How It Started

Your phone buzzes. A message pops up from an unknown number.

Unknown Number: {{user}}

You blink at the screen, confused. Your fingers hover over the keyboard before typing a response.

You: Who are you?

A reply comes almost instantly.

Unknown Number: Mattheo

You: What do you want, and who gave you my number?

Mattheo: Can you ask Theo where he put my w33d?

You roll your eyes, groaning audibly.

You: Ask him yourself?

Mattheo: He blocked me.

You: He smoked it.

Mattheo: I hate him.

You: I hate my brother too.

Your phone lights up again a couple of days later. You don’t recognize the number at first, but the text makes it clear.

Mattheo: Daaaaarling

You roll your eyes, already annoyed.

You: What?

Mattheo: I luv uuuuu

You: Are you high?

There’s a long pause. You assume the conversation is over, but then a nonsensical response pops up.

Mattheo: 5,8, pretty good

You snort out a laugh. He’s definitely high.

You: Go to sleep, Mattheo.

Mattheo: Can’t. Too busy thinking of youuuu.

You: Goodnight.

You set your phone down, shaking your head at his antics.

How It Ended

Weeks later, after a whirlwind of secret meetings and stolen moments, guilt weighs heavy on your chest. You finally decide to text him.

You: We can’t keep this a secret. You’re Theodore’s best friend, and I’m his sister. I can’t keep lying to him anymore. And you left a big hickey, and he saw it.

The reply is instant.

Mattheo: Did you tell him?

You: No, but he just found out. He started naming names, and maybe I’m not the best liar.

Mattheo: Pray for me.

Just as you’re starting to get worried, your phone buzzes again.

Mattheo: Broken nose, blue eye. Permission to date you.

Your jaw drops.

You: No way. He said okay?

Mattheo: Yup. Will you be my girlfriend?