Beneath His Cold Charm

38

Unraveling Emotions

★★★

After their intense conversation in the library, Zoey felt a mix of relief and confusion. Matt's admission about being scared struck a chord within her. They both had their battles, but she wanted to help him face them, just as he had helped her in the past.

The weekend arrived, and Zoey decided to hang out with Emely and Chris to clear her mind. They met at Emely's house, sprawled out on the living room floor with snacks and an old movie playing in the background. Laughter filled the air as they reminisced about their childhood antics, but Zoey felt a cloud hovering over her heart.

"Are you okay?" Emely asked, pausing the movie. Her gaze was steady, filled with concern.

"Yeah, just a lot on my mind," Zoey replied, forcing a smile. She didn't want to burden them with her complicated feelings for Matt.

Chris, ever the jokester, chimed in, "It's about Matt, isn't it? You two are like a soap opera."

Zoey groaned, burying her face in a pillow. "It's not funny! He kissed me, and then he freaked out. I don't know what to do!"

Emely exchanged a knowing glance with Chris. "Have you talked to him since?"

"Yeah, we had a conversation about it," Zoey admitted, recalling how vulnerable Matt had been. "But it didn't help much. He's still scared of getting close."

"Maybe he just needs time," Emely suggested gently. "You both have been through so much. It's not easy to let someone in."

Zoey nodded, her heart aching at the thought of Matt's walls. 

They spent the day joking and watching movies, but Zoey's mind often drifted back to Matt. The way he'd looked at her in the library, the flicker of vulnerability—it was a glimpse of the person he could be if he let her in.

On Sunday, as she sat in her newly decorated room, Zoey decided to text Matt. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase her thoughts, but finally, she typed out a simple message: Can we talk?

To her surprise, he replied almost instantly. Sure. Where?

Park? she suggested.

I'll be there in 20 minutes.

Zoey's heart raced as she prepared herself for another conversation that could change everything. She didn't want to pressure Matt, but she also needed to know where they stood.

When she arrived at the Park, Matt was already there, leaning against a tree, his arms crossed defensively. His expression softened when he saw her, but there was still a hint of tension in his posture.

"Thanks for coming," Zoey said, trying to keep her tone light.

Matt nodded, pushing away from the tree. "So, what's up?"

Taking a deep breath, Zoey decided to be honest. "I just wanted to talk about what happened. I know it's confusing for both of us, but I don't want to ignore it."

"Neither do I," Matt admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I've just been scared of getting close to someone again. After everything with my ex girlfriend, I don't want to get hurt."

Zoey's heart ached for him. "You're not going to get hurt with me, Matt. I want you to be honest with me."

His eyes flickered with uncertainty, but there was a glimmer of hope there, too. "You really mean that?"

"I do," she said firmly. 

Matt's shoulders relaxed slightly, and he stepped a bit closer. "Okay, It's going to take time."

Zoey smiled, feeling a weight lift off her chest. "That's all I ask."

---

As the weeks passed, the school year began to wind down, and with it, Zoey and Matt's relationship began to evolve. They slowly spent more time together, finding comfort in their shared moments of vulnerability.

One sunny afternoon, as they sat on the bleachers after school, Matt turned to Zoey, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You know, I've been thinking a lot about us."

Zoey's heart raced at his words. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not good at this," he admitted, his voice tinged with honesty. "But I want to try. I want to be better for you."

A warm smile spread across Zoey's face. "You already are. You're showing me a side of you I never thought I'd see."

Matt chuckled softly, his trademark smirk returning. "Don't get used to it. I'm still matt struniolo, you know."

Zoey rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course. But it's nice to see you let your guard down."

The conversation shifted as they began discussing their summer plans. 

"I can't believe I'm actually excited about summer," Matt said, glancing at her with a hint of a smile. "Maybe we can all hang out together more."

"Definitely!" Zoey replied, her excitement bubbling over. "I want to make this summer unforgettable."

As they talked, the tension between them began to dissolve, and Zoey felt a growing sense of clarity about her feelings for Matt. It wasn't just the kiss that had sparked something in her; it was the connection they were building, the trust they were establishing.

Later that evening, as she lay in bed, Zoey thought about how far she had come. Her home life had stabilized since her mom's divorce, and she was finally starting to feel at peace. With Matt by her side, she believed they could face whatever challenges came next.

As her phone buzzed with a new message, she opened it to find a text from Matt:
Hey, just wanted to say I'm glad we talked today.

Her heart soared at his words. Me too, Matt.

She fell asleep that night with a smile on her face, feeling hopeful about their future.

★★★