𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐒 | mattheo riddle

eightteen 𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐒

・・・❦・・・

THEY WERE TANGLED UP in each other, the warmth of mattheo's body wrapped around vanessa like a protective shield. his arm was draped over her waist, his hand resting softly on her belly, tracing lazy circles. the moonlight spilled into the room from the tall window beside the bed, casting a soft glow on their faces. the whole thing felt surreal, like a moment stolen from a dream. they'd finally said the words that had been eating at them for so long, and now... here they were. 

"you know," mattheo's voice was low, almost a whisper, "i don't even remember when i started pretending to hate you." 

vanessa laughed softly, pressing her cheek against his chest. "i do. that first party at the beginning of the year. you looked at me like you wanted to hex me right then and there." 

"you were staring right back," he shot back, his tone playful. "like you'd already planned my funeral." 

she grinned, her fingers tracing along his bare skin, feeling the steady thump of his heart under her hand. "maybe i had. i don't know ... i just ... from the second i saw you, i knew you were trouble. but then ... you weren't the kind of trouble i thought you'd be." 

mattheo's lips curved into a smirk. "oh, so what kind of trouble am i?" 

vanessa tilted her head to look up at him, her eyes meeting his. "the good kind. the kind that makes my heart race, but in a good way." 

his smirk softened into a smile, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "i was a goner the moment i saw you." he paused for a second, his eyes glinting in the soft moonlight. "you know that, right?" 

she rolled her eyes. "you're so full of it." 

"no, seriously," he insisted, tightening his arm around her. "i hated it. i hated how much i liked you. so, i guess pretending to hate you was easier. until it wasn't." 

vanessa smiled at that, her fingers tracing random patterns across his chest, her mind drifting as the silence between them grew comfortable, just the sound of their breathing and the faint music playing softly in the background filling the space. but as her fingers moved lower, she felt mattheo freeze slightly, his hand stilling on her stomach. 

"what's this?" he asked suddenly, his fingertips brushing over a small tattoo on her belly. 

vanessa blinked, momentarily confused, then realized what he was talking about. the tiny crescent moon etched into her skin. 

"oh," she said, laughing a little. "that. it's just... a moon. i like moons, i guess." 

"since when do you have a tattoo?" he asked, his brow furrowed like he was seeing her for the first time all over again. 

"since last year," she shrugged, biting her lip. "izzy and i got them together. she got a sun, i got the moon." 

he raised an eyebrow. "izzy? that bitch has a friendship tattoo with you?" 

"yup," she sighed, shaking her head. "honestly, it feels kind of stupid now. she did me so wrong, but ... i still kind of like it. even though it will probably always remind me of her." 

"you should like it," he murmured, brushing his thumb over the design. "it suits you. mysterious, a little dark, but beautiful." 

vanessa felt her cheeks heat up at his words, though she rolled her eyes to play it off. "wow, cheesy much?" 

mattheo chuckled, then there was a pause before he sat up suddenly, pulling her with him so they were both sitting, facing each other. his expression had changed, something more serious behind his dark eyes.