Beneath His Cold Charm

16

A Quiet Understanding

★★★

The library incident left both Zoey and Matt uneasy. But something between them had changed. Matt's cold facade cracked when he saw her scars, and now Zoey couldn't get it out of her mind. She could sense his concern, something deeper that scared her as much as it did him.

---

Zoey sat at the kitchen table, absently scrolling through her phone when her mom entered the room, carrying a cup of tea. Her mother's gentle presence was a rare comfort in the chaos of Zoey's life. Even as her father's temper grew worse, her mother always seemed to bring a little peace into their home.

"Hey, sweetie," her mom said, sitting down across from her. "Everything okay?"

Zoey bit her lip, unsure of how much to say. Her mom didn't know about that self harming thing. No one in her family did. "Yeah, just busy with exams and stuff," Zoey said, her voice sounding strained even to herself.

Her mother's kind eyes studied her carefully. "You know you can talk to me if something's wrong, right?"

Zoey nodded, guilt twisting in her chest. She knew her mom meant well, but how could she explain everything when she didn't even fully understand it herself? "I'm fine, Mom. Really."

Her mother reached across the table, placing a warm hand over Zoey's. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay? You're my world, Zoey."

Zoey felt tears prick her eyes but quickly blinked them away. "I promise," she whispered, hoping it wasn't a lie.

---

Later that day, Zoey met up with Chris, nick and Emely at their favorite café. The atmosphere was light, and for a moment, Zoey almost felt like her old self again. Chris was, as always, cracking jokes, and Emely laughed, playfully shoving him whenever he went too far.

"I swear, you two are like an old married couple," Nick teased, smiling at them.

Chris rolled his eyes dramatically. "Don't even start with that. I'd never marry Emely—she's way too bossy."

Emely shot him a glare. "Excuse me? You should be lucky someone even tolerates your ridiculous humor."

Zoey chuckled, the lighthearted bickering between her best friends easing some of the tension she'd been carrying. She'd known Emely since kindergarten, and their friendship had always been a source of comfort. But lately, even Emely's warmth couldn't completely erase the darkness that loomed over Zoey.

"So, Zo," Chris said, leaning back in his chair, "how's the whole library situation with Matt going? He's been extra broody lately. Did you two, like, finally kill each other?"

Zoey hesitated, not sure how much to share. "We didn't kill each other," she said, her voice quieter than usual. "But he... saw something."

Emely raised an eyebrow. "Saw what?"

Zoey glanced at her wrist before pulling her sleeve down quickly. "It's nothing."

Both Chris and Emely exchanged worried looks, but they didn't push it. They knew Zoey well enough to recognize when she wasn't ready to talk. Still, their concern was palpable, and Zoey could feel the walls she'd built around herself beginning to shake.

---

The next day, Zoey found herself back in the library, trying to study for the upcoming exams. Her mind, however, wasn't on the books in front of her. It kept drifting back to Matt. His cold demeanor, his piercing gaze, and the strange connection she couldn't quite explain.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a chair scraping across the floor. Matt sat down across from her, silent as always, his eyes scanning her face.

Zoey sighed, not even bothering to ask why he was there. "What do you want now?"

Matt leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "I'm not here to argue."

She looked up, surprised. "Then why are you here?"

"I wanted to make sure you're okay," he said, his voice low but sincere.

Zoey blinked, caught off guard by the softness in his tone. This was new. She wasn't used to seeing this side of Matt—the side that wasn't all arrogance and indifference.

"I'm fine," she lied, feeling her stomach twist. She wasn't ready for this conversation. Not with Matt.

Matt's gaze dropped to her wrist again, and before she could react, he reached across the table, his hand brushing against hers as he gently pulled up her sleeve. The scars were still there, faint but undeniable.

Zoey froze, her heart pounding in her chest. 

But Matt didn't say anything. His eyes softened, and for the first time, Zoey saw something like empathy in his cold exterior.

"You don't have to go through this alone," he said quietly, letting go of her wrist.

Zoey pulled her sleeve back down, her hands trembling. She wasn't sure if she was more terrified of the fact that he had seen her scars or the fact that she actually believed him.

"I don't need your help," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Matt hesitated for a moment before leaning back in his chair, his expression hardening again. "Maybe not. But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."

Zoey didn't respond, too caught up in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She watched as Matt got up and walked away, leaving her alone in the library once more. But this time, she didn't feel as alone as before.

---

Meanwhile, Chris and Emely had been paired up for a class project, and their dynamic was as fiery as ever. As much as they bickered, there was an undeniable tension between them—something that went beyond their usual banter.

"I don't understand why you always have to be so difficult," Emely said, exasperated as they worked on their assignment in the school's common area.

"Difficult? Me? You're the one who's bossy," Chris shot back, though there was a playful glint in his eyes.

"You're impossible," Emely muttered, but there was a small smile on her lips.

Chris leaned in, lowering his voice. "Admit it—you'd be bored without me."

Emely scoffed, but she couldn't deny it. There was something about Chris that kept her on her toes, and as much as she hated to admit it, she liked it.

Zoey, watching from a distance, couldn't help but smile. Chris and Emely might have driven each other crazy, but there was something between them—something she hadn't noticed before. Maybe they were more alike than they thought.

★★★