were going so perfect, she wanted them to stay like this morning.

But for now, she had a date to get ready for. Iris turned on her straightener and checked her phone that recently dinged.

-

ken
iris!!!! we miss u bb

nai
how's home

iris
this is the nicest greeting i have ever had from you guys
thanks ☺️
home is good! i'm actually getting ready to go on a date w matty rn

blah
matty

ken
MATTY LMAO

nai
cute

iris
nvm
bye
kiss my ass
*loved by ken*

blah
come back!!

iris
no

ken
so everything is going good? what did ur dad say about upenn?

iris
he basically told me to follow my heart, and do what's best for me
which means  "r u dumb go to school"

blah
stereotypical dad answer

iris
right
but he encouraged me to tell matt
idk how im supposed to do that

nai
like this
hi matt! i got a ONCE in a lifetime offer from an ivy league!!!! let's figure this out together
does this help or do i need to dumb it down

ken
mf got into ivy league but can't speak to men
lmfaoooookk
*laughed at by blah, nai*
*disliked by iris*

blah
LOL

iris
okay im fr leaving this time

nai
say hi to chris for me
*disliked by iris*
-

As much as she pretends to hate her friends, they were one of the only things helping her through this awkward time in her life.

She straightened her hair yet decided to still throw it into a side braided chain. She paired a pair of camouflage sweat pants with a plain black tank top, and her ankle high uggs.

Soon enough, the anticipated knock at the door rang through the house. Iris opens the door to a comfortable dressed Matt, holding a bouquet of flowers in her favorite colors.

"Matt!" Iris gasps "I'm gonna cry. They're beautiful" She smiles as he hands them to her "You're precious" she rubs her thumb over his cheek, appreciating him and taking in his beauty

They walk into her room and place them in a vase on her nightstand. The flowers really tie the entire room together.

"Ready?" Matt asks, receiving a nod of approval from Iris as he grabs her hand and walks them next door to his own house

Upon entering the dark house, she was flooded with the smell of lavender and the sound of the GooGoo dolls. All around her were candles of different sizes, each burning with a flame welcoming her into the home.

"Matt" she giggles, finding her way into his arms embraced in a hug. He was warm, and comforting and had his familiar smell of mahogany. His arms wrapped around her securely. "This is so perfect already. Thank you"

"The night just began, don't get too excited yet" He replies with a smile as he kisses the top of her head

"How did you remember I like the smell of lavender?" She asks

"You kidding? How could I forget? You always smell like a big lavender flower" He laughs "And please. Take these candles with you, they're yours. You would not believe how many stores in town I may have sold out"

"When everyone in Boston comes knocking on my door, i'll know who to blame" Iris laughs

"Yeah yeah" Matt sarcastically rolls his eyes "You hungry?"

"I could eat" She replies

"I was hoping you'd say that" Matt smirks, grabbing her hand and leading her into the kitchen. On the counter were bowls of ingredients, sauces, and two pre-rolled heart shaped doughs of pizza. "I remember you telling me you were craving some Boston pizza"

"Fuck yeah" Iris smiles, immediately heading to grab the marinara sauce spoon

"What are you going to put on it?" Matt asks

"Uhh...." Iris looks around at the bowls surrounding her "Cheese definitely. And spinach, maybe some pineapple"

"Stay far fucking away from me" Matt scrunches his nose "You're a freak"

"What!" Iris gasps with a laugh, holding her heart pretending to be offended

"If you are putting fruit on your pizza you are in the wrong place. That's a monstrosity" He responds

"Okay okay" She rolls her eyes "What are you putting then ,smart ass?"

"Lots of cheese, and sausage" He says

A silence fills the room as Iris glances up at Matt with a disgusted face. She slowly shakes her head and looks back down at her pizza, holding the bottom of her stomach in agony.

"Ew..."

"Is this your way of breaking things off?"

"I might have to now that I know you put sausage on your pizza"

They put their pizzas in the oven, setting a timer on Matt's phone. He pulls out a mixing bowl, earning a confused look on Iris's face.

"More?" She asks

"More" He confirms

Matt scrolls on his phone, pulling up a recipe for strawberry cupcakes. Iris gasps and taps her feet happily. Together they put the ingredients (flour, eggs, sugar, milk, and of course strawberries) together in the bowl and eventually the oven.

Matt grabs Iris's hand once again and leads her up the stairs, avoiding the lit candles. They enter the second floor living room which was also lined with candles. They were met with bowls of snacks, pillows and blankets set up ready to be used, and the TV beginning to play with her favorite movie, the one she believes is the best movie of all time, Revenge of the Sith (obviously).

"You're willing to watch Star Wars for me?" Iris turns around to smile at him, snaking an arm around him and leaning her head against his chest

"You're the only one i'd be caught dead watching this for" Matt chuckles causing Iris to smile "In the meantime, sit down and get comfy. Tonight is about you. I'll go grab the pizza" He says before disappearing down the stairs

The smile on her face remains despite his absence. Her fingers graze across the freshly painted walls and the trim near the windows. She looks around the room and remembers several childhood memories.
This very room was where she had her first sleepover. The first to many.
This room was also where she would complete homework after school.
This room was always a key to the beginning of something new.

Matt reappears, both pizzas cut already and ready to devour.

"Couldn't get comfy?" Matt asks, a concerned look on his face

"I just love your home" She responds "But now that you mention it, I am sorta cold" She moves her lips to the corner of her mouth

Matt takes his hoodie off, revealing a gray tank top. He hands the black hoodie to Iris nonchalantly.

