believer

“my god, you’re such an old man teacher.” mae sighed with a groan, repeating the old man phrase just to be annoying. “did i ever tell you, you remind me of this guy who taught me in fifth grade? he was our math teacher and he was so old and annoying… you talk like him.” she grinned. it wasn’t really true. that teacher was so boring, and at least matthew was someone who could take a joke and was fun to talk to. “hm…” mae pretended to think. “most likely. if they’re the type to complain a lot.” 

“old man teacher huh? what an interesting nickname you’ve given me there,” matthew told mae with a chuckle, his eyebrow raising as he listened to her story. “is that so? i’d say my students would tell you otherwise. for starters, the  subject  i teach is much more fun. besides, i’m the coolest teacher around. that’s a fact,” he teased, finishing his words with a nod of his head. “grandpas tend to complain less. they just withstand grandmas’ complaints for years.”

she was happy to feel matt’s lips on her’s, it made her calmer than ever. knowing the guy could have that effect on her, she was so grateful to have him. “but he is my father, after all i thought he would understand.” beth repeated herself with another sigh leaving her mouth. “let’s just get out of here, i just want wanna be be at my own home.” she said, it wasn’t hard to notice how upset beth was. 

he could feel beth calm down with his touch, but still he felt horrible knowing that all of this upset her so much. “give him time, love. he’ll understand eventually and he’ll learn to be happy for you.” matthew could only hope that the words he told beth were true, that her father wouldn’t keep on resisting him just because he didn’t fit his idea of the perfect guy for beth. “of course. let’s go. want to pick up something good for dinner on the way?”

“If I’m being honest, I probably drink way too much coffee. That’s where I was heading after here, well, before it started to pour.” James said with a light shake of his head, eyes looking back out the window before over to Matthew once more. As he told him about his brother’s reaction to the records, James couldn’t help but grin some more. “Ah, the best reaction.” He laughed softly. “Seriously though, I’m really glad he liked what I picked out for him. Must have either been jazz or swing, huh? Because if it was anything else, I know for a fact that I would have been awful at picking anything else out.” 

“that makes two of us. i’m so grateful my best friend owns the coffee shop. she provides my endless supply, and makes me a happy man,” matthew said with a chuckle, realizing that he really could use a cup right now. if only it wasn’t raining. the thought of his brother always brought a smile to matthew’s lips, despite how frustrating the situation he was in was. “jazz, it was jazz. he’s a big fan. i’m sure i’m going to receive a call from his wife soon yelling at me for getting him obsessed with the record and not letting her get a moment of peace and quiet at home,” he admitted with a small laugh.

Aspen was glad that they could always fall back into where they left off, no matter how long it took. It could be days, weeks, or even months and it would still feel like not much time had passed. It sucked getting older and having your time being completely consumed by things, but that was life, wasn’t it? He was her rock and she knew without him – she didn’t know where she would end up. Probably having multiple meltdowns a day. Luckily she didn’t have to worry about that, she knew that he would be there whenever she needed him and vice versa. Her eyebrow rose at his words, head tilted to the side. “Pissed? What’s got you pissed? Do I need to bring out Crazy Aspen and go bring out a can of whoop-ass?” She asked, being serious and she was sure he would know that as well. “You have a lifetime supply of free coffee with being my friend – no doubt about that.” 

with time, matthew had grown to appreciate the few people in his life he could talk to about anything, who would not let time affect their relationship. and since walking into his life, aspen had always been one of those people. she was a gem, truly, for both him and his daughter. “no need to let crazy aspen out and do something you’ll regret afterwards,” he told her with a shake of his head before letting out a long-drawn sigh. “beth’s oarents. her mother should be ashamed to call herself a mother. and her dad? i saw it coming, but i really hoped that people like him still didn’t exist. i was wrong, obviously.” he nodded along to her last words, a small smile creeping onto his lips. “and that is how you make me happy, always and forever.”

