𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 & 𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦, 𝐦. 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨

²⁶

"i still think this is way too scary," hope laughed as she sat in her room with matt.

"we have to tell them at one point and we're all together today so it's the perfect time. we can just slide it in somewhere," matt pointed out and hope nodded her head.

"what time did your family say they were coming again?" she asked as she fiddled with the rim of her sweater.

"in about an hour because justin was at his friend's house," he confirmed and she hummed in response.

"are you nervous?" he questioned after a few moments of silence.

"not nervous... i don't know," she groaned in frustration.

"tell me what's wrong," he told her as he noticed the difference in her demeanour.

"it's nothing," she brushed off and he frowned.

"hope, something is clearly bothering you. come on, tell me what's up," matt pressed and watched as hope laced their fingers together.

"our families will be happy right?" hope pondered aloud, her mind trailing off to the numerous possibilities that had been circling her mind the entirety of the night before and the morning.

"that's what you're worried about?" matt saw hope nod her head from the corner of his eyes and he shook his own fondly.

"did you see the way nick and chris reacted? pretty sure my parents have been itching for something to happen between us and i don't think yours would disagree. we've done this before hope, it's going to be okay," he comforted her with his words and let some joy work its way onto his face as hope's eyes brightened up.

"okay... okay, good," she nodded her ahead, letting her boyfriend's words sink in and reassure her.

"you know, i was actually planning on telling you properly but then that stuff at the restaurant just happened. i literally don't know what came over me," matt explained to the girl beside him as he admired her carefully coordinated outfit.

"at least it got us somewhere. actually, speaking about that, are we going to tell our parents that's how it happened?" hope chuckled and matt's eyes widened.

"no, god no! we'll just say it happened and that they don't get to ask questions," matt laughed nervously.

"have you met my mother? she will grill me eventually," hope reminded matt and he sighed loudly.

before he could respond, there was a knock at the door. hope quickly granted the person outside access and the door opened to reveal dylan with an apron and an exhausted expression plastered across his face.

"if you guys don't come downstairs, that woman will kill me. it's going to be on my tombstone, cause of death; selena dalton. please save me and come down, for my life's sake," dylan declared dramatically before he joined in on the laughter the two teenagers were sharing at his declaration.

"there's a strong urge to just leave you to suffer," hope mumbled with a shit-eating grin.

"do not even try that. how many times have i got you out of situations with mum?" dylan reminded his daughter with a knowing grin on his face.

"that was like one time!" hope scoffed and dylan directed his words towards matt.

"matt, one time hope over here-" he started but hope raised her pillow in warning.

"okay! we're coming, you can stop," she said anxiously and matt gave a curious look but didn't push on the matter any further.

"down in five minutes or i tell your story to a confession page and make sure they tag you," her dad threatened and his daughter gave him a threatening look in return before she agreed that they would be downstairs as demanded.