────── 〔✿〕──────

SHE NEEDS HIM

chapter four, A WEEK AWAY

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MATTHEW STURNIOLO SAT STUBBORNLY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF HIS MINIVAN. It wasn't just a normal Friday for the boy as his best friend was going to be out of state for a whole week because of her "time-consuming job," in Nick's words.

"Come on, Matt, I'll FaceTime you when I land," Anastasia tilted her head to the side.

Chris loudly agreed from beside Nicolas in the backseat which made the girl smile thankfully at the pair before turning back to Matt.

"Promise?"

"Pinky swear," Stacy beamed, extending her pinky finger out to the boy who gladly wrapped his own around hers.

Anastasia watched quietly as the stubborn boy finally unlocked the car. She smiled, leaning forward to kiss his cheek and climbed out of the car.

"Bye, kid," Chris smiled, hopping out of the backseat to sit where Stacy previously sat.

"Bye, Chris," Anastasia rolled her eyes with a grin, embracing the boy in a tight hug before leaning into the back of the car to squeeze Nicolas too.

Nick pressed his lips into a thin line, feeling the need to cry and be overdramatic. He allowed his eyes to tear up which made Anastasia giggle.

"I'll see you in a week, shut up," she shoved his shoulder.

"I know, I wanted to make you feel bad," he shrugged, wiping his eyes. "I love you, be safe and text us when you get there."

"I love you," Stacy sweetly smiled, hugging him once more before sliding the door shut and allowing Matt, who insisted on carrying her suitcase, to walk her inside.

Matt and Stacy walked in comfortable silence, the only noises around them being happy families, a few crying children and suitcases being dragged along the floor.

"I'll see you next week, Matt," Anastasia turned to the boy as they made a stop at her gate.

"Alright. I love you, Ana, and as Nick said, be safe and text when you land," he softly smiled.

Stacy nodded, pulling him in for a final hug.

"I'll FaceTime you, love, don't worry," she ruffled his hair, watching a grin spread onto his face.

"Don't die!"

Stacy let her jaw drop at the boy's comment while she was walking away. She turned her head to glare at him but seeing the toothy grin on his face only made her blush and laugh.

"Great advice, thank you, Matthew!" She called back, waving once again before disappearing into her gate.

Matt stood in his spot for a moment, a wide grin that made his eyes crinkle at the sides. Snapping out of his trance, Matthew rubbed his chin, straightened his Random shirt and made his way back to where he had parked.

"So," Chris dragged out with an excited expression lighting up his features.

Matt stared at his ecstatic brother with furrowed eyebrows.

"Did you kiss her?" Nick groaned from the back, sick of how long Christopher was sitting there without saying anything to his obviously confused triplet brother.

"What?!" Matt cried, turning the wheel as he reversed out of the fifteen-minute parking zone, raising a hand awkwardly to the workers in fluorescent vests who guided him out of the airport lot.

"Why would I kiss her?"

Nicolas huffed from the back, no longer interested in what his brother had to say and instead shoved his second AirPod into his ear.

"I thought you liked her," Chris shrugged innocently.

Matt shook his head, ignoring the odd feeling in his stomach he felt as he denied his feelings for the girl.

──────

MATT JUMPED AS HIS PHONE BEGAN TO VIBRATE BESIDE HIM. The triplets were currently streaming on their Twitch account while playing MarioKart.

"It's Stace," he smiled, showing the camera as the FaceTime request popped up on his phone.

Nick 'aww'd and continued to focus on defeating Chris as he heard his best friend's voice come out of the phone speaker.

"Hey, you," Matt smiled, propping his phone on the large monitor while he read the chat where everyone was spamming the girls' name.

"Hi!" Anastasia grinned, she was walking through the New York airport, looking for the baggage claim.

Matt watched her intently, unaware of the smile that appeared on his face.

"How was your flight, Stacy?" Chris called out from out of Matt's phone camera frame.

"It was pretty good, I watched the whole of Looking For Alaska," she spoke, only her brunette hair visible in the frame as she reached for her suitcase.

