There are three things I'm bad at; reading the room, flirting, and talking. Now I've been put in a situation with all three. Great. I watched as my grandma cut an adorably decorated cake into even slices, and my heart winced. Gabbie loves cake, it's her favorite dessert. What I was going to do about the whole situation was beyond me, but I did know that I had a few things I would like to say.

"Oh, Kye, honey, would you mind helping Matt set the table with some napkins and plates?" My grandma yelled, jolting me back.

Kye stood in the entrance of the kitchen, smiling and making me wish I could tell him how it felt when we matched that night. BOY IF YOU DON'T STOP. Agh, jeez, sometimes my thoughts feel like another person screaming at me. Where was I? Oh, right, Kye. He walked up to the counter my grandma and I stood at and picked up the plates that were there.

"Coming?" He smirked at me before heading off to the dining room.

I rolled my eyes both physically and mentally while grabbing the napkins and following after him. When I reached the dining room, I choked up. My grandma's house held alot of memories, but no room more than that one. My grandpa had used to sit at the small dining table and tell us stories of his golden days, filled with what my grandma called slight alterations and exaggerations. I found myself smiling bitterly as Kye scared me shitless by placing his hand on my shoulder when I didn't know he was there.

I jumped shakily, and Kye held back a laugh. "You alright? You seem jumpy."

I breathed in, relaxing my nerves. It's just Kye. No big deal. "Fine, man. Just weird being back is all."

"Wasn't it you wanting to come back like a day ago?"

His words had an odd affect on me, making me tense up even more. What is it about him? "Hmph."

He laughed again, this time sounding agitated. "Why are you avoiding me? And tell me the truth. I doubt that it's because you just got back."

I glanced at him, feeling my guilty conscience weighing in. My heart was yearning for me to let loose, but my logic was telling me he'd run away if I did. I looked down at the ground, not daring to meet his gaze as I felt it lock on to me.

"Matty, why are you avoiding me?" He asked again.

I felt my eyes tear up, and I sighed. "I'm not. I promise. Trust me, it's just... weird being back."

"Matthew," He sighed, hesitation in his voice. "You've been acting off since you got here, and-"

"Damn, Kye, what are you, my therapist?" I groaned. "I'm fine. Stop acting like such a- a-"

My anxiety kicked in, and reminded me I wasn't exactly my full self. Stuttering, palms sweating, heart racing, cheeks burning. I'm a mess. Ugh. Since when did he do this to me?

"A what?" Kye's brows furrowed angrily.

"A girl."

His eyes flashed the laugh that came from his lips, and I resisted the smile that crept on my face. "Smooth."

I rolled my eyes, wacking the napkins against his arm. "Just help me?"

"Sure."

We set the table together, working on opposite sides of the table and refusing to look at each other. My grandma came in a few minutes later, two plates of freshly cut cake in her hands. Kye and I both ran up to help her, each of us taking a plate and putting them on the table.

I followed my grandma back to the kitchen, hovering under the guise that I'd be ready if she needed help with anything. When she was done cutting a slice of cake for herself, we went back to the dining room where Kye sat at the table waiting.

I had so much I wanted to tell him. But his mind was already in another place as we all sat down together and my grandma asked him what he'd been up to. My eyes found themselves glued on him, listening to his voice. It had gotten softer over the years, and so had his eyes. Everything about him seemed changed.

He talked with passion about his college, how he was so excited to be going back in the fall. Turns out he's the head of their online group.

"And what do you do?" My grandma asked.

"Oh, I'm in charge of gatherings and stuff. The community can be pretty great, so yeah." He replied, smiling. "I sort of post about popular hang out spots and when the next frat party is, stuff like that."

"Fun! Matty was a part of a frat, weren't you, dear?" My grandma looked to me, and I stopped mid-bite of cake.

"Oh, not really. I haven't figured out college here yet, grandma." I reminded her.

I felt the embarrassment flush across my face as Kye grinned at me and my grandma gave me a confused head tilt. After a moment, she nodded. "Right."

"You know, you would do great at my university." Kye suggested.

I tried to smile, but I couldn't. That second was the second that my mind had decided to break. I choked up, not sure why at first, and both of them stared at me in concern. I got up, excusing myself quickly before jogging outside through the back door.

