#DSLJFLKDSJF DSF UGHHH IM EMOOOO ;-;

[gabriellereed]

What a challenge they had ahead of them— pulling away long enough to be able to make it upstairs. Gabi found it difficult, especially when her hands felt so at home wherever they landed on his body. Resting against his chest, curving around the prominent muscle of his shoulder blade. She sighs, contently, whenever their lips touch.

But the privacy of his room is calling, and at last they're able to extract themselves out of the pool, forgoing clothes in exchange for two fuzzy towels. Gabi tucks it underneath her arms and follows behind Matty, bare feet padding quietly against the concert. Everyone was so drunk, so far gone in their own conversation and revelries and make-outs that the pair hardly garner any looks as they make their way to to the kitchen. Which was ideal. It's in the very, very far corner of her mind, but Gabi doesn't exactly want to explain the situation to Selene right now. She isn't sure if she'd be able to, anyway. She's so ... absorbed in the moment. It seems painful, to tear her eyes away from Matty, she keeps glancing back to the elegant dip of his spine, nearly colliding with a couch corner so absorbed she was in the task. Oops!

But now it was important to refuel.

She selects a bag of Haribo gummies, nods approvingly as she watches Matty load up on energy drinks and waters. There was always a can or two of those at her desk, tucked sneakily in her bottom drawer— surgeon general's warning be damned. Sometimes coffee just didn't cut it. After a moment's hesitation, Gabi settles on taking a box of cheeze-its as well.

'We're loaded,'

Fuck. That was devastatingly cute. Matty, balancing a proverbial treasure trove of snacks between his arm and shoulder, Lays bag clutched between his teeth. Voice muffled.

Gabi can't help but smile when she feels something fond spark inside her. Reaches out to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear.

"You have a very well-stocked kitchen."

And, as choice as the snack selection is, Gabi is even more entranced about the possibility of seeing his room. It's a very ... private, place. It often said a lot about you. It was exciting, the idea of being allowed to see this layer of Matty so soon. She tiptoes up the stairs quietly, something fluttering around her stomach until they reach the doorway— finally alone.

Her head turns this way and that, curious, eager, trying not to appear too obvious as she drinks in the details. It was expansive. Bright, eye-catching in a reflection of it's owner, greenery and delicately-painted tiles balancing the entire space. It was lovely. So very Matty, even if she's only had a short glimpse of him.

Gabi smiles. Notes just how perfectly large his bed is.

She deposits the snacks at the bedside table, almost impatient to set them down, feels something within her sigh contentedly when there's the sensation of Matty's hands cradling her face.

Oh.

It was so soft.

It wasn't the fumbling first touches of a stranger, it wasn't even the frantic need of some sudden hook-up in the dark. It felt like ... a key, returning to a lock, a cup nestling back into a saucer, a dove settling back to it's nest— familiarity. A sense of right. No more worrying about onlookers.

'I finally have you to myself.'

Her hand snakes up to cradle his face in turn.

"You already did." Gabi smiles at him, soft and feline, finger dragging slowly along the slope of his cheek. "Now you just have me alone."

And he did. Have her. To himself. Maybe it was crazy, but Gabi keeps grasping for an excuse to use the word my— my something, in relation to him. It was like that same desire to be the only reason he smiles tonight.

She rocks up, on tiptoes, to kiss him, lets her chest lean against his as if seeking warmth, really just wanting to feel his heart thud against hers. Wanting to know if this gravity had hit him too. How did you explain to someone that the blood in your head kept roaring like a rocket engine whenever they looked at you this softly?

Gabi doesn't understand it. And also understands it perfectly at the same time.

Just like her hand understands the way it needs to roam across his back, hook around his neck so she can hold him tight against her. Just like her mouth understands it needs to pepper his face with kisses, from the start of his chin to the sharp angle of his jawbone.

Her other hand reaches to unclasp the tab at the back of her bra. Returns back to Matty's body, as if pulled their by inevitable gravity. She traces her nails at the bottom of his spine, circling slowly upward, pressing her palms against his shoulder-blade and back to message gently into his muscles. There was still the lingering dampness from their time in the pool, the crisp contrast of a room without dozens and dozens and bodies inside.

Just the two of them here.

"Gotta make sure you don't freeze."

Gabi hums, continues to kiss him, tilts her head so that their noses brush just so.

Not only did Gabi want to be alone with him, she needed it - maybe in the same way he did. Matty was a social butterfly. He loved being surrounded by people absorbing other peoples' energies and being the center of attention, but. But not when the other option was to dedicate all of his attention to Gabi.

Matt had a hard time pulling away. He kissed her back, multiple times, before finally forcing himself to let go.

"C'mon."

He pushed himself out of the pool, offered Gabi help getting out, too.

Matty made his way to the lounge chairs. He found two clean, folded towels, wrapping one of them around Gabi's shoulders, using the other to quickly dry himself off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and headed inside.

There were less people than before. Some of them had started to clear out, but there were still a few people going. The jungle juice was nearly gone, which was a clear indication of how the night was going.

Mateo only stopped in the kitchen to grab a handful of snacks. Some water. Red bull. Chips, candy, gummies. And he figured they could order food, too, if they wanted. Basically, Matty was making it so they didn't have to leave his room if they didn't want to!

He looked at Gabi, grinning as he held a bag of Lays chips in between his teeth.

"We're loaded," he mumbled proudly.

Finally, Matty led Gabi up the stairs to his sanctuary. The best place in the house. His bedroom. It was massive and beautiful and colorful. He had a California King bed, a connecting bathroom, and a massive closet.

Matty placed the snacks and drinks on a night stand. Matty still needed to get out of his wet boxers and dry off a little, but. They were finally alone, for the first time that evening.

"I finally have you to myself."

He cupped her face, kissed her gently like it was the most routine thing in the world.