Perfect Match

by Monica Miller

  Can I just get up and hug her? Lifting from the ground and everything? I didn’t know a girl could seem that hot to me wearing sweat pants and a loose t-shirt. But Emma does.

  “I can’t do this, Emma. I’m done.”

  “What?” Emma and I asked at the same time, but he had already slammed the door.

  Emma turned on her heels. She looked stunned, and I burst out laughing. Seriously, small-brain was truly and utterly hilarious. So I just laughed, while Emma was still wondering what had just happened. And I laughed.

  “That….was… seriously… hilarious!” I stated, still laughing.

  She raised an eyebrow, trying to seem serious, but she couldn’t do it anymore so she started laughing as well.

  Chapter 13

  Confessions and decisions

  ~*~ Emma West ~*~

  “I’m back!” Monica shouted as she opened the door and threw her luggage on the floor.

  I ran to her, hugging her and she hugged me back. We started talking both at the same time, and we laughed till I helped her out with her things, and ended up sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “I know, you want to know about Canada and it was great, but how are you?” she asked, running a hand through her golden, curly hair.

  “Um… Things have been really great,” I told her smiling. “My brother, Rick, was here, as you know… I spent the time with him and Matt, and Morgan and I broke up.”

  “Yes, yes, awesome, I would have loved to see Richard. And how is Matt? And… wait a minute, you said you and Morgan broke up?” she asked completely stunned.

  “Yes, you know, it’s a long, long story…” I said, rolling my eyes.

  “I have all the time in the world!” she told me, taking her blue scarf off then the bell rang. “Oh, who dares to interrupt?” she complained walking towards the door. “I can’t believe it!” she yelled. “Em, come here!”

  “Gabrielle!” I exclaimed jumping next to her and hugging her. “I can’t believe you’re back!” I said still hugging her. “Man, I missed you so much!”

  “You haven’t said that to me!” Monica said, joining the group hug. “So, Gaby, can’t wait to know everything, but Em broke up with Morgan!”

  The redhead glared me. We sat on the couch, and started talking at the same time, Monica saying something about me, breaking up with Morgan, Gabrielle was trying to know how Canada was, and I was curious to know what was going on home.

  *

  I really thought about the break-up in the last few days. Since Rick left, a few days ago, and Matt started his job a week and a half ago, I had a lot of time to myself. Of course, I did go out with Becca, or Anne and Jane, even Craig, but they weren’t my best friends.

  And me, breaking up with Morgan, or as Morgan likes to think, he breaking up with me was one of the best things. After everything that happened this holiday with Matt would have made me feel guilty around Morgan, but now it was cool. And I was finally single, and so was Matt, so maybe that wouldn’t be that weird if we act to intimate like we always do.

  Somehow, I feel like I should feel guilty about it. I liked Morgan and things were okay between us, but I never felt that spark, and when Matt showed up… It wasn’t like… I don’t feel that way about Matt, but I think it’s just… Good.

  “God, Gaby you should have seen Rick, all talking about wanting to see Monica and everything.”

  “So your little bro has a crush on your roommate? That’s just epic,” she said, laughing.

  “Seriously, he was annoying at some point. And Rick started discussing with Matt and Matt said he would never go out with Monica, because she’s sophisticated and smart and …”

  “Matt wouldn’t go out with me?” Monica asked, coming back from the bathroom with a cashmere robe. “I’m smart? Oh, he’s so cute, right?”

  “No, we were talking about Emma’s little brother, Rick, and his adorable crush on you. And Matt said Rick wouldn’t get to date you. Why are you all talking about Matt, anyway?”

  “I don’t know, I only heard the last part. So Ricky has a crush on me?”

  “God, who calls him ‘Ricky’?” I asked laughing. “It’s silly. Rick is enough.”

  “Your brother is hot. I would date him at some point. If he was older.”

  “Mon, I don’t want you to date my brother. Ever. Why are we even talking about it? It’s stupid.”

