BLACKMAIL | MATT CHAMPION

ONE LAST TRY

it's been about a week, and matt still hasn't spoke to me. not a word. i decide to go over to his house, and try to work things out one last time. if it fails, then i guess i have to give up.

i haven't talked to, wesley, either. ever since he admitted that i was just a backup plan, i just fully let him go. i should've a long time ago, but of course i didn't realize that until everything blew up in my face.

sure, it still hurts, but i should've known that he was never going to change.

i walk to, matt's, front door and knock a couple times. the door swings open and reveals, mrs. champion. she smiles, "matt, didn't tell me you were coming over."

i smile back, only to be polite, "he doesn't know that i'm stopping by."

"well, you can go right up to his room." she opens the door wide enough for me to come inside. i start to walk up the stairs quickly until she stops me, "hey, everlee?"

i pause and turn around, "yeah?"

"do you know if, matt's, upset about something? yesterday, he was ranting to me about some kid with a deformed nut as a head?" she asks, "i couldn't really keep up with anything that he was saying."

i hesitate to say anything, but i do it anyways, "well, it kinda has something to do with this fight we had around a week ago. i'm here to work things out with him." i confess.

"i'm guessing he hasn't talked to you, right?"

i nod my head in response, and she continues, "he does that every time he's mad at someone. he'll come around eventually."

but i don't think he will this time.

"you think so?" i try to be hopeful.

mrs. champion shrugs, "he's not as mean as you think," she smiles, "go up there and straighten things out."

i nod and smile, as she walks into the kitchen. i continue up the stairs to his room, and knock on his bedroom door.

i press my ear against the door, "matt? it's me, everlee."

"go away!" he yells.

i wince, "can you please let me in? we need to talk, and i'm not leaving until we do."

he doesn't say anything, until i hear him unlocking the door. he opens it a bit, just enough for him to see me, "what do you want?"

"can i at least come in?" i ask.

he sighs, opening the door all the way. i come inside, and stand in the middle of his room.

"can you make this quick?" he rushes me.

"listen, i'm sorry about everything. i'm sorry for lying to you, and for being so fucking clueless about-" my voice fades away, as my eyes wander over at his trash can, and it completely throws me off.

inside of it has the birthday card i made him. my eyebrows scrunch up, and i press my lips together, trying to hide the fact that i'm hurt from what i'm seeing.

he sees that i'm staring at it, and it causes him to look over at it too. he sighs, "if you don't wanna see it in there then you can take it back."

he picks the card out from the trash can, and forces it into my hand, "i don't need it anymore." he says.

i stare down at the card, "matt," i say quietly, i feel like i'm on the verge of crying, "please don't do this."

he shoves his hands down his pockets, and looks up at the ceiling, trying to avoid eye contact with me. "everlee, when i said i don't wanna be involved with you anymore, i meant it."

i nod and slowly leave his room, in hope that he'll call my name, and tell me that he didn't mean anything that he said.

but he didn't.