~Circumstances~ Saints Row III Fanfic ~ Matt Miller x K1ttY~

9. D3ck3r 4 L1F3?

"...Huh...?"

Was he serious? He had to be joking, right? I turned to face him, and was met with the most serious expression I'd ever seen cross his face. He was still blushing just a little, but his eyes were cold, adding to his interrogative glare. "You heard me, love, didn't you?" He leaned closer to me. I was starting to get freaked out. What was he doing? I'd never seen this side of him before, and I didn't like it. I backed up as far as I could until the faucet dug into my spine, but he leaned forward as I backed up. "Think about it, love." He rested his forehead on mine. "You wouldn't have to go back to that awful place you've called home. Y-You could live here, or I could get you a place to live. You could be a specialist-- you have the hair for it, I'm sure you could do it..." He trailed off, and backed away from me to look into my eyes. Now, I was really stuck. He made valid points. I hated my home and my mother probably wanted to put me up for adoption at this point. I loved Matt, too, and moving out would be just as easy as running away. He could replace all of my clothes and makeup -being a gang leader, I guessed he had the most money-, all I would need to get was my cat and his stuff. But then again, although my school life was fucking awful, I wanted to finish and get a job. That, and Matt and I just met in person. We'd literally only known each other for two days-- Well, he knew me pretty well, seeing as how he'd hacked into my webcam 2 or 3 years ago, but still it wasn't the same as meeting someone in real life, and I knew nothing about him. People don't always act themselves online. I thought about it still. If we broke up and he kicked me out, I would have absolutely nothing. I could see that he was a bit desperate, and his eyes pleaded with me. I furrowed my brow and looked into the bath water, as if it's murky depths held the answer. "U-Um.. What would I have to do?" I asked, making my best attempt to stall. Matt smiled. "Whatever you want to!" A cocky smirk sprawled across his face. "When you're the Cyber God of a gang, no one is going to mess with you or your pretty girlfriend." He placed his hand gently on my face and ran his thumb across my cheek. I smiled and embraced the gesture, but I was still torn. He looked so hopeful, and I knew that by joining I would make him super happy. My mother and my house were not reasons to stay. I hated the house even though I grew up in it, and I'm pretty sure you're familiar enough with my mother. I thought hard about it. I looked down, I looked to the side, I wiggled my toes in the bath water, I watched the bubbles separate. Finally, I reached a decision. I felt my stomach doing flips as I uttered the words:

"I can't."

I saw his face fall. His cocky smile and pleading eyes withered away. "...Wh-What...?" He looked betrayed. "Well why not?!" I saw that he was getting worked up, almost like a child that didn't get his way. He fidgeted in frustration within the tub, sending ripples throughout the entire volume of the water. He was huffing and grumbling to himself. "It's not you, trust me, it's me." I started. I was trying to find words before I spoke them, but they just kind of came out. "I love you, Matt, but I want to finish school and get my own job. I can see you as often as I want then, but I can still do what I need to. I have to experience life; not what I've dreamed it should be." I fumbled.  I had no idea what I was saying.  The words spilled from my tongue like lies. He was still frustrated, but his expression softened. "I guess..." He grumbled. I've never seen him like this. He's adorable when he's mad. He squinted his eyes and raised his shoulders up, then stuck out his lower lip just a bit. It was amusing to see the 'Cyber God' throwing a tantrum. I managed a small smile. Matt was like a little kid stuck in a teenager's body. Then again, 16 isn't the most mature age. "Relax." I sighed. I pet his hair gently, and he huffed. "Why can't you join my gang?!" He wailed. "I thought you loved me!" I cocked my head. "I do!" I exclaimed. "Just because I don't join your gang doesn't mean I'm gonna stop loving you." I kissed his lips and dunked my head under water, fully wetting my hair. He was still pouting when I surfaced and rubbed the water out of my eyes. "Look," I began, sitting up straight and gazing into his eyes, "it's gonna work out, okay?" He eventually gave me a small nod and replied, "Okay...", defeat hushing his voice. With a grin I handed him a shampoo bottle.