{irl, social media}
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Day 1/14

"I'm proud of you, kiddo" Ron says, swallowing a bite of a fry and reaching over to grab his daughters hand across the kitchen counter "I know it didn't happen exactly how you anticipated, but this is going to work out. It always does, remember?"

"I'm so afraid of picking the wrong choice" Iris admits, picking at the skin around her nails

"Iris, there is no wrong choice. You will be led exactly where you're meant to be. I'm proud of you no matter what you choose."

The two had spent the day watching movies and enjoying the last few hours together before he took Iris and the triplets to the airport tomorrow morning. The time in Boston had come to an end, and it was soon time to return to reality and decide which path of life to take.

"How am I supposed to figure out what to do? I want to go to UPenn but I think staying would actually kill me" Iris groans, rolling her head back in annoyance

"Do what you do best" He responds with a laugh simply before walking away with the noise of a bedroom door closing in the distance. He knew what his daughter needed most right now was time to figure herself out. There's nothing he could do further that would help more than that.

With a sigh, she goes to her own bedroom and pulls out an empty easel, canvas, and paint while queuing up the playlist Matt made her.

For the last day in Boston before flying home to Los Angeles, they decided it would be best to spend time with family and clear their minds.

As the paint layers over the once empty canvas, Iris couldn't imagine a life where she wasn't an artist. To be able to be a professional full time artist is everything she ever dreamed of. She hoped one day to own her own shop and to sell her own art, but recently that dream seemed less and less realistic. Iris knew that if she stayed, she would always regret it. But she also knew if she left, she would always wonder what could have happened with Matt.

Matt was everything she ever dreamed of, and more. He was not just only her childhood best friend, he was her rock. She found peace with Matt. He was like finding a new favorite song or restaurant. He was like happy memories and feeling a long gush of wind in your hair. He was like realizing everything would be okay.
With Matt, everything would be okay.

To the internet he was just Matt Sturniolo. But Iris has seen parts of him that only the luckiest of people are able to see.

Even if this situationship found the end of its time, Iris would be okay with that. Because she got to know him, and to know Matt was to love Matt.

She knew that this was only a temporary problem, but she also knew how severe it was. Going to UPenn would mean a complete change of life. Iris would have to meet new friends, find a new apartment, settle a new schedule, and learn how to balance her new life. But staying would mean always wondering what could have been.
Iris didn't know which was worse.

Lost in her thoughts, the painting was done. The canvas portrayed a picture of an artist painting a self portrait. The room was messy, clutter falling everywhere including the girls body. She was busted from paint and time. Yet, the self portrait showed a tidy girl. Iris deep down knew this was her. You can never keep a neat face up for too long when the world around you is not yours to show off as clean.

Suddenly, her phone rings with a call from Chris and bringing her back to the real world. His profile picture of him trying on her training bra from middle school illuminates the room, causing Iris to laugh. Chris was always the friend to keep you on the edge of your seat.

"Hel-" Iris starts before getting cut off

"Want to Uber for ice cream with me and Nate?" Chris interrupts

"Hello" She finishes and rolls her eyes, despite him not being able to see her "Chris it's like..." She looks at the apple watch on her wrist "It's 10pm"

"Is that a no?" He whines

"Why are you ubering? Where is Matt?" Iris questions, placing the phone down as she begins to change into comfy but appropriate clothes

"Aw do you miss your boyfriend?" Nate teases from the background, immediately yelping with an 'ow!' after the noise of skin to skin contact rings through the phone

"Our boyfriend" Chris playfully corrects "He's taking a nap"

"Nobody's boyfriend. But, It's 10pm, that's not a nap. He's going to sleep" Iris laughs

"Are you coming or not?" Chris urges

"Come get me"

A few minutes later there was a knock at Iris's bedroom window, indicating for her to come outside. They get in the uber with Nate immediately connecting to the aux and playing TV Girl.

Iris asks, simply curious "What's Nick doing?"

"He's editing tomorrow's video. We filmed a car video yesterday morning." Chris answers

"Man I can't believe you guys are going home tomorrow. It feels like you just got here" Nate frowns, jokingly leaning his head on Chris's shoulder

"Iris might not even be there for too long" Chris laughs. Iris sighs, assuming Matt was the one to tell them about the situation

"What do you mean? Where are you going?" Nate asks

"It's complicated. UPenn offered me a full ride, but...I don't know. Am I being stupid?" Iris sighs one again

"What the fuck! Iris! For one, i'm so happy for you. Second, why would you even stay? I mean come on, we all know that was the original plan from the high school days" Nate laughs, poking her on her shoulder with a mischievous smile

"I don't know..." She replies, slowly shrugging her shoulders

Chris's eyes widen, realizing the intensity of the situation "Shit... It's getting serious with Matt?" Iris responds with a nod of the head "Damn"

"Do you see a future with him?" Nate asks

"I'd love for him to be my person. Honestly it feels like he was always meant to be, you know? I wouldn't consider giving up my dreams if I didn't think I was meant to be there with him" Iris admits shyly "It feels weird to be talking about this with you two. I mean it's Matt."

