Bittersweet - A Matthew Sturniolo Fan-fiction

03 - dinner

I took a deep breath in and raised my hand to knock on the door but before I could knock, the door swung open, revealing Chris smiling at me.

"Thought you'd never actually knock! Come inside, we are about to eat!" I forced a smile on my face and stepped inside whilst muttering a thanks to Chris.

As I walked through to the kitchen, I looked around, taking it all in. The house hadn't changed one bit since I had last been here when I was 15.

"Oh Matilda welcome in dear! So good to see you again, it's been too long!", said the voice of the angel that is Mary-Lou.

Mary-Lou has no clue what her son has been doing to me over the past few years. She just thinks that we grew apart. I am not going to correct her though, the absolute love that she so clearly has for the boys is so obvious and I would hate to do anything to damage that.

Mary-Lou embraces me in the kind of hug that makes you want to cry with the level of comfort it brings. I cling onto her tightly before letting go and smiling at her. "It's good to see you again Matilda!", said Jim coming over to give me a quick hug. "Just been busy I guess..." I lied whilst shrugging.

"Tilly! Finally I was about to march my ass over to your place", Nick says walking into the kitchen. "Hey Nick" I give him a small smile.

This feels so natural, like we never had time apart for the past 3 years because their brother suddenly had a vendetta against me.

"Well food is ready everyone, let's head through to the dining room!" Mary-Lou exclaimed, clapping her hands in an attempt to round us up.

Jim sat at the head of the table, Mary-Lou at the other end. Nick sat next to me with Chris opposite him. "Well let's dig in", Mary-Lou said as I looked down at the Chicken Alfredo on my plate.

"This looks delicious! Thanks Mary-Lou", I said giving her my biggest smile. "Well I remember it being the favourite meal in the house when the four of you were together", she replied, smiling fondly.

Just as I took my first bite, footsteps bounded down the stairs. "Mmmm I SMELL CHICKEN ALFREDO!" Matthew shouted. He sounded...happy?

As he appeared round the corner, he was smiling from ear to ear, his eyes on the plate of pasta waiting at his place on the table.

The emotions that whizzed through me had me confused. Did I- No. I then realised what I was feeling. I had missed his smile.

FUCK. No Matilda. He's been nothing but a prick to you for 3 years. One smile doesn't solve shit. He's not even smiling at you it's at a plate of fucking pasta for fucks sake.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" Matthew seethed, snapping me from my thoughts as I met his gaze.

Gone was the happy, joyful expression and back was the usual look of annoyance and hatred that I saw on him often.

"MATTHEW BERNARD STURNIOLO! You will NOT speak to Matilda like that! I have invited her over for dinner and you will be nice and welcoming to her!" Mary-Lou yelled. Mary-Lou never yelled.

Guilt instantly began to eat me up from the inside out. I didn't want to cause a rift in their relationship. "I-it's ok Mary-Lou, I think I should go anyway. It was stupid of me to come over." I murmured as I got up from the table and started to walk out of the room.

I got the the doorway and turned. "Thanks for the pasta. It was amazing just like I remembered." I said, forcing a small smile on my face for her sake, "I'll see you at school Nick and Chris. See you round Jim."

Giving a small wave, I quickly made my way to the front door. Once I was outside, I ran down the drive and into my house.

—💿🎧💿🎧💿—

As I closed the door, I leant against it, letting my head fall back onto the door. I allowed my body to slide down the length of the door and sat on the floor of the entryway. I put my head in my hands as I took deep breaths.

Fuck. Why had I thought that would be a good idea? Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't you dare fucking cry Matilda. You are stronger than this. Don't be a fucking baby u idiot.

I drew in a few more deep breaths and was startled by a knock on the door. "Who is it?" I called out. "It's me, Chris." Sighing, I opened the door and allowed him to come in.

He watched me cautiously. He was looking at me like I would break down any moment. And I wasn't sure that I wouldn't. "Wanna talk?", asked Chris.

Wanna talk. Those words were my undoing. A sob wretched itself from my throat as the tears started. I felt warm arms wrap around me as I was pulled to his body.

"Why? Why Chris? What the fuck did I do? Tell me what I did!" I sobbed desperately. Chris stroked my hair before whispering, "I don't know Tilly, I don't know why any of this is happening." Using my old nickname that only the guys and Madi use for me, he places a kiss on my forehead.

"I want to go back to how it was when we were 15 but no matter how much I try, Matt won't tell me what happened..." Chris admits quietly. 

"I want that too Chris. I want that so much. I love having Madi but I'm so lonely Chris. I feel so alone it hurts." I whispered into his chest.

"Wanna watch movies till 4am like we used to?" Chris asks looking down at me. "I would love that but rain check? We have school tomorrow and Mr Fryer is being a dick about me being late." I replied. "Of course. Friday? My place?" He asked.

I nodded, wiping my tears from my face. "Thanks Chris, I needed that", I admitted. "Anytime Tilly, you have my number okay? Text me whenever you feel like it", he said smiling as he walked towards the door after giving me a final hug. I nodded and waved as he walked out the door.

—💿🎧💿🎧💿—

I looked down at my phone to see I had a text from Nick.

Nick🤠: hey u ok? srry my brother is a douche bag. mum is pissed at him and he seems slightly guilty ngl. here if u need to talk <3

Matilda❤️‍🔥 : hey im ok ty, srry I walked out how I did, just going thru shit atm :/

Nick🤠: mum told me abt ur parents, srry abt that, must feel shit

Matilda❤️‍🔥: yh not ideal 😂 but it is wut it is im used to it atp 🤷‍♀️

Nick🤠: still sad 😕 but get a gd night sleep n I'll cya at sch tmrw 🫶

Matilda❤️‍🔥: ofc cya tmrw gn nick 🫶

Nick🤠: gn tilly 🫶

I put my phone down, got into some sweats and a tank top, and got into bed. Sleep came easily after the exhausting day I had.

Authors note:
Wow Matt rlly had to do my girl Tilly like that huh🤨
But this was my longest chapter yet! I hope you enjoyed :))
We all need a Nick and Chris and Mary-Lou in our lives fr 😩🫶