⟡ ݁₊ . 💒. 𝓛ET 𝓣HE 𝓛IGHT 𝓘N. . . ୨ৎ .ᐟ
( 009. ) ━━ ❛ freezing, right? ❜

the water's getting colder
let me in your ocean, swim
💌
𝓢WIM, chase atlantic.

Ian 👽👽 ; ian
triplet #2 ; matt

Ian 👽👽
YOOOOO
you still coming tn?

triplet #2
Ofc
I'd never skip out on free weed 😛

Ian 👽👽
free weed? is that all i am to you 😔

triplet #2
Obviously 🙄🙄

Ian 👽👽
you wound me 💔💔

triplet #2
You love me really 😁

Ian 👽👽
unfortunately yes 🫤
speaking of love
are you still bringing viola?

triplet #2
Yup
I'm abt to leave to pick her up actually

Ian 👽👽
daaaaamnnnn
i still can't believe it

triplet #2
What?

Ian 👽👽
that you finally pulled her
who knew little viola harlow would end up with your stinky ass 😜

triplet #2
I'm not stinky

Ian 👽👽
you're really missing my point here 😕

triplet #2
Hahahah
I mean it's not that serious yet
We haven't been dating that long

Ian 👽👽
oh but it's serious for you huh 😏😏

triplet #2
Huh

Ian 👽👽
boy
i remember very very VERY clearly how pissed off you were when julian asked her out in junior year
don't know why you didn't grow a pair of balls BEFORE that asshole got the chance

triplet #2
Idk what ur talking about

Ian 👽👽
you're a second from being uninvited

triplet #2
BRO
Why

Ian 👽👽
i'm trying to congratulate you on finally pulling viola after all the years of hopelessly pining over her and you're STILL pretending you don't like her 😔😔

triplet #2
I don't

Ian 👽👽
what?

triplet #2
I mean I'm not
Pretending
Yeah
I'm not pretending

Ian 👽👽
you're such a weirdo sometimes matt
idk how she puts up with you

triplet #2
Because I'm her boyfriend?

Ian 👽👽
wow
crazy to hear you say that

triplet #2
Shut up

Ian 👽👽
LMFAOOOOO
oh by the way
i invited julian 😁

triplet #2
What
Julian Lahey?

Ian 👽👽
we don't know any other fucking julians so yes
that julian

triplet #2
But you hate Julian

Ian 👽👽
if i didn't invite people i hated i would only have like 12 people coming to my party so
besides i thought it would be funny

triplet #2
Funny?

Ian 👽👽
yeah
funny to watch how mad he gets when he sees you all over viola tn

triplet #2
Uhhh
What?

Ian 👽👽
oh brother
don't tell me you're not DYING to show her off in front of all our old friends to prove you finally got with her?

triplet #2
She's not a trophy

Ian 👽👽
obviously not
i didn't mean it like that
but you get me
also
don't you get horny when you're high?

triplet #2
Let's not have this conversation Ian

Ian 👽👽
no i think we definitely should 😁

triplet #2
Bro

Ian 👽👽
there's no shame in feeling certain desires matt
we all have them
especially when we're high
you have nothing to be embarrassed of 🥰

triplet #2
Why am I friends with you

Ian 👽👽
STOP CHANGING THE SUBJECT
AND STOP FEELING EMBARRASSED
i'd be horny too if i was in your place

triplet #2
Watch yourself

Ian 👽👽
woah woah woah now
i'm not after your girl
i'm just trying to encourage you to show off viola because she deserves it 😇
and so do you
yk... after all the hopeless pining 😂❤️

triplet #2
This encouragement is awfully backhanded

Ian 👽👽
and it's my party so i can do whatever i want!
(plsplspls piss julian off for me)

triplet #2
I'm not gonna use my girlfriend and make out with her to annoy her ex

Ian 👽👽
don't act like the thought isn't making you giggle and kick your feet rn...

triplet #2
My feet are firmly on the floor
And anything I do with Viola will be behind closed doors

Ian 👽👽
that's not what i've been hearing
people talk
like cmon
in front of MRS MURPHY?

triplet #2
I didn't initiate that

Ian 👽👽
oh but i bet you liked it 😏😏😏😏

triplet #2
This conversation is over

Ian 👽👽
BRUHH
remember matt
nothing to be ashamed of! we all have desires!

triplet #2
Goodbye Ian

Ian 👽👽
you're so boring matt
like just admit you want to
pleeeeeeeeease

triplet #2
See you at the party!

