Charades (Matty Healy)

Chapter 2: Check Ins

It had been a few weeks since the show. You and Matty had been chatting about films and music over text while occasionally sharing things with the other on social media. You two had got on really well just from the short conversation you had over drinks. You were working on some things for your next film, half listening to whatever documentary (Y/B/F/N) had going on the TV. You had a nice apartment, the two of you shared it. Primarily because you weren't a fan of living alone. So, (Y/B/F/N) was also your roommate, she paid for her part of utilities and her groceries but you covered all of the rent and didn't mind it. Your phone rang from next to you on the couch.

"(Y/F/N) (Y/L/N)." You answered it blindly, you'd gotten to a point of notoriety where you had an assistant and typically any business calls went to him first but there were still a few stragglers from when you were young that managed to get your phone number from your mother under the guise of friendship. Dicks.

You knew who it was as soon as you heard him chuckle, "Rather formal. Should I address you as Miss (Y/L/N)?" You could hear Matty smirking on the other end of the phone.

"That something you in to, Matty?" You flirted with a bit of a hum as you stood up from your spot on the sofa. As you did, you noticed the sky outside your large windows had gone from a soft blue to that hazy navy blue, thanks to the city lights radiating against where any buildings hit the horizon.

(Y/B/F/N)'s jaw dropped a bit, you weren't typically one to be so forward but over the past few months that changed. Especially after drinks with Matty. The two of you had been chatting, very friendly with bits of flirting and teasing here and there. (Y/B/F/N) didn't quite know just how much of the flirting came from you. It all being over the phone helped, you felt a bit more confident with your comments and teasing while you were in the comfort of your own home. You knew that if you ever saw Matty in person again, your confidence would very likely diminish. Something about his physical presence, despite his smaller stature, was overwhelming to you. You chuckled and patted your friend on the top of her head as you headed towards your bedroom.

"'Ey!" She called after you, you turned around to look at her. "No phone sex while I'm here."

"Fuck off." You laughed back at her.

You made your way to your bedroom and sat at your vanity, fiddling with your brushes as Matty excitedly told you about the progress they'd made on the album. You two had shared a lot over the past few weeks. The last person you'd opened up to so quickly was (Y/B/F/N). And Matty opened up to you too.

"I've got some down time now, up for some food?" Matty asked you. It surprised you and you didn't realize how silent you'd been until Matty spoke up again. "(Y/N)? You alright?" He asked.
"Uh," You began and glanced around for an excuse.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Just uh, tired. Work today was..." You gestured broadly to yourself as you tried to find the right word to use as an excuse. "Overwhelming." A bit like you. You wanted to add. But no, Matty wasn't overwhelming in the sense of stressing you out. It was the crush you'd had on him since (Y/B/F/N) played their debut album that night in the dorm you two first shared. Matty was overwhelming and excitedly so.

But that excitement presented more as anxiety. A subtle presentation of it.

You hadn't realized it while you two spoke at the show but (Y/B/F/N) had pointed it out. When you'd returned to your seats, she pointed out that you had in fact shredded your nails and cuticles to the point they were nearly bleeding. And she knew. When you liked someone a lot you had to keep your hands moving and fidget to have some sense of calm in the moment.

And you really fucking hated it.

You wanted to be the cocky, flirty person you were on the phone but the overwhelming.... God, you were going to start hating that word soon.