SETTLE DOWN, matty healy

Chapter 15: By Your Side

Song Selection: Is There Somewhere by Halsey

"I'm going to be heading out with Anna and Ryder tonight for a study session by the way," I reminded my parents as I began to get ready for my meeting with Matty tonight.

My mother came into the room suddenly, a strange grin on her face as she looked on to me. "Have I said how proud of you I am recently, Emma. You've really been pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in a positive way these past few months and it's suiting you quite well," She mentioned.

I looked to her surprised, smiling towards her. "Thanks Mom. Now does that mean I can take the car out tonight?" She chuckled, nodding lightly and handing me the keys from her pocket. I slung my jacket on, grabbing my bag as I went out the door. "I'll text if anything comes up. Love you guys."

I shut the door slowly, the pang of guilt from lying hitting me lightly as I trudged to the car. It wasn't until I was knocking buzzing myself in from the apartment complex and hearing Matty beckon for me to come inside that I felt as if all the lying was worth it. I slowly made my way up the stairs, reaching apartment 93 b soon after and knocked on the door, looking around still in pure anxious.

Matty opened the door soon enough, bits of dough sticking onto the door handle as he greeted me with a wide-grin. "Lovely as ever Emma," He greeted me to say, kissing my cheek as he led me inside the small apartment.

"As are you Healy," I mentioned, stopping him to wipe off the bit of powder that caught onto his face with a chuckle, "Hope you haven't made such a mess of yourself just for me."

I looked around at the small apartment, not catching a mess in sight and instead found a nicely set dinner table for two as well as an array of dishes for the night that were being taken out by Chef Healy himself. Matty leaned on the kitchen counter top, scratching the back of his neck innocently. "It wasn't that hard to do because it was just me trying to impress you," He explained, only causing for me to chuckle and roll my eyes.

Setting my bag aside, I looked out to the balcony outside, stepping out to see the city life below us. The moon was full, shining down a bright light tonight only causing for me to smile at the thought of a good sketch and poem at this moment. "God there's so much inspiration in night life," I said to myself, feeling Marty's arm wrap themselves from behind me and I held onto him as the two of us appreciated the starry night, "But such can't be appreciated with my stomach about to growl."

I kissed the top of his hands to have him lead me inside, pushing a chair out to me and seeing the flat bread and tossed salad he had managed to make. I looked ahead of him grinning to me suddenly, causing for me to do the same. "Surprised you're still looking at me when you've made a successful meal," I mentioned, taking a bite of the food itself.

He looked down for a second, the grin still on his face. "Sorry, I'm still grasping the situation I think. That we're successfully doing this and I just-" He stopped, making me put the down my food slowly. "Emma, you are the loveliest person I believe I've ever come to know and the very thought leaves you stuck in my head day by day."

My heart still swooned at his words, that such was coming out of the mouth that students at school would kill to hear. Yet here he was, telling me.

I blinked stupidly to him, still wanting to finish whatever food I had begun to eat. "And I have yet to understand someone I believe is a walking form of the most beautiful art is taking the most beautiful words to describe me. I-" I continued to stare dumbly at him, seeing him raise an eyebrow in amusement at my sudden embarrassment. "I'm at a loss for words here, Healy."

He finally took a bite of his food, more than likely feeling proud of himself at my sudden awkwardness. "Glad you know how I feel whenever I have the pleasure of sharing time with just you."

***

The two of us sat atop the balcony railings dangerously, looking ahead at the busy freeway as the night grew longer and our discussions grew along with it. "I don't see why people can't appreciate classical music anymore. The world is so busy with words that the simple instruments can calm you in a noisy world. Why is it so hard to see?" I continued to try to explain.

Matty looked on to the night, tilting his head as he thought. "Probably because Pop is all too catchy Thoreau, you've got to at least see that," He mentioned and I turned over to him at the sudden nickname.

"I'm more an Emerson than Thoreau there Shakespeare," I said and raised a brow to him.

He smiled, winking to me. "If you say so, darling."

The two of us turned back to the night and I checked the time, seeing my parents would begin to worry soon enough why I wasn't home. I turned back to a focused Matty, paying attention to the definition of his face and the curls swaying in the slight breeze that came.

No, I can't be- It's so soon still.

He turned over to me, his eyes immediately feeling as if they lit up whenever we were alone and allowed to be ourselves. "What is it?" He asked, interested on whatever thought I may have had at the moment.

I shook my head, feeling him lay a hand on top of mine and slowly growing warm despite his cold touch that seemed to burn against my hands. "You make it hard to leave, you know that? You're absolutely-"

My words were soon cut off by his lips meeting mine, enough for me to smell the hint of cigarette smoke I had grown accustomed to being his usual smell. I relaxed, easing myself to deepen the kiss despite the height in which the two of us sat. The two of us parted and I felt him brush my cheek softly before kissing the top of my forehead. "Parting is such sweet sorrow, say goodnight 'till it be morrow," Matty said, only making me want to stay longer.

"Anything but Romeo and Juliet, we're more original than that," I told him, making him laugh wholeheartedly.

He was quoting Shakespeare and all I could think about was Sonnet 42 from Elizabeth Barret Browning.

"I'd ask you to stay, but I'd be too selfish in doing so," He mentioned, stepping down from the height and helping me down.

I twirled one of his curls around my fingers for a second before looking back up to him. "So true, you wouldn't appreciate me as much if you could be with me all the time."

He shook his head instantly, cupping my cheeks. "Now that, Emerson, is absolutely doubtful."

How do I love thee...

A/N LMAO IM GETTING SO FUCKING CHEESY IM HONESTLY SO SORRY BYE ~ JANE SMITH 💋