Matthew's Route.

Stacy hadn't long parted from Mika, Suzu and Naomi when she was halted in her movement, a male cry being heard over the music. A few guests glanced its way, confusion on their faces but none went to investigate. Stacy would have done the same but her curiosity got the better of her.

Slowly she approached the dining room, her brows furrowed as she tried to find her suspect and her eyes finally found them, a male anxiously standing in the doorway towards the kitchen. He wasn't much taller than Stacy and she couldn't help but assume they were close in age. His dark hair was ruffled in a way that told her the male had constantly been running his hands through them in frustration. His sky blue eyes were wide in worry, as if something had shocked him and caused worry. Hesitantly Stacy approached the figure, hoping to give him her aid.
"Hey… are you alright?" Stacy gently asked as she halted next to the male and he jumped in surprise. His eyes flew onto her form, surprised that she had indeed asked him and he nervously laughed.
"I… uh… Yeah everything's fine" he slowly responded yet Stacy could tell he was a terrible liar. She frowned at the male.
"You don't look it" she truthfully told him and at her concern the male weakly smiled.
"Well…" he breathed, his eyes glancing back to the kitchen, coming at a loss.
"I've seemed to have lost someon-something" he told her and Stacy's frown deepened, dismissing his quick correction of words.
"If you want I can give you a hand finding it" Stacy suggested and the male seemed startled.
"I… n-no I think… I think I'll be fine" the male quickly responded and a brief expression of rejection played on Stacy's face before she forced a smile.
"Well if you change your mind just come and find me" she told him and with that she left his company.

An hour had passed and Stacy had joined forces with Mika, the pair happily standing to one side as they spoke. Stacy was enjoying her night so far, it wasn't going any differently to how she expected it... until she noticed the guy from earlier. Mika glanced the way Stacy did, wondering what caught her attention and she smirked.
"Matthew's caught your eye?" Mika playfully whispered and Stacy looked her way.
"Huh?" was the only replied and Mika grinned.
"You were totally staring at Matthew" Mika told her and realisation dawned on her.
"Oh" she breathed, a concerned expression on her face.
"It's just that earlier he seemed pretty distressed… he said that he had lost someone, or something. I'm not sure which" Stacy explained to her friend as she glanced back in his direction, unhappy that he still wasn't settled down. Unknown to Stacy Mika had frowned at her words, as if a bad feeling entered her gut so without another thought she called Matthew over, the male seemingly nervous to join them both.
"This is Stacy, the friend I've been talking about for months on end" Mika innocently introduced as Matthew joined them and his eyes widened.
"Y-you're Stacy! Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't recognise you earlier" Matthew blurted and Stacy dismissed his apology with a smile.
"It's quite alright, you was distracted after all" Stacy tried to reason and Matthew sighed, looking across at Mika.
"I can't find him anywhere" Matthew told her, Mika understanding his words instantly.
"Are you sure you checked the kitchen properly?" she asked him, her tone low but Stacy could still hear them clearly. Matthew furiously nodded making the woman sigh.
"Have you looked upstairs yet?" Mika questioned, the male shaking his head.
"I was just about to go up there to look" he honestly told her, his eyes flickering onto Stacy.
"My offer still stands" she told him with her smile.

Mika looked between the two, wondering what she had offered but Matthew's words gave her the answer.
"O-oh, I wouldn't want you wasting your time looking as well" he quickly said, expecting Mika to back him up but instead she went against him.
"You're missing out" Mika told him with a grin.
"Stacy has a great skill for finding things, you'd be surprised" Mika carried on, wiggling her brows. Stacy awkwardly laughed at her words while Matthew stared at Mika, almost asking her if it was truly ok for Stacy to join him. With a nod from her Matthew turned his gaze to her, an almost childish expression falling on his face.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Matthew nervously asked and Stacy shook her head.
"Well then I'll leave you two to it" Mika spoke and the two nodded, parting away from Mika as they headed for the stairs. Mika watched them go before hunting down Damien, hoping he'd have the real answer to where Matthew's target was.