  She nodded and went to the bedroom to change, and Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders and turn on the TV. Well, it was a good thing she had Ben and she didn’t have to worry about who she should or shouldn’t date.

  It was weird to know that my brother had a crush on her. He stayed here until his last day of holiday, hoping he’d see her, but she decided to take that trip around America and she didn’t arrive home when she was supposed to, so he just had to leave. Although he promised he’ll be back when she was home. At first I thought he was actually making fun of me, but he seemed to be pretty convinced that he and Monica would make a great couple. Although she is 3 years older than him.

  “How was your holiday?” I asked running a hand through my hair and turning to look at Gabrielle, who was just getting comfortable on my couch, holding a pillow in her arms.

  “It was great. You know, I stayed inside as much as I could, considering first time I went out to Starbucks I ran into Curtis, and he seemed eager to talk to me, and I wouldn’t want that, right? And my parents were all cool and I couldn’t believe how much I missed them… When I was taking a walk, late on the night I ran into that friend of yours, Hillary… She didn’t even say ‘hi’ to me or anything. Just started texted someone and of course it was about me. Was I really that mean in high school? Don’t answer that. On Christmas Eve Shia came there! Can you imagine? He had a day off the set so he just went there! And he met my parents and we were all cool and everything… It was like the best thing. I never thought he’d actually do that. But he is so romantic and great…”

  She took a breath and just smiled at me, in a way I’ve never seen her smile. So bright and happy, not her usual smirk of hers. She ran a hand through her hair and I noticed she was excited.

  “Then the next day after he took off I came back from the airport and when I was walking on my lawn… There he was, standing on the steps of my porch… Curtis,” she said and sighed.

  “What? Curtis-Curtis?” I asked in disbelief.

  “Yeah… And he started this ‘I saw you few days ago and I couldn’t believe it’ speech… And then, like the broken record he is… He said he’s sorry, and that he had never regretted something as bad as what he did to me on Prom night.”

  “And he actually thought you’ll buy it?” Monica asked coming back from the kitchen with popcorn and she sat next to me.

  “Maybe he did, I have no idea. So I told him that I don’t care, and he said he loved me.”

  “What?! What does he know about love, that stupid bastard?”

  “I know, right? So I told him that everything is okay, that he doesn’t have to humiliate himself more than he already did and that I was over it… I told him I got over him while I was under Shia, but… You get the point,” she said with an evil smile on her lips.

  “I can’t believe you said that!” Monica jumped laughing. “Stupid jerk. I wish I was there! I would’ve kicked his pathetic ass! I’ve never met him, but man, I would totally kill him.”

  “I met him. I wish I could’ve just stuck my heels in his… on Prom night.”

  “You were busy making out with Matt, it’s accepted. I would’ve made out with him all the time if I were you.”

  “Same here!” Monica said laughing. “Seriously, why aren’t you guys dating now? You’re single, he’s single, and we all know there is something between you two. Right, Gabs?” Monica asked and Gabrielle nodded.

  “Maybe, I don’t… I don’t know. It’s weird to think of it that way, you know? Because all I wanted is for me to get over him and just try and live my life.
And there he is again, as perfect as always, and I think it’s just…” I sighed and closed my eyes. “I just am afraid it wouldn’t work out. That he’ll just get bored of me and… That I’m not good enough, you know?”

  “Why would you say that? Why would you even think that?” Monica asked, surprised.

  “Yes, why would you? You’re the best person I know,” Gabrielle assured me and I gave her a shy smile. “Seriously, Emma. And you should really see the way he looks at you.”

  “Exactly. And we could definitely double date!” Monica said and she seemed super excited about this. “Even triple date, if Gabs would just introduce us to Shia.”

  “Hey, I don’t want to rush anything, okay? The fact that he met my parents totally blows my mind. If he wants to meet you guys, it would be great for me, but he’s… Pretty restricted.”

  “So Shia is a little shy, isn’t he?” Monica said and we burst out laughing. “It’s okay. But we could totally triple date.”

