Love Next-Door - A Matt Sturniolo Story

two 📝

I woke up, I still felt embarrassed. I frustratingly got ready to go to the gym. I was still greasy from refusing to shower last night because I was exhausted from moving in. I looked at myself in the mirror, the dark blue and black set complimented my pale skin and hazel eyes.

I put my hair back into the tight ponytail from before, I grabbed my phone and airpod's before wandering into the kitchen to grab a water bottle. Dani was still sleeping in her room, I could hear her soft snore from outside the door. I wrote on a sticky note to let her know where I went, and stuck it to my door.
I walked downstairs to the gym. I had checked it out online before putting a deposit on the apartment. I grew up overweight, and it's not that I hated myself or anything, but when I started losing weight, people just became nicer. I was so terrified of gaining weight again. I liked when people were kind to me.

After the gym I immediately showered. I finally felt clean again. "Hey Carolineee," Dani yelled from the living room, dragging out the e in my name per usual, "Can you go with me to get groceries? I can't go another day without actual food in the fridge."
"Sure! Let me get dressed!" I yelled back. "Just go naked, I'm hungry!" She whined.

I rolled my eyes. I pulled on some baggy denim shorts, a red t-shirt with 'LooneyTunes' embellished across the chest, and I pulled on matching red converse. I left my hair down to dry, and I put on some light makeup. I came out of my room, twirling for Dani to see. "You're a beautiful princess, now let's go." Dani said angrily. "Hangry Bitch." I responded, grabbing my small black purse and following her to the door.
As soon as we stepped out, two boys who looked identical stepped out of the door next to us. They looked identical to Matt, just with different haircuts and subtle differences to their faces. I've never met triplets before, but I knew they looked way too similar not to be. I could tell the one with the longer hair was Chris.
They turned and saw us. Chris smiled and said, "Hey Dani! What's up?" He immediately started walking over, the other boy followed, clearly annoyed by this situation. "Chris! we actually need to leave, I'm starving!" He complained to his brother.

"This is Nick by the way, one of my brothers!" Chris said, ignoring Nick entirely. Dani smiled and said, "It's nice to meet you, this is my roommate Caroline. We were just about to go grab some groceries."
"Can we come with? We know the best and closest grocery store." Chris said excitedly. "The only way we're going is if we get food first." Nick negotiated.
"That works for me, I'm literally so hungry." Dani complained.
I kept quiet, embarrassed that I had asked them to quiet down last night.

Chris and Dani walked ahead, Nick and I lingered back. "So Caroline, are you the girl that came by last night?" Nick asked. "Yes, but to be fair I tried to be so nice and I didn't want to be like the bitchy neighbor at all!" I said defending myself. Nick laughed and said, "Don't worry, we know we get loud. We just don't realize it. Matt said you were totally sweet about it, I think he even said something about you being cute, just don't let him know I told you." I put my hands up, feeling more blush creep up onto my entire face. "Won't hear a peep out of me!" I laughed.

We stopped by McDonald's, I got chicken nuggets and sweet tea. Dani wanted to get the entire menu but I reminded her she got full off of a cheeseburger and a medium fry so she decided that was what she wanted. We sat at the small table to eat. Crowded together.
Chris and Dani were obviously flirting with each other. Nick and I were having an entirely nonsensical conversation.
After eating and shopping we all headed back to the apartment complex. Chris stopped before opening the door. "Do you guys want to come hangout? Matt's been out with some friends and should be back in about an hour or two, so.." He asked. Dani responded instantly, "Let us put this away and we'll be right over." I nodded and followed her to our own apartment.

    We put away the groceries and I listened to Dani brag about her day with Chris as if I wasn't there. I let her exaggerate the small things and talk about it like it wasn't twenty minutes ago. I smiled at her excitement.

    We headed over to the boys apartment, walking in it was much cleaner than I expected. I mean three boys in one apartment? It's clean? I was honestly shocked. "So which one of you is gay?" I asked, the words vomiting out of my mouth. I slapped my hand over my face. Chris and Nick looked at each other before laughing loudly. Nick raised his hand and asked, "Me, how did you know?"
    I laughed and said, "Your apartment doesn't look like a tornado tore threw it." Chris was laughing harder now, Dani started giggling at his laugh alone.
   "Chris! It's not that funny, shut the fuck up." Nick said after a few seconds of us looking at Chris cackling like a crazy person. Chris stood up wiping his watering eyes and said, "It's so funny, she said it immediately." and with that he started laughing again.

     He finally stopped when Matt walked in the door. "Chris! I can hear you laughing from down the hall- what the- oh hi stranger." He said stopping, hand still on the doorknob from closing the door. "Hi." I replied, trying to make the blush stop.
   What's wrong with me? I'm not in fucking middle school, why do I blush when I see him or when he's brought up? Like he's gorgeous but he's a total stranger.

    Nick set his elbow on my shoulder, resting on it. "Her names Caroline by the way, when you want to stop calling her that cute little nickname." Nick said to Matt. I could feel my face getting pink and hot. Cute? Nickname?
    Matt pushed his hair back before walking over. He awkwardly pushed his hand out, I shook his hand. "Nice to officially meet you, Caroline. No more glasses?" He asked. I held onto his hand slightly too long. I quickly let go, making the situation even more awkward. "I usually wear contacts, I'm sorry you had to see me like that honestly." I joked.
    "Don't be dumb, you looked nice in your pjs." He said smiling, pushing his hair back once more.