A Different Kind of Education

Chapter Twenty - Three : Agreement

Matt simply walks into my place ten minutes past one a.m, looking disheveled and warm all bundled up in his coat and boots. I've settled on the kitchen counter, blindly scrolling through my Instagram. When he enters the house a jolt of energy shots through my body. Calm your shit Candy. As stupid as it sounds, we take a minute to just stare at each other, unreadable expressions on our faces. Yep, still handsome.

"Hey." He breaks the silence.

"Hey." I reply softly, "So the idiots over there, feel free to smack his head on the way out."

Matt cracks a smile at my words, walking over to grab Jay. As he passes me, reach out, gently grabbing his shoulder. He halts abruptly at the touch and snaps his attention to me. His eyes are enough to make me catch my breath in my throat. I muster up my resolve from earlier in the night to say my next words.

"It's been a while since I've had a COD marathon."

The words are seemingly meaningless but realization sparks in his eyes.

"Me too. Sundays are good for those." He replies, tone light, contradicting the serious look in his eyes.

"True. Right after sunset is the best time of day."

"I agree."

I nod casually and Matt resumes his task of getting Jay from my couch. No words were said as he hauls him out of my house. The second that the door shuts behind Matt's figure, I slowly slide off the counter onto my feet. If I was right, I had just made a date with my History teacher. Pretty sure that's exactly what just happened, a voice says as I head to my room. My steps are stopped by the sound of the door closing. I turn around and see Matt standing there looking at me perplexed.

"What made you change your mind to give us a chance?" He asks, to which I automatically shrug.

"I guess I was sick of doing what I probably should do and simply do what I want to do. I can't tell you how I feel about you because I never gave it a chance and I don't want to have to have regrets." I see hope explode in his eyes at my words, "But," The hope dims slightly, "I am not going to just jump in head first. Justin," He flinches at the name. Justin had quickly become his favorite student aside from the way he looked in pain every time Justin and I were together, "Justin and I have a long standing past and at a point he undoubtedly had my heart. I don't know if it's just nostalgic adoration or real love I have for him but I'm not going to risk it."

"So what does it all mean?"

"My heart is unsure. So I am going to see how I feel about the two of you."

"And Jay?"

"I can thoroughly assure you that things with Jay are over."

"I'm still unsure on where we stand."

"We are friends who hang out. I want to spend more time with you without any other attachments to see if I could possibly have deeper feelings for you. We will only be spending time together, nothing more. I don't want to risk expulsion or risk you losing your job."

"I can understand that." He nods, "I know that I shouldn't ask but I have to. You and Justin - are you two going to be 'spending time' together too?"

"Yes." I tel him honestly and can see the twinge of hurt at it.

"He loves you, you know."

"I know, but I wont be any good to his heart if I don't even know my own."

"Does he know that this is your plan?"

"No, not yet. But I'm not going to let others control my decision, if he doesn't like it, then he doesn't have to be apart of it." I say determined, "I need to know how I feel and I'll figure it out whatever way I want."