Yours, Eternally(2015 Revision)

Chapter Nine

 Part II: May

Since Christmas night, when Matt kissed me, he never tried again. I pushed him away and made it very clear we were nothing but friends, and couldn’t be anything else, no matter how much I wondered about it. I enjoyed his company and we had a great platonic thing going. Matt was very understanding, and didn't show a bruised ego, if there was one. The rest of the night went smoothly, Tyler and Kylie emerged from their hiding places and we had dessert and watched black and white Christmas Movies until I fell asleep and they saw Matt out. Of course, I told Kylie and Tyler what happened, seeing that I thought they were behind Matt's actions. As we entered into the New Year, all had seemed to be forgotten as if it never occurred.

Matt and I had known each other nearly five months now, and adjusted to each other as if we had known one another for a lifetime. Matt and I were almost inseparable, taking in movies, going bowling, seeing local concerts and he tagged along when I visited Kyle and Tyler at Penn State on some weekends. We became so close, we joked and called each other family. I refused to let it be ruined by a relationship status.

Matt was truly unlike anyone I had ever met in my life. He was patient, no matter how intolerable I could be. He didn’t think I was weird or crazy and never criticized me, he just simply understood me. Not like other people, Matt was different, perfect even. He woke something up from inside and the only way that I could explain it is that he made me feel alive.

- - -

It was three o'clock on a pleasantly warm Friday afternoon, and I was rushing to finish last minute work so I could start the three day Memorial Day weekend.

I was sitting at the reception desk in the main lobby, answering phones after finally completing the last of the tasks. An hour passed as I settled into a non-enthralling game of solitaire on the computer when I could feel someone behind me. Peering into the reflection of the glass in front of me, I could make out Matt’s silhouette.

“Addisonnn….” He was whispering my name, dragging the n. I ignored him. The game was to see how long it took before I told him to shut up. “Addisonnn…” Matt was chanting my name again and again, and still, I ignored him. Keeping my head down, I adjusted my eyes slightly to catch his reflection in the glass again, just in time to see him pout.

“Addisonnn…”

I turned in my chair so fast my head started spinning. “What do you want?” I spoke up, trying not to be too loud, and definitely trying not to laugh.

“I’m bored.” He flashed me his pearly whites. “Let’s go get some fresh air.”

“Good idea, this last hour is dragging and has me dozing off.” I stood up, stretched my legs, and joined Matt. We piled into the elevator rode down to the lobby. The elevator doors opened and we walked outside to the spacious outdoor patio that overlooked an open grassy area, that lead To the tall trees and brush of forest.

The weather was beautiful this time of year. In fact, it was my favorite time of year; the cusp of Spring and Summer, and not to mention the fact that my birthday was coming in June. Aside from the maintenance crew land-scaping the property and sweeping the patio, Matt and I were the only two people out there. We took a seat at one of the many patio tables, and I closed my eyes, taking in the sun, while Matt sat abnormally quiet. Some time later, Matt jumped up, startling me, and walked over to the railing bordering the patio and grasped onto it, staring out into the wooded area.

I went to his side. Noticing a piece of lint on his shoulder, I picked it off. This time, I startled him, and he flinched out of his thoughts.

“Sorry, it was bothering me.”