SETTLE DOWN, matty healy

Chapter 13: Anobrain

Song Selection: Wanna Know by Sabrina Claudio

Ocean waves of thoughts were crashing in my head if I even thought about homecoming at all the rest of that weekend. No one discussed my disappearance the rest of that night and I simply left Colin with a kiss on the cheek and admitting the two of us were alright staying just friends.

'Course, wasn't exactly truthful about the reason either.

Whether it was being off the pills or simply replaying Mr. Healy's interaction with me, I wasn't able to function quite coherently, but I still managed to hide this from my parents and everyone else as I am expert at. That Monday back proved to be intolerable as I woke up with the realization of having to face him, knowing that he did, in fact, have some affection towards me.

Whether it was the same as mine, I couldn't help but want to know already.

The walk to school felt more like a trudge as the moved slowly, despite the short distance walk to the school itself. Seeing Anna and Ryder discuss their weekends, I zoned out and played out the outcomes in my head of what was to happen today. "Hey Em? You haven't said a word since you got here, are you okay?" Ryder asked, concerned.

The bell rang shortly and I only managed a small smile to her. "Yeah, I just didn't make myself any coffee this morning. That's all," I told her, making her smile and nod with some relief.

"I relate to that on so many levels at the moment dear, you have no idea," Anna joked and adjusted the dark sunglasses she was wearing. I couldn't help to laugh with the two of them and parted ways soon after. It wasn't long before my mind found a way to go back to my thoughts about Mr. Healy, my distraction proving me incapable of getting any meaningful classwork done or even poetry.

Once the third period bell rang and our history teacher excused us, my heart beginning to beat rapidly at what was to occur. Anna didn't make any comments prior to class and simply started to discuss a fiasco that occurred when she had gone to the beach this weekend. Taking a seat, I noticed Mr. Healy with his feet up on his desk and scrolling through his phone casually even after the bell for class to begin had rung.

He looked up soon after and I simply sat as comfortably as I could, despite what had occurred the last time I saw him. Yet, he simply  lectured light heartedly as usual, with no glances to my direction or even acknowledgment of where I sat.

Who gave him the right?

My annoyance now grew and I sat there uninterested, looking around at all those who were admiring his words and his appearance today by some of the lovestruck looks in the class. Even a discussion of Shakespeare didn't draw me in to whatever it was Mr. Healy was discussing, but I instead looked anywhere than his PowerPoint or him. The bell rang not soon enough and I grabbed my things, walking swiftly out the door with-

"Emma, can you stay a bit longer? I need to have a word with you."

I stopped in my tracks and heaved a deep sigh, causing for Anna to wink to me. "Text me whenever you're finished." She soon left and I slowly turned to Mr. Healy, seeing everyone else was now gone and leaving the two of us alone in the classroom.

Shrugging my shoulders, I waited for him to speak first, shutting the door slowly before doing so. "The two of us need to discuss what happened on Friday, don't you think?" He asked, sitting in his desk and gesturing for me to take a seat in front of him. I slowly went over, still not adding to the conversation. "I didn't mean to be so forward, truly. I just-"

I eyed him, noticing him choose his words carefully yet again. "I've seemed to grow fond of you and I may have let my personal feelings towards you come off as inappropriate. Unless-" He looked up to me innocently, leaving me hooked. "You think otherwise?"

"I do think otherwise, actually. I- enjoyed the moment that Friday. I'd been thinking that your gestures to me were all in my own imagination to be honest," I admitted, not feeling myself blush in embarrassment for once.

He chuckled and leaned forward in his chair to give me a small smirk. "I find it hard to believe that a persona like yours can go unnoticed. I've grown to like it more than I should at times." I rolled my eyes and leaned forward in my desk now as well, shortening the distance between us. "Now, what's to say we make of this situation now?"

I smirked back to him, shifting my eyes down to his lips and back to him. "I'm good at keeping a secret. Are you, Mr. Healy?" I teased him, waiting for him to close the gap between us. Instead he stood up, shutting the curtains to darken the room. I continued to sit, not knowing exactly what he was doing.

"In that case-" He stopped and held both his hands on my cheeks to finally kiss me. I sighed with relief and laced my arms around him, holding onto him tightly. The two of us parted, our noses just gently brushing one another. "You make it difficult for me not to do that every chance I get."

I smiled, turning one of his curls in my hand. "Glad to know the feeling is mutual then," I said and tilted my head up to kiss him again. Seeing as I couldn't be with him here forever, we parted again and I stood up to grab my things. I stoped shortly, feeling him hug me from behind to kiss the top of my head. "When can we do this again?"

I saw him stop suddenly, heading over to his desk to hand me his phone. "I'd say it's about time I'd get your number first." I rolled my eyes, putting my name into his contacts. He chuckled, kissing me softly again before I made my way out. "I'll text you soon."

The door opened to let in the rush of sunshine from outside and I turned around to shoot him a quick wink. "I'm counting on it, Matty."