A Step Too Close

Stella turned her back to Mathews, leaning against

the railing again, choosing to ignore him.

Not now. I have too much on my mind, she thought.

The cold night air should have helped calm her racing thoughts, but his presence made it impossible.

Mathews took a single step closer.

"I'm asking you"

Stella scoffed. "I don't feel like playing games"

She was still facing away from him.

Mathews hummed in amusement. "That's new" he mused, then paused "You used to be... very expressive in school"

Stella stiffened. She didn't know how to respond because it was true. She remembered how she used to linger around Mathews during break time and lunch, just hoping to catch a glimpse of him. In class, she would watch him intently, only to look away whenever he happened to glance in her direction.

"And you used to ignore me" she said. And she was right. This was the first time they had spent this much time interacting because back then, Mathews never paid attention to her.

Mathews turned to her, sharp eyes locked onto her. "I never ignored you. You just never tried hard enough"

Her breath caught. What was he saying? Her fingers tightened around the railing. "That's not true"

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Isn't it? You looked at me like you wanted to say something. But you never did"

Stella forced a laugh, shaking her head. "You're imagining things"

Mathews chuckled low and knowing. "Am I?"

She didn't answer. She could feel him standing closer behind her now, his presence sending a chilling sensation down her spine. She knew his eyes were on her.

It was different from the way she felt when Mathews was near. It was something else something she couldn't understand.

Mathews took another step until they stood side by side. Neither of them spoke

His smirk faded as he looked away, eyes fixed on the dark sky.

"This place doesn't feel like home, does it"

Stella blinked. That wasn't teasing. It was something else

A rare moment of honesty.

For a second, she saw past the Mathews everyone knew the cold, collected heir.

Behind the sharp remarks and unreadable smirks, there was something… she couldn't explain.

No. It doesn't.

She wanted to say but Stella found herself staring at Mathews, taken aback by his unexpected comment. She remembered seeing this side of him before a side that was both intriguing and unexpected. Memories of their first meeting in high school flooded back.

As a senior high school student, Stella had initially assumed Mathews was in college due to his height and demeanor. This was the moment her crush on him began.

For several days, Stella had been a regular in the school library, determined to complete a challenging science project. Each day, she occupied the same corner table, her workspace cluttered with open textbooks, scattered notes, and empty coffee cups. Her brow was often furrowed, lips pressed into a tight line, and she frequently sighed in exasperation. She would run her fingers through her hair, leaving it tousled, and occasionally rest her head in her hands, staring blankly at the pages before her.

One afternoon, as she was massaging her temples in an attempt to ward off a looming headache, a calm voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Need some help?"

Looking up, she saw Mathews standing across the table, a slight smirk on his lips. She blinked, momentarily speechless.

"I... uh... it's just this project" she stammered, gesturing to the chaotic spread of materials.

Mathews pulled out a chair and sat down, glancing over the papers. "Mind if I take a look?"

Surprised by his willingness to help, Stella nodded. As they delved into the project, Mathews explained complex concepts with ease, his confidence evident in his tone. Stella listened intently, occasionally stealing glances at him, admiring his focus and intelligence.

At one point, their hands brushed while reaching for the same book. Stella felt a jolt, quickly pulling her hand back, her cheeks flushing. Mathews noticed but didn't comment, though a hint of amusement danced in his eyes.

As the library's closing time approached, they managed to finalize the project's outline. Stella felt a mix of gratitude and admiration.

"Thank you, Mathews. I couldn't have done this without you" she said sincerely.

He shrugged, a modest gesture. "It was nothing" then smiled.

Stella smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her.

*----*

The cold wind continued to blow against them, tousling Stella's hair. She had been gazing at Mathews for several minutes, lost in thoughts of their first interaction.

Mathews noticed Stella looking at him, seemingly deep in thought. Under the silvery moonlight, her features appeared delicate. Her skin glowed softly, and her lips parted slightly, as if on the verge of speaking.

As he continued to observe her, a few strands of hair fell across her face, accentuating the curve of her cheek. Without thinking, he reached out to gently tuck the hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her warm skin. The brief contact sent a subtle shiver through him, a sensation he couldn't quite ignore.

Due to the sudden skin contact, Stella shivered and averted her gaze from Mathews, embarrassed by her body's reaction to the simple touch of his fingers. Mathews had really a different effect on her.

Mathews continued to look at her, while she avoided his gaze, feeling the awkwardness of the moment.

As they stood on the balcony, the tension between them was broken by a voice from inside the mansion.

"Mathews! Are you out there?" a woman's voice called, sounding impatient.

Mathews frowned, looking annoyed. He glanced toward the voice but didn't reply.

Stella stepped back, the moment between them interrupted. She looked at the balcony door, then back at Mathews.

"Maybe you should go" she said softly, barely audible.

Mathews paused, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment. Then, with a quick nod, he turned and walked back into the mansion, leaving Stella alone on the balcony. The night air now felt much colder.