CHAPTER THIRTEEN !
⤷ ❝ YES MA'AM. ❞
matt sturniolo
zar
matt sturniolo
zar
matt sturniolo
zar
matt sturniolo saved a snap in chat!
zar is typing...
zar
| cornball
matt sturniolo
| ?
zar
| saving in chat
| so middle school
matt sturniolo
| save in chat wasn't a feature in middle school
zar
| good thing
| lord knows u would've played those girls like a fiddle
| forever tainting their idea of relationships at 12
matt sturniolo
| 😭😭😭
| cut me some slack PLEASE
zar
| sorry no
| u will forever be a villain in my eyes
matt sturniolo
| is that why u found out from me about the bar
| and not from the great grayson holmes
zar
| if i didn't need u for a project u would've been blocked by now
matt sturniolo
| *if i wasn't so sexy
zar
| i really hope u don't act like this anywhere else
matt sturniolo
| i'm joking 😕😕😕
| i just like making jokes about grayson
| it's just so easy to do
zar
| narcissists tend to be good at things like that
matt sturniolo
| woah big word there zar
zar
| aw did u have to sound it out
matt sturniolo
| no
| i passed english 101 with flying colors thank u very much
zar
| wow aren't u a smarty
matt sturniolo
| i am
zar
| are u almost done with your pretend lift
matt sturniolo
| it wasn't pretend 👎👎👎
| but yeah i'm about to leave rn
zar
| k
| i'm in the parking lot
matt sturniolo
| k
zar
| k
matt sturniolo
| k
ZARA SITS IN HER CAR, parked near the athletic facilities of the ucla campus, the early morning sun casting long shadows across the sidewalks. with a kali uchis song playing softly in the background, she leans back against the seat, her gaze fixed on the steady stream of people passing by.
she's people watching, but not in the weird way. just going to college there's so many different people from all different walks of life. it's intriguing to her.
a group of students walk by, their backpacks slung over their shoulders as they chatter animatedly about something. zara imagines them arguing about who's going to be the designated driver for the next party.
a professor strides purposefully down the path, a stack of papers tucked under one arm as they mutter to themselves, lost in thought. zara wonders about the ideas swirling in their mind, the research projects and academic pursuits that drive their passion for knowledge. she wonders what evil assignment they have due at 11:59 pm.
her focus shifts as she spots matt approaching from the side of the athletic facilities. he's accompanied by a girl from the women's soccer team, and zara recognizes her instantly. The girl is flirting shamelessly with matt, her hand lingering on his arm as she laughs at something he says. zara rolls her eyes at the sight.
classic matt. even in the early hours of the morning, he manages to attract attention without even trying. zara remembers when that used to be her and just shakes her head.
she doesn't have a clue in the fucking world.
after a few more moments of animated conversation, matt bids farewell to the soccer girl with a charming smile and a casual wave. as she walks away, still smiling and tossing her hair, matt turns his attention to his own car parked nearby.
he strides over with the stupid confidence he always has. tossing his bag into the car, he scans the parking lot, his eyes searching for zara's car.
zara, noticing matt's search, decides to make her presence known. she leans on the horn of her car, causing matt to jump slightly in surprise. a smirk spreads across her face as she watches him, earning a playful glare from matt in return.
with a shake of his head, matt starts walking towards zara's car. despite the glare, there's a hint of that... thing in his eyes. the thing that lets zara know that he secretly enjoys zara's antics.
he's such an idiot.
upon arrival at the passenger seat, he opens the door and climbs into the passenger seat. "seriously, z? was the horn necessary?" he asks, as he starts strapping himself into the car.
zara shrugs innocently. "you were taking forever," she retorts, reaching over to her apple carplay to skip the song lil baby song that slipped into the playlist. probably from xavier. "i was starting to think you got lost."
matt rolls his eyes, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "or maybe you were just jealous that i was having such a riveting conversation with ashley," he says, referring to the girl from the soccer team.
zara scoffs, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "riveting?" she says, with an insulting, degrading tone in her voice. "you're finally using bigger words."
matt shrugs as he reaches up to run a hand through his hair. he blows on the pieces that still fall over his eyes as he turns to look at zara. "i opened a book recently," he quips, winking playfully at her. "recommendation from one of the gals."
zara rolls her eyes, reaching over to her gear stick to put the car back in driver. matt is jokingly, but zara can see something like that very clearly being the truth. "right, because being literate is so sexy," she retorts, shaking her head and pulling out of her parking spot.