The summer breeze, mixed with the familiar backyard I'd once grown up in, made me feel calm. Well, calmer than I was. The trees and shrubbery were all the same, and my old tree house was somehow still standing after ten years. But, my mind went elsewhere. It went back home, where Gabbie was probably crying her eyes out. It went back to my mom, who had barely shown an ounce of remorse. And my father, who hadn't shown any. I hated to admit it, but even despite that, I missed it. I missed my home, my room, my sister, even my parents. But, could they ever truly love me? Did they even care?

I glanced at the old tree house, noting that it seemed rather small compared to when I was a child. I wiped the tears away, took a sniffle-filled breath, and tried to relax. They probably don't miss me, anyway. That thought made me start to cry even more, even if I'd done it to myself. Grabbing at my eyes with my forearm, I caught a whiff of my jacket. It still smells like home.

"Matt?" Kye's voice broke the early night air as I heard the patio door open and shut. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm alright." I gave him the best grin I could muster. "I don't know, I got overwhelmed. Needed some fresh air. It's nice out here."

"Sure is." He looked at me seriously. "What's going on?"

I sniffled, shuffling my feet and glaring at the ground. My parents are pieces of-- shit, if Kye heard me talk like that, I wouldn't hear the end of it. Kye pressed his hand gently on my shoulder, my head jerking to look at him instantly. Our eyes met, and that's when it clicked. I finally knew what had changed as I watched him wear a worried smile.

"Did you get rid of your braces?" I asked.

"Oh, um, heh, yeah? You noticed?" He blinked several times before frowning with a grin.

"I knew it! Something about you was different, and it was throwing me off." I breathed with relief.

"Wait, really? That's why you've been avoiding me?" He questioned, chuckling.

"Yes!"

After that, we shared a brief moment of laughter, and it seemed like the tension had left the space around us. I could finally just be me again. The energy between us went from insanely awkward to just two best friends in a matter of minutes, and somehow that wasn't strange to me. Kye had that ability. He could make you feel better just from being around him.

His smile was contagious, his laugh soft and able to reverberate through your heart, and somehow I had never noticed those things. Maybe it had taken years of not being around him to really notice him. When he finished telling me a story about his friend, the one who's graduation I was invited to, the conversation turned awkward again. Neither of us wanted to admit we'd rekindled our friendship thanks to a dating app.

"But, yeah, he's the best," Kye said nervously.

My grandma's words rang in my head, something about her warning of not being able to run forever sticking out to me. I cleared my throat, taking in the sky in Mellow Brook at night. We had been talking for so long that the sun had long since set.

"You know, it is kinda funny how we found each other on Mtch," I said.

"Nothing funny about it," He disagreed. "I'd call it good luck, maybe even destiny."

He glanced at me, his eyes seemingly darker in the moonlight. I had to blink to remind myself not to be mesmerized. "That stuff is a bunch of-"

"Bullshit?"

"Yes, exactly," I laughed.

"Maybe it's not," He argued. "For all we know, fate could've had this all planned out for us."

I tried not to laugh at such a silly notion. After all, I would never disrespect anyone for their beliefs, no matter how out there they may seem. And Kye seemed sure of himself in a way that made me almost want to believe him. Was he right? Was there some other force behind us pulling the strings? I tossed away the thought as my grandma walked outside.

"Matt, you scared us!" She scolded me lightly, though concern was heavy in her voice. "Are you alright?"

"Me?" I tried to brush it off. "I'll be fine."

I didn't want anyone to worry about me, so seeing their worried gazes made me feel ten times worse. It was so like me to find a way to make any situation awkward, no matter the circumstances behind it. Going to a birthday party? I can make that awkward. Finding out your crush likes you? Yep, awkward. Coming home? Consider it awkward. Give me a chance and I could probably ruin any moment. Not that I wanted to, mind you. That was just how I was.

I leaned against the porch railing, watching the clouds gliding in the sky and occasionally covering the moon. The night had always been quiet time for me. Peaceful. Maybe that's what happens when you grow up like I did. I tried not to think about home, or my past, as my head slumped down to face the grass.

