Till We Faked It - Chris and Matt Sturniolo

The history book on the shelf

I've wanted to be an actress ever since I was little, but I needed to start somewhere. After years of lessons, I was ready to make my first break. I was going to star in a film produced by one of the biggest industries in America. So I packed my things, and moved to L.A. to start filming.

I board the plane and find my seat next to a guy my age.

"I love your outfit," he says. I reply with a quick "thank you" and squeeze past him to take my seat.

"I'm sorry, I think I know you," The boy next to me says, "what's your name?"

I swiftly turn my head to him and say, "Rose Masons, yours?"

He responds, "Nick Sturniolo. Where did-" I interrupt.

"Nick! It's been so long." I giggle. Nick & I had been close friends throughout the school year, but we lost contact around junior year as I had moved districts away.

"Yes! I knew I recognized you somewhere. What brings you to L.A.?" He asks. He looks so different, his face had changed drastically as if the seasons were changing.

"I had actually been casted to be in a movie." I state.

"Wow that's amazing! We would love if you would stay with us for a little. L.A. is a big change, and we would be glad to help you know your way around," he worries.
"You can stay over my place to get settled in if you'd like," he continues, "we would be completely fine with that."

"We?" I say. "Who else might I meet?"

"Well, I'm sure you remember Matt & Chris?"

"Of course, how could I forget" I laugh.

He laughs. "Chris talks about the beef you had shared all the time. He spent an entire vlog talking about it." He continues, "I'm surprised you hadn't seen it. Our fanbase was hooked on trying to find out who you were."

"I'm so happy it worked out for you guys. I remember Chris would always tell me how he's gonna be someone, and it didn't surprise me to see that you guys were so successful."

After several hours, the flight lands and Nick and I began to unpack our things and start packing it into his brother's car.

"Rose! It's been so long!" Matt says, widening his arms for a hug. "I'm so glad you're here. I'm sorry but Chris would have been here too if he didn't realize who you were."

The guilt was consuming me. although It had been years, I never got the chance to formally apologize to Chris. "Yeah, I'm gonna have to talk to him." I say, the boy's nodding in agreement.

"Rose your fine with sleeping on the couch right?" Nick asks.

"No it's fine, she's our guest- she can sleep in mine." Matt replied.

Soon we arrive to a very nice house, and a gasp escapes my lips. I had only dreamt about being this successful. Matt opens the door for me and leads me to his room.

"Here I'll help you unpack," He offers, grabbing some of my clothes and putting them in his closet. What would be an hour of unpacking quickly turned into a couple minutes with Matt's help, and through the crack in the door I see Chris. He walks back to the door and starts to stare through.

"Chris say hi!" Matt says.

As Chris walks through the door, a thousand thoughts fluttered throughout my mind. He had looked so different, enough to send me in a coma. Over the years, my memory of him slowly blurred and soon he had been nothing but a scripture. But now, him standing right in front of me, it was everything I would imagine.

Chris groans. "Why are you following us stalker." He says. 

Matt speaks for me and says, "Chris it's been years. Surely you can get over whatever happened and start new."

"That's gonna take awhile. You broke my heart Rose. Never said sorry, either. Just moved away to escape everyone. How do you think that makes me feel." He shuts the door before anything can escape my breath.

Chris & I had dated in the past. He argues that I played him, whilst I argue that it was inevitable. We had dated since 6th grade up until our senior year of high school. But, I had moved away suddenly — practically ghosting him in real life. I had not been given the chance to say goodbye. If I was given the chance, I never would've.

"I'm sorry Chris is acting like that. He'll get over it." Matt says, jumping on the bed he had previously made. I had left to go get changed, and when I came back he was passed out. I quietly lay myself on the bed and just as I had gotten settled I had heard a knock at the door.

I slowly creak open the door, "Matt's asleep, so be quiet." I say, lifting my eyes from the doornob and onto the boy infront of me. It was Chris. My eyes widened. 

"You can drive right?"