LES || matt sturniolo ( ✓ )

𝟎𝟑𝟑. lingering whispers

CHAPTER 033 -
╰┈➤ ' lingering whispers ' ೃ⁀➷
「 real life 」

─ real life ☾

AFTER A WEEK AWAY FROM SCHOOL, the halls felt unusually silent to matt as he stepped through the front doors. the familiar chaos of students bustling to their classes fell into a hush, and he could feel the weight of their stares on him as he walked in. whispers filled the air like static electricity, and heads turned, eyes boring into him with a mix of curiosity and judgment.

nick and chris, were already in the thick of the crowd, leaning against their lockers with their usual casualness. chris, sporting his confident grin, raised an eyebrow when he spotted matt, nick crossed his arms, concern etched across his face. as matt approached them, he could sense the underlying tension in the air.

"look who decided to grace us with his presence," nick teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "didn't think we'd see you back so soon."

"yeah, well, i didn't want to miss out on all the fun," matt replied, trying to keep his tone light, though a part of him was still weighed down by the whispers that trailed him like a shadow.

chris leaned in slightly, his voice low. "you sure you're okay? people have been talking."

"yeah, i can handle it," matt said, brushing off the concern. deep down, though, he felt the pressure of their gazes. he didn't care much about the opinions of the people who barely knew him, yet a part of him wished they could see past the tough facade.

as they moved further down the hallway, the stares intensified. the whispers filled the air, mentioning the fight, the suspension, and the infamous reputation he had earned.

"did you hear about the fight? matt got into it with kai," one student murmured, a mix of awe and disdain in their voice.

"yeah, typical sturniolo. always looking for trouble," another chimed in.

"i can't believe he's close with vivienne thorn. she's way too good for him," a girl whispered, shaking her head as she exchanged glances with her friends.

matt's stomach churned at the mention of vivienne. it wasn't that he cared about the gossip (he was used to it) but he hated that people felt entitled to judge him and vivienne without knowing anything about them. he clenched his fists, trying to keep his emotions in check as he fought to ignore their ignorant chatter.

as they turned the corner, matt caught sight of vivienne standing by her locker, talking to a few friends. when her eyes met his, a shift occurred, her expression transformed from concern to relief, and a small smile broke through the tension.

"hey," she said softly as he approached.

"hey," matt replied, grateful for the warmth of her presence amidst the chaos. her support made the weight of everyone else's judgment feel a little lighter.

"you're back! i wasn't sure if you'd come in today," she said, worry still evident in her voice.

"yeah, well, i missed you too much to stay away," he replied, attempting to lighten the mood. "besides, someone has to keep the rumors in check." he knew he should care about what others thought, but honestly, it was exhausting.

vivienne chuckled, though he could see the concern still lingering in her eyes. "just be careful, okay? i don't want you to get into more trouble."

"i'll be fine," he assured her, though as he glanced around, he could see a few classmates whispering and stealing glances in his direction.

"matt's back from suspension," someone muttered nearby.

"look at the trouble he's causing now," another voice chimed in. "and with vivienne? what's she thinking?"

matt clenched his jaw, feeling the familiar stirrings of irritation. he didn't care what most people thought, but hearing their judgment stung more than he wanted to admit. he could easily brush it off, but it still nagged at him, festering beneath the surface.

as they entered the classroom, the atmosphere shifted again. students resumed their conversations, but the energy was still tense, a mix of curiosity and judgment.

as the teacher began the lesson, matt settled into his seat next to her. she shot him a warm smile, and in that moment, he felt a flicker of hope.

"just remember," matt murmured to vivienne, leaning in slightly, "i don't really care what they think, but it's nice to have you here."

she smiled back, and matt couldn't help but feel that even amidst the chaos, he had something real. he might be viewed as the school's bad boy, but with vivienne at his side, he knew he'd be okay, even if he didn't fully understand the feelings it stirred within him.

as the minutes passed and the teacher droned on, matt's thoughts drifted. he couldn't shake the feeling that his reputation had shifted irreparably. before, he'd been the guy who everyone thought was just a troublemaker, but now he felt the weight of a different kind of label, one tied to violence. it didn't help that every time he caught a glimpse of someone looking at him, the voices in his head filled with self-doubt.

"are you even listening?" vivienne's soft voice broke through his trance, pulling him back to reality.

"sorry, just... thinking," he admitted, his tone uncharacteristically vulnerable. "it's just... weird being back. like, everyone's looking at me like i'm some kind of monster."

"you're not a monster," she replied firmly, her eyes locking onto his with unwavering conviction. "you made a mistake, but it doesn't define you. what matters is how you handle it."

her words settled over him like a warm blanket, momentarily pushing away the anxiety creeping in from the edges. "thanks," he murmured, the sincerity of her support filling him with gratitude.

as the bell rang, signaling the end of class, the chatter in the room picked up again, but matt felt a bit more resilient. vivienne stood up, grabbing her bag, and turned to him with that bright smile he adored. "you ready?"

"yeah," he replied. together, they walked into the swarm of students, side by side. despite the lingering whispers, matt felt a sense of determination ignite within him.

with vivienne's support, he could get through this. he'd ignore the judgments and focus on what really mattered, his relationship with her and proving he was more than his mistakes, even if it was going to take time.

evie speaks
i promise the next chap is more viv and matt