A/N: hello my lovelies! I'm so pleased with the excitement around this fic, because I'm growing very fond of it! I am planning out the next two or three chapters so hopefully updates shouldn't take tooooo long, although please bear in mind that I am writing these fics around quite a demanding job in the City and I always want to write the best chapters that I can, so it takes a bit of time sometimes (I received a small complaint about UR dragging out for too long, which I can sort of understand, but that is a particularly difficult fic to write!). But I really appreciate people taking the time to read and leave reviews/messages! Xxx
…
Lifting a finger to his nose, Matthew tried to stifle the sneeze that was threatening to erupt. Mary was still asleep, and he didn't want to wake her. More than that, though – he wasn't ready to be awake yet, needing some more time to recuperate after their marathon session. He couldn't remember ever feeling more exhausted; even being made to do cross-country as a chubby twelve year-old hadn't been this tiring. Then again, he shouldn't complain. Running around the school field three times was nowhere near as enjoyable as four rounds in bed with Mary Crawley. He smirked to himself, still unable to believe all the things they'd done last night. If she hadn't been in his bed with him, he would have presumed that the whole thing had been an animated dream.
The blankets were raised only up to her waist, giving him a view of her upper body and the way her muscles undulated under her smooth and inviting skin as she slowly stirred and stretched in her slumber. Tentatively, he reached over and very gently ran his index finger along the slight groove down the middle of her torso. She let out a breathy laugh and squirmed in her sleep. He smiled – she was ticklish.
Before he could decide how to tease her next, a sharp shrill tone vibrated through the air. His phone was ringing. Matthew clumsily flung an arm out towards his bedside table, only to find nothing there – he then remembered that he hadn't exactly followed his normal routine before retiring to bed last night, so his phone must still be in his trouser pocket. Fumbling around the pile of clothes on the floor, Matthew eventually found the source of the offending racket and, instead of rejecting the call and turning his phone off, instinctively answered without even checking who it was.
If Matthew Crawley learned anything that morning, it was that the sound of Tom Branson's drunk and chirpy voice echoing down the phone was enough to push any sexy thoughts out of his head.
"Matth-er-ewwww," Tom sang merrily. "How'z it going, brudda?"
"What?" Matthew whispered so as not to disturb Mary, although how she was still asleep after the piercing ringtone and his thrashing around to find his phone, he had no idea. "I don't understand you." He said, not bothering to conceal the fact that he was perturbed, even though Tom couldn't have known what he was interrupting.
"Why you being so quiet, Matty-boy?" Tom seemed to think that shouting down the phone would cure the lack of volume in Matthew's voice. "I don't think I've called you 'Matty-boy' before." Tom pondered out loud. Matthew sighed and closed his eyes resignedly. He'd had phonecalls like this before. "I quite like it." Tom continued. "Matty-boy. Matty-Matthiason. Matty-Matty-boom-boom-"
"Will you shut up?" Matthew blurted out impatiently. "What do you want? Why are you still drunk? It's almost 10am!" He practically hissed.
"Is it?" Tom sounded surprised. "We're only just on our way home. William and I – I mean, me and William – no wait,"
"I know what you mean." Matthew nudged Tom further along the conversation. "Look, this really isn't a good time-" Matthew began.
"No, wait! I have a great story for you!" Tom insisted.
"Fine." Matthew sighed, planning ways to throttle Tom if it transpired that this phonecall was in fact completely pointless.
"Yeah, so, we went out with a few of the boys, and then a few of those boys met a few girls…very pretty girls…and we had a bloody good time!" Tom said triumphantly.
But Matthew's attention was diverted elsewhere; Mary had turned to face him, still bleary-eyed. He had woken her up in a rather rude manner and he felt terrible. Far from glaring at him and kicking him out of bed as he expected, however, Mary moved a few inches across the small bed and slid herself up onto Matthew, a thoroughly mischievous smile gracing her face. The feel of her wonderfully soft breasts on his bare chest clouded Matthew's mind and he was suddenly short of breath.
