LES || matt sturniolo ( ✓ )

𝟎𝟒𝟓. blessing

CHAPTER 045 -
╰┈➤ ' blessing ' ೃ⁀➷
「 real life 」

─ real life ☾

MATT PARKED HIS MINIVAN AT THE CURB IN FRONT OF VIVIENNE'S HOUSE, his foot hovering over the brake for a second longer than necessary. the engine hummed softly, a stark contrast to the storm raging in his head.

he'd tried everything, texts, voicemails, even lingering outside school, hoping to catch her attention. but vivienne had been avoiding him. each unanswered message felt like a brick being added to the weight on his chest.

"maybe this is too much," he muttered, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

but sitting back and doing nothing wasn't his style. not when it came to her.

cutting the engine, matt stepped out of the car. the november chill wrapped around him, and he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets as he walked up the driveway. his heart thudded harder with each step.

"just talk to her. you can fix this. you have to fix this," he told himself.

when he reached the door, he hesitated. memories of the last time he'd stood here surfaced, rio's anger, the shouting, and the sound of metal crumpling as his car bore the brunt of their fallout.

matt gritted his teeth and pressed the doorbell.

footsteps echoed on the other side of the door, heavy and deliberate. it wasn't vivienne. he knew it before the door even opened.

when it did, rio stood there, his frame filling the doorway, his eyes sharp and unforgiving.

"matt," rio said, his voice low and laced with tension. "what are you doing here?"

matt straightened his shoulders, meeting rio's glare head-on. "i need to talk to vivienne."

"she doesn't want to talk to you," rio shot back without missing a beat. he crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe in a way that made it clear he wasn't moving anytime soon.

matt took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "if she doesn't want to talk, she can tell me herself. you don't get to decide that for her."

rio's lips curled into a bitter smirk. "she doesn't have to. she's been ignoring you, hasn't she? that should tell you everything you need to know."

the words stung more than matt cared to admit. he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to hold rio's gaze. "look, i don't know what i did to make her upset, but i'm here to find out. if i screwed up, i'll make it right."

rio laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. "you think it's that simple? you think showing up here unannounced makes you some kind of hero? you're still the same selfish, cocky—"

"stop," matt interrupted, his voice rising just enough to cut through rio's words. "you don't know me anymore. i get it, you hate me. but this isn't about you. it's about vivienne. i care about her, and i'm not leaving until i know she's okay."

rio stepped forward, his posture rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. "you've got a lot of nerve showing up here after everything you've done. you really think a few nice words erase the damage you caused?"

matt felt his own temper flare but reined it in. this wasn't the time for another fight. "what damage, rio? what have i done to her? name one thing i've done to hurt her since we started talking."

rio's silence was deafening.

"you can't, can you?" matt pressed. "because i haven't. i've been nothing but good to her. i'm not the same guy i was back then. you're the only one who can't seem to let it go."

rio's jaw tightened, but some of the fire in his eyes dimmed.

matt softened his tone, his frustration giving way to something closer to desperation. "look, i know i messed up in the past. i said things i regret—things i'd take back if i could. but that's not who i am anymore. i care about vivienne more than anything, and i'm not going to walk away just because you're holding a grudge."

rio stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. then, his voice came out quieter, almost hesitant. "why her, matt? why are you so hung up on my sister?"

matt blinked, caught off guard by the question. he ran a hand through his hair, searching for the right words. "because she's... vivienne. she's smart, funny, and kind in a way that makes everyone else seem shallow. she's the first person who's ever made me feel like i want to be better—like i can be better. and if i lose her... i don't even know what i'd do."

rio's shoulders dropped, the tension in his posture softening just enough to make him seem human again.

"you mean that?" rio asked, his voice softer now.

"yeah," matt said firmly. "every word."

rio's brow furrowed as he looked matt over, his gaze scrutinizing. after a long pause, he spoke again, slower this time. "so what do you want from me? permission to keep seeing her? a blessing?"

matt hesitated, but only for a second. "yeah. i guess i do."

rio snorted, shaking his head. "you really think i'm gonna make this easy for you?"

"no," matt admitted. "but i'm not asking for easy. i'm asking for a chance. to prove to you—and to vivienne—that i'm not the same guy you knew back then. i've changed. and i care about her, rio. enough to stand here and take whatever you throw at me."

rio leaned back against the doorframe, crossing his arms again. the silence stretched on for what felt like forever before he finally spoke.

"fine," he said, his tone reluctant. "you've got my blessing. but let me make one thing clear, you hurt her, even once, and i'll make sure it's the last thing you ever do. got it?"

matt nodded, relief washing over him. "got it."

rio opened the door wider, stepping aside. "she's upstairs. you'd better make it count."

"thanks," matt said quietly, stepping inside.

as rio closed the door behind him, matt could feel the older brother's gaze boring into his back. but he didn't care. all that mattered now was vivienne, and making things right.

evie speaks
this chap was STRONGLY inspired by kaystriplets !!!! THANK YOU FOR THE IDEA