The Great Pretenders

Chapter 31

Matt's POV

The next morning, I hopped out of bed to head to Lucy's apartment only to be told by her mother that she'd spent the night with Zoey. Zoey had spent most of the night hanging with Johnny so I was pretty surprised. As I pulled up behind Zacky's house, I felt like an asshole. I hated knowing I'd hurt Lucy yesterday. I wish I could have blamed it on being drunk but I knew what I was doing. I should have talked to her. I should have kissed her. But did I? No, of course not. That would be too easy. I shut her out. Why? Well I didn't know how to handle her with Mark. I mean Val had never done anything like that so I'd never had to deal with that kind of situation. Apparently I knew how to relate to women as friends or as lovers, but not as both. Before I could think any more on that,I let myself in without knocking. Zoey sat at the kitchen table. She looked up and then back down at her magazine.

"Zacky's not here. He went to Guitar Center with Brian," she said, with more annoyance than anger. "I could have you arrested for breaking and entering."

"Can I have some coffee first?" I asked.

"It's barely 11 o clock. You should have knocked. I could have still been walking around in my underwear."

"Since when do you walk around in your underwear? Oh cause Brian was here."

"Fuck you Matt," she said flipping her magazine page "You should still knock."

"Didn't feel like it. Just like you don't feel like knocking when you come to my house." I reminded her.

"Liar. I always knock. And Lucy is still asleep, so go away and don't bother her."

I filled a mug with Zoey's black coffee. "What's she doing in bed this late?"

"I'm sure that's not any of your business." Anger was clear in her tone and her green eyes. "You're breaking her heart. And you don't even care."

"Lucy's mad, not heartbroken." I replied taking a piece of bacon from her plate. "I'm going to wake her up."

She stood up from her chair and blocked my path, her tiny little hand on my chest, a determined expression in her eyes "Leave her alone Matt. Please. I'm asking you. You really hurt her feelings last night."

I down at her and tried to reassure her "I know. And I want to apologize. Please."

She shook her head miserably. "Not a good idea right now."

"I'll take my chances," I said moving past her toward the stairs.

"Okay," she called behind me "But be sure to check out what she's keeping in her backpack in the bathroom before you go."

Lucy's POV

I wasn't entirely surprised to hear Matt's voice downstairs with Zoey. My mom had already texted me that he'd been there this morning. That I was surprised to hear. I thought that we were pretty much done with our whole fake relationship after last night. I was so upset that I called Zoey about 2am to find out if I could come over to her house. I didn't want to be alone.

As I sat on the side of the bed to pull on my socks, he appeared in the doorway. His brown hair longer and wavy, looking adorable. I didn't say a word. I just pulled my other sock on before reaching for my Nike's.

"I know you're pissed." He said holding his hands up.

Pissed was only one part of it but I wasn't about to let him know that. "It's not a big deal. I get where we stand. No harm done." I said evenly.

"Be serious." He blurted.

"Well I was mad at finding you at the beach with another girl and having you introduce me as your friend but I slept on it and have decided it not to take it personally," I said, my voice wavering just a bit.

"Last night wasn't what you think. I wasn't expecting you. I saw you in the hallway with that asshole's hands all over you."

"Oh yeah?" I asked "Well if you would have met me like you were supposed to then you would have found out that I was benched yesterday. I was upset and he just happened to be there. It wasn't what you thought."

He opened his mouth but didn't seem to know what to say.

"Don't worry, I get the picture. Our plan is over," I said softly. "You and I... We're just friends. I think Susan is probably more your type anyway. Low IQ and big boobs."

"Do you really think I'm that small minded?" he asked.

No, of course not. "Yeah kinda...especially since you got the wrong idea about me and Mark without even hearing my side of it. The fact that you think that I'd go back to him without giving you some sort of sign, especially after the last couple of weeks. But hey, I see now I was basically just a buddy with sleeping privileges."

"You're more than a buddy, Lucy. You're one of the best friends I have."

"Which makes me what? How about...a buddy!"

He shoved a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

I shrugged, amazed at the act I was pulling off "No lasting harm done. I'm over it. We're pretty much done here. It was all meaningless anyway. "

"That's a pretty shitty thing to say," he shook his head.

"Why? Because I'm ending this crap instead of you?" All the emotions I didn't want him to see-sadness, fear, pain-tried to break through the tough girl swagger I had going, but I beat them back.

"Fuck this," he said angrily as he turned to leave.

I sat back on the bed, foolishly wishing he'd taken me in his arms and begged forgiveness. Part of me wanted to chase him. But the part that needed self-preservation didn't move. I needed to listen to her right now.