CHOICES (Matty Healy fanfiction)

Chapter Nine

Rachel's POV:

I watched as Matty attempted to set the snooker balls into a perfect triangle on the table.

"The white one is the one you use to hit the others," a random old man shouted from the bar.

"Yep, thanks mate!" Matty replied sharply.

I let out a quiet giggle and hid it by taking a sip of my Guinness.

He suddenly turned to me and threw his hands in the air.

"You ready?"

"Guess so,"

I picked up the snooker que and skidded it across the table. The white ball collided with the others and a red one instantly fell through the hole.

"One point to you," Matty nodded, sending a warm smile my way.

I gave him a small smile back. I was incredibly grateful for this. For the way he wasn't making me discuss the Alex situation, he was just deliberately distracting me from it in the best way possible. Clearly, neither of us cared about snooker but mucking around with him was fun and kind of what I needed right now.

"Rach, I've found you a charger, I'm just gonna put your phone behind the bar," Anna called as she walked past.

I nodded in response and she stopped walking and looked at me and Matty for a split second. She raised her eyebrows at me and then disappeared again.

I turned my attention back to the game in which Matty had just managed to send two balls into the holes and was looking very pleased with himself.

We continued to play for about 15 minutes, barely speaking but laughing and smiling at each-other constantly. We were interrupted by Anna and the rest of the boys arriving at the snooker table.

"We're gonna get some booze and head off back to the flat," George said to Matty, slapping his shoulder in an endearing manor.

For a split second I was dissapointed. The thought of going home or even back to Anna's flat when I'd been having such a lovely time here was shit.

"You coming Rachel?" George added.

I could feel Matty staring at me waiting for my answer but I didn't look at him.

"Yeah sure, I'll just go grab my phone,"

I walked to the bar and got my phone, placed a cig between my lips and joined the others outside the pub.

We began walking in twos, Anna and George, Adam and Ross and me and Matty.

"Give me a light," Matty said softly. I couldn't tell if he was looking at my lips or my cig.

I fumbled in my pocket and gave him my lighter and then turned my attention to my phone that was FINALLY turning on.

"So how long have you smoked for?" Matty asked, blowing out the smoke of his own cigarette.

"Since I was fifteen, you?"

"Twelve I think?"

"Wow, that's-" my voice cracked before I could finish the sentence. I stared down at the message on my phone and put my hand over my mouth in shock.

"Fuck," I mumbled through the sobs.