Beneath His Cold Charm

31

Conflicted Hearts

★★★

As the sun rose on Monday morning, Zoey woke up to the familiar sounds of her new home—a gentle breeze rustling through the trees outside her window and birds chirping cheerfully. She stretched, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. After the tumultuous weeks leading up to the divorce and her father's violent outbursts, she had finally settled into a new routine with her mother. Their new house, decorated to her liking, was filled with light and warmth, a stark contrast to the darkness of her past.

However, as she prepared for another day at school, Zoey couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in her stomach. The excitement from the sleepover still lingered in her mind, especially the deep conversations she shared with her friends. Chris's laughter, Emely's reassuring words, and even Matt's unexpected kindness replayed in her thoughts. Yet amidst all that joy was the heavy realization that she was starting to develop feelings for Matt Struniolo—feelings she desperately wanted to ignore.

"Zoey, are you ready?" her mother called from downstairs, pulling her from her reverie.

"Yeah, just a minute!" Zoey responded, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was still a bit messy, and she quickly brushed it back, trying to focus on her appearance rather than her swirling thoughts. After giving herself one last look, she hurried downstairs.

The breakfast table was set with her mother's usual care—fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, and orange juice. "Looks delicious, Mom!" Zoey said, smiling at the spread.

"Thanks, sweetheart. I figured we could celebrate the start of the week with a little treat," her mother replied, her eyes bright with warmth. "How are you feeling about school today?"

Zoey hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the conflicting emotions churning inside her.
"I'm okay, Just School"

"You're going to do great. Just remember what we talked about—don't put too much pressure on yourself," her mom advised, pouring some syrup over her pancakes.

"Yeah, I know. Thanks, Mom." Zoey dug into her breakfast, trying to push thoughts of Matt out of her mind.

The ride to school was filled with light banter, her mother reminiscing about her own school days, and Zoey laughing along, although her mind kept drifting back to Matt. What was it about him that made her feel so conflicted?

Once she arrived at school, the familiar hustle and bustle greeted her. Zoey felt her anxiety spike as she walked through the hallways, knowing she would have to face Matt. She spotted him standing by the lockers with Chris and Nick, sharing a joke. Despite the laughter, Zoey noticed the familiar coldness in Matt's demeanor, the way he leaned against the lockers, arms crossed, and wore that ever-present guarded expression.

"Hey, Zoey!" Chris waved her over, his smile infectious. 

"Hi Hi," Zoey teased, a grin spreading across her face. 

Matt looked up, catching her gaze. For a moment, the world around them faded away. Zoey felt her heart race, but she quickly averted her eyes, focusing on Chris and Nick.

"The sleepover was great!" Nick said, a smirk on his face. 

"Hell yeah!" Emely chimed in, her eyes sparkling.

Matt remained silent, watching her intently. Zoey could feel his gaze, and it sent shivers down her spine. The tension between them was palpable, a mix of confusion and unresolved feelings. As they all headed to their first class, Zoey tried to push the attraction aside, telling herself it was just a phase—a fleeting crush on the "Tough boy" who constantly pushed her buttons.

Classes passed by in a blur, each subject dragging on while her mind wandered back to Matt. She couldn't concentrate on the lessons, too consumed with thoughts of their last interaction—how vulnerable he had looked when she opened up about her scars, how he had reacted.

At lunch, Zoey found herself sitting with her friends at their usual table. Emely was animatedly recounting a story about her little brother, while Chris and Nick exchanged playful jabs. Matt, however, was quiet, a rare occurrence that piqued Zoey's curiosity.

"What's up with you, Matt? You look like you just swallowed a lemon," Nick joked, nudging him with his elbow.

"Nothing," Matt replied tersely, but Zoey noticed the flicker of annoyance in his eyes.

She caught his gaze and felt a pull toward him, but she resisted, focusing instead on her food. But the urge to reach out, to understand what was going on beneath his tough exterior, gnawed at her.

After lunch, the group broke up for their afternoon classes. As Zoey walked to her next class, she noticed Matt lingering by the lockers, his expression unreadable.

"Hey, Zoey," he called out as she passed.

"Yeah?" she replied, stopping in her tracks.

"How are you?"

The concern in his voice surprised her. Was he genuinely care about her? "Great!" she said.

"Right," he said, his tone a mix of skepticism and interest. "You're not hiding anything, are you?"

Zoey's heart raced. "No, I'm not hiding anything. Why would you think that?" she asked defensively, crossing her arms.

"Because you're acting different. It's like you're... nervous or something" he replied, his brow furrowed.

"Maybe you're just reading too much into it, Matt," she snapped, the frustration bubbling to the surface. 

"Okay, chill," he said, raising his hands in surrender, "I was just joking."

"Yeah, well, maybe you should just stick to your business and leave me alone," Zoey shot back, turning on her heel and walking away. She felt a pang of regret as she left him standing there, but the feelings she had for him only complicated everything.

As the day dragged on, Zoey's thoughts spiraled. She found herself sitting in her final class, unable to focus on the teacher's words. Instead, her mind raced with images of Matt—his smirk, the vulnerability she had seen the other day. It was maddening.

After school, Zoey met Nick at their usual study spot at the library. As they settled into a quiet corner, she took a deep breath, trying to shake off her turbulent emotions.

"Hey, you okay?" Nick asked, peering at her over his textbook.

"I'm fine," Zoey replied, but her voice lacked conviction.

"C'mon, Zoey. You can't fool me. You've been different since the sleepover," Nick pressed, his eyes narrowing slightly.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just school stuff"

Nick sigh softly. "But you know you can talk to me, right? I'm always here for you."

Zoey looked at him, grateful for his unwavering support. "Thanks, Nick. I appreciate it. It's just... complicated."

"Complicated how?" he probed, genuinely interested.

"It's just—Matt. He's such an ass sometimes, but there are moments when he's not. I don't know how to feel about him," she admitted, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Nick raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. "Zoey, are you saying... you have a crush on my BROTHER!?"

"No!" she exclaimed, but the denial felt weak even to her ears. "Maybe? I don't know! He drives me crazy!"

Nick chuckled, shaking his head. "It sounds like you're into him, sis. Just try to be honest with yourself. You've had a lot of changes recently, so it's okay to feel confused."

Zoey leaned back in her chair, considering his words. "You're right. I just don't want to complicate things. I have enough going on with everything else."

"Just don't push away the people who care about you," Nick advised. "Including Matt."

As they continued to study, Zoey couldn't shake off the gnawing feeling in her gut. She was starting to realize that she couldn't keep running from her feelings, especially when it came to Matt.

★★★