Hey everyone! It's time for Phoebe's POV. Hope you all enjoy this chapter xx
PPOV
I wince again, as sharp pain radiates from my ankle all the way to my knee. I roll my eyes with frustration. I really am clumsy, I can't even walk in a straight line without some how tripping over. I bite my lip to distract myself from the pain in my right leg but it's not helping. Every step is agony, and it's been what? Maybe twenty minutes since I left to go to Matt's.
But I carry on, I'm not going to let this stop me. I limp my way through an alleyway, it's dark but I am not scared. The light from a nearby street lamp flickers and eventually stops working all together. I am now in complete darkness, the only lights I can see now is from the road ahead of me so that's where I start heading. I by-pass a lot of houses which aren't in a good condition at all, and the only thing which is different about them is their house number. Honestly, I don't know how people can tell the difference without the need to look at the house number. It hurts me knowing that my only friend lives in an area so dark and dull in the city which I love so much. This is where I've grown up, this is all I know, and knowing that this city has a sad side makes my heart clench painfully. Thanks to being the daughter of the great Christian Grey I never had issues with money, whereas Matt... is a completely different story...
From death of his mother at a young age, to abusive father, to being homeless, and now moving from foster family to the next. Matt has been through a lot. When I was given love, attention, and a gentle touch he was given hate, loneliness, and both physical and mental pain. He's been through it all, you name it. He doesn't understand why I care about him as he never experienced anything like that before. It's painful seeing him pushing me away, even though I try so hard to fight my way in.
I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding, when I eventually find myself right next to the main road the lights where coming from. Nearly there, Phoebe. I try to encourage myself to carry on but the pain from my ankle is starting to become unbearable. I take a sharp breath in and sink my teeth into my bottom lip, harder this time and I begin to taste a slight metallic taste in my mouth which I registered as blood but I ignore it.
I wobble accross the road, slowly. There is hardly anyone here at this time of the night but then again, nobody has experienced what I just had with my parents back there. They both lied to my face. I shake my head to try and get rid of the hurful feelings that I am getting and focus on here and now. I somehow manage to cross the road and I eventually find myself right outside the very well-known dark brown wooden door.
I knock gently and wait for the door to be opened. Two minutes, three minutes. What the hell is taking so long? So I knock on the door again harder this time and finally I am met with bright blue eyes which remind me of my brother so much. Those soft jet black strands, and that white perfect smile that I love so much. Okay, I'll admit Matt is handsome but I am not planning on taking our friendship to another level. He just means too much to me and I don't want to loose that friendship.
I roll my eyes at his happy mood at this time of the night and then I hug him and let the tears flow again. He just holds me close and rubs my back with his hand and repeatedly kisses me on the head. As I carry on crying, letting all the emotions go, he is still there not moving. Just letting me have my moment. I finally calm myself down and look up at him. He's blearly as my eyes are still watery but I can still see sadness all over his beautiful face instead of that joy earlier on, when he answered the door.
Standing at six foot two he towers over me and I feel so small next to him. I kind of feel protected by him and that's what I need right now. I need my friend. I take a deep breath in and attempt to stand up tall but I fail as I wobble on my feet again. Damn that ankle.
I feel a pair of warm hands wrap around my slim waist, holding me. ''Phoebe what have you done to your leg?'' I look up at him. His expression is so soft and gentle I have never seen him like this. I give him a weak smile to tell him that I am fine and there is nothing to worry about.
It's his time to roll his eyes. ''Just tell me it doesn't hurt that bad.''
I shrug my shoulders and look at my hands unable to look into his eyes. He puts his hand under my chin, making me look up at him, and I am once again met with his penetrating blue gaze. I step back a little so he lets go off me and I am even more confused when I miss the feel of his warm hands on me. But I ignore it. ''Matt, I'm fine really.'' I lie.
