Contagious
Matt, Post-Who Do You Think You Are, PG13, 1092 words, Title from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Daily afternoon naps. Ask any teenager you encounter about them and you'll get the same answer from probably all of them: They are amazing. After a long, boring day at school, there's nothing like a nap on your bed. It suddenly becomes more comfortable than ever, and before you know it you're out like a light.

Matt was sprawled across his bed, lying on his stomach, bare feet sticking out from his jeans. Around this time, he's usually at work or practice or making sure Grandma wasn't doing anything crazy like burning the house down. But today he had the day off, and football was over for the season. The Dillon Panthers, state champions, were out of the playoffs. With Smash benched for the rest of the regular season, it was up to him and the rest of the team to pull together, win, and look onward to State. And let's just say… that didn't go so well. And Grandma, well, unless she's a sleep walker, then there wouldn't be any problems.

Matt was awakened by banging on the door. He ignored it as usual, because it's Landry and he's only here to bug him about something.

"Matt, I know you're in there, open the door!!"

"Go away Landry!! I'm trying to sleep."

"Yeah well sleep time is over. Now get up and open the door. I got something for you."

Matt punched his pillow and slowly got up from his bed. This better be good, or he's going to be furious.

"What is so important that you couldn't wait an hour or two?"

"Well, I was going to ask you for some help with Tyra, but I found this envelope on you door. You know a… Elizabeth West?"

Matt quickly turned around and snatched the envelope out of Landry hand. This sudden movement startled him.

"I'll take that as a yes." Landry watched as Matt tore the envelope open and read the letter inside. "So… who is she?" Matt swatted him away and sat down on the couch. Landry watched as Matt's jaw dropped. Landry sat next to him and read the letter himself.

Matt,

We hit it big! Can you believe it? I can't. You and Grandma deserve your share. So please take this. I know it doesn't make up for anything, but it wouldn't be fair if you were left out

Love you.
Mom

Landry looked at the bottom of the paper and felt his own jaw drop. Taped to the piece of loose leaf was a check. For $250,000.

"Whoa. Holy shit dude."

Matt's face didn't moved, his eyes still glazed on the letter.

"I… I know."

It was more money he's ever seen in his life. How she "hit it big" he didn't know. And didn't want to know. It still didn't change anything. But he knew he had to take it. She'd sent checks over again and again until he finally caved. She wanted him to be happy. She wouldn't have given him all this money if she didn't. Once he finally let it all sink in, he finally looked up at Landry and couldn't hide his excitement.

"Guess we should put in this bank then."

--

For the next few days, Matt and Landry kept the check a secret. They had no intentions of telling anyone. Matt also had no intentions of using the money unless he really needed to. He was saving most of it for college, as he no longer had to worry about being able to afford it. He also decided to keep his job at the Alamo Freeze. Now that football was over, he had a lot more time on his hands. And it kept him out of trouble or saved him from boredom. But as the days passed by, he found it harder and harder to contain himself. People were going to start wondering why he went from being someone who showed up drunk to practice and didn't care about anything, to becoming the happiest person in town so quickly. So he tried his best to keep it under control.

But the one (and probably only) person who knew something was up right away was Julie. She's never seen Matt this happy, even when they were together. She began feeling sharp pain in her heart. She wanted so badly to say something, anything to him, but what? She hasn't talked to him in a long time. But she couldn't, nor wouldn't, take it anymore. His happiness was contagious. And she wanted so badly to be happy around him again.

"Uh, hey," she told him.

"Hey Julie," he said. He didn't sound very happy. Julie knew why and almost wanted to turn around and run away.

"So… how have you been?"

"I'm doing okay. How are you?"

She sighed. "I'm doing alright. Same old, same old."

They stood there in silence for a few moments. Julie wanted to scream.

"Wow," she said. "I can't believe things are so awkward between us now. How did it get this bad?"

What a stupid question to ask, she told herself. They both know the answer to this, but neither would say it. Not here anyway.

"I just… I miss you," she told him.

"I miss you too." He stood there and let it sink in. He did miss her. And maybe now they could finally fix things.

"I have to go to work. But you wanna come around later, just hang out?"

She smiles at him, for the first time in months.

"Yeah, that would be nice."

"Alright then. I'll see you later." And with that, Matt shut his locker and walked away.

Julie showed up later that night while he was at work. They sat at one of the corner tables, away from the other customers (although not that many were here at this time of night), and talked. About everything. Swede, Carlotta, her feelings, his feelings, her family situations, the check he received from his mother. It felt good to let everything out. Even if it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do.

Once the Freeze closed, Matt and Julie finally left. Matt offered to drive her home and she accepted, trying her hardest not to make fun of him having his own car, and how "she" helped him buy one (they both shared a laugh at this).

When Matt pulled up to the Taylor house, he leaned towards Julie and kissed her on the cheek.

A week later he was doing more than just kissing her on the cheek.