wanderlust | m.m.

eleven.

it took us a few minutes to get watson to stop laughing, but then we were on our way. mat let me ride him the rest of the way down the trail. he was holding my legs in order to support them and my arms were loosely around his neck. the whole time my heart was hammering in my chest and as much as i thought he would, he didn't seem to notice. when we reached his car, mat walked to the passenger side and let me slide off of him, then opened the door for me. i quietly thanked him as watson climbed into the backseat.

for some reason, he seemed to be in a sort of mood. since mat and i had gotten him to stop laughing like a hyena, he had been unusually quiet. normally, he would have continued to pester me about how easily i had been spooked, but he didn't. i thought it was odd, but didn't think anything else of it.

the three of us decided to stop and get some dinner since none of us had eaten yet. as we finished our meals, mat asked us if we wanted to just spend the night at his place. it was a lot closer and he really didn't feel like driving us back. i was immediately on board, but watson was a little harder to convince. eventually, he gave in.

when we arrived at mat's house, he gave us a quick tour so that we knew our way around. we then decided to watch movies until we got tired enough to go to sleep. as we settled into the couch, mat asked watson and i what we wanted to watch.

"we could watch something scary," watson suggested, getting a glare from me. when he noticed, he gave me a questioning look.

"you're just saying that because of what happened earlier," i accused.

"maybe i am," he retorted. "but do you have any better suggestions?"

"yes actually. we could watch lion king or some movie that isn't going to give me nightmares."

"we aren't children, luci," watson spat, taking me back. honestly, i was speechless. watson loved watching disney movies with me. in fact, we had had a disney movie marathon just a few weeks prior. what was his problem?

with the noticeable tension in the air, mat did his best to dissolve the situation. "um, we could watch talladega nights," he suggested. "it's a good funny movie that won't lead to anyone having any nightmares."

watson grumbled his agreement and i nodded, so mat got the movie ready, dimmed the lights, and sat on the couch. he was forced to sit between watson and i because that was the only open spot left. i wasn't sure if i felt bad for him or if i was grateful for a buffer between watson and myself.

i definitely felt bad that watson was acting the way that he was, and in turn making me act the way that i was. mat had invited us to stay at his house and the first thing we did was get into an argument. embarrassed by my behavior and not wanting to talk to anyone, i removed mat's hoodie from it's spot on my waist and tugged it over my head, making sure to pull the hood up. i then lay on the couch, keeping my legs curled up to prevent them from getting in mat's space. as the movie started to play, i pulled a pillow under my head and did my best to focus on the screen.

as much as i tried to pay attention, my mind wouldn't stop wandering back to watson. it was bothering me that i didn't know why he was in a mood. was it my fault? it must have been. he had been fine back at my apartment. frustrated, i shifted in my spot on the couch. once i had resettled, i felt a hand on my leg, the thumb moving back and forth in slow motions.

it was mat. and for some reason i found myself relaxing under his touch, my mind beginning to be put to ease. the small, smooth movements of his thumb reminded me that even if watson was upset with me, mat wasn't. i allowed my lids to fall closed, and focused on mat's touch and the soothing sensation it entailed. soon, i was asleep.