loving someone / matty healy

𝙗𝙖𝙜𝙨𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙩

"Party tonight. Some girl called Maddie's birthday. Free booze. Sweaty people that better not talk to me. You're all coming whether you like it or not." It was lunchtime the next day at school, and here was Zahra rushing over to announce last minute plans.

"I'm game" Adam said, shrugging his shoulders. Ross and George seemed cool with it, too. Anywhere they could get free alcohol they'd go. I looked over at Matty, awaiting his response. He hadn't sat next to me today.
"You going, Matt?" He looked up at me, just nodding.

Although, I couldn't help but slightly dread the thought of the night ahead. Finding people either shagging or doing ket in someone's mum's bathroom aren't exactly the activities I anticipate witnessing. But, I don't want to miss out, and, maybe Matty and I will find time to hang out.

"'Kay, I'm in, too."
"Great, get ready at yours, Eva?" Zahra asked, already knowing the answer, as she took a sip from her water bottle.
"Sure, we'll walk back to mine after school. You guys can come meet us just before we leave."
______
"I have this yellow top? It would look better with your skin colour anyway." As soon as we got home, Zahra started ransacking my wardrobe, looking for something to wear. She already brought with her a pair of high-waisted and wide-leg denim jeans with embroidered butterflies, and now I was holding up a pastel yellow puff sleeve crop top up to her melanin skin.

"Gorgeous!" She really was stunning.
She checked it out in the mirror, a smile making its way onto her face as she shook out her afro. I could only look on in admiration.
"Thanks, bitch."
I laughed, throwing another irrelevant t-shirt at her.
"What am I gonna wear?" I pouted, trying my best not to get too stressed. It would only ruin my mood for the entire night.

"Try not to panic, I'll find you something." Zahra found a light coloured plaid skirt and matching crop top hiding at the back of my closet, and I decided that with my pair of (battered) white Nike Air Force 1's, because, you know, I can be a bit basic sometimes, it could be a decent outfit.

With 'Put Your Records On' by Corinne Bailey Rae playing from the CD player in my room, we danced about a little bit as we got changed, Zahra tripping over herself at one point and just laying there as she laughed too much to be able to get back up herself. I was no help either, I was pissing myself.

The guys arrived about twenty minutes after they were supposed to be here, Ross apologising to us as he came to the door and gave Zahra a kiss on the cheek. Matty stood next to him, giving me a quick once over and then diverting his gaze just as quickly, and I tried to hide my confusion as to why he came to the door as well, as I waved to George and Hann sitting in the car.

I smiled at his outfit - his blue Superman t-shirt that looked a bit too small, baggy brown trousers, and his black boots with white laces. I remember being out shopping with him and his mum when he got that shirt years ago.
"Wanted to say a quick 'hello' to your mum and dad." He spoke up. Clearly he caught the confused expression I tried to hide.

"Y-yeah, of course. I'll go get them."
"We're gonna go wait in the car!" Zahra took Ross' hand, leading him to the car that, judging by the empty drivers' seat, was being driven by Matty tonight.
After calling them to the door, my parents appeared, mum giving Matty a motherly squeeze, and dad patting him on the back.
"Make sure she gets home safe, love." My mum smiled between the two of us, and I awkwardly shuffled on the doorstep, growing eager to leave.

"Yeah, of course, have a good night." He smiled at them, then linking his arm with mine before turning back to give them a wave as we finally got into the car. What we didn't let my parents see, however, was George sitting on Adam's lap because there wasn't enough seats for all of us.

I turned around, laughing at the sight.
"A bit illegal, is it not?" I asked them.
"Hey! I'll have you know that homosexuality has been legal in this country since 1967!" He slurred out, clearly already drunk.
Matty looked at them through the rear-view mirror, a grin on his face showing that he was clearly amused.
"Not that you idiot, the overcrowding."
"Ohhh," he let out over dramatically. "Yeah, probably."

As we set off away from my house, the four in the back began chatting amongst themselves, leaving Matty and I to try and have our own conversation. His hand awkwardly reached to mess with the volume of the radio, clearly trying to find something to fidget with.
"You alright?" I decided to ask, quietly.
"Mhm. You uh-you just look really lovely tonight." His eyes were focused on the road, no hint of them turning to face me any time soon, so I let myself smile widely at the compliment.

I gave him what I thought was a friendly rub of the knee, but when he let out a sharp breath and hastily moved his leg away from underneath my touch, I sat back in my chair, us awkwardly trying to avoid looking at each other.

"Matt, can I dance with Evelyn tonight?" George called out abruptly, speech still slurred due to his pissed state.
I chuckled, a hint of confusion lacing my laugh though, as I asked, "Isn't it my permission you should be asking for, Georgie?"
"Yeah, but," he leaned closer to me, whispering, or at least he thought he was, in my ear and I turned myself further around in my seat to meet him. "Don't tell Matty because he'll get really upset with me, but he l-"
"George shut the fuck up, will you?" Matty shouted, surprising us all.

After turning to Matty with furrowed eyebrows but getting nothing from him, I turned back around to George who looked like he was about to cry. "See, I told you he'd get upset with me."
Adam, who was also just about as hammered, stroked his hair, telling him that Matty didn't mean it.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself about the stories I was going to have to tell them tomorrow.