Perfect Match

by Monica Miller

  My heart stopped for a second at the thought that she could be… jealous. Could she be jealous? Emma? Why would she?

  Maybe because you acted all nice and sweet with her when she was dating Morgan and when they broke up you hooked up with someone else?, my conscience asked.

  That couldn’t be it. It would be too… ordinary. I am attracted to Emma because she’s like the hottest girl I’ve ever seen, and the most beautiful as well, and we have a lot in common but after what happened in the summer I never thought we’d stand a chance. She said so, in that e-mail.

  And after all, I wasn’t the right person for her. Nor was Morgue, but he just… dated her for a while. I was her friend now.

  I sat on the edge of my bed and saw the frame with the picture of us together as the prom, the present she gave me on Christmas. When I came home the next morning I placed the frame on my nightstand and haven’t moved it since. It was a really good place for it, though.

  Maybe she’s jealous, I’ve told myself with a smirk.

  Yeah, sure she is smart-ass.

  I sighed and decided I’d ask her about it next morning. Um… Next day.

  Then I remembered I actually had to wake up at 7 and go to work. The thought made me feel physical pain. I was never a morning person. Not that I didn’t like my actual job. It was great, actually better than I’d expect my first job to be.

  The next day, when I woke up, I started thinking about everything. I liked to think I was a better person now. I had a cool job in Management, where everyone was so cool and I was really trying to be more mature. Sometimes.

  The fact I hated the most is that my car broke last week. My great, old Porsche. Giving up my old Porsche was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I loved that car. It was… a part of me. We’ve been through a lot of stuff together. But no one understood. Ben, for example, totally hated that car. First time when I gave him a ride to a party, he was riding shotgun, with that smirk he usually has when he feels he’s better than anyone and when I took a curb, he hit his head on the board, because seat belts were just too mainstream for him. So he hated my car from the start. Not because when we arrived at the house, when he wanted to close the door it had caught his jacket and ripped it. His awesome leather jacket… I think he still remembers it. He saved it in his closet at home, though. Yeah, he’d had other fun experiences with my car…

  “Dude, it’s an old car… Just get over it!” He said with a hand on my shoulder. “Plus, you said you’d get a car from the office, right?” he asked going back to the kitchen and bringing me a beer. “It’s all cool.”

  “You don’t get it, jackass,” I told him with an angry look. “That car and I… Go way back!”

  “Man, you know me longer than that car and you won’t be as upset if I died!” he complained.

  “You know that’s right,” I smirked, taking a sip from my beer.

  “Fuck you, Matt,” Ben said and went to his bedroom.

  So now I had a black BMW X6. It was really enjoyable to drive something like that, actually. But I felt guilty every time I appreciated the fact that this car made no sound when the engine started, nor when I took a dangerous curb. It could easily reach 100 miles/h. Even though I was completely betraying my sweet, old car which had been a part of my life for almost six years, I had to admit the BMW had class. And I attracted a lot of chicks. What is the deal with the chicks being attracted to cars? They don’t get them anyway.

  “Good morning, Mr. Nicholls,” my boss greeted me and I froze. Yes, I was late. It’s really hard to get a cup of coffee at Starbucks at 8:00.

  “Um... Good morning, sir. Had a good night?” I asked, leaving my stuff on my desk and grinning. If my boss were a woman, I could’ve somehow gotten away with it.

  “Actually, I did. Listen, Nicholls, I wanted to talk to you about this new possible partner at this firm… Would you mind if you’d take your time this weekend and go to a Lakers game, or something? Of course, the company’s paying.”

  “No, sure I mean, it would be…” I paused for a second, trying to understand why I, Matthew Nicholls, was stuttering. “Consider it done, sir,” I answered with a smile and confidence.

  “Good,” he said, turning his back and walking away. “Oh, and Nicholls? Try to be there on time,” he said with a smile.

  I nodded and sat on my leather chair. Man, that was close!

