A Numb Nutshell

Chapter 10 ~ It's Time

Matthieu immensely comforted me, holding my head to his chest, keeping me close. Without me caring, he picked me up just enough for him to sit on the chair, me on his lap. And there I lay, in a pile of hysterical crying and anger. And that is how I lay for minute after minute, until I lay calm enough to gather any remaining emotion and strength I had left from the past who-knows-how-many hours. That's when Officer Wellings came into the room.

"Erin, there's something you should know, about your father. He's—" he gets cut off.

"Right..here..officer. I just wanted to see my daughter before the chance was too late. I haven't seen her in nearly a decade. I'm ready to go back now, and I'm fully open to any punishment prepared for me." Klark says, the look of unsettlement clear on his face. He put his arms up in the air and took a few steps forward. "I know you're gonna have to" he says as he turns around, crossing his arms behind his back.

Officer Wellings took this as an invitation, as he hesitantly took his hand cuffs out, putting them on the only other adult over the age of 30 in the room.

Before they walk out, Officer Wellings turns around, directly to Matt and I, who are still on the chair. "I think you might want these, but only because I can trust you to stay put until I get back. So here," he says, taking two sets of cuff-keys out of his pocket, tossing one set to Matt and I. "Keep them, but Erin, I'm trusting you to do the right thing here. Make like a pup and stay." We exchange chuckles and he walked out.

Hesitantly, I glance at the keys in Matt's hand. I look up at him to match his gaze, only, his gaze wasn't on the keys, nor on me at all, he was smiling to the rest of the gang. I turn around to see what was making him so happy, but as I turned, they all had the same smile, as if someone said something to cheer each other up, or did something sweet. Then it clicked. Matthieu and I are still sitting in the chair.

I turn back to Matt, catching his attention. "Do you think they're onto us?" I whisper, so the others couldn't hear.

"I dunno doll, do you wanna tell them yet?" He whispers back, sure not to let them see.

"Do you, I mean, it's up to you. We don't have to tell 'em if you don't want to" I rub the nape of my neck, nervous as to what my friends would say if they found out that my lifelong bestfriend and I, no no no, they'll be okay with it, won't they?

"There's no need to be nervous babygirl, you know that, right? Cameron, Beth and the other broads of the group have been asking when I'm gonna 'make a move' and, I think now is when I'm going to." He smiles ever so sweetly, causing those butterflies to come back.

This is it? This is when we're gonna tell them? How?

That's when I got lifted. Matt picked me up and stood up, allowing me to stand alongside him. He fiddled with the key to allow my left hand free from captivity, and allowing me full movement in the room. Everyone cheered a bit when the cuff clicked and released. And of course, that's when he made the move.

He moved in slowly, stepping softly a few times before grasping my waist. This obviously caught my attention, so I look up at him. I smiled nervously, and looked back down at my feet. I can feel the others staring, they know something is going to happen, I know they do.

He brings his hands up to the side of my face, lifting softly to once again make eye contact. And that's when it happened; his face softly crashing into mine, his lips; dancing with mine. We move as one as he picks me up by the waist, sitting me down on the table, the kiss deepens. He swipes his tongue on my bottom lip, nervously, I oblige. Slowly, our tongues play, dancing like fire in the wind. My hands move from Matt's wrists to his chest; his left now on the back of my neck, but his touch, lighter than a feather. We slow down, a little, than all together; Matt, pecking my nose and resting his forehand against mind, slightly panting.

I flutter my eyes open to match his clear blue ones. His face was a beautiful pale red, nearly a perfect shade of angel. He smiles softly, his bright smile shining nearly as bright as the sun.

I nearly forgotten the rest of the gang was in the room, until Beth coughed, one of those 'hey look I'm still here' kind of coughs. I leaned over to the side, to see around Matthieu.

"So..." she drags on. "When did this happen?" She squealed.

"About an hour after we got here" Matt pipes up, not turning around; nor lessening his hug-slash-grip on me. Although, to be fair I think he has a little chicken in his pants that may or may not wish to say hi.

"What?" She squeaks. "And you didn't tell me sooner?"

"She..We..Wanted to wait. We didn't want anything to extreme to happen in a place like this, so please, Beth, keep it down."

Her only response was a giggle and an eye roll.

"Heh-hey" said Cameron, Jack and Daniel at the same time, like usual.

"Our man is finally gonna get some" Jack.

"Our little man is finally growing up" Daniel, making a pouting face.

"It's about bloody-well time" Christian muttered.

Beth cuts in, giggling "virgin-boy", causing a hard glare from Matt, and an elbow to the boob from Cameron.

"Guys, cut it out, this is why we didn't wanna tell you yet. We knew you'd get like this." I say, trying to stay calm; regardless of how badly I wanted to snap on all of them. As Matt is about to say something in response, looking rather irritated, a knock on the door, followed by the doorknob turning cut him off. In walked Officer Wellings, along with the two female officers from earlier.

"Let's go, it's your turn, Erin. Time to go in front of Judge Turner."