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chapter 5

matt seriously didn't understand why every damn day he had to see ari. it's like a disaster in the making that kept fueling him in to always cause the worst to happen. first, matt is a complete duck the first day ari arrived back to town. next, he outed his fling with amara in front of sri and concluded what he what he did with other girls doesn't concern ari. and although his reasoning of being single is true, he feels so damn guilty every night when he replays the events in his head. he hated that he had his subconscious makes him feel like shit for doing bad things.

matt doesn't love ari - no way he does. it's just that he remembered how emotional and in touch with her feelings aria used to be. she grew up insecure, and matt had always been there to ensure ari she had every reason to be confident in herself. matt was always there to pick up the pieces for ari and put them back together with his love. he had never been on the other end in being the one to break ari himself. so it was a change from the last that he isn't sure he entirely enjoyed.

matt had been sitting in his room feeling restless. he tapped his fingers on his knee and impatiently bounced his leg in his seat. he knew his brothers were planning another day to hangout with ari. the message weighed heavy in his phone from when matt had received the information this morning.

matt's eyes trailed over to the clock that read almost 2:30 in the afternoon, and he was supposed to be meeting a contractor with his brothers for the location of their new podcast studio shortly. he still had half an hour before he needed to meet the lady to go over the plans, but his mind couldn't reel away from a certain girl. when the clock struck three, matt sprung up from his seat. before he shut his phone off he saw a text from nick saying that him and chris couldn't go with him to meet the contractor. he groaned before making his way out his door.

he let out another groan when he saw aria leaning over the kitchen table talking to his mom. he chewed on his bottom lip as he contemplated going over there to approach them, or jumping out the window from his room. his decision, however, was already decided when arias eyes had glanced his way.

matt saw ari take a sharp breath, her body visibly tensing when she caught sight of matt. ari's elbows were propped on top of the counter, and she slowly turned her head down to hide her face behind her hair. matt decided that he couldn't avoid them forever, and he walked over to greet them.

"hey," matt drew out, scratching the back of his head.

mary lou had looked up and offered matt a smile, "hey, matt. me and ari just had lunch together."

"really?" matt questioned as he leaned his body against the kitchen island, looking between the both of them. aria nodded her head and nervously but down on her lip. her cheeks turned a shade of pink as she slowly lifted her head back up. her green eyes still remained dull, but when matt looked into them he noticed a slight change in them. he still didn't understand what it meant, but the change he noticed seemed better.

"yeah, she was talking about finding a studio nearby for a song she is finishing up on so i told her about elmer's place," marylou admitted, suddenly widening her eyes and reaching up to grip matt's arm, "oh wow. could you ask him for us?"

matt rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. "matt," marylou sighed, "please?" he hesitantly nodded his head.

"i will later. right now i need to go visit the contractor."

"ah right, for your guys new 'baby'," marylou smiled at matt. she was so beyond proud of her boys. she knew how important this new studio was to them. it was their next big step.

matt gave his mom a side hug and turned towards the door. aria quickly turned in her spot and reached to catch up with him saying a quick goodbye to marylou, "i'll head out with you," she mumbled as she followed behind matt.