  I spent the few next days with the girls, Gabrielle stood there with us, and we had some kind of slumber parties for three days in a row, eating pizza and everything we could order, having a movies marathon, and talking about everything.

  It was kind of weird Matt called only once, two nights ago, because before Monica came home we spent all the time together or talking on the phone. Maybe he missed Ben, too. So they were just spending the time together just like I was spending the time with Monica and Gabrielle. Plus, Monica didn’t even go out with Ben those days, so… But she still texted him.

  Yeah, but they are dating, my mind told me.

  I know, but Matt’s my best friend. He should call, right?

  That would be normal.

  “What are you thinking about?” Gaby asked ruffling my hair.

  “Hey, don’t do that!” I complained throwing a pillow at her. “I was thinking about Matt, as a matter of fact. I haven’t talked to him today. Or yesterday.”

  “Why don’t you call him? Plus, you said he’s working now. The man’s busy, Emma. And hot. That’s his best quality. Oh, and the fact that he refused me when I was a freshman.”

  “You won’t forget about that, will you?” I asked laughing.

  “Nope. But I really like him for you Emma. I think you two are a perfect match. He told me to wait for Shia to call, and I did and he actually knows what he’s talking about… He seems smart, elegant, mature, grown up, intelligent… Hot. What else would you possible want from a man?”

  “It’s not about what I want, but what he wants. What if I’m not good enough for him?”

  “Stop it. Just stop it. You can’t think like that. You just say that as an excuse for not going for what you actually want. Dude, I’m dating a freaking celebrity! Do you think I ever thought of it? That I believed for even a second it would actually became a reality? I had the same boyfriend for three years in high school, and he turned out to be a jerk. Love sucks, but it’s also great. You have to take some risks, that’s true, but that’s just the way life is, Emma… Nobody is going take those risks for you. You have to do it yourself. Sooner rather than later.”

  “When did you become so wise?” I asked laughing.

  “Hey, I was always… Oh, crap, I’ve seen this movie yesterday and inspired me. There were two idiots who loved each other, but none said anything and it just… It was sad, you know? So you have to do something about it.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” I agreed, looking down at my phone.

  “I know I’m right. Just call him, okay? I’ll go to the kitchen to help Monica out with… whatever she’s doing,” she winked at me and got out of the room.

  I took a breath and dialed Matt’s number. It rang a couple of times before he picked up.

  “Hey, Ems! I haven’t heard from you in a while. Is that because you and Monica are hiding from the world?” he asked laughing.

  “Um… Not actually, we were taking some time, you know. Girls time. I wanted to talk to you, actually.”

  “It’s like you’re reading my mind,” he said, laughing. “I wanna talk to you, too. See you later, okay?”

  “Sure. See you later,” I said, with my heart pounding in my chest.

  *

  I stood at my usual table at Destiny’s, and Matt was in front of me, talking about something I couldn’t understand. There was nothing else I could actually hear after he said those words.

  “I met someone,” he said, with a big grin on his face.

  After wondering all the way how I could tell him that I actually thought we should try to do something about what I thought we felt… Because I liked him, or maybe more than that. And then he tells me this. That he’s now dating someone. How can he date someone, after everything that happened?

  “And I met her on my first day at work, she invited me for coffee and you know I’m a good guy usually so I couldn’t say no, and then the coffee turned into dinner… We do seem to have a lot in common, though.”

  I tried not to be jealous, he was after all my friend, and listening to him talking about his new… girlfriend made me realize that we were never going to be more than friends. We work pretty well as friends. Yes, maybe I got carried away because everyone around me said Matt and I would be a great couple, and he’s handsome, funny, caring, handsome and adorable and we get along really well but it wouldn’t work. And we would just ruin everything.

  But he stood there in front of me talking about her… Well, that wasn’t nice. I don’t remember telling him about Morgan. He didn’t even like Morgan! So do I have the right of not liking his new girlfriend because he didn’t like my ex, right? What goes around, comes around, isn’t it?

