My fists were bloody by the time I was finished at Leila's studio and were wrapped in white bandages by the time I placed them on the steering wheel to drive myself back to my dorm.
Taryn wasn't there when I got in, so I was thankful I didn't have to face her after what had happened, two major press scandals occurring within the exact same day.
I didn't know if I had the stomach for classes the next day.
So when the time came for those classes, I stayed in bed.
I didn't get up to eat breakfast or lunch.
I slept until I couldn't sleep anymore, the headache and nausea from oversleeping weighing so heavily on me that my legs refused to move themselves from the bed.
I didn't answer my phone, not for my best friends, my family, or my friends-with-benefits rebound sort-of-boyfriend who was clearly concerned about me.
He only started calling and texting when he'd heard from V and Eli that I hadn't been responding to them.
That was when the knocking on the door began.
Phoebe was begging me to let her in, so I called out to her to leave me alone, just so she'd be able to tell everyone else that at least I was still alive.
"I need a mental health day. I'm not talking to anyone, and I'm not leaving this bed."
She huffed audibly through the door but conceded to my wishes anyway.
I wished she hadn't, but it was definitely a good thing she didn't question me.
It was most definitely not a 'mental health' day.
After four o'clock, however, I got up.
I took a shower.
I washed my hair.
I shaved my legs.
I used that new body scrub I loved.
I used a face mask.
I dried off and put on nail polish.
I used a special cream moisturizer on my skin until I was glowing.
I applied makeup for the first time since the photoshoot/interview.
I artfully applied mascara and bronzer and illuminating powder and shiny lip tint and glittery eye shadow and sprayed myself with a glowing spritz until I was a walking glow advertisement.
I lathered my body in sweet smelling lotion and topped it off with the matching perfume.
I oiled up my legs and my chest until they, too, glowed and were as smooth as a newborn baby's skin.
I indulged in my self care routine until there was nothing left to do with my hands, until I was completely and totally distracted-out.
I had nothing left to do but pick out an outfit.
The black miniskirt had a slit in the side that I usually hated but in this state, it was perfect.
I slipped on some black sheer tights underneath, however, just to make sure I didn't have a wardrobe malfunction and flash the entire world my underwear.
I topped everything off with the blue tank top that I'd been wearing the night Matthew kissed me in the nightclub, unknowing that it was his best friend's little sister that he'd been claiming.
Taryn came through the door at half past seven that evening while I was putting the finishing touches on my outfit, running a straightener through my long hair a few times to make sure there weren't any stray waves.
"Wow. Um, you look hot."
"Thanks. Sorry I've bee in and out lately, it's been crazy in my life recently."
She laughed, placing her book bag and rain jacket on the desk chair on her side of the room.
Her side was decorated with posters and pictures and had loving touches from home, whereas I hadn't gotten around to the decoration portion of my move-in.
"Don't worry about it. I saw everything that happened yesterday on the news. I'm sorry your family's going through all that."
"Thanks, that means a lot Taryn. I know we probably didn't get a good chance to get to know each other, but I'd really like to be friends. If that's okay with you, I mean."
The smile on her face grew three sizes before she strode over to me and threw her arms around my shoulders.
"Oof," I wheezed out as her body made full impact with mine, but I didn't pull away.
"Sorry, I'm a hugger."
I couldn't help but laugh with her as she pulled back, looking embarrassed and a little sheepish.
I didn't think twice before hugging the girl again, her arms tightening around me like she was happy I hadn't made fun of her.
"I think I'm a hugger too."
Or at least I was becoming one. They were nice when they weren't forced in public for show or for social workers.
I still had yet to be that forward with physical affection, except with Matthew. With Matthew, I gave him my all.
Which was why, instead of spiraling out of control and going to jump the cliffs in the pouring rain and possibly freeze to death, I made a new decision for myself.
One that wasn't based off the trauma others had inflicted upon me.
A decision that showed to me how utterly prepared I was to be healed.
Just because you wanted something didn't make it true, though, which was why I'd almost fallen into my old patterns the day before.
My bruised and scabbed up knuckles were proof of that, after all.
"Okay, well, let me get out of your hair. Looks like you've got somewhere to be on a Tuesday night."
I pulled away from Taryn and my cheeks immediately heated.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm going to see my--to see Matthew. I've been avoiding him all day so I'm sure he'll be wanting an apology."
"Looks like you'll be giving him a whole lot more than an apology."
Taryn wiggled her dark eyebrows at me and I couldn't help but laugh at how emotive her face became when she was trying to be funny.
"Maybe, maybe not. I'd be happy just to sit and cuddle, honestly."
Unless he wanted other things. If he wanted other things, I wouldn't deny him at all.
I didn't think there was a bone in my body that could ever deny Matthew Thornberry.
He had been there all along, dug deep underneath my marrow and scar tissue, just waiting for the moment when I would finally, finally take that next step and fess up about what it was that I was feeling.
Maybe tonight would be that night.
I had on my armor (make up) and I was dressed to the nines.
