Chapter 67

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We are on the way to States to see Matt wrestle; Nick, Celia, Lily, Tom, and I are all packed in the car with our stuff fighting over the music volume and the car temperature. We are two hours into the 4 hour ride and I am already wondering how we are going to survive the drive home Sunday. The wrestling team got to cut out of school early so they could head up in the coach bus that was rented for the team, but since my parents and Tom's didn't want us missing too much school Nick and Celia offered to leave once we got out.

"The team just got to the hotel," I announce to the car hoping it will get Lily to stop punching Tom and Celia to stop complaining about how her ass is numb. Celia has been extra bitchy today, totally out of character for her, but I decide to talk to her tonight in private to make sure she is ok.

"Lucky them, they can go relax while I am stuck here." Nick shoots Celia a sympathetic look but doesn't say anything. Thankfully I think he learned from an hour ago when he tried to ask if she wanted to stop and she chewed his head off about just dragging out the drive. I just nod not wanting to be her next victim and slap the siblings on either side of me still fighting.

"Stop, both of you! I swear to God the next person to push me I will be a total bitch and tell Matt and you can deal with him."

"You wouldn't," Tom threatens, narrowing his eyes at me. I pull out my phone and type out to Matt 'Tom is being annoying and hit me', showing the phone to Tom.

"Please no! He will kill me!" I delete the message and Tom pushes himself as close to the car door as possible so he is no longer touching me. Lily rests her head on me and plays with the sleeve of Matt's sweater I am wearing.

"So what is it like dating Matt?" she asks and the entire car looks at me waiting for an answer.

"I don't know, good? I mean we really haven't changed that much, minus we hold hands at school now." Matt and I have only been dating a week but the way everyone is acting you'd think we got engaged. Dating Matt was a long time in the making but overall very little has changed. Yes things at school are a little different, but it's more like we are ourselves everywhere now instead of just in private. Neither of us are huge into PDA so we keep it pretty chill at school anyways.

"Celia, imagine if they get married, the beautiful shower we could plan for Sydney with Annie. Oh my God, it would definitely be like a garden tea party with lots of pink carnations!" Lily is pulling up a Pinterest board I didn't even know she had and starts showing it to Celia.

"Yes! And fancy hats and of course mimosas," Celia chimes in perking up. Of course this fixes her mood immediately even though it is clear Nick is super uncomfortable with the conversation.

"We could do it in the summer in your backyard! Or maybe get the outdoor patio at the gardens, I bet that would be lovely." Celia is now fully turned around in her seat as Lily leans across me showing her pictures of different centerpieces. Tom is laughing as I look at the ceiling wondering if I could safely jump out of the car.

"Can we stop talking about this?" Nick suddenly interrupts as they continue to gush over games that can be played. "He is 17! He isn't getting married to his high school girlfriend so just stop talking about it!"

Lily and Celia move back into their seats as Nick takes a deep breath while tightly gripping the steering wheel. The entire rest of the ride is dead silent as we all bury ourselves in our phones and Nick stares focused on the road. When we finally get to the hotel it is almost 9pm, which means the team will be locked in their rooms soon. They have a curfew of 9:30 so Lily takes my bag so I can see Matt quickly before he is locked away.

I head to the floor the team is on and knock on Matt's door. He opens it within seconds and scoops me up crushing me in a tight hug. "I didn't think you'd get here in time, hi baby."

"Hi," I say softly, burying my head into his neck. He lets the door shut and carries me over to the bed. I am thankful Blake was kind enough to go hang out in a different room so we had a little alone time.

"What's wrong baby girl, you look sad?" I snuggle into Matt's lap not wanting to talk about it. I know he won't give up so I just stay silent breathing in his smell. Time is moving way too quickly as I look at the clock that reads 9:05. 25 minutes until I am trapped in a room again with Nick who apparently doesn't think Matt and I will last. I guess that is realistic but it still hurts considering Nick knows how much Matt has changed since meeting me.

"I just missed you."

"I missed you too but that isn't the issue. Is it your Math quiz? You know the lowest quiz is dropped, not that a 75 is really that bad to begin with." Matt rubs my back soothingly while he talks, his head tilted to the side so he can look at me.

