𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

Bright headlights blind me, and the car behind them park on the street a few steps away. Matt's door snaps open, and out he walks, up to my crying figure. I've calmed down a bit by now, but silent mascara tears still drip down my face, wetting my cheeks along with the rain dripping down my clothes.
"Holy shit, are you alright?!" Matt sounds genuinely concerned as he leans down to me.
"What do you think?" I laugh despite it all.
"Sorry, sorry, but oh my God. Come on, in you get" he holds his hand out, and I grab it, standing up. I walk to the car door, but I stop before I open it.
"I'm gonna drown your seat" I bite my bottom lip out of embarrassment.
"Don't even think about that, just get in" He waves his hand as we both get in.
"So. What did he do? What on God's green earth happened up there?"
I explain everything, and his face progressively gets more stern as I keep going.
"Fuck" He mutters, shaking his head "that's.."
"Absolutely insane and very selfish of me?" I finish, my smile small.
"It is insane, but selfish..?" He tilts his head "not too sure yet."
I pull up my sleeve and wipe my cheek, staining it black "I am. I think I fucked up big time"
He shakes his head "C'mon, Charlotte, you're scared. I get it, I mean, you're young and, in my personal opinion, I think you might just feel the same way as Walker"
"What?! No way, we're friends and thats it-"
"Charlotte" He sighs, like a dad. "I see how you look at him, how you look for just a second too long. And the 'fake dating' is very convincing on your part, if you ask me"
I gawk at him "I'm an actress, it's my job to be convincing. Also, since when are you a therapist?"
"Not too sure about that either. But what I am sure of, young lady-"
I laugh quietly.
"- Is that you two kinda have the same feelings" He throws one hand up, the other still on the wheel "I think"
"You, Matt Sturniolo, are very good at this" I sigh deeply "but it's too late to go back. Guess I just gotta wait it out" I click my tongue, shoulders slumping. I'm so fucking annoyed at myself for snapping at him, for embarrassing him like that. I shouldn't have done it, I know I shouldn't have, but it was in the heat of the moment and I cracked, ok?

He parks outside his building, and as our doors creak open and we get inside, I have a sudden headache and exhaustion hit me all at once. Not the sleepy exhaustion, the "if I stand up any longer i'm gonna faint because what the hell just happened" kind. Not sure thats a real thing, but thats how I feel.

I throw myself onto the Sturniolo's couch, groaning.
"I feel drunk" I grumble
"You've never gotten drunk" Matt chuckles
"Is this what it feels like?"
"Dunno, I don't regularly get drunk"
"Well you're a boring 21 year old"
"Shut up" He lightly slaps my knee.
"Ow" I mumble from the slap I barely feel.
He smiles at me and walks to the light switch.
"Wanna sleep?" He asks.
"Abso-fucking-lutely" I turn over.
I hear him chuckle "Goodnight, Charlotte" He switches the lights off.
"Goodnight" I mumble, before falling asleep.

When I wake up, sun shines through the window. I check my phone, and it's 9:37. I hear shuffling and see that Matts awake.
He walks in, his voice soft. "Morning" He smiles.
"Morning" I grumble in a less kind manner.
He laughs and walks back into the kitchen. He walks back in with a purple mug in his hand "Tea?"
I snort "First of all, why do you have teabags lying around, and second of all, yes please"
"Give me a second" He once again strolls back into the kitchen, and I giggle at him even when he's gone.

A few minutes later, he comes back in with the same purple mug, steam coming out from the top as he hands it to me.
"Thank you" I all but rip the mug from his hands as I down the tea halfway, and when I lift my head to breath Matt looks like i've personally threatened to throw the tea all over him.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"How are you not, like, crying in pain? That tea is hot" He replies horrified.
"I like hot tea. I drink it a lot so i'm used to it" I shrug.
"Clearly" He mutters, sitting beside me.
"So" He starts "how are you? Genuinely, like you seemed devastated when I got to Walkers last night"
"I was, and I guess I still am" I shrug "but honestly? I'm more annoyed at myself. I'm so annoyed for snapping at him and yelling at him, because I know I shouldn't have. I'm annoyed" I state for the last time.
"As I said, you're fine. I get you're probably embarrassed yourself, but what I think you need to do is wait and then talk to him" He watches me as I put the cup on the table, contemplating.

"Your the best" is all I decide on.
"Whenever your ready I can bring you home?" He offers.
I smile "Thank you"

I finish my tea quickly and he brings me home. I open the front door and throw myself on the couch. I'm exhausted. I fall back asleep in a heartbeat.

The next 6 days are a blur. You heard me right, SIX. Because I spent them missing him. Missing his admiring stare, the way he looked at me, all of it. I need to do something. Matt Sturniolo, my therapist, can help.

"Matt, I need help" He picks up the call and I don't give him a second to say anything.
He just sighs "I'm on my way, your therapist is coming"
I grin warmly "Thank you"
"Oh no, I like helping you" He adds "See you soon"
"See you" I say before he hangs up.

When we get there, I sit myself on Matt's couch.
"What do I do?" I ask desperately.
"Do you miss him?" Matt asks smugly.
"A little" I scrunch my nose slightly.
He sighs "Talk to him, Charlotte. I promise he probably misses you too"
I feel skeptical "Are you su-"
"Charlotte" He raises an eyebrow "I promise. Talk. To. Him."
I breath in, then out  "Ok. Thank you, seriously, you're literally-" My phone lights up, and the notification catches me off guard.
Walker sent me a message. My blood runs cold.
"It's what? I know it's stressful, and it's fine-"
"Matt Sturniolo." I face my phone screen towards him.
He looks at the notification "Oh my God"
"On three" I breath out.
"One"
"Two"
"Three"