Beneath the Surface

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Matthew

When I get home, the place is as empty as ever. Dad’s off on some business trip, Mom’s probably at a “social gathering,” and the house is just another echo chamber of silence. I like it that way; no nagging, no pressure. I threw my gym bag to the side and head straight for the kitchen. To my surprise, the blonde girl from earlier—the one whose name I finally remembered is Alyssa—is still there. She’s leaning against the counter, her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she stirs something in a pot.

“You’re still here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I’m not used to girls sticking around. It’s not part of the deal.

She shrugs, her eyes flicking over me. “I figured you’d want dinner.”

I can’t help but chuckle, though the sound is hollow. “You thought wrong.” But I haven’t made her leave—at least, not yet. Instead, I grab a beer from the fridge and watch her as she moves around the kitchen, her movements confident, almost like she owns the place.

My eyes linger on her as she stirs the pot in the kitchen, her movements deliberate and confident, ours a palpable tension in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the game they’re both playing. He took a long sip of his beer, watching her every move. The room feels charged—like we’re walking a tightrope, each step bringing them closer to what they both know is coming.

“You know,” she says, setting the spoon down and turning to face him, “you’re a lot quieter than I expected.”

“Didn’t realize I had to meet expectations,” I replied, my voice low, a hint of a challenge in his tone. He closes the distance between them, the hum of the refrigerator the only sound filling the silence.

Her eyes met his, unflinching. “Sometimes, silence says more.”

Her words hung between us, and for a split second, I considered walking away—ending the game before it began. But that would be too easy. Too predictable. I brush a stray strand of hair from her face, my touch light but lingering. She leans in, testing boundaries, and I let her.

When our lips finally meet, it’s anything but gentle. There’s a desperation to it, a need to forget and to lose ourselves, even if just for a moment. The kiss deepens, a clash of want and defiance, and I pull her closer, feeling the heat of her body against mine. Every touch, every movement is calculated, as if we’re both trying to prove something—to themselves, to each other, or maybe to the surrounding emptiness.

We stumble toward the bedroom, leaving a trail of discarded clothing in their wake. The world outside ceases to exist; all that matters is the here and now, the intensity of the moment. For me, it’s a way to silence the chaos in his mind, to fill the void that’s been gnawing at him for too long. But even as they come together, there’s a part of him that remains distant, untouchable—a wall that no one, not even She, can break through.

Afterward, the silence returns, heavier than before. She traces patterns on his chest, but he turns away, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. She must sense it—his detachment—because she sits up, pulling the surrounding sheets.

“This is where you told me to leave, right?” Her voice is brittle, laced with forced humor.

I didn’t answer immediately. He runs a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of the moment settling in. “You know how it is,” I say finally, my voice devoid of emotion.

She nods, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face before she masks it with a smile. “Yeah. I know.”

As the door clicks shut behind her, the emptiness returns. The silence is deafening. I get up, grab another beer, and sinks into the couch.

---

The next day

The rhythmic pounding of gloves against the heavy bag is the only thing keeping me sane. With each jab, I feel a rush of adrenaline and a sense of control. I don’t get anywhere else. The gym is my sanctuary—sweat, grit, and the dull ache of fists meeting resistance. Liam and Josh shout words of encouragement—or taunts, depending on how you look at it—but it’s all noise. I push myself harder, trying to drown out everything else.

“Yo, Matt, you’re going to kill that bag, man!” Liam laughs, slapping me on the back as I finally step away, chest heaving. He tosses me a water bottle, and I take a long swig before wiping the sweat from my forehead.

“It’s the only thing that listens,” I replied, a half-smirk tugging at my lips.

Josh raises an eyebrow. “Rough day?”

I shrug. “Something like that.”

Liam smirks. “Ah, sounds about right.”

They know better than to dig too deep. We hit the showers, the cold water shocking my system, washing away the day’s frustrations—at least for a while. When I step out, I feel a little lighter, like I’ve left some of the weight behind.

The truth is, my day’s been a mess of irritation since that incident at the café. That girl—whoever she was—made me look like a fool, spilling coffee all over me like that. I’d barely gotten the hot liquid out of my pants when I stormed out with… what’s-her-name. Right—Madison. Or maybe it was Mandy? Whatever. Not like it matters. She was good company for the morning and later in the evening, and that’s about it.

They drop the subject, knowing me well enough to sense when to back off. The gym is about the fight—not the drama of everyday life. After another round of sparring and a shower that barely made a dent in my exhaustion, I headed out, feeling the familiar ache in my muscles. It’s a good ache—the kind that makes me feel alive.

Later that night, as I lie in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind drifts back to the café girl. She looked terrified when she spilled that coffee on me—like the world had come crashing down around her. I’d been pissed, sure, but now all I can think about is the way her hands shook, the panic in her eyes. It’s ridiculous. I don’t even know her. She’s nothing more than a random face in a crowded room.

I shake my head and push the thought away. I don’t have time to dwell on it. I’ve got my own battles to fight, my own goals to chase. Tomorrow, I’ll be back at the gym, pounding away at the bag, trying to forget everything that doesn’t matter.

Because that’s all it is. Just noise.