Chapter 25

"June!" Matthew's mother immediately grabs my hands and squeezes them tightly, "I didn't expect you to come back, too – do you want cookies? I can make a pie, too."

"Cookies sounds great," I say and smile, "I hope it's okay I'm staying."

"Of course of course," she rushes back in the kitchen and starts rummaging, "Why don't you guys go and join Leonard until I'm ready? He's still watching his marathon, but don't ask me what it's about."

"Do you want to?" Matthew asks me and tilts his head, "We can go upstairs too."

"No it's fine," I say all too quickly.

Cartoon Network always sounds promising and the prospect of being alone with Matthew up in his room not so much. Not necessarily in a bad way, more in the 'oh god it's probably going to be super awkward' way.

We end up watching the whole marathon with Leonard. Matthew's mother comes and goes, bringing us cookies and drinks and we eat the quesadillas and corn cobs from the test-eating. Leonard explains the show to us, since it's actually one I don't know, and Matthew keeps on asking question after question until Leonard threatens to kick him out. I laugh quietly and nudge Matthew's side, gesturing him to calm down.

He playfully pouts, and then throws an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to his side. I take in a sharp breath, but manage to calm down because no stress, it's just my boyfriend, no need to freak out. It feels nice, the way I can comfortably lean against Matthew's chest, and the way he starts playing with my hair is more soothing than anything.

Leonard looks over his shoulder and makes a face. "I feel like puking."

Matthew aims a cookie at his head.

"Don't throw your food, young man," his mother calls.

"I'm sorry," Matthew says.

"June, will you stay for dinner?" Matthew's mother asks, "I made lasagna."

I'm still full of all the food we already ate, but she smiles at me and I can't say no anyway.

"I'd love to," I tell her earnestly, "It smells delicious."

Later, Matthew's mother brings us tea and it's hibiscus.

"I made your favorite, June," she says and jabs a thumb in Leonard's direction, "Go and wash your hands."

Leonard rolls his eyes and mutters something incoherent before leaving. I take a cup and look curiously at Matthew, who shrugs and acts as if it's no big deal.

"Did you tell her?" I whisper.

"Did I tell her what?" Matthew plays it dumb.

I furrow my brows, pout in his direction, and he winks at me. Then he leans down to kiss my cheek, just like that, like it's super normal to do. Leonard comes back right then and acts like he's throwing up on the couch cushions and Matthew runs to kick his ass and I stand and stare, completely stunned, but in a good way. It feels nice, being casually affective with Matthew, it definitely does.

Matthew's father joins us for dinner. He's tall, as tall as Matthew, and just as good looking, with the same broad shoulders but lighter hair and lots of wrinkles around his eyes. He wears a blue suit and shakes my hand formally, and then goes to pat Matthew's back with a laugh.

"Finally managed to find a girlfriend I see?"

Matthew looks both parts embarrassed and annoyed.

The lasagna is very good. I sit squished between Leonard and Matthew and try to eat appropriately and look nice doing so.

Leonard goes on a rant about how his friends are never allowed to stay for dinner, and Matthew retreats "what friends" and "the ones you brought last time were your study group you couldn't wait to get rid of".

"Yeah but hypothetically speaking," Leonard says and crosses his arms, "If I were to bring over friends, mum would kick them out before dinner for sure."

"The difference is," their mother says, "June is not a friend, but Matthew's girlfriend. And I like her."

I almost choke on my lasagna, and quickly swallow.

"Oh, thank you."

"Do you attend the same school as Matthew?" his father asks and gives me a curious look while taking seconds servings of the lasagna.

I nod. "We're both seniors."

"June is also in the event council," Matthew adds, "She's our coordinator. We went to check on the catering services for Christmas prom today."

"Oh, Christmas prom is so soon already," his mother claps her hands, "I'm excited to see you in a suit, you two will look lovely together! Leonard, why don't you attend too?"

