Chapter 18

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"Sorry 'bout Alex," Matteo grunts, putting down a large, heavy book with a big thud

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"Sorry 'bout Alex," Matteo grunts, putting down a large, heavy book with a big thud.

"Oh, it's alright," I shrug, putting a little smile on my face.

"He's a fucking ass," he continues, rolling his eyes. "Little instigator."

"He was just asking," I defend lightly. "He's just...curious is all."

He gives me a look, making me laugh a little. "Okay," I admit. "He was annoying- but it's true, he's just curious."

He makes a little amused sound before looking back down at the book. For the next hour and a half, we manage to actually get some work done, silently reading and jotting things down with occasional words being spoken.

Even thought I slept until eleven, I'm still unbelievably exhausted, even more now. As a yawn escapes my mouth, I notice Matteo's gaze fly to my face.

After a moment, he says, "I think we're good for now, we can be done for today." Then, stands up while closing his books.

I nod, closing my books.

"I'm heading to the courtyard," he tells me, nodding his head towards the window. He hesitates before adding, "you wanna come with?"

Way more excited then I should be, I eagerly nod, hurrying my movements to pack up my stuff. "Yeah," I smile brightly, "sure."

He gives me a curt nod, and waits by the door, a slight twitch in the corner of his lips.

.•° ✿ °•.

I watch his hand fiddle with his lighter before it lights his cigarette, and before I know it I'm blurting out, "can I try? A cigarette, I mean."

He blows out a puff of smoke before looking at me. "You sure...?" He asks, looking me over.

I quickly nod. "I just want to see what it's like." I say.

He frowns, looking hesitant, but eventually pulls out another stick.

My smile grows as I take it, putting the edge in between my lips.

"Here," he says, bringing the lighter to the end. I hardly notice him scooting closer to me, his eyes aimed on the cigarette.

"Thank you." I say quietly. He clears his throat and scoots back, exhaling another cloud of smoke, then bringing his back to his lips and inhaling.

I watch and copy his movement. Breathing in, I try to smoothly take in the smoke, only to cough it all out when I start roughly choking. "Ergh," I scrunch my nose in between coughs.

Matteo snickers as he watches my pathetic attempts.

"Stop-" I wave my hand at him mid choke, "it's not funny." I narrow my eyes into a glare, but despite that and my words, I can't help but giggle.

"Be gentler," he orders me softly. "Don't inhale so harsh or you'll choke again."

I nod and do as he says, breathing in again, but lighter. When I exhale, I still let out a light cough, but not as violent as before. "That tastes disgusting." I say, my nose further scrunching.

He laughs quietly, then shrugs. "It's not for everyone."

Before I ask him what to do with it, he gently takes it from my hand and presses the lit part down on the pavement.

He continues with his own cigarette as I bring my legs up to my body, crossing them as I look out in front of us. He took us to a little lake, relatively close to the school. And we've been sitting here for quite some time, not really saying anything.

Strangely, it's nice. Not having to keep up a conversation with him.

Tiredly sighing, I lean back until I'm laying on my back in the grass, looking up at the bright sky, all with a little content smile on my face.

Matteo cocks his head, watching me.

After a moment, he stretches his own legs out and sprawls down next to me.

I look over at him and smile, he returns the look with not quite a smile, but it's not a glare so it doesn't matter.

"You're not so bad." He finally concedes, his head turning to stare up.

"Yeah?" I can't help the bright smile on my face.

"I guess." He lets out a long sigh.

"Thanks," I tell him, grin widening. "You're not bad either."

"Mm," he hums. "Yeah?"

"I guess." I sigh over dramatically.

He breaths out an amused breath. A moment passes of silence, before he sits up again. He clears his throat, "alright. Time to get back before the fuckers start spamming my phone."

I nod, standing up as well and starting to trail behind him back Inside.

A/n: short chapter yall I had no idea what to write I'm starting to get writers block :(

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