Beneath His Cold Charm

37

Torn Between Feelings

★★★

Zoey's heart hadn't stopped racing since the moment Matt kissed her. His sudden departure after that confusing kiss left her spinning, unsure of what to think or feel. The next morning, her mind was still in chaos. As she sat up in bed, Zoey replayed the moment over and over again in her head.

Was it a mistake? Did Matt really like her? And why did he walk away?

Zoey spent most of the weekend alone, avoiding her friends and trying to process everything. By Monday morning, she was no closer to understanding Matt's actions. When she walked into school, she immediately spotted him by his locker, talking to Nick. Their eyes met briefly before Matt looked away, almost like he was pretending nothing had happened.

The tension gnawed at her.

Emely was the first to notice Zoey's troubled mood. "What's up with you? You've been quiet all morning," she asked as they sat together in the cafeteria.

Zoey bit her lip. "It's... complicated."

"Is it Matt?" Emely asked, her eyes narrowing with concern. "What happened?"

Zoey hesitated. Should she tell Emely about the kiss? She hadn't even wrapped her own head around it yet. But Emely was her best friend—she deserved to know.

"Okay, don't freak out," Zoey began, leaning in closer. "But Matt... kissed me."

Emely's eyes widened in shock. "What? When? How?"

Zoey explained the moment, the suddenness of it, and how Matt had walked away without an explanation. Emely listened carefully, a mix of curiosity and concern in her eyes.

"Wow... so, what do you think it means?" Emely asked.

"I don't know," Zoey admitted. "I mean, we've never gotten along. But lately... things have been different."

Emely sighed. "Well, it sounds like he's just as confused as you are. Maybe he likes you but doesn't know how to deal with it."

Zoey frowned. "But why would he act like that? One minute he's distant and cold, and then he kisses me and runs away."

"Boys are weird," Emely said with a shrug. "Especially ones like Matt. He's probably trying to figure it out, too."

Zoey nodded, but her heart was still heavy with doubt. She wasn't sure she could handle any more confusion. "I just don't know if I'm ready for this," she said softly.

Emely gave her a reassuring smile. "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together. You've got me, Nick, and Chris on your side."

---

The next week dragged on slowly. Zoey did her best to avoid Matt, but it was difficult when they shared so many classes. Every time she saw him, her stomach twisted with nerves, and she couldn't shake the memory of that kiss.

She wasn't the only one affected. Matt, too, seemed to be keeping his distance. Zoey noticed how he acted even colder than usual, refusing to look her in the eye. It was as if he was trying to erase the moment, pretend it never happened.

But Zoey couldn't. She needed answers.

By Friday, Zoey had had enough. She decided to confront Matt after school, determined to get some clarity. She found him in the library, sitting alone with his headphones on, his expression serious as he studied. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she walked up to him anyway.

"Matt, we need to talk," she said, her voice firm.

He looked up, surprised to see her. He hesitated for a moment before pulling off his headphones. "About what?"

"You know what," Zoey replied, crossing her arms. 

Matt's face hardened. "There's nothing to talk about. It was a mistake."

Zoey felt a pang of hurt at his words. "A mistake?" she echoed, her voice faltering. "Then why did you do it?"

Matt's jaw clenched, and for a moment, he didn't say anything. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, more vulnerable. "I don't know, okay? I wasn't thinking."

Zoey stared at him, trying to read his expression. There was something in his eyes—something raw and unguarded that she hadn't seen before. "You can't just kiss a girl and then pretend like nothing happened," she said, her voice shaking slightly.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Matt said, his voice low.

Zoey took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "I'm not hurt. I'm just confused. One minute you're acting like you hate me, and the next, you kiss me and then run away. What do you want from me, Matt?"

Matt's eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite place. "I don't know," he admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I've never felt this way before."

Zoey's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Matt looked away, his expression conflicted. "I don't like feeling... vulnerable. It's not me."

"But you kissed me," Zoey pressed, her voice softening. "That means something."

Matt sighed. "I know. And that's the problem."

They stood in silence for a few moments, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging between them. Zoey wasn't sure what to say. Part of her wanted to walk away, to avoid the mess that was Matt Struniolo. But another part of her—the part that had felt something real during that kiss—wanted to stay and fight for whatever this was.

"I'm not asking you to change," Zoey said finally. "I just want you to be honest with me. If you don't like me, then say it. But don't play games."

Matt's gaze softened slightly, and for the first time, Zoey saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "I don't play games," he said quietly. "I've just been pushing you away because... I'm scared."

Zoey blinked in surprise. "Scared of what?"

Matt hesitated, his voice barely a whisper when he spoke. "Of getting close to someone."

★★★