Both Matthew and Stacy made it to the second floor, Stacy keeping at his side as he led the way.
"So what exactly are we looking for?" Stacy curiously asked making Matthew glance her way, a look of wonder on his face.
"Well…" he started off, trying to find the right words.
"He's… kind of a creepy stuffed toy, like one you'd have nightmares about when going to sleep" Matthew told her, his body trembling ever so slightly at the thought. Stacy tilted her head,
"That doesn't really give me a lot to go on" Stacy honestly said and Matthew awkwardly laughed.
"Right, I should tell you what he's like… He's pretty small, white in colour with red eyes and a knife in one hand" Matthew started to explain to her but a light giggle interrupted him.
"That sounds like a pretty funny toy to me" Stacy told him and at his mortified expression she laughed.
"He can't be that creepy" Stacy spoke again as they entered the library, their first location to look and he forced a grin.
"You'd be surprised" he replied, the pair starting their search.

They had gone through the library, study and three guest rooms but the pair had been unlucky in their search. They had spoken without a pause, Stacy finding that Matthew was actually lively and talkative when becoming comfortable with his company.
"I can't see he'd be in here" Matthew had told Stacy as he opened the next room, entering it as she followed behind. It was another bedroom but unlike the others this one was lived in. She knew it wasn't Mika's room but she wasn't certain which house-mate of Mika's this one belonged to. They got to work, Stacy being careful not to pry in places she shouldn't but as she halted at the bookshelf she froze.

She remained unmoving for a few moments, simply studying the contents on the shelf until Matthew joined her side.
"Is everything ok?" he lightly asked in concern but Stacy smiled, shaking her thoughts away.

"Sorry" she apologised,
"I've just never seen toys like these" she truthfully told him. Each and every toy on the bookshelf was unique, a great deal of love and care taken to create them. Every single one lightened her heart, even if none of them was the 'Simon' toy they hunted for. She knew Matthew was watching her closely, curious to how she would react to them.
"Do you like them?" Matthew cautiously asked, as if nervous about her answer but she nodded, calming his nerves.
"Thanks" Matthew was quick to say and when facing him Stacy saw him grinning ear to ear.
"These are yours?" she gently asked, the smile never leaving his face as he set his eyes on the toys.
"Yeah… ever since moving here I've been making them" Matthew told him and Stacy was surprised.
"That's a really nice talent to have" she gently told him, a light blush gracing her cheeks at the realisation of being alone in his room. The same thought never dawned on Matthew though as his smile slackened.
"My mum used to get sad and lonely a lot when I was younger, I didn't know how to make her happy… so I started making toys, knowing it would make her happy again" Matthew lowly told her, his voice weak but serious. Even though his words were meant to bring joy Stacy saw the complete opposite, as if he had spoken of a past best forgotten. Gently Stacy placed a hand on his arm, supporting him.
"I'm sure she loved them" she gently told him and at his forced small smile she knew she had said the right thing.
"Was Simon a toy you also made?" Stacy asked, shifting the topic ever so slightly. At her question he grinned.
"Yeah! He was actually the first one I made when coming here, it was a gift for Mika" Matthew told her, his previous thoughts pushed to the side.
"Oh?" Stacy responded, her brow raised.
"Unfortunately Simon didn't quite turn out the way I expected him to" Matthew continued on.
"I guess you didn't like the creep factor" Stacy lightly joked and Matthew grinned, nodding. Stacy patted his arm, finally removing her hand from his form as she gave his collection of toys another glance.
"I'm sure he has his own charm to him" Stacy told him, smiling as she turned away from the bookshelf.
"Just like the rest of your collection" she murmured afterwards, her quiet words unknowingly being heard by Matthew.
"Wait… you don't think it's a childish thing to do?" Matthew asked, surprised for not being mocked. She turned to face him again.
"Not at all, as I said it's a nice talent to have" she smoothly replied.

