GIRL NEXT DOOR- Matt Sturniolo

-11-

Matt's POV

I parked the car a little down the road so Nick and Chris won't see it and we made our way to Olivia's house.

She unlocked the door and we walked inside. I was looking around, surprised by the way her house looked so...

"Similar like your guys' house, I know." she said catching me off guard.

"Do you read minds or what?" I asked her as she laughed.

She then told me what her plans were for decorating her house. We walked up the stairs to her bedroom. I was standing awkwardly in the middle of her room when she spoke up, slightly amused.

"You know, you can sit down on the bed while you wait for me. Or you can come in the bathroom with me."

"Okay, sorry." I said chuckling.

We walked into her bathroom and she opened a drawer, pulling out some make-up. I could never understand how girls are able to tell the difference between all those products.

"Okay, so I was thinking we could go to your house and when they ask if I got the job I tell them that I didn't." Livi explained her plan.

"Sounds good to me, do you think they're gonna fall for it?" I asked her, knowing that my brothers might not buy it.

"Not like this, but with a runny mascara and a fuck ton of blush, they might." she said confidently.

She turned to face her mirror and started putting black pencil under her eyes. She then rubbed her eyes, her mascara and liner smudging a little bit.

"Okay, that's a good start, it just needs to look more like I just got my heart broken by the love of my life." she said so that we could both get the right vision. I thought about it for a second and then asked her something.

"Is your make-up waterproof?"

"No, not really. Why?"

"Can I try something?" I asked.

"Uhh, sure.. go ahead." Livi said confused.

I grabbed some cotton pads and turned on the sink, soaking them under the running water. I squeezed them to get the excess water out and I turned to her. I placed a hand under her chin and lifted it so she was looking at me.

When her eyes met mine, I felt my heart skip a beat. They say the eyes are the mirror to your soul. If that's the case, hers show nothing but strength and kindness. Pretty face and pretty soul, this girl's got it all. But why am I feeling like this?

"Close your eyes." I told her softly. As soon as she closed them, I gently pressed the cotton pad on one of her eyes, dragging it down her face, leaving a black trail behind. I did the same to the other one and turned her around so she could see herself in the mirror.

"Oh...my god. I look like a fucking raccoon." the girl said and my face dropped. "It's perfect!" she continued and grabbed what I could only assume was blush.

After she applied it to her face, she looked in the mirror but she seemed... unsatisfied?

"What's wrong? I asked her.

"My eyes need to look more sad, like I just finished crying....I KNOW!" she gasped and ran to her room, only to come back with a small bag.

"What's in there?" I asked watching her as she pulled out a small plastic box and a bottle filled with some sort of liquid.

She put the liquid into the 2 compartments of the box and leaned closer to the mirror. Olivia raised her hands to her eyes and ...

"Woah be careful. Don't poke your eye out." I said, making her laugh.

"I won't, trust me. I just need to take out my contacts." she replied.

"I didn't know you wear contacts."

"Yeah, they're pretty subtle."

She put her contacts in the box and the make-up she used back in the drawer. She turned to look at me and wow, her eyes were red. It was the finishing touch she needed for this look.

"Hey Matt, did you see a black box by any chance?" she asked me. I looked around and after I saw it, I answered her.

"Yeah, it's over there."

"Over where?" she turned to look but somehow, not seeing it.

"Over there Olivia. On your bed. How do you not see it?" I asked her as I laughed a little bit.

"I'm fucking blind Matthew, how the fuck am I supposed to see a black box on a black surface?" she asked, making me stop laughing. I walked and grabbed the box, giving it to her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't expect it to be THAT bad." I said trying to keep my composure, or else I'd start laughing even more.

"Fuck you!" she said, opening the box and putting on a pair of glasses. I looked at her, amazed by how this girl could make anything look good.

"You're really pretty with your glasses on, you know?" I said as she turned to look at me. "Not that you're not pretty without them. You're pretty all the time, but they look really good on you." I stuttered. Why did I stutter? She seemed to be surprised by my compliment, the colour on her cheeks deepening a little bit.

"Thanks, umm...we should probably get going." Livi said as she left the room, me following closely behind.

Chris' POV

Me and Nick were sitting in the living room, waiting for Matt and Liv to come back. I was excited to hear about her interview, but Nick? Oh, Nick was ecstatic.

As we were watching something on TV, we heard the front door open and people coming up the stairs.

"We're back!" Matt shouted, which made Nick turn to look at me, then back at the stairs.

"How was it?" he asked excitedly as I smiled.

But when Liv reached the top of the stairs, my face dropped. Her make-up was running and her eyes were red. She looked heartbroken.

"Oh my god, what happened?" I asked as I rushed to her.

"It didn't go as planned...I fucked up! I fucked it all up!" she said, her voice shaking.

I didn't say anything else, I just pulled her in for a hug as she sobbed quietly. Nick was rubbing her back, both of us just trying to comfort the girl crying in my arms. Matt was standing next to the stairs with a look I couldn't recognise. But he wasn't looking at Nick or Olivia. He was looking at me and my hands on her back. And he looked...mad? My thought were interrupted by Nick's voice.

"It's gonna be okay, Liv. There's no need to be upset. We'll be here for you, okay?" he said as the girl looked at us.

"You'll be here for me?" she asked quietly.

"Of course, Olivia. No matter what." I replied.

"Even if..." she turned and looked at Matt, who gave her a slight nod. "Even if I tell you this is a prank?" she said, smiling mischievously.

author note
woah matty b what's going on inside that little head of yours?
-take care you guys,
T <2