Beneath His Cold Charm

08

Holding It Together

★★★

The project deadline loomed closer, and the atmosphere within the group felt increasingly strained. Tensions had risen between Zoey and Matt, their constant bickering becoming the backdrop of their interactions. Each clash, each biting remark, only seemed to deepen the divide between them. But beneath the surface, something darker stirred, an undercurrent of pain and history that neither of them had fully confronted.

___

The group convened at struniolo's house for their next project meeting, the sun casting a warm glow across the living room as they settled down with papers strewn across the coffee table. Zoey could feel the familiar knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach, but today she was determined to push through.

"Alright, let's get to work," Chris said, his tone upbeat. "We need to finalize our presentation and make sure we cover all the key points."

"Great," Matt replied, barely hiding his sarcasm. "I'm sure we're all thrilled to be stuck here on a Saturday."

"Better than being stuck in a classroom," Nick quipped, tossing a piece of popcorn at him. "Come on, lighten up a bit."

Zoey shot a glare at Matt. "You could at least pretend to care, you know."

"Why would I care about this glorified boring project?" he retorted, leaning back in his chair, a smug expression on his face.

"Because it's worth a grade that will affect our overall marks," Zoey snapped back, the frustration bubbling over. "Or is that too hard for you to understand?"

As their argument flared, Chris and Nick exchanged uneasy glances along with Emely, sensing the tension that crackled in the air.

"Guys, let's keep it civil," Emely urged. "We're supposed to be a team here."

---

After a while, Zoey excused herself to grab some water. As she walked to the kitchen, she overheard Chris and Nick talking quietly.

"I don't get why Matt's being such a jerk to Zoey," Nick said, his voice low. "It's like he's trying to push her away."

"Yeah, I know," Chris replied, concern etched on his features. "He's been different since that whole breakup. I think he's still dealing with it."

"What happened?" Zoey whispered as she entered the room.

Chris hesitated for a moment, glancing at Matt, who was engrossed in his phone in the living room "It's a long story, but... Matt's ex, Evelyn Miller, cheated on him last year. It hit him hard."

Zoey felt her heart drop at the revelation. "Cheated?"

"Matt doesn't talk about his feelings," Chris explained, shaking his head. "He's always been that way. He puts up this wall to protect himself, but it just makes him come off as a tuff guy."

The pieces began to fall into place for Zoey.

"Evelyn was really close to him. They dated for almost two years," Nick continued, his voice softer now. "When she left him for another guy, it crushed him. He tried to act tough, but I could tell it messed him up."

"Deos he still love her?" Zoey asked, the curiosity getting the better of her.

"Absolutely not, But the thing is he won't trust anyone anymore" Chris said, a knowing look in his eyes.