Leonard complains about how he definitely won't another school's prom, much less proms in general, and lists all the reasons why proms sucks, from formal dancing to girls. I silently eat my lasagna and wonder just how long this thing between Matthew and I is going to last. Long enough for us to attend Christmas prom together? And does Matthew seriously want his senior prom pictures be ruined by his fake girlfriend?

Even if he seems pretty casual about this whole relationship business and doesn't really emphasize the point it's just to get back on my ex. Still. I feel uneasy and fidget on my chair, until Matthew's mother gets worried and asks if the lasagna doesn't taste well.

"It's delicious," I say quickly, "I love lasagna."

"Second after pancakes?" Matthew chuckles and nudges my side.

"Oh, I'm going to make some when you visit next time!" his mother declares, "Since you like pancakes so much!"

I wonder how much Matthew actually talks about me. Seems to be way more than I do, since my mum doesn't even know about his existence. I start to feel guilty, and give Matthew's mother a bright smile.

"That would be great."

Matthew and his father do the dishes after dinner, and his mother takes Leonard and me to the living room. We drink hibiscus tea and Leonard tells us about the project he's working on for his literature class with three other students.

"I hate it," he declares and shakes his head until his whole forehead is covered with messy strands, "The others are just – they keep on suggesting all those stupid books I won't read over my dead body."

"But dear, why don't you suggest one of your favorite books yourself?" his mother says and combs back his hair, "You've read so many nice books, I'm sure you'll find one all of you like!"

"Sure, since science fiction works so well for group projects," Leonard snorts, "All they keep on suggesting is classic shit like Shakespeare plays and books everyone and their mother already did a project about, like the Catcher in the Rye."

"I didn't." his mother says.

"And Jason suggested Holes." Leonard huffs as if it's the stupidest thing he's ever heard.

"Oh, but isn't this your favorite?" his mother says, "You've read it at least a hundred times."

"Yeah, and I did a hundred projects about it, too."

"But that's a good thing, right?" I say, "If you did a hundred projects about it, doing another one should be no problem at all."

There's a pause, where Leonard eyes me as if he's not too sure of my IQ, while his mother brightens up, "That's a great idea, June!"

"Thinking about it," Leonard says very slowly, "There is this project I did in middle school I could technically recycle. None of these guys knew me in middle school, they wouldn't notice."

"See Leonard," his mother says and pats his shoulder, "Not all school projects have to end in disaster."

I begin to wonder how Leonard's past school projects turned out.

"Don't you have old notes on the topic?" Leonard asks me, "Matthew says English is your favorite class."

I wonder when I'd mentioned to Matthew English is my favorite class. I hope the reason Matthew thinks that isn't the fact I shared English classes with him over the past three years and didn't notice.

"Sorry, I've never read Holes," I admit, "I only read the books my favorite shows and movies are based on."

Leonard looks positively shocked. "Holes has an amazing movie adaption."

"What are your favorite shows, June?" their mother asks, and that's right when Matthew comes back.

His sleeves are rolled up and there's soap on his elbow. His father is right behind him, and goes to sit next to his mother. They look nice together, and I stare a little too long.

Matthew stops right at my side and touches my shoulder.

"I'll drive you home, June."

I furrow my brows, but accept his hand. Leonard makes ambulance siren noises in the background.

"You do remember I came with my own car?" I tell Matthew.

He scratches his neck and mumbles something like "just want to drive my girlfriend home" and it's so endearing I squeeze his hand tightly.

"Goodbye Mr. and Mrs. Perez," I say, "Thanks for the dinner, it was delicious."

"Come back soon," Matthew's mother says, "It's nice to have you here."

Matthew's father shakes my hand again, and Leonard even gets up and fist bumps me.

"You need to reevaluate your choice in girls," he then tells Matthew, "She doesn't know Holes."

I roll my eyes and nudge his shoulder. "You shut up, kid that only reads science fiction."

"Now what is so bad about science fiction –"

Matthew shuts the door in Leonard's face.

