Whispers of Truth | Matt Sturniolo

𝐼𝒱

𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙤

Arabella's laughter was a melody I had missed, and now, hearing it echo through the car, it felt like the sweetest strains of classical music. I had never gathered enough courage to reach out to her again, but when Laura mentioned that she had gotten in contact with 'Priceless Glamour,' my heart skipped a beat.

I'd always appreciated Arabella's presence in our lives, even from a distance. And now, as she shared her stories and laughter with us, I couldn't help but feel grateful that she was once again a part of our world. Her infectious laughter and the familiarity of her company filled the car with warmth and nostalgia, reminding me of the enduring bonds we had shared over the years.

"Matt, oh god! What were you thinking?" Arabella's voice was filled with surprise and curiosity as Nick showed her the photo, a memory I had thought was long buried and forgotten in, something I had never imagined would resurface.

As I watched, I couldn't help but feel a mix of nostalgia and mild embarrassment. The photo Nick held was a snapshot from my past, a relic of my youthful, adventurous spirit. And it prominently featured me, with a giant 'M' buzzed into my hair. Three bold lines adorned the right side of my head, a daring and bold style I had once sported.

The memory of that time rushed back, and I couldn't help but laugh at my audacity, as well as the vivid recollection of that exact moment when I decided to go all in with that bold hairstyle. As Nick and Arabella examined the photo, I playfully teased, "Okay, this is supposed to be Arabella reacting to our 'fits— not my tragic ass hair, get that shit outta here"

Arabella placed her hand on my shoulder, offering a reassuring and teasing response to my irritation. "Relax, lover boy, it's not nearly as bad as the photos you found of me last night," she quipped, referring to some amusing or perhaps embarrassing pictures from her own past.

My reaction was swift and filled with mock exasperation. I rolled my eyes and bit down on my tongue to suppress a smile, clearly irritated with the overrated and overused nickname "lover boy." I couldn't resist firing back with a playful threat, "Call me that shit one more time and I'll fuckin' drop some embarrassing dirt about you."

"STOP! DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER WHEN CHRIS HAD SHORT HAIR?" Nick suddenly interjected, offering yet another photo that had one primary focus– hair, though this time it was Chris. It was evident that, in our trip down memory lane, hairstyles were becoming the highlight of the video. As Nick displayed the photo, Chris's fingers grazed over Arabella's in an attempt to get a better look at his own past appearance.

 My reaction, though light-hearted, was marked by my face contorting into a slightly jealous expression. I turned my attention to Nick's phone, scrutinizing Chris's short hair and the memory it represented. I couldn't help but glance at the photo, noting Chris's slightly twitched lip, his royal blue hoodie, and the humorous caption that poked fun at his algebra grade.

As the conversation flowed, Arabella decided to share a candid and somewhat embarrassing confession with Chris. She leaned in and addressed him with a mix of honesty and humor, seeking his permission before divulging this story to our online audience.

"Can I be completely honest with you right now, Chris?" Arabella inquired, locking eyes with him. Chris responded with a friendly and confident nod, his expression carrying a subtle hint of curiosity. "Sure, is it something you're comfortable having on the internet?" he asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

Arabella's candid admission drew a range of emotions from the group. As her words hung in the air, I couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy and anger coursing through me. Her playful exasperation as she responded to Chris's question was met with a sense of vulnerability that lent authenticity to her confession.

With a nostalgic smile, Arabella continued to unravel her story, allowing us to glimpse into her teenage world. "I had the biggest crush on you," she reiterated, her eyes alight with the vivid memory. Her tone held a hint of wonder, as if she had transported herself back in time to that moment. "I vividly remember seeing you walk into class that day and thinking to myself, '𝘖𝘩 𝘨𝘰𝘥, 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦.'"