as cassie twisted while she woke up, she almost jumped when facing someone's back. putting a hand against her forehead, she remember the night and cracked a little smile. she pursed her lips and sat up carefully, looking around in the room. it took matt a minute or so to wake up and that's when she stood up from the bed.

"morning." he smiled as he propped himself up with his elbows.

"hey. i'm just gonna' brush my teeth." she laughed and then realized where she was, awkwardly doing a hand gesture. "no, i'm not. at least not here."

"i think we have a few non-used ones." he chuckled and nodded to the bathroom. "we bought a whole pack once with, like, four toothbrushes."

"i'll go and look."

cassie stepped inside the bathroom and rummaged through a drawer until she found the open pack. after thoroughly examining one of them, she brushed her teeth and leaned her back against the wall.

matt tiredly rubbed his face with his hands before putting a t-shirt on. he pulled his fingers through his messy hair and smiled when remembering what they had done.

as she turned the bathroom lights off, she placed herself beside him on the edge of the bed and bit on her bottom lip.

"last night was pretty great." he said quietly after a short moment and gazed at her with a half smile.

"yeah, it was." she laughed and stretched her legs. "so you've finally lost your virginity. how does it feel?" she asked jokingly and wiggled her eyebrows once.

"is that something people actually discuss?" he frowned, earning an eye roll back.

"i don't know. thank god alex and i aren't like that." she exhaled, reaching for her pants.

the door knob suddenly twisted, followed by mason's voice. cassie looked at matt and bit her bottom lip, suppressing a little smile.

"dude? why's the door locked?" mason asked as he knocked on it. cassie pecked matt's cheek before opening the door to face a surprised mason.

"hi mason. goodbye mason." she greeted and left, moving to her own dorm. alex was in there, scrolling down her phone out of boredom.

"has she been here all night?" mason asked as he motioned behind his shoulder with his thumb. "oh my god, did you two–"

"yes." matt cut him off, laughing as he did so. "please, don't make a big deal out of it."

"oh, you are so gonna' get a big deal." mason scoffed, pointing at his friend.

cassie didn't want to tell alex right away. she simply changed to some decent clothes and leaned her body against the desk, gazing at her roommate.

"have you ever thought about getting a tattoo?" alex asked out of the blue as she looked up from her phone.

"i've thought about it once or twice, but i don't think i'd ever get one." cassie answered with a shrug, automatically glancing down at her wrist.

"it's a good thing you're an artist, you could design the tattoo yourself." alex said, an arm in the air beside her and a frown on her lips as if she was proud of what she had just said.

"yeah, but i'd probably get something simple, easy and not too rare." cassie laughed and pulled both hands through her hair.

"neck, wrist or beside your chest? i mean, here..." alex asked, moving her hand to the side of her body, beneath her armpit.

"neck, i think. the wrist must hurt a lot." she mumbled, caressing her wrist. alex nodded before returning her focus on her phone, froze and then squinted with her eyes at cassie.

"nessa told me you and matt had a fight yesterday after he saw emmett at your work. where were you last night?" alex asked suspiciously, crossing her arms together against her chest. when cassie pursed her lips and looked down, alex stood up with her mouth agape. "no way!"

"okay, why is sex always the first assumption? is it that unbelievable that we could just sit up all night and talk?" cassie complained and made a face.

"cassandrina."

"okay, fine." she sighed as she dropped her arms beside her body.

"i want to say finally, but..." alex said, shaking her body in a happy manner. she then stopped and grimaced. "wait, ew."

"i know! that's why i didn't want to tell you. he's your brother, kinda gross to think about." cassie laughed and ruffled the blue eyed's hair.

"yeah, a bit." alex chuckled and nodded. "anyway, i have to finish an assignment, but i will tell vanessa."

"figured. i kind of ran away when mason got there, so i'll go back." cassie snorted before leaving the room. she greeted a few students passing and knocked on matt's door, licking her lips.

mason opened the door slowly with a sly smile plastered on his face. cassie rolled her eyes before she pushed through him and sat down on matt's bed, looking around.

