Huia Short Stories 11 by Various

Author:Various
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Huia (NZ) Ltd

Three

Matty has a journal that he takes pretty much everywhere, but he doesn’t write his thoughts like most people do, he draws them. He lets me look at it whenever I please, but he rarely shows anyone else. And it stirs feelings in me that I can’t really explain. It does something to my nervous system that makes me want to keep turning pages and look away at the same time.

The two of us have been in the same art class since year 9, and somehow, despite the fact we’ve been taught by the exact same people, our styles are polar opposites. I enjoy drawing animals in their natural environments. People, too. I draw life. Matty though, well, he’s drawn to death. His journal is a dark place, full of lost and tortured souls.

I asked him about it once, when we were stoned and on the verge of sleep. I asked him why he was drawn to bones and suffering.

He just grunted at me and said, ‘They’ll eat my brain if I don’t get them out.’

I laughed and went to sleep.

. . .

I step carefully, wading through a sea of dirty washing and empty Red Bull cans to reach Matty’s black, perfectly made bed. I step up onto it and sit cross-legged in the centre, eyes scanning the poster-clad walls. Heavily tattooed men cover every inch of available space; some holding expensive custom guitars, others screaming into microphones. Most are just huddled together with stern expressions on their perfect faces, their lined eyes narrowed and their lips pressed into straight lines.

Matty moves towards the bed carelessly, feet managing to miss every discarded item like he’s following an invisible path. He flops down on the bed beside me, half hanging off the right edge.

‘Aren’t you graceful,’ I say, staring down at him.

‘Fuck off,’ he grumbles, arms curling around a plump pillow.

I uncross my legs, tangling an ankle with one of his. He doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, if I stay quiet enough he’s bound to fall asleep, surprising the famous men that surround us.

I’d let him if I weren’t worried about his brothers catching us together. Or worse, his father. Gio introduced me to their grey-haired dad once, and that was more than enough for me. Something about the way he stared gave me the creeps. He’s a scary fucker.

‘Stay awake,’ I say, tapping Matty’s lower back gently. ‘Your family will be back soon.’

He groans into his pillow, punching it like it will make me shut up. ‘Fuck off,’ he says again.

I pull my hand back. ‘Fine.’

Matty catches my wrist before I get far at all, keeping me beside him. His fingers tighten their grip, his familiar calloused tips waking my insides. He turns his head, his amber eyes speaking to mine silently.

‘Fine,’ I repeat, defeated.

He tugs on my wrist, pulling me down beside him. I go easily. I always do. I lie flat on my back and he drapes himself over me, his face finding the crook of my neck.

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