Perfect Match

by Monica Miller

  “I don’t know. I mean… It just… happened. Dude, it’s a dream, how the fuck do you want me to know why we were kissing!” I took a break from telling him to try to escape his Beckham character. Of course he was playing with L.A. Galaxy and I was having Real Madrid. “Fuck you Ronaldo!” I yelled when Beckham ran away with the ball, and Ben started laughing on my side.

  I haven’t said anything for another half an hour, while Ben and I chased each other on the field, Xabi Alonso owning the ball like the boss he is, and one of Ben’s team stealing it from Mesut Ozil. Landon Donovan was actually good in Ben’s hands and I was worried about Higuain’s game so I traded him with Benzema. Ben relaxed a little, because he never liked Benzema and he thought I can’t do anything with him and a minute after I scored a goal with that character in front of Brian Rowe, his goalkeeper.

  “Who’s the man? I’m the man, bitch!” I yelled as I took another sip from my beer. “It’s gone,” I complained and sighed. I stopped the game and went to the kitchen while Ben looked around the house.

  “She really changed the atmosphere around, you know? I like it,” Ben yelled. “So what else happened in that dream of yours?”

  “Um… Nothing much, just that it felt uncomfortably real and at some point I told her I loved her and she said it back,” the last part I said it really slow, wishing he wouldn’t hear that one. But he obviously did.

  “WHAT?!” he yelled in front of the kitchen door. “You dreamt about telling Emma you… love her?!” he yelled once more. “What’s the matter with you?!”

  “Man, is just a dream, chill out, okay?” I told him opening the beer.

  “Just a dream?!” He asked completely stunned. “It’s not like you go around and say people you love them, Matt! And Emma?”

  “What about me?” she asked going in the kitchen as she flashed a smile to Ben and looked at me all curious. God, how much did she hear? From Ben’s yelling I guess even Africa could’ve heard that one!

  “Um… No… Nothing…. Hi, Emma!” Ben said with a smile.

  “You guys are weird,” she said glaring at me, but her soft lips turned immediately into a smile. “Also, I have this huge surprise!” she said as she pulled someone’s arm and pulled him into the kitchen. “Ta-da!” she said with a smile.

  “Rick!” I yelled pulling him into a hug. “Man, I was wondering where you were!” I told him with a grin. “So you’re staying here? How’ve you been?”

  “Well, obviously I’ve been great if you just take a look,” he bragged, as always. Sometimes I think the kid is worse than I am. “I decided to take some time, you know, but now I do think I’ll stay here for a while if you don’t mind and trying to figure it out what Imma do next…”

  “Welcome back, Rick,” Ben told him as he shook his hand. Then Ben turned and glared at me. Why?! He was the one yelling around. “So I guess we won’t get to finish our match, Nicholls?”

  “Yeah, just accept you’ve lost like you always do,” I shrugged my shoulders and Emma rolled her eyes and smiled at her little brother.

  Actually, Richard was taller now, and looked like he’s been sleeping at a gym. He didn’t look much like Emma, but he was good looking I guess. Now he looked even better than a few years ago. It had that confidence and attitude that made him great. And I liked the guy. We use to hang out a lot especially since he moved to L.A. and started college here.

  “So come play with us. I’ll let you finish Ben, buddy. He plays with L.A. Galaxy,” I told him as I started laughing. Ben glared at me as he returned to the living room and sat on the couch with the joystick in his hand.

  “Bring what you’ve got, Dick,” Ben said and I started laughing.

  “Dude, you’re a dick,” Rick complained and I laughed even harder.

  “No, it actually… comes from your name,” I told him and laughed.

  “Emma!” Rick yelled and she appeared out of nowhere. “Ben called me Dick.”

  “Ben,” she said with a serious tone. “You play nice around others, okay? Or else I won’t let you play again with Matt and Richard, are we clear?”