"he's in the shower." mason answered her silent question and sat down on his own one. "how are you today?"

"you're so weird sometimes, you know that right?" she raised her eyebrows and tossed a pillow at him.

"and i embrace that weirdness." mason exaggarated, a hand against his chest. "anyway, there's a party tonight. matt's going."

"i have nothing better to do. i'll be there." she nodded slowly, averting her eyes to matt who joined them with a towel around his waist.

"hi. i heard mason told you about the party." matt smiled as he placed himself beside her.

"and i'm coming." she grinned, putting her hands under her thighs. "but i swear, if you do anything stupid again–"

"i won't." he assured her, placing a little kiss on her temple like the cheeseball he is.

"oh god." she murmured with a hopeless smile and shook her head. mason just continued grimacing before he stood up and disappeared into the bathoom.

"i'm too cheesy, aren't i?" matt asked in realization with his lips pressed together. cassie nodded with an apologetical look on her face before laughing quietly and kissing him briefly.

"however, you're not clingy and annoying. that's something." she shrugged, standing up. "i think i'll go to the coffee shop for a while before getting ready for the party. want to join me?"

"yes. i just need to get dressed first, so..." he nodded, then glanced at the door. following his gaze, she snorted and rolled her eyes a bit.

"nothing i haven't seen before, right?" she smirked but left anyway so that he could get dressed.

matt looked down as he laughed through his nose. he'd still have to get used to it, and knowing her, she'd probably refer to it many times. cassie gathered her phone, keys and credit card from her room before waiting outside the school for matt. he met up with her a few minutes later and followed her to the coffee shop.

"can you believe how little time it's left until we actually finish college? i know it's like three-two months left, but that's barely anything." he uttered during the walk, making her fold her arms together and think about it for a moment.

"it feels like we have longer time left. and i still have that art show left, and then there's exams..." she thought out loud and frowned with her lips.

"right, when's the show?" he asked, momentarily stopping his walking.

"in two weeks, thursday. why, are you going?" she smiled, looking up at him.

"of course i am. what time?"

"six pm. don't be late." she warned as they entered the little shop. melissa smiled up at the two before she continued making drinks.

"i won't, i promise." he grinned. when he raised his hands, she hurried over to the table to avoid his next move. however, he grabbed her face and pecked the bridge of her nose.

"okay, matthew." she snickered, removing his hands. "now get me a chai latte."

matt obeyed without uttering any further words. he greeted melissa and ordered their drinks, glancing out the window as he did so. cassie pulled up her phone and scrolled down instagram until he sat down opposite to her.

"if i remember correctly, you had trouble choosing a drawing to the show. have you picked one?" he asked, drinking carefully.

"i've made a new one, so i've chosen." she nodded, putting one leg above the other one. "and don't ask about it, you'll see yourself in two weeks."

"i hate it when you do that." he complained and stared out the window, putting on a fake irritated expression.

cassie raised her eyebrows in amusement and watching his slightly clenched jaw. she licked her lips before tapping her cup with her fingers, knowing very well how much the sound annoyed him. matt closed his eyes as he sighed through his nose and slowly turned his head to her, giving her a simple look.

"well, i hated that you made me hit my head against the wall last night." she shot back, a teaseful smirk on her face.

"okay, not cool. i've already apologized for that, like the entire night." he quickly defended, pointing at her with his arm laying against the table. she cracked a snicker and shook her head at the window.

"i know, and i've forgiven you, matthew." she chuckled, lightly pushing the cup aside.

cassie started to fiddle with his fingers and barely tilted her head to the side. she occasionally peered up at him, but he was just finishing his drink and letting her do what she did.

"do you realize this will be, like, our penultimate college party. i'm actually gonna' miss them." he uttered after a moment, making her smile absently.

