Chapter Fifty Four - You Dare Use My Own Spells Against Me

Matt's eyes shot invisible daggers at Sean's retreating car until it was out of his sight.

"You should've let me handle it," I said, and they snapped down to mine.

"Am I supposed to tell you I'm sorry?" he scoffed and spun on his heel to march back to his house. As if on autopilot, my feet started following him. And only for a second, I wondered if he wanted me back in his room with him until he threw me a look over his shoulder. As I saw the approval in his eyes upon discovering that I was following him, I felt a knot in my stomach loosen.

I silently walked behind him like a composed coach trailing a steaming engine. The moment we both made it inside his room, he slammed the door shut.

I cringed. "You're mad."

"Of course I'm mad," he spat, annoyed. "I told you to call me if he got out of line."

"Oh, right!" I let out a sarcastic laugh. "I should've told him, 'Hold up, Sean. Let me call my boyfriend. He'll deal with you' and dialled you in the middle of all that like some tool."

He rolled his eyes and paced over to his bed. His back was to me, and I could see his shoulders rising as he took in a sharp breath before exhaling slowly.

"What else did he say to you?" he turned around. "Before I showed up."

"Honestly, you heard the worst part. So, it's all good."

One of his brows shot up, and he repeated, "All good?"

"Yes."

"What was the good part, again? When he was asking you to get back with him, was that it?"

"Oh my God, Matt!" I let out a scoff in disbelief.

He crossed his arms stubbornly as if waiting for my response.

"You're serious." I deadpanned. Instead of answering him, I stepped up to him and studied his face carefully. "Okay. Let me ask you something now. Just be honest."

His brows lowered in confusion. "What?"

"Do you think I still have feelings for Sean?"

I knew I hit the right chord when he did not immediately give me an answer. Instead, he looked away and shrugged. "Maybe."

"Wow..." I said under my breath, failing to hide my disappointment. He didn't even trust my feelings for him. "What else? Do you think if he convinces me enough, I'll go back to him? Is that why you felt the need to interrupt?"

He remained silent.

"Unbelievable." I breathed out in frustration. "So, you think I'm the kind of girl who just swings between two guys? That I can't make up my mind or worse, I deliberately want you both wrapped around my finger?"

"What?" A scowl fell over his lips. "No, that's not—"

"I was confused about my feelings for a while, but that's just because I was with the wrong guy. But you..." I paused to suck in a breath. "It feels right with you. It just does."

His eyes softened, but at the moment, it wasn't enough to tame my irritation.

"And if you can't get it through that thick head of yours, maybe we should just..."

The calm in his eyes was overtaken by a storm of something between anger and panic as he raised a brow at me, demanding, "Just what?"

I inhaled slowly, forming words in my head but my entire thought process was shut down when he took one long step forward and closed in on me to the point where my face was against his chest and I had no choice but to tilt my head back to look up at him.

His eyes searched mine with furious desperation. "What? Take some time off?"

That was what I'd intended to say, but hearing it come out of his mouth made me dismiss any possibility. We'd already waited for so long for things to work out between us that even the thought of separating sounded like utter bullshit.

"No." The firmness in my voice visibly eased him as the intensity in his eyes turned down a notch. And that was my cue to side step him and walk over to his bed while running a frustrated hand through my hair. "I don't know what the hell I can do to make you believe I'm not into Sean anymore."

I snapped around. He was standing there, watching me in silence as if allowing me to have my moment of anger. Like he understood that he had it coming for saying that.

"What do you want from me?" I advanced towards him, throwing my hands up in the air. "What's it gonna take for me to convince you that you mean so much more to me than he ever did? Wait! I didn't sleep with him. Will that help? Do I have to sleep with you to make you believe—"

I stopped abruptly when something dangerous flashed in his eyes, rendering me speechless and, at the same time, making me realize I'd gone a bit far.

Slowly and deliberately, he closed the distance between us, his eyes holding mine the entire time.

"You'd sleep with me to make a point?"

"Matt," I sighed.

"Like it's an obligation? You'd lose your virginity to me to make me believe that you're over Sean? Just like that?"

If his conclusion had pushed a knife in my heart, the hurt in his eyes had twisted it.

"That's not what I meant, Matt."

Disappointment was clear as day in his eyes, but it was only a harbinger of his rising anger as he clenched his jaw and searched for my eyes gravely.

"What did you mean?"

"I... didn't think before speaking."

His jaw clenched tightly. "Dammit, Rebekah! So even if you would've slept with me, in the end, it would've been all about Sean. Even if you didn't mean to make this about him."