"No just. . . it's nothing Matt, can we drop it?"

"No," he tells me firmly. "We have learned time and time again that not communicating just leads to unnecessary bullshit. Just talk to me baby, whatever it is we will work it out."

I climb off his lap and move away from him while he waits for me to tell him what is wrong. "Can't we do this Sunday? I don't want to bother you, this is a big weekend."

"Sydney stop dragging it out, you not telling me will be more distracting than telling me."

I sigh before finally caving, "Your dad doesn't see me in your future." Matt looks confused so I explain to him how Lily and Celia were talking and then he snapped and said he wouldn't marry his high school girlfriend. Matt pulls me back onto his lap as I recount the story and tries to remain calm but I know him well enough to notice the small changes, like how his grip has tightened around my waist and his jaw is clenched.

I finally finish telling him the story and try to calm down. I am upset about something I shouldn't even be thinking of 1 week into a relationship, but I am thinking about it and the idea of not having Matt in my life terrifies me. In all honesty I think that is the part that hurts the most, not really the marriage, but that Matt and I could never go back to just friends, so if he doesn't marry me that would mean we aren't in each other's lives anymore.

Matt is quiet and I know like mine his mind is also racing. I check the clock again, 15 minutes left. "He is an idiot but I also know my dad, this is much less about you or us and more about him not being able to let go that I am not a kid anymore."

"But he specifically said high school girlfriend," I counter even though I do get what Matt is saying.

"I know but I think he meant more like we are in high school so marriage is far off, not that marrying you wasn't going to happen. My dad likes you Sydney. He thinks you're like the best thing to walk into my life. You have changed my relationship with him, my mom, my friends, my family, shit my entire life has improved since you walked into it and he knows that. For years I was all he had really so he is protective, besides his first marriage left him a widowed, single parent so I am sure some fear comes from that."

I think about what Matt said and let it sink in. I guess I can understand why marriage would be so scary to Nick. He married the girl he fell in love with at 18 years old and look how it ended. I get he wants to protect Matt from suffering the same pain but I think it is a little late. I look up at Matt and he leans down to kiss me. His lips are soft against mine and I forget the rest of the world as his tongue runs along my bottom lip.

I open my mouth and Matt hums as his minty breath mixes with mine, which probably tastes like the Doritos I ate in the car. Matt pulls us both down so I am laying on top of him. I pull away before things can really heat up knowing we don't have that kind of time tonight. "I am sorry I was dramatic, I was just hurt."

"It is ok baby, I am going to talk to him Sunday when we get home. If it upset you I am not going to just let it go." I snuggle into his chest and smile while he brushes my hair behind my ear so he can see me better. "I wish you could stay, Blake isn't as good of a cuddler as you are."

"Fucking rude," Blake says walking in and laying on the other bed in the room.

"You never let me be the little spoon Blake! Admit it! You're a selfish lover!" I laugh at Matt and Blake as Blake gasps dramatically and Matt turns his head looking away.

"Am I interrupting something?" Coach Snyder asks, walking into the room looking both terrified and intrigued. Actually his face looks a lot like mine the first time I saw a penis in real life. Honestly no one really prepares you for how weird they look and also they're warm and soft? Which is unexpected, and oh wait are they talking to me?

I look around the room as all three guys stare at me, "Yes?"

"Sorry Sydney but I have to kick you out." I stand up, understanding that Coach is just doing what is best for his team.

"I get it," I tell him while getting up. I walk over and give Blake a quick hug, "Good luck tomorrow, B."

"Thanks, S." Blake and I started Gossip Girl on Tuesday and now exclusively call each other B and S and today Blake even started a text with 'This just in Upper East Siders' which had me cracking up in the middle of Art History.

"Can I walk her to the elevator please?" Matt asks Coach as I walk back over to give him a hug.

"Why don't you walk her to her room, make sure she gets there alright." Matt smiles and slips on his shoes before pulling me out the door. I just manage to yell a quick goodnight to Coach before the door slams shut behind us.

