Becoming Mrs. Bryant

𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

Maddie

June 1, 2023

"Hm," I wondered aloud as I finished changing my daughter's clothes and heard a knock on the door. "I didn't invite anybody over, did I?"

I picked up my daughter from the changing table and carried her with me to the door. I expected one of three people: Nick, an army person, or a family member of Matt's. It was none of the above.

"Hi," Jason said as I swung the door open. I raised an eyebrow because this was kind of random. I know Jason and I made a deal to live together, but that wasn't set to take place anytime soon. Plus, Jason and I don't talk that much frankly.

"Hi" I replied, trying to not sound confused or surprised. "What brings you here today Jason?"

"I don't even know" Jason groaned, "just wanted to talk I guess." I smiled sheepishly, "How are you?" I asked. Jason shrugged. "Pretty okay," he said, "not too bad but could be better. And you?"

"Good, if I could even call it that" I began. "I'm trying my best, I suppose." Jason stepped inside, "I understand," he said. "Though I know you're a lot closer to Matt than I was, I still believe we share grief." I nodded, "you knew him before I did" I stated, "so honestly, the pain on either end isn't measurable. Sure I was his girlfriend, but you were one of his best friends." Jason chuckled.

"Remember the holiday carol we had to do in eighth grade?" Jason asked, unlocking a memory. "Matt liked you but we weren't sure about your feelings towards him. We were egging him to ask you out but he was scared shitless." I laughed, "Nick ended up ratting him out to me that day as well" I remembered aloud. "Then Brynn basically pushed us to go out."

"Oh yeah!" Jason said, "I remember that! Brynn outed Matt during the 10-minute break we had after we sang the second carol. You were blushing and smiling and shit, so Brynn assumed you liked Matt too and told everybody." I shook my head with a smile, "that girl has been something all her life."

"How did you even think to be with her?" I asked Jason after. "I know you explained already, but I can't even process that. Like, out of all people, why Brynn?" Jason took baby Aubrey out of my hands as he thought for a moment. "I wish I could say."

"I don't know" Jason continued, "and I feel like shit because she doesn't deserve me not wanting anything to do with her after putting her in that position. But the thing is, I would've never in a million years liked Brynn. I was confused and disgusted with myself after the fact.

"Brynn isn't ugly Jason" I replied, to which Jason nodded. "I know," he said, "but like, she just isn't what I'd ever want in a girl. I don't do that hoe shit, I don't want to and me being in college doesn't change that mindset. I was out of it." I nodded, then resorted to changing the topic.

"Remember when Nick got his braces off freshman year, and the first thing he did was fight Kaiser?" Jason's face scrunched up in a huge smile as he remembered that incident. "Funniest shit ever" he replied, "Kaiser didn't even wanna fight anymore at that point too. Nick practically hunted him down."

"In Nick's defense, Kaiser was only trying to 'fight' him previously because he knew Nick didn't wanna fight with braces on. Once Nick made it known that the train tracks were coming off soon, Kaiser backed out" I replied. Jason tilted his head, "that's true."

"And Nick beat his ass so bad that Kaiser switched schools. Hope he learned a thing or two about talking shit." I fixed my shirt strap, "Matt helped Kaiser that day. If he hadn't pulled Nick off of him, Kaiser could've been injured real bad."

"Nah, for real" Jason said, "that shit was crazy. Everybody thought Nick was demon-possessed. The school made him take a breathalyzer test and all."

"I hope he's holding up okay," I said, referring to my cousin. "He doesn't talk much about romance anymore. I don't like him being a school slut."