He looked so hurt, I just wanted to wrap my arms around him and reassure him somehow but I couldn't stand him pushing me away, which I knew he would do with the way he looked at me—like I was something he didn't even recognize.

"Of course." He nodded slightly.

"Matt, no! I..." I struggled to pull myself together and form words, but he wasn't patient enough as he backed up and stormed out of his room.

I blinked in surprise. Did I just ruin it all?

Oh God! Panic rose within me as I sprinted towards the door. I would've run after him if I hadn't immediately heard his motorcycle outside. I sprinted to the window and caught sight of him just before he rode it out of his driveway.

"Oh no! No, no, no," I said under my breath, burying my fingers in my hair in frustration.

How could I say something so stupid? Why the hell did I even say that in the first place?

Would I actually sleep with Matt just to make a point?

Hell, no! The answer was clear in my head. I didn't even need to think twice.

I wasn't even thinking about Sean. I never did when I was with Matt.

I had to talk to him.

I dialled his number after waiting for five minutes, but he didn't pick up. Either he was riding his bike, or he was ignoring me.

So, I decided to leave him a text.

Rebekah: Matt, please let me talk to you. I wouldn't do something like that just to prove that I'm over Sean. I wasn't thinking right. Come back so we can talk.

I waited for the next forty-five minutes, right there in his bedroom, but he never showed up, neither did he reply. So, beyond that, it started feeling wrong to be there when he clearly didn't want me anywhere near him.

You'll talk to me tomorrow, Matt. You'll have to.

*****

"If anything goes wrong or you see someone naked, remember, sleepwalking is always the excuse to go with."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I won't see anyone naked, Meera."

"Oh, right because what are the odds of that happening when you're sneaking into the boys' changing room?"

My hand froze over the door right as I was about to push it open. "Okay, maybe you're right. This is a bad idea."

"Oh no, no! I didn't ask you to stop. I just asked you to be careful. Now you go in there, tie him to a chair if that's what it takes for him to listen to you so you can win him back. Kiss and make up. Go, Becks! Good luck."

I smiled. "Thanks, but that's not exactly what I had in mind. But I am hoping I don't mess it up further."

She sighed deeply. "Again, what are the odds of that happening?"

"Thanks for the pep talk, Mee. Truly appreciated." I smiled sardonically, knowing she couldn't see it.

She chuckled before hanging up, and I shoved my phone in my pocket, taking a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

I pushed the door open and carefully trod inside. As expected, it was empty because the practice wasn't over yet.

"Okay...which one's yours, Williams?" I looked through the giant lockers, and all of them were either unlocked or left ajar. Boys really don't care about anything if they can just leave their lockers like that.

I finally spotted his duffel bag and fished the note from my back pocket. I'd written it in cursive with a green glitter pen.

Talk to me, or I'll steal your guitar and Cheeto in frustration. Then you'll have to come knocking at my front door and I'll be the one giving you the attitude.

Meeting time: After school.

Location: Your favourite ice cream parlour because I've found just the thing to sweeten your salty ass, Williams.

That probably didn't come out right.

But whatever!

You better show up.

-Becks

I neatly folded the note around the stem of the red rose I'd picked from my garden this morning, but before placing it in his bag, I stared at it doubtfully. Is the rose a lot?

Nope, it wasn't. If I just wanted to leave him a note, I'd send him a text instead.

Also, if there was no rose, I would've used a red glitter pen for my note. I just thought the green went better with the red.

I placed it on top of his towel and closed the zipper. Just as I started to back away to head out, I heard some footsteps outside, and my eyes grew wide.

Oh God! Please don't let that be the football guys coming back!

It was. Their voices were getting louder, which meant they were headed towards the changing room

Without a thought, I jumped into the locker I assumed was Matt's because his duffel bag was lying outside it, and pulled it close, leaving it just enough ajar to let some air in.

The door opened with a thud, and supposedly, two pairs of footsteps marched inside. Then, one of the guys slammed a locker shut in frustration and cursed out loud, making me jump in surprise.

"Fuck it! I wanted to break his jaw and trample his face into the ground with my foot. Fucking bastard!"

The other guy chuckled. "I know he was being a dick but you know it's all for the team, right? Good intentions."

I have no idea why I immediately assumed that they were talking about Matt. Maybe because it sounded a lot like Will convincing me to keep training with him in the beginning despite his attitude.

And I found myself scowling. I was the only one who was allowed to trash talk him, not his teammates behind his back.

