"Hey Matt! France was amazing!! Too bad you couldn't come."
Erin ran down the steps and hugged him, it was perfectly acceptable, they were friends after all. Ania formed an 'O' with her mouth unable to process what was happening. Gregory frowned and Emmeline dropped the cup she was holding. A pitter-patter in her chest causing severe discomfort.
Erin dropped the hug when she heard the glass shatter. Matt stepped back. Erin bit her lips when she saw Mr. Casper's face. Oops she thought to herself. Man his dad is super strict! And she thought her parents were strict with her being the only girl.
Erin too stepped away and noticed Matt's face flushed crimson, it made her heart race when she saw him blush. Erin pursed her lips not sure if she should laugh or run away. Instead she did neither. She truly observed the sweaty boy in front of her, how did he still look amazing even when he was dripping with sweat? She wanted to do more than just hug him!
Emmeline kept her pale emerald eyes trained on the two in front of her. Her eyes were going back and fourth between the two 'friends'. She attempted to swallow her emotions, she was dead and she certainly had not right to claim Matthew's time. She turned her back and would focus on cleaning the up the broken tea cup at her feet. Then she would bury herself in the laundry, doing laundry would be a great way to push down the feelings that threatened to spew out.
Gregory watched the two for a different reason, he didn't want any 'funny business' to occur. Matthew had said they were just friends? Did Matthew lie to them? Were they more? He squinted at the boy, it would be unlike him to lie.
Matthew could feel Gregory's eyes on him and he was getting ready to buckle from the pressure. Thankfully, Erin spoke.
"Hey! So a bunch of us are going to the movies, would you be interested?"
Matthew looked at Gregory.
"Um, when do you plan on going to the movies?" Matthew asked.
"This evening, we normally do dinner, movie, and then head to dairy queen to talk about the movie afterwards." Erin paused for a moment, the last time she checked Matthew didn't have his license. "I can give you a ride, if you want?"
Gregory did a mental calculation while Erin was speaking. He wanted to be ready for the question that would be coming to him soon.
"Papa, can I go?"
There is was, thought Gregory. "What time will you be home?"
Matthew looked over at Erin, "Um, well the movie is a 7 or 7:30, I can't remember. So probably 11 or so?"
"Matthew, you have to get up for work the next morning, I don't think it is possible right now."
Matthew was thinking the same thing when she mentioned the time. "I'm sorry, Erin, maybe next time?"
Erins smile faulted for just a moment, "No biggie, wanna hang out here, we can catch the movies next time?"
Matthew grinned it didn't escape his attention that she said 'we', "Sure!" and then looked towards Gregory, "maybe she can stay for dinner?"
Erin smiled, she would really like that.
Gregory nodded, this was much better. He would be able to watch those two!
Matt took Erin to the Creek and they just dipped their feet in (Ania was in Tow and if they stripped down, she would definitely tell papa). Erin reached over and put her hand on his. His heart fluttered, when he looked at her face the sun blinded him for a moment and he could have sworn he had seen piercing emerald eyes looking back at him. He blinked several times, and it was Erin looking back at him. It was probably just the heat he thought to himself.
When it was time for dinner he stood up and held his hand out to Erin, "Let me help you up." Erin smiled like a school girl accepting his hand. They headed back to the house hand in hand. He glared at Ania for good measure, his eyes saying 'don't you dare tattle, we are just holding hands'.
Ania rolled her eyes. Whatever she mumbled to herself.
When they entered the dining room table two place settings were out. He looked towards the kitchen to see Emmeline doing the last of the preparations for the meal. Thank you he thought to himself.
"Just us two?" Erin asked.
Her question brought Matthew to the moment. "I guess. I guess they wanted to give us time alone." He made up an answer knowing damn well they didn't need unnecessary questions as to why they weren't consuming the food.
"I'm surprised." Erin mumbled. She thought about the hug and how that apparently had been super taboo. But she was glad that it was just the two of them. This was even better than going to the movies she thought to herself.
Erin thought about the meal set before them and thought to the kitchen with no electricity. They made this all without modern appliances? The food was the most delicious she had ever had. When the sun began to set they lit some candles and lanterns for light. Matt had asked her to stay for games and she nodded. She could stay for an hour or so. She would get to spend some more time with him. The fourth member of the household headed upstairs claiming she had a headache. Erin shrugged her shoulders, but when she looked at Matt, his eyes were sad. Until that was he caught her staring and his brilliant smile replaced the frown. Nothing surprised her more (even more than no electricity) than when she had to excuse herself to use the restroom. When Ania escorted her to the bathroom, she freaked. No plumbing!!!! She decided that she didn't have to use the bathroom that bad and would just wait until she got home.
When Erin left she desperately wanted to give him a hug, but after this morning she wasn't sure. When Gregory headed back inside leaving just Erin and Matthew outside by her car; Erin leaned over and hugged Matthew and whispered into his ear, "Do you want to be my boyfriend?"
He turned the brightest shade of red he had ever been and his cheeks became hot. "Yes." she said meekly almost too happy to speak.
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and ran to the car leaving into the night.
They didn't know that somebody had been watching their interaction. Frost coming from the window on the warm August night.