I'm not in love with you... Right?

Custody

                              Matteo
      The moon was at its peak, it was 12:43 am. I couldn't get a wink of sleep. She'd infiltrated my thoughts and I couldn't get her out. I sighed as I remembered her words.

“ We became friends. I warmed up to you and grew to know and love you ”

“ You're cute when you blush, ”

    My face was on fire. I don't blush, I never have and never will... At least until her. She makes me react in ways that probably shouldn't be possible with me, in ways that I know I won't react with anyone else, not even Britney.

" What the heck are you trying to prove? Or do you not remember that you picked someone who would never fall for you as your fake girlfriend?! " I felt my heart slice into a million pieces as I remembered the words she'd said. Right, Matteo. Don't fall for her. You can't fall for her, she's fine as just friends, don't wreck it. Even if somehow you magically get her to fall for you, you're only going to wreck it, like you always do. You'll get bored and move on to the next girl like you always do. She doesn't deserve that, she deserves much more than you, she already has enough drama, she doesn't need you to add to it, gosh, why'd I even force her into this contract? I'm so insensitive, I didn't even think about what's going on in her life. But I was even more selfish and insensitive, cuz I didn't want it to stop, ever.

“ ... I don't know, Matt. Wants are stupid. And I guess... I guess I want you by my side always. Believe it or not, the time I've spent with you has been the happiest I've been in my life. Thank you, Matteo ” and it seemed she did too. On that happy note, I closed my eyes, hoping to fall asleep, but I still continued to think about her, those silver blue eyes that shimmered like the stars and her laugh that sounded like an angel singing.

" You're a good person, Matt. Even if everyone else doesn't realize it, even if you don't realize it, I do. That's all that matters. It only takes one person to make a difference. I just have to be there all the time to remind you of who you are "
" So what right do I have to hate you? "
" I won't answer that question, Matteo. That's for you to decide " all the things she's said up until now has helped me become a better person. What kind of person did I want to be... I want to be hers- No! Matteo! Stop that. With the  tiny thing that is my brain half fried from all the thinking, I finally fell asleep.

                                ★★★

“ Oi! Kid! Won't ya get me some food?! ”

“ Get it yourself, Baldy ” I replied leaving to pick Daphne up.

“ Ya better get accustomed to me now, mate. Perhaps I'll consider being nice to you. Once I gain custody, you're dead meat ”

“ Okay, fatty. Just know it ain't happening ” I replied despite the fear in me. Why is he even here?!

   She stepped into the car and we drove in silence.

“ Is something wrong? ”

“ No. Why would anything be wrong? ”

“ You're angry, or at least you're not happy ”

“ When you're angry you don't tease me as much. And I don't know if you've noticed, but you have golden flecks in your eyes that glow when you're happy or amused or normal at best, it dims when you're sad and vanishes when you're angry. I'm gonna ask you again, what's wrong? ”

I took a deep breath. It was unfair to her, she'd shared her deepest secrets with me but I still couldn't tell her.

“ Hey, let's try a secret for a secret, you don't have to tell me everything, just a bit of what I ask, you ask me something first ”

“ ... Why are you so afraid of cars? ” I asked.

“ Well, that's how my real parents died. My real dad was my current dad's brother, his only sibling. That's why it was so easy to find a child that looked like them. And they only infused my mom's genes. It seemed unimportant, so I didn't mention it, not when I still remembered my real parents and the time I spent with them, it seemed a tad bit too personal, but I've grown to like sharing stuff with you. My turn, why are you angry? ”

“ ... Remember when my mom corrected you, saying she was single? ”

“ Yeah, on Friday's Game ”

“ Yeah... My dad isn't dead, heck I wish he was. He's alive and they got divorced on the terms of domestic violence. He used to beat my mom, he was abusive and manipulative, squander our money, and he cheated on my mom twice. He went to jail for 3 years, went through rehab and therapy for another three, and now he's back... He wants custody ”

“ ... Well, he's not getting it ” she said with a triumphant smile

“ How are you so sure? ”

“ Cuz I've got William Julesburg. The best lawyer in town, I'll schedule a meeting ”

“ You can do that? ”

“ I'm an Argent, I can do anything ” this girl...

“ No, I can't let you fight my battles for me ”

“ Too bad, I can do anything ”

“ Ugh! ’’ I groaned, despite the faint smile on my lips, she elbowed me playfully and I returned the gesture.

We pulled up in school and I opened her door and held her hand as she stepped down, but as she did, she did something I never thought she would, she placed those beautiful, soft, pink lips on my cheek and I froze into place.

‘‘ Come on, was it that bad ” but I still couldn't speak as she led me to school. No, it wasn't bad at all, it was everything.