"Good intentions my ass!" The other guy said and my brows furrowed in confusion. I know that voice. It was Chris! "Just because he's the captain, he thinks we'll take any crap from him but he's wrong. One of these days, I swear I'm gonna beat his ass."

Oh! He meant Sean.

Well, go Chris!

I shook my head at myself at the thought.

"Oh, come on!" The other guy appeared to be at damage control duty. He was annoying. "You know you're not gonna do that. He's a bit intolerable but he's good at the game. Let's just trust him on this, okay?"

"J, do me a favour and simp over him somewhere else. Some place where I can't hear you, okay? Or I'm beating your ass before his."

He chuckled again and I realized I was enjoying the gossip a bit too much to remember I was trapped in the freaking boys' changing room until the door swung open again and this time, more people marched inside.

From the sudden commotion outside, I knew it was the entire team.

The entire team was back.

Shit!

"You good?" A voice asked and my panic immediately dialled down as my heart picked up for all the right reasons. At least Matt was here too.

I'll be good just as long as you don't open your locker to throw in your bag or something.

"Yeah, man," Chris replied.

Seconds went by and people got busy talking about their game and discussing field strategies. So, I assumed I could get away with it but the thought had come a little too soon.

I didn't even get the time to panic when a hand creeped inside the ajar locker and pulled it open.

Well, fuck.

Light filled the little, dark space and I had the instinct to cover my face with my hands but I was left stunned; so was the person who'd just caught me hiding inside the locker.

Okay, stunned was an understatement for this dude. His eyes grew wide like he'd seen a ghost and he looked on the verge of screaming for dear life as his hand went up to his heart and he cursed out loud, "Fuck!"

I wanted to laugh. I'd scared poor Chris.

"Hey," I whispered, offering an impish grin.

He blinked, staring at me incredulously for the next five seconds before he raised a brow.

"Are you gonna tell me what you're doing in my locker, Becks?" he whispered back, thankfully not drawing attention.

"Your locker? Sorry. I thought it was Matt's."

Realization dawned on him for a second but then, he was back to being confused. "So, what if it was his locker? What are you even—never mind." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do you wanna get out or do you just want me to shut it, let you go back to your business, whatever it is you're doing in there?"

"I would like to get out but I'm stuck."

"Jeez. It does look uncomfortable. How did you even fit in there?"

"Desperate times but that's not what I meant." I made a face. "I'm embarrassed."

"Oh! Well, you can wait for all of us to leave but it's gonna be at least thirty minutes. Your legs are gonna kill you."

I inhaled some courage and exhaled my inhibitions. "Okay. I came here to see my boyfriend. I'm owning up to it."

He looked surprised for a second when I called Matt my boyfriend. Then he nodded, amused and leaned back to look sideways. "Hey, Williams! You mind taking a look here, buddy?"

"What's up?"

Chris stepped aside as Matt walked up to the locker. The moment he saw me, his eyes widened in surprise and I wanted to laugh at his face but all I did was offer him a sheepish smile.

"What the hell?" He blinked.

"Hey," I whispered, studying him. I couldn't tell if he was still mad.

"What are you doing here?" His brows furrowed in confusion.

"I've been trying to get you to talk to me."

"Next time," Chris cut in. "Use a phone. It's a lot more convenient. Just saying." He shrugged.

When Matt cut him a look, his humour vanished and he must have realized something was wrong because he took a step away. "I'll let you guys be."

"It's fine. I was just leaving. Somebody's gonna have to pull me out though. I am stuck."

"What were you even..." Matt trailed off as he grabbed my knees and spun me sideways, then he locked an arm under them and pulled me forward until my legs were against his chest.

"Thanks." I smiled up at him and almost jumped out of the locker but he never stepped aside. Instead, he pressed a hand against my shins to hold me in place. Then he leaned back just like Chris had done earlier and looked sideways.

"Hey, Steve. You mind putting some pants on?"

"I know I'm really intimidating right now, standing here in all my glory. Is it too bright for you? It's blinding, isn't it, Williams?" Steve laughed.

"Makes me wish I was blind. Ugh come on!" Chris groaned. "Steve, just put some pants on, man!"

"Fine." He chuckled.

After about ten seconds, Matt stepped aside and I finally jumped out of the locker. The entire room was filled with 'ooohhh look at that' 'what the hell' and 'how long has she been in there, man'.

A little embarrassed, I ducked behind Matt as he led us to the exit. On our way out, I saw only one pair of eyes glaring our way. It was Sean, simmering in the corner of the room as he shot me a dirty look.

Once we were out in the hall, Matt turned around, hands immediately lifting to his hips as he raised a scrupulous brow at me, waiting for an explanation.

