Leaves, Seasons, and Dead Trees (BxB)

24. - The Things that End(ed)

"I'd like to lay in a field on a cozy blanket
and feel the fear of never wakin'
to know the warmth of the sun"

- "Burn, Burn, Burn" by Zach Bryan -

*****

Matty

Samuel has been out all afternoon, apparently on a quest for Tyson's impending birthday gift, just two days away on September 23rd. Beyond his well-defined roles as a gym devotee, a legal aficionado, and a gridiron warrior, Samuel also mentioned that the tiger harbors a penchant for hoodies, the growl of motorbikes, and the allure of trinkets and room decorations.

After jotting down a mental notepad, I decided not to join him on his quest. Instead, I extended an invitation to Iris to this apartment. She accepted without hesitation. Perhaps boredom is her own silent friend tonight.

That boredom also leads to the long-overdue sex about thirty minutes ago. Now, here we are, still sprawled across my bed. Iris's thigh cradles my head, her fingers dancing absently on her phone screen. Six dates in the making, and now our bodies just resting after the undeniable pleasure. I have to say, her head game was impressive.

I crane my neck, staring at her smile as it peeks out from behind the digital haze of her phone. A warm sensation settles on my stomach. God, she's so beautiful.

Deciding to broach a topic, I set aside my phone. "Does your team know about us?"

The Beagle chuckles, mirroring my action by setting her phone aside too. Her claws graze my temple in a feather-light touch. "'Course not, dummy. But one of my teammates has an inkling that I've got my eye on you."

"Same here," I tilt my head, catching her gaze. "One of my friends on the debate team knows, too." Her claws trace my jowl, leaving a trail of warmth. "God, your touch is so gentle, it's incredible."

"Can I vape in your room?" she suddenly asks.

"Sure, I can tolerate the sweet scent." My mind drifts to the lingering aftermath of Samuel's bathroom smoke sessions. "Unlike Sam's. I can't understand why that cat likes smoking." Sometimes, the clouded haze left behind in the bathroom irks me, but we've struck a truce; I permit it.

"Well, everybody has preferences. And... thanks, handsome." My head remains resting on her thigh as she retrieves her vape from her purse. A subtle wisp of blueberry-scented vapor dances into the air not long after. After that sex, perhaps ordering desserts is the remedy my brain seeks.

"By the way," I look at her, "do you want me to order something? Maybe-"

"I think we should stop seeing each other," she interrupts abruptly.

My face contorts as if I've bitten into a lemon. "Wait, wait... What?" I bolt upright. "Did I say or do something that upset you?"

She takes a deep drag from her vape, avoiding my eyes. "Before you judge anything, please understand that I mean it when I say that it's not you, it's me," she confesses, her voice brittle. "At first, I was up for all this rushing thing, but... you remind me of my girlfriend." Her gaze lands on me, unyielding. "And I'm scared I'll break your heart too. I... I feel like I have to tell you this."

"Wait, you're... also into girls?"

"Does it matter? Us having sex like this is still gonna make us burn in hell. But that's beside the point."

My shoulders slump. "Riz, you know that's not-"

"You're a good person, Matthew." She sits up, mirroring my posture. "Really nice, actually. But I'm not. And I don't wanna lead you on. And we... we both are carrying baggage right now, too." She looks away. "I think ending things now is better than allowing them to get worse." Her weariness becomes more prominent. "And rushing into this? It's a terrible idea in the first place. We're both being childish with ourselves."