"Matty, I'm telling you, these girls were flippin' awesome." Tom persisted, unaware that he had totally lost his audience. "They don't go to university, but they're not thick or anything - they're just so…carefree! D'you know what I mean?"
Matthew was only vaguely aware of the excited Irish voice in his ear, given that his throat was currently being sampled by Mary's tongue. His free hand clutched her back as she slowly kissed and sucked her way up his neck, her body rubbing against his as she moved. Matthew let out a low whine, but his best friend was oblivious to such subtleties.
"Matthew? Are ya there?" He boomed, wanting an immediate response to his dazzling tale. "Look, I know you don't like talking about girls much, but you really need to meet these ones! You'll love them. I promise you-"
"Hang up the phone." Mary whispered in Matthew's other ear, before nibbling on his ear-lobe.
"Listen, I need to go." Matthew managed to say, his lungs constricting further as he felt Mary's hand slip down his torso, towards his hip.
"Ah, Matthias, you're always so shy and reluctant when it comes to the fairer sex." Tom said fondly, as if speaking of an introvert little brother, clearly oblivious as to Matthew's current provocative position. "But you're not a little boy anymore. You're all grown now."
"Mmm, you certainly are." Mary cooed, in reference to the hardness she could feel against her thigh. Tom was apparently speaking so loudly that Mary could hear every word.
"Embrace your manhood!" Tom continued inspirationally.
"I'm sure I can help with that." Mary murmured, her tone dripping with mischief. Teasingly, she slowly walked her fingers downwards along Matthew's hip, building the anticipation.
"I need to go." Matthew rasped, quickly hanging up. Mary emitted a victorious little chuckle. "Sorry about that." Matthew said. "I didn't mean to wake-"
"Shh..." Mary hushed, easing his lips into hers and sucking gently. The sweetness of her kiss was in contrast to what her hands were doing, however.
Matthew let out a tortured moan at her ministrations, barely hearing his phone tumble to the floor with a loud thud.
...
Matthew was sat up in his bed, unable to wipe the wide grin off his face. The squeak of a closing tap informed him that Mary had finished showering (Matthew was one of the lucky students who'd been able to secure an ensuite; Mary, of course, was another one of those students). He awaited her reappearance like an eager puppy.
Mary emerged from the bathroom, with Matthew's spare towel wrapped around her like a mini-dress. She met Matthew's eyes and laughed.
"What?" He asked.
"You have a stupid grin on your face and your hair looks ridiculous." She smiled amusedly, walking over to the bed and perching herself on the edge, next to him.
"Well, I think you only have yourself to blame for both those things." Matthew replied wryly, enjoying the feel of her fingers running over his scalp and through his hair as she attempted to tame the mess.
"There. That's better." She said, pleased with herself as she sat back and appraised his neater hair. "I think you need to start investing in some hair gel." She advised, moving to stand up. Her movements were halted, however, by Matthew's hand grasping her arm and pulling her back down.
"Stay." He urged, daringly tugging at the knot on the towel. He was taken aback by his own boldness – he, the boy who had only plucked up the courage to ask out two girls in his entire life, was making moves on Mary Crawley!
"Matthew! Are you insatiable?" Mary exclaimed, although there was a twinkle in her eye that suggested that she quite enjoyed his insatiability.
Matthew merely raised an eyebrow enigmatically, letting his actions do the talking.
"I've only just had a shower. You'll make me untidy again." Mary protested feebly, gently pushing away the hand that had found its way through the gap in the towel and the lips that had found her neck.
"What you are doing tonight?" Matthew asked abruptly. He knew that Mary would have to leave soon - she had a commercial law lecture at 12pm, but he wanted to see her as soon as possible. They only had a few days left of term before they broke up for the Christmas holidays, and he was suddenly determined to ensure that he could arrive back home and proudly announce to his mother that he had a new girlfriend.
"Not much, why?" Mary frowned.
"Would you like to have dinner with me?" Matthew asked with a smile. It seemed a strange formality, to have to ask her like this, given all that they'd done.
