Chapter Fourteen: Falling to Pieces
He brushed the hair out of her face and said, "Jesse was an idiot. He's never acted that way before. Ashley---she's kind of---you know---out there. The guys and me are always telling Jesse that he should just dump her, but he doesn't listen."
"Oh. She's out there?" she asked confused.
"Yeah."
"Why'd he tell me those things if he didn't mean them?" Matt just looked at her and said, "Because he's brainwashed and he doesn't know a good thing when it's standing right in front of him."
"And you do?"
"Well, sometimes. I do have my moments, but sometimes I can be pretty clueless-that's why I like a girl who fills me in," Matt replied. He looked at her and said, "What about you? You know a good thing when it's standing right in front of you?"
"I haven't had a lot of boyfriends so I don't really know. I'm not really popular with the guys back at my old school, that's why I'm glad I moved to New York."
"They're missing out on a lot." Lori laughed and said, "Yeah right. The guys back at my school like the skinny, bitchy, bimbo types."
"Well, like I said, they're missing out on a lot."
"Matt----"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks." He looked at her confused and asked, "For what?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm thanking you because you came to see if I was OK and you didn't even do anything. I was kind of hoping that Jesse would come up to apologize but I guess I was just getting my hopes up."
"Do you like Jesse?"
"Where would you get a crazy idea like that?"
"Just wondering."
"Oh. OK. I did, you know, as a friend until that little incident. He really made me mad. He had no right to treat me the way he did."
Matt took her hand and said, "I know. Believe me."
"Why are you being so nice to me? I just hit your friend across the face."
"Because I like you and you're a cool girl."
"Cool girl? Great. My mission in life is complete." She rolled her eyes and fell back onto her bed. Matt just laughed and laid down beside her. He looked in her direction and saw that she was looking right back at him. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity then he gently kissed her. She kissed him back, not knowing what else to do then backed away.
"What just happened?" She asked. Matt sat up next to her and said, "I kissed you."
"Why?"
"Because I like you....a lot."
"I like you a lot too Matt, but------"
"But what?" he asked nervously.
"I don't think I want to get involved. I'll just end up ruining everything anyway. It's so pointless."
He crossed his legs indian style and faced her. He took her hand and said, "You won't ruin everything. It's not pointless and as far as getting involved goes, you already are."
"I already am?"
"Yes." Lori looked at him and said, "I always------"
"You have to have faith in yourself. I---I have faith in you."
Matt stopped then said, "You need to believe in yourself. And I know that I believe in you."
"You do?"
Matt nodded and said, "I have since day one."
"Matt---"
"Yeah?"
"You're incredible."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I wonder what Matt's doing up there in Lorr's room," Chris said breaking the silence.
"They're probably just talking," Greg told them.
"Why do you guys care about Lori? She's a bitch," Jesse said jumping into the conversation.
"She's not a bitch Jesse. You don't even know her. You know nothing about her," Greg said defensively.
"You have the hots for that chic too?" Jesse teased.
"No, I don't have the hots for her. Quit being a jerk Jesse. It's not cool," Greg retorted.
"It's really starting to get on my nerves," Frankie added.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"You think I'm incredible?"
"Sorry. It just slipped out."
Matt took her hand when she started shaking and said, "Lorr, calm down. It's OK." When she kept on shaking he put his arms around her and held her close to him. She was in complete shock that Matt would do something like that, but she knew that she might as well enjoy it while she can. After she stopped shaking he backed away from her and stared at her. Lori looked at him but then looked away.
"Jesse must have really upset you," he said breaking the silence. Lori didn't say anything; she couldn't say anything and even if she could, it'd probably be something mean and nasty.
"Yeah he did," was all Lori could say.
Chapter 15