Step by step

Chapter Twelve

Today was Wednesday, the day Matt was supposed to come home from his aunt's funeral. He called me yesterday to confirm and tell me his uncle Dan and one of his uncle's daughter, Anais, was coming home with him together with Lea, they'll be staying with them for a while.

In the background, during the length of the call, I could hear Matt's mom muttering curses that it was just plain inconvenient for them to have her own brother-in-law to stay with them. Matt wanted a reason to ignore her that's why he called.

I only met his mom once, she was reeking of alcohol and seemed like she was high. She was nice, or maybe it was the Marijuana talking, but even though she spoke in low, slow, careful sentences I still didn't approve how the house looked like. It reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke, the only thing that filled the fridge was beer, and the house was a complete wreck. It was as if they lived on the squatters part of town.

As I walked through the crowded corridors of the school, all I could only think about was Matt's birthday coming up. I can't believe it slipped my mind, I talked about it with my parents a month ago and I still forgot about it.

In all the years of our friendship, this is the first time I'd actually forgotten.

I groaned to myself, mentally slapping inner me.

"Hey! Didn't do nothing to you!" She yelled at me and I growled back in a hissy fit. "Well maybe you should stop seeing Emmett and focus all your undivided attention to your already taken love." She laughed at me in the most meanest way possible and all I could do was frown at her, because it was true.

Tom had asked me this morning what I was planning to do for Matt's surprise party, the one I'd always done for him whether it was just the two of us, the whole Keats family, or with his friends. I sighed as I played through my eggs as Tom stared, waiting for me to answer, eventually realizing I wasn't going to and I almost kissed Emmett a thank you for saving me as his car arrived just in time.

"Like really, El? You're just going to blatantly ignore me?"

I jump at Jasmine's voice and she was startled as I was.

"A bit out of sorts I see, mind sharing a piece?"

I sighed, grumbled, and lolled my head to the side before stopping in the middle of the corridor. Jasmine piped up as she tried to pull me to work again.

"Matt's birthday," I whined.

"What? Out of ideas?"

"Yeah," I lied, "What do you think should I get him?"

"Surprise party's out of the list, since he expects it." She tapped on her chin thoughtfully, "How about getting something he really really wants?"

I was about to whine again when a thought hit me. That old American Muscle in the junk yard by the side of the road, he said he'd saved for it, buy it, then turn it to the most stunning thing I'll ever see in my life.

"Oh thank you!" I hugged Jasmine tight before running off, her shouts becoming a blur in the background as the hype went through me like adrenaline. Matt always wanted that old, rusty thing. The owner of the junkyard made him a great deal of 5000 for it with the luxury of fixing it up on the yard.

I manuevered my way perfectly through the crowd to reach the gates in time for the school bell to ring for lunch. I darted outside, looked left and right before dragging myself under the scorching noon to the junkyard. In a span of 10 minutes, I got there on foot. The old, busted gate swung open still and a small shop stood inside. The yard would be behind it.

I fixed my hair, flattening it down and pulling my skirt into a considerable length.

I walked into the shop finding an old, busty, pudgy lady sitting behind the counter watching a show I didn't recognize on a timely T.V.

"Oh," She turned around with a grin as the bells chimed when I entered. "Goodmorning! What can I do for you, sweetie?"

"Is there a man in here? Um," I tried to remember hard, "White beard, graying black hair, skinny?"

"Oh yes, yes. He's my husband, why are you looking for him?"

"Well, he gave this deal to a friend of mine. The American Muscle for 5000? Is it still available?"

"Oh, you mean Matthew?" She smiled again, this time getting up and ushering me towards the back door.

"Yes, you know him?"

"Comes here every month to make sure that ancient thing is still here." She laughed as we went through the door and into the junkyard, sure enough the car was sitting under a self-made shelter of a roof. "He deposits every now and then." She placed both her hands on her hips, looking quite proudly at the car.

"Do you still have his deposits?"

"Well of course, sweetie. Why?"

"When does he come in?"

"Matthew?"

"Yes, Matthew." I confirmed.

"At the end of every month."

"I'd like to buy the car, please."

She snapped around, looking distraught and displeased.

"Well, you see its his birthday and I wanted it to be really special." I explained, trying my best to smile politely. Immediately, her face softens and turns into a pleased and amused expression.

"Well, do you know anything about cars? Matthew fixes that thing up every time he comes around. Engine's done, most of the mechanics are done actually except the airconditioning, stereo, wipers, and as you can see, the body."

"I'll do it," I said out too soon. "Is it hard? Will I need to take a course for that?"

She laughed wholeheartedly, "My husband can help you with that."

My face lit up once more, the beating of my heart pumping flames into my stream making me a bit hot with excitement. "I'll bring the payment this afternoon!" I declared and bid my goodbyes before shooting back to school.

Beep.

Fr: Ris Hart
Wru? Cafeteria whole gangs complete

I darted through the crowd again with a never failing smile on my face. I wanted to tell Therese and the others the good news. Oh, Matt won't see it coming.

As I turn the corner to the cafeteria, I spot him. Blonde hair, brown eyes, lean body, and that jawline.

"Matty!" I lunged at him, throwing myself at his disarmed body. Good thing he caught me the very last second and we spun around, Matt wrapping me in his slender arms of his. He buried his face into my hair and inhaled deeply.

"God I missed you." He murmured, audible enough for only the two of us can hear.

"I missed you too," I tightened my arms around him. The anger in me completely evaporating like a sudden disappearing bubble, I couldn't stay mad at him for far too long. My hands moved its way up his hair and tugged at it, earning me a low growl of a laughter from Matt.

"Uh, PDA alert." Therese dramatically said disgustingly, we both laughed as we held each other. His arms had snaked downwards to the curve of my back and my eyes suddenly went open, wide with that strike of lighting from his touch.

But that's when I saw him. Black hair, cute eyes, heart-shaped face.

Emmett grimaced as his teammates threw surprised and teasing glances my way and Emmett's.

We locked eyes and another strike of lightning shoot down my spine, fending off the earlier strike. I didn't know whether to look away or continue to look back, so I did the most cautious way.

I pushed back from Matt's hug.