"yeah, me too. i mean, there are things i'd much rather do than watch drunk teenagers hook up, but they're fun sometimes." she agreed quietly, leaning back in her chair.

the thought hit them both at the same time as they stared down at the table; what was going to happen after college? matt had always pictured her getting a job easily, considering that wouldn't be too big of a struggle for her.

cassie, however, had no idea what matt was planning. the question or topic had never really been brought up in any of their conversations. she didn't like the thought either, but they had to talk about it someday.

now was not the time though. cassie checked the time on her phone before suggesting that they should head back. matt agreed of course, but they ended up wandering around the city instead for a very long while to spend time until the night came.

"i can't believe we live in florida and rarely go to the beach." matt commented as he gazed at the ocean.

"i've never been to disneyland or universal studious." she frowned with her lips and cocked her head to the side.

"really? i'm so taking you there one day." he grinned, looking down at her.

"you're so not doing that." she scoffed, crossing her arms together. "i mean, we could go there, but i'm paying or we're both paying."

"you know it's quite expensive, right?"

"i know. but emmett's going very well, despite people not believing it. and, since he likes me so much, my salary is pretty great." she remarked, nudging his side the moment he made a face because of the mention of emmett.

"i really, really hate that guy."

"i know. but he provides me with a fun work and money."

"still hate him." matt muttered and started to move back to the college building.

"the person who preached about everything being lovely hates someone. sounds weird to say it."

"i love animals more than people." he laughed, opening the door for her.

"believe me, i know." she rolled her eyes and unlocked the door to her room. "but since i love you, i'll bear with it."

"love you too." matt laughed through his nose and looked down. cassie opened her closet but froze briefly,m before both of them gazed at each other.

"that felt so weird. we actually love each other." she said, searching for her navy blue tank top and a pair of black shorts.

"huh. well, i like the sound of it." he smiled as he leaned his body against the door frame.

"of course you do. but it's still weird. i mean, you're alex's brother. i've always seen you as the fun, platonic guy to bond with." she smirked and replaced her comfortable shirt with the tank top. matt looked away briefly before placing himself on her bed and pulling up his phone.

cassie changed her pants as well, searched for her hair straightener and brushed her hair. when matt began whistling on a melody, she put some music on and started curling her hair.

"can i try?" he sudddnly asked whilst peering up at her.

"oh no, definitely not. i once let marcus straighten my hair and he burnt my neck. i let tyler do it and he burnt a piece of my hair. if i'd let you do the same, i'd be a dumbass." she objected, making him laugh. "no offense."

"none taken." he assured her as he raised his hands by the sides of his head.

"time to party soon, are you getting ready?" alex asked loudly as she entered the room, her eyes landing on matt. "hi there."

"hi." he smiled cutely, returning his attention to his phone.

"yes, i'm getting ready. whose party is it?" cassie mumbled, trying not to burn her hair or skin.

"jason's." alex answered, staring down at her phone. cassie gazed at the two through the mirror and shook her head over how ridiculously non-social they seemed with their phones.

"is tyler coming then?" she asked, noticing how matt briefly peered up at her.

"i think so. he hasn't said anything to me." alex shrugged, putting her phone away. once cassie finished her hair, the three of them exited the room and started walking to jason's house. vanessa was already there.

"i love it when someone says that two people had a thing." matt uttered as they walked, sliding his hands down his pockets.

"yeah?" cassie laughed and looked up at him as she folded her arms together.

"yeah, because that could mean anything. did they have sex? did they kiss? did they take a cup of coffee? did they open the door for one another? did one of them step on gun and the other one noticed it?" he mused, raising his arms as he frowned with his lips.

"sometimes i really do wonder what the hell's going on inside your head." she mumbled, shaking her head slowly.

matt rolled his eyes as they entered the party. alex quickly sneaked away from them, matt greeted some friends and cassie just continued walking farther inside. she met up with vanessa in the living room and accepted a drink.

"what's up?" vanessa smiled, pulling her fingers through her blonde hair.

"well... you obviously haven't heard yet." cassie laughed and drank a bit from the cup.

"what do you mean?" vanessa frowned, straightening her back as she widened her eyes in panic. "what have i missed? cassie, what happened?"

