Switched Up For you | Matthew Sturniolo

02 - tangled

Nate drove us back home for me to get my belongings and change into a different pair of sweatpants and throw on a sweater that belonged to me after giving an ‘honorable’ speech about how I should stop stealing his clothes. After, we drive across town, blasting a mix of our music taste before arriving at the triplets home.

Nick opens the door for us and ushers us into their living room where Matt was cuddled up under a blanket, a slight sound emerging from his phone. He didn't even look up at me but he definitely looked up at Nate when suddenly Chris’s loud footsteps march from above us as he sharply turns around a corner and leaps in our direction with a big goofy smile.

“Nate-y bear!” He shouts, jumping into my brother's arms.

I looked around the room quickly when I spotted a girl with long black hair pressed against the dining table. It was Madi. Now me and Madi have always gotten along leading me to have a little bit more of a relationship with Nick. I approach her with a warm embrace before sitting beside her and firing up a random conversation, Nick joining in often as he makes some popcorn; a variety of seasonings filling the countertops.

The three other boys behind us talk and laugh, showing one another funny videos and relating on a different level. “So how have you been?” Madi questions, munching on a bowl of strawberries, her phone screen dimming in her hand from lack of activity.

“It's been..loud” I joke earning a light hearted laugh but to be honest, I'm constantly bothered with the sound of my siblings recently and it didn't make it any better that we lived in a popular area where people were always passing through and causing ruckus.

“Well I missed you.” She smiles, I open my mouth to respond to the sweet words before being rudely interrupted with the sounds of a disagreement from the background. “I'm picking out the movie-!” Chris argues, “I literally told you I was!” Matt hollers. “Give me the remote” Chris demands. I watch my brother; Nate sits entertained at the conflict.

“Both of you stop before we get another noise complaint. Let the girls pick the movie out” Nick smirks, he knows what he's doing. Ever since we were younger, me and Madi were always allowed to pick the movie for movie nights and well for about two months we wanted Rapunzel, lets just say we were banned from picking after that.

“Oh my god, yes!” Madi says softly, turning around and clapping her hands. The boy's faces drop into a mush of disappointment.

“Tangled!” I cheer, popping one of Madi’s strawberries into my mouth as Nate groans and leans back into the couch. Once Nick finished we all migrated onto the couch and dimmed down the lights. Me and Madi snuggled up on one side while Chris, Nate, Nick and Matt practically piled onto one another just to give us plenty of space to roam freely.

“I can't believe we're watching this stupid movie again” Chris complained, earning a slap in the chest from Nick, “Just shut up”. 

Matt found the movie with ease and started it. I sat happily and reached for some popcorn from the large bowl. Everyone was quiet, the only sounds major being slow yawns and the sound of camel chewing emerging from Chris’s mouth. It disgusted me. I went to reach back at the bowl from my brother's lap when my hand slightly dragged on someone else's. I looked down and followed the slender fingers up to see Matt's ominous face, he quickly turned his head and pulled his hand away.

His dark blue eyes reflecting from the television screen, I saw something in them but I couldn't quite make it out, instead I just casually went back to what I was doing.

After about an hour and a half when the movie had finally ended I found myself being squished by Nate snoring in my ear and Madi’s legs digging into my side. I wedged my way through and stood, lost popcorn bits falling onto the carpet as I patted myself down. I looked back to see a row of everyone peacefully sleeping except for Matt, his eyes were blinking slowly as he tried to make me out from the screen of his phone. I Ignored his gaze and took off Nate's hat, setting it on the coffee table before removing his shoes and positioning him into a more comfortable position gently.

Lastly taking the bowl to rest in the sink.

Matt slips from under Chris’s arms and steps quietly past me while I try to pick up, I hear his bedroom door open and close gently. The sounds of ruffling sheets from the other wall. I resumed what I was doing – just cleaning, thinking about the fact that Matt didn't even tell me goodnight or offer to help me pick up. But it wasn't important. I was the guest overall.

Once I finished I went to sit down on the sofa at the end with minimal space. I made it work, sharing the blanket with Chris; our toesies touching as I drifted off to sleep.