I Promise

36

Matt drives me to the school the next day and we walk in together. I squeeze his hand as we enter the school doors because I know people will be talking about the fight. Word spreads, and needless to say my split lip and bruised cheek made it look like I got beat up bad. Yesterday no one seemed to be interested in bugging me because I probably looked downright miserable, and maybe they were actually scared I'd lunge at anyone who got too close. Maybe I would've. Yesterday was a very tiring, and confusing day. Especially after Matt's story, I felt drained. I felt sad and just empty, like a gift box with no gift in it. I couldn't fill up the emptiness with anything but my lurking thoughts.

Just as I expected, I'm swarmed by students asking me what the hell made me start a fight with that girl, and that whether or not I had to go to the hospital. According to Scarlett, by lunch the rumor spread to the point where I knocked the girl unconscious and then I was hauled away by Coach Nobelton, and then I was sent on an ambulance because I broke my hand from punching the girl so hard. Scarlett made sure no one bugged me, but by the end of the day people just stopped trying. I'm not the chatty type to spread gossip, so the school quieted down when I refused to say much. Scarlett did tell me, however, that I ended up breaking Bridget's nose.

"That girl deserved it," she says as Matt, her, and I walk to Math together.

I sigh as I work through the problems the teacher put on the board. I can't wait to go home and just be done with everything. I need some time to think things through. Matt's story keeps replaying in my head. While I'm able to go home and feel safe, he won't get that. His parents are

married and his family isn't falling apart because of an affair or just arguments that lead to divorce. His family is falling apart because of his brother's death. He can't really move on because his parents are just a daily reminder of what happened to his family, a daily reminder that they're all still broken. Who knows how long it will take for all of them to heal.

As class ends, I feel like I'm encased in a water bubble because everything seems muffled to me. I'm thinking over so many things the outside world seems to have no effect on me. Well, it doesn't have any effect until Scarlett pinches my arm and I'm jolted back into the sounds and smells of the school. I feel a bit overwhelmed, but I manage to mask it and act normal.

I wave Scarlett goodbye and I get inside Matt's car. He turns the ignition on and we drive out of the parking lot. Everything seems to revolve around parking lots these past few days. Where did I find Matt skipping school and drawing? The parking lot. Where did I tell Scarlett what happened to me? The parking lot. Where did Matt tell me his heart wrenching story? The parking lot.

"Shit," Matt murmurs as we drive to my apartment. I look at him in question.
"I forgot my History book. We have an essay due tomorrow don't we?" he asks.

"I can share mine with you if you'd like," I offer. The school is closing early today because of some sort of council meeting, so he wouldn't be able to grab his textbook anyway.

He offers me a grin. "You're a life saver, Rynn Connaughy."

I smile back, and he turns the car around and drives to his house, where we can study. His mother is off at work. Matt says she's been trying to occupy herself as much as possible in order to get through the anniversary of Dean's death. He barely saw her. His dad, on the other hand, is

always home, but today he has a meeting at some sort or rehab group that he joined. So it would just be us, and Zeus.

We park in his driveway and I'm still taken aback at how massive his house is. I try not to show it, but I can tell Matt feels a little uneasy when he opens the door with his key. It's like he doesn't want me to think of him as someone who's rich. But he is, so there's nothing much to argue about. At least he doesn't flaunt it. I wonder if he used to be one of those rich kids in New York who acted rich, and then after his brother's death he realized that money can't get you everything you want.

I sigh in awe as I see the hallway to his house. There's a big staircase that leads to the second floor, and the ceiling is really high with a glass chandelier smack in the middle. There are some shelves with decorations, but I can't help but notice that the house has a ring of emptiness in it. Sure, it's decorated nicely and all, but it feels uninhabited. Like no one lives here. Almost like it's a museum where nothing is ever touched or added, just preserved for who knows what.

Zeus dashes into the hallway, and I laugh when I see him slipping on the marble floors. He jumps up and licks my face, and then he dashes back out.

"Backyard," Matt answers, almost as if he knew what I was about to ask him.

We walk into the kitchen and it's bigger than anything I've seen. The island is practically the size of my bedroom. I wonder if anyone even cooks around the house. For some reason, I just can't see Matt's mom cooking up a warm meal, let alone his dad.

We sit at the breakfast table and I open up my textbook, and Matt opens up his laptop. I lightly brush my hand against his.

"About what you told me," I begin. It feels hard to talk, but I swallow the lump in my throat that appeared out of nowhere and try again. "Thank you. For sharing that with me. It's good to talk to someone about it," I say.

Matt nods, and I can't help but feel a twist in my gut as he looks so sad when he smiles. He would be the last person I'd imagine to have any kind of problem. Maybe everyone in the world has their own tragedies. They're just better at hiding them than the others.

We begin to look through the textbook, but I keep getting distracted as Zeus nudges his nose against my lap every minute or so. He dashes inside from the backyard, whines and nudges my leg, and then runs off. I can't help but giggle for the whole time, and Matt begins to laugh as well. And then we're practically on the floor laughing at how comical Zeus is acting. I guess Matt doesn't have many people over because he says it's a first.

The laughter seems to help both of us because it lightens the mood, and I can tell Matt feels more relaxed and at ease.

I'm still laughing when Matt's face goes dead still. And then I realize why. There's a muffle of footsteps on the second floor, and then I hear the shuffling of feet walk into the kitchen.

Yeah okay. That thing I said where I would be more consistent? 

Yup. 

Not really happening here.

Honestly, I am sorry. But I can't help it - procrastination is killing me right now....

Enjoy this chapter - maybe I'll update tonight? Tomorrow? I don't know. 

But hey, at least this keeps you on your toes because I'm unpredictable now hehe!! (Is that a good thing or bad thing???!!) 

In light of Matt Redford's spirit, think about what he would say in a situation like this. 

*Matt stretching and breaking off into a grin* "The mystery of the world never seems to amaze me. Nothing is predictable, Rynn Connaughy. Can't you agree??"

I can agree. 

I can definitely agree. 

Yours, 

FanaticWriter15

PS. WOAH. I had the CRAZIEST realization thanks to this gif. Wouldn't Andrew Garfield make the BEST Matt Redford??? 

WOAH