Darling | Matty Healy

Chapter 20

"Okay, what are you drinking?" Matty yelled over the music, his hand gripping onto her shoulders and guiding her through the dark and sweaty crowd of the afterparty.

"Open bar?" Amaya asked, turning back for just a moment, her hair tickling his face and making him smile.

"Yeah!" He shrugged, leaning closer, pressing his face to the side of her head. "But let's pretend I'm paying and you're very impressed!"

"Is that right?" Amaya laughed, slightly leaning into him as he slowed down and they reached the bar. "Buy me one drink and you think I'm a sure thing?" She asked with eyebrows raised.

"Never!" He mocked, feigning pure ignorance. "What'll it be?" He asked, nudging her to the side so he could lean against the bar beside her and flag down the bartender.

"Tequila and soda with a lime."

Something about dim light, the pounding base in her ears and the smell of sweat in the air and it was like she'd never left. Her usual drink order just rolled off her tongue. Matty rolled his eyes playful at her, leaning over the bar to order for the both of them, slyly slipping his arm around her waist to pull her closer to him.

If they were anywhere else there was no way she'd let him make this much physical contact in public, but it was a private party and dark and busy enough to cloak them in a layer of privacy so she just let him. She was trying not to over analyse things, he wasn't her boyfriend ... he was just some guy she'd hooked up with a couple of times.

As far as she knew this could just be routine for him, random hookups and being overly tactile with the closest woman to him. She wasn't even sure that was a bad thing. Whatever this thing between them was, it had an expiration date. She was determined to stay single and he didn't necessarily strike her as the relationship type.

They took their drinks and crept through the crowds. People would stop to slap Matty on the back or congratulate him. He'd smile, shake his head instinctively or wave his thanks as they moved past, but his hand never left the small of her back.

They found everyone congregated by the decks. George had taken over DJ duties and Charli was documenting every second of it like a proud parent at a school assembly. Adam and his wife were sat nearby, arms draped over one another with the buzzed out tired eyes of new parents trying to hand on to their night off but desperate to curl up in a ball in bed. Ross and a guy she hasn't been introduced to yet were leant against a wall, taking turns showing each other their phones and laughing.

Eventually Matty's hand slipped away from her to join his friends in whatever they were talking about and she felt the cold chill in her spine.

Charli beckoned her over and they clinked their glasses, wrapping their arms around one another and dancing. Screaming and jumping at George like a pair of crazed super fans making him laugh. Every now and then Amaya would shift her glance the other direction, catching Matty's eye for a few seconds before looking away just as quickly.

Until she glanced over and he was gone that is.

She tried scanning the dark room for his whereabouts, immediately chastising herself for even caring. Then she felt a presence come up behind her, leaning down until a pair of faceless lips were hovering just next to her ear.

"Mind if I steal her?" She heard a familiar voice ask. Charli took in the sight before her and giggled a little before nodding and going back to dancing alone.

All the tension Amaya had felt as this masked presence came up behind her froze, and instead the tension came from knowing exactly who was pressed up behind her, head half submerged in her hair, breath tickling her cheek. He smelt of alcohol and smoke and cinnamon mixed with sweat, and it made the hairs on her arms stand on end.