○ THIRTY- ONE ○

Outside was cold and bitter and I rubbed my arms as I spilled out into the fading afternoon light. The door closed behind me as Matt stepped out.

"Cold?" He asked as I turned to face him.

"I'm fine" I lied before scruffing my shoes on the sidewalk.

"So.." Matthew trailed off.

I let out a deep breath, the cold air immediately taking it and turning it into mist. "Where do I begin" Matthew said again.

"At the explanation" I replied, watching him closely.

He lifted his head and looked back at him. His eyes reflected the first few stars of the night and the orange-pink rays of last light. He was beauifully contrasted like a model in a magazine photoshoot.

"What I said to you was -" he paused.

"I didn't mean any of it, and I wish I could take it all back" he said, continuing.

I bit the inside of my lip gently. "You didn't deserve any of that and I just wanted to say I'm sorry" he said, glancing down at his hands.

Turning my head, I peered at a puddle on the road. The reflection of the sky stared back at me and I chose my next words carefully. "It wasn't just what you said Matthew, it was how you said it. I have always believed that what's said in anger comes straight from the truth" I spoke, turning to look at him.

"You said you didn't want my help, you said you didn't want to be my boyfriend and I think in some deep part of you that you tend to ignore, that's the truth" I said, studying his reaction.

"No" he said quickly.

Sadness and loss etched his features. I wanted to move to him, to press my fingers to his skin and wipe it all away. I wanted to be there for him.

"I don't believe that, because there is not a night where I don't think about you, my thoughts are constantly wondering if you're thinking about me or I imagine scenarios with just you and me" he replied.

My heart skipped a beat. "When you walked into my house with a tub of ice cream and a movie, I saw something in your eyes that made me absolutely sure of the decision to be friends again" he added.

"Shelby, you are incredible" he rasped out.

His voice sounding like he was about to cry. I had stopped shivering because I was lost in the warmth of his eyes. "Everything you have done is for everyone else, you woke up after almost drowning and you asked me if I was okay?" He said.

He looked away, raising his hand to wipe at his eye. "What I said to you was incredibly uncalled for and I said it because I was scared and afraid, those moments where Conner almost hit that other car I wanted to die, and then my other thought was- what about Shelby?" He asked as a sob broke through.

I couldn't speak. Instead, I stepped forward and Matthew hugged me. His buried his head into the crook of my shoulder as he cried. Tears threatened my own eyes. It was so rare to see a boy break down, with society standards telling them that if you did so.. it wasn't very 'manly'.

I waited until he held himself together before I spoke. "I was really hurt, it made me think that everything we had built up was a lie and it made me feel used" I replied.

My arms dropped as he stepped back to look at me clearer. "I could never use you, I never wanted this to hurt you" he said, as he wiped his eyes again.

I tilted my head down to look at the ground. "I love you Shelby, and I mean that" he said, making me look back up at him.

"And I'll understand if you need time or if you never want to see me again but I just needed you to know that" he said, before stepping back.

"Matthew" I said softly.

He had looked away but he turned his head to look at me again. "I have never been in a serious relationship. I don't know what the hell I'm doing and I'm trying to figure out which ice is okay to step on" I said as he frowned slightly.

"Relationships are like an iced over lake, some ice is so fragile and some ice is strong enough to hold a party of people.. but one wrong move could send each other into the freezing water.." I trailed off.

"What are you trying to say?" He asked, his breath mingling with the cold air.

"I'm saying if I'm going to take a dive into uncharted freezing water, it's you I want to do it with" I replied, letting my emotions show.

Matthew stepped towards me and barely gave me time to blink before he was kissing me. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips softer than I could ever have imagined.

Matthew's unfaltering mouth parted my cold lips, sending warm sparks of desire through my nerves, stroking every bit of love I had for him to life. A second passed and in my fogged state of mind, I knew I was kissing him back.

My name fell from his lips in a hushed whisper while the kiss deepened.

This kiss felt like we were opening up our souls, that we were feeling and tasting every colour of the rainbow, almost like catching a smile in a bottle. Time stopped and it was just Matthew and I. It was addictive and seemed to make everything within me sigh with relief. It was an aphrodisiac mixed with the Pandora's box effect. It was fireworks the moment Matt's lips touched mine.

God, I didn't want this feeling to stop. Reality pulled us apart when we realised we were in clear view of the public. My cheeks were blushed bright red and not just from the cold.

Luckily, no one was around but Matthew just let his thumb stroke my cheek. "I love you" he said strongly.

An intense feeling crawled up along my chest. "I love you too" I replied, meaning it.

Matthew smiled, a smile that could have stopped my heart. A genuinely beautiful smile. "We should head back inside, I'm sure the guys are just dying to know if we've murdered each other or not" he said jokingly.

I chuckled as his arm went around my shoulders, pulling him closer to his body. In measured steps, we walked back into the cafe and Harry glanced up and cheered when he saw us.

Conner and Wes turned around and grinned as we walked back to the table. "So, mum and dad are back together?" Wes asked, looking between us.

Matthew glanced at me and I shyly nodded. "Yes! Ha ha bitch, you owe me" Wes said playfully punching Conner's arm.

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "You bet we wouldn't get back together?" He asked, sounding almost surprised.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm happy you are, stoked actually but I honestly thought Shelby might make you wait longer" he said, handing Wes a $20 note.

Harry laughed. "Don't worry babe, I got your back" he said before leaning in and kissing Conner on the cheek.

My mouth fell open before Harry pulled back and skipped off to the counter again. Conner caught my look. "What?" He asked, his cheeks red.

Matthew grinned. "He called you babe and when did you two become official?" I asked, leaning in.

Conner blushed again. "Just before I rang you this afternoon" he replied.

"Well, I'm super happy for you two" I said, grinning like a fool as Harry joined us again.

"Ew, everyone's getting into relationships and I have to be the sole single survivor" Wes said before lifting his beer to his mouth.

We all glanced at each other before picking up a few fries from the basket on the table and throwing it at him.

Shelby and Matthew's kiss.

A/N

And it ends on a happy note for the first time in a while. What did you guys think?

Gosh, I cried while I wrote their kiss scene. I hoped I described it like I was imagining them feeling.

At least they are back together, Conner and Harry to! I'm super happy with this book and absolutely love writing it.
I never want it to end. :(

I had a reader message me and asked what  Harry and Conner's profile was. I realised I still hadn't added them to the Profile chapter.
They have now been added!

Lots of love, Tavana xoxoxoox