I slipped on the heeled boots next to the door and Taryn wolf whistled at me.
I mock saluted her like I was a soldier going off to war.
"Don't forget to use protection!"
A carefree laugh fell out of my mouth of its own volition and I was halfway out the door, wondering who the hell this happy, spirited, laughing girl was and where she'd come from.
My car was halfway to Matthew's when I called him over the speaker of my car.
"Elodie, thank fuck. What happened? Why weren't you answering anyone?"
"Didn't Phoebe tell Eli? I assumed he'd tell you what she said. I just needed a break from people for a day, a day to myself and my thoughts, I'm sorry if I worried you."
"No, your brother didn't tell me anything, no matter how many times I spammed his phone or banged on his fucking door."
Matthew sounded erratic, like he'd been going half out of his mind.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm supposed to be asking you that question. You scared me half to death, baby."
"Would it help if I said I was almost to your place? That's okay right?"
He paused, the silence on the other end of the line scaring me more than it should've.
"Matthew?"
He blew out a breath of air I didn't know he'd been holding in.
"Of course that's okay, baby, it's fucking perfect actually. I was just freaking out for half a second because my apartment looks like shit. You can't judge me, alright?"
"You haven't judged me, yet. I would never. Besides, remember a few years ago when you walked in my room and it looked like a tornado had just ran through it?"
He laughed absentmindedly, quickly rummaging through things like he was cleaning quickly.
"Babe?"
"Hmm?"
I couldn't help but laugh again at his distractedness.
"I'm not wearing any underwear."
"That's nice, El. When will you be--wait. Say that again."
"I'm not wearing any underwear. Or a bra."
I could practically hear the shudder that escaped Matthew and I could barely hold back the laugh.
"I'm not even going to bother making the bed now."
"Good. Go open a bottle of wine instead. I'm fifteen away."
"Fuck the wine. I'm opening you as soon as you walk through that door."
"Even better."
There was a pause, and I could almost taste the question on top of Matthew's tongue.
"You're really okay, though? Like, you didn't do anything crazy?"
"Well...I might've gone to the studio and messed up my knuckles, but that was it. I went home and slept it off and stayed in bed until three at least."
"So, this isn't you coming over to try and be reckless? You really want this?"
I knew this would be a question Matthew would ask.
He was worried that he would be taking advantage of my mental state, of wanting to 'self destruct' as Eli had so eloquently put it the night before. It had made Matthew think hard about what we'd been doing together, apparently, but I guessed he still needed a little reassurance.
"I meant what I said last night, Matthew. You're not a distraction, or a way for me to self destruct. I would be perfectly fine with just hanging out, laying in your arms. If you're worried about it, I can sleep in your guest room tonight."
"I just don't know if I'm ready to do everything with you tonight."
"That's totally fine with me. I didn't have any expectations for tonight, anyway. We can literally just watch a tv show or a movie on your couch, but I just wanted to see you. Is that still okay?"
"Of course it is, I just wanted us to be on the same page for tonight."
He most likely wanted to gauge my mental state before doing anything which I definitely respected, but from the need in his voice from earlier on in the conversation, I knew it would be a lesson in restraint for the both of us.
"So...looks like you're opening that wine bottle then, Matthew."
He groaned on the other end of the line, and we continued the conversation a bit about how his coach had taken the article (well, Matthew was already officially off suspension) and his ten thousand new Instagram followers that he'd gained after everything the day before and then I was pulling into the parking garage of his building.
"Alright, I'm here."
"Good. Get your cute ass up here."
"Aye aye, captain."
"Captain? Maybe we could do a pirate role play-"
"Matthew!"
"What?"
"Weren't you the one who said you weren't ready for all that not even ten minutes ago?"
"Huh? Oh, that. Yeah, I just meant like, in general. Like, you could dress up like a captain for Halloween."
"Mhmm," I murmured noncommittally, but by the time he was preparing a new argument, the doors to the elevator were opening and then I was strolling down the hallway to Matthew's door.
"Let me in," I said loudly through the crack in the door in a fake demon voice.
Matthew fake screamed into the phone and I couldn't help laughing as he opened the door with his arms up and his body in a fighting stance.
One look at my clothes and the amount of makeup I had on, however, and all smiles fell from his face.
"You're trying to fucking kill me."
"No I'm not. I was planning on going to a club but then I decided to come here at the last second. See? Progress."
I whooshed past him and his gorgeous body into his half way cleaned apartment and chuckled as he took my body in one more time.
"Nope. Definitely trying to kill me."
***
A/N:
What did you guys think of this chapter??
I decided to do a little fluff writing since things were getting a little dark there...
What do you think will happen next?
What do you WANT to happen next??
As Rebound is slowly coming to a close, I'm working on 2, yes, that's right, TWO NEW BOOKS that are coming to Wattpad very soon!
Once Rebound is finished, these books will be going live!
More info coming soon, but if you're enjoying Rebound, then you'll love these stories!
Until next time my lovely readers,
Kristen :)