Back to You

Chapter Nine

~JESSIE~ 9

I had been staying in Adelaide for three days meeting up with friends making the most of my week off from work. Matt had offered to take me around. I didn't mind our short time together when he would pick me up from a friends house to take me to another, or to basiclly take me anywhere I need to be. We would have our own time on Friday with his family.

I actually felt a bit nervous about it which was weird and funny because his family and mine have known each other even before Matt and I were born. I guess the drama from last year contributed to the embarrasement I felt especially after I unwillingly brought Matt with me to the Philippines.

At the same time, that event felt like ages ago. During one of our car rides around Adelaide, Matt and I actually were making fun and lauging about those six months I was with Eric. I was even making fun of the whole Eric-getting-back-with-Gabriella situation and talking like Ghetto sisters who comfort each other after a sister's break-up. No offense, though.

It was then that I was reminded of what a wonderful person Matt has been for me and in general. I always feel at ease and comfortable around him. I mean, that comes into territory when you're with your best friend. However, I felt greater admiration for him for what he had done for me back in Manila and getting me home. I even thought that the night we slept together might ruin our friendship but it didn't. To be honest, I did not regret that.

I shared my thoughts about Matt to another close friend of mine, Monica, when I had dinner at her house and stayed overnight.

"So, Jessie," Monica started as she swirled her glass of wine before taking a sip. "Is it safe to say that you've moved on from Eric? Is this why you bring up Matt all of a sudden?"

"Well, I still think about Eric, or rather how stupid I was to think Eric would really love me back." I said ruefully. "But I also think about how amazed I was with Matt and how he followed my all the way to Manila. He even brought me back home, M!

Monica scoffed, "Girl, you do know Matt has been in love with you since forever, right? How is that even surprising anymore?"

I looked at her, confused. "Well, I just thought maybe he did that because he's my bestfriend --"

"Yeah, right," Monica rolled her eyes on me. "I do love you, girl, and you are one of my best girlfriend, too, but I ain't built emotionally AND financially to haul my ass just to go babysit you to another country!"

I laughed at what she said. One, because she said it in such a funny way and second, because I did agree with her.

"Look, I know how you felt about Eric ever since college so I ain't gonna discredit that that made you go follow him," then she put down her glass and held both my hands. "But, Jess, it's been a year now. Eric's all over that Miss Cruella de Ville and Matt gave you the space and time you asked from him. I don't know why you keep doing this."

"Huh? Doing what?" I was totally clueless.

"Seriously?" she asked. "Jessie! Why do you keep denying the fact that you have fallen in love with the one only Matthew S. Maison?" she was teasing me a little, too.

"I'm in love with Matt?" I thought to myself. I looked at her as though she said the most ridiculous thing in the world. However, I didn't correct her right away. Was I really in love with Matthew now?

I sighed and looked at Monica. "I don't know, M, but I'm not going to lie that I do feel something different for him. I mean, who wouldn't after all he's done? I guess, all I've ever known is my crazy love for Eric and chasing after him."

"Exactly!" Monica exclaimed. "You got that right, girl. You've never had anyone tell you that they'd move heaven and earth for you. Something that Eric guy can't do for you even half-heartedly," she snickered.

We finished our dinner and I helped Monica clean up before we went to sleep. I kept thinking back to that night at the hotel with Matthew and like I said, I didn't regret it. I also knew that it was wrong for me to play with his feelings like that since I just got out of a relationship. I basically made him my rebound. However, he surprised me as well that night. He made me feel different towards our friendship. Or maybe it was just the wine and margarita? I really wasn't sure. I did hope that our Friday dinner with his family would bring some normalcy to the chaos in my mind and heart that time.