For musebyquotes | 2.7. Meg Cabot quote
2.7. "In order for people to be happy, sometimes they have to take risks. It's true these risks can put them in danger of being hurt."
- Meg Cabot
Co-written with panthers7 | Follows THIS
Tyra had stood there awkwardly after Matt's timely exit. She'd caught Landry's eye briefly, and for a moment she considered going over and talking to him. Hanging around Dillon had been mostly a good idea. Until that kiss with Matt. The kiss that was keeping her awake most of the night, and the one that had her smiling a little too fondly when she should have been feeling guilty. And for the most part she did. Especially now as she looked at Landry sitting there alone. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say hello, but shut it quickly and turned and left.
It wasn't a wise move, but then she had never professed to know what she was doing half the time. She went with her gut unless she was definitely required to think something through. Like college. She would talk to Landry another night. Maybe even try and call him later. Right now she had something else to fix. Matt's tail lights were already disappearing in the distance, and Tyra was happy to let him get the head start. Gave her a little more time to try and get her brain and gut to agree. Or just let her gut win out since the decision was already made.
A short time later she was pulled up out the front of the Saracen's, and biting the corner of her lip. It wasn't dissimilar to when she'd arrived at Street's, but this time she was distracted by memories of the kiss. She was an idiot. She had to be, right? This was something her mother would do, not her... But Matt was free, and so was she. It was because of Landry that it was awkward, and Tyra really didn't know how she was going to get around that.
She let out a slow breath as she got out of the car and slammed the door shut. She took two paces before she turned around and had her hand on the door before she dropped it away, and marched up to Matt's front door. She banged on it and waited.
Matt was filling the kettle to make his grandma a cup of tea when the banging on the door started. He cursed to himself, the expletives getting swallowed by the loud rush of water into the kettle. He set it down and flicked it on, murmuring to his grandma that he was on his way in response to her telling him over and over to 'Get the door, Matt. Matt, the door'. He shuffled back to the front door and pulled it open without really giving much thought as to who it might be or why they were there. When he saw Tyra standing there, he opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but closed it again. "T-Tyra, you... this isn't a good time," he said, pulling the door closed a little behind him as he shifted out onto the stoop.
Tyra looked around as she pushed her fingers through her hair, and gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Matt. I am. I know my timing's never been great. In fact I'm pretty sure I never had it... I just--I needed to tell you something." Tyra moved closer to him, her blue eyes flicking over his face before she reached out and took it between her hands as she kissed him. There was definitely no mistaking who made the first move this time. And when she pulled back, Tyra didn't run. She stepped back to give Matt space again as she licked at her lips and looked down at her feet. The kiss hadn't quite worked out like she thought it would. She'd been hoping it would prove there was no spark, but she was wrong. At least on her end she was. Because there was spark. Lots of spark.
Matt was breathless from the force of the kiss and he touched his lips, gaping at her in surprise. "Tyra, I... ya'..." he stammered, still staring at her. "What are ya' tryin' to prove? Ya' got bored with Landry, so it's my turn now?" he asked, throwing his hand up helplessly. There was no nastiness in his words, just bewilderment as to why she was messing with him. Again.
Tyra blinked, and sucked in a breath like she was ready to go off at him for having that opinion of her, but he was right. Mostly. "I was just tryin' to prove that the other kiss had been a fluke, but it ain't. 'Least not where I'm concerned. I didn't get bored with Landry. I was never bored with him. I was scared he was gonna wake up one day and realise I wasn't good enough. And I wasn't. Not then." She touched her fingers to her lips, feeling like she had just been eating hot chili the way they seemed to burn. "I just... I don't know what it is, but you're gettin' under my skin, Matt."
"A fluke? I bet ya' wanted it to be a fluke too," Matt returned with a small frown. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jersey and leant against the wall by the door. "Is there anyone 'sides Riggins ya' didn't just accidentally find an attraction for?" he asked, maybe a tiny bit of bitterness creeping into his tone now. He didn't want to be messed around again. Julie had hurt him too much, then Carlotta by leaving just when they got close. He couldn't take anymore teasing.
"Smash, but that never went very far after his mother caught us. Attraction ain't ever gonna be somethin' ya plan, anyway. I like you, okay? I liked talkin' to ya that night online, then at Jason's I was really enjoyin' talkin' to ya again. It was the first time we ever really talked, and we just clicked. Then that kiss happened and I guess I freaked out a little too much. I didn't mean to run, but I just... You're Julie's ex, and Landry's best friend. You shouldn't want me, same as I probably shouldn't want you." She wet her lips and let out a frustrated noise. "I do want ya, Matt. And I'm sorry."