"i could see it being the next trend," matt responds with a shrug. zara shoots him a glare before focusing on the road ahead.
as they drive, matt casts a sidelong glance at her, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "so, remind me again what this project is about?" he asks, toying with some of the bracelets on his wrist.
"it's about shaping your image as a future professional athlete," she explains. "basically, i have to make you seem like the next big thing in sports to my professor and some of her book club friends."
matt nods thoughtfully as he leans back in his seat. he puts a hand behind as head and begins nibbling on his thumb out of habit. "so, it's all about making me look good, huh?" he muses. "you say that like it's gonna be hard."
"it's not just that, matt" she continues, glancing at him briefly before returning her focus to the road. "it's more than just appearances. it's about crafting a narrative around you, building your brand, and creating a connection with your fans in this made-up world."
matt arches an eyebrow, intrigued by her words. "and how exactly do you plan to do that?" he asks, genuine curiosity coloring his tone.
zara smiles, glad to have piqued his interest. "well, it starts with showcasing your skills and personality on and off the field," she explains, her voice tinged with enthusiasm. "we'll work on building your social media presence, securing 'endorsement' deals, and making you a classic household name."
matt listens intently, nodding along as zara outlines her strategy. "so kind of like jack hughes? being loved by everyone?" he questions. zara nods and matt clicks his tongue. "looks like i'm gonna have to start studying some of chris's interviews!"
"probably," she replies, not even sparing him a glance. "but anyway, we have a lot of work to do so you actually have to focus when we're working on this."
matt feigns offense, placing a hand over his heart in mock hurt. "i'm hurt that you think i don't know how to lock in," he says, pretending to be wounded. "i thought you thought highly of me."
"eh," she says, a playful glint in her eyes.
matt gasps pretending to be genuinely upset. "honestly you should be happy that i'm already a charismatic and entertaining guy." he shrugs and sits back in his seat once more. "can't say the same for some people i know."
zara raises an eyebrow. "cry me a river."
"oh, i will." matt sighs dramatically. "you know, next time you can just choose grayson for this project." zara rolls her eyes at the mention of grayson. "at least with him, you won't have to worry about getting distracted with him," he teases, knowing full well how much it irks zara. "he's not that funny."
"fuck you."
zara's eyes widen immediately as she realizes her slip of the tongue. she immediately regrets her choice of words.
matt turns to look at her and zara has no choice but to look back at him. they're at a red light and she can feel the smirk playing at his lips. "i don't think we've ever had sex in your car before, but hey," matt shrugs. "there's a first time for everything."
zara takes a deep breath, trying to suppress the heat rising to her cheeks as she looks away from matt. he's always been the cockiest, most delusional person on the planet. he never fails to bring up their past as if it's all just jokes to him.
"shut up, matt," she mutters under her breath.
but matt, being matt, continues, unfazed by their past. "actually" he says with a smirk, leaning in slightly to catch her gaze. "i do remember that time in my car when—"
zara's eyes widen as matt begins to allude to a particular instance from their past. she knows exactly what he's referring to, and she wants nothing more than to shut down the conversation before it goes any further.
without hesitation, zara reaches out and places her hand over matt's mouth, effectively silencing him. she shoots him a warning glare, silently conveying that she doesn't want him to finish that sentence.
matt's eyes widen in surprise at her sudden action, but he quickly realizes why she's done it. zara can tell he's smirking from underneath her hand. he's one of those absolutely crazy men who like stuff like this.
"you're done talking for the rest of the car ride," she says firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
matt tries to respond, his words muffled by zara's hand. after a moment, zara relents and removes her hand, allowing matt to speak.