Ian 👽👽
better rub one out before you go so you're not in excrutiating pain all night

triplet #2
Bro
I'm
I don't even have words

Ian 👽👽
bc you know i'm right

triplet #2
Yeah no it's definitely not that
disliked by Ian 👽👽

Ian 👽👽
can't wait to see u there
make a move i'm begging you

triplet #2
Yeah yeah whatever

𝓥IOLA 𝓣UGS on the hem of her skirt as she steps out onto the curb, her eyes flicking to the cherry red, vintage ford mustang parked in her driveway. the headlights cut through the dim evening light, and when she reaches for the door handle, she can already feel her heart beginning to race.

matt is sitting in the driver's seat, one hand resting lazily at the top of the steering wheel, the other adjusting something on the center console. he doesn't look at her right away, but when he eventually does, her breath catches for the briefest second.

he's wearing his glasses again.

it shouldn't be a big deal. it's just glasses. but viola has never seen him wear them, not until yesterday, and as far as she knows he's never worn them in public. it's the first time, which just so happens to be the day after she offhandedly mentioned that they suited him. and now, here he is, wearing them again.

but because of yesterday, and her dream last night, she doesn't let herself linger on it for too long.

sliding into the passenger seat, viola pulls the door shut behind her. the soft click of it closing echoes between them, and she barely has time to settle before matt speaks.

"took you long enough," he says, glancing over her. "you do realize it's just a house party, right? not a nightclub?"

viola rolls her eyes, pretending to be unbothered even as the nerves coil tightly in her stomach. she'd been confident in her outfit until now, and she's starting to wonder if the silk pink miniskirt and lacy black tank top was a bad idea.

"you'd think a fake boyfriend would at least pretend to be nice to me," she manages to respond.

matt smirks, shifting the car into gear as he pulls out onto the road. "where's the fun in that?"

viola crosses her arms. "you're the worst."

"i'm also just kidding," he shrugs, gaze gliding over to her briefly. "and you look nice, so don't get all worried."

the drive to the party is filled with a conversation that's normal for them, filled with banted and jokes that she thought annoyed her, but she now realizes she actually finds humorous.

throughout, viola can't help but steal glances at matt when she's certain he's too focused on driving and not looking at her. she keeps noticing small things about him that she wishes she didn't care to see. the way the glow of the streetlights catches the frame of his glasses. the way his fingers tap against the steering wheel in time with the dominic fike song playing on aux.

she shouldn't be noticing these things. and yet, she is.

by the time they arrive at the party, ian porter's house is already packed, music pulsing through the walls. viola takes a deep breath, before stepping out of the car and smoothing her hands over the fabric of her skirt.

they barely make it past the threshold before someone yells out matt's name. viola lifts her head, only to find the host himself rushing towards him, a beer in one hand and a joint hanging between his lips. his curly hair glimmers in the dim light, and his face is filled with pure happiness as he sets his eyes on the pair of them.

"you made it!" ian exclaims, instantly shoving the beer into matt's hand. he then nudges him with his elbow excitedly. "did you do it?"

matt furrows his eyebrows. "do what?" he asks. ian rolls his eyes.

"y'know..." he says suggestively, suddenly making a motion with his hand that viola pointedly pretends not to see. she turns away, catching a glimpse of matt's reddening cheeks as she does so.

"what! no?" matt replies awkwardly, before wrapping an arm around ian — who is still persistently talking about it — and beginning to lead him away. "um, i'll catch you in a second?" he says then, to viola this time.

"yeah, take your time," she answers, honestly just glad that she no longer has to listen to... whatever that was. after her dream about him last night, she really doesn't need to know about what... how he... well, whatever.

she starts walking towards the house, hoping she finds daniella or another friend from high school or deb rehearsals inside. but right as she steps into the hallway, she hears another name being called — hers this time.

