Mind Over Matter || Mattheo Riddle

F U C K O F F

*MATTHEO*

Once madame Pomfrey left me, the guys and J alone, I turn to the girl on the bed again. I can see her biting the skin off her lips as she picks at her cuticles on her right hand.

I crouch beside the bed once again and she looks at me. "I need you to tell me what actually happened, Mattheo." My heart warms when I hear my name-it doesn't come out of her mouth often.

"Later, yeah?" I ask, and she nods. Theodore clears his throat from behind me.

"What did you do to her, Riddle?" He actually seems mad. Wow, I didn't know he had it in him. "She passed out from lack of energy, she was weak. We all know she's been eating and sleeping-which leaves you hurting her."

I raise my eyebrows as I stand, looking down at him slightly as I'm about two inches taller than him. "You, of all people, should know I would never even begin to think about hurting Jules."

I think back to the last few months-the nights I've spoken to Theodore about her, the times he's called me out on staring. I truly cannot believe he would accuse me of such a thing. Dickhead.

Theo takes a step toward me and crosses his arms. "I don't care what you wouldn't think, I care what you wouldn't do." He tells me, looking me dead in the eyes. "And, well..." he chuckles, "we all know your history. Your blood. What you're capable of."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Draco start walking toward us. Lorenzo has to pull him back.

"You're going to bring up my father, now?" I feel myself smirking. I know I'll be an asshole for bringing it up-but he deserves it now. He knows we don't bring up family during fights. "What about your father, Nott? Your mother's mysterious death?"

"Come on, you guys know we don't-" Enzo starts, but Theo interrupts.

"We know, Berkshire."

*JULIA*

I feel sick to my stomach.

I look to Draco and Lorenzo for help, but they look as panicked as me.

I force myself to stand out of the bed-which makes me feel even worse-and I'm standing right behind Mattheo. I walk around him, so I can see both him and Theo, and they look scarily alike.

Both of their jaws are clenched and they both have their arms crossed. Nothing is being said, but I can tell that's worse than if there were things being said.

"Mattheo, stop, you're-" I try to calm him down, stupidly, because I know he won't hold back when it comes to hurting someone who accused him of being like his father.

His voice is sharp and I hate it. "Thatcher, don't fucking dare. This doesn't concern you."

I scoff, but I'm hurt. "You don't have to swear at me, jerk." It's the absolute worst thing I've ever tried using to hurt someone. Who says jerk? No one says jerk.

I think my voice gives me away for being upset, because Theodore looks away from Mattheo and instead at me. His face is still toned with anger, but he's trying to see if I'm okay. As if he's not the one who's about to get beat the shit out of.

Before Theo can say anything-which I think he does want to do-Mattheo speaks. "This isn't about her, Nott. Look at me." Theo does. Mattheo is the one to look at me next. "I told you to fuck off, didn't I?"

"Mattheo." Lorenzo warns, his voice almost as hard as Mattheo's.

"No, Lorenzo, he's right. He did tell me to fuck off." I don't take my eyes away from Riddle's. "And he won't need to again, I'm leaving." I have to focus not to let my voice waver-I'm not about to let him think I'm crying over him, because he's not worth that. "But, you know, your petty little boy fight does concern me."

Riddle starts to look annoyed. I look at Theo.

"Hope you win, Nott."

I leave as quickly as I can, before I even register that Mattheo was mad at me.

I don't get very far before I hear Lorenzo call my name. When I turn around, Lorenzo and Draco are following me together.

"What was Mattheo talking about? With Theo's dad?" I asked, crossing my arms across my chest.

Draco shakes his head, putting his arm around me and turning me around to make me continue walking with them. "You can ask him later, that's not my place to say."

•••

Draco and Lorenzo bring me to their dorm. I want to go to my own, but I don't say anything to them about it.

"Look, Theo and Mattheo might be a while. What do you want to do while we wait for them?" Lorenzo asks, sitting on his bed.

"We have, uh..." Draco struggles. "Nail polish."

I tilt my head slightly in confusion.