Switched Up For you | Matthew Sturniolo

04 - reminisce

long chapter so strap in

"So how are the burns?" Madi asked softly through my phone that was propped on my vanity, I pulled my sleep shorts up a little and showed her the irritated marks that were healing rather quickly. It's only been about a week since the incident and Nate decided to invite the triplets over just to hangout and play a few games. I was sort of excited to see Nick and I didn't know why I just craved his energy.

I never really had a problem with Nick. "They look way better" Madi smiles, trying to lighten the mood a little more. I shrugged and continued to finish up my makeup, occasionally looking down to speak to the brunette when I suddenly heard loud commotions emerge from the living room, I told Madi and hung up. Texting her after to let her know that I'd call her later.

I leaped to my door and heard many familiar voices, cracking it a bit to peek down the hall to be jumpscared by Chris who fell into a laughing fit from the unintentional scare. It was contagious. I had no choice but to laugh at myself but once we caught our breath he handed me a small bottle of what looked like lotion "A gift..wow!" I smile, reading the front before glaring back up at him.

"Burn cream!" He grins before laughing again at the stupidity of the gift knowing that he's a week late but I didn't want to be rude. "Thank you so much" I giggled, leaning forward to place a light platonic kiss on his cheek when Nate appeared around the corner.

"Let's keep it pg you two" He taunted in a suggestive tone, with a goofy smile in which he earned a playful punch from Chris. "Aria, are you going to play mario with us?" He laughed, Chris's eyes turning to mine; a twinkle of desperation hiding in them.

"Maybe, maybe not, I don't know." I toss the gift Chris gave me on my bed and lean on my door frame. Silence surrounded us for a moment when I caught Chris's eyes analyzing me. I turned up my nose and rolled my eyes over to my brother. Nate had smacked Chris upside his head and pulled him away.

"Don't look at my sister like that" He scolded in a joking way, his Boston accent thick from the quick change of tone. I laughed and closed my door knowing that Nate has always teased me and Chris ever since our useless relationship that lasted only a few months last year but we left it on good terms and barely even remember it anytime we are around one another, well for me at least. Overall, Chris has always just been sweet.

I sigh and pick up the bottle from my comforter and read over every tiny label just to find out the burn cream was for babies and I wasn't quite sure if it was on purpose or not which was honestly a saddening thought but Chris was just always a little behind to say the least but I thought it was amusing so I took a photo of it and posted it on my instagram story tagging Chris with a few orange heart emojis; his favorite. Hopefully people will think it's funny.

A few hours flew by, I've heard the boys yell in victory and scream in despair but now that it's later into the evening they have been told to keep it down, I've remained on facetime with Madi.

"I just saw your insta story" She giggles, "Yeah Chris got it for me" I smile warmly at the thought, analyzing the bottle some more. "And how's that going..?" Her soft tone forms into a more serious one, her long lashes batting at me. "What do you mean?"

"Oh please. There's definitely something there.
You and Chris have chemistry. I've been saying that for so long." "Madi, come onnn, that was like forever ago. He's barely even my friend anymore" I scoff. "Is that why you still have your polaroids together?" She points out with a cocky smile, I glance at the row of photos along the side of my wall. "Or how about how you still have your chris box-"

"Okay okay I get it."I interrupt, shaking my head.

"I mean it would be too weird now. I mean he has his priorities set on his career and his brothers. He's growing on youtube and I'm not trying to interfere, plus I don't even know how Nate would react." "He always points out your guys flirting, Im sure he wouldn't care"