"vi!"

her stomach sinks.

only one person has ever really called her that.

she turns, and there he is — her ex-boyfriend, looking at her like he has every right to. like he didn't completely shatter her heart less than a month ago.

"hey," julian says, his lips pulling into that familiar, easy smile. the smile that used to make her feel safe and loved. now, it just makes her stomach churn.

"hey," she replies, forcing a polite smile.

julian steps closer, just enough for viola to catch the faint scent of his cologne. it's the same one he always wore, and the familiarity of it makes her chest tighten.

"didn't think i'd see you here. you look— wow," julian muses, his gaze dragging over her. she doesn't fail to notice the way it lingers for a second too long.

viola shifts uncomfortably, crossing her arms. "yeah, matt invited me."

at the mention of matt's name, julian's smile falters for the briefest of seconds. "right. you and matt," he answers. "didn't see him with you."

viola glances over his shoulder, scanning the crowd, before her gaze lands on him. she's taken slightly aback as she finds him leaning against the kitchen counter, a lazy smirk on his lips. ian has disappeared, and in his place is daniella, standing far too close to him and twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

something sharp and unwelcome stabs at viola's chest.

she shouldn't care. they're not even dating — she has no right to care.

but she does.

and she hates it.

julian seems to take her silence as an invitation to keep talking. "you know, i was thinking... we never really got the chance to talk after everything."

viola lets out a short, humorless laugh. "you mean, after you dumped me for kirby?"

julian has the audacity to look sheepish. "i didn't leave you for her, viola. things were bad between us and it just happened. but that doesn't mean i didn't—"

"save it, julian." viola's voice is sharp, cutting through whatever weak excuse he's about to feed her. "i'm not interested in your bullshit."

his expression flickers — guilt, maybe, or something else she doesn't care to decipher.

but he doesn't leave.

instead, he stays by her side, lingering like a shadow she can't shake off. and the longer he does, the more viola wishes she were somewhere else. somewhere with matt.

but... right. matt is busy. with daniella.

so, she swallows her discomfort, and forces herself to endure julian's tortorous presence, even as every fiber of her being tells her she'd rather be with matt.

though right now, it's easier to be around her ex-boyfriend of two years than the guy she's only known for a few weeks but has somehow developed even stronger feelings for.

she shifts on her feet, exhaling slowly, allowing the tightness in her heart to ease. the air around her grows thick with the scent of cheap beer and weed, the thrum of music vibrating through her body. julian keeps on talking — saying something about how much fun they had together and how badly he misses the conversations they used to have — but his words are distant, blurred under the weight of everything else pressing on her.

like the way matt still hasn't once glanced in her direction.

like the way daniella leans in further, running her index finger along the rim of his glasses. the ones he wore after she told them they suited him.

viola's stomach knots, and she doesn't know why she cares. it's just a stupid fleeting crush, one that will disappear as quickly as it arrived.

"vi?" julian's voice snaps her back to reality and she blinks, turning back to him. his brows are drawn together, like he's just asked her something important.

"what?"

his lips twist into a small, knowing smirk, and viola hates how familiar that expression is. "you're not even listening, are you?"

"i—" she exhales sharplu, dragging a hand through her hair. "look, julian, i'm just— i'm not really in the mood for whatever the fuck this is."

his smirk falters ever so slightly, his gaze flickering over her face. for a moment, he looks almost regretful — but viola knows he's not. "i get it," he says after a beat of silence, taking a step back. "but for what it's worth, i meant what i said."

viola doesn't ask him to clarify. she doesn't want to know whatever it is that he said. she knows she should probably respond, but finds it hard to come up with something to say, as she hadn't been listening to a single word he said.

luckily, she's saved by the sound of a voice breaking the awful silence hanging between them.

"let's get out of here."

viola blinks, turning to find matt standing beside her. his voice is low, and there's something unreadable in his expression. she doesn't question it though, she just nods.

julian looks between them, jaw tightening. "leaving so soon?"