"Of course you did. We miss you," Matt dramatically sighed, watching as Stacy rolled her eyes at the screen.

"I've only been gone for three hours. You're streaming?"

"Yes ma'am," Matt nodded in confirmation.

"I would yell hi to everyone but it would be weird to do that in an airport," Anastasia chuckled.

Matt smiled at how she flipped her sunglasses off of her head and onto her eyes while she stood outside of the airport to wait for her promised ride.

"ANA-FUCKING-STASIA!" An ecstatic voice called from roughly six meters away.

Anastasia swiftly turned her head to see one of her girl best friends sprinting toward her. Loralai Miller had been Stacy's number one girl since they were five, the pair met when the Patons were on vacation in New York and ever since then they never lost contact.

"LOR, OH MY GOSH!"

Completely forgetting about her suitcase and carry-on bag, Anastasia sprinted towards the blonde with a massive smile on her face. Matthew was watching this interaction through his screen though it was very shaky and he could mostly hear the wind.

"I've missed you!" Lorelai whined, pulling away from the hug but keeping her hands on Stacy's shoulders. Anastasia repeated the blonde's words before hugging her tightly once more.

"Alright, I love you both dearly but let's wrap it up before I get fined for being here for over five minutes," a masculine voice called out.

Anastasia glanced behind Lorelai to see Joseph Avery, Lorelai's boyfriend of three years.

"Hi, Joey!"

"Hello, Annie," the boy waved out from his window.

Stacy let out a laugh at the nickname before walking with Lorelai to grab her suitcase and bag. The two loaded Anastasia's stuff into the car trunk and clambered into the Jeep so that Joseph could drive off.

"Oh, sorry, Matt! I forgot we were on FaceTime," Anastasia giggled, waving at her screen.

Lorelai turned around in her seat, reaching for the brunette girl's phone to speak to the boy.

"Matty B, how have you been?" Lorelai began a friendly conversation with the boy.

Anastasia smiled to herself, she was so glad that she once got her New York best friends and Boston best friends to meet which created a bond between all five teenagers.

"How was the flight, Stacy?" Joseph asked, keeping his eyes focused on the road.

"It was... flighty," Anastasia joked, not really knowing how to describe a flight that was like any other flight.

"Wow, very observational."

Stacy rolled her eyes with a smile at the brown-haired boy's remark. The last time she had seen Joseph his hair was a faded blue but now it was back to brunette and Stacy loved it.

"Hey, Ana, call us back later, okay? Enjoy your surroundings for now," Matt spoke kindly.

"Awe, alright. I'll text you later! Love you, Matt. You too, Chris and Nick," she grinned.

"Love you more."

The FaceTime ended just in time because Joseph was pulling up to his and Lorelai's house.

"Wow," Stacy gaped, their house was astonishing and she wanted nothing more than to steal it and live in it forever.

Joseph chuckled at her reaction, hopping out first so he could grab her suitcase out of the trunk. Anastasia and Lorelai followed behind him, Stacy couldn't help but 'ooh' and 'ah' at every gorgeous detail the home held.

"This is where you'll be sleeping this week," Lorelai smiled sweetly, showing Anastasia the well-lit, spacious room.

"Yo, this is sick! Thank you, guys."

As Joseph was still walking in and out (the couple had made a grocery pit stop before picking Anastasia up), Lorelai gave Stacy a full house tour.

"You so suit this house, Lor!" Stacy gushed. "Like, it compliments you and Joey so well."

"You're the cutest, Stacy. I love you," Lorelai responded politely.

"I love you too."

ANASTASIAPATON has posted
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8:07pm

ANASTASIAPATON

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liked by sadiecrowelll, kendaljenner and 15,234 more...
ANASTASIAPATON, new york... we meet again!

