putty in your hands

Chapter VII

Matt and I had breakfast at a nearby cafe and now we're chatting while he drinks tea and I drink cappuccino.
He curiously drags out more information about me, wanting to get to know me better, so I tell him more about my job, that I currently live alone in a rented apartment, but I would like to have a kitten maybe... I explain that Sarah and Alex are my best friends and that my parents live in another city about an hour's drive away from here.
He listens intently, absorbing all the details as he plays with my fingers on the table and sometimes gently squeezes my hand.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice how paparazzi is "subtly" taking pictures of us, but Matt doesn't seem to pay attention to him. All I need is for our picture to appear in the local paper. I think to myself.
I glance over the cafe watching a group of people heading for the exit, and when the passage clears my eyes fall on Steven who is looking at us. I look away quickly, pretending I didn't see anything because I don't want Matt to notice my nervousness, nor do I want to give Steven a reason to approach us.
Matt pulls cigarettes and a lighter out of his pocket, and it catches my attention.
"You smoke?" I nod my head towards the pack of cigars while he pulls out one and puts it between his lips.
"Socially," he explains, then offers me one.
"No thanks. I got rid of them finally, it was a tough fight.", he smiles as he throws the box on the table. "Now it's your turn to tell me something about yourself," I sweetly remind him.
"Hmm.. I have a dog named Bobby," he says proudly, "you should see him, he's bonkers."
"Really? What breed?" I enthusiastically ask him which only increases his excitement as he talks about his dog. He obviously adores him.
"Irish terrier, he's now 2 years old and he's a real puffy."
"He's not here with you? I haven't noticed him the other night in the apartment."
"No, he's not. But I'm planning on bringing him here. This weekend I'll go home, my mom does me a favor and takes care of him when I'm not around."
Our conversation is interrupted by the man who I caught taking pictures of us earlier.
"Hi Matt" Matt looked up at him as he took a drag of his cigar. The man extends his hand to greet him and Matt shakes it, uninterested.
"Jim Cooper from New Currents Magazine. Would you be willing to spare a couple of moments for a few questions?", he asked him politely.
I, of course, act like I don't know what this is about, so I frown,  acting confused. Jim greets me too, smiling kindly.
"I'm busy at the moment," Matt points his hand towards me, "as you can see I'm in company and I think it would be extremely rude of me to interrupt our conversation because of a few questions you would like to ask. If the magazine you work for wants an interview, I believe that you and your colleagues know the procedure for scheduling it.", he replies nonchalantly, comfortably leaning back in his chair.
"Sure, but I thought...", Jim tries again.
"Jim.. was it? Don't be rude." And that's enough of a clue for Jim to thank Matt anyway and leave us alone.
I look questioningly at Matt, a smile resting on the edge of my lips, still pretending to be clueless.
"What was that all about?", I ask him while he takes another drag, then takes a sip of tea.
"Well, you saw.", he puts out his cigar and stares at me, expecting my reaction. I think he knows I'm playing pretend. I thought I did something there, but in reality he just let me play my game.
I spread a smile across my face. I'm caught. "You know I know?"
"What? That I'm an actor?", he huffs.
I nod mischievously "mhmm"
"I wasn't quite sure. But I assumed you were playing with me... and I liked that little game of yours. So I've let you play it."
"I declare guilty." I answer sweetly, and he caresses my cheek.
"I have to go to the toilet, I'll be right back.", he winks at me and leaves.
I take a sip of cappuccino and stare out through the window.
"Hey, Eleanor.", I know that voice very well. I look up and see Steven smiling at me.
"How are you?", he asks me.
"Good. Until you decided to approach me, I was even better.", rage is already growing inside of me.
"You're not going to ask me how I am?"
"I really don't care."
"So you haven't changed." I roll my eyes. What a jerk. "Who's that guy you're here with?"
"None of your business."
"New boyfriend?" he continues to poke around.
"None of your fucking business!" I shout as Matt approaches the table. He looks at me, then at Steven.
"Is everything okay Eleanor?", Matt asks me protectively "Is he bothering you?"
"No," I shot Steven a look, "he's just leaving."
"That's right.", Steven agrees.
Matt follows Steven with his eyes as he leaves the cafe.  He then switches his attention to me "Who was that?" He asks me calmly.
"Just someone I used to know." I answer him before taking a sip of my coffee. "But you mentioned that you are going away for the weekend?", I quickly change the subject.
"That's right," Matt remembers, "I'm going to London, so I'll probably bring Bobby with me."
"Wonderful!", I smile, not taking eyes off of him.
"What is it?", he asks me.
"I think I'm going to miss you.", I admit a little wistfully.
He takes my hand, brings it to his lips and kisses my palm. "I think the missing will be reciprocal."
We stay in the cafe for another half an hour or so, then Matt asks for the bill. We have to part ways, he has rehearsals and I have that boring project waiting for me. We agree to meet at his place tonight. We share a hug in front of the cafe before we go separate ways, hoping that paparazzi aren't around anymore.
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Sarah and Alex visit me around noon to have a lunch together. We open the Chinese food they picked up along the way, and I ask them how their night out with Matt's friends was. "Wait, what are their names, I can't recall?", I questioned while giving them forks.
"Paul and Liam.", Alex responds. We throw little pillows on a fluffy carpet in the living room and sit around the coffee table.
"Sarah has her eyes set on Paul," he adds, and Sarah rolls her eyes.
"Wow," I react
"It's nothing, he's just totally cool." Sarah says in defend. 
"Hmm,  you should've seen her dance moves when he's around." Alex teases her, my eyes widen dramatically.
"You'll have to teach me, girl.", I wink at her.  After 10 minutes of teasing Sarah, she finally admits that she likes Paul and tells us they set up a date for the weekend. Alex then tells us how his master studies are progressing, and after that comes the inevitable question: "What's new with Matt?"
I briefly inform them that for now we're casually hanging out, no strings attached, and that I have no idea how that will progress in the future. I mention paparazzi to them, and also tell them we ran into Steven, or the other way around. "That's terrible",Alex comments, "I don't know how he's not ashamed to approach you after everything that happened. "
"Me and you both" I add
"You're not going to give in this time, are you?" Sarah asked me cautiously.
"What is that supposed to mean?", I retort offended.
Alex interjects "We just don't want him to convince you to make up with him again. He was bad for you."
"Do not worry.", I calm them down. "I know better now. That's not going to happen."