In one step he is in front of me again, he takes my left hand in his and leads me inside of the house. I hop my way behind him, trying hard to keep up but it's not working. When I pull on his hand he stops and looks at me with his worrying look... again. He turns and takes me completely by surprise when he lifts me up like a bride and carries me towards his room. Well that never happened before but I am greatful as I don't know how much more my foot could possibly handle. I close my eyes and let him do this thing. I snuggle in closer... closer to someone that I know will do anything for me. I can no longer hear his footsteps... my breath slows and I drift to sleep.
A strong coffee smell wakes me up, I blink a couple of times trying to adjust my eyes to this bright light. I sit up and I see Matt sitting at the bottom of the bed with a cup of coffee in his right hand. His black strands damp... perhaps he had a shower. He carrys on staring at me and I stare right back. He doesn't say anything but being here with him makes me feel safe and for the frist time I am actually relaxed.
I smile at him. ''Hey...''
He returns my smile but it's a lot more weaker then mine. ''Hi.'' he murmurs. I frown and cross my arms over my chest. Why is he acting like this? He never used to act like this before and I have known him for a long time. He sighs and puts his cup down on the bedside table next to the bed. ''Can you please tell me what is wrong, Phoebe?'' I drop my eyes from his and look down. ''I am worried about you.'' He adds but I don't answer. I then see his hands being put in mine, slowly he runs his fingers over my small hands.
I look up at him and decide the best thing to do is to tell him everything. ''It's about my brother.'' He stops stroking my hands and meets my gaze, looking confussed so I carry on. ''He's alive, Matt.''
He frowns. ''Then why are you upset about it?''
I take my hands away from his and hug myself. ''Because my parents won't tell me anything, Matt. And I mean literally nothing. I tried talking to them and all I got was... 'She's no one important, leave it.''
''Woah... hold on. Firstly who is this... she.''
I close my eyes shut as yesterday's events enter my head. I feel a tear making its way down my right cheek and then there is that warm feeling again. My eyes spring wide open and there is that worrying look on his face... again. His left hand is gently brushing over my right cheek rubbing off that tear. I pull back a little so he drops his hand and I start to think of how to put all this in my head into words.
''I found out by accident that Teddy is alive... and that some women of the name Mrs Robinson or Elena I don't even know... is behind all this. And they won't tell me anything about this women and it is clear that they know exactly who she is.'' I finish and look at Matt again to try and read his facial expression but there is nothing.
He comes closer to me and gives me a hug... another thing that is so unlike him. But I am not complaining I need this hug right now. I need this warmth, this closeness to him. I don't know what I would do without him.
He pulls back and smiles. ''Phoebe, there has to be a reason why your parents are not telling you things about this women.''
''But I have the rights to know!'' I snap at him.
''Getting angry is not going to do you any good, Pheebs.'' I roll my eyes and look away after failing to think of what to say to that. Damn it he got me again!
Even though I am not looking at him I can tell that he has a massive grin on his face. ''What are you smiling at?'' I say as I still focus my gaze on the lamp next to the bed.
''And may you please tell me how you knew that I was smiling without looking at me?'' He asks. I turn my head towards him and that confirms what I already knew, he is smiling from ear to ear showing that cute dimple on the left cheek.
I giggle. ''Oh... hmmm... let me guess... maybe because I know you inside and out.'' I state the obvious.
He groans and flops on the bed, so he is now lying down looking at the ceiling. ''I just can't hide from you Pheebs can I?''
I playfully slap his arm and he reacts as if he has been seriously wounded. ''That hurt.'' He complains.
''Oh stop being such a baby, and to answer your question, no you can't hide from me.'' I jump off the bed and head for the bathroom.
''Where do you think your going?''
I turn my head towards him finding that he still hasn't move off the bed and still has that massive grin on his face. ''Where do you think?'' I ask sarcastically.
''I don't know, I am not the one that can read people's minds.'' He jokes.
I let out a slight laugh. ''Let me get this straight I don't read people's mind I just know them well.''
''Yeah right for me your a mind reader.'' He gets off the bed and takes his coffee which has to be cold by now.
''Whatever you say Mr Believer.'' I turn my head and start walking towards the bathroom.
