[CENTER][color=F7941D][h1][b]M A T T   B R O W N[/b][/h1][/color]
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[sub][b][color=F7941D]Location |[/color][/b] Misfits' RV, outside Barstow, California (130 miles from Santa Monica)
[b][color=F7941D]Interacting with |[/color][/b] AJ [@TootsiePop], Emilia [@NeoAC], Yessi [@Hoekage]
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[center][color=ffff1e]"I can't... I don't want this hurt, Matt. I don't want it... Make it go away..."[/color][/center]
His heart was rend now. There was an actual, physical pain in his chest. As if his very body was in anguish over the pain Emilia had. Her wails cut straight through his soul. It summoned the memories he was cursed with. Locker room banter, alcohol-induced confessions and the lies he saw. Then the juggling between him, Brandon and AJ in an attempt to save everyone involved in some way. Worst of all, he was all alone in it. He cast his eyes to the ground, in hidden shame. How did it get so bad? Why did he let it get this bad? He swallowed deeply.

Kim arrived and all shame that was ready to pierce his mask vaporized. It would appear the girl’s touch calmed Emilia down somewhat. A moment later a black girl showed up. Now the first girl didn’t particularly engage him but that was to be expected. He was probably a stranger from school to her. But the black girl was far fiercer and Matt did not like her tone. He never looked up at her. Not even when she asked for the chocolate bar. It wasn’t hers.

But Emilia’s words kept bouncing in his head. ‘Make it go away’. With his free hand he went into the pocket of his leather jacket. Inside he felt for the little plastic bag. He rolled the plastic wrapping the tiny, crystalline shape in between his fingers. A solution, if only a temporary one. But he could still see the red streaks on her cheeks. The pain she held was evident. She needed this more than he would ever. So he took it out, hidden between his palm and another bar he kept in reserve. With a quick sleight of hand he pushed both bars, hiding the little baggie under them, into Emilia’s hand. No doubt she would feel the little nub pressing against her palm.

[color=f7941d]“Here, one for you to share with your friend.”[/color] Matt said with a weak, pitiful smile. [color=f7941d]“And one for you as well. It should make you happy.”[/color] He was referring more towards the little crystal than the bar, though her friends couldn’t know that. Matt got up then. There was nothing more he could do but Emilia looked like she was in good hands: between two of her friends. He turned around but he knew something remained unsaid so he turned back: [color=f7941d]“You’ve always been too good for him.”[/color]

He took a few steps away from the whole ordeal and pulled out a cigarette. He felt exhausted as a trembling hand lit the tobacco. The smoke, working like incense, calmed his mind. Though he knew what he really needed. A bottle or a fight. Something to make him forget it all for just a moment. A good party would do the job as well. 

His state of calm quickly vanished though, when the shouting match began. He turned around and saw something that made him feel just a little better: AJ yelling at Val. And soon after, Val yelling back at AJ. Her tirade was far longer than his. Though he did return in kind. Matt cracked a small smile. Few things felt as good and sweet than hearing how hurt your enemies are. This wasn’t a standard issue AJ Tyler outburst. This was full blown, seethed anger. Stuff that had been brimming under the surface for longer than just five minutes. And then the bombshell. Nate. Yes, this did make him happy.

Matt knows what a fogged brain looks like. It’s a red face. A shocked, frozen stance. He knew what was about to happen. Every fiber in his body told him to move in. To help his friend. Like he’d always do. He took a step towards them. But there was a little voice in his head that stopped him in his tracks. He was well aware of AJ and Val’s relationship. He had hated it for months. Now he just saw it breaking apart. Both of them were far too bullheaded to ever apologize. This would be the end of their friendship. So why intervene? Instead of moving in to get Val off AJ, Matt just waited. Taking another drag from his cig as another Misfit pulled her off of him. Yessi helped up AJ.

[color=f7941d]“I think we better leave.”[/color] He said to AJ and Yessi, not even caring that he should be ignoring her. That didn’t matter right now. [color=f7941d]“There’s nothing we can do about that RV. They can call a tow truck.”[/color]