A shift in fate | Mattheo Riddle

Song: True story- Ariana Grande

The castle was eerily silent, only the distant creak of the old stone walls breaking the quiet. I moved quietly through the corridors, each step careful and calculated, making sure to stay in the shadows. The last thing I needed was to be caught wandering the halls at this hour, especially by a teacher. My heart raced with the anticipation of what was to come. . I quickened my pace as I approached the Astronomy Tower, the familiar chill of the night air seeping through the windows. Finally, I reached the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. The cool breeze hit my face as I stepped out onto the tower's balcony. 

I scanned the dimly lit room, my eyes searching for any sign of the curly-headed boy, but there was no trace of him. "Hello?" I called out softly, my voice echoing slightly against the cold stone walls.

For a moment, there was only silence, and I began to wonder if I had made a mistake coming here. But then, from the far corner, I heard his voice—slurred and playful, a touch more exaggerated than usual.

"Over here, Moonvale," Mattheo called, his words drawn out in a drunk, teasing tone. I finally spotted him, leaning against the stone wall with a glass in hand. He was a bit more unsteady than when I had last seen him at the party. He definitely must've found another bottle to drink after he stormed off.

"Hey, Riddle, how you feeling?" I asked cautiously, stepping further into the room. I couldn't help but notice the sharp edge to his tone, despite the lighthearted way he spoke. There was something almost off about it, but I wasn't sure what.

Mattheo let out a small laugh, his words dripping with sarcasm. "I'm super good, yeah, really good, V. Great party tonight, eh?" He took a long sip from his glass, his eyes never leaving mine, the intensity behind his gaze clear despite his playful tone. It was almost like he was daring me to comment, to acknowledge the tension between us.

I could feel the weight of his stare, the undercurrent of something more than just drunken sarcasm. I wanted to be cautious but couldn't stop myself from replying, "What's your problem, Mattheo? You seem a bit off." 

He let out a low chuckle, tilting his head slightly as he raised an eyebrow. "I don't have a problem. What makes you say that?" His voice was smooth, almost amused, but there was an underlying sharpness to it.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Oh, I don't know... maybe the way you were acting during truth or dare? The death stares, the storming off, the broken glass? Kind of obvious something's bothering you, Riddle." I rolled my eyes, but the weight of his gaze on me didn't waver.

Instead of responding right away, he took a step closer. Then another. My breath caught as I instinctively moved back, but there was nowhere to go—my back hit the cold stone wall behind me, trapping me between it and him.

His eyes never left mine, dark and burning with something I couldn't quite place. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower.

"You," he murmured, "are my problem, Moonvale."

My heart stammered in my chest. "W-what?" The words barely made it out of my mouth. "What did I do?"

A humorless smirk curled at his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Don't act all innocent now, V," he said, his voice laced with venom. "Not after the way you were acting earlier. You knew exactly what you were doing."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I shot back, confusion morphing into anger.

His jaw clenched, and then, as if he couldn't hold it in anymore, he scoffed, "You were acting like a little slut."

I froze. The word hit me like a slap across the face, my breath catching in my throat.

My mouth fell open in disbelief, my body tensing. "Excuse you?" I spat, my voice sharp with fury. "What the fuck are you talking about? My kiss with Cedric?"