"Don't look at me like I'm about to get scolded. I'm not a child."

"You sure act like one."

"I just wanted to talk to you about yesterday. You haven't been taking my calls or replying to my texts," I said, annoyed.

"Give a guy some time to cool off? Is that too much to ask for?"

"Give a girl some peace of mind for once? Is that too much to ask for?" I crossed my arms.

He shook his head to himself, sighing. "What did you want me to do, Becks? Sleep with you after you'd just implied it was nothing more than a task for you?"

"No, I only needed you to listen to me so I would tell you that I have no possible explanation for what I said. I don't know what I was saying. Hell! I wasn't even thinking straight, Matt. I was mad at you for not trusting my feelings for you and you didn't even apologize for that. And do you really think I'll finally get to be with the guy I truly like and mess it up by thinking about my ex?"

"Hey," he started suddenly like I'd offended him. "I never said you were thinking about him. I just said you were trying to make a point that you're over him by sleeping with me."

"You really think you mean so little to me that I would sleep with you for the very first time just to make a point? Okay, I know that's exactly what I said yesterday. But there was immediate regret, in case you didn't notice."

He opened his mouth to speak but then, shut it. He knew I was right.

I took a step forward and grabbed his arm. "I need you to get it through that thick, hot head of yours, for the last time, I swear I didn't have one thought about Sean or about proving anything related to him. When we're together, I'm there...all there in the moment. I promise you that."

I'd expected relief to cross his features but when it did not, I found myself glad. Because I could tell the reason why I hadn't just convinced him with my words—he already knew it before I'd even said it. A soft look reached his eyes and he opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the ringing of the bell.

Awesome timing as usual you noisy good for nothing tool.

"Come on!" I groaned out loud at no one in particular, then looked down at my watch. "I'm already past deadline for submitting my essay. I can't be late for class too."

He nodded. "Go."

"We have to talk later," I said hurriedly, taking a step back. "Just do it."

"Do what?"

"Show up."

"Where?" He was baffled.

"You'll find out. I gotta go. Bye."

I didn't wanna ruin the element of surprise for when he would find the note in his bag so I did not give him any more details than that. I just hoped he would find it.

*****

After school, Meera dropped me off at the ice cream parlour. The moment I walked inside, I started looking for Matt but he wasn't there yet.

Jess looked up from the counter, recognized me and smiled. I smiled back at her, waved and went on to sit in the booth we'd occupied the last time we were there.

Fifteen minutes passed and he didn't show up. So, I pulled out my phone to call him but right before I could dial his number, a pair of feet neared my booth and with a sigh of relief, I averted my eyes up with a knowing smile.

But it vanished in an instant.

"Sean?" I blinked.

"Hey!" He threw me a 'ssup.

"Oh God!" My jaw dropped. "Please don't tell me I left that note in your bag."

"What note?"

Thank God!

"What are you doing here? And how did you know I was here?"

He chuckled lowly. "You need to get over yourself, Rebekah. I was in the shop across the street with the guys when I saw you walking in here. Thought I'd stop by for a chat."

"I'm in no mood to chat with you."

"Thanks for asking me to sit down."

I gritted my teeth in annoyance when he started to get into the booth.

"Look," I snapped. "If you're here to apologize for what you said to me yesterday, it's not a big deal so just—"

"So," he cut me off with a sardonic smile. "Trouble in paradise?"

"What?"

"I couldn't help but overhear your chat outside the changing room this morning." He crossed his arms on the table and leaned forward with interest. An annoying spark was dancing in his eyes. "I'm still on your mind, Becks?"

I let out the loudest sigh ever and fell back into the seat.

"Well, if you heard that part, I'm pretty sure your prying ass heard the rest of it too."

"Yes, but I didn't pay much attention to that. My only highlight was that you're probably still hung up on me."

"Sean," I looked him dead in the eye and leaned forward. "I'm really not. Trust me."

"Are you sure this time? Or are you gonna end up making out with me while you're with him?"

I swallowed audibly, feeling my anger rising to its peak with every passing second. The longer I looked at his face, the more tempted I was to punch him across it.

He burst out laughing. "Chill out. I'm just kidding, Becks. You cheated on me and I can't even joke about it?"

I clenched my jaw and nodded, giving him a fake smile. "Leave."

"Fine. But I don't think your boyfriend is gonna show up. I'm assuming you are waiting for him, right? Let me give you a ride home for old time's sake?"

"Just leave."

With a smirk, he got up and left. I watched him walk down the street through the window and once he was gone, I gathered my stuff and flounced out of the parlour, furiously marching my way home.

