The Truth, But Not Really

         It was now just Steven and Matt in the car and it was silent.
         “Sorry, Man.” Steven mumbled.
         “For what?” Matt had never heard Steven apologize to him. Even when he told Savannah that he cheated on her for April Fool’s Day 3 months before April 1st. she never trusted matt again. That was when Savannah and Matt’s relationship started to fall apart. He didn’t even apologize when he made Matt late to his curfew because he needed some McDonalds when he knew how Matt’s father was and Steven could’ve gotten the food after he dropped Matt off.
         “For not telling you that Kelly would be coming. I thought you’d be too much of a wuss to come because I know you wanted to take it slow. I know you wanted to get to know her because you kind of liked her and you didn’t want a repeat of you know…” Matt looked at Steven, who was staring at the road ahead. “… You know, Savannah.” He paused. “Oh, and sorry for explaining who Savannah was to Kelly and Jen.” He quickly added. Matt lied and assured Steven that it was okay. It took a lot for Steven to apologize; Matt knew how prideful Steven could be.
         “So how was Jen?” Matt changed the subject.
         “She was good, Matt.” He looked at Matt and smirked. He paused and then spoke, “We should chill again; the four of us.”
         “Hopefully Kelly will want to.” Matt responded.

         Matt shut the door of Steven’s car; he saw Steven’s window rolling down. Matt turned and shifted his weight to his left side and leaned on the window frame.
         “See you, Man.” Steven said. Matt saw Steven’s eyes drift off to Matt’s background. Matt looked back and saw two moving shadows in the window. Then one went out of view. Matt turned back to face Steven.
         “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Matt’s voice was shaky. He took a big step back as Steven rolled up the window and drove away. Matt stood there for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to convince himself that he should walk into his house right now or if he should walk down the street. The natural, chill air seemed so tempting, but the question of who the second shadow was in his house topped that.
         Matt fumbled with putting the key on the door and as he does he hears quick movement in the house. The door unlocked and he pushed the door open slowly. He walks in to find his Dad just laying there. He was just lying there and starring at the wall. When Matt shut the door behind him after walking in, his dad didn't even twitch a little bit. He remained staring at the wall vapidly. Matt kept his eyes on him and took steps slowly towards his room.
         "It's a little late don't you think?" Matt's dad finally said.
         "Yea but I made my curfew, Dad."
         "Okay, kid. I'll let you go this time." His voice was monotone. Matt stood there for a moment silently with his mouth open. He wanted to ask if there was someone else in the house but he couldn’t get the words to pass through his lips.
         He walked away and noticed that his dad called him kid instead of son or even Matt, as if they weren’t acquainted at all. He got kind of queasy thinking about what might be going on in his dad's head right now. He couldn't think of what nefarious wheels he had turning in his head with feeling sick. But the question of the other shadow in the house still roamed his head.
         Matt heard the front door click shut and then he heard footsteps and the fridge open. So there was someone in the house, whoever was in the house had left and his dad was going on with his normal routine of drinking beer. Thinking about Kelly, he went to bed feeling comforted by the warmth Matt had felt by Kelly’s kiss on his cheek.
**
         The next night, Matt sat on his bed and looked out the window. He was imagining Kelly on the street. Then he heard her laugh. He paused for a moment; he wasn’t imagining at all. He saw Jen run into his sight after Kelly. They were just standing there. In front of Matt’s neighbors house.
        
         He went to his window and slowly pushed it open to listen.
         “What if he’s sleeping?”
         “What if he’s not?”
         “But what if he’s not home?”
         “What if he is home?” Jen smiled.
         “But what if—”
         “No, Kelly. You are doing this. Hopefully he’s home and he opens the door and he is looking like his beautiful self,” Matt smiled to himself. “If not you will get to see how he looks out of bed; hopefully he’s still beautiful.” Matt ran to his mirror and ruffled his hands through his hair a few times and ran back to the window. He looked out and Kelly and Jen were not there.
         “S***,” he ran out of his room and to the door.

Midnight Stroll

          He peeked through the peephole to see Kelly’s and Jen’s face right in front. Matt swung opened the door catching Kelly in her mid-knock on the door.
         “Woah,” Matt laughed. Kelly had lost her balance and fallen into Matt’s chest. Kelly regained her balance and look at Jen. Jen nudged Kelly forward. “What’s up?”
         “Oh, I wasn’t sure where you lived exactly and so I tried this one.”
         “Oh?” Matt tilted his head, smiling slightly.
         “Can she use your bathroom?” Jen shoved Kelly closer.
         “Yea, of course!” Matt told them. As Kelly was in Matt’s doorway, Jen hit her hand on her forehead.
         “Oh my gosh! I totally forgot I need to call my mom before she goes to sleep and my phone is in your house Kelly! I got to go get it! But call me when you’re ready!” Jen smiled. Kelly’s eyes widened.     
         “Didn’t you just call your mom before we left telling her goodnight?”
         “Yea,” Jen paused. “But I got to call again!” She quickly added and walked off
         “Sorry, I don’t really know why we came here.”
         “I thought you had to use the bathroom.” Kelly laughed and the sight of her smile made Matt smile in the darkness.
         “I didn’t, we were just walking around and I brought up that you lived—”
         “Kelly,” Matt smiled. “You don’t have to explain to me why you’re here,” he paused. “It’s cool to see you outside of school.”  
         After a few minutes of talking, Matt offered to walk Kelly home. Kelly denied his offer because it was late and out of the way for him but he insisted.
         Matt stopped at her door step.
         “So just for the record, why did you really come to my house?” Matt smiled.
         “I don’t really know, we were taking a walk and Jen thought it would be a good idea to stop by to take a bathroom break I guess.” Kelly smiled back.
         “You guess?”
         “I mean I know,” Kelly put her hand on the door knob. Kelly couldn’t think of what else to say. Matt noticed that Kelly was trying to escape.
         “Goodnight Kelly,” Matt smiled.
         “You too,” Matt turned away and started down the front lawn. Kelly waited for Matt to turn around but he didn’t. Finally, when he was out of sight, Kelly shut the door and pressed her body against the door then turned so that her back was leaning on the door then she slid down. Kelly’s mind experienced a bunch of different feelings at once. Matt made her stomach twist whenever she saw him; she felt like she knew him; yet, she knew nothing about him. Kelly heard foots steps coming closer; she quickly got up and straightened up.
         “Hey Kelly,” Jen whispered.
         “I’m gonna go to bed now, Jen.” Kelly started walking past her.
         “What happened?” Jen whispered louder. Kelly turned back and opened her mouth to say how he walked her home and they just talked. But, instead, she closed her mouth and thought for a moment. What really did happen?
         “Nothing,” Kelly said under her breath. “Absolutely nothing,” Kelly turned towards her room and went to bed.