Chris left and went to his tent, leaving Matt alone with his thoughts. Matt couldn't remember when he fell in love with you, there wasn't a specific moment. It just happened. The more time he spent with you, the closer he got, the more Matt hated leaving you. When you dated other guys, he hated it.
He tried to bury himself in work and in touring. He lived in LA for a few months to try and get over you. He always went back to you.
Chris' words were a stab to the heart. He always convinced himself there was no way you could feel the same. You'd fallen in love, you told him. With Mike. You met Mike at a dinner and he asked you out. You dated him for over a year and Matt hated it. Mike belittled you in front of your friends, he controlled your time and your friends. It happened while Matt was on tour, so he hadn't been there in person.
But then your college roommate, Layla called Matt, worried about you. She told him how Mike treated you, all the things he'd done, how he manipulated you. Layla was in New York and couldn't leave because of work, but she knew Matt could go. And he did. He got the next flight out, barely packing a suitcase. He went to your apartment and told you that Layla had told him and you had a big fight over it. Matt tried to convince you that Mike manipulated your feelings, emotions and your thoughts.
He never thought you loved him. You told him so many times you loved him, but it was just as a friend. He was your Matt, but just your friend. Your best friend. It broke him as much as he tried to not let it show.
What did Christ expect him to do? Burst into your tent and confess his love for you? For you to admit you felt the same? This was reality. And in reality it was just Matt.
He stood up and put out the fire out before going to his tent. Nick was spread out in the bed, still asleep. Matt sighed and went over to his suitcase, taking off his clothes and replacing them with a shirt and pyjama pants, knowing if Nick woke up to a half naked Matt in his bed, he'd never hear the end of it.
He tried to push Nick over, but Nick didn't flinch. "Fuck you, Nick" Matt said. "Do you have to sleep like the dead?"
Matt looked around the room, looking for anything to make a makeshift bed. But there wasn't even a spare blanket.
You'd slept in the same bed before, maybe you'd let him sleep with you? Just for the night?
Matt slipped on his shoes and grabbed his flashlight and made his way over to your tent. It was quiet, except for your soft breathing and he felt at peace. He unzipped your tent and poked his head in. It was dark and he couldn't make out your figure.
"Y/N?"
A second later, he saw your body shift and your head stick up. "Matt?"
"Can I sleep with you? Nicks taking up the whole bed"
You laughed and Matt's heart started pounding. "Of course" you lifted the edge of the blanket and Matt walked towards the bed. "What time is it?"
Matt lay down beside you carefully. "Dunno. Late"
You reached out for him, fingers brushing against his henley right over his stomach, and Matt's heart seized. "Why are you lying there like a log? I don't bite" properly not, he realised.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable"
"You don't. Come here"
He moved closer to you and you turned onto your side so that your back rested against his chest, and he wound his arm around your stomach loosely, holding you to him.
"Did we wake you up?"
You rolled over and your face was inches from his. He could see your blue eyes in the dark. "I thought I heard something in the woods. Heard you instead"
How much had you heard, he wondered. Had you heard his conversation with Chris?
"You were talking about me?"
"Yeah" he whispered, taking every ounce of courage. "Y/N" he whispered. "It's always about you"
You stared at him, taking in his features. He could feel your stare and he didn't squirm. It felt like you were seeing him for the first time.
And yet, you said nothing.
"Do you want me to go?" He asked. "I can go"
You pressed your finger to his chin. "Don't go" you whispered. "I'm scared"
"I know" you blinked at him, inches away from him. "I can't pretend anymore" he could feel a shift in the air.
"Me either"
And then, you pulled his lips down to meet yours and it was like Matt's world bottomed out.
