A shift in fate | Mattheo Riddle

Six

His eyes darkened even further, and I could see it now—beneath all the bravado, all the sarcasm and drunkenness, there was something raw. Something possessive. Something dangerous.

"You knew exactly what you were doing," he finally said, his voice low and sharp, cutting through the thick air between us.

I let out a humorless laugh, crossing my arms over my chest. "Oh, so now it's my fault? You're the one acting like a fucking maniac because I kissed someone during a game. What, were you expecting me to pick you instead?"

"I would never want that," he scoffed, his voice laced with cold disdain. Then, with a sharp, biting smirk, he added, "It's just fucking embarrassing when one of my friends acts like a slut."

The words hit me like a slap. My breath caught in my throat, a sharp sting blooming in my chest.

Dick. I literally shifted realities for this dude and now he's acting like this, great. 

I scoffed, shaking my head as I crossed my arms. "Well, yeah. Maybe I wanted it, Mattheo. Ever think of that?" I tilted my head, my smirk laced with challenge. "Cedric is a good guy. He's sweet, he's kind... and he's really fucking attractive. So what about it?"

His jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack. His fists curled at his sides, his entire body coiled like a predator ready to strike.

"You're really trying to piss me off, aren't you?" he said, his voice dangerously low.

I arched a brow. "And if I am? What are you gonna do about it?"

His lips parted slightly like he wanted to say something—something real. But then, just as quickly, his expression darkened, walls slamming back into place.

"Nothing," he said, voice hollow. "Because I don't fucking care."

I let out a humorless laugh, my heart pounding. "Right. Sure you don't."

Mattheo scoffed, shaking his head with a bitter smirk. "You really think Cedric's the kind of guy who's gonna stick around? Please. The guy's a fucking golden boy on the outside, but underneath it? He's just like every other guy. A fuckboy, V. He's only gonna use you."

I snapped my gaze back to him, anger flaring in my chest. "First of all, he's not a fuckboy. And unlike some people I know, he's an actual good guy. I know Cedric."

Mattheo let out a sharp laugh, running a hand through his curls. "Right. You think you know him. But trust me, —guys like him? They always get bored. And when he does, don't come crying to me."

My jaw clenched. "I wouldn't."

His eyes darkened, his smirk gone. "Yeah?" He took a step closer, his voice dropping. "Then why are you even here right now, V?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Because fuck, I didn't know.

I scoffed, shaking my head in frustration. "You know what? Maybe I will go find Cedric right now." I turned on my heel, taking a step toward the door just to piss him off.

Mattheo's head snapped up, eyes darkening as his jaw clenched. "It's the middle of the fucking night, V." His voice was sharp, dripping with disbelief and something dangerously close to anger.

I shrugged, throwing him a taunting look over my shoulder. "So what? Unlike some people, he actually likes having me around."

That did it.

Mattheo was in front of me in a second, his hand gripping my wrist—not hard, not enough to hurt, but enough. Enough to make my breath catch. Enough to make me stop.