''Is that my new nickname?!'' He shouts after me.
''Yes as you practically believe in everything, Matt!'' I shout back.
After the very needed shower I am finally fresh and clean from head to toe. I wrap a soft white towel around me and exit the bathroom humming a song to myself. Talking to Matt has really helped me and I actually think that talking to him was exactly what I needed. I tried hard to stop all the words that my mum and dad said yesterday to enter my head but it didn't work.
''Phoebe... She is no one important...''
''She is involved with Ted and I want to know who she is.'' I snap at him
''Dad tell me!'' I hiss.
''Phoebe that's enough!'' He shouts at me.
''Stop this, Phoebe. Right now!'' I snap at myself.
I hear a low chuckle that I know so well. I look up and see humour written all over his face. ''What are you, talking to yourself now?''
I smirk at him. ''Yeah and so what?'' I ask confidently.
He starts laughing. ''Phee you always make my day.'' He says on a laugh.
''Well if I didn't make your day you wouldn't call me your best friend, now would you?''
He lifts his hands in defence. ''Okay, okay point taken.'' His gaze starts to drift from my head down my towel covered body and I instantly feel embarassed and ashamed of myself. This is so strange I have never experienced this with him before. I was never embarassed around him but right now that's what I feel. I bring the towel closer to me but I still don't feel any better.
He clears his throat. ''Well... ermm... I'll go and get some food and you can... ermm... get dressed.'' I feel myself blush. Why can't I act normal?
''Oh... yeah... I will.'' I manage to squeeze some words out.
''See you in a few.'' and off he goes leaving me feeling so confussed.
I walk back to the bathroom to collect my forgotten clothes and walk to the bedroom again. I sit down on the bed and start by putting on my underwear. But the question that is still in my head ever since I walked into Matt's house is why does being with him suddenly feel so... different? That's what I don't understand. It seems like everything is exactly the same but it's some how different and it's like there is no explanation to it.
I tap my fingers on my thigh and look around the room to see if anything has changed. The curtains are closed just as always, the plain white walls are still here, the cream carpet, the double bed, wardrobe, bedside table... everything is just how it was last time I came here.
And just when I am about to give up looking my gaze lands on an open letter on the bedside table. I know I shouldn't look at it as it's Matt's stuff but curiousity is killing me and I reach for the letter and before I know it I begin to read.
Dear Mr Taylor,
After discussing information with your current foster parents we have came to a decision that the best thing to happen right now is to have your foster family changed...
My eyes begin to sting. It's like my breath has been completly taken away from me. I don't have enough courage to carry on reading the double sided letter, I've read enough. I put the letter back into the envelope and back onto the bedside table. With my shaking hands it is a hard task to do.
I don't know what to think right now. All I know is that Matt is going to have to move... I am going to loose him. This one person that I have left is going to leave me too. This thought leaves a very empty feeling inside of me and I don't know how to handle it. Everyone is hiding things from me, first are the people that gave me life and gave me their love, and now the only person that I trust so much has hid this from me.
I put my head in my hands and crawl into a ball on the bed not knowing what to think or what to even do right now. I am completly lost right now.
''Phoebe... jesus! What is wrong?'' The now not so comforting warm hands touch my cold and shaking body. ''Talk to me, please.'' He begs.
After a minute or two I lift my eyes to his blues. ''When were you going to tell me, Matt.''
''What do you mean? Tell you what?'' He asks.
I point to the letter on the bedside table. ''The letter.''
His eyes widen a little and his lips part. ''Phoebe... nothing is certain.'' He states calmly.
''But how do you know... If I loose you I don't know what I would do.'' I say the truth.
''Shhh... It's going to be okay.''
Without thinking I wrap my arms around his neck and bring him closer into my chest. I am not ready to let him go and I don't think I'll ever be.
''Everything is going to okay don't worry, I'll help you with your brother if you want me to.'' Hearing that warms my heart a little I truly don't deserve to have this guy in my life.
We'll get through it. I know it.