  “Yes, mom,” Ben said and I started laughing until she glared at me and I stopped immediately. “It’s funny, though. I have no idea who and how they made it “Dick”, but it’s suitable for Richard,” he said “Richard” with a mocking tone and even Rick smiled.

  “Ben!” she complained and I laughed again. How come I never thought of it before? It would’ve been cool if I had said that one. “Stop calling my brother like that,” she warned him as she returned to her bedroom.

  “So, bring it on, Dick!” Ben said and we all started to laugh, including Dick. Rick, I mean.

  *

  The fact that I kept thinking about that dream drove me crazy.

  Ben hasn’t said much because he never does, but I was going insane. And of course I couldn’t tell Rick about it, because he was Emma’s brother and he would kill me if he knew about what happened between us after Prom or that I was having dreams about kissing his sister. I know I would go insane if a friend tried to hook up with my sister.

  It was really weird to watch Emma around and remember the sensation I had in that dream. I mean, dreams are just dreams. And I’m not the overthinking type. But now I was overthinking everything. In the last five weeks I’ve been obsessing over the idea that Emma and I would totally be great together.

  I know I had thought about it in the past too. But now I was being serious. It was like a sign. I never told anyone I loved her. So it should be a pretty big deal. Why would I be dreaming about it if it wasn’t?

  Maybe it was just because I live with her and we saw each other 24/7. Yeah, that must be it. But, somehow, it was really hard for me to stop flirting around with her and I was surprised every time she flirted back.

  “So… I was saying that you have to return these papers to that nice lady from H.R,” Emma said as she flashed me a shy smile. I leaned into her desk and crossed my arms over my chest and looked at her. “What’s the matter with you, Nicholls?” she asked and laughed.

  “I was thinking about…” I paused as she looked at me. She was such a curious person.

  “Yes…?” she asked with a smile.

  “You know when I told you about…”

  “Excuse me, could you tell me where Mr. Nicholls’ office is?”

  We both turned our heads and looked at the person who interrupted our discussion with a perfect British accent.

  Then it hit me.

  Chapter 17

  Persuasion

  ~*~ Emma West ~*~

  I couldn’t understand Matt’s behavior; he was acting really strange lately. It was weird to look at him and find him already looking at me. I can’t say I hate that, but it’s… Unusual.

  Especially since he looked all serene that morning when he told me his “great” dream was about me. How could you say something like that to a person? I was starting to think that everything between us was getting a little uncomfortable and that was some kind of tension between us because of an unknown reason. Or maybe he knew the reason. I know I didn’t.

  And when he was looking at me with those blue eyes… Well I can’t say I can think of anything else but forgetting that he’s my best friend and kiss him until my lips bleed. That’s actually weird, though. You shouldn’t think something like that about your friend. It was like thinking about kissing Monica… Or Gabrielle.

  Monica would say she expected this if I told her about this. She is still rumbling about me and Matt being perfect for each other and every time we hang out with her and Ben I know she thinks we could totally double date in some over-cheesy place.

  “You just don’t see it, don’t you?” Monica asked and laughed. “God you’re a smart person Emma, but… You’re not when it comes to Matt. I don’t know why you’re lying yourself. You know, when you’ll realize it will be too late,” she warned me, and I stared at her completely speechless.

  “I don
’t know about this, Emma…” Gabrielle continued and I turned at her. Was she seriously thinking about this too? “I know how perfect you guys were at Prom. And now you’re just… In sync, you know? It’s like you guys think and do the same things.”

  It was pointless to try and change their minds. I actually wanted them to try harder and change mine.

  And when Matt was standing in front of me, leaning onto my desk and having that sweet smile on his lips I felt my heart starting beating faster.

  “What’s the matter with you, Nicholls?” I asked and laughed. It was pretty impossible to stay serious when he was like that. Matt flirting is always hilarious. I’m not saying he’s not good at it. Because, man… He is good at it.

  “I was thinking about…” he paused for effect I guess and looked at me. I have to admit I was curious about it. I am always curious. Especially when it has to do with me and Matt’s the one who says it.

