When I woke, Peter was gone.
Groggily, I looked around the apartment. I wrapped my blanket around myself and stumbled out into the living room. No sign of him. "What?" I murmured.
I turned to the kitchen and saw a coffee with a sticky note on it. I waddled to the kitchen and read the note.
Gone out for a swing, be back in a bit. :) -Pete
I smiled and grabbed the foam coffee cup he left me, sipping tenderly. Macchiato, my favorite.
While I was sipping on my coffee, I got a call. I pulled out my phone from under my blanket and answered without looking at the contact.
"Hey, G. Good morning, did I wake you?" Matt's voice answered.
I sighed inwardly. "No, you're fine, Matt. What's up?" I mumbled despondently.
"Well, I was just wondering if you could accompany me to discuss Peter's circumstances over lunch? We can go to that new panini place...?" he offered. I didn't want to go to eat with Matt, but I really wanted to try the paninis. He knew food was my weakness.
"Uhh...okayy..." I voiced reluctantly.
"G-great! Uh...ok, I'll pick you up at 11:45." He stumbled over his words, audibly happy. The phone clicked and I heard the hung up tone.
"Ughhhhh!!!!" I groaned loudly. I looked at the time on my phone. 10:30.
"Fuck." I shut my eyes and laid my head back against the back of the couch. I sighed again and sat up to get ready.
I quickly got in and out of the shower and got dressed; nothing too fancy- I put on jeans and a band t-shirt. When I came out, Peter was in the living room watching TV. "Oh, hey Gwen." He said, giving a slight wave.
I walked down the hall in my casual clothes and Peter gave me a quizzical look. "Nirvana, haha. Basic." he teased, reading my shirt. I made a surprised face and shook my head. "Can't believe you." I said, grabbing my shoes.
"Where are you off to?" he asked, scrolling through his phone. "Ah, Matt asked to have lunch to talk about you. I wasn't going to show up, but he said we'd go to the panini place that opened up down the street. And, you know. Food."
He smiled. "Will you bring me back some??" he said, his eyes growing wide with excitement. "Pleaseeee, please please!"
I giggled. "Ok."
I tied up my shoes and checked the clock. 11:30. I had time, Matt wouldn't be here for another 15 minutes. I laid my head on Peter's lap and we watched the rest of an episode of his favorite show. The story was building up; the main character's girlfriend had just been abducted and he was trying to find her. My phone buzzed in my pocket.
"Hello?" I answered, sitting up. "Hey G, I'm downstairs. I've been waiting... just wanted to check to see if you were still on for lunch?" Matt said. My heart sunk and I checked the time. 12:20.
"Fuck! I'm coming down," I said, grabbing my bag and half-running half-skipping out the door. I turned to face Peter and pointed at him as a goodbye.
I raced down the stairs of my apartment building and met Matt standing outside my apartment. "Hey, what was holding you up?" he asked. Quickly, I thought of a lie. "I was still getting ready." I said, forcing a smile.
"Ah." He returned. I hooked my arm in his to guide him and we walked to the restaurant down the street. It wasn't as packed as I expected it to be, and we got in and out of the line quickly. We walked outside with our food and sat down at one of the iron wrought tables that blocked the sidewalk.
As I unwrapped my sandwich, Matt picked at his and sighed. "So what really held you up?" he asked, setting down his napkin on the table. I rolled my eyes. "Why do you ask if you already know?" I seethed, biting into my ham and cheese panini. He sat up and leaned closer. "Because I feel like I should trust you to tell me the truth, Gwen." he muttered under his breath.
"Why do you care that I'm spending time with Peter, Matt? Why does it matter? If I'm not dating him, can't I just hang out with him, huh? Just say it, Matt. You don't like competition." I steamed.
Matt seemed to be taken aback. "Listen, I'm not the one who kissed her dead boyfriend last night after she was instructed not to." He spat quietly, crossing his arms.
I paused, my mouth hanging open. "How the fuck do you know that, Matt." I slowly hissed, leaning forward to meet Matt's gaze. His breath hitched- I could tell he meant to keep that a secret.
"I-" he started, groaning. "I was on my way to meet a client, and I- I passed your building," he stumbled, fidgeting.
"And you just happened to hear us three stories up, Matt? I'm not an idiot. You have to focus yourself on one thing to hear it, it doesn't just happen to you. I don't want to hear it." I stood up, gathering Peter and I's food. "No, please, G, it wasn't like that-, I-" he exhaled and stood up, guiding me to an graffitied alley.
"What was so important that you had to drag me to an alley to say it, Matt?" I sighed, anger burning from deep within me.
"Gwen, no one else makes me feel like this. I can't lose that." he whispered.
"No, Matt, stop. You don't know what you're saying." I said, shaking my head.
"I promise I do. You're the only one I fight for now. Anything that affects you affects me. I'm just trying not to let feelings get involved." he spoke softly. His blind eyes glistened for a moment behind his crimson glasses.
"Matt, I told you not to get to close to me. I told you not to trust me." I whispered, my voice cracking.
He grabbed my hand, interlacing his fingers in mine. "I care about you, Gwen. I'm sorry I've been standoffish about Peter. But I did it because I had to, not because I ever wanted to." He murmured, his dry hands pulsating against mine.
"It's alright, Matt, just..." I trailed off, pulling my hand away. "We shouldn't be doing this."
"No, Gwen, please don't let go," Matt said, trailing behind me. He caught up as I walked away and grabbed my arm, puling me in once more. His breath steadied and I pulled away a bit again. "I will knock you on your ass if you even think about saying what I think you're going to say, Matt."
I walked out of the alley, shouting behind me, "Call me if you need anything."
I stalked home, shaken after what Matt said. Could he really be spying on me, possibly even all the time?