  The rest of the day I just sat at my office, looking at reports and trying to remember every single detail and asset of this company. It was kind of weird that the boss wanted me to hang out with a possible partner, because I only worked here for almost a month and I barely knew anything around here.

  Of course, I was getting better at this, but it was weird to think of myself as a Manager. That was such big word, and having people under my responsibility. Yes, I had been the captain of the football team in high school and led our group in college, but that barely means anything, right? That doesn’t mean I have real skills at this. But somehow they acted really respectfully around me and they all called me “sir” or “mister” when I talked to them. And most of them were older than I am. Weird, right?

  “Need anything, Mr. Nicholls?”

  I lifted my head and saw Stacy standing at the door with a smile on her face. Her straightened, long, blonde hair was falling over her shoulders and reached her small waist. She had a rocking body, actually. She looked hot in an office suit. I think this means growing up, hitting on women who are hot in office dresses instead of cheerleaders’ outfits.

  “Actually, I wanted to ask what your plans are for the evening,” I said with a smirk.

  “A little too late, Mr. Nicholls,” she said, coming to sit in my lap. “I agreed to spend a little time with my hot boyfriend, but you can try again tomorrow,” she said running a hand through her hair.

  Somehow that gesture didn’t come out as hot as it is when Emma does that. She’s more natural.

  Wait, why are you thinking about Emma now? You’re a jerk, Matt.

  “Something on your mind, baby?” Stacy asked, slowly touching my hair.

  I shook my head and smiled, trying to erase Emma’s image from my mind. Dude, just get over it. It’s weird to think of your friend while with your girlfriend. Not right! Stacy smiled and I put my hand on the back of her head, bringing her closer to me and crashing my lips onto her.

  Yeah, that felt different than kissing Emma. Way different.

  Stop it.

  *

  “So I heard you’re dating now?” Ben asked while looking at my new car. “This is a beauty, bro. There is no comparison between this and that old piece of…”

  “Don’t finish that sentence.” I warned him, glaring at him. Ben just smirked and nodded. “So how do you know?”

  “Besides the fact that my best friend didn’t bother to let me know he’s back in the game, just…”

  “Wait, back in the game? Back? When was I out? I was always in the game. I’m Matt Nicholls, man,” I bragged.

  He shook his head and shrugged. One of the best things about me and Ben was that we could still brag about how great we are and the other one didn’t mind. In fact, we were aware that was just that, bragging. And we both knew very well each other, so that was cool.

  “Anyway, Emma told Monica. And Monica told me. She was pretty upset about this, actually. I don’t know why M. has the idea that you’re going to date Em. And you know, I’ve told you that’s not gonna happen.”

  “You can’t forbid me shit, man,” I glared at him, but he just shook his head.

  “What the fuck are you thinking, Matt? Of course you won’t date Emma. Look at you; you’re a mess when it comes to relationships. Seriously, your last real relationship was in high school. You never talked about anyone in college. You didn’t date anyone special in college, didn’t you?”

  I looked at him, how he was studying my car, and he talked about it casually. Somehow I was annoyed Ben knew me that well. But he ha
d no idea that the bitch cheated on me on high school. There are some things I wouldn’t say even to my best friend. It was weird. When he turned and looked expectantly at me I shook my head and shrugged.

  “That’s what I was saying. Dude, you’re my bro, you know that? And you’re a great person, but you suck at relationships. And it’s okay, man. You don’t have to start struggling about this.”

  “So are you saying I’m not boyfriend material? Or husband material?”

  “Do you even want to get married?” Ben asked curiously.

  “Yeah, who doesn’t? But… I don’t know, some day. Not now. Of course I want to. I don’t wanna spend my life being… George Clooney. Although the alternative is cool.”

