It Was Never Over

AN: I was asked if I could move all my drabbles from tumblr to this site for easier viewing and as a result, I will be uploading each "drabble" (remember I used that word very, very loosely) as a chapter here in the order I believe they should be read in. For those who have followed me over from tumblr, this is what I referred to as school!mm, but will now be known as "It Was Never Over."


Prologue

It had been two years and the scent still made him pause.

That perfume that had so tortured him throughout his days at school, then becoming a sort of comfort when they grew closer so much so that it lingered on his clothing even when she had left him for the night.

It was the first thing he had noticed missing when she had gone. When it had all fallen apart and he had been left to muddle through. He was thankful that none of his other classmates ever had the courage to wear that particular scent because he wasn't quite sure he would have been able to handle it then.

It had been two years and he still was having a hard time handling the flashbacks that even a passing whiff of it gave him. It opened wounds he had long since had healed over, unearthed memories he long thought to be buried. A physical ache replaced the beat of his heart.

And just when he was sure he had moved on, was ready to move on, he was proved wrong.

Because now it wasn't the scent of her perfume that he sensed, but the woman herself walking towards him. She hadn't seen him yet, he was sure of it, but he definitely saw her.

Matthew wasn't sure if it would be worth just ducking his head and brushing past in the crowd of surging students. Would it be worth inflicting that pain on himself for just a chance to talk to her again? He wasn't sure it would be.

Fate had other plans.

When he finally decided to move in the opposite direction, the crush of students swelled and he couldn't go back, he could only walk forward, closer to her and closer to her with each and every footfall.

He kept his eyes straight ahead, determined not to fall into old traps of staring at her as he walked past, but even the best plans fall apart and now he was face to face to with ex-girlfriend he never wanted to become an ex with and he didn't know what to do.

"Hi." His throat felt dry and it was hard to swallow.

"Hi." She shuffled before him, crossing her arms over her chest quickly before dropping them back to her sides.

"I didn't, I mean, I wasn't aware you were a student here." He flexed the grip he had on the strap across his chest causing his messenger bag to bump against his side.

"Well, I am." He almost couldn't hear her over the hum around them.

"I should -"

"Do you think -"

Their words tumbled together and both stopped speaking.

"You first." Mary half smiled at him and he felt his heart jump unexpectedly.

"I should be getting to my next lecture." He watched her face fall and felt his own spirits match hers.

"Right. Of course." She shook her head, smiling widely at him. "I'm sorry to have kept you." Mary moved to brush past him but he couldn't let her leave like that.

"What were you going to say?" And she paused before turning back towards him.

"Just that I think it would be nice to get some coffee. And if you wanted to accompany me." She added a little unnecessarily. "But you have a lecture, so I'm going to -"

"Yes." It wasn't really a decision. Of course he was going to say yes. He wasn't going to let this chance to be near her past, not now that he had a taste of it again.

"But your lecture?" She quirked her brow at him.

"I'll get the notes from someone else." He shrugged, smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I could use some coffee."

"Okay." She nodded slowly as if it were taking her a moment to work out what had just happened. "I know of this little shop that serves the best tea and coffee." Matthew fell into step with her as they made their way through the maze of buildings. He resisted the urge to take her free hand that was swaying at her side, or to even place his hand on the small of her back. "I didn't think I would ever see Matthew Crawley ditch class." He looked over at her as he realized he missed the thread of the conversation.

"A lot can happen in two years." The words hit their mark.

"I know." She didn't falter, the only sign that she registered his meaning was the slight frown gracing her features.

"People change." He continued and she just nodded. The desire to touch her was growing by the minute. "But not all things change." He added after a lengthy pause causing Mary to look up at him sharply.

"Not all things." She repeated.

"Not the important things." He confirmed. Mary didn't say anything at that, but the smile she threw his way said it all.

This thing between them, whatever it was now, it wasn't over. It was never over.


AN: More to come! Have any of you noticed that I post faster when I hear from you? Hmmm, interesting coincidence...