NICOLASSTURNIOLO, QUEEN THE FIRST PHOTO
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, SHUT UP ILYSM

JOSEPHAVERY, a pleasure to be your host 🙏

LORELAIMILLER, you're so cute
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, uno reverse 💟💟

MATTHEW.STURNIOLO, I miss you 😔😔
↳ CHRISTOPHERSTURNIOLO, whipped!

VADAMARLEYPATON, stay safe!!!
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, always, V x

JOHNNYORLANDO, NO WAY! Laur and I are here rn!!!
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, OMG, LET'S MEET SOON!

USER2, joseph and lorelai are too cute bro
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, wym? it's lor and i 4L ;)
↳ JOSEPHAVERY, get out of my house.
↳ LORELAIMILLER, YES BABE, LOVE YOU!

LAYLABARNES, so ur the one on Matty's polaroid wall!
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, uhh... matthew.sturniolo ??
↳ MATTHEW.STURNIOLO, Yes, She is, Layla :)
↳ SADIECROWELLL, Stacy, Mason says he misses you!! <3
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, omggg!! tell him i said hi!
↳ MATTHEW.STURNIOLO, Who's Mason?

ZENDAYA, Girllllllll, you're gorg!
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, i love ya!

JACOBELORDI, Little Stacy's in NY already?! See you tomorrow, kiddo
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, i am! see you then, J!

ALAHNA111, bro my gf is so hawt
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, ur so fine

LOUISPARTRIDGE, Wishing I was in NY rn :(
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, miss you, louis!

MADIFILIPOWICZ, when do you get back?
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, next week, my love!
↳ MADIFILIPOWICZ, i'll try fly out!!
↳ ANASTASIAPATON, OMG, don't prioritize me tho <33

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SADIECROWELLL is typing

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SADIE
Bro who's Layla?

STACY 💌
no clue 😔 but thanks for saving my ass
also i've been out of boston for eight hours and mf
already has some girl over?? 💀

SADIE
Ofc babe! Also, that's so weird wtf 😭
You need to come back, I miss you

STACY 💌

i miss youuu!i'll try see when i'm free next

SADIE
Okay bet. Me saying I miss you is some pussy shit but I haven't seen you in a year 😓

STACY 💌
we'll find a way, bsf. talk later?

SADIE
For sure! Baylen says hi 🙄

STACY 💌
HAHA tell him i say hi back

SADIE
He says to leave his "girlfriend" alone 🤨

STACY 💌
baylen, get in line 😎

SADIE
THAT'S WHAT I SAID!!
💟 by anastasiapaton

──────

ANASTASIA CHUCKLED TO HERSELF AND SHUT OFF HER PHONE. She was currently out at dinner with Lorelai and Joseph, the girl hates when other people are on their phones at dinner so she immediately apologized and placed her phone on the table.

"The chicken parmigiana?" The young waiter asked, holding two plates in either hand. Stacy raised her hand sweetly as he carefully placed it in front of her, trying not to tip her virgin Shirly Temple over.

"And the spag-bol? Okay. Your fries and coming very soon," he smiled before walking away.

Anastasia picked up her fork and knife, cutting straight into her mouth-watering looking chicken. Lorelai and Joseph each grabbed a fork and dug into their shared spaghetti bolognese.

"This is so good," Anastasia widened her eyes, watching as Lorelai slurped the noodles while nodding her head.

"Right?" Joseph excitedly spoke, glad he and his girlfriend introduced their best friend to one of the best Italian restaurants in the city.

The trio continued to chat away happily while finishing their meals, to Anastasia it was almost like all of her worrying thoughts blurred away whenever she was with friends. 

( 💟 ) MAL SPEAKS,

hi lovely people! i'm sorry it took
me so long to update, if you follow
me as well as having this on your reading
lists then you would know about my
computer situation! but it's fixed and
i should be back in business ;)

i don't think i'm going to write much more of
stacy in NYC because this is a triplet book not
a euphoria cast one 😭😭

thank you all for being so patient with me,
i really do appreciate it. have an amazing
day because you deserve it!

also my chris book may be out sometime
this week, yay!! <33

mwah, mal :))