"god, calm down." cassie chuckled and gazed at her. vanessa had tendency to wanting to know everything, regardless of who or what it was about. needless to say, it itched her to not know something. "i'm sure alex will be happy to tell you."

"i hate it when you do this. just tell me." vanessa whined and shook the brunette's shoulders, nearly causing her to drop her cup.

"okay, fine, matt and i had sex last night! jeez." she proclaimed, making a face whereas vanessa practically dropped hers.

"what?!" she squealed, raising both hands to her mouth. "i knew you'd do it! didn't i tell you this months ago?"

"well congrats, marinov." a male voice suddenly murmured over her shoulder. cassie quickly turned around but relaxed once she saw tyler smiling down at her. "about time."

"okay, you shush." she warned playfully, holding up a finger. "now, can we drop the topic?"

"sure, but how was he?" vanessa smirked, wiggling her eyebrows.

"yeah, how was he?" tyler smirked, folding his arms together.

"i sometimes forget you're gay. anyway, he was as good as a virgin can be." she shrugged, momentarily forgetting that neither of them knew he was a virgin.

"what?! he was a v–" vanessa started gaping, but cassie quickly pressed a hand against her mouth and widened her eyes. "sorry." she added, her voice muffled.

"i'm gonna' go and look him up. not a word to anyone, alright?" cassie warned them both before walking away. she bumped into matt in the hallway, smiled and dragged him to another room that was closed.

"what are we doing?" he asked with a deep frown.

"we..." cassie started, opening some cabinets as a wide smile grew on her face. "are drinking some real alcohol. bourbon, to be exact. i'm tired of cheap beer." she held a bottle while turning around, wrapping her free fingers around the bottom of it.

matt made a face; pursing his lips while raising his eyebrows as he shrugged carelessly, impressed almost. she put the bottle on the table and got them two whiskey glasses, placing herself on the couch. he joined her side and watched as she poured the bourbon in each glass.

"i don't think i've ever tasted bourbon before." he mumbled before carefully raising the glass to his lips. she raised her eyebrows for a split second and looked at him as he tasted the drink.

"there's always a first for everything." she laughed, leaned back in the couch and drank from her own.

"so much better than beer." he agreed, putting one arm on the top of the couch.

the couple sat alone in that room for most of the party, sharing jokes and drinking. despite making plans to hang out with the entire group — alex, vanessa, tyler and most likely candice — she'd much rather just sit there with matt.

"okay, i have to say something." she smiled after swallowing and wiping her mouth with her wrist. he merely nodded and waited. "life's important. education is important. friendship is important. good health is important. i never used to think that relationship-love was as important as those other things. that was until i realized something; that love isn't too different from friendship-love. it's just a variation of that feeling, the need to be close with someone and the longing to hold someone's hand or just sit on the couch and watch a movie. so thank you for opening my eyes."

"you're so drunk right now." matt smiled and shook his head as he looked down. cassie lifted his head up by putting her fingers against his chin and gazed into his eyes with sincerity.

"i'm really not, and i mean all that even if it's cheesy as hell. i love you." she laughed, rubbing his cheek with her thumb. she really did mean every word, and he had to fight to suppress the extreme euphoria that rushed through his body as she rambled.

"well... you already know how i feel. i love you too." he grinned, pressing his lips against hers.

"really? you don't say?" she laughed teasingly against his lips. matt pulled away as he glared at her briefly. cassie snorted and stood up, reaching for his hand. "let's go join our friends. it is, after all, our penultimate college party. and we should have as much fun as we can with our friends."

-

a/n

HOLA I'M STILL ALIVE

i got in such a writer's block when i started this chapter because... ????? idk, it was just weird and i didn't know what to write first. i have the last chapters planned (yeah, this fic is coming to an end soon my friends) but i needed to put something cute and filling so yeah!

oh and i added some cast members bc why not

hope you like it anyway, and go to my tumblr to see some basorexia edits and such! @/carasmason.tumblr.com

hugs and kisses from your annoying em