Matthew Hall

No, it's not mood swings, it's emotional parkour.

[matthew-hall]

Sophie chuckled and smiled as Matt took her suitcase. “Glitter? That shit is fun, but in my past experience, if you wear it to go out and come home drunk and pass out in bed? You keep finding that shit on everything. I’m talking months later. It never goes away.” Sophie mused walking in the cabin. “I mean, I would sure hope you would know if it was your birthday today or not—but no reason needed. Accept the nice Sophie, now.” Sophie smiled. “It’s in my luggage, which honestly I don’t want to ruin the surprise so I’ll give you the gift when you’re least expecting it.” She placed her luggage in the living room before taking her sunglasses off. “You look good, Matt. I missed you!” Sophie embraced him in a hug and pulled away. “So, drinks? I know it’s early but we’re on vacation right?” Sophie walked over to the bar after kicking off her sandals. “So, catch me up to speed. What’s been going on in the wonderful world of Matt?” The blonde asked, back facing Matthew as her blue eyes scanned the bar. After a few moments she turned around to face him across the bar, a bottle of tequila in her right hand as she held it up. “Wait–are you on dad duty? Maybe you should stick to water.” 

“Yeah, well try being a kindergarten teacher. I still find glitter in my shoes occasionally.” Matt put down her suitcase and looked around the cabin before fixing his eyes back on her, watching her take off her sunglasses. “I appreciate you thinking that I have any idea of what day it is today, but it really could be my birthday and I’d have no idea,” Matt said with a grin. After returning her tight hug, he chuckled, shaking his head. “Dad duty has never stopped me from drinking. Besides, you know I can hold my liquor,” he added. “The wonderful world of Matt is mostly hanging out with my kid, Oliver, and Garrett. Doing work, burnt my kitchen down once... that’s about it.” 

[matthew-hall]

Sophie’s smile grew wider as she heard Matt’s voice. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Mr. Hall.” She smirked. “You don’t need to help me, but I appreciate your offer.” Sophie chucked, seeing Matt again woke up a happiness in her heart that was dormant for a while. “You want to come in? I have a gift for you.” Sophie smiled as she opened up the door to her cabin.

“God, don’t call me Mr. Hall. I get glitter flashbacks,” Matt said with a chuckle, remembering the days of working as a preschool teacher to make ends meet. “I know I don’t have to,” Matt clarified, taking her suitcase from her anyway, following her into her cabin. “A gift? Is it my birthday?”

[matthew-hall]

“Well yeah…because you’re supposed to feed your kids vegetables?” Oliver stared at Matt and scoffed, “Knowing she’s your kid…she would end up being a vegan just to spite you, have you met yourself?” 

“Have you met me? That’s why I need you to help me with Tia. Maybe she’ll end up like you. If she grows up to be like me and Garrett we are all lost.”

[matthew-hall]

“Goodness…I mean nothing really beside the occasional shopping sprees and buying food instead of cooking, life has been very unexpected.” Marissa shrugged, toying with the ring on her index finger, life came with a roll of punches when it came towards what she tried to be happy about. “How about you, how was life treating you after leaving the island?” 

“Life was good. To no one’s surprise I clung to Oliver like a puppy and we became neighbors. I needed some healthy influence for Tiana, and with my mum working and my sister off at school, England wasn’t an option,” he said with a shrug. “Got a job, managed to show up on time a good 69% of the time... life was going well.” Matt smiled up at the waitress, gesturing at Marissa so she could order whatever she pleased. “I’ll have whatever she is having... unless she orders a salad.”

[sophie-x-stratford-deactivated2]

“No amount of therapy could prepare me for this trip.” Sophie muttered to herself, lugging her suitcase up the stairs towards her cabin. “Wow, I need a xanax already.” Sophie thought she was alone until she heard footsteps on the sidewalk behind her. Turning her attention away from the cabin her eyes fell on a familiar face. “Well, hey there stranger!” Sophie shouted out with a wave, her blue eyes covered by her Chanel sunglasses.  Have to start this trip on a positive note, right?

[matthew-hall]

“Need help with that suitcase gorgeous?” Matt asked as Sophie turned around to face him, giving her his most charming smile. 

[matthew-hall]

“I think this one time you can ask before the food, surprising I know, growth is what my therapist called it also known as my hairdresser.” Marissa jokingly said as she grabbed a seat in one of the empty booths. After the accident of the little family she had, it was a hard time and how she ended up back at the one place she thought she wouldn’t step back into, it was a hard punch in her gut. “Sorry I haven’t been in touch, I’ve been working a lot at my parent’s law firm and well let’s say I’m making bank.” 

“I knew your hair was different, it looks less anxious. Must be a great therapist,” he joked as he slid onto the seat in front of her. “Hey, I get it, it was easier to pretend this island didn’t exist if I didn’t reach out to people. So I guess we are both to blame for the lack of communication, no need to apologize,” Matt said honestly. “And what are you using the bank for? Other than your hair’s therapy.”

[matthew-hall]

“I mean…possibly, but you told me to not put my two cents in on how you raise your kid so I’ve been keeping my mouth zipped shut.”

“Well that was because you were making her eat vegetables and stuff, you know I can’t afford fresh food. If she turns out to be vegan we’ll starve,” Matt said. “But when it comes to like, education, you are supposed to be the teacher, mate.” 

[matthew-hall]

“have you done your homework?”

“Does it count if I copied it off Oliver?”

[matthew-hall]

“i use the same techniques on alex that i used to do on you.”

“Does that mean you’ll make me some dinosaur chicken nuggets?”

[matthew-hall]

 “God…how did we remain friends with how dramatic you can be,” Marissa rolled her eyes at him, walking alongside him towards the restaurant they both agreed to eat at. 

Matt chuckled and opened the door for her, smiling to himself. Out of everything that had happened between them, his dramatic tendencies were not the largest threat to their relationship. “So, am I allowed to ask how you are or do we have to wait for the french fries?”

[alaskaawrites]

      “You know a kid asked me what a VHS is, I have never felt so old in my life…even if my phsyical apparence says different.” 

[matthew-hall]

“One time Tiana asked me what a CD was... so I can relate. Am I raising her wrong?”

[nostalgiawriting]

“alex has run off to play in a tree and isn’t coming down, he’ll make an appearance once he’s hungry.”

[matthew-hall]

“I’m hungry,” Matt said with a grin, walking up to his dear friend. “Does that not matter at all?”

[matthew-hall]

“I’m close to disowning our friendship, right? I mean you know my weaknesses.” Marissa let out a breath of air, with their relationship was nothing but complicated. 

“I know too much, you have to take me out,” Matt joked. “Tell Oliver and Tiana I loved them...” he said dramatically as he walked with her towards the fast food place he knew they both had in mind. 

[johnmulaneys]

[alaskaawrites]

feat; @matthew-hall

[matthew-hall]

“Fine, but you know my appetite is already ruined.” Marissa dramatically sighed, “I could go for some french fries.” 

“I know, but I also know you won’t say no to french fr––” Matt said, chuckling when Marissa said the words at the same time. “Come on, my treat.” 

[matthew-hall]

“Kinky…but I mean…you never know, some rich folks love to be stingy with their money.”

“That’s my middle name, don’t wear it,” Matt said with a wink. “Come on, let’s get new milkshakes.” 

[matthew-hall]

 “I think we could have gotten a good sum of money out of the whole thing but you had to be alpha.” 

“A good sum of money?” Matt laughed, shaking his head. “Mar we were at a Barnes and Noble. At the most we could have gotten a free copy of 50 Shades of Grey.”