anywhere but here » a matt watson fanfic

4

6:58 pm
RUBY'S POV

I kept drifting off to sleep while watching South Park with Ryan and Matt. Matt and Ryan laughing at the jokes would wake me up.

While starting to drift off again, I got a text. But my phone was on the table and I was not getting that thing. It was probably a text from Signe.

"Was that my phone?" I heard Ryan ask Matt.

"I don't think so. I think it might be Ruby's."

I heard Matt shift his head away from Ryan and to me. "Shit, Ryan, she's sleeping!" He whispered.

"Isn't Mark coming home at 7? What is he gonna think of this?"

"Well, I can't wake her up... you saw how exhausted she was when she came here!"

"That's true. Maybe we could lay her down and Mark won't be able to see her when she walks in?"

"I guess that will do for now."

I felt bad but also happy that the guys were so worried about me. I could've just said 'guys I'm fuckin' awake' and saved them all the worry, but I guess it's too late for that. Plus, I do need sleep. Badly.

The boys laid me down on the couch like they said they would, and covered me with a blanket. I felt so guilty but so comfortable.

I heard the door open. It was Mark.

"Hey guys, I'm home!" I heard Ryan and Matt stand up off of the couch to make it look like they weren't waiting for him.

"Hey, Mark! How was the... thing you went to? I forgot what it was." Matt said.

"It was good. What did you guys do while I was gone?" Mark asked.

"Just played video games, watched TV, same-old same-old." Ryan chimed in.

"Cool. I'm tired, what're you guys watching?" Mark said, getting closer to me with every word. I froze.

"Oh, nothing. Why don't you go up to your room and watch TV? I think you should have some alone time." Ryan said, trying to sound calm, but really panicking.

"Uh, okay. I'll see you guys later, I guess." Mark said, walking up the stairs, still not being able to see me.

Once Mark was out of earshot, Matt spoke. "That was a close one, dude!"

"What should we do now?" Ryan asked Matt.

"Well, we have to get her home somehow."

I didn't want to go back home. Being lonely felt horrible now.

"I am not carrying her to her house." Ryan said sharply to Matt. "We should just wake her up."

"I guess it would save us trouble. I'll walk her home." Matt offered. I got tiny butterflies in my stomach.

I heard one of the guys approached me and shake me a bit. I open my eyes to see Matt in front of my face, knelt down on the ground in front of me.

"Don't say anything," he said, "but we gotta get you home. Now."

I nodded. I wanted to say something, but, I couldn't. I stood up with Matt and grabbed my phone off the table. I checked the text that I got from before.

signe 😜: 'so, have you texted matt yet?'

Little did she know, he was about to walk me home from his house.

Also, I only had 10% battery left. Shit.

"I'm gonna walk you home, alright?" Matt said and smiled reassuringly.

I smiled back.

He opened the door for me. "Tell Mark I went to go get some fresh air or something." Matt said to Ryan as he closed the door after we both walked out.

The sun was beginning to set, as it does earlier now in winter. Some of the clouds were turning pink.

"How was your nap?" Matt asked me after a moment of silence.

"Uh, pretty good I guess. Sorry if I caused you guys any trouble."

"Nah, it's alright. You had a long day. You should've just stayed home and slept, you know?"

"I know..."

"Then why did you come to our place?"

"I-I wanted to spend more time with you."

Matt stopped and looked at me. "Really?"

"Uh, yeah." I said, looking down at the ground. "I just... have this feeling that we're alike."

"Then, how about we do something instead of going back to your place. Where do you wanna go?" Matt asked me.

I had to think about that. "How about we go to the beach?" I always want to go to the beach and watch the sunset but I'm always too afraid to go alone.

"Sounds great!" He cheered.

7:30 pm

The walk to the beach was amazing, but long. And even more tiring.

I learned a lot of things about Matt. And, turns out, he was the guy I was looking for. I wasn't really looking for any guy in the first place... but I know he's the guy.

He's just so funny and sweet.

It was starting to cool down quite a bit. I had brought a jacket, so I was warm, but Matt didn't.

"You idiot. You've lived in LA longer than I have, you know how cool it gets in the evening." I said to Matt, laughing at his idiocy.

"I'm stupid, okay! I was in a rush!" Matt frowned, crossing his arms and pouting like a guilty toddler.

"Do you wanna borrow mine?" I asked Matt. I was wearing a plain black zip-up hoodie that might've been a few sizes too big for me. He wouldn't look too feminine in it...

"Because fuck gender roles." Matt said, which made me smile and laugh.

We were sitting on a bench in front of the ocean. I was fortunate enough to live in a house not too terribly far from the ocean. If I tried hard enough, I could do this every night.

The sky was a gradient of pink and yellow. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matt turn his head, towards me. I just kept looking at the sky, in my own thoughts, while he just stared.

I like this. I am genuinely happy.