Don't You Mind? ~Matty Healy

Chapter 1

Overcast skies and a smooth breeze made for a perfect day. I couldn't resist going to my favorite spot to escape the craziness and get a few minutes to myself. I arrived at the little park that was well hidden from the view of the main road and turned my music down while I scanned the grassy area for other people. To my liking, I saw nobody. I grabbed my backpack and got out of the car and rushed to the big oak tree that stood on the other end of the field.

I liked this place because it felt cut off from the rest of the world. It was just far enough from town that nobody really knew about it and it wasn't spectacular enough for anyone to want to. There was no playground equipment for the kids or tables for picnics. It was just a big field covered in trees and a bench here and there.

I sat down in the shade beneath the long jagged branches and took my phone out of my bag. 2 missed calls and 4 messages. I rolled my eyes at how impossible it was to get time alone, turned it off, and hastily shoved it back into my bag. While I had it open, I pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

I don't remember how long I sat there and gazed at the beauty of the cloudy sky, but I do remember it was too shortly lived. A shadow loomed over the view of my journal, so I quickly closed it and took my headphones out of my ears. "Hello?" I heard from above me.

I looked up to see a boy around my age looking down on me. "Hi," I responded.

He ruffled his messy, dark curls. "I'm sorry to disturb your writing," he began as he glanced at my journal, "but I was wondering if you could tell me the time."

"Yeah hang on." I reached into my backpack and retrieved my phone and turned it on. It instantly buzzed with notifications that I ignored. "5:44," I told him.

"Thank you. Do you mind if I sit with you to kill some time?" he asked although he was already sitting down.

"Sure," I said, repressing a frown. So much for alone time.

He dug through the pockets of his leather jacket and pulled out a small wooden box. He opened it and removed a joint. "You don't mind do you?"

"No, go ahead," I shrugged. He brought it to his lips to light it and inhaled deeply. He held it in and held it out to me. "Why not?" I laughed as I took it from him and mimicked his motions.

"I'm Matt," he told me.

"Violet," I smiled. "So what brings you to this particular park in the middle of nowhere?"

"Well, Violet, I come here from time to time when I want to smoke and relax. What about yourself?" he asked, taking another hit.

"Well, Matt, I'd have to say the same. Plus the weather is perfect and I just wanted to be outside."

"Perfect? It's gloomy and overcast," he frowned.

"I know. It's my favorite," I told him as I took the joint from him.

He gave me a confused smile and shook his head, causing his curls to bounce. "You're different. I like that," he told me.

"Thank you. Are you always so forward?"

"I am. Life's too short. Do you always accept drugs from strangers?" he countered.

I laughed. "Typically."

"That's not too safe. This could be laced for all you know," he gestured to the joint.

"I'll take my chances. Life's too short," I smirked.

He smoked the roach until it burnt his lips and put it out on the grass. "Well I'm definitely too high to be driving right now, and I assume you are, too, so why we keep each other company for a while?"

"I'm alright with that. So who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Matt Healy. I sing, drink too much, mind my own business, and I don't own a television," he said with his eyebrows raised.

"Interesting choice of a summary. I am Violet Collins. I also sing, do too many bad things, love pizza, and I have a dog named Luna," I said.

"We are going to be friends, Violet," he told me simply.

We sat there and simply talked until our high was six feet under. He was weird, which meant I could be weird too, which was relieving. I felt like I didn't have to try to be cool or anything that I'm not in his presence. Somehow, it was like talking to an old friend.

"What time is it now?" he asked.

I got my phone out again. "9:07"

"Shit," he murmured, "Time got away from me."

"Same here. I was supposed to meet my friend 7 minutes ago," I groaned, gathering my things.

"Are you okay to drive?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll be alright. Are you?"

"Yes ma'am. Although, I would like to see you again sometime," he said.

"I bet you would. Hopefully we'll catch each other here again one day," I smirked as I started walking back to my car.

I got in and tossed my bag in the passenger seat. I turned the car on and turned the heat on high. I didn't realize how cold I had gotten. I pulled my phone out and dialed my best friend, Caroline's, number.

"Violet, where have you been? I've been messaging all day!" I could hear her exasperated voice begin to lecture me.

"I'm sorry I'll tell you all about it when I see you. I'm just outside of town I'll see you in 15, okay?"

"Okay. Hurry," she said before the line went dead. Sometimes I felt sorry for her having me as a friend.

Next thing I knew, I heard a tap on my window. Matt stood there waving sheepishly. I rolled down my window. "Sorry," he said quickly. Before I could ask what he meant, he snatched my phone out of my hand, typed for a minute, and then handed it back to me.

"Uh, it's okay," I said.

He grinned at me. "I'll message you later," he winked and then walked to his car, turned on the engine, and then he was gone.

A/N I made this chapter under the influence of cannabis so I apologize if it sucks but I plan on writing the rest of this a lot better. Thanks for reading!