The duo continued their search, their conversation smooth and friendly and Stacy couldn't help but enjoy his company. She was becoming more familiar with his expressive nature, his every emotion never failing to show in his body language. Stacy was glad to have met him. She took life so seriously at times that she forgot to relax and have fun. Stacy was pulled out of her thoughts as something hit her square in the face, her body jerking in surprise as her mind processed what happened. A cushion sat at her feet, a laughing Matthew pointing her way.
"Haha, your face is priceless" he laughed out and grinned as Stacy thoughtfully looked at the cushion, picking it up in her grasp. Her eyes soon returned to her attacker, her own grin appearing.
"You don't even know what you've just started" were her only words as she prepared her attack.

True to her word Matthew didn't know what he had gotten himself into. Stacy was relentless as they both attacked one another with cushions but they were both laughing, glad to forget reality for a few moments. They were at full war when they were halted by Mika's laugh at the door.
"Damn, who would have thought you'd be so playful" Mika thought aloud as Stacy's cheeks reddened, lowering the cushion on the seat nearby.
"Well it's his fault" Stacy childishly said, beckoning at Matthew as he cried out in protest. They both laughed, Mika being the only one to smile instead.
"I found him by the way" Mika told the pair, voicing her reason for finding them. Matthew let out a large sigh of relief as did Stacy.
"Where was he?" Stacy asked and Mika slyly grinned.
"He was still in the kitchen" she stated, Matthew's eyes going wide.
"Wait, what! How? I looked everywhere" Matthew cried out and Mika forced a shrug.
"I guess you didn't look hard enough" she teased making him scowl.
"And how did you find him?" Matthew asked, crossing his arms stubbornly as Mika grinned.
"I asked Damien" she stated making Matthew groan. Matthew seemed relieved at the thought of finding Simon but something else lingered in his form… embarrassment. Matthew turned his eyes to Stacy.
"Ugh I should have gone to him first. I'm sorry for making you miss out on the party and waste your time…" Matthew quietly said, his head bowing down in shame to avoid her eyes but Stacy lightly smiled.
"I wouldn't call it a waste" she gently said his way, his eyes snapping to hers. They were gentle, her words proving true but they soon changed playful.
"Plus it's clear that I am the champion of pillow fights" she boasted, turning her eyes to Mika as she did a pose. Mika laughed as Matthew threw the cushion Stacy's way, hitting her on the back of her head. Stacy threw him a glare but then laughed, picking up the cushion he had thrown.
"As much as I'd like to see you own him… It's early hours of the morning" Mika warned, Stacy being quick to discard the cushion on the seat where she had previously placed the other one.
"Shoot… I have work tomorrow" Stacy complained, turning to focus on Matthew.
"I'm afraid our battle must wait another day" she told him and he laughed, nodding.

Stacy pulled out her phone, calling her cab and before she knew it she was by the front door, her cab waiting outside already. She had already said farewell to Mika but Matthew had waited with her, the two not having to give their farewell until now.
"Well I guess it's time for us to part" Stacy slowly said, a touch of disappointment in her tone and Matthew sadly smiled.
"Yeah…" he breathed.
"Thanks for… y'know, tonight" he shyly continued on and Stacy warmly smiled.
"No problem" she told him. As she widened the door to step out Matthew spoke again.
"Are… are you still coming over before Christmas?" he asked, his voice hopeful as she nodded knowing that she was meant to meet with Mika.
"Well looks like I'll see you then" he told her and she grinned.
"Let's hope you don't lose Simon again" she joked his way. They both laughed, giving their farewells as Stacy left the mansion.

As they parted and Stacy fell out of view Matthew couldn't help but sigh. Unknown to either of them they both hoped that Simon did indeed do another disappearing act, allowing them to spend time together one more time…