"It makes perfect sense to talk to us" Nate chuckles "Nobody knows Matt better than us and Nick. And if there's one thing we know about Matt, he wants you to be happy no matter what"

Iris runs a hand through her hair and scrunches her shoulders, "Enough about me... What's going on with you and Nai? Don't pretend like I don't know!" Iris laughs, pointing at Chris

"I don't know what you're talking about" Chris pops his lips and closes his eyes with a smirk, crossing his arms

The next hour consisted of getting ice cream and talking about anything and everything before returning home. The house was completely silent when she arrived, a silence sharp enough to split her heart in half.

Iris felt crazy thinking about the reality of the situation as she changed into a comfortable oversized shirt and took off her shorts before sliding into bed. Was it valid to actually think she had a future with Matt?

She felt sick thinking that there would one day be an end to them. What even were they? Did he want this to go as far as she did?

Eventually she drifted into a sleep, deeper once the storm outside got heavy. The worries of her mind slipped away into dreams.

Around the middle of the night, the sound of her phone buzzing and a knock at her window woke Iris up. Groaning, she walks to the front door.

"Hi" Matt greets. The rain collects on the ground behind him, and in the messy crevices of his shaggy hair. He had obviously spent time in bed prior to finding the girl next doors patio.

"Hi..." Iris responds rubbing her eye "What are you doing here? Are you okay? It's like 3am?"

"Couldn't sleep" Matt nonchalantly shrugs, fiddling with the hem of his shirt while looking down "Have...hm. Have you been thinking about it as much as I have?"

"Come in, you big poet" Iris giggles, taking him by the sleeve and leading him towards her room after locking the front door behind him "More than you know"

His glance immediately turns to the freshly dried painting still remaining on the easel. She noticed his eyes flicker top to bottom to the top again.

"Damn" Matt remarks "You've been putting in work" His mind wonders about the painting, and despite knowing she wouldn't mind explaining, Matt knew it wasn't his to ask about. He would be lying if he said there wasn't a nauseating feeling sitting at the bottom of his stomach even thinking she felt distressed.

Iris chuckles and joins his side, also turning her focus to the painting "Well I do have to grow my portfolio. I also just needed to make some space"

Matt knew what she meant without asking. They were both stressed and needed a space of mind. His eyes continue to watch the painting, as if he expected it to change. Her eyes, however, were watching him.

Iris loved watching his face scrunch in confusion, his blue eyes getting harder and harder to see. When he was focused, he didn't even notice the hair falling in front of his face. And when he pays real close attention, he bites his bottom lip without actually knowing what he is doing. She loved the humane things about Matt, the traits that make him who he is.

She loved Matt, maybe not romantically yet but as a person she was head over heels.

"What do you think we are?" Iris blurts out, her mouth leading ahead of her mind "I mean, where do you see us going?"

"Huh-" Matt begins

"What do you expect from this? A relationship? Do you want-" She interrupts, getting cut off by Matt placing a gentle kiss on her lips with his palm under her chin. The blood rushes to her cheeks, brightening her face with a rosy hue.

"I want everything as long as it's with you"

@IRISLILLY made a new post!

@IRISLILLY: moments B4 disaster
liked by @matthew.sturniolo, @nicolassturniolo, and 3000 others
view all 250 comments

@kennedyclairewalsh: imy
↳ irislilly: imy2

@naileadevora: is the disaster in the room with us
↳ irislilly: i have a scrape on my arm ):
↳naileadevora: proof?

@user: Girl you are the disaster

@matthew.sturniolo: where was I?? 😢
↳irislilly: sweepy 😴

@christophersturniolo: ????
↳nathandoe8: shes delusional 😹
↳christophersturniolo: fr 😹
↳irislilly: YOU PUSHED ME INTO THE CONCRETE???

@blakely: wait she's kinda bad
  ↳irislilly: yippee!!!

@nicolassturniolo: the most perf person
   ↳irislilly: that's u bae

@user2: i love the fit

@user3: such a cutie

@ILOVEPEPSI made a new post!

tagged ;; @nate8 @irizz

@ILOVEPEPSI: fwends 🤗
liked by @irizz, @nicktootired, and 520 others
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@user: isn't it like 10pm for them?
↳user2: Yup

@irizz: friends don't push friends into the concrete
  ↳ilovepepsi: i object
  ↳nate8:  objection allowed
  ↳irizz: i hate you both.

@user3: My faves <3

@undercovertrip: who is the baddie in the middle?
↳ilovepepsi: me 👆🏻

@user4: oh the things id do to be there rn

@nicktootired: cute!!!
   ↳ ilovepepsi: 🥰

@nainai: shawty shadow kinda thicc
  ↳irizz: my girl

@NATHANDOE8 made a new post!

tagged ;; @christophersturniolo @irislilly

@NATHANDOE8: 🍦🍨👯
liked by @matthew.sturniolo, @blakely, and 3020 others
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@nicolassturniolo: next time i'm coming
↳ nathandoe8: we'll see

@christophersturniolo: vanilla on top 🔝
↳ nathandoe8: no ❌

@user1: Dam shawty want the whole team
  ↳user2:  LOLOL fr

@user3: 3/3 posted Let's gooooo

@user4: what flavor did you get?

@matthew.sturniolo: i refuse to believe iris got cookies n crème
↳ irislilly: believe it
↳ matthew.sturniolo: physically gagging