Unguarded Hearts

Chapter 7

Matteo's POV
I walk into the room to see some gory scene on the screen. The scene includes a shark biting off some woman's leg as she tries to swim away. Not my first go to for a movie but at least it's not more haunted crap.

I see Phillip and Hannah sitting next to each other and they both seem to be smiling. Weird choice considering the film.

That's when I hear some mumbling that's not a part of the movie. I follow the sound to a lump sitting on the recliner across from Phillip and Hannah's.

"Oh, Heck No! Heck No! See this is why you don't go to the middle of the ocean, Lady," Wrenley tells the screen as if it can hear her.

Similar to the night in the garden, she has a blanket wrapped all around her like a protective shield. Only now it's joined by a hand that's being used to cover one eye. The other eye is barely open like she can't decide whether or not to keep watching.

Phillip and Hannah laugh as Wrenley quickly looks towards them. "You are both sick little creatures for finding any enjoyment in this. You hear me, sick," Wrenley exclaims. That just gets more laughter and a small snort that comes from me.

Sensing that the sound wasn't from the other two, she looks around until her eyes find mine. "Don't you have to work," she asks in a blank tone that I can't say I care for. I shouldn't be hoping for some sass, but goodness, it would have been better than that.

"I got done early," I remark, as Hannah and Phillip turn their heads to face me.

"Ahh Mateo, that's great to hear. Why don't you join us for the rest of the movie? As Wren has been complaining about, theres an open seat right next to her," Hannah offers with a weird looking grin.

There is way too much temptation to sit right next the to the crazy woman in front of me. Which is exactly why I should refuse her offer. I'm about to say that I'd rather'd just sit alone, when Wrenley decides to open up her mouth first.

"You know, I'm really not sure there's all that much space for him up here but I'm sure he's good with sitting in the back," she says, trying to sound polite.

I think she always assumes she's polite but it's clear when it's just to hide her irritation. Right now it's trying to disguise the fact that she doesn't want to sit beside me. Regardless of my own concerns, I don't like the fact that she wants me away from her.

"I think I will sit up here and watch the film with you. Thank you, Hannah," I tell her as I go to sit next to Wrenley.

The way she's laying down takes up both spots, and the look of annoyance on her face, tells me she's not too keen on moving. "Unless you want me on your lap, I believe you'll need to move over a little," I tell her.

She begins to move and mumble some unintelligible words under her breath. "What happened to keeping our distance, Matteo," she asks quietly. That's a question I'm asking myself at the moment.

I choose to ignore her and turn towards the screen. Not to be rude but because I honestly don't have a good answer. I hear a small scoff of annoyance before she too looks back at the film.

A little while goes by of pure silence, besides the film, and her sitting as far away from me as she can. Then...

"What the freaking heck?! What the freaking heck is wrong with this movie," Wrenley exclaims, sitting up straight. She doesn't even seem to notice as she subconsciously moves closer to me.

I realize I've been spending the time looking at her so I glance at the screen to see what she's talking about. The main woman is now on a slowly sinking raft while sharks are beginning to surround her.

"I think it might be best to just turn it off," she suggests while forming very small fists.

I'm kind of surprised at how freaked out Wrenley's getting over this movie. Even at the museum today, her nervousness was nothing compared to how she's acting right now. Curios with her behavior, I lean down and ask, "What's wrong with you?"

I'm guessing by her face, that wasn't the best way to word that question.

"Nothing is wrong with me, Matteo. What's wrong with...," she begins, but cuts herself off as dramatic music comes from the screen. She watches with wide eyes before I feel something soft and warm grab my hand.

I look down to see her small fingers clutching my hand like she's hanging on for dear life. Moving my gaze back up, I notice how she looks at our hands with annoyance but still doesn't move hers. "I just.. I'm just going to hold your hand for a little while, so you're going to have to deal with it," she remarks as if its the last thing she wants to do.

Part of me wants to make a rude remark, but sadly there is a larger part of me that wants her to hold it. Even if only for a little while longer. "Okay," I say quiet enough that she might not even hear me.

She does though and looks at me before looking back at the screen. I'm sure the small squeeze that comes after my answer must be a figment of my imagination.

The rest of the movie her hand stays intertwined with mine. One or both of us must also move closer because now we're one step from being on top of each other. It's well... it's not a bad feeling.

As the credits roll in, I don't automatically notice that my hand has been let go of. It takes a small nudge for me to realize she's trying to move hers away from my grip. I quickly let it go and she jumps off the recliner, looking a mix of embarrassed and something else.

"Well, that was some movie, thanks for making me watch that. I will see you both tomorrow," she says to Phillip and Hannah, avoiding my direction completely. The sentence she just spoke seems a little out of place after her exclamations earlier.

Though not as out of place as what happens next. Wrenley practically runs out of the room, but not before tripping over one of the sectionals.

I hear her quietly mumble, "You tripped me stupid chair."

Then louder for everyone to hear, she yells, "I'm fine," and exits into the hallway. I can't help the smile that's on my face as I wonder what on earth is wrong with that woman.

I look over to Phillip and Hannah who are also smiling as they look at where Wrenley left. Afterwords, Phillip turns his attention to me, "What'd you do to her mate?"

That wasn't me doing anything, was it? It's not like I was making any prickish comments, and I'm sure my hand couldn't have offended her. My silence after his words only seems to be building in Phillips amusement.

"Shut up," I reply before his laughter can turn into another stupid comment. When words seem to be coming out anyways, I quickly follow Wrenley in leaving the room.

Walking down the halls, I flex the hand that for some reason feels really fucking weird. I would say it seems that my hand is mad that it's not holding on to hers any longer, but that sounds idiotic. 

I'm starting to think that she's getting under my skin for more than just the fact that she annoys me. The best option is to stay away from her, like we decided. Lets hope I can do that a lot better than I did tonight.