Intertwined

I Owe You

Meanwhile, Matt was indeed where Mara found him last time. Although this time, he was sitting down in the grass, stationary, like he was deep in thought.

Rose walked out of school and she spotted him first thing. She went over and sat down next to him. "Hey.."

"First it was Mara. Now it was you..." Matt replied somewhat calmly.

"Sorry if you wanted to be alone..."

"It's fine...I've become accustomed to my alone time being interrupted" The boy's flat tone made it hard to figure it was a joke or not.

"That's fair.." Rose didn't know how to reply to that, so these two words were all she could muster.

"So what made you come out here?"

"I just.. I wanted to apologize to you. For starting the rumor between you and Eve and causing all of this.."

"Really?.... I hadn't expected... To hear that from you.." Matt looked surprised for the first time during their conversation.

"Yeah.. I really am sorry..." On the other hand, Rose looked apologetic for the first time in her life, probably.

"We're all partially to be blamed in that ordeal, to be honest"

"Not really... I started the rumors.."

"But if I had been more courageous with admitting that it wasn't true to Eve, neither of us would be as hurt right now"

Rose shrugged. "You didn't know what to do"

"It's so weird to think you were that popular trashy girl a while back and now you're...well, not"

"People change, I guess"

"What made you change exactly, Rose?"

"I guess.. my friends dying... it just made me realize that I shouldn't be so mean to everyone, and that anyone could be gone so quickly.." She started tearing up, making Matt regret bringing it up.

"Yeah, that's true...I owe you an apology as well, by the way"

"What for?" Rose asked in confusion.

"When I said I wasn't coming to the funerals because of my paranoia. It wasn't because I hated them or anything but it was still rude and inconsiderate to say"

"It's.. it's fine. I understand, I'd be freaked out if my name was on a note by the bodies too"

"Yeah. Still, everything's just....not making sense anymore. I can name a few people who hate me but I don't know who'd do....this" His eyes widened with a realization.

"You look like you've had a realization-"

"Oh my god...don't tell me that a student is committing these crimes!"

"...Oh god.." The girl looked horrified.

Matt groaned. "I should just get killed. That'll save me a lot of hassle"

"Woah! No! Don't say that!" Rose immediately reprimanded him.

"Okay, that was just a joke. Not funny, I know. I never realized how flat my humor gets when I'm stressed"

"Ok.. good... you got me worried there for a second"

"But oh well....Thanks for worrying about me, I guess"

"No problem, Matt.."

"Rose, can I ask you something?"

"Of course"

"It's about... You know, you and Ash...is something really there?"

She slightly blushed. "W-what do you mean?"

"You know. Do you think he's not that bad to look at?"

"I-I mean uhm. I- I guess"

Matt smiled. "Adorable"

"Oh shut up"

Wow, she sounds like Mara now.

"I'm just saying.... I don't know about him..."

"What do you mean..?"

"I'm sure he's been nice to you but...I don't know. Asher can really be...something"

Rose shrugged a bit. "I know... I've seen it"

"Not to say that just based on my experiences with him. Just looking out for you" Matt clarified.

"Thanks...."

"Well, thanks for the talk. You should go back inside now, they're worrying about you for sure"

"I think they are probably more worried about you" Rose stated, frowning.

"I doubt it but tell them I appreciate it" Matt looked off into the sky, like he was before Rose came along.

Rose stood up. "It was nice talking to you"

"Likewise, Rose. Likewise"

Rose gave a small salute before walking off.

Poor Matthew....