home to you: a blackbear fanfiction

the beginning

           I met Matthew on September 4th, 2012. We were totally different people from totally different backgrounds. He was raised in Daytona Beach on food stamps and had made his way to California in hopes of pursuing his dreams. I was from Arkansas, and held close ties to my parents and four siblings. I had come to UCLA with a scholarship to study  psychology.

           It was the beginning of my sophomore year, and I was at a house party in Hollywood. I entered the house behind my friend Taylor, feelings slightly self conscious in my outfit. Taylor told me it would be chill, so I wore a black sweatshirt with roses on it, jeans, and high topped black Converse. My eyes scanned the room for a familiar face. Though they did not find one, they landed on Matt, dressed in black from head to toe and laughing, a cigarette hanging from his lips. I was so infatuated by him. 

          My last boyfriend was my high school sweetheart, a basketball point guard named Chase. He was fine, but I realized once we both left for college that I never loved him, so I broke up with him over Thanksgiving break of our freshman year. I was with him for three years, but he never made me feel how I felt looking at Matt from across the room that night. 

          Taylor was the one that introduced us. Her brother, who was a senior, was friends with Matt. Taylor's brother Ryan was a music major, and explained that the two  met through the music industry. He praised Matthew's talent and creativity, and I stared at him in awe.  Taylor and I sat down with Ryan, Matt, and the rest of their friends. I talked with Mathew all night, drinking beer after beer as we laughed. He talked far more than I did, but I was happy to listen. It was three in the morning before we realized everyone else had left. We exchanged numbers and said goodbye, my heart pounding, partially because of the alcohol and partiality because of the nerves. We kissed on the front lawn of whoever's house that was. I knew I loved him, even then. Four years later, Matthew and I would ask Taylor and Ryan to be the maid of honor and best man at our wedding.