Save Me. (Matthew Espinosa)

Chapter 24 - Reassurance

Lacey's POV

"What the hell?!" Matthew jumps up off the bed, furiously throwing his phone across the room.

"Matt, what's wrong?" I remain sitting, looking over to his bright red face.

"Lacey, I don't think you want to know."

"Matthew tell me." I stand up.

"I can't!"

"Well why the hell not?!"

"Because it's bad! This is fucking terrible, how could this have happened?!" he runs his fingers through his messy hair, tugging at the roots. I walk towards his tall frame, reaching for his hands. I intertwine my fingers with his and look into his eyes.

"What happened to not keeping things from each other? No secrets, right?" His chocolate eyes burn into mine as we stand in silence for a few more moments.

"But, well, I guess it's not even exactly a secret." the words can barely exit his lips before loud banging sounds at the door. I look at the door, then to him before he strolls over to the door, opening it. Cameron, Nash, and the Jacks stand before us, concern in their eyes.

"Lacey! Are you okay?!" Cameron runs in, pulling me into a tight hug.

"What do you mean?" I look back up at him confused. He continues looking at me, his face evidently showing that he is shocked.

"Y-you mean you don't know?" Cameron stutters, his eyes darting around the room.

"Maybe we should leave." Gilinsky points towards the door, turning around.

"No!" I snap at him, "You guys are staying, until I know what's going on."

"Matt should tell you. It's not even any of our business." J.J. trails off, looking at the ground.

"Well it's our business now." Cam glared at him and hits him on the arm.

"What are you guys talking about?!" I throw my arms in the air, feeling agitated.

"Okay," Matthew finally pipes up, "so some anonymous account is tweeting about you on Twitter." My heart drops, they could be saying anything.

"L-like what? What are they tweeting?" I look at all of them, my heart racing.

"Bad things, Lacey. Like things about your cuts, and your dad, and everything!" I feel my tears surfacing, ready to spill over my waterline.

"I-I don't understand! I've only told you," I tug at the roots of my stringy brown hair, pacing around the room, "a-and kind of Taylor, but I didn't like tell him the details or anything." I collapse where I'm standing, in front of the boys before me. The thought of everybody now knowing about my secrecy terrifies me, anybody could know by now; knowing how long the tweets could have possibly been up. I bring my knees to my chest, and sob even harder, making a complete fool of myself.

"Hey now, it's okay, we're going to do everything in our power to make it as if the rumors aren't true." Cameron bends down, looking upon me.

"But that doesn't mean anybody is going to believe you!" I wail, throwing my head back. I look back over at the rest of the boys, trying to make out Matt through my blurred vision. I watch as he rushes to my side, wrapping me in his arms.

"Everything is going to be right. As long as I'm with you, nothing bad is going to happen." he whispers in my ear, rocking me in his arms.

"Well, obviously, bad things are already happening." I look at him, taking in a deep breathe.

"Just breathe baby girl, I promise I'm going to fix this." he sitates us to where he is now looking into my eyes while brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I can't help but smile, I feel like he really cares. At this point, I don't think he i just pretending; if he ever did in the first place. I wipe my tears from under my eyes and wrap my arms back around Matthew's neck.

"Yeah, we're still here." Jack J. coughs awkwardly. I roll my eyes and stand up, brushing myself off. I wipe my face with my arm and look at the boys before me, them all looking at me in a way they have never before.

"I'm the same girl, you don't have to treat me different." I look them all in the eyes. Gilinsky parts his mouth but Johnson speaks.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about, Jack. You all have been looking at me with these concerned eyes like I'm some sort of completely different person. I'm still the same girl that came here with Matt, and has had amazing times with you; so don't treat me any different. Just act as if you never found out, it will be easier for all of us." All of the boys now refuse to make eye contact with me, all of them remaining completely silent.

"Well, I think we're going to go now." Cam pipes up.

"Yeah, and we're going to start tweeting about how this account is obviously just making up lies." Jack G. adds on. Just like that, they're gone. They disappear so quickly that I have to blink a few times, and even rub my eyes to make sure that they're actually gone.

I turn around, ready to speak, when my actions are suddenly interrupted by the swift movements of Matt's lips on mine. He cups my face as he kisses me slowly. He seems to pour all of his emotion into the kiss, as if it counts for all of the words he couldn't say. There is such passion in the kiss, that it makes me feel even worse about myself. I am doing nothing but tie him down, which is not okay. He should be able to go out and do whatever he wants with whoever he wants and not have to worry about me. It's like I am some sort of chain, preventing him from prying free and living the rest of his life. I reluctantly pull away and look him in the eyes.

"Go." I whisper.

"Go.. go where?" Matthew is obviously confused.

"I'm holding you back from too many amazing opportunities and experiences, so why don't you just go."

"I would never leave you, Lacey." Matthew grabs ahold of my other free hand, now holding both of mine in his.

"But why? I'm nothing but a bother, you could accomplish so much more if I weren't around."

"All I want is you. You are all I want in this world, and I mean that when I say it. You are nothing close to a burden, you are the most remarkable girl I have ever even laid my eyes on. You are so different from anybody else I have ever met, and I can't even imagine what my life would be like without you; you bring out the best in me."

"But you're so, bad. We don't even mix, good plus bad equals, well, not good." I furrow my eyebrows, biting my lip.

"Maybe for other people but not for us. I see no other person that I would rather be with than you."

"So, what are you saying?" I look around, trying to contain my excitement, no boy has ever told me such things. Matt grabs my hand, looking into my blue-green orbs with his brown ones. He parts his mouth, but doesn't speak, instead, leaving me waiting. Thrill courses through my veins as I wait for what seems like an eternity until the next words fall from his lips.

"Lacey, will you be my girlfriend?"