"yep," matt answers for her, already steering viola towards the door. they walk out of the house and back to the car in silence, and viola can't help but feel a wave of disappointment. she'd kind of been looking forward to the party — and to spend time with matt there. she wonders if he was just there to see ian... and daniella. and now that he's gotten what he wanted, he wants to leave.

they get into the car and matt drives off before she can even clip her seatbelt in. the drive is much quieter this time, but the air between them feels charged. viola is even more aware of matt beside her (if that's even possible), and of the way her pulse hasn't quite settled since she left julian standing in the middle of the party.

"where are we going?" she finally asks when she realizes they're heading in the opposite direction of the street they both live on.

matt doesn't answer right away. then, after a moment, he grins, glasses falling slightly down his nose. "you'll see."

𝓜INUTES 𝓛ATER, he pulls into the parking lot of the somerville country club. viola immediately frowns. "why are we here?"

matt doesn't say a word, stepping out of the car and motioning for her to follow. she does, trailing behind him as he leads her around the building, past the manicured lawns and twinkling lights illuminating the golf course. they keep on walking, until they reach a small lake hidden behind the property.

"figured you needed a break from all that," matt says, awkwardly stuffing his hands into his pockets. "you looked like you were two seconds away from murdering julian."

viola huffs out a laugh, shaking her head. "i still might."

matt laughs as well, taking a seat on the edge of the dock, letting his feet dangle over the edge. viola copies, sitting down next to him but making sure she's not too close. the sight of him and daniella still lingers in the back of her mind, and despite what honey said, it's made her feel completely hopeless about the whole... thing between them.

she's about to say something, just to fill the silence, when out of nowhere, matt kicks off his shoes and tugs his shirt over his head.

viola stares, frozen for a minute at the sight of him just in shorts and most importantly, no shirt on. the moon casts sharp shadows over the define lines in his shoulders, and something in her chest tightens. "what are you doing?" she asks.

"going for a swim," he replies with a shrug, taking off his glasses and delicately placing them next to his discarded t-shirt. "you coming?"

"i bet the water's freezing."

"scared?"

filled with a sudden competitiveness, viola glares at him before standing and slipping out of her shoes. she hesitates, though only briefly, before pulling off her skirt and tank top, leaving her in just her underwear. matt's gaze flickers, but he says nothing, just smirks before diving into the water. viola follows, her whole body freezing as the cold engulfs her.

matt resurfaces with a sharp inhale, pushing his wet hair back with one hand as he treads water. his smirk is impossible to miss, even in the dim glow of the moonlight.

"freezing, right?" he teases, beginning to float on his back.

viola exhales, trying to hide how cold she truly is. "i've been through worse."

matt chuckles, lazily paddling closer, his bare shoulders cutting through the water. "didn't think you'd actually do it, nebraska."

"i had to prove you wrong." she tilts her head. "would've been embarrassing if i just sat there and watched you."

"yeah, definitely," he replies, eyes glinting as he moves closer.

they drift in silence then, the only sound being the soft ripple of the lake and the distant hum of the town. viola glances up at the sky, watching the stars before her gaze settles back on matt. he looks different like this — relaxed, and a little less guarded. she thinks it suits him just as much as his glasses.

"so," he muses, breaking the quiet. "you never got to get high at the party."

viola lets out a short laugh, not expecting him to say that. "oh yeah," she chuckles. "damn, what a loss."

matt laughs as well. "tragic, really."

she shrugs. "i think i'm having a better time here, anyway."

the words leave her mouth before she can stop them, and the second they do, she regrets it. she's basically admitting she enjoys spending time with him. that this — whatever this is — is something she'd rather be doing that spending time with all her friends at a party.

matt's quiet for a moment too long, and she braces herself for some cocky remark, some teasing comment to make this less serious.

"me too."

her breath catches.

she's not sure what to say. doesn't know how to say anything, because matt is looking at her like he means it.

viola now realizes that she actually likes matt.

she's not sure what to do with that information.

and maybe she's reading too much into it, maybe she's letting herself hope for something that isn't real — but for some reason, this feels real.

she swallows. "you don't miss daniella?"

matt snorts, shaking his head. "what, you think i'd rather be with her right now?"

viola shrugs, keeping her expression neutral even as something flickers in her chest. "she likes you."

