// C H A P T E R S E V E N //

The pile of clothes in which I laid on top of felt even better than my bed. I had no idea what to wear. What kind of party was I going to? Do people dress up? Or not? Do girls dress like sluts, or like people? Well...sluts are people too...I guess. I laughed at my thought process.

I grabbed my phone, looking at the time.

Shit!

I jumped up quickly, George would be there at any moment to pick me up. My hair was still soaked from the shower, and I had nothing to wear. Okay you have a choice to either dry your hair and throw on just any old thing, or actually wear something nice and have wet hair...but hair can dry over time...

I quickly kicked the pile of clothes aside and ran to my dresser drawer, pulling out a lavender long sleeved crop top, I threw it over my head, stretching it at the neck so that my hair wouldn't get it uncomfortably wet. I then ran to to closet and grabbed my black high waisted skirt and slipped it on next. Where the fuck are my shoes?!

I searched underneath the pile I'd kicked aside...my favorite pair of black creeper sneakers were no where to be found. I crawled into the closet, dodging the hanging coats. My phone rang, my heart sped up, I knew it was George. Please don't let him be here already, please don't let him be here already.

I grabbed my phone, it was a random number. Thank goodness. I ignored the call and tossed my phone on my bed, continuing to search for my shoes. I never answered numbers I didn't recognize. It was always some sales person, or some creep. The ringing of my phone made me feel like I had less time to search for these shoes.

It rang again, it was definitely George this time. I sighed heavily, running to the bed and looking at it, same unfamiliar number. I sighed and ignored it again, what do they want? Leave a message or something if it's that important to you to keep calling.

I held onto my phone, giving up on the creepers and grabbing a pair of ballet flats. Great, you look like a little girl. I rolled my eyes at my reflection. If only I had a pair of boots or something...my fashion sense was fucking amazing. I just didn't have the money it required to show it.

The doorbell rang, I paused, looking at my bedroom door. George wouldn't just come to the door...he'd call me...I hoped. I waited to let my dad answer, it was probably someone for him anyway. I grabbed my vegan leather jacket from the pile of clothes, putting it on and turning to my side in the mirror...this makes you look a little more attractive...kind of....

I listened more carefully as I heard my dad in a state of confusion, Matty's voice came in next.

What the hell? I opened my door and peeked out and down the hall. It was Matty at my doorstep, "I wouldn't have disturbed you by coming to the door, I was calling her and she just wouldn't pick up."

"Oh, uh, dad it's for me!" I said, grabbing my purse and running down the stairs.

"Wait just a minute, where do you think you're going?" He asked.

"To a party." I said, almost breathless from all the chaos of my closet.

Matty looked at my dad, his face was so serious all the time. He looked as though he had no desire to impress or win my dad over in any sort of way. He didn't change his usual stance or expression. He wore a fuzzy black coat with a black scoop neck tee underneath and black skinny jeans with rips on them...I wondered if he did it himself or if he bought them that way...and of course, his usual black boots.

"You didn't tell me you were going to any party," my dad crossed his arms.

I sighed, "well...I'm going to a party." I informed him sarcastically, Matty chuckled under his breath, my dad looked at him.

"Well who is he?!" He repeated.

"Dad, Matty. Matty, dad. Kay bye!" I grabbed Matty's arm and went out the door, shutting it before my dad could analyze us any further.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Picking you up what does it look like?" Matty smirked, walking to his car, "your dad seems...uptight." He laughed.

"Ugh, he is." I rolled my eyes, looking back at the house as I followed him to the car, hoping my dad wasn't looking out of the window or listening.

"You have to ask permission to go out?" He asked, an intimidating seriousness creeping back to his face, withering his smile.

Oh yeah, you're not eighteen...you're not eighteen...you're not eighteen...

"Uh...no he just...likes to know...and be in my business." I threw my hand as I opened my door at the sound of it being unlocked. I got in and buckled up, feeling embarrassed.

He got in after, starting up the car.

"I thought George was picking me up." I said.

"He's out with some chick so I said I'll do it. He told me where you live."

Some chick? I felt awkward.

What chick? Why would he invite me if he'd be with some chick...was I just...'some chick' too?

I didn't say anything. I looked out of the window.

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I looked at the house we pulled up to out the window as Matty stopped the car. It was huge, it almost looked like a mansion to me...we'd driven so far out that I had no idea where we were. To be honest I'd have felt more safe with George than Matty. I don't know why. I just would have...Matty seemed liable to leave without me due to forgetting I was there in the first place.

"Let's go." He said.

"Actually, um, can you take me back home?" I asked.

He laughed, looking at me, "what?"

"Seriously." I said.

"Why? We just drove all the way here I'm not taking you back now." He said, his jaw dropping.

"Please?" I begged.

He sighed and turned towards me, "what's wrong?"

I didn't say anything, what could I say? That I was scared he'd forget me? I hated how his full attention was so fixed on me. I started to feel ugly, and stupid. I scooted over a bit in my seat, looking at my fingernails and picking them.

"I just...don't like being around so many people...and what if you forget I'm here...like you forgot I was at your house."

He stared at me, a smile spreading across his face. What was he smiling for?

"I didn't forget. I just forgot that I was driving you home, that's all."

"Well what if you forget again?!" I panicked, I tried to calm myself down.

"I'm not, now get out of the car."

"Can I wait in here?" I asked, looking at him, hopeful.

He closed his eyes, oh no, am I making him mad?

"What's the big deal? So there's a lot of people, so what?! What do you think is going to happen to you? Are you scared of them, or me? Fuck them. Fuck me even!"

I pursed my lips, holding back a laugh, don't laugh.

He laughed too at his own remark, okay it's alright to laugh, I covered my face, laughing softly.

"You know what I mean." He rolled his eyes, "I mean you could fuck me if you wanted to but that's not what I meant."

What.

I played with the sleeves on my jacket. He sighed and slumped down in his seat, "so are we gonna sit in this car all night or are we gonna go in?"

I licked my lips, they began to feel chapped...everything was more noticeable when I was nervous or scared...they kept me busy and away from thinking so much...the un-even shape of the tip of my fingernails, the skin of my lips peeling, anything stuck in my teeth if there were any.

Matty's hand suddenly reached out to me. He tucked my hair behind my ears and ran his fingers through the sides. My heart raced so hard in my chest that it could haven literally jumped right out and ran away. I smiled and looked at him, not directly at him...but at his nose...which in my own opinion always looked like you were looking right at a person...I only hoped it was true.

"Your hair is all wet..." he laughed softly, "Here, tell you what." He took the keys out of the ignition, "you hold onto the keys. We go inside, if you're having a good time, we can keep on partying. If not, then you can wait in the car. And there will be no way for me to forget you, because I can't leave without you." He smirked.

I nodded, "sounds good."