PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT

The night had started off quietly—too quietly.

Y/N was curled up on Mattheo's bed, a book in her hands, but her eyes weren't moving across the pages. Instead, they flickered up every so often, watching the way Mattheo sat at his desk, twirling his quill between his fingers, barely acknowledging her presence.

Something was wrong.

He had been distant all day. Short with his words. He hadn't sought her out between classes like he usually did, hadn't waited for her after dinner, hadn't even held her hand on the way back to his dorm like he always did. It was unlike him.

At first, she thought she was imagining it. That maybe he was just tired. But now, sitting here in this suffocating silence, the weight of his distance pressed against her like a vice.

She closed her book, setting it aside.

"Are you mad at me?" she asked finally, keeping her voice light.

Mattheo barely glanced at her. "No."

A frown tugged at her lips. "You sure? You've been acting weird all day."

His jaw tensed. He didn't respond immediately, and when he did, it was with a sharp breath, as if she was irritating him just by speaking.

"Maybe I just need space, Y/N."

The words landed like a dagger to the chest.

She sat up straighter, heartbeat picking up. "Space?" she repeated, her voice softer this time.

Mattheo leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his curls in frustration. "Yeah. Just... I don't know. Maybe we're around each other too much."

The room suddenly felt too small. Too cold.

Y/N stared at him, the air between them thick with something she didn't understand. "What?" she whispered.

Mattheo groaned, finally turning to face her fully. "You don't always have to be here, Y/N. I need time to breathe."

A lump formed in her throat, but she forced herself to swallow it down. "If you didn't want me here, you could've just said so," she murmured, standing up abruptly.

Mattheo exhaled, standing as well. "That's not what I meant—"

But the damage was already done.

She grabbed her sweater from the chair, fingers trembling slightly as she tried to pull it on. "It's fine. I get it."

"Y/N—"

She was already at the door before he could finish, barely holding herself together as she threw it open and stepped into the dimly lit Slytherin common room.

The second she was out of his dorm, her composure shattered.

Tears pricked at the edges of her vision, but she refused to let them fall—not here, not now. She just needed to get out, to breathe, to clear her head.

But fate had other plans.

"Y/N?"

The familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

She turned to see Theo, Blaise, Enzo, and Draco sprawled across the couches, their casual conversation halting the moment they saw her. Concern flickered across their faces, their postures shifting as they took in the look on hers.

"What happened?" Theo was the first to move, standing immediately.

Y/N quickly wiped at her eyes, shaking her head. "Nothing. I just—I need some air."

Blaise stood as well, his usual smirk gone. "Did Mattheo do something?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Because if he did, I swear—"

Enzo, who had been lounging against the armrest of the couch, sat forward, crossing his arms. "He's been acting off all day. What did he say to you?"

Y/N shook her head again, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to talk about it."

But before she could escape, heavy footsteps echoed behind her.

"Y/N, wait—"

She stiffened.

Mattheo had followed her out, looking torn between frustration and regret. But the moment he saw the boys surrounding her, their expressions darkening, his own features hardened.

"What the hell did you do?" Theo snapped, stepping slightly in front of Y/N.

Mattheo's eyes flickered with annoyance. "That's none of your business."

Blaise scoffed, crossing his arms. "It is when you make her cry."

Mattheo's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "I didn't—" He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "It was a misunderstanding."

Y/N let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "A misunderstanding?" she echoed, her voice unsteady.

Mattheo's expression softened slightly. "I didn't mean what I said like that. I just—" He hesitated, glancing at the boys, then back at her. "I've been dealing with some things, and I took it out on you. I didn't mean to push you away."

The words made something inside her ache, but the pain was still too fresh.

"You did, though," she murmured. "And I don't know if I can just pretend like you didn't."

Silence.

The boys watched the exchange carefully, ready to step in if necessary, but for once, Mattheo had no fight left in him.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice raw. "Please don't walk away like this."

Y/N exhaled shakily, looking at the ground.

For a moment, she considered turning back. Letting him explain. Letting herself believe that this could be fixed with a few words.

But the hurt still clung to her too tightly.

"Not tonight, Mattheo," she whispered.

Then, before anyone could stop her, she turned and walked away.

And this time, she didn't look back.