"You're Landry's ex and he's my best friend!" Matt cried in frustration, rubbing his hand over his head. "I don't... how... I don't see how this can work."
"If I wasn't his ex would you... do you even like me?" Tyra asked, then held up her hand and started to pace a little. "I'm only askin' because I'm tryin' to work out if we should even try somethin' and just work it out as we go. I ain't lookin' for an ego stroke."
Matt watched her uncertainly. "I don't want ya' doin' to me what ya' did to Landry. I had enough of that with Julie. Dillon ain't big enough to have ya' both someone I'm tryin' to avoid."
"Good thing I'm in Austin then, huh?" Tyra joked, albeit wryly. She held Matt's gaze for a moment. "I'm not gonna do what I did to Landry. You and me don't have the same history. This is startin' off as... attraction. We ain't thrown together 'cause someone died."
Matt's hands disappeared back into his pocket. "Sure ya' ain't just lonely? 'Cause I'd get it if ya' were. Ya' just moved away from home, ya' hate ya' apartment, college is a lot to think about... all that. I'd get it. Everyone ya' usually hang with are all hooked up or goin' away."
Tyra reached out to touch Matt's cheek briefly before her hand was back down to her side, and she sighed. "I am lonely, but that ain't why. If it was just lonliness I'd stick to fuckin' random guys. But if ya really feel like that, I'll leave ya be. I don't wanna cause ya any trouble. Well, more than I have already."
Matt couldn't stop thinking about Landry and that guilt was back, niggling away in his gut. "I... I needa think about it," he finally said, not sure what else he could say without feeling like he was going to rush head first into something he would regret.
She gave a nod as she hooked her thumbs into her pocket and gave a shrug. "Sure, Matt. I get it... Say hi to ya grandma for me. I'm... I'll--I guess I'll talk to ya whenever. I'm gonna go back to Austin soon. Sorry for, ah, interruptin' ya night."
"That ain't fair, Tyra. But if ya' wanna just treat me like every other guy ya' wanna walk away from so ya' don't get hurt, go ahead. Doesn't mean I'm like them and doesn't mean I'm gonna just agree to this without tryin' to think what it's gonna mean when the shock of the fact we kissed is gone," Matt said and waved his hand a little. "Walkin' away always seems like an easy first choice, doesn't it? I don't even get the courtesy of some time 'cause ya' dunno know how to handle it when it's not fuckin' and runnin'."
Tyra stepped in close to Matt and dropped her voice. "You just said ya needed time. I'm givin' ya time, so don't bite my damn head off, Saracen. Just because I'm gonna go back to Austin doesn't mean ya can't reach me, or that I won't come back. I came here to Dillon because ya asked. You were the first person to want me back here. Don't ya think that means somethin'? So don't you dare put this back on me. I'm tryin' to give ya what ya just said ya wanted. If you wanna think while I sit here on ya porch, then I will if it proves that I ain't walkin' away."
Matt wasn't usually the argumentative sort, but this time, he just didn't seem to be able to let it drop. "Nah, ya' were just trying to save face before I turned around and fucked ya' over or hurt ya'," he guessed, recognising the forced indifference in her tone in her previous comment. "And I... I can't blame ya' for that. Not one bit. It ain't nice bein; fucked over, especially when ya' ain't done nothin' wrong."
Tyra dropped her gaze again as her shoulders slumped. Why was Saracen getting under her skin so damn easily? "You're not supposed to know me this well yet," she replied quietly. "But yeah, you're right. Same as you wanna protect yourself from bein' hurt, too. Maybe since we both know what it feels like we'll take better care not to hurt each other if we can help it."
Matt glanced at the door of his house, almost as if expecting his grandma to come out at any moment. "I wouldn't wanna hurt ya', anyway," he told her quietly.
"And I don't wanna hurt ya either like I said." Tyra leaned in to brush a kiss to his cheek. "I just don't wanna stay here in limbo and drive myself crazy. I'm sorry if that's selfish, but it's just me. I'm here for a couple more days, but then I really gotta get back to Austin."
Matt nodded. He took her hand and squeezed it, but it was a chaste touch. "I'll call ya'," he told her. "I will, either way."
