THE MATCHMAKER ➢ JB MZ

four

"SHE KEEPS ASKING ME about vanessa and i don't even know why," joey ranted to charles who wasn't even listening. he was just nodding and saying 'uh-huh' and so forth as he continued to text. "are you even listening to me?"

charles put his phone down. "yeah, of course."

joey sighed, realizing he wasn't. "why does she keep asking me about vanessa?"

"no clue man," charles replied. "but why does it matter?"

joey shrugged. "i hate talking about vanessa." which was the truth indeed. "she just bothers me okay, and i like talking to maddie but it feels weird talking only about vanessa."

"wait, you like talking to maddie?" charles pointed that out, above all things.

"well yeah, she's funny, nice, and a really cool person to be around," joey explained. "you should try it sometime, believe me, she's great."

"uh-huh," charles said, but he was actually paying attention. "hmm."

"what?"

"nothing." charles went back on his phone. "i mean you are joey birlem, if people want to get people to read their stupid articles, they go to you."

"yeah, but, can't they go to someone else? why can't they go to you?" joey raised an eyebrow.

charles thought for a moment. "i guess you have a point, but that's just how it is."

sighing loudly, joey continued to sit at his lunch table. the others finished buying their lunches, and soon came over to the table. lucas and greg marks.

"yo guys," greg said as he sat down. lucas just nodded as his greeting. it looked like he was annoyed with something, but nobody could tell what. also, nobody cared enough to ask.

"aye," charles replied. they all talked but joey wasn't paying attention. he was looking at maddie, sitting with vanessa and her two friends.

since when were they friends? joey asked himself. the others continued to talk, but he wasn't listening. he was too focused on maddie, which was weird. sure they were friends, but he couldn't get her off of his mind.

"right, joey?" said charles.

"wh- what?" joey shook himself out of his daydream and back to reality.

"oh that's right," charles remembered. "he's probably thinking of his girl."

greg was surprised. "wait a minute, joey has a girl?"

"what? no!" joey tried to shut them up. thanks a lot charles.

"who is it?" lucas asked, afraid he already knew the answer. charles was getting a kick out of this, but it was annoying joey. why were they acting like this?

"maddie," charles laughed. lucas internally frowned after hearing that, and greg could tell. greg didn't really care too much about it though, he lived for this type of drama.

"i don't like her," joey said defensively. "honest to god."

charles nodded his head, not really buying it. "i'm joking guys, really."

that relieved lucas, although greg didn't really buy the joking part. but oh well, he went on with eating his food unbothered by what just happened.

lunch soon ended and the boys got up and left. they parted ways since joey had classes on the other side of the school. in the hallway, unexpectedly, maddie came up to him.

"joey!" she called out.

"oh hey maddie," he smiled to her as he turned to face her. "let me guess, vanessa?"

"how'd you know?" maddie asked the boy, now starting to walk with him in the hallway, knowing that he didn't have time to stop and talk.

"lucky guess?" joey asked sarcastically, which caused maddie to laugh. "but how's the article coming along?"

maddie thought of something to say. "i'm about half way through."

"that's good," commented joey. together they kept walking in the hallway.

"definitely," maddie replied. "but anyways, sorry lucas randomly came up and started to talking to me, while we were talking."

joey shrugged. "nah, it's okay. don't worry about it."

"can we continue our talk though?" maddie asked joey. she realized that this matchmaking thing would've been harder than it seemed.

"sure, as long as we don't talk about vanessa," joey started to laugh. maddie sighed in her thoughts. how was she going to go through with this plan? he didn't even seem interested in vanessa one bit.

"but i like talking about vanessa."

"i don't."

maddie shrugged her shoulders. "fine, but when?"

"first period, but let's just hope lucas doesn't interrupt us." both of them laughed together. "don't tell anyone that i told you this but, he's got a huge crush on you."

maddie was shocked. "no way!"

joey nodded. "you're all he talks about."

"aw, that's sweet," maddie smiled. "but i feel bad, i don't think of him like that. he's my friend, you know?"

"yeah," joey replied. "i get it. this is kinda embarassing but he made a ship name. laddie, sounds great, doesn't it?"

"oh my gosh no!" maddie shook her head, which made joey laugh. pretty soon, joey reached his class and he had to go.

"i'll see you around maddie," joey said his goodbye. "first period, be there."

"got it!" she smiled and then said goodbye. she went off to her next period class, still thinking about how she was going to make it work. he showed no interest in vanessa, no wonder why vanessa tried so hard and needed maddie's help.

maddie sighed. maybe i should just tell him that vanessa likes him? then he'll do something? i don't know. maddie needed this plan to work, if she wanted her own plan to work.

what she didn't notice was that her and joey were getting closer. she enjoyed talking to him, so maybe that was a good thing. all she needed was for him to end up with vanessa, and her life was set. she'd have it all.

meanwhile, joey was excited.

he was excited for first period, tomorrow.

a/n

tag yourself! i'm greg.

sorry this is so short!! UGH i'm just trying to get to the good stuff but i have to write these chapters first which is soooo tiring.

but i hope you guys liked this chapter. please leave a vote! thank youuu!