They roomed for the three years Matt was at PSU, other people filtering in and out until Neil came to live in their dorm. And how I see it,
Seth Gordon never thought Matthew Boyd was going to break out of the shell that he trapped himself in. Seth knew what the depths of withdrawal were like and it didn't look like Matt was going to make it.
He saw how Matt had to leave every time someone brought stuff into their shared dorm.
Saw how Matt was asleep on Allison's dorm couch some mornings.
Seth didn't have the patience to deal with another neurotic and skittish person when he had his own problems to deal with. He settled with ignoring Matt for the rest of his Junior year and only failed a little. He didn't have the time to deal with Matt, but the anxiety-filled, kicked puppy look the man had swayed him to stick around the dorm more. But he wouldn't ever tell Matt that, of course.
And then the Monsters came along, and they had more problems on court than not. Seth didn't notice how Andrew's attention latched onto Matt's paranoia until Wymack said Matt was going to be away from the Court for a little while.
Randy Boyd came around, and after she left maybe Seth hung around Matt even more. The days Seth struggled, he stuck around Matt and played shitty movies until they passed out. Seth hated the Fast & Furious films but it gave them something to talk about that wasn't their closely related issues.
As Matt started becoming an actual person again, Seth didn't mind him that much anymore. In between having Allison and not, there was Matt. Matt Boyd stuck around no matter what as he recovered and became a shoulder to lean on even as he was suffering. It was a trait he found that he was jealous of; but, that was an emotion he didn't know how to deal with so if Matt ever offered an ear or hand, Seth stormed out of the room.
Either way, Matt became full of smiles and laughter. He scored with Dan and somehow Seth could tell that they will love each other for a long time. That look isn't something he and Allison have, but that is why it would be better for Matt.
When Kevin Day comes along and gets snatched up by the Monsters, Seth's mood gets worse. Matt can't fix the anger that comes with talking to the Exy Superstar but he helps.
Seth Gordon survives his Senior year and he thinks some of that could be attributed to Matt.
It's Seth's last year at PSU and he hates Neil Josten. Kevin, even more so. But, then maybe Neil isn't so bad. If Matt likes him, then he can't be that bad. Seth thinks he might look into becoming a Social Worker (he only told Allison and then Matt about it in passing). Seth feels... normal. More than he has in a while. This isn't the highest high he has ever had, but its enough that he thinks he might one day grow to be as mature as Matt. And maybe.. he wants to live.
But then, Seth Gordon is gone.
Matt Boyd is left behind. They weren't the best of friends, but Seth is the closest thing he has had since high school. Once you got past Seth's gruff-asshole tendencies, he was pretty funny and thoughtful. You just had to wrangle it out of him.
Matt mourns Seth alone. Dan is busy with Allison, and Matt doesn't blame her for not immediately checking in with him. It's Allison, and Seth was Allison's, not Matt's.
Matt quietly calls Betsy Dobson outside of her office hours and mourns what his friend's future could have been.
