Settle Down (Matt Espinosa)

Ch. 44

"lets shake this city like an earthquake, ill stand by you until my legs break. burn the city down we can ride around top down tell me hows that for a first date?"

MADISON'S POV

I watched from the glass window as yet another plane took off down the runway and up into the air. I tried to pinpoint the one Matt was on, but it's probably already taken off.

It's December 21st, which is a Sunday. Since Matt found out about the winter break arrangements for him a few weeks ago, he's tried everything he possibly could to get our moms to change their mind. 

We talked a bit in between that time frame, but not nearly as much as we used to. I feel like that last fight drained both of us and did some damage to what relationship we even had. And there wasn't much to talk about now that the whole gang situation was pretty much solved. 

As for Gage, he cruised right under the police department's radar as they investigated Lexi's case. She had to keep lying saying the guy was wearing a mask or she was and all this insane stuff to make them believe she didn't even know what he looked like apart from a general face shape.

And Matt stomped on all the dating rumors and confirmations that were circling by saying it was a bad idea and we broke up. A part of me didn't want him to actually say that we weren't a thing, but of course that part of me doesn't get a say in anything nowadays.

"Madison, let's go. You've got school tomorrow." Mom called to me from across the short walkway separating us.

I hate our school system. Winter break starts on the 24th. Who starts their break the day before Christmas? That's just stupid.

And that is proven to be true every year when there's hardly any kids in the school during those days leading up to Christmas Eve. You'd think the administration would finally understand that some people go away for the holidays or just have things to do. Who wants to sit in school pretending to listen instead of doing something productive, like wrapping presents or drinking hot chocolate? Not me.

 I nodded and followed her towards the airport exit. He only said bye. Literally. Not a hug, nothing. Just goodbye.

Once we got in the car I allowed myself to sigh. "Why didn't he want to go back?" I asked, not sure whether or not mom had the answer.

"Well, maybe he didn't want to see his father. Or maybe he just didn't want to leave here. I don't know, hun." She told me, as she turned on the car and reversed out of the parking spot.

I almost choked. "His father?" 

I've heard very minimal about his father compared to his mother. Every time he was brought up Matt got kinda pissed.

"Yeah. From what Lindy told me, he recently came back to New York after being away for around 5 years, I believe. While he was gone, the things she would tell me about him were just absurd and disgusting. But now that he's back it appears he can do no wrong. How blind love is, huh?" She continued as we drove home.

I hadn't known any of that. Thinking back on everything, I really don't know Matt as well as I thought.

.

The next two days of school are such a force. Without Matt there everyone was suddenly flocking towards me like ducks looking for bread. It was so annoying. 

I mean, it's not like I wasn't noticed normally, I've been going to school with the majority of these people since elementary school. But this was just absolutely insane. 

"Well if it isn't miss popular herself!" Lexi mused, pushing past a group of rowdy kids outside the school waiting for a ride. "Wanna go to the mall instead of my house? Need to pick up a few gifts." She told me as we walked to her car. 

Lexi didn't go to school the first week after the incident, which was expected. But I was surprised to see her back the next week. The gossip and stares were finally starting to die down, and will hopefully be completely gone by the time we get back from break. She looks fine to me, like nothing even happened. Lexi was always pretty good at hiding that.

"Lex, you do know Christmas Eve is tomorrow, right? But yeah, I'm game." I asked, laughing.

"And your point being? Someone, you, got a head start on Christmas shopping. Not everyone is fortunate enough to not be so utterly amazing that they are kidnapped for that sole reason. God!" She mocked in one of those stereotypical girl voices.

"You got me there." I agreed.

.

As I was following Lexi around the mall I was doing a mental checklist of presents in my head. I had covered everyone, even Matt. I also just realized his present is still sitting on my desk instead of with him.

Fuck.

I quickly opened my messages and sent a text to him.

shit i forgot to give u ur present!!! why didnt u remind me?

I waited 15 minutes for that fucker to reply. Which is insane considering he always has his phone on him.

From: Matt
Sorry I'm not in charge of your priorities, I'll be sure to get on that. And don't worry I'm coming back next week, not like I'm here for life or anything

"Who are you so interested in that you keep texting?" Lexi asked me, turning around on her heels and almost knocking both of us over.

"I sent like, one text to Matt? Definitely so interested. Just hurry up and shop you dork." 

.

At about 11 that night, I finally finished wrapping the presents. The only one I did beforehand was Matt's because I needed to give it to him earlier. So much for that.

I was scrolling through my timeline on twitter and came across these vines Lexi's fan account tweeted from Vine, which happened to be from Matt's personal/random account. 

They all were of him and a girl. He was dressed in a jacket, scarf, and beanie while the girl was wearing a sweater and a scarf. I can't imagine how cold it probably was over there.

A few of them were of the two walking down a snowy street, laughing and smiling, and others were in stores or a restaurant or something.

I thought he didn't really have friends back home, at least that's what he told me. Apparently he lied about that too. Matt had never smiled like that when he was here.

After a few replays, I finally closed my laptop and got on with my night.

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A.N: so kinda a big time lapse!

real talk rn: i dont like doing matt's povs a lot. and not bc i dont know how to write from his pov, i do, i actually really like to. i just feel like im breaking up the story a lot by changing the whole view point often. so that's why the switches are kinda rare and only used when necessary, i dunno.

thank u guys for all the support and im gonna get some major writing done so expect another update (or two??) this week! remember to vote and comment i love u lots