  “Yes…?” I asked and smiled.

  “You know when I told you about…”

  “Excuse me, could you tell me where Mr. Nicholls’ office is?”

  I turned my head in the same time as Matt to look at the owner of the British accent who interrupted us. And I was so close!

  There was a tall, slim brown haired woman, dressed in a red coral dress. She flashed a shy smile to me, and completely ignored Matt who was completely staring at her. I pushed him and he glared at me. What? He was being uneducated and it’s my fault now?

  “I am Katerine Daniels. I was supposed to get here two days from now, but I had some issues so… I am talking way too much, I’m sorry,” she said in a flawless British accent as she smiled completely embarrassed.

  “I’m Emma West, nice to meet you. You’re lucky Mr. Nicholls has free time now,” I said grinning at Matt. “Introduce yourself, dude,” I whispered to him and he nodded.

  “Sorry, I’m Matt Nicholls,” he said and smiled wider than I would’ve liked. “I am totally free, trust me,” he smirked and she looked at me with a confused smile.

  Then I understood.

  *

  “I don’t like her. She’s so skinny and false with her cutie little accent!” Monica mocked a British accent, but it didn’t come out that great.

  “She’s great, Monica, seriously,” I said as I looked over Katerine as she had her arms wrapped around Matt’s neck and he smiled wide at her.

  Over the last two months I got to know Katerine pretty well. She had studied Management at Birmingham City University and the company she worked for sent her to find out more about our company since they were interested in merging the both companies. I didn’t know too much about it, only what Matt told me and I had no idea because I wasn’t interested in it.

  She was one of the cutest persons I’ve ever met and her British accent really helped a lot. Her humor was actually hilarious, because usually the others couldn’t understand when she was serious or not. And when Katerine was serious she looked like a confused deer, and when she was joking she was way too serious.

  I understood from the first time I met her that Matt was interested in her. And I could understand it. She was beautiful, in fact, and smart. Plus, what I liked about her was that her name didn’t start with “S” and she wasn’t a blonde.

  They started dating after a week, although she didn’t seem too sure about it.

  After all, she was spending a lot of time with him at the company when I was there too, and Matt’s behavior was more than exemplary. It was weird seeing him try to get a girl. But she seemed better than any of his previous girlfriends. Of course, I don’t consider myself as his girlfriend so I don’t have to make comparisons between Katerine and me.

  We actually had a lot in common and we went out after work to drink something a few times, without Matt. She had the greatest accent and the funniest stories and I was so curios about England that we usually spent hours talking.

  “I wanted you two together,” Monica said and sighed. She looked at Gabrielle and she nodded.

  “You guys have to stop this. It’s awkward talking that I should date my best friend. And now he’s happy, okay? I never seen him as happy with any of those stupid bimbos he previously dated. And she’s smart and funny. And we get along really well, so just stop it okay? There is no way Matt and I could be together.”

  “I’m glad you agree with me, Emma,” Ben said and I looked surprised at him.

  “You shouldn’t think so. You should agree with me,” Monica glared at him and he smirked. “Emma and Matt should be together.”

  “Matt’s not boyfriend material,” Ben and I said at the same time and then we stared awkwardly at each other.

  “Then why is he dating Katerine for almost two months now?” Monica continued her plead.

  “Oh, shut up. We all know it won’t last,” Gabrielle shrugged as she checked her iPhone. “I hate Jensen, he always texts me for every stupid thing.”

  “What? You’re texting Jensen Ackles and complain about it? What’s the matter with you?” Monica asked in disbelief.

  “Can I text him back if you don’t want to?” I asked and Monica half laughed, glaring at me like it would’ve been obvious that she should text Jensen. “You have Ben, okay?” I told her and she sighed, and then nodded.