Oddly, though, Mary didn't look very enthusiastic. In fact, she looked a little...scared, almost.
"Erm, well, I –" she stammered. Her eyes flitted around, as if she was nervous. But that couldn't be right - what on earth would she be nervous about? They'd known each other for a few years now, lived in the same accommodation block, spent most of the last fortnight together and spent the entirety of last night and this morning together, doing some very intimate things indeed. "I need to start packing tonight, you see." She said eventually.
Matthew frowned sceptically. "Mary, your housekeeper comes here to pack for you." Mary was the object of much mockery amongst their cohabitants for many reasons, one of which being that her parents' housekeeper always travelled to London the night before the last day of term specifically to 'assist' Mary with her packing and stayed overnight in a local hotel.
"Yes, but, I have much more to pack this term because of all the new books that I bought, so-"
"Mary, what's the matter?" Matthew interrupted her. It was obvious that she was making up excuses, but it was not obvious why.
Startled by the firmness of his tone, Mary looked up at him but did not respond.
"Why don't you want to have dinner with me?" He prompted.
"Because it sounds like you want to take me on a...date." Mary practically winced as she said the word.
"So? Is that so bad?" Matthew asked, trying not to get offended by her reaction. He couldn't understand why spending the night with him in his bed was fine, but having dinner in a restaurant would be too uncomfortable.
"It's just weird, Matthew!" Mary blurted out. "It's not what we do, we don't go on dates. Our relationship isn't like that-"
"Our relationship never involved rolling around naked together until last night but you seemed to enjoy that!" Matthew countered, but blushed slightly at his own words.
"That was different. Mary said assertively. We made a deal. Being a 'couple' together was not part of that deal!"
"If I remember correctly, the 'deal' depended on you getting a first, and correct me if I'm wrong but we didn't even wait to find that out, did we?" He pointed out. The hastiness of their actions seemed a clear indication to him that there was something between them besides pure lust, and dating seemed a natural step to take.
"It doesn't matter!" Mary persisted. "The point is that what we agreed - irrespective of when it was to happen - was to release the sexual tension between us and to have some excitement. We never agreed to pursue a relationship!"
"Alright, look, all I'm asking is for dinner." Matthew said calmly. He didn't want to completely scare her off by making her feel pressurised.
"Yes, but isn't the whole point of this dinner to start a relationship?" Mary raised an eyebrow in challenge.
"I don't understand why you're so opposed to the notion! We get along well...we clearly do that well." Matthew gestured towards the thoroughly rumpled bed-clothes.
"We do not get along that well, Matthew." Mary corrected him. "You're a smart-arse, for starters!"
"So are you!" Matthew snapped back.
"I am not a 'smart-arse'!" Mary gasped. "I'm just 'smart'." She folded her arms defensively.
"Only a smart-arse would say that." Matthew responded, trying to stop himself from smiling at her petulance, which he was beginning to find quite adorable. She narrowed her eyes at him but did not offer another argument. "I'm not going to bring you flowers or write you poetry or serenade you, if that's what you're worried about." He said, knowing how much she detested saccharine displays of affection. She didn't even like hugs. Mary remained silent. "We can even go somewhere low-budget if you want, to remove any trace of romanticism. I hear the Pizza Hut down the road has questionable standards of hygiene." He was happy to see Mary's lips quirk upwards at this, although she quickly schooled her expression into a more serious one.
"Fine." She shrugged reluctantly. "What time?"
"Please, try to contain your enthusiasm." Matthew joked, a smile broke through the scepticism on Mary's face. "How about 7.30pm? I'll come by your room."
"That works." Mary nodded. "Do I need to dress up?"
"Wear whatever you want. Although that towel looks pretty good on you..." Matthew said flirtatiously.
Mary gave him a playfully warning look. "Don't push your luck." Matthew chuckled.
The two of them fell into a slightly awkward silence for a few moments.
"So...are you going to let me get changed?" Mary asked, nodding her head towards the bathroom door, signalling that he should leave.
Matthew's face fell and his brow creased. "You want me to leave the room while you get changed?" She'd had no qualms with letting him undress her, so why the sudden reserve?
