Edging Closer ▶️

Chapter 2: Step 2-Spread your hands at your sides

"Stop staring at him."

Viv poked Drake's cheek with the end of a spatula. Matty almost stumbled down the stairs that morning when she saw Drake and Viv getting acquainted, drinking sodas by the kitchen. She never did gather the courage to call Drake after their encounter. But she should have known better than to ignore her best friend because he still dropped by a day after.

"Is he real? This is the Drake Jackson?"

"Yes," she affirmed. She faced Drake, placing her hands on her hips. "Why are you here? Wasn't your day off yesterday?"

Drake frowned at her before dipping his finger in the bowl of frosting. He licked it off and grabbed a cupcake.

"It was. But it was spent unwisely at McDonalds, and Starbucks, and my bed mostly because someone forgot to call or forgot how to answer the phone."

Matty snatched the cupcake from his hand. "I was trying to tell you. It wasn't my phone. I didn't know you called." She turned to Viv. "And you let him in? He's a stranger!" she scolded

Viv shot her hands up in surrender.

"What? He's cute!" she reasoned. "And besides, he said his name is Drake so I kinda put two and two together."

Matty was on the verge of thwacking Viv on the arm when Drake placed himself between the two.

"It was my fault. I kinda shimmied my way in. Can we talk? We really need to talk."

"I-"

Viv stepped to the side, raising her hand like a kid.

"I can handle the store for a bit. We haven't been getting many calls anyways aside from the two debut parties. I'm sure the boys and I can manage. You guys go have fun. Or go talk."

Matty held a finger to Drake before grabbing Viv by the arm, dragging her behind the blenders, a few good feet away from Drake.

"What are you doing? I can't talk to him. Not yet."

"Then when will you? When you run away and see each other again in another state? You guys ran into each other for a reason, Matty. Maybe you both need closure for something that you opened up about. He obviously wants to say something about it. He deserves to. It was kinda a big bomb you dropped on him, and you just ran away. Just let him. Whether you like the answer or not, it would at least give you the reason to move on with your life."

"What are you talking about?"

Viv smiled and placed her hands on Matty's shoulders.

"All it took was five seconds for your face to change emotions the moment you saw him. You might have hated that I let him in but your eyes tell me you're happy to see him. And that maybe you still love him."

Matty closed her eyes and groaned. "Why are you always right?"

"Because I'm older than you. I have to be smarter."

Viv placed her arm over Matty's slumped shouleders and led her back to the kitchen. "Just get this over with, Matty. Maybe this is the last step before you can take that leap."

Viv smiled at her before making her way out silently. Matty watched Drake from behind, helping himself with the batch of cupcakes she was letting cool.

"If you keep eating that, I'll go bankrupt."

Matty was taken aback when Drake faced her, wearing a defeated expression.

"What's wrong?"

" How do they taste so much like the cookies?" Furious, Matty punched his arm. "You scared the shit out of me. Stop being dramatic and let's go talk."