  “No, I don’t mind and that what makes me an awful person,” Gabrielle continued as she placed her iPhone on the table. “The fact is I enjoy texting Jensen. And I spend a lot of time with him. I know, I am in his P.R. team and it’s pretty obvious, but… I am dating Shia, you know? For a long time, I know. What is really annoying is that we’ve been on and off for the last four years, but we haven’t actually moved forward. He didn’t even ask me to move in, and we had never talked about marriage. Not that I want to marry Shia. But it would’ve been nice.”

  “Hey, you don’t just… make a guy marry you, you know, Gabs?” Matt said as he sat next to me with Katerine who was all smiles. I smiled back at her, feeling actually happy for them.

  It was weird to think that I actually accepted one of Matt’s relationships. But she felt right, and Matt was happy, and that was the only thing I wanted to know. The only thing I needed.

  “I know… I just said that I don’t wanna marry him.”

  “Celebrities are difficult I mean look at me,” he bragged with a smile and I slapped him on the shoulder at the same time as Katerine.

  I looked at her in surprise, knowing that now I didn’t have the right to do that anymore. She was his girlfriend and it felt weird now. She gave me a shy smile and I looked at Monica, who was completely annoyed by her. I don’t know why she doesn’t like Katerine, but it’s confusing. I saw Ben squeezing her hand and she sighed.

  “Have I ever said how much I just hate British accent?” Monica whispered loud enough for Kate to hear. She shifted uncomfortable next to Matt who glared at Monica as he put his hand on Kate’s shoulders.

  “Why would you?” asked Rick who just showed up and sat next to her. “I mean, I think it’s actually particularly nice,” he said, faking a British accent. He was actually great at faking accents.

  Monica looked at him half annoyed, but a smile gave her away. And I knew what that meant for Rick who was capable of anything for a glance or a smile from Monica.

  She shrugged as Ben and Matt glared at her and continued her talk with Gabrielle. I smiled at Kate, who returned me a shy smile and sighed. This wasn’t going to be easy.

  *

  I sat on my desk writing a report for Matt and I was proud I could do that. I’ve learned so much since I’ve started working here about half a year ago. I could help Matt a lot and I was happy to do that. I felt useful, but I knew Matt would accept me even if I had no idea how to take a call. Yes, I was still struggling with the phone, but I was getting better at it. And Matt stopped calling me just to check if I answer correctly.

  Katerine had her paperwork as well and she pulled a chair and sat on my desk and I gave her a smile. It was so easy to li
ke her, even though half of the department glared at her every time they met her on the hallway or the elevator. Everyone knew she was dating Matt and none of them got more than a night stand with him. I included. But I liked to think that I am more than that.

  “Why are you staying here?” I asked out of the blue and Kate looked at me and shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong I think you’re awesome, but you know, I thought Matt’s more… helpful?”

  “Oh, I do not need his help for this,” she said pointing at the documents and shrugged again. “Plus I do not have to spend every minute with him. Do you mind if I shall stay here?”

  “No. Of course not!” I replied and she smiled. “So how are things going?” I asked. I was curious to know her point of view. I knew he said things were “great”.

  “Everything is really well, thank you, Emma. Matt is a rather interesting person. He is amazing, actually.”

  “I know that,” I said with a smirk.

  “I know he has his moments and he is not so determined to have a relationship or so, due to what happened to him in high school and it’s normal. I was pretty decided not to have a relationship because I dated someone back in London and it end up bad and now I met Matt and…”

  “Wait, wait. Sorry for interrupting, but… Did you say something about “due to what happened to him in high school” or have I just misunderstood your accent?”

  “You’re so funny, Emma. I still don’t get what’s with the British accents… They are okay, but not so special…”

  “Katerine,” I said with a serious tone.

  “Oh, yes. Didn’t you know about Serena? His high school sweetheart?”

  “Um… No?” I asked and looked away. Why would he tell Katerine about his high school love and not me? I think I would’ve taken it worse than Katerine and I envied how she wasn’t jealous.

  “He dated this girl back in high school, she was a cheerleader or some kind of popular girl, and she cheated on him on Prom or after or something. With his best friend.”