STURNIOLO TRIPLETS-one shots

Stuck in the Fire- Matt

Hi guys!!
sry this one isn't super great
Thank u for the request nocmmnt123 !! I love ur ideas sm

TW: fire, swearing

                                          *
        Matt woke to the horrible smell of burning wood. His eyes opened groggily, and he silently cursed Nick and Chris for their stupid shenanigans. They'd probably set something on fire this time.
    He rolled over, wincing at the hot air. Did he have a fever? It was the middle of winter for god's sake. The couch cushions were wet with sweat, and seemed to scald Matt's skin.
    His phone reads 2:02 p.m. A couple missed calls from Nick and Chris were on the lock screen, but Matt just rolled his eyes and put the phone down. They're probably asking if they have a fire extinguisher or something.
    Matt's eyes drop tiredly despite it being late afternoon. Chris and him were up until- what was it? Five maybe? Mom had come in and yelled at them to go to bed, so Chris went to his room. Matt was gonna go with him, but decided to just sleep on the couch. It was easier.
    Doors bang somewhere near the front of the house. A faint siren rings in the distance, accompanying loud talking.
    That's strange.
    He pulled himself up, sweating profusely despite only wearing shorts. Then he freezes in fear.
    Flames are licking the back deck and door, slowly creeping towards the kitchen. Towards him. They dance almost hypnotically, like when you watch a campfire for too long.
    Matt whipped around wildly, searching for a way to the front door. Although it's pretty close, the fire has wrapped around the wall, making the way to the door extremely narrow. He'd surely get burnt if he tried...
    Shit. Shit. Shit.
    Am I dreaming?
    Where's Nick? Chris? Mom?
    Are they ok?
    Or could they-
    What are you supposed to do in a fire? Matt wracked his mind to remember what was drilled into his head in elementary school. Tuck and roll? No. Shit. What was it?
    He frantically grabs his phone and presses on the missed call from Chris.
    It rings once. Twice. Please pick up. Please, please, please.
    An eerie sound rings out from upstairs, leaving a cold dread sinking to his stomach.
    Chris's phone was in here.
    And he wasn't.
    Or he isn't in a state to pick it up-
    Oh my god.
    The air is thick and muggy, shoving itself down Matt's throat. A harsh cough seems to tear his lungs. Was he being smothered? It sure felt like it.
    Am I gonna die?
    Are Chris and Nick already-
    Stop, He told himself roughly. Don't think shit like that.
    He felt shaky and weak, eyes burning. Tears streamed down his cheeks due to the thick smoke.
    Get low.
    His knees gave way, and he sank to the floor. The call to Chris has stopped ringing. He hadn't answered. It's a little easier to breathe down here, but panic closes his throat further.
    I can't breathe.
    Will I never see my brothers again?
    Am I going to be such a badly burnt corpse that they'll need dental records to identify me?
    I can't breathe.
    Is this how it all ends?
    A house fire, then nothing?
    Shit, I can't-

                                      *

        Nick sprinted up the road, his eyes locked on the billowing smoke from his house.
    He'd gotten the call from his mom, telling him to come home immediately. It didn't take a genius to figure out why.
    In the distance he could see Chris pulling against a firefighter, trying to rush to the house. Mom and Justin stood behind him in each other's arms.
    Someone was missing.
    Nick picked up his pace, feeling dizzy.
    " Chris!" He yelled, coming to a gasping stop on the road in front of their burning house. " Shit."
    Chris turned, tears dripping down his face. " Nick." He breathed. His voice was frantic. Eyes wild.
    " Where's-" Nick started, searching wildly for his other brother.
    " Matt- he's stuck inside-" Chris twisted in the fireman's grip, breathing hard. " They won't let me get him- Nick, oh my god. He's gonna die, Nick. Holy shit-"
    Fear spiked through Nick's blood. He ran towards the house desperately.
    " Dude." A hand grabbed the back of his shirt. " It's ok." Justin soothed. " They're gonna get him out."
    " But what if they don't-" Nick begged. Tears began to slip out of his eyes. When had they started?
    " Boys." MaryLou pulled the two into a hug." He's going to be fine. He has to be fine." Her voice was shaky as her house burned down before her eyes.
    " We got him." A hoarse voice calls as a firefighter staggers out of the house, supporting a semi-conscious Matt.
    He looked horrible, deathly pale with bright pink cheeks. His hair was messy and frizzy from the heat. He was wearing nothing but the shorts he'd gone to bed in.
    " Matt!" Cried Nick and Chris at the same time as they rushed to his side. They grabbed his arms and put them around their shoulders.
    " Thank you." Nick said to the firefighter, crying. " Thank you so much." The man nodded and turned to go back into the house.
    Chris and Nick supported their brother's dead weight to the end of the driveway, away from the house.
    " N' need to-" Matt mumbled, his voice raw. He sank to his knees, Chris and Nick kneeling beside him.
    " Hey, you're alright, ok bud?" Chris said, carding his fingers through Matt's hair.
    " Yeah," Nick agreed. " You're safe now."
    Matt coughed harshly, lungs rattling. His coughs quickly turned into painful, dry gags.
    The other two brothers hugged him tightly, swearing to not let go.
                                         *

    For years after the fire, Matt would wake in a full blown panic after dreaming about being stuck in the house fire.
     Chris and Nick were always there to calm him down and wipe his tears.
                                        *

Thx for reading loves <33 lmk what u think!!