The Arrangement | Completed | Wattys2020

61

An entire day has passed and I still have no word from Matty. I had waited anxiously for Daniel to get home from seeing him, but he didn't give me any information on what Matty was thinking. He was with him all night. He has to know more than what he's telling me.

"He just needs some time by himself." He said, shrugging and giving me a sad smile. "It's okay, though. We're all going to go shopping, so you still need to come along." He says, trying to include me in the rest of the families activities.

"I think I just want to stay here. I'm pretty tired." I say, giving him a forced smile.

"Candace, I think you should come along. Matty wouldn't want you sitting alone on vacation." He tells me.

"He's doing it too." I mumble, crossing my arms.

"Yes, and I told him that hiding away wasn't going to make anything better. He needs to come home. But just because he's hiding away doesn't mean we're going to let you do the same. You're coming with us. End of discussion." He says, pointing a finger at me and then walking away.

I sigh, but I'm actually thankful that they want me to go with them. I guess it would be so much worse if they didn't want anything to do with me after everything that's happened. Really, all of this is my fault. If I would have just listened to Matty and left Garret alone, this wouldn't have happened.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" Garret asks, coming up to me and

"I don't think that's a good idea." I mumble.

"Oh, come on. Matty isn't even here. Listen, I'm not trying anything. I just don't want you to be alone right now. I mean, he left you here. Alone. I just want you to try and enjoy this vacation."

I sigh, knowing that I'm being kind of rude to Garret. It isn't his fault, and he is just trying to make me feel welcomed here. Especially now since I'm alone.

"Matty won't like it if you hang out with him, though."  My subconscious says. 

Yeah, well Matty isn't here right now, is he.

"You're right. I'm really sorry you have to deal with all of this, Garret. He didn't hurt you, did he?" I ask, looking at his slightly bruised face.

"No, I'm fine. Are you okay, though? He pushed you pretty hard. How is your hand?" He asks, turning the concern to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It really wasn't that bad. He wasn't even aware that he did it." I say, pulling my hand away from gently when he tried grabbing it.

"Candace..."

"Matty would never hurt me on purpose. I know this." I say, not allowing him the chance to talk badly about the man that I love. I love him, even if he left me here without saying anything at all.

"He did, though. He say you, Candace. You might not have noticed, but I did. I mean, he's being so crazy possessive over you and-"

"I don't want to talk about this, Garret." I say, cutting him off.

"Okay. You're right. I'm sorry, Candace. I just...you're really cool. I like you and I just want you to be okay." He says.

He likes me? Although I'm almost positive that he doesn't mean it in a romantic way, I can't help but wonder if he actually does mean it in that way. I mean, Matty has been upset for a reason. Is it crazy to think that he might just have a crush on me?

"Thank you, Garret. I'm okay, though." I tell him. He gives me a small smile, but he looks so unsure. Thankfully, he doesn't make any other comment on it.