#matthew schaefer

he's so outgoing. he can talk to anyone, will talk to anyone. he could literally walk into a morgue and make a friend. you, on the other hand, do anything you can to avoid talking to new people because it makes you nervous. the idea of looking a stranger in the eye makes your heart rate increase at a concerning speed.

you're not a big party person for this exact reason. the idea of being crammed into a tiny house with music playing too loud, drunk teenagers everywhere, and no personal space sounds like hell to you.

and even though matt isn't a huge fan of the drinking part of it, he really likes the party scene.

he mostly goes so that he can hang out with his friends. often, parties are the only place that they all get together, and you understand that. he's the life of the party, too. funny, energetic, and charismatic, matt is like a magnet for fun. people love having him at their parties, and he loves going to them.

while you understand that, going to parties stresses you out. for the first few weeks of your relationship, whenever matt went to a party, you stayed home.

he never said anything, but you could tell. he wanted you to come with him, but he was doing his best to respect your wishes and what made you feel most comfortable.

eventually, you told him that you would come every once in a while. matt was ecstatic, so excited to bring you into his world.

it turns out you have more fun at parties, enjoy yourself more, when you're with someone that you love. matt always makes you laugh, makes you feel happy. so the usually overstimulating and upsetting environment of a house party became a lot more tolerable, and even fun at times, when you're with matt.

but only when you're with matt. you tried to go to a party with one of your friends one time, and wanted to leave immediately.

tonight, you really wanted to stay home with matt and watch a movie. the two of you haven't had much time to yourselves recently, and the very last thing you wanted was to go to a huge party where you had to share his attention with everyone else there.

but apparently one of his old friends from school, a kid named tommy, is in town and is going to be at this party, so he really wanted to go.

and since you wanted to spend tonight with him, you're going too.

the music is already playing loud when you arrive, the house practically shaking with the reverb. you cringe, but hide it from matthew. the two of you are holding hands as you walk into the place.

he can't find tommy for the first hour, so the two of you walk around talking to other people. matt never leaves your side, never lets go of your hand.

when he's talking to other people, you lean on his arm, bury your face in his bicep. the music is so loud, and everybody's yelling to be heard over it. bodies are jostling all around you, and you desperately wish that you'd been able to convince matt to stay home tonight, meet up with tommy for brunch tomorrow or something, anything.

but then he locates tommy, and they do the stereotypical bro-hug that every guy does whenever he interacts with any other guy. you smile a bit, endeared by matt's big, goofy smile, and the way they're just so guy.

"we should find somewhere quiet," matt shouts over the music. "to catch up!"

tommy nods, and the three of you wander around for a bit, until you find the door to the backyard. matt opens it, letting you out first, and you let out a sigh of relief at the silence, at the cold air cooling your sweat-soaked skin.

matt finds a fire pit with a small fire already going, surrounded by a few camping chairs. you plop down in one, and matt sits down in the one next to you, immediately beginning to stoke the fire.

"so, tommy, how you been doing, man?" matt asks.

as soon as they start talking, you feel glad that you decided to come. matt is so clearly excited to be reunited with his old friend, one of his oldest friends, actually. there's a lot of pressure on him, being a rookie in the nhl, he's just got a lot on his shoulders a lot of the time. he says he feels most relaxed when he's with you, which always makes you happy, but you wish that he had other people who made him feel that way, because the two of you aren't always able to be together.

you've met tommy once before, back when you and matt were still just friends. now, as his girlfriend, you can appreciate how tommy makes him feel happy, excited.

but then you start thinking.

you're not extroverted. at all. in any sense of the word. you've always been pretty shy, preferred to keep to yourself. matt is extroverted, is always talking to somebody, trying to make new friends.

this is a thought you've had before, and it's certainly not going to be the last time you think it.

he would probably be happier with someone more like him. someone that wanted to go out, go to parties. instead of always wanting to stay in, cuddle and watch movies.

god, you think. he must be so bored with me.

you hurt your own feelings with thoughts like these, and you know that, but you just can't help it sometimes.

matt is in the middle of talking, telling a funny story about one of matt martin's daughters, animatedly talking with his hands about the time winnie and alice surprised him with breakfast in bed but ended up dropping the toast on his stomach.

you let out a sad little sigh, your lip wobbling, trying your best to calm yourself down.

but then he stops. tommy keeps looking at him, confusion on his face.

matt turns to you, a soft smile on his face. "i love you," he looks away for a second, before making eye contact again. the look on his face is so... happy, so loving. "just... by the way,"

and then he goes back to telling the story to tommy.

that's the first time either of you has said those three words to each other, and he did it so casually. as if he could read your mind, and wanted to reassure you, but in the most nonchalant way possible.

your mind is spinning, your mouth dropped open in shock. he just... he just said it. like the thought occurred to him right in that moment, and he wanted to share.

you don't get the chance to say it back, because the conversation keeps going, and you don't feel comfortable jumping in just to profess your love to your boyfriend.

oh my god.

a while later, you and matt are leaving. he says his goodbyes to all his friends, your hands clasped comfortingly together. he's acting casual still, as if he didn't just single-handedly advance your relationship in the best way possible.

your heart is racing as you approach the car. he goes to open your door, but you stop him.

he gives you a questioning look, and you almost back out, but you don't.

you surge up on your tiptoes, kissing him. he lets a surprised breath out of his nose, before melting into it. your arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer, and matt rests his hands lovingly on your hips.

when you pull back, matt looks... shocked. you're not usually one for pda, especially something as bold as what you just did.

"i love you," you blurt. your cheeks heat at your suddenness, but you're smiling, wide. "um. i love you. too. by the way,"

matt's face breaks into a huge smile, and he pulls you into a tight hug. the two of you sway back and forth for a minute, before he kisses you on both cheeks, then opens the passenger side door for you.

the drive back is fully of giddy little giggles, soft smiles, and both of your hearts feeling like they're going to explode from happiness.

you remind yourself that matt wouldn't be with you if he didn't like you, if he didn't enjoy spending time with you. as much as that's hard for you to believe sometimes, it's true.

now, you can remind yourself that he loves you. and you love him back.

a/n: thank you for the request lovely! i feel like i didn't quite do it justice, but i think this is cute enough (: first thing for matthew schaefer! thank you especially for sending in a request for him, he's such a cutie! thank you to everyone who reblogs, comments, likes, and follows me, you're all my favorites! have an amazing day/night!