"Did you just literally give me the shirt off of your back?" Iris laughs, gliding it over her own tank top

"You could say that" Matt responds

They sit down and eat their homemade pizza, giving each other bites and debating about who made the masterpiece. Both Matt and Iris were talking and laughing with food in their mouths, but neither cared.

"Oh! The cupcakes are probably done. I'll be right back" Matt says, quickly leaving the room and returning with a plate of four cupcakes

"I'm not going to eat four entire cupcakes" Iris chuckles "But they smell amazing"

"Two are for me dipshit" Matt rolls his eyes sarcastically

Matt grabs a cupcake and makes his place on the couch, his back leaning against one end of the couch and his feet touching the other.
Craving physical touch and wanting to be close to him, Iris hesitantly begins to lay in between his legs and lean her back against his chest. She looks at him to make sure he was feeling the same way she was - wanting to be close - and felt more comfortable when she noticed he was smiling.

She nuzzled her head into his chest, feeling immediately safe and secure, as cheesy as that sounds.

Matt leans down and kisses the top of her head.

"Five years ago would you have ever guessed this is where we'd be right now?" Iris asks

"Five years ago this is all I could've dreamed of" Matt responds "I just can't believe I got so lucky"

"Aw Matt" She smiles, turning her head to look at him. To her surprise, he was already staring at her. He was evaluating everything about her. Her face, who she is.

Matt loved that her eyes were deep brown. Not a light honey brown, but a dark and intimate brown. The shade that draws him in craving to know every secret she has to offer. He loved the small scar under her right eye, he remembers the day she earned it. It was the result of rough housing on concrete, eventually falling and scrapping her face. Matt loved her freckles, especially the one on the tip top of her nose. Her eyes dilated every time they met him, and it made Matt's heart skip a beat each time he noticed. He loved her cupids bow, and her entire lips.

He loved how he wanted to taste them for himself.

Matt's eyes flicker from her lips to her eyes. To his surprise, she was doing the same thing as him. Without realizing, their faces moved only inches apart from the other. He could feel her steady breath on his face, but more importantly he could feel her eyes burning a hole in his lips. His eyes flicker to her lips once more before closing the space between them.

Her brown eyes that Matt loved so much closed as she realized that they were kissing. Her hand met the side of his face gently, feeling his stubble on her palm. His hand, however, met the bottom of her back, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss.

Slowly, she pulled away, the taste of Matt still lingering on her lips. Silence fills the room as two heartbeats learn to stop racing, small smiles covering both faces.

"We've never done that before, huh?" Matt jokes, running his fingers through his hair

"Never" Iris's replies

"You do that with every boy you go on a date with?" Matt sarcastically jokes

Iris places her finger over Matt's lips, playfully rolling her eyes "Sometimes pretty faces don't need to speak"

Matt and Iris continue to watch the movie and enjoy each other's presence, both minds focusing on the kiss they shared. After the movie was over, they slowly make their way back to Iris's front door.

"Who would have ever guessed that Matt Sturniolo is so romantic?" Iris jokes

"Funny" He rolls his eyes while pushing a piece of hair behind her ears "Maybe i'll get to see you tomorrow?"

"We are in Boston, you don't want to spend time with your family?" Iris softly laughs, stepping closer to him

"I want to be with you all the time" He responds, earning Iris's cheeks to blush

Matt could feel his heartbeat race as he desired to taste her once more. His eyes were drawn to the cupids bow in front of him as he pulls her in for another kiss.
Her arms found the back of his neck, while his found the bottom of her waist. He never could have predicted this is where he would be when the crush on his best friend blossomed. But, Matt had no complaints.

Pulling away, Iris wipes her lip balm off of Matt's lips gently.

"Goodnight..."

"Goodnight"

@IRIZZ (private account) made a new post

@IRIZZ:  chat is this love?
liked by @nicktootired, @ilovepepsi, and 67 others
view all 20 comments

@nicktootired: there is no chat ur delusional
     ↳irizz: that's exactly what someone who knows where the chat is would say

@undercovertrip: he must be a lucky guy to be w someone as pretty as you
     ↳ irizz: i'd say im the lucky one ;)

@ilovepepsi: funny seeing u here....
     ↳irizz: CHRISTOPHER

@user: Happy for u!!!

@livlaughluv: save some romance for the rest of us
     ↳nainai: that's what i'm saying
     ↳irizz: soz!

@kenny:  i hope he makes u happy (i would hold ur hand tighter than he can)
     ↳irizz: our date next
     ↳undercovertrip: ?????????
     ↳irizz: shhhhhh

@user2: the flowers im sobbing

@user3: omg

@UNDERCOVERTRIP made a new post

@UNDERCOVERTRIP:  i heard we were soft launching, does this count?
liked by @ilovepepsi, @irizz, and 300 others
view all 150 comments

@irizz: it counts!
     ↳ undercovertrip: yippee

@user: WHO????

@user2: never thought we would see the day where matt soft launches someone

@ilovepepsi: atta boy matt
     ↳undercovertrip: yupppp

@nicktootired: the fucking shoes on our couch
     ↳irizz: oops

@nainai: @ilovepepsi this could be us but u playin
     ↳ilovepepsi: who's playing bc it isn't me

@kenny: thats so crazy bc i was also about to soft launch her
     ↳undercovertrip: find your own girlfriend kennedy.

@user3: Just tag her we all know that's Iris