  “The point is that you wanted to date Emma because she refused you in the first place. Whatever happened between you two in the summer ended that way and it annoyed you, because you’re not used to being rejected. And I get it. I would’ve done the same. And now you came here and you’re all friends and everything, and it’s great, but while she dated Morgan you were all against it and acting really flirty with her, don’t interrupt me, Nicholls, you know that’s true. I saw that!” he said, turning on the engine. “Oh, the way this thing vibrates! This is a hell of a car, bro,” he said, and I read the appreciation in his eyes.

  “Um, about Emma… After she broke up with Morgan you started dating? I mean, what’s the matter with you? Not that I’m saying that’s wrong. It’s just like you, bro. This is about your fear of commitment. So you can’t say you want to date Emma since you ran away when you got the opportunity, understand what I’m saying?”

  I sighed and nodded. Ben was right.

  *

  “So we won’t get to know your new girlfriend, Matt?” Craig asked the next night we got together at Destiny’s.

  Emma was there too, looking as cute as she always does, but I had the feeling she was kind of avoiding me. Gabrielle was on a date with Shia and she was staying next to Monica and Anne and she seemed to have an interesting conversation with them until Craig spoke. She lifted her eyes and looked at me then sighed. Maybe my conscience was right and she was jealous. I kind of wished she was.

  I haven’t spoken to her since last time I saw her, here at Destiny’s before she stormed out of here because of… Whatever it was.

  “What makes you think it would last? C’mon, I give you two weeks. Tops,” Ben said with a smirk, and I laughed.

  “Stop being a jerk. You’re just jealous,” I said then realized he had nothing to be jealous about.

  “Why would he be jealous?” Monica asked.

  “Because… I’m hotter and I can get any girl I want?”

  “I can argue here with you, Mr. Nicholls. With both of your affirmations, ” Monica smirked and I laughed.

  “Yeah, we could do that, M, since you know I’d won,” I smirked back and Ben cleared his throat and glared at me and I just shrugged. “By the way, I’m going to see the Lakers this weekend. My boss told me to take this new possible partner and I have no idea about the Lakers.”

  “What?” the guys asked simultaneously and Craig eyed me suspiciously.

  “I’m into European football!” I defended myself and they sighed.

  The rest of the night I argued with the guys about basketball and American football, and everything seemed to be okay. The time just seemed to fly while Ben was talking me about Lakers’ record and Craig said he supported Bobcats, but he still went to see Lakers in the finale of the NBA.

  Emma didn’t talk to me all night, every time we were on the same subject she answered monosyllabic, and then turned to talk to Monica or anyone else. And that was annoying.

  “Can I take you home, Ems?” I asked her when I noticed she wanted to leave. I heard Ben sighing next to me and I just ignored him.

  She looked surprised for a second, then nodded.

  “I have a new car,” I bragged while lead her to my car. “What do you think? Ben likes it more than my other car.”

  “You know, it’s… a normal, classy car,” she said with a shy smile.

  “My Porsche was classy and normal! What was wrong with her? But she decided to break up with me,” I sighed. “It wasn’t my fault. I treated her good.”

  “I know you did,” Emma laughed and I felt the tension disappearing between us.

  “What do you think about an ice cream?” I asked opening her door.

  “It would be nice, thank you. But why do I keep feeling this is just like the first night when you came here?”

  “I don’t know. Listen, are you mad at me, Ems?” I asked looking at her.

  “N-no. No. No, don’t be silly, why would I be mad?” she laughed and shifted in her seat.

  “Have no idea. You stormed out that way a few days ago from Destiny’s, and I thought I did something or… I don’t know. So we’re cool, right?”

  “Yes, sure,” she answered in an instant.

  I nodded and I haven’t said anything until we got our ice cream and ate it in my car. It was somehow weird that we didn’t talk like we use to. And I hated that now things were a little unusual for us.

  “So how’s your new girlfriend?” Emma suddenly asked with an odd tone.

  I looked back at her and I thought about this for a second. If she was bothered by the fact that I’m dating, she wouldn’t have asked, right?