"Were you hoping to just sit there and watch me dress, like some kind of pervert?" Mary said dramatically.
Matthew rolled his eyes. Mary, Mary, quite contrary, indeed. "I presumed that, given the events of the last twelve hours, that-"
"Well, I'm afraid that's over." Mary cut in. "We are in the cold light of day now, so I'd prefer it if you went into the other room." She said shortly.
Refraining from pointing out that he had seen quite a lot of her 'in the cold light of day' just thirty minutes earlier, Matthew relented. "Alright, I'm going to take a shower, then. I'll see you this evening?"
Mary nodded and began searching for her undergarments. Matthew hesitated before going to his ensuite - he had been planning on giving her a goodbye kiss, at the very least, but that seemed to be out of the question. "...Bye. Have a good day." He said feebly, stepping through the bathroom door, frowning at Mary's simple hum of acknowledgement.
…
Matthew eyed Mary warily as she picked at her pasta. He had managed to make her laugh a couple of times - with a funny story about Tom's hangover, and then a bruschetta-related pun that he was quite proud of - but otherwise she had been stiff and unforthcoming from the moment he picked her up from her room. It didn't make any sense. How could she go from wanting him as soon as she awoke that morning, to behaving as if it was a chore to dine with him? He searched through his memories; they had never gone out to dinner together as such, but they had ended up eating together in the canteen or in their kitchen in halls, and it had always been fine. And she had most definitely been on dates before, so it wasn't that she was nervous or shy of the concept - Mary Crawley was never shy, in any case!
"Look at that guy sat by the window," he said, and Mary turned to follow his gaze. "Doesn't he look like Mr Robson? Remember when Ed and Geoff replaced his glasses with fake ones?" He laughed, referring to the sixth form antics of their former classmates, hoping the nostalgia would bring her out of her shell.
"Yeah," Mary nodded lazily. "There were some serious losers in our class." She said dismissively, and Matthew's spirits fell again.
They continued to eat in silence for a few more minutes, until Matthew caught sight of Mary sneaking a glance at her watch. Was she counting down the minutes until it was acceptable to leave? "Mary, I haven't been on many dates and don't really know how they work, so please tell me if I'm doing something wrong." He said earnestly.
Mary's previously haughty expression softened and she offered him a small apologetic smile. "I know I'm being distant - it's just because I still don't think this is a good idea." She explained.
"Why not?" Matthew asked, hoping that she would be honest with him.
"It's not in our nature to be a couple, Matthew." Mary explained. "We can deal with each other in small doses, but not all the time – we'd drive each other crazy. We wind each other up enough after ten minutes in each other's company!"
"But-" Matthew tried to argue his case.
"I'm sorry, Matthew." Mary apologised, and she seemed to mean it. "I should probably go." She said, reaching for her bag and unbuckling it.
"I'll get it." Matthew said, realising that she was about to retrieve her purse to pay for her share of dinner.
"Oh no, Matthew, it's alright." Mary insisted, clearly feeling too guilty to take a free meal from him after turning him down in the middle of it.
"Please." Matthew said with a small smile, gently pushing away the hand of hers that held her purse.
"OK, well, thanks." Mary smiled uncomfortably. "I'll see you later." She slid out of her seat, shrugged her jacket on, settled her handbag onto her shoulder and walked away.
Matthew sighed, left alone with his half-eaten pizza. He had wanted to address her concerns, of course, but she had made it quite clear that she didn't want to discuss it further. It was becoming increasingly apparent to him that they would make a good couple – they didn't know each other particularly well, but well enough to constitute a good foundation for a relationship, he thought.
Maybe arguing it out wasn't the best approach. There had to be another way to convince her that they would be good together.
Yes, Matthew nodded to himself resolutely. He wasn't going to let her slip away that easily.
…
A/N: as always, reviews are appreciated! I do have an outline of where I'm going with this story, and rest assured that there is an explanation for Mary's odd behaviour – the next chapter will explore her POV more! xxx