“Okay so a cup of coffee while it rains might make it a bit better.” He laughed softly with a nod of his head, though James was sure that coffee could make any situation at least ten times better. As he mentioned that vinyl shop, James tried to think back. He remembered going there but as for helping the guy who looked familiar, there was no memory of that at all. “Ah, well, I don’t remember it but I’m glad I was able to help out. And I’m glad that whatever I picked out, was something that you’re brother liked!” 

“that’s the magic of coffee, always making the bad things seem better,” matthew agreed with a smile. he could survive only on the black liquid and still appreciate it every single day. nodding slowly when the man told him he didn’t remember, matthew recalled some issue with memory that the other had mentioned, and pinned it down to that. “that’s alright, no worries. yeah, you picked up two records for him. he received them two days ago and called me screaming like a little kid who got the biggest gift from santa on christmas day.”

beth felt so ashamed that matt had to face that, beth knows how hard her family is and remembers how her mother made one of her younger brother’s girlfriend run away just because she thought he hair wasn’t nice. but beth is older now, and she knows what she’s doing and she is held by the matt’s arms. a wise, fun man. she finds it really hard to believe that her father just acted that way towards the guy she loved. when she felt matt’s hands on her shoulders it was like she could breathe again, but yet she felt so bad of what he has to go through inside the house she grew up in. she looked up at him with a half smile. “i love you too.” she said as she placed her hand on his cheek. “yet, i’m so embarrassed, i thought it would be a good idea.” she said looking down again.

his neck bent slightly so that he could reach down and press a soft, reassuring kiss to beth’s lips. he was angered by the encounter, but he was certain that beth felt upset and hurt by the way it went. and that made it all even worse. “you don’t need to be embarrassed. it was his doing, not yours. i know you had the best intentions in mind, but don’t be so hard on yourself, okay? promise me.”

James absolutely hated the rain. He wasn’t for sure why but whenever it did rain, there was a flicker of something there, some kind of memory that he couldn’t really put his finger on. All he knew was that he hated it, that it made anxiety build in the middle of his stomach and left him feeling completely off. He had hoped that he would have made it home before the gray clouds gave way to rain but instead he too was now watching it from inside of the shop, the bags in his hands dangling. “I think it depends who you ask.” James replied, still watching the rain pelt against the windows. “I’m not a huge fan of it, whether I’m home or not.” He chuckled lightly before looking over at the other man, instantly struck with a feeling of familiarity. Now came the part that caused him a lot of struggling, trying to remember why he looked familiar. James felt his brow furrow the smallest bit. “I think I know you from somewhere?” He started off slowly, still trying to work his way through how or why the man next to him looked so familiar. 

“i guess you’re right. some people adore it, others can’t stand the thought of it, and then there are those that only like it when they’re in the comfort of their homes with a cup of coffee,” matthew said with a chuckle as he set down the bags on the floor next to his feet. at the question, matthew eyed the man next to him before a sudden realization hit him. “ah, yes. we’ve met before. the vinyl shop, remember? you helped me pick my brother’s birthday present. which he loved, by the way!”

“We’ve been way too out of touch. Things have been crazy and it sucks that we don’t talk that much.” Sincerely, Me - Dear Evan Hansen

Sitting across the table from Matthew when he made his way into Deja Brew, Aspen felt like a horrible friend with how little they have spoken over the last few weeks. A lot of things seemed to be piling up and she couldn’t get any time to see him, only an occasional text here and there and when she was complaining about the news she found out. Sighing, she leaned over to ruffle his hair between her fingers. “We’ve been way too out of touch. Things have been crazy and it sucks that we don’t talk that much,” she said with a pout forming on her lips. “I miss talking to you about life and other stuff.” The pout stayed on her lips. “How have things been for you? I know I’m the one that is normally complaining and haven’t listened to what’s been going on with you. I’m such a crappy friend.” @matthewgibson​

life always had a habit of getting in the way, and in this case it meant that he hadn’t seen aspen in weeks. she was one of the most important people for him in springhill, and admittedly not spending time with her did put a damper on his mood. only now she had joined him, and a genuine smile crept onto his lips at the sight of her. trying to avoid her touch, unsuccessfully, matthew let out a chuckle as she ruffled his hair. “i couldn’t agree  more,” he admitted with a nod. “good, overall. could be better in some aspects, but i guess i’m still too pissed about that to actually be bothered, so overall everything is great in matthew gibson’s life. and hey, it’s okay. you’ve got permission to complain as long as you bring me coffee. that’s always been the deal.”