Words: | Not binding on any Landry muses
- Meg Cabot
Co-written with panthers7 | Follows THIS
Tyra had stood there awkwardly after Matt's timely exit. She'd caught Landry's eye briefly, and for a moment she considered going over and talking to him. Hanging around Dillon had been mostly a good idea. Until that kiss with Matt. The kiss that was keeping her awake most of the night, and the one that had her smiling a little too fondly when she should have been feeling guilty. And for the most part she did. Especially now as she looked at Landry sitting there alone. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say hello, but shut it quickly and turned and left.
It wasn't a wise move, but then she had never professed to know what she was doing half the time. She went with her gut unless she was definitely required to think something through. Like college. She would talk to Landry another night. Maybe even try and call him later. Right now she had something else to fix. Matt's tail lights were already disappearing in the distance, and Tyra was happy to let him get the head start. Gave her a little more time to try and get her brain and gut to agree. Or just let her gut win out since the decision was already made.
A short time later she was pulled up out the front of the Saracen's, and biting the corner of her lip. It wasn't dissimilar to when she'd arrived at Street's, but this time she was distracted by memories of the kiss. She was an idiot. She had to be, right? This was something her mother would do, not her... But Matt was free, and so was she. It was because of Landry that it was awkward, and Tyra really didn't know how she was going to get around that.
She let out a slow breath as she got out of the car and slammed the door shut. She took two paces before she turned around and had her hand on the door before she dropped it away, and marched up to Matt's front door. She banged on it and waited.
Matt was filling the kettle to make his grandma a cup of tea when the banging on the door started. He cursed to himself, the expletives getting swallowed by the loud rush of water into the kettle. He set it down and flicked it on, murmuring to his grandma that he was on his way in response to her telling him over and over to 'Get the door, Matt. Matt, the door'. He shuffled back to the front door and pulled it open without really giving much thought as to who it might be or why they were there. When he saw Tyra standing there, he opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but closed it again. "T-Tyra, you... this isn't a good time," he said, pulling the door closed a little behind him as he shifted out onto the stoop.
Tyra looked around as she pushed her fingers through her hair, and gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Matt. I am. I know my timing's never been great. In fact I'm pretty sure I never had it... I just--I needed to tell you something." Tyra moved closer to him, her blue eyes flicking over his face before she reached out and took it between her hands as she kissed him. There was definitely no mistaking who made the first move this time. And when she pulled back, Tyra didn't run. She stepped back to give Matt space again as she licked at her lips and looked down at her feet. The kiss hadn't quite worked out like she thought it would. She'd been hoping it would prove there was no spark, but she was wrong. At least on her end she was. Because there was spark. Lots of spark.
Matt was breathless from the force of the kiss and he touched his lips, gaping at her in surprise. "Tyra, I... ya'..." he stammered, still staring at her. "What are ya' tryin' to prove? Ya' got bored with Landry, so it's my turn now?" he asked, throwing his hand up helplessly. There was no nastiness in his words, just bewilderment as to why she was messing with him. Again.
Tyra blinked, and sucked in a breath like she was ready to go off at him for having that opinion of her, but he was right. Mostly. "I was just tryin' to prove that the other kiss had been a fluke, but it ain't. 'Least not where I'm concerned. I didn't get bored with Landry. I was never bored with him. I was scared he was gonna wake up one day and realise I wasn't good enough. And I wasn't. Not then." She touched her fingers to her lips, feeling like she had just been eating hot chili the way they seemed to burn. "I just... I don't know what it is, but you're gettin' under my skin, Matt."
"A fluke? I bet ya' wanted it to be a fluke too," Matt returned with a small frown. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jersey and leant against the wall by the door. "Is there anyone 'sides Riggins ya' didn't just accidentally find an attraction for?" he asked, maybe a tiny bit of bitterness creeping into his tone now. He didn't want to be messed around again. Julie had hurt him too much, then Carlotta by leaving just when they got close. He couldn't take anymore teasing.
"Smash, but that never went very far after his mother caught us. Attraction ain't ever gonna be somethin' ya plan, anyway. I like you, okay? I liked talkin' to ya that night online, then at Jason's I was really enjoyin' talkin' to ya again. It was the first time we ever really talked, and we just clicked. Then that kiss happened and I guess I freaked out a little too much. I didn't mean to run, but I just... You're Julie's ex, and Landry's best friend. You shouldn't want me, same as I probably shouldn't want you." She wet her lips and let out a frustrated noise. "I do want ya, Matt. And I'm sorry."