The whole ride up to my floor Matt holds me tightly, running his fingers up and down my back under his sweater. It will be weird to be sleeping in the same building but different beds tonight, but I guess I should get used to it. If we both end up at Penn State this will be life for 4 years. When we get to the door I jump up, wrapping myself around Matt's torso. "Noooo babeee, I need to go, don't make this harder."

I cling tighter as Matt knocks on the door summoning reinforcements to detach me from him. "Hi bud," Nick says answering the door.

"Little help please," Matt squeaks out as I tighten my legs around him preparing for everyone to try to pull me off.

"Sydney let go, don't be a child," Nick scolds and immediately I feel Matt go on edge. Fuck, so much for talking on Sunday and being cool.

"Woah, do not call her a child first of all. Second, if you're going to be a prick don't include my girlfriend in your miserable life. Honestly I can't tell if you're jealous or just genuinely hate seeing me happy." I can hear everyone inside the room gasp and run over to us.

"Hey let's relax Matt, Dad didn't mean any harm, you know he says dumb shit sometimes." Celia tries to defuse the situation as I let go of my grip around Matt and stand in front of him grabbing his hand trying to calm him down.

"Baby stop," I whisper as everyone else looks between Matt, Nick, and I.

Matt looks down at me and instantly relaxes knowing him snapping upset me. "I am sorry, but no one talks to you like that and I won't allow it."

"We should all go to bed. It's been a long day," I say to everyone while still staring at Matt. He nods and leans down kissing me softly. "Night Matt."

"Night baby, sleep good, I will see you in the morning." Matt gives me one more soft kiss on the top of the head before walking down the hall and getting into the elevator.

Everyone is quiet as we all just stare at the spot Matt was once standing in. Lily is the first to talk in true Lily fashion being the comic relief, "Ben sent me a dick pic while you were gone, should I send him an ass shot or a titty?"

"Gross!" Tom yells running back into the room making gagging noises. Celia laughs and walks back inside with Lily leaving just Nick and I.

"I didn't mean it like that, Sydney I am so sorry. If you marry my son one day he will be the luckiest guy in the world. I just. . . he is still my little boy, I am not ready for him to be all grown up yet."

"I get it Nick, it is ok," I assure and give him a quick hug.

We both head back inside and settle in for the night. The next morning we all wake up and eat a quick breakfast before heading to the arena. Matt makes sure to find us before his first match and manages to get a minute to talk to his dad alone in private. Thankfully they seem to work everything out before he steps on the mat.

His first match is uneventful but that was expected. The guy he wrestled looked terrified just stepping up to the mat, probably because Matt has built himself quite a reputation. After that match he has about an hour before his next so I head down to the floor and sit with him while he tries to stretch and stay loose. While we are sitting, a little boy about 6 walks over to us looking shy.

"Hi," Matt greets the little boy whose dad walks up behind him and pushes him forward again.

"Hi," he says shyly looking down at the floor. I smile at the little boy who turns around and looks at his dad for help.

"He has been watching you wrestle since he was 4 and wanted to meet you but now he is suddenly being shy." I melt into the ground kicking Matt with my foot as he rubs the back of his neck, uncomfortable with the attention.

"What's your name?" Matt asks the boy, moving so he is kneeling in front of him now.

"Aiden."

"Nice to meet you Aiden, do you want to wrestle one day?"

Aiden nods still super shy and Matt smiles at him reassuringly. "That's awesome, wanna learn some moves now?"

Aidens head shoots up his eyes going huge. "Really?"

"Yeah, come on!" Matt brings Aiden over to one of the warm up mats and shows him a few things. Aiden quickly comes out of his shell and is talking a mile a minute trying to impress Matt with some things he already knows. Matt encourages him the entire time while his dad and I stand there on the side watching.

"Alright buddy, Matt needs to wrestle soon, let's not bother him anymore," he says waving the little boy to join him again. Matt ends up taking a few pictures with Aiden before he walks off with his dad.

"That was too cute," I gush the second we are alone again. Matt rolls his eyes at me before giving me a kiss and walking off so he can prepare for his next match in 10 minutes. I join the group all here supporting our school and watch Matt's next match. He is still pretty calm but this match definitely doesn't look as effortless as the first.

