MATT STURNIOLO IMAGINES

Before the Night Ends

The gym was alive with flashing lights, the sound of music vibrating through the walls, and the excitement in the air was almost palpable. I stood by the side, my hands fidgeting nervously as I watched Matt dance with the Prom Queen. She looked stunning, her dress sparkling in the lights, and Matt—he was, of course, perfect. His tux was sharp, and the crown of Prom King looked oddly natural on his head despite the fact that he was usually so awkward with attention.

As the song played, they swayed in sync, laughing and twirling. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him so happy, yet something tugged at my heart. I watched them for a moment longer, then turned away, hoping my smile would stay intact. I knew this was his moment, and I didn't want to make him feel like he needed to be somewhere else.

It wasn't about the crown, or the prom queen, or the whole night for me. I'd never wanted any of it. I never cared about being in the spotlight, but seeing Matt with someone else, with her... I felt small. Unseen. And that's why, when the song ended and people cheered, I quietly slipped away from the gym, unnoticed.

The cool night air hit me like a breath of fresh air, the weight of the gym's heat and noise fading behind me. I walked quickly, my steps echoing on the empty sidewalk as I made my way home. I just needed to be alone, to breathe, and to remind myself that this night wasn't really about me anyway. Matt had worked hard for this and deserved to enjoy it. I didn't want to be the one to ruin it for him.

But what I didn't realize was that Matt had no intention of letting the night end without me.

Inside the gym, Matt's heart was still racing, but something felt off. As the song ended, he stood there for a moment, caught in the rush of the celebration, but his eyes scanned the room. Everyone was cheering; some people were already gathering around, but something—someone—was missing.

Where was Y/N?

He looked around frantically, but she wasn't in the crowd. His heart skipped a beat. His attention had been diverted by the moment, the prom, and the crown, but now, all he could think about was finding her.

"Yo, Matt, you good?" Nick asked, noticing his brother's distracted look.

Matt didn't answer. He just scanned the room again, looking for that familiar face, that comforting presence. "Have you seen Y/N?" he asked, his voice tinged with panic.

Nick frowned, looking around. "She was just with you, wasn't she?"

"I thought so, too. But now I don't see her." Matt's anxiety was building. "I need to find her. She was right next to me before everything started."

Chris, who had been talking to some of his friends, turned toward Matt when he heard the tension in his voice. "Dude, don't tell me she left the dance," Chris said. "You don't think she bailed, do you?"

"I don't know," Matt replied, his voice tight. "I need to find her." He didn't wait for another word before hurrying out of the gym. He pushed through the exit doors, the cool air greeting him, and he took off running down the sidewalk, not caring who saw him. He didn't know why, but he had this sinking feeling that he couldn't let her slip away.

Meanwhile, I was already well on my way home, walking at a brisk pace, trying to escape the feeling that was slowly creeping in. I didn't belong in that gym anymore. I felt invisible.

The familiar lights of my neighborhood were a welcome sight, and as I walked up the driveway, I thought I would finally be able to breathe. When I reached the front door, I noticed my brother sitting on the porch, a look of curiosity on his face.

"Hey, where'd you go?" he asked, standing up.

"I just needed some air," I replied softly, pushing the door open. I didn't want to talk about it. I wasn't upset, just... confused. I went straight to my room and flopped down on my bed, staring at the ceiling as I tried to process everything.

But as I lay there, a soft knock on the door broke the silence.

"Y/N?" my dad called from the other side. "You Okay?"

I sat up quickly, pulling myself together. "Yeah, just tired. I'm fine."

Before my dad could say anything more, I heard footsteps approaching again. But this time, it wasn't just him—it was Matt.

I blinked, confused. How had he gotten here so fast?

When I opened the door, there he was, standing in the hallway, slightly out of breath, his tuxedo now a little wrinkled from rushing. His eyes locked with mine, and for a second, there was silence between us. I didn't know what to say. I thought I'd be alone, thought I'd slip out unnoticed, but here he was—right in front of me.

"Matt... How did you—?"

"I couldn't just let you leave," he said, his voice almost a whisper. He stepped forward, his hand gently grasping mine, leading me toward the door. "Come with me."

"Where?" I asked, completely caught off guard by his sudden determination.

"Just trust me," he said softly, and I knew better than to question him. We walked through the house, out the back door, and into the backyard. It was quiet back there, the lights from the house casting a soft glow across the yard. The stars above seemed brighter than usual tonight like they were watching over us.

He stopped in the middle of the yard and turned to face me. "Y/N, I don't want you to ever think that you're not enough," he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I've been an idiot. I got so caught up in everything tonight. I should have noticed you were gone. I should have seen it."

I shook my head. "Matt, I didn't want to—"

"No," he cut me off gently. "I should've been there. I should've seen you. I've been an idiot. I know that. But I need you to know that you're the most important thing to me. I'm sorry for making you feel like you didn't matter tonight. You matter to me more than anything."

His words stopped me in my tracks, and for the first time in what felt like forever, everything around me seemed to disappear. There was just him. And me.

I took a deep breath, then smiled softly. "You don't have to apologize. I just... didn't want to steal your moment."

"I don't care about the moment. I care about you," he said. He reached for my hand again, pulling me close. "And I'm not letting you go tonight without knowing that."

And before I could say another word, he pulled me into a slow, soft dance, the music from inside the house floating into the night air, faint but sweet. The world around us felt still like time had paused just for the two of us.

"You're perfect," Matt whispered, his breath warm against my ear as we swayed together in the quiet of the night.

I couldn't help but smile up at him, my heart finally at ease. "I'm sorry for leaving earlier."

"I told you," Matt said softly, his hands resting at my waist as he leaned in, his forehead gently resting against mine, "don't ever run away. I'm always here."

And as if the world had conspired to bring us together at this perfect moment, Matt leaned down and kissed me. It was slow, tender, and full of everything that we'd been holding back. And in that kiss, I felt everything I needed to feel—the warmth of his love, the safety of his arms, and the certainty that, no matter what, we were meant to be together.

We didn't need prom or any crown to know that. We only needed each other.