"yes ma'am," matt says with a playful grin, his eyes dancing with mischief. "i'll behave."
"good," she replies, turning her attention back to the road. she sighs and reaches over to the car's stereo and turns up the volume, drowning out any further attempts at conversation. matt takes the hint and settles back in his seat, content to enjoy the music for the remainder of the journey.
zara and matt sit outside this boutique at a small table strategically placed against a backdrop of lush greenery. the vibe is exactly what zara had envisioned—a perfect setting for the mock interview she's about to conduct with matt.
zara fusses over the setup, adjusting the camera angle and checking the lighting to ensure everything looks just right. matt watches her with amusement, knowing how particular she can be when it comes to these things.
"are we good to go?" matt asks, smiling with amusement as he watches zara meticulously arrange the scene.
zara glances up from behind the camera, her brow furrowed in concentration as she inspects the scene. "almost," she replies, her voice soft yet determined. "just need to make sure the lighting is perfect."
matt chuckles, leaning back in his chair as he watches her work. "i always forget that you're a perfectionist."
zara shoots him a glare before turning her attention back to the camera. "attention to detail is key," she retorts, her tone laced with mock seriousness.
as zara continues to adjust the lighting, she notices all the stray locks of hair falling across matt's forehead and above his head. she scrunches up her face in annoyance, realizing that his disheveled hair might ruin the aesthetic she's going for.
"matt, your hair looks too messy," she says. "it's distracting."
matt laughs, reaching up to run a hand through his hair in an attempt to smooth it down. "sorry zar," he apologizes, flashing her a sheepish grin. "i just had a lift, you know."
zara sighs, shaking her head in exasperation. she can't let his unruly hair ruin the whole setup. she walks over to where matt is seated, standing in front of him to get a better angle.
"let me do it," she says firmly, her hands reaching out to gently rearrange his hair.
matt doesn't complain, he just drops his hands to his side and let's her take over. "okay."
as zara's fingers brush against matt's hair, she can't help but feel a subtle tension in the air. she doesn't like it, but there's always tension when she's around matt. there isn't really anything she can do about that. matt has been someone to see her in her most... vulnerable state.
she just focuses on the task at hand, avoiding eye contact as she carefully adjusts his locks. her fingers delicately thread through matt's hair, gently coaxing the unruly strands into place.
after a few moments of meticulous adjustment, zara steps back to assess her handiwork. matt tilts his head slightly, his gaze fixed on her with a grin.
"well?" he prompts, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "how do i look?"
zara surveys him for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. "better," she concedes, a hint of approval in her voice. "still ugly, but it'll work."
matt just laughs as zara moves away from him. "such a liar."
zara takes a deep breath, trying to push away whatever that was. "alright, stop smiling like that," she says. "nothing is funny when we have work to do."
matt chuckles softly. "okay, zara."
she takes a seat next to matt, adjusting the camera one last time before pressing the record button. the red light blinks to life, signaling the start of the interview.
"alright," zara says, her voice taking on a professional tone. she clears her throat. "we're rolling."
matt nods, a playful glint in his eyes. "ready when you are."
zara gives him a pointed look, silently warning him to keep the banter to a minimum. "let's start with something easy," she suggests, flipping through the notes on her phone. "tell me about your journey as an athlete so far."
matt leans back in his chair, adopting a thoughtful expression. he puts a hand on his chin and crosses his legs as if he's really thinking. "well, it all started when I was a kid," he begins, launching into his rehearsed. "i didn't really start playing sports because i liked it, it was really just for my brothers. whether it was kicking a ball around, playing random games of horse, golf with my dad. i was always around sports."
zara nods, her attention fully focused on matt as he begins to recount his journey. she listens intently, occasionally interjecting with follow-up questions to guide the conversation and draw out more detailed responses.
as matt speaks, zara can't help but notice the genuine passion and dedication in his voice. even though this is pretend, zara can tell he really means what he's saying.
