London calls me a stranger

Chapter 20

Sam's POV

"Thank you Camden!" I heard Matt shout for the fifth time that week. Elisa Smiles had been playing around all the bars and pubs in Camden all week. I guess the Glass Slipper performance really hit them off. The crowd roared, erupting to walls. And the band file off: first Luke (the drummer that April has an eye for) then Josh (the bass), Jacob (lead guitar and tambourine at times), and then my lovely Matt. In the dim back stage light I could see the glimmer of sweat lining his brow and upper lip. His curls tousled and mad. His hands still shaking from the adrenaline. He was such an adrenaline junky. He loved being on stage. It gives him a high. His hands caressed my neck and kissed me on the lips. I couldn't go to last nights concert because of course work so I hadn't seen him. I loved coming to see him perform and he loved it too. "Hello darlin'" he whispered to me over the commotion of back stage. His arms held me by the waist as he leaned back to get a better look at my face.

"You were amazing tonight as usual" I said pecking him on the lips.

"Thanks babe."

"You have a lot of female fans don't you," I said furrowing my brows thinking about looking out into he crowd. All the girls faces, pinned on Matt. The lust in their eyes when they saw him dance around the stage.

"Yeah, but there's only one girl for me!" He said kissing my forehead. I giggled and we walked to his dressing room.

I say dressing room it's only an office used for this evening's purposes. The desk tops littered with paperwork and sheet music. Matt's desk was littered with his coursework and other things he needed for that evening. I noticed a small bag on the desk as he collected his bag. I picked out my black eyeliner that I had been looking all over for. I turned to him, holding the eyeliner in full view. He turned to see the look of annoyance on my face. "I've been looking all over for that." I said to him in a firm tone.

He came over and tried to make me forgive him. "You don't need make up." He said, sweetly. Trying to get himself out of the dog house.

"And neither do you, guy-liner!" I said teasingly.

"Actually I think you do!" He said taking the eyeliner off me and prodding the tip on my cheek. A dark black smudged spot of eyeliner was left on the hollow of my cheek. I release something between a gasp and a laugh when I see my appearance in the mirror. I snatched the eyeliner back and drew a long line across his left cheekbone making him look like an American footballer. He released the same noise, a pen and eyeliner war broke out. I grabbed my lipstick from my bag and smeared it across his other cheek whilst he drew a line down my neck.

Then he began to tickle me. Kicked and punched the air as I tried to wriggle out of his grasps. My hand misguided and punched him full force in the neck, blocking him windpipe. I gasped as I saw him fall to the floor. "Matt I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!" I shouted maybe a bit too loud.

Rolling around on the ground, he laughed as much as he could. "Don't mess with Sam!"

"Well I am not responsible for my actions when you tickle me." I laughed as he recovered.

"I'll keep that in mind." He said sensually.

I helped him up and we made our way to the stage door. It had been about an hour since they were being on stage. The other boys probably had met the crazed fans ages ago so I felt okay about just walking out.

We walked hand in hand into the car park to Matt's black BMW, when some girls, aged about 15 came screaming running around the corner. The grasp on my hand tightened, and I was pulled towards the car. The girls were hot on out heels as we jumped in the car. They must have seen me because they were shouting "look it's that Sam girl" and screeching horrible comments at me. Ones I wish not to repeat. I began I cry as Matt tried to reverse out of the car park without hitting the girls. Echoes of the girls comment intertwined with my fathers voice drunk and slurred, bounced around the corners of my brain.

"Matt please take me home!" I cried.

"No you're not being alone tonight!" He commented.

"Please." I begged.

"No!" He protested.

I hung my head again and stayed silent for the rest of the car ride.

The vehicle came to an abrupt stop. I stayed silent. "Sam?" Matt asked breaking the silence. My head remained in its hung place."I heard what they said" a stray tear curved down my cheek. "And it's not true."

I shook my head releasing more tears. Matt's hand cupped my chin, and brought me up into his hazel view. "Don't ever say your not beautiful, you're perfect to me." He kissed me softly, the words still hanging in the air. He really did mean it. I could tell by the way he held me; almost in desperation that I would slip away from him, forever. This made me overwhelmed with emotions, to a point that I couldn't comprehend. All I knew is I loved him, I loved him. He pulled away and we stayed connected at the forehead, gazing into each others eyes. "I love you" we said in sync. I was shocked, and then just laughed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Matt draped his arm over my shoulder as we made our way up the stairs to his apartment. As we turned into the corridor, we saw a unknown figure standing outside Matt's flat. No not unknown. Very familiar. I gasped when I saw the bleach blonde hair and icy blue stare. "Ah finally came home!" He spoke mockingly.

Matt's eyes narrowed and darkened the way they always did when he was angry. "What do you want Jackson?!" He spat back at Conor.

I hid behind Matt's large demeanour. I couldn't face Conor. Out of guilt. "Heard you two were a couple now." He gave me a cold as ice stare when these words came. I miss the warm blue stare from before, this one seemed harsh and unforgiving.

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Well I'm here to kick some sense into her."

Matts eyes darkened further. "You're not going to touch her son."

Conor caught Matt's eyes and held it got a few moments. The moments of suspense I did not breathe.

Then Conor's fist made direct contact with Matt's jaw, knocking him back on to the ground. Then all the air burst from my lungs. "MATT!" I screamed trying to scramble towards him. He moaned in pain on the floor. Blood began to pour from his face. I couldn't see where, his hand covered the wound, but there was a lot of blood.

Conor held me in place on the wall by my shoulders. "You've been crying haven't you!" He shouted at me. "You see what you do Matt?! You've hurt her!"

"It wasn't him!" I shouted back, thrashing under his hold.

"I'd never do that! I'd make you happy! Sam can't you see! He's using you!"

"He's not! He's different!"

"Oh you thick bitch! Can't you see! Yo-"

He was cut off by my fist flying into his stomach, followed by my knee. That was so out of character.

Matt eventually got up and was about to make a run to jump Conor. I stopped him with a delicate hand on his chest. I shook my head and turned back to Conor. "Leave... now!" I said simply and Conor struggled to reach his feet but eventually stood up, propping himself up against the wall.

"He doesn't own you Sam! This isn't you!" He said before leaving the building. A water released from my tear ducts and my hand wiped it away before Matt could see it. All I could comprehend was the words hanging in the air. "This isn't you!" Is Matt changing me? I would have never beaten up someone before! All I know is, Matt's darkness is taking over me... And I'm not that type of girl.