"i'm aware."

"yeah, so..."

"so?"

"so," she says, suddenly feeling bold, "maybe you like her too."

matt huffs out a short laugh. "not even close," he deadpans.

something warm flutters in her stomach. viola fights to stop herself from smiling, but it's practically impossible when he's looking at her like that — the same way he did when they were on the balcony.

but she doesn't get to hold onto that feeling for long, because matt's next question causes her to immediately frown.

"what did julian want?"

her body tenses. "why do you care?"

matt's jaw tightens just slightly. "just wondering why he wouldn't leave you alone."

"you sound jealous," viola says, raising an eyebrow.

matt scoffs, but there's something in the way his eyes darken that makes her think that maybe she's not imagining it. "i just dont like the guy."

she tilts her head, letting herself push. "why does it matter? you were with dani anyway."

his expression shifts. "i told you, i'm not interested," he says solemnly.

something about the way he says it — low and serious — makes viola feel hot despite the coldness of the water they're in.

the air grows thicker, and she knows she shouldn't be looking at him like this, but she doesn't have it in herself to stop. he's so close, the moonlight catching onto the droplets sliding down his bare skin, his eyes locked onto hers in a way that makes her whole body feel like it's burning.

she should really say something. crack a joke. do anything to cut the tension before it swallows her whole.

but she doesn't, and she moves instead.

she shuts her eyes and lets her lips brush against his, barely a breath between them. she lingers for a second, and for a whole crushing second, he doesn't react.

she's made a mistake.

viola can already feel a lump forming in her throat, that is, until matt suddenly places his hands on her waist, and pulls her closer. he's kissing her back.

the water is cool against her overheated skin, but all viola can feel is him — the way his fingers dig into her sides, the way his mouth moves against hers: slow and deep and almost desperate.

this isn't anything like the times they've kissed before. not like the ones for show, nor the one in her dream last night. this is real, way too real, and overwhelming.

she feels like she could memorize the pattern of his lips just from the way they move perfectly in sync with each other. he pulls away then, lips trailing down to her jaw, then her throat, and her fingers tighten in his hand. his name manages to slip past her lips by accident, and the sound seems to snap something in him. matt lets out a low sound, hands gripping her hips even harded as his lips return to hers with renewed intensity.

she's never felt like this before, like she's on fire from the inside out and she'll burn to ashes if he stops.

but then, matt pulls back just enough to look at her, his breath ragged, his eyes dark and heavy with something unreadable. his thumb brushes over her cheek, a stark contrast to the desperation of their kiss just moments before.

"we should probably stop," he murmurs, but he doesn't move away. his forehead rests against hers, his breathing uneven.

viola swallows hard. "yeah," she agrees, as much as she doesn't want to.

neither of them move, and then his lips are back on hers, kissing her again before she can even register what's going on. viola practically melts into him, one of her hands beginning to graze the toned muscles of his stomach. it makes matt jerk backwards, breaking the kiss.

"are you ticklish?" viola teases. matt rolls his eyes, breathing raggedly.

"no, it's just—" his mouth clamps shut as she does it again. "fuck."

viola lets her hand fall, instead reaching up to push a wet strand of hair from his forehead. matt's eyes are locked with hers, even as she leans forward to give him another peck on the lips.

"as much as i'd love to keep doing this, i'm getting cold," she says, holding up her arm — covered in goosebumps — to prove it. matt grins lazily, shrugging his shoulders.

"that's fine," he replies casually. "we can just continue to make out in my car."

viola's eyes widen, but then she frowns when she sees his amused smile. "shut up," she snaps, slapping him lightly on the arm.

"what?" he asks, raising his hands innocently. "am i not allowed to kiss my girlfriend?"

her heart twists. "fake girlfriend," she corrects, secretly hoping he'll get the hint. matt rolls his eyes.

"whatever, you say, nebraska," he says with a smirk before swimming away, back to the dock.

💌 ⋆✴︎˚。⋆ ━━ ava speaks !

if this got too freaky for you...... respectfully gtfo! 😁