With the noise of the shower as his background, Matt began to type. Life wasn’t often fun or relaxed anymore, but as he wrote to Julie, a levity swept over him. Even a touch of joy at being able to joke and talk freely with someone who didn’t look at him as broken. Even as he told himself that Celeste was the one who needed Julie, there was a small part of him that wondered if he might need her, too. If he would ever be ready to jump.
Maybe, Finn, he whispered as he typed. Probably not, but maybe.
The Elevator
Flat-Out Love, Chapter 19, MPOV
Matt Watkins Today's Contrition Club meeting has been cancelled: words cannot express how deeply, deeply sorry we are.
Finn is God “It's a possibootily” is my favorite new phrase. I’ve decided it means, “You may or may not get laid later.”
Julie Seagle If I'd known how many times I would hear “Celebration” in my lifetime, I would have murdered Kool and his whole Gang years ago.
Matt knew that Julie was with Seth tonight. He didn’t know exactly what was going on with them—and not that it was any of his business—but he still didn’t like it. The phone call that he accidentally heard yesterday bothered him more than he wanted to admit. What had she said? You mean you’ve had enough time with Celeste and me in the coffeehouse? You don’t find that romantic, and sexy, and hot? And now she was going out with him tonight. Or worse, not going out, but staying in. She’d said something about him making her dinner at his apartment. He didn’t know anything about this Seth kid, and for all anybody knew, Julie’s date had a long history of violent criminal behavior. She left with the car only fifteen minutes ago, but Matt was already edgy. His fingers tapped rhythmically across his desk and he stared at his laptop’s screen. He didn’t know where Seth lived, but he wasn’t crazy about the idea of Julie driving around Boston by herself at night. She might have to park far away and walk down unlit back streets.
Matt pushed his chair back and walked to Celeste’s room. Her door was cracked open, so he knocked as he entered the room. His sister was on the bed, laying flat on her back, with both arms extended straight up and holding a thesaurus.
“Oh, Matthew, I am delighted that you chose this moment to stop by this evening. I have a project for school that Julie has been assisting me with, and I was hoping to work with her. Do you know when she will return?”
“Oh. I don’t know. After you’re asleep, I imagine.”
“So then you do believe that Julie will be returning back here tonight? I had wondered if perhaps this was going to be an overnight excursion, in which case I was unsure about what time to expect her tomorrow.”
“Celeste!”
“Why are you exhibiting a reaction that involves such a chastising tone? I understand that Julie is of an age where one may possibly engage in certain activities that often are conducted only in late hours, during which—”
“Stop right there, please.” Matt held up both hands. “We are not having this conversation or even thinking about this subject matter. Is that clear?”
“You may not be thinking about this subject matter, but as it directly affects my school project, I am.”
Matt sighed. He looked to the bay windows off to his left. It was dark out, indeed. Certain things were more likely to happen at night. Again, not that it was his business, but there were safety issues to consider. Maybe he could give Julie one of those handheld alarms. Or pepper spray. It was probably a good idea. He glanced at Flat Finn, who was positioned in one corner of the room, facing the wall. “What is Flat Finn doing? If he’s urinating on the floor, you’re cleaning it up.”
“Matthew! Flat Finn is most certainly not urinating. Do not be so outlandish.”
“Is he in trouble? He has to stand in the corner and think about what he’s done?”
Celeste lowered her book. “No. I was finding him disruptive.”
“Seriously? How exactly was he disruptive? Were his hinges squeaking?”
“I felt as though he were looming over me tonight. On occasion, I need a bit of distance. It was Julie’s suggestion that there may be times I find I do better with a break from him. So tonight we are having a break. I am entitled to some privacy, Julie pointed out.”
“Oh.” Matt shifted his weight. “I think that’s a valid point.”
“Did you want to speak to me about something in particular? I need to get back to my compilation of alternate words and concepts.”
“I… I… “ Matt suddenly felt mildly embarrassed.
Celeste blinked at him. “Yes?”
“I was just wondering if you knew this Seth guy’s last name?”
“I do not. We could call Julie and find out right now if you need immediate satisfaction.”
“No, no. We don’t need to do that.”
“Why are you interested in his last name? Are you developing a surname fixation? I have always found surnames to be quite interesting myself, so when you find out, please let me know, and I will likely be able to tell you quite a bit about—”
“What? No, no, I’m not interested in surnames. Forget it.” Matt turned to the door.
“Oh, I understand!” Celeste said, suddenly excited. “You would like to investigate Julie’s romantic interest! An amateur background check of sorts!”
Matt didn’t say anything.
“I am right! You are experiencing profound jealousy!”
He turned back her way. “No, I am not experiencing profound jealousy. Don’t be ridiculous. I just think that as her… local family, or whatever… we should be aware of who she is spending time with. There are safety issues here. She is out at night with a stranger.”
Celeste beamed. “I can see that in fact you most definitely are thinking about the aforementioned subject matter from which you steered me away. You have concerns that she may be becoming intimate with—”
“Celeste, seriously, knock it off.” Matt glared at her. “Forget I asked anything.”
“Unfortunately, I do not know Seth’s last name, but I know him from the many visits that Julie and I have taken to the cafe where he works. I have done an investigation of my own on this local student and part-time barista, and I have found nothing indicative of sociopathology. There is no reason for us not to hold him in high regard.”
“Okay. That’s good,” Matt said.
“There is, however, one concerning factor,” Celeste said slowly.
“What? What’s wrong with him?”
“What I dislike quite strongly about Seth is that he currently has the romantic, and possibly sexual, attention of the young woman with whom you are finding yourself progressively more and more besotted.”
Matt practically snorted. “Oh, God. Good night, Celeste. Perhaps a good night’s sleep will bring you to your senses.”
“Perhaps a good night’s sleep will bring you to your senses!” Celeste said matter-of-factly as she lay down and again lifted the heavy thesaurus. “A good night’s repose. A good night’s slumber. A good night’s….”
Matt shut her door and went back to his room. Celeste was out of her mind in more ways than one. He was not besotted with anyone. He took his laptop, sat up in bed to work, and cranked the music with a remote. Besotted. What a ridiculous word.