The Dove And The Grenade.

Chapter 31: Changes.

Things happen for a reason. The Universe has a plan for each and every life that walks this earth. Sometimes good things happen for bad reasons, and sometimes bad things happen for good reasons. It's not as black and white as that though, there are shades of grey everywhere. Reasons reveal themselves in time, it can be a short amount of time, or a long amount. But there is always a reason.

Matt sat at Eliese's bedside, holding her bruised hand gently. She sat silently, thinking about the state her baby's in. She couldn't help but worry herself sick. She's vomited twice since Matt sat down an hour ago. Nancy could only stand by and watch her daughter suffer, after a while she had to leave, there was something she had to do. So she left Matt and Eliese alone. Eliese couldn't stop herself from thinking about what this year has held and how all of this insanity started.

"I want to be her dad." Matty came out and said bluntly. He was taken by surprise when he said those words, but it was true. He wanted to be Emily's dad, he wanted to be apart of both of their lives, more than just a best friend or an Uncle. Matty didn't realize it before but now he sees what's missing from his life, those two girls.

"Genetics don't work like that, I'm afraid." Eliese was confused about his intentions. She brushed her pixie short brown hair from her face and twisted it behind her ear.

"I know. But that doesn't mean I can't be her dad." He was sure this is what he wanted, he was 110% positive. He stared down at Eliese, realizing that she was confused but she knew exactly what he meant. She wanted to accept his offer but there was something stopping her.

"What are you saying, Matty? You want to be her step dad?" Eliese's words were cold and bitter, like the dead of winter. Matty bit his lower lip and stepped away from the counter. His crossed arms dropped to his sides as he moved across the small kitchen to stand in front of his small friend. Matty was at least 5'11" while Eliese was 5'3", that's five inches between them.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." He lowered his gravelly voice into a husky sigh. Eliese stopped herself from shuttering, she set the drink down on the counter and shook her head softly.

"You can't be her step dad, we're not in a relationship or romantically involved with each other." Eliese stuttered over her words, looking up at him through his fringed bangs and dark eyelashes. Matty lifted a hand and placed it against the side of her face, Eliese couldn't resist turning her head so his touch wasn't a ghostly touch but a reassuring caress. Her eyes moved back to meet his.

"We can be." He told her softly. Eliese shook her head at him with a frown. Tears blinded her with boiling emotions.

"I can't." Her words were unstable and her eyes leaked with fear. Matty narrowed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows curiously.

"Why?" He questioned in a quiet voice. Eliese placed her hand over his and inhaled deeply, taking in his smell. She was afraid of how he bwas going to react when she tells him she just got out of an abusive relationship. Matty was gone for six months and he's missed a lot, including Eliese's domestic violence charges against her now ex-boyfriend.

"I just got out of a bad relationship, and I'm still trying to recover from it." She decided to keep it short and without details. But it hit Matty in the head, he could see the fear in her eyes. He placed his other hand against her cheek, cupping her face in his hands gently. He could see a dark circle ringing around her brown eye, it was peeking out from under the makeup she wore.

"You know that I will never touch you like he did. Please Eliese, give me a chance."His words made her heart flutter. Eliese smiled wearily after a moment of thought. She decided that this was best. But she was scared of losing him to the life of being a rockstar.
She felt every nerve ending in her body catch fire when his mouth pressed against hers before she could blink. They both relished in the memory of the time they played spin the bottle at a party, Matty spun it and it landed on Eliese. They had to kiss in front of everyone. Matty swore she took his breath away in that moment. Matty certainly left butterflies in Eliese's stomach. But as fluttery as Eliese felt, there was a fear bubbling inside her but she forced herself to trust him. Her mind told her he wasn't going to hurt her like the last guy but her heart was afraid to let anyone in.