But instead of walking up to my house, I made my way to the house across the street and pressed the doorbell.

Aiden answered the door and smiled at me. "Hey, Becks."

"Hi, Aiden." I did my best to offer him a smile and not dump an ounce of my anger on him. I was saving it for a certain someone. "Is your brother home?"

"Yep." He stepped aside to let me in. "Head to the kitchen."

And so, I did. I found the bastard pouring himself something that looked like his protein shake from the blender.

"Let me guess," I snapped and he looked up at me, not surprised in the slightest like he was already expecting me. "You didn't get my note."

"I did."

He took a nonchalant sip of his drink while maintaining eye contact.

"You. Are. Unbelievable. Matthew. Williams."

When I advanced towards him, he held up his glass in the air like I was deliberately going to spill it on him. Or maybe it was because I had a history of messing with his drinks. Either way, it was convenient for me because I could easily poke my finger in his chest.

"I can't believe you would stand me up like that. You couldn't even show up?"

"I did. You were busy."

My jaw dropped. "So, you saw me with that wretch and decided to leave me alone? What the hell happened to let me know if he gives you any crap?" I deepened my voice slightly to sound like him. "I had to put up with his shit just because I was sitting there like a duck, waiting for you."

"I was pretty sure you could handle it. I didn't wanna interrupt and make you look like some tool who couldn't even defend herself." He shrugged.

Oh, you dare use my own spells against me. I narrowed my eyes pensively as he propped himself on the countertop and sipped his drink, still watching me.

"Or," I started. "...you just got jealous as usual, acted out of impulse and left me to deal with his crap."

"Nope. Not really." He shook his head indifferently.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Well, okay then."

"Okay." He nodded, throwing his head back to swallow the remaining contents in his glass, then smacked his lips like a child.

"I'm going home now."

"Okay."

I gritted my teeth in annoyance as he stepped off the counter and walked over to the sink to place the glass in it.

"Bye," I snapped and walked out of the kitchen, feeling him following me after a second, so I stopped in my tracks and snapped around. "What?"

"What?" He raised his hands in surrender. "I'm just walking you out."

"Oh? No please don't bother yourself. I can handle it."

"Okay." A little gleam danced in his eyes like he was enjoying teasing me, which annoyed me even more. I growled like an animal on crack and stood up on my tiptoes to make strangling gestures with my hands right in front of his neck.

He was more amused than ever as he crossed his arms with ease, daring me to do it.

"Someday, Williams," I snapped.

"I dare you to do it, Becks!"

I turned around at the voice. Aiden was walking in, balancing a big carton in his arms. "I've found myself wanting to do that more times than I can count."

"I'm sure you had very good and valid reasons," I said, smiling sarcastically at my boyfriend who only looked between us like he was proud of his actions.

"Oh, I did. I finally had this girl I'd been crushing over for a month and he told her I had the clap."

My jaw dropped as I turned to Matt. He shrugged at me. "He'd trashed my new car with paint. I had to get it fixed."

"Bullshit," Aiden scoffed. "I trashed your car because you started that rumour. Don't forget about the itching powder in my underwear."

"You had it coming. What did you think I was going to do after you stole my lunch?"

"See, Becks? See how petty your boyfriend is?"

"Totally."

Aiden shook his head and dropped the carton near the sofa, then he stood up straight, put his hands on his hips and stretched his back. "Are you heading home?"

"Yes."

"You better come back soon and help me set things up."

"For what?" I frowned.

"He didn't tell you? I'm throwing a party tonight. Parents are out of town again."

A little taken aback, I turned back to Matt and he was scowling at Aiden for letting that slip. He didn't want me at his party? Wow, that hurt.

"Uh I'm not sure I can make it, Aiden—"

"Hell, no! I'm not even listening to that. You're showing up. I've invited your friends too. I just assumed you knew about it." He looked between us, perplexed, then quickly shrugged it off like us fighting was nothing new for him.

"If she says she can't, why can't you just let her be?" Matt cut in, much to my disappointment.

"Because it's my party and I pick who's invited. And if you're invited and you don't show up, you're gonna break my heart." Aiden puckered his bottom lip out and stared at me with puppy eyes.

"Since you're inviting me so nicely and making me feel like I'm really wanted here..." I took a pause to throw my boyfriend a sour smile before turning back to Aiden. "...I'll show up."

Matt didn't look too happy about it as he frowned at me and threw Aiden a silent stare.

"See you tonight, Becks." Aiden grinned, unaware of the sharp glare on him.

"See you, Aiden."