  “You know, she’s… I don’t know.” I shrugged and looked again at her and she smiled. “It’s not… Really big deal, you know? Oh, and she’s blonde,” Why would I wanna add that? Why would she care?

  “Really?” Emma asked, raising an eyebrow. “Blonde?” she repeated, completely stunned.

  “Yeah. What? Why?”

  “Are you into blondes?”

  “Um… No… Yeah. I don’t know. You could say that. Yeah, I’d prefer blondes, why?”

  “They’re just… stupid,” Emma blurted out.

  “What?” I asked laughing. “Do you realize your roommate is blonde, right? And Anne.”

  “Yeah, well, they’re… not stupid.” she whispered.

  “And Stacy is stupid, although you don’t know her?”

  “Her name is Stacy?” she asked. “And what, did you have the right of not liking Morgan, but I don’t?”

  “Wait, wait. This is all about? Morgan?” I asked completely caught off guard.

  “No, it’s not about Morgan, Matthew!” she complained.

  Why was she bothered by this? And she was using my entire name. That always meant trouble.

  “Then what is it? I mean, you said we’re cool. And now you’re all against me.”

  “No, I’m not. You know we’re cool,” she said and looked away.

  I sighed and looked away. I tried to think this through. She was right, I hated Morgan, because somehow I wanted her, but Ben was also right because when I had the opportunity I backed out and dated someone else. And that’s so unfair.

  Emma was sitting next to me, on the passenger seat of my new car, with a chocolate ice cream almost melting in her hand, and she was upset. I hated that. I never wanted to see her upset.

  “Anyway. So how’s work?” she asked a couple of minutes later.

  “It’s really great. My boss really trusts me, although I have no idea why. Most of the time I have no idea what should I do or… I don’t know, it’s confusing. But I like it. It’s not the kind of job you would usually hate, and… It’s awesome,” she smiled and nodded. “Hey, you have something there…” I said, reaching up my hand and touching her lip with my thumb.

  I stopped when I did that and then her eyes met mine and we stood like that for what seemed like an eternity, with me having my hand on her burning cheek. I was so aware I shouldn’t do that. But all those things just… happened. It was involuntarily. Emma and I always do seem to find ourselves in situations like this one.

  She shifted in her seat, and looked away on the window. I sighed and I knew there is something I did wrong. C
ompletely wrong.

  “We should go home,” Emma whispered and I didn’t argue.

  I started the engine and drove in silence until we arrived at her apartment. Somehow, everything that happened this night felt like a déjà vu. Like my first night here, the way the tension felt in the air. The drive to her house resembled so much the one when I took her home after Prom. But this time I didn’t understand what was wrong. Because she was acting like she was jealous, but yet she wasn’t. Or at least she wouldn’t admit it. And I didn’t want to allow myself to believe it.

  When I stopped the engine, I closed my eyes and thought about this. It was a really difficult situation. Everything could be ruined.

  It really surprised me that Emma didn’t storm out of the car the way she had at Destiny’s a few days ago. She was still there, looking at her hands, out of the window, biting her lip, everything but looking at me. Still, she seemed so tired and it was annoying that we had to argue like that. It wasn’t like “us” at all.

  “Ems…” I started, shifting on my seat to face her. She lifted her head and looked at me with her big, brown eyes and I realized she was disappointed. I hated that. I never wanted to disappoint her. That was the last thing I wanted.

  “What, Matt?” she asked looking out of the window again, and her voice was a little harsh.

  “Do you think we should be together?” I asked her out of the blue.

  Second Part

  Chapter 15

  My boss is a jerk

  ~*~ Emma West ~*~

  “I’m totally freaking out,” I said as I paced around the room.

  “What? Why would you freak out?”

  I ran my hand through my curly hair, and sighed. I was walking around Matt’s room, and he sat in his bed, with his laptop aside and he was listening to me interested. I loved this detail about him, that no matter how stupid and childish I would be, he always listens to me.