BLACKMAIL | MATT CHAMPION

YOU'RE SOFT AND HARD FOR HER

MATT'S POV

monday morning was really devastating. only because everlee's car finally got fixed, and now she doesn't need me to drive her to school anymore.

it was actually fun to drive her around even though she's the reason why i get headaches.

class is about to start, and ameer walks in through the door. he comes and takes his seat next to me, "so, you have some explaining to do about the past two days."

"what are you talking about?" i rummage through my backpack, looking for my notebook.

"let's start at the party," he sits up, "romil, told me that when he was about to take you home, you were talking a whole bunch of weird shit."

i pull out my notebook and put it on the table, "i was drunk, what did you expect?" i toss my backpack onto the floor.

"you started crying, because you wanted to stay with everlee longer, and because you were gonna miss her." ameer grins.

"what? i didn't say that." i deny.

he continues, "then when romil was driving you home, you gave him a little tour of the card she made you. then you started crying again, because you couldn't believe how perfect she was."

"i called her perfect?" very funny." i begin doodling inside my notebook.

i don't buy any of this.

i don't remember everything that happened that night, and i definitely don't remember talking about everlee like that at all.

"what about yesterday? we all saw you stop the dude from kissing her. merlyn, even has it on video." he chuckles.

"in my defense, that was her ex." i glide my pencil across the page, still doodling.

ameer shrugs, "so? why do you care?"

"i was just doing her a favor. i really don't want her to get hurt by him again." i explain, trying to get him to stop his bullshit.

i look at him and his eyes widen, "oh my god, matt. you've gone soft!" he says loudly.

"what? i'm anything but soft." i argue, "i'm hard." i say confidently, until i realize that it sounds completely wrong.

ameer laughs, "you're soft and hard for her, just face it."

i start to blush, "when are you gonna drop this whole, everlee, thing?"

"never, because i know you like her. you know that you like her too." he says.

"no, i don't." i respond, annoyed.

i know i have some type of feelings for her, but i just don't want to admit it out loud anymore. i almost told her once in the car, but i'm glad that she fell asleep and didn't hear a thing.

maybe it's a sign to not say anything? because what if i'm wrong about having any feelings for her? what if i actually don't like her, and i'm just playing myself? i feel like i should just move on and forget my feelings for her.

"if you don't have feelings for her, then explain what the hell you're drawing in your notebook." he points at it while smiling.

i look at it, and see everlee's name written all over it.

"i didn't even realize that i was writing that." i mutter, staring at it in shock.

"maybe it's because your damn mouth is saying something different than your heart," he starts laughing again, "that was corny, but you understand what i'm saying."

i rip the page out of my notebook, and crumble it up. this can't be happening. out of all things, this really can't be happening. i literally would rather die.

"ready to admit it now?" ameer sighs, putting his hand on my shoulder.

i slowly stop crumbling the piece of paper, and open it back up again, staring at her name being written over and over again.

"ameer, you better keep this between us," i close my eyes and take in a deep breath, feeling confident about how i feel this time.

"i think i do like, everlee."

a/n:
HOW DO YALL FEEL ABOUT THIS LMAO