LES || matt sturniolo

𝟎𝟑𝟏. come home

CHAPTER 031 -
╰┈➤ ' come home ' ೃ⁀➷ 
「 real life 」

─ real life ☼

THE DAYS FOLLOWING MATT'S CONFESSION HAD BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF EMOTIONS FOR VIVIENNE. as they lay together on matt's bed, vivienne nestled against his side, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. the afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting a soft glow that made the moment feel almost magical.

"i can't believe you got suspended," she teased lightly, tracing patterns on his arm with her fingertips.

matt chuckled, the sound deep and comforting. "yeah, well, i did break his nose, viv. but i'd do it again if it meant standing up for you."

she sighed, glancing up at him. "you're sweet, but you really need to find better ways to handle things."

he turned serious for a moment, the warmth in his eyes fading slightly. "i know, but it was hard to just let what he did to you slide. you mean too much to me."

vivienne felt a flutter in her chest at his words, but before she could respond, her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the peaceful atmosphere. she reached for it, glancing at the screen. it was rio.

"ugh," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "it's rio. we haven't spoken since the pictures got out."

"do you want to answer it?" matt asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"i guess i should," she said reluctantly, the knot in her stomach tightening. she sat up, tucking her hair behind her ear as she swiped to answer. "hey, rio."

"vivienne, you need to come home and talk to me," rio pleaded, his voice strained. "i can't keep doing this."

"what do you want me to say?" she shot back, trying to keep her frustration in check. "i'm not a kid anymore, and i can't keep getting pulled into your drama."

"drama? you call this drama?" he exclaimed. "it's not just about you! it's about family. we need to stick together."

"i know that, but i have my own life to live!" she replied, her heart racing. "you don't even know what's going on with me. you just assume things."

"because i care! and i'm worried about you," he insisted, his tone softening slightly. "i don't want you to get in trouble."

"then maybe you should try to understand what i want for once!" she snapped, glancing back at matt, who was watching her with a mixture of concern and sympathy.

"fine," rio replied, frustration evident in his voice. "but just know that if you keep shutting me out, it's only going to get worse. and you need to think about what your doing to yourself, i mean going out drinking! your only seventeen."

vivienne felt a rush of irritation. "you don't know how long ago that picture was taken."

"yeah whatever, keep lying to me," he pressed, his voice rising.

"i can handle myself, rio! just because you don't understand doesn't mean you have to dictate my choices!" she shot back, her heart pounding.

"maybe i wouldn't have to if you'd just listen to me!" he countered, his frustration palpable.

the argument left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she felt the tension hanging heavy in the air. "i need some space, rio. i'm not coming home yet."

with that, she ended the call, her heart racing. she sat there for a moment, processing what had just happened, and turned to find matt's eyes fixed on her, a glint of concern shadowing his usual cocky demeanor.

"you okay?" he asked, reaching for her hand with an almost gentle intensity.

"yeah, just... complicated family stuff," she replied, her voice shaky.

"i get it," he said softly, pulling her back into his embrace. "family drama can be such a drag, especially when it involves someone who thinks they know everything." his smirk suggested he was hinting at rio without saying it outright.

she melted into him, feeling the comfort of his warmth and the strength in his arms. "i just wish things could be easier."

"me too," he murmured, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm. "but then, what would we do for fun?"

as vivienne settled into matt's embrace, a sense of peace washed over her, but the nagging thought of rio lingered in the back of her mind. after a few moments of comfortable silence, she lifted her head and searched matt's eyes for guidance.

"do you think i should talk to him?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "i mean, i know we just argued, but i don't want him to think i'm completely shutting him out."

matt's expression softened, but there was a cocky edge to his reply. "it might help. he's your brother, and even if he's a bit of a know-it-all, he does care. but honestly, i wouldn't expect too much from him. he's probably still caught up in his own world."

vivienne blinked, taken aback by his candidness. this wasn't the reckless bad boy she had come to know; it was someone much more thoughtful yet undeniably confident. "really? you think he'll listen?" she asked, her surprise evident.

"totally," matt replied, grinning. "but don't be surprised if he tries to school you on how to live your life. i mean, that's his specialty, right?" his playful jab made her chuckle, easing the tension.

she sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "i get that he cares, but he doesn't understand what's going on. he only sees the bad things. honestly, it's exhausting feeling like i have to justify my choices all the time."

matt leaned in a bit closer, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "i know it's tough. but you're making your own decisions, and that's what counts. just be honest with him."

vivienne felt a wave of gratitude wash over her at his reassurance, and his cocky confidence was oddly comforting. "thanks, matt. i think i need to talk to him. it might not go well, but at least i'll know i tried."

"exactly," he encouraged, a playful glint in his eyes. "just be yourself and don't let him intimidate you."

with a soft smile, she felt a renewed sense of determination. "okay, i'll do it. just not yet. but for now, can we stay like this for a little longer?"

"always," he replied, pulling her closer, and for that moment, the rest of the world faded away once more. it was a strange contrast, here was matt, the boy everyone labeled as trouble, showing her a side that was genuinely caring and supportive, but also delightfully cocky. that realization warmed her heart even more.

evie speaks
so rio is gonna make a return...
expect A LOT of matt and viv chaps soon