JEALOUSY, JEALOUSY ── matt sturniolo

vii.

SEVEN
tony winning actress!

"Let's fucking try this again." Melanie sighed, resting her guitar on her lap. She glanced at Owen who groaned dramatically. Melanie rolled her eyes. "Because of you im going to be editing for hours."

"You're the one who keeps restarting!" Owen argued, resting his own bass guitar on his lap.

"Because you keep going off pitch," she shot back, her eyes narrowing at him dangerously. This video had to be perfect. If she was to make a comeback, she couldn't afford any kind of mistake. Melanie was trying to film again, but instead of doing it by herself she dragged Owen along. Although the boy wasn't helping much.

"Fine, I'll do one more take." He repositioned his guitar, gesturing with his head for her start. This time they got it right. The melody floated through the air. Melanie stopped once her phone chimed loudly.  "At least it went off when the song was over." Owen told her, packing away his guitar.

mattitude ‼️
wyd rn

mel
just finished filming
what up?

mattitude ‼️
wanna come thrifting?
mel liked this message!

mel
you got a place in mind?

mattitude  ‼️
yeah
be there in 5

Melanie slipped her brown zip up over her shoulders. Matt's van sat in the driveway, seemingly watching her as she hurried to shove shoes on her feet. Eventually she managed to get her final Air Force on, hollering a goodbye to Odessa and Owen as she left. Melanie, hopped down the steps, skipping slightly as she headed to the car. Her palms were slick as she gripped the passenger side door. It's just two friends hanging out, stop it. Melanie scolded before opening the passenger door.

"Hi," Melanie spoke, shutting the door behind her. Matt extended the aux cord to her. She took it with grace, connecting it to her phone.

"Hi Mel." He told her softly, his eyes darting between her and the rearview mirror. Although he was trying to keep cool, his insides were wriggling with anxiety. Suddenly he had wished he had let Chris and Nick come, that way he wouldn't have to start up a conversation on his own.

"What do you want to listen too?" Melanie asked, breaking him out of his nervous thoughts. His brows furrowed in thought.

"How about something you've done." Melanie's hands froze on her phone, her eyes trained on Matt, who had started to back out of her driveway.

"What?" She asked. Had she heard him correctly? "You know it's theater right? I mean it's not like lil skies or anything," she rushed out. Matt was not the type of person to listen to theater music, let alone any of the ones she had done.

"Yeah, I know."  A small grin etched its way onto the girls face.

"Okay, Matilda or Beetlejuice?"

"Beetlejuice, you won an award for that one right?" Matt asked, his eyes not leaving the road.

"Yeah, Beetlejuice it is." Melanie scrolled until she found Say My Name. After clicking play, the rough voice of Alex Brightmans Beetlejuice flooded the speakers. Melanie hummed lightly, reminiscing on her broadway days. Matt smiled slightly. He was yet to hear Melanie sing, besides the videos he had seen online. In person however, that's a different kind of magic.