"You're Landry's ex and he's my best friend!" Matt cried in frustration, rubbing his hand over his head. "I don't... how... I don't see how this can work."
"If I wasn't his ex would you... do you even like me?" Tyra asked, then held up her hand and started to pace a little. "I'm only askin' because I'm tryin' to work out if we should even try somethin' and just work it out as we go. I ain't lookin' for an ego stroke."
Matt watched her uncertainly. "I don't want ya' doin' to me what ya' did to Landry. I had enough of that with Julie. Dillon ain't big enough to have ya' both someone I'm tryin' to avoid."
"Good thing I'm in Austin then, huh?" Tyra joked, albeit wryly. She held Matt's gaze for a moment. "I'm not gonna do what I did to Landry. You and me don't have the same history. This is startin' off as... attraction. We ain't thrown together 'cause someone died."
Matt's hands disappeared back into his pocket. "Sure ya' ain't just lonely? 'Cause I'd get it if ya' were. Ya' just moved away from home, ya' hate ya' apartment, college is a lot to think about... all that. I'd get it. Everyone ya' usually hang with are all hooked up or goin' away."
Tyra reached out to touch Matt's cheek briefly before her hand was back down to her side, and she sighed. "I am lonely, but that ain't why. If it was just lonliness I'd stick to fuckin' random guys. But if ya really feel like that, I'll leave ya be. I don't wanna cause ya any trouble. Well, more than I have already."
Matt couldn't stop thinking about Landry and that guilt was back, niggling away in his gut. "I... I needa think about it," he finally said, not sure what else he could say without feeling like he was going to rush head first into something he would regret.
She gave a nod as she hooked her thumbs into her pocket and gave a shrug. "Sure, Matt. I get it... Say hi to ya grandma for me. I'm... I'll--I guess I'll talk to ya whenever. I'm gonna go back to Austin soon. Sorry for, ah, interruptin' ya night."
"That ain't fair, Tyra. But if ya' wanna just treat me like every other guy ya' wanna walk away from so ya' don't get hurt, go ahead. Doesn't mean I'm like them and doesn't mean I'm gonna just agree to this without tryin' to think what it's gonna mean when the shock of the fact we kissed is gone," Matt said and waved his hand a little. "Walkin' away always seems like an easy first choice, doesn't it? I don't even get the courtesy of some time 'cause ya' dunno know how to handle it when it's not fuckin' and runnin'."
Tyra stepped in close to Matt and dropped her voice. "You just said ya needed time. I'm givin' ya time, so don't bite my damn head off, Saracen. Just because I'm gonna go back to Austin doesn't mean ya can't reach me, or that I won't come back. I came here to Dillon because ya asked. You were the first person to want me back here. Don't ya think that means somethin'? So don't you dare put this back on me. I'm tryin' to give ya what ya just said ya wanted. If you wanna think while I sit here on ya porch, then I will if it proves that I ain't walkin' away."
Matt wasn't usually the argumentative sort, but this time, he just didn't seem to be able to let it drop. "Nah, ya' were just trying to save face before I turned around and fucked ya' over or hurt ya'," he guessed, recognising the forced indifference in her tone in her previous comment. "And I... I can't blame ya' for that. Not one bit. It ain't nice bein; fucked over, especially when ya' ain't done nothin' wrong."
Tyra dropped her gaze again as her shoulders slumped. Why was Saracen getting under her skin so damn easily? "You're not supposed to know me this well yet," she replied quietly. "But yeah, you're right. Same as you wanna protect yourself from bein' hurt, too. Maybe since we both know what it feels like we'll take better care not to hurt each other if we can help it."
Matt glanced at the door of his house, almost as if expecting his grandma to come out at any moment. "I wouldn't wanna hurt ya', anyway," he told her quietly.
"And I don't wanna hurt ya either like I said." Tyra leaned in to brush a kiss to his cheek. "I just don't wanna stay here in limbo and drive myself crazy. I'm sorry if that's selfish, but it's just me. I'm here for a couple more days, but then I really gotta get back to Austin."
Matt nodded. He took her hand and squeezed it, but it was a chaste touch. "I'll call ya'," he told her. "I will, either way."
Words: | Not binding on any Landry muses