It's cold outside, not too cold, but enough to make me shiver. I tug my coat tightly around my body and look up at Matthew.

"They like you," he tells me, "My family, I mean. Especially Leonard. He usually doesn't talk much to strangers."

"Nor do I," I say and then add quietly, "I like them, too."

It's quiet, so quiet I can hear the cars passing down the road. Matthew lives in one of those really secure, cozy neighborhoods where the houses are large and have nice gardens attached. I wonder what it'll look like in spring, with flowers sprouting everywhere. I wonder if Matthew's mother likes gardening, and if she forces her sons to help. I wonder if I'll ever find out.

"What are you thinking?" Matthew asks and smoothens the lines on my forehead with his thumb, "You look so serious."

"This is my normal face, Matthew." I say.

Matthew chuckles, and his hand drops from my forehead to my chin, softly cupping my face with his warm palm.

"You know what?" Matthew says very slowly, "I never brought someone home before – a girl, I mean. Funny, isn't it?"

"You know what?" I say and have to crane my neck so my eyes meet his dark ones, "I keep thinking about the day of science presentation – I had this dream, we talked and then you kissed me. Funny, isn't it?"

Matthew stares at me, and his gaze is hard and intense. He doesn't say a word, and I feel embarrassed for bringing it up. What was the point anyway? What reaction did I expect –

Then, Matthew leans in and kisses me.

It's an open-mouthed, hasty kiss, so fleeting it's almost gone before I can progress. My hands curl around the collar of Matthew's shirt and I pull him back in. If he's surprised, he recovers quickly and goes to kiss me again, both of his hands now cupping my cheeks. He holds my face securely in his warm hands while his lips brush over mine, and the one thing that runs through my mind is wow, this s so much better than with Logan, right followed by why am I thinking about Logan now and then I don't think much anymore.

Matthew smiles and pecks my lips, once, twice, before leaning back again.

It's only when I stare up at him, up at the way his eyes seem full of so much, it dawns me that I like him. As in like-like, as in more than a friend and definitely more than a fake-boyfriend. As in really liking him. And while my mind screams Logan, Logan, you want to get back on Logan, remember stupid, my heart does this weird little thing where it misses a beat.

Surprisingly, I make it home without wrecking my car, even though my mind is a mess. My mum is still awake and watches her favorite cooking channel. I tell her about my day while making myself a plate with peanut butter sandwiches and cold pancakes, and then take it upstairs to my room.

It's dark and I don't turn on the lights. Instead, I lie down on my bed, and clutch my phone to my chest. I wonder whether to call Kaia or not. She will freak out, definitely, and overanalyze everything. By Monday, the whole club will know Matthew and I kissed on his doorstep, and Liling will coo how sweet we are and Logan will drop insults every now and then (though, he will most probably do this either way).

I don't want everyone to know. I don't want anyone to know.

I roll around and stare outside at the dark sky, and the kiss keeps on replaying in my mind, over and over again. It's like a small little treasure, something so precious sharing it will only lessen the joy. And I don't want to lessen the warm feeling inside my chest in any way. The kiss continues its endless replay inside my head, like a broken record, and it does weird things with my body.

It's a little strange, my heart pounding in my chest and my face flushed. It could be the flu, because who would be surprised at this point, but is more likely caused by the gigantic crush I have on Matthew. Not the nice you're helping me out with my annoying ex-boyfriend kind of way. Not in you kiss really nice and spending time with you is nice too, but uh.

I'm falling for him, really falling for him, so much I can't wait to see him again and let him hold my hand all warm and secure. I'm falling for him in a way that doesn't make me flinch back from his touches, but crave for more. That doesn't leave me afraid he'll break my heart into a thousand pieces, but hope he'll never let go.

It's scary, but the good kind of scary that leaves you breathless and excited. I burry my head in my pillow and smile, and fall asleep just like this. Unsurprisingly, Matthew is in a hell lot of my dreams and he's making himself comfortable already, because he's not going to leave anytime soon.