as the world caves in; mattheo riddle

twenty-five

"You know, I try," he says.

We make our way through the crowded hallways, headed towards Defense Against the Dark Arts. Things had lightened up a bit since the first class, but there was still a sense of thick, unspoken tension in the air.

As we approach the classroom, I get a feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe it was a gut feeling, maybe it was nerves or anxiety, I'm not sure.

"I'm gonna go to bathroom quick," I look up at Theo. "I'll meet you in class."

He narrows his eyes for a moment before giving me a slight nod.

"Alright, but don't be too long," he replies, his voice softer than before. "Wouldn't want you to face the wrath of Riddle for being late."

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head slightly as I veer off.

"Merlin forbid," I call out after him.

I watch Theo disappear through the door, the corridors becoming sparse as the clock ticked closer to 10. I turn back around, the click of my shoes echoing off the stone floors.

A gasp escapes my lips as someone suddenly pulls me into an empty classroom, pushing my back up against the wall as I drop my bag to the floor. Though before I even had time to react, his lips were on mine. I didn't even have to look to know who they belonged to.

The kiss was urgent—desperate, even, as if he was gasping for air and I was his only source of oxygen. My fingers entangle in his tousled brown curls, the other hand grasping onto his robes.

He pulls back just enough to breathe, his forehead resting against mine, his breath hot and uneven.

"What're you doing?" I ask, panting softly.

He lets out a small chuckle, his breath fanning across my lips as his eyes meet mine.

"I couldn't wait," he mutter, his voice low and rough. "I told myself I would, but—I saw you this morning and I couldn't help myself."

My lips curl into a small smile, my eyes searching his.

"We're gonna get caught, Mattheo," I say.

"I don't care," he replies without a second thought. "We're finally okay again."

His fingers graze against my cheek as he brushes a stray hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear. His touch is gentle—far too gentle coming from Mattheo Riddle.

Maybe I had finally been the person to crack his rough exterior. Even just a little bit.

"Whatever this is," I murmur, my hand resting against his chest. "It's risky, you know that, right? If anyone finds out..."

He presses his lips back against mine, silencing me with a soft, lingering kiss. When he pulls away, his eyes are darker, filled with a resolve I hadn't expected from him.

"I already told you, angel," he replies, his voice low. "I don't care. Not right now."

"Well, when reality settles in, we can continue this conversation," I say.

His lips curl into a half-smile, his eyes scanning over my face before he pushes himself off the wall behind me.

"We should get to class anyways, we're already late," I add.

He lets out a breath, rolling his eyes as his usual arrogance takes over.

"Right," he drawls, obvious sarcasm lingering in his tone. "Can't be late to Professor Riddle's bullshit."

I pick up my bag off the floor, slinging it over my shoulder as I run a hand through my hair.

"You already skipped first period, you should go to class," I shoot back.