His final match is a few hours later so we grab a light lunch as a group and Matt makes fun of Lily and I for saying we are making signs for him. He hates attention so I knew he wouldn't love the signs but oh well, sucks to be him I guess. After lunch Matt heads back to the arena to support the rest of his team while Lily, Celia, and I go shopping for sign material. Lucky for us and unlucky for Matt, there is a craft store right down the road stocked with a bunch of awesome stuff.

We drop it off at the hotel and make it back to the arena in time to see the last round of matches for the day. Our school is in first right now, only two people having lost a match so far today. Matt is beaming with pride as the final round of the day begins and he stands right next to Coach giving advice and cheering on his team.

Right before Matt goes I spot the Penn State recruiter we met last year, sitting in the stands. Matt must notice him too because he looks at me frantically. I point to my right wrist and he looks down at his tattoo reading it but nodding at me. He still looks a bit nervous as he steps onto the mat but I know the second the whistle blows he will be focused.

The third match is by far the hardest one Matt has had all year. I watch him really fight for the win and couldn't be more proud when he steps off the mat with his third win of the day, moving him to finals tomorrow.

After everything is over Matt talks to the recruiter for a few minutes while I stand off to the side waiting for them to finish. Just as they finish Casey looks behind Matt and waves at me, "Good to see you again Sydney."

I walk over and extend my hand to shake his, "Hi Casey, nice to see you again."

"Have you taken your SATs yet?"

"No," I answer a little confused by the question.

"Alright no problem, just when you do can you send me your official transcript and score please." I nod still confused by why he needs my scores when Matt is the wrestler. "Between us three, when Matt gets his offer I want to make sure nothing prevents him from choosing us over every other school, including the peace of mind you can go with him if you choose to." We talk for a few more minutes before Casey walks off.

"Wow, it's like happening. We are actually going to end up there together."

Matt picks me up hugging me tightly. "Hope you like my cooking, roomie."

Once Matt and I collect ourselves after our conversation with Casey, we both head to dinner with the entire team and their families. We go over the schedule for tomorrow before everyone breaks into their own conversations. After dinner Matt comes back to the hotel room Nick, Celia, Tom, Lily, and I are sharing. Lily and I are sharing one bed while Nick and Celia share the other and Tom sleeps on the pull-out couch.

Matt is super sore so I try my best to rub his tired muscles while Celia and Lily begin the poster. I join them when Matt falls asleep on the bed, finishing it up before Celia and Nick decide to go get ice cream for all of us. While they're gone we decide to play a prank on Matt by having Tom lay on him like I normally would and then have me lean over and kiss Matt so he wakes up. This prank gets us cursed out because Matt's first reaction was to turn his head and try to kiss my forehead which was Tom's.

Celia and Nick come back with dessert, which Matt doesn't eat putting him in an even worse mood than he was before. At around 8:30 he is barely awake so I decide to drag him down to his room and force him to bed. Matt protests or attempts to but he can barely keep his eyes open and yawns between every sentence. When we get into his room I get him undressed into his boxers and grab a water for next to his bed. Matt always sleeps with water next to him, I am not sure he can sleep without one nearby.

"Cuddle for a little?" he asks in a tired voice. I quickly climb into bed with him and play with his hair as he lays his head on my stomach, his arms wrapped around me. He falls asleep within minutes but I stay, just watching him sleep peacefully.

The next morning we all sleep in because the matches don't start till noon. Celia is already complaining about the drive home and I pull her aside to ask if everything is ok. She tells me she's just been achey lately and I deep down wonder if maybe she is pregnant. God I hope so, I know it is killing all three of them that it hasn't happened already. Besides, she is so fashionable, imagine her with a bump, I would die.

The matches are flying by and after the second one of the day Lance secures the team win and their place at Nationals next month. Matt literally tackles him in excitement, praising him like a proud dad. Lance's parents aren't here so Matt and I stepped up as his surrogate parents this weekend. He is so humble and sweet, I love cheering him on.

As the day comes to a close and Matt steps onto the mat, I take a deep breath and say a little prayer. This is going to be his

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