  I have no idea why did I even think of me being with him. That is not gonna happen. Ever. Because we’re friends.

  While Matt was still saying something about something incomprehensible, I remembered when he drove me home the night after Prom. How he hold me in his arms before we left, how he kissed me the last time…

  Then I remembered typing that stupid e-mail, telling him I can’t see him as a friend or anything, because he wasn’t boyfriend material. How could I have known if he was boyfriend material or not? I only knew him for a few weeks and he didn’t do anything wrong. Matt hadn’t done anything wrong since I’ve met him. I was the one who screwed it up, because I chickened out. I was the one who couldn’t allow herself to be with him, and now I’m sitting in front of him, wishing differently.

  God, I’m stupid! I did all this and now I can’t do anything to make it right.

  Our timing is never right. Never. That should be some kind of sign, right? The fact that Matt and I are never both single, neither decide to do something about it.

  I should’ve have known it from the start. Matt is used to have any girl he wants. Of course you could have any girl you want when you look like that. And definitely he was the one who didn’t care about the other one's feelings.

  What? Are seriously thinking that? my conscience scolded me. You spent all your holiday with him, and he was always awesome and that’s how you pay him back? Thinking he doesn’t care about anyone but himself?

  I’m just saying he’s a player. He got bored of fooling around with me, and decided to meet someone who can make him feel… something.

  I noticed I started trembling and I haven’t heard a word Matt said in the last few minutes. I can’t even pay attention at him. I don’t want to, in fact. Maybe I’m too immature for it, maybe I’m being selfish but I just don’t want to. I took a sip of my water and felt sick. I felt tears in my eyes.

  Why would you cry for that? You shouldn’t be jealous, Emma! You have no right!

  “Emma, you haven’t said anything all night,” Matt complained, and I avoided his eyes. “Uh, I’m sorry, you wanted to talk about something when you called me and I’m here talking about my job. So what is it?”

  “Um… Nothing important. I have to go.”

  Having said that, I stormed out of Destiny�
��s without giving him a chance to say something. As soon as I left the restaurant, tears stormed out of my eyes. Luckily, a cab was standing right outside and I didn’t have to wait. I gave the driver my address and let the tears roll down my face.

  Chapter 14

  Bad actions call for bad decisions

  ~ Matt Nicholls ~

  I watched Emma storming out the Destiny’s after being weird all the night. I was confused. She had called me, right? She said wanted to talk to me, and then she storms out! Who would ever understand women?

  “What happened to her, man?” the waiter, Jared, asked when he came to bring me the check.

  “No idea. You know something? Something happened or..?”

  “Nope, as far as I know. I haven’t seen her for a week so I can’t tell. And you’re supposed to be her… friend? Or something. I mean, you guys are like…close, right?”

  “Yeah, she’s really great, you know?”

  “I know,” Jared said, taking a sip out of a glass he just brought and he sat next to me. “Listen, you two should… go out or something.”

  “I’m currently dating someone,” I said and looked around the restaurant.

  Wait a minute? That’s it? Emma is upset because I am dating? That would be the stupidest thing in the world. She dated brainless Morgue and I didn’t say anything. Um… In fact, I did say I didn’t like him and stuff, but she…

  “Wouldn’t you be supposed to work?” I asked Jared and gave him the credit card for my check.

  “Don’t worry, I got this,” he said with a smile. “It’s on me tonight. Don’t get used to it, okay? And talk to Emma. You know women, they got upset from everything. I’m sure it’s not a big deal.”

  I nodded and shook Jared’s hand then I walked to my car. It would be a bad idea to talk to Emma now. I had no idea why she was mad, but I know that women only got angrier when you try to talk to them. How in the world that would be normal I have no idea.

  So I headed to my apartment and decided to spend some time with Ben. Only that he wasn’t there. So I had to be here all night by myself. And then I felt the need to call Emma. But she was upset and God knows why.