"sounds like you've had quite the journey," zara remarks, nodding in approval. "what would you say has been the biggest challenge you've faced so far?"
matt pauses for a moment, considering his response. "honestly, it's been the injuries," he admits, his expression turning more serious. "dealing with setbacks and having to sit on the sidelines while my teammates are out there competing—it's tough, you know? but it's also made me appreciate the game even more and taught me the importance of hard work and discipline."
zara nods empathetically, pretending to be jotting down notes on her phone as matt continues to speak. "absolutely," she agrees, offering him a supportive smile. "and how do you stay motivated during those challenging times?"
matt leans forward, his gaze soft. "i just have a really good support group," he replies. "they remind myself why i started playing in the first place and to focus on the bigger picture. every setback is just another opportunity to come back stronger."
as the interview progresses, matt continues to deliver thoughtful and articulate responses, showcasing not only his passion for the sport but also his ability to articulate his experiences and challenges. zara finds herself nodding along, occasionally interjecting with prompts to keep the conversation flowing.
even though she didn't want to admit it, matt is really good at this.
finally, as they wrap up the interview, zara gives matt a high-five. "you did really good," she compliments him, a smile spreading across her face. "thanks for helping me out with this."
matt returns her smile, a sense of satisfaction evident in his expression. "anytime," he says. "it was actually kind of fun."
zara arches an eyebrow at matt's response, a hint of skepticism in her expression. "you mean that?" she asks, unable to resist teasing him.
matt nods, standing up from his spot. he stretches his arms over his head and zara is sure to keep her eyes on his face. "'course," he says with a grin. "i got to do it with you."
zara rolls her eyes at his cheesy remark. one thing about matt is that he is always going to find a way to flirt. always. "you're an idiot."
matt just laughs, unfazed by her playful insult. "yeah, but you love me anyway."
"you wish."
at one point, zara actually did.
dgafmatt
zexyzar
liked by notsosherlockholmes, zexyzar, and 355 others
dgafmatt met snoop dog today feeling really good about it
tagged - ///
comments
user THE LAST PHOTO LMFAO
zexyzar i actually can't believe i met my king
↳dgafmatt accurate
goldengirlwannabe no photo creds on the last photo automatic block
↳dgafmatt sorry nick sturniolo photography
user THIS ISN'T REAL
rainirodriguezbaby why are we glossing over the fact that you met snoop ?
↳dgafmatt that's what i'm saying
user is this his gf?
↳notsosherlockholmes no lol she's mine
↳dgafmatt 😂
d1chrizzgod WHY DIDN'T YOU FACETIME ME
↳dgafmatt um
troyboltonwifeyreal zara looking exotic in slide two
↳sims4addict real
↳zexyzar it was windy.
user why is this giving messy matt
↳dgafmatt idk
topher 🤓
topher 🤓 ─── chris
mattykins 😘😜 ─── matt
topher 🤓
matt
why are u being messy rn
mattykins 😘😜
?
topher 🤓
posting zara
are we serious
mattykins 😘😜
can i not post my friends anymore???
topher 🤓
no
not zara
mattykins 😘😜
why not
she's my friend
topher 🤓
she has a bf
mattykins 😘😜
okay
when lena had a bf i posted her
topher 🤓
entirely different scenario
mattykins 😘😜
don't think so!
topher 🤓
what are u over being messy forrrr
mattykins 😘😜
i'm not being messy
i hung out with her because she needed help on a project
we met snoop
so i posted about it
no malicious intent
topher 🤓
the comment asking if she was your girlfriend
why did u not reply until grayson did
mattykins 😘😜
didn't see it
topher 🤓
FIBBER
stop FIBBING
mattykins 😘😜
oh wow
topher 🤓
come home
it's done
leave zara alone
mattykins 😘😜
christopher energy arrived
topher 🤓
u are a clown
mattykins 😘😜
strong words from someone who professed his love on tv
topher 🤓
at least she doesn't have a bf
mattykins 😘😜
got me there!
topher 🤓
no more posting zara
please
mattykins 😘😜
no promises
topher 🤓
just sick
VAL SPEAKS
zara and matt are so 💞💞💞💞 until u remember zara has a bf and that matt is a whore