Kye leaned against the rail next to me, his eyes on me. "You still didn't answer my question."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm fine."

"You're not."

"So, you're capable of knowing how I feel now?"

"No, of course not. But, I'm not stupid," He grew agitated again. "We used to be best friends! We told each other everything!"

"Yeah, well things change, don't they!" I yelled, instantly taking in a sharp breath and regretting my outburst.

He breathed shakily, anger permeating from his face. We both looked away then, and I felt the apology ready to roll off my tongue. I hadn't meant that.

"I'm sorry," I said, resisting the urge to say more.

"No, you're right. Things change. And so do people." He replied quietly.

"It doesn't help that everything feels so different. Even you. I got here and I felt like I barely even recognized you." I admitted. "And today's been... well, it's been shit."

"Why?" He seemed calmer, but part of me doubted he was ready to accept my apology.

"Let's see, my parents kicked me out, they basically told me to my face they don't accept me, and now my little sister probably hates me." I spilled. Somehow, letting it all out in one breath made it easier to say it all.

Kye gawked, his brows furrowed. I threw my hands in the air, letting them fall back down onto the railing. "What can I say, I'm that lovable."

"That's bullshit, Matt!" Kye sounded just like he had in sixth grade, back when I had first told him that a bunch of bullies were making fun of me for how I dressed. "God, fucking-"

"Meyers?"

We both stared at each other when the sound of a third voice came from behind us, making us jump. I didn't recognize the voice, but as Kye turned around and greeted whoever it was like an old friend, it was obvious that he knew them.

"How's my favorite freshman!" The voice asked as I turned to face them. It was another guy, slightly older than us, who was ruffling Kye's hair and laughing.

"Not a freshman anymore, and we don't do that in college." Kye winced, smiling but cringing slightly.

"I do," The man assured him, letting him go. "So, who's the new kid?"

"My friend, Matt, so be nice to him," Kye said, walking back to my side.

"What?" The man pretended to be offended. "I'm always nice!"

"Matt, this is Alex. Alex, Matt." Kye introduced us.

Alex walked up to us, appearing to be more relaxed than the rest of us. "So, Matt, Kye here tells me you just got back?"

Kye took a sharp inhale, and I put on a fake smile. "Yeah, I did. Today, actually."

"Cool. So, where are you from?" Alex asked casually. "I mean, like, before you moved back."

"Washington." I said hollowly.

"Hot diggity dog!" Alex exclaimed, laughing. "You must be glad to be away from the snowy weather, eh?"

"Well, I-"

"I think that's enough. Matt, I'm sorry," Kye interrupted when he saw my eyes glossing over with tears.

Alex frowned in concern, putting his hand on his hip. "Everything alright?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just stressed. It's been a long day." I said.

Kye and Alex eyed each other, Kye giving him that 'I'll tell you later' look. After that, the three of us remained silent for a while as the night settled in. As far as my first day back was concerned, I knew it could've gone way better. But, I tried to look at the positive things. At least I'd gotten to see Kye, and I'd possibly made a new friend. Nobody could tell me those weren't good. However, I felt awful.

The knot in my stomach stayed there as I laid in bed an hour later, making it impossible for me to sleep. I kept trying, closing my eyes and making every effort to ignore the hollow pit in my chest, but nothing worked. It was as if my mind had finally caught up to the events that had landed me at my grandma's place.

A knock on my door made me both startled and relieved as I saw it was my grandma, who was probably coming to say goodnight.

"Kye left?" She asked from the doorway.

I turned over to face her, yawning. "Yep."

"Alright, then. And you're off to bed?"

I nodded, stifling another yawn.

She stood in the doorway, as if she had something else to say. Gabbie had always done that back home whenever she was scared of asking me to check for monsters under her bed. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and letting them adjust. "Something wrong?"

"I'm just worried about you, honey," She said softly. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Don't worry, I'll get used to it. Being back is kind of nice." I assured her.

She sighed, nodding slightly. "Good. Well, get some rest. Tomorrow we've got a lot to do. Love you, dear."

"Night, grandma, love you too."

I tossed and turned all night, scared about what we had to do and stressed about what I'd do if I had to keep seeing Kye.