beth sighed at her father’s comment and lead the way outside as she held matthew’s hand. she said goodbyes to the maids with a fake smile, since she knew they all heard enough drama as well. they exit her parents house and looked up at her boyfriend and pressed her lips, feeling bad she had to put matthew into that situation. “i’m sorry matt.” she hissed looking at the ground and letting go of his hand so she could cross her arms. “i thought he’d be happy for me.” she added. she didn’t care for her mother opinion and now matt could also see why. but her father was her man figure for her and knowing it’s going to be hard for him to understand that she’s not gonna be with someone he thought of. she felt so bad of what matt was put into that she couldn’t look into his eyes. 

holding beth’s hand, matthew was finally relieved to be out of the house. beth’s family was completely different than his, he had known that from the start. still he had never imagined it would go this way, be a disaster from start to finish. he could feel himself relaxing the second they stepped outside, and his hands reached for the car keys, eager to get away from the place as quickly as possible. “you don’t have to apologize for his behavior, he’s a grown man who can apologize himself.” moving his hands to rest them on beth’s shoulders, he turned her around to face him. “beth, dear, look at me. i love you. that’s all that matters.”

It was his home away from home, Matthew’s house. He lounged around as he would in his own living room, flicking through the channels on the television; a task that he had been concentrated on until the other reappeared. As he spoke, Drew sat himself up properly, nodding at his friend as he took hold of his drink. All his attention had been turned to the conversation now, Matthew’s words causing him to raise a brow. “They must be bad if they had you reacting like that,” Drew noted. And truly, he sympathised. What a terrible situation to be in, especially knowing how much the other valued family. “Tell me about it. I know all about judgemental parents.” 

after taking a sip of the cold drink, a sigh left matthew’s lips, accompanied by a nod of his head. he hated the idea of things having gone that way. beth meant so much to him, and the last thing he wanted was for things to go that way with her family. but after the way her parents treated him, he was not even the slightest bit upset about the words he said. “they’re terrible, man. her mother? such a bitch. the way she kept talking down beth was just unbelievable. who would do that to their daughter? and her dad? don’t get me started on him. talk about a prejudiced old-fashioned man who thinks i’m only with beth for the money because i’m not a lawyer like him, or a doctor, or whatever.”

the weather had been gloomy when matthew left work, but he figured he would manage to take a detour to pick up some groceries before heading home without getting caught in the rain. only he had miscalculated greatly, and now he was stuck watching the rain pour behind the store’s glass doors, unable to head out without getting drenched from head to toe. “there’s always something beautiful about the rain,” he told the person next to him with a small sigh, shoulders raising up into a shrug. “unless you’re stuck somewhere other than home and you can’t risk leaving without getting a pneumonia, that is.”

“you know, sometimes i wish i could turn back time to before lisa was born. the waiting is so long, that’s true, but re-experiencing the whole ‘coming into the world’ thing - that’s the most wondeful part.” he stopped for a moment to take a sip from his coffee, a smile directed at teagan as he put the cup back down. “i promise all the waiting will be worth it in the end. and all the weird cravings and emotions. how’s it going from that aspect? my ex-wife used to crave donuts in the middle of the night. almost every night towards the end. she drove me crazy,” he said with a chuckle before letting out a soft sigh. “my parents kept telling me to expect it, and i thought they were making a big deal out of it. but they were right. and guess what? they love to say they told me so.”

after popping open the two cans of ice cold beers, matthew made his back to the living room where drew was sitting down on his couch. he had so much to tell his friend, particularly about the recent developments with beth’s family, and drew was one of the people he would feel comfortable talking to. “so, i still haven’t told you how the whole meeting-the-family went,” he said, handing one can over to his friend before plopping down on the couch himself. “horrible, if you were going to ask. but let me tell you, i had a marvellous time ruining everything. god, i have never met such rude people in my life.”