Savior ( Matty Healy)

An Encounter

//Songs//

•Chocolate- The 1975
• Snap Out Of It - Arctic Monkeys

*Matty's POV*

I walked through the crowded party searching for my friend Chris. I had texted him earlier saying that I needed to "unwind a bit" and he had told me that he'd be here. The "party" was just about a dozen or so people sitting around and smoking weed. The small apartment had everyone packed into what you would call a living room.

This definitely wasn't Chris' place, and I just hoped that he actually knew the person who did. He has gotten into shit before and I really didn't feel like being a part of it tonight.

"Oi, Matt!" Chris called from his seat on a worn couch. He was seated inbetween two girls who weren't so modestly dressed. I felt sorta bad for them. One because it was probably 40 degrees outside right now, and two because they had to deal with Chris for a hit off a blunt.

"Hey Chris," I nodded my head in recognition. I didn't want to chat with him, and I only came here for one thing. "You've got something for me?"

"Oh,yeah," Chris pulled an already rolled blunt from his jacket pocket. "Here ya go. This is grade A stuff I tell ya."

"Thanks," I muttered taking it and quickly heading to the glass sliding door that led out to the fire escape.

I hadn't seen anyone out here until I slid the door behind me and stepped outside. There was a girl sitting by the railing with her long legs hanging through the bars. She had long dark wavy hair that was covering her face as she kept looking away from me. Finally realizing she wasn't alone she turned her head to look up at me with strikingly blue eyes. They were very pretty on her, I thought to myself.

"Hi," her voice was shy yet kind. She continued to look at me questioningly as she wrapped her pale arms around the bars in front of her.

"Hey," I gave her a slight awkward smile. She returned it a little half-heartedly as if she didn't quite trust me yet.

* Julia's POV*

I leaned against the railing of the fire escape, looking out at the city lights ahead. It wasn't too bad here, but it wasn't quite the shiny gem of Manchester. My neighborhood especially. It was full of dingy apartment complexes with a few shops and a pub down the street. Not quite the place I pictured myself living when I was 20.

For all respectful puposes this cramped apartment was my home, along with my brother Jace. Sometimes when we were "lucky" my asshole of a father would show up, usually drunk and belligerent, to torment us. It wasn't so bad. I've learned to avoid him when he does come home which is probably only once every two weeks. Plus he does find a way to pay the rent on time. I don't make a lot at the music shop I work at and bloody Jace refuses to do anything but smoke pot with his so-called friends. So, until I can come up with the money I stay here and at my friend Toby's place when my father comes to visit.

Loud talking and laughing can be heard through the glass of the door behind me. Jace had his annoying friends over again. That's why I came out here in the first place. The guys are all a bunch of pricks who think it's a laugh to hit on Jace's sister. The girls are even worse they just sit there all scantily clad in who knows what kind of clothing giggling at whatever they say.

I sit down on the floor of the fire escape and let my skinny-jeaned legs hang off the edge. I mindlessly swing my legs, looking down at my scuffed red high tops. I blow out air, seeing it clearly in the cold night. Despite the weather I'm only wearing a simple loose white t-shirt. I don't mind the cold, in fact I
kinda like the numbing feeling it gives you after a while.

"What's been happening in your world? What have you been up to? I heard that you fell in love, or near enough..." I quietly sing the lyrics of a song from one of my favorite bands.

I stop abruptly when i hear the glass door opening behind me. I keep looking the other way hoping that whoever the stoner is will just leave me alone. They don't leave but they haven't tried talking to me yet either, curious I turn to face them.

It's a guy. He looks about my age and is dressed in all black. Black skinny jeans, black boots, black shirt under a black jacket. His hair is what really catches my eye. It's shaved on both sides leaving a strip of long dark hair flipped to one side. Kinda odd, but it works for him.

I keep staring at him waiting for him to say something so I can pin him under two categories: complete prick or stoner. Or both. But he doesn't say anything, he just looks at me.

"Hi," I say, not standing the awkward silence anymore. He seems surprised that I spoke and replies back with a 'hey' and a small smile. He kinda seemed a bit nervous as well.

I can tell that he is not high by the lack of red in his clear dark eyes. I decide to return his smile with slight hesitation. He seems alright, but I've gotten used to not trusting people, even my own family.

Still, there is something about him that seems genuine to me.