Because You Make Me Smile - Matthew Espinosa

Chapter 20

*Lina's POV*

Two months passed and Matthew and I were still on a break, but we became bestfriends. You know that boy and girl who have known eachother since they were like little kids? Yeah that's us. Except we did it differently. We dated first. Don't get me wrong I still love him. But I just wasn't ready. Every once in a while there would be a moment where we would lean in or flirt even hold hands, but we knew our limits. When we would realize our actions it would become pretty akward but we would 'forget' about it. But really I couldn't. I loved him and wanted to be with him but I wasn't ready. I can't explain. Its like my head says be together when my heart says wait a while. I don't know. Its, just complicated.

"Bab- I mean Lina!" He said as he caught himself.

"Yas?" I answered, scrolling through my phone. I laid on my bed as Matthew sat at my desk.

"Lets do something. " he stated sitting a couple feet away from me. His white tee and khakis catching my attention.

"Like what?" I groaned, I'm relaxing even though I've been doing that the whole summer. We have three weeks till we go back to living hell.

"Lets, go to the skatepark! " he said ecstatically like a kid. 4 year old Matt's back.

"Um I don't know how to skate," I said

"Then I'll teach you." He jumped on the bed, landing next to me. He sprawled over the cover, then taking it off of me. I grabbed it back. He then took it off of me again.

"I'm not so sure about that," I rubbed my temples. I bit my bottom lip.

"Cmon." He pleaded, pouting like a puppy. He pulled me up, making me stand from the comfy bed. My one true love, my bed.

"Fine I'll go change." I groaned, slouching to the closet. Grabbing skinny jeans, a crop top with 'Vans' imprinted on it, and my black vans. I let my natural wavy hair down.

I grabbed the hem of my T-shirt and began to pull it up until Matthew cleared his throat.

"Oh yeah, um I'll meet you downstairs," I mumbled awkwardly.

"Yeah," he sighed trudging out of the room, remembering how we would change in front of eachother when we were dating. The good old days.
-

"Matt what if I fall?" I complained, still holding onto his white tee.

"I'll catch you, I promise." He said, holding my waist, he pushed my towards the board.

"Fine." I carefully stepped on the board after wobbling on it for a couple seconds I fell foward, landing in his arms in a tight hug.

"Fuck." I sighed. I moved the hair from my face, already frustrated.

"It takes practice, don't be scared." He smiled at me.

I stepped on again and gained my balance slowly. I stood for a good five seconds and then the wheels started rolling. Crap, get ready to die.

I glanced at Matthew who had the biggest smile on his face.

"You're doing it!" He yelled, he jumped up and down.

Boom! I fell and scraped my knee, "Ouch," I whined.

"You wanna go home?" he asked while pouring a water on, to clean it out.

"No I'm determined to ride a skateboard."

"That's my girl." he smiled.

He picked me up and placed me once again on the skate board.

Slowly I gained more and more speed. And it took many tries, I didn't fall as much.
-

After hours and hours at the skatepark Matthew became tired of being my fall cushion.

"Last time?" he pleaded throwing his head back.

"Yes, last time." I laughed, he was really tired. Hey, he was the one who wanted to teach me.

"Promise?" He then pleaded again.

"Yas Matchew now go." I ordered, pointing to the direction he was supposed to catch me.

Matthew walked a good 4 meters away from me and stood.

The plan was for me to skate to him without falling, and not landing on Matt.

As he stood at the other end I slowly started towards him. You can do this Lina.
When I was a couple feet away the skateboard hit a rock, thus I went flying. I landed on top of Matthew with a 'thud'.

My head in the crook of his neck and my hands on either side of him.

"Ouch," I repeated in his neck.

"Lets go," he said in pain. Bending over, I'm guessing his back hurt whoops wonder why?

"Okay."

I pushed my self up into a pushup position and looked down at him. The sunlight hit his face and eyes perfectly making him look perfect, he was.

We both leaned in. Our noses touched but our mouths didn't. We stayed like that for a good minute or so until Matthews thumb rubbed my cheek,

"You're so beautiful " he whispered before leaning in once again.

But we caught ourselfs and the moment was ruined, once again.

I stood up brushing myself off and he did the same.

"Lets go eat?" He asked.

"Yeah,"
-

We walked down the street, well I walked down the street while Matt rode his skateboard into a pizza parlor.

We sat at the front and ordered a large pepperoni.

"I so hugray," I said.

"Me too girl, me too."

"Here you go." the waiter handing us our box.

I was tired and did not have the energy to sit down and eat in. We were ordering out.

Matt paid and we walked through the glass doors.

As we BOTH walked to his house, he put his arm around my shoulder, friends do that right?

"I love you." he said.

"I love you" I said back.

But when we said I love you, it had a whole different meaning.