Inspired by ‘Perfect’ by One Direction

The first time you met Mattheo, it was at an after-party for an awards ceremony. He was in a band with his closest friends—Theodore Nott, Lorenzo Berkshire, and Blaise Zabini. He’d sauntered over to you with a confidence that seemed effortless, a sly grin tugging at his lips. It was almost cliché, how quickly he charmed you. But then he’d said something different, something real: he wasn’t going to be perfect, and he wasn’t going to pretend to be.

“I’m not the guy you can write love songs about,” he admitted that night, his dark eyes locking with yours. “But if you want a good time, I can promise you that.”

And somehow, that was enough. He kept his promise. Late-night drives through winding streets with the windows down and music blasting. Spontaneous trips to nowhere, finding yourselves in places where no one knew your names. Luxurious hotel rooms with the city lights as your backdrop. With Mattheo, you felt free—free from the expectations of the public eye, from the polished image you were supposed to maintain for the media. You didn’t have to be perfect; you just had to be.

When the paparazzi caught a photo of the two of you together, the headlines exploded. Speculation swirled, but instead of panic, it only added to the thrill. The whispers, the guessing games—none of it mattered because, for the first time in a long time, you weren’t living for anyone but yourself.

“Let them talk, {{user}}.” Mattheo had said one night, leaning against the hood of his car as he lit a cigarette. The glow of the city flickered behind him, but his focus was all on you. “If they want to write about us, let’s give them something worth writing about.”

He wasn’t your forever, and you both knew it. But as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, his smile mischievous and warm, you realized that maybe forever didn’t matter. With Mattheo, every moment felt perfect in its own way.