Rough around the edges
Exhausted and slightly annoyed, Matt hoisted his overly packed back pack for more comfort. It stubbornly swayed from side to side, causing more tension on his left shoulder; but he was in no position to complain, after all, he refuse to properly wear it over both arms. Reaching his apartment door, he reached into his pocket. Battling with the cumbersome bundle of keys his father had given him, he jingled the door knob. It caught in position with a small click.
Shit...he mentally cursed himself and suddenly jerked to the right.
"Locked out?"
A petite girl with fiery red hair smiled at him with her hands bashfully crossed behind her back. Aghast, Matt mutely shook his head and jingled the knob; it refused to turn. The girl nodded and edged closer, reaching for the knob. Dumbfounded, Matt kept his hand on the handle until she gave him a sheepish smirk.
"May I?"
He nodded and stepped back. She took out a medium length, thin metallic rod from her pocket. Bending down, she carefully inserted the stick into a small hole on the knob, twisting it. There was another click and the door slowly opened.
"Got it!"
She rejoiced and Matt's azure eyes widened; she had skills. As she straightened up, his eyes lingered up her frame and locked on hers; he hadn't notice how tall she was, their eyes almost matched height.
"Thanks." Matt mumbled and nervously ran his hand through his hair- a peculiar habit.
The girl smiled and boldly creased his collar. "Odaiba High School; the only school board in the city that regulates uniforms." She sourly commented and shrugged her shoulders. "Got a little break from it today."
She sighed and Matt blankly observed her casual indoor attire: shin high black socks with short shorts of the same color. A loose white t-shirt clung to her shoulders and her hair stood matted, slightly knotted in the back with some friz in the front-she must have been laying in bed or a couch.
"May I come in?" She pointed at the gaping door and curiously entered before Matt could respond. Looking about, she spoke. "I met your dad. Bumped into him in the morning before he went to work."
Matt's face slightly contoured and she continued to walk deeper into the apartment. Reaching the living room, she warmly sat down on the biggest couch.
"He was nice."
"Ok." Matt sarcastically replied and her eyebrows furrowed.
"He also had problems with the door." She mused while Matt slumped his things on the ground. He flopped down on the opposite couch and unbuttoned the nook of his collar.
"So what; have you been waiting around my front door all day?"
The girl frowned. "I live next door."
"Then what are you doing here?" Matt dismissively looked away.
The girl opened her mouth and then closed it. Her large ruby eyes narrowed; he was elicitely harsh considering it was their first meeting. If he wanted to play hard then so be it. "Why are you such a little bitch?" She retaliated with her arms crossed.
Matt chuckled. "Touché."
"French."
"From my mom's side."
"That explains the blonde hair and blue eyes, unless you bleach and wear contacts."
Matt cocked an eyebrow and squinted at her peculiar scarlet mane. "Do you?"
The girl frowned and looked up, pulling on a loose strand of hair. "Touché." She sheepishly mimicked with a slight accent identifiable to Matt.
Settling in an awkward silence, they stared at each other for a couple of seconds until the girl budged from position. She looked around and sighed.
"Where's you little brother, TK?"
"Still in school, I guess. How'd you know his name?"
She got up and walked toward a stand beside the telephone. A large golden picture framed encased an old photograph of the torn family. She smoothed the glass with her finger. "I told you; I ran into your dad in the morning."
Matt too, stood up and picked up the frame. Examining it, his face lightly contoured into a frown. Setting it back, face down, he looked at her in the eyes. Yes, she was tall but he still managed to slightly tower over her. Baffled, she stepped back, allowing more space between them. He looked down and ran his hand through his hair, he hadn't noticed how close their proximity was.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" He rudely blurted out.
"No." She simply replied, unfazed and she began to observantly pace around. "I was home alone; got bored."
"Well sorry but I'm not here for your entertainment."
"You're so rough, why?"
"What do you mean?"
She walked back down the hall, toward the front door with Matt following her trail. Turning around, she placed her hands on her hips. "Lighten up; I was just trying to be friendly, you should too."
Matt scowled and walked past her. "I am friendly." Her perfectly arched scarlet eyebrows raised as her eyes widened. Matt smirked and opened the door and crossed his arms. "I don't always let strange girls into my home." His head cocked and she walked out.
Looking over her shoulder she mischievously smirked. "Bye, Matt." And she quickly disappeared through the next door.
She knew his name. Matt furrowed his eyebrows and nodded, closing his own door. She bumped into his dad, of course.
TBC- review, please!