Peaked

1. Taking a Step Back

"What do you mean you want to take a break?" Adam whirled around to look at Matt Peake as they filmed an episode of Open Haus. Matt froze and looked at the camera with a shy, yet small smile, "I believe I told you a few weeks ago that I'd been planning a month vacation a little while ago." Matt could see Bruce getting riled up in his comedic ways, and Joel wasn't there to say something witty back to defend him. Lawrence and Elyse stared normally at their cameras making odd faces, but what else was new with them. They were goofy, and while Matt felt odd about the outburst during Open Haus, he couldn't help but laugh at their shenanigans. "I don't remember that at all! In fact, I don't think you get vacations. None of us get vacations. This is our vacation!" stated Adam, but he was facing the camera, so Matt knew it was part of the act. James was messing with Billy, petting her belly and talking to her in baby-talk.

Matt was intending to stay within the state, and mainly at home to just relax. Although, he had considered traveling to Hawaii for some of their coconut diet, peaceful beaches, and windy mountains. Hiking sounded nice, and so did snorkeling, but staying at home sounded a bit more reasonable. He scratched his beard, then went back to editing. Matt read his question when Bruce asked him to and answered when he was called upon, mildly disturbed during his word, but not annoyed with their calling, but continued as usual with his camera on. Adam came up to him after they finished filming and asked him about what he was going to do for vacation, and Matt told him his plans. "I'd say go to Hawaii, but that's all on you," Adam nodded, "My wife and I had considered Hawaii for awhile, but thought about maybe going out of the country." Matt tilted his head and nodded. "Nah, I'd like to just lay low, and sleep in. Do some more yoga," he sipped his water, and looked back at his monitor. It'd be a week until his vacation officially started.

Later that day, they'd be playing their weekly drunk game play. Matt was feeling unusually tense, but knew that some alcohol in his system would loosen him up. Lawrence was getting super drunk, James was getting offended, Bruce was getting loud, and Elyse was clumsy, all the while Matt still felt tense. He wasn't sure what was bothering him, and as he continued to watch them get rambunctious over a their intoxicated conversations, he got even more tense. Matt decided to go home, rather than drinking some more and summoned an Uber driver to take him home. He stared at the scenery out the window, which was just the concrete jungle he lived within. Matt cursed the loud noises he heard as he clambered up his stairs in the apartment complex he lived in and was grateful that he was able to get an apartment on one of the higher floors.
He was thankful for a few reasons: 1) He was able to hear traffic as a dull roar, 2) he was able to get a workout taking the stairs up and down, even if it wasn't much of one for him, he enjoyed it, and 3) there was a cute girl who lived two apartments down he befriended. Her name was Alyssa Lamb, and she had what Matt considered were eyes of angel. They were blue, but much more crystal clear than James's. The thought made him blush as he pushed off the last step and stumbled through the door of his floor.

Matt knew that he could possibly woo Alyssa. He adored her short, blonde hair with slightly darker blonde highlights, and her slender dancer body just made him swoon. She'd be a dancer since she was a girl, from what she'd told him. Peake couldn't have imagined anyone else better for him. Someone who enjoyed staying fit, who enjoyed the peacefulness of an activity and balance as he did. He considered it a match made in heaven. Alyssa had always exchanged small glances, waves, and smiles as they passed in the hallway, and she always seemed to blush a little when she saw Matt. He smiled back every time, and he knew that maybe those smiles could lead to conversation, which could lead to dinner.

As he tripped his way onto his floor, the door flung open too fast. Matt caught it before it slammed into the wall, but he was afraid the hinges would have still woken half the floor up. Luckily, no one came out of the rooms, but he turned to realize he had disturbed someone. Alyssa was looking over and noticed Matt, and so did her guest. His hand was on her hip, and one hand was above her head as she leaned against her door. He looked like a dancer, and this disgusted Matt. Matt closed the door and gave a smirk in their direction. He felt his heart fall. Great, he thought. He inched past them, and Alyssa didn't even turn to look at Matt stagger his way to his apartment. She opened her door for her and her guest and they staggered in as well. Matt sighed, as he watched them go in, and leaned forward against his door, hitting it against the hard wood. "Ow," he muffled, his lips dragging against the door as he slowly began to slip down it. He stopped himself short of falling completely downward and opened his door miserably. I wish I had had more to drink if I knew how this night was going to end, Matt thought as he slammed the door to his apartment. That probably woke up the rest of the floor.

As Matt lied in bed that night, he decided was he was going to do for vacation. I have to get away from here for awhile. Maybe not Hawaii, maybe some place closer. Matt hadn't really traveled through much of Cali yet, so he thought about it. As Matt thought, his eyes began to drift. He'd fallen against the couch and hadn't intended on moving. He would be sleeping on the couch tonight, just for the simple fact that he couldn't find the will to move. With that, he carried his mind over California and fell into a disgruntled, buzzed sleep.