102 (A Matty Healy fanfiction)

//I only bought an hour ago//

"Where the hell are you guys?" I said as fake happily as I could to Megan on the phone. "I'm not opening the doors until you get here and people are waiting outside!"

My art show looked like it was going to be a successful night, but I couldn't start without Megan and Ron. Someone I knew had to be there!

"We're stuck in traffic! Be there soon!" Megan hung up.

I put my hands in fists and held them at the sides of my body. I was nervous. What if people came in and didn't like my art? This is the first time people are able to see it. I set everything up perfectly, ordered the right amount of wine, cheese and crackers for the people coming in, and dressed as artistically as I possibly could. Everything is in place, but my head is swirling like crazy and overthinking every detail-

My phone is ringing and it's Matty calling. Why is Matty calling? Does he not want me to come tonight?

"Hello?"

"Julia! Where are you? I'm waiting outside the art show! They haven't opened the doors. I was going to surprise you! Where are you?"

"One sec."

I hung up.

I took a second to take a deep breath. Matty doesn't know it's my art show.

I opened the doors of the gallery building and the first person to walk in is Matty.

"You came! Matty, you didn't have to come!"

"Of course I did! I can stay for a little bit before sound check, and then I'll have to go but I had to come and see- wait. Why are you in here?"

"Um, this is my art. I painted everything in here." I held my breath. His jaw dropped.

A woman huffed behind him. He was standing in the middle of the entrance way. He took a few steps forward and began to look at the paintings. People began flooding in. Matty was staring at my work by himself. I didn't want to interrupt his thoughts so I began walking around and looking at other people's reactions to my stuff. Everyone looked interested, pleased, surprised, joyful, all good things. I felt sky high.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when Ron and Megan ran up behind me and yelled "Congratulations!" and "We're proud of you!" in my ears. I turned and gave them both hugs. They both did look dashing, even Ron!

"Thanks for coming guys! Now go! Look around!"

Megan smiled and started for one of the paintings. Ron took some wine from the table saying "Don't mind if I do!" and then to me, "You look great, Julia." Then he smiled and strolled towards Megan.

Then Matty came towards me. "This is all so amazing. I'm amazed by you. You're amazing!" He was grinning. I was grinning too.

"I'm glad you came, Matty." I stepped close to him. He is art. "What's your favorite painting?"

He put his hand around my waist and turned my body with his towards one of them. It was a painting I'd done a while back. Last summer I think. It's a girl in a yellow coat standing in front of a big, wild, green forest. "It symbolizes-"

"The unknown paths we take in life. Adventures that are a little scary." Matty finished for me. It was pretty much exactly what I was going to say.

"Yeah! You're totally correct! You're incredible!" I laughed and Matty checked the time on his phone.

"I'm so sorry but I'll have to get going now. We're going to start setting up at The Waterhouse. You're still coming tonight?"

"Of course. Can I bring a couple friends maybe?"

"Yeah of course! Nine o'clock. See you then."

"I'll be there."

He kissed my cheek and walked out the door. After he was out of the room I put my hand on my cheek. It felt like electricity was in my skin where he'd touched me. How did he do this to me?

Megan's voice knocked me into reality. "Julia! Was that him?"

"Oh! Yeah. That's him. Matty."

"He's hot! Like super hot! And he's totally into you!"

"Who's super hot?" Ron came and stood with us.

"Julia's new boyfriend. Matty."

"Oooh!" Ron said, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"He's NOT my boyfriend. I just met him!"

"She's blushing." Ron said nudging Megan.

"That she is!" Megan said nudging him back.

"Oh shut up you two! Go back to the art."

They chuckled and wondered back into the growing crowd. People continued to walk up to me and tell me 'congratulations' or 'this is beautiful work,' 'I love it' and things of the sort. I was on cloud 9. And Matty put me up there. I didn't believe I could ever come down.

Hours later, the crowd started to thin and less people were coming in. I was relieved because it was getting closer to nine o'clock and I still had to go home and change.

Megan and Ron were on their way out and they came to tell me how great the show was once more.

"Do you guys want to come to Matty's gig with me tonight? It's at The Waterhouse at 9."

"He's in a band? Yeah, we'll come!" Megan nearly shouted. Maybe a bit too much wine.

"Okay, I'll see you there! Make sure guys cab it."

"Yeah don't worry. We won't drive. See you at 9!"

The last of the visitors had left and it was just me in the gallery. I walked around the room one last time, looking at all my work. I smiled to myself, and I stood in front of Matty's favorite painting. I called it "I've gone missing." It was my favorite too. I practically floated out to my car and started towards my house. Tonight was just beginning, and it was already so beautiful.