#nhlislanders

Author notes: So, I got a lot of Mathew requests and some of them were very alike, so I decided to mix some. In this piece we have three prompts which are: 

99. “it’s just a kiss”; 35. “I don’t want to be just friends with benefits anymore.” and 11. “we’re not just friends, and you know it” I hope you guys like it! Feedback is always appreciated. 

Word count:  3.196

Also, IMPORTANT: It’s not proofread aaaand I wanted to know if someone wants to do it (before I post on here) with almost every piece I write. Sorry for the confusing talk, I’m at the airport rn but I wanted to post it fast since it’s been a while I got the ask.  

Things started months ago when y/n went on a horrible date and Mat wasn’t in the vibe for dating someone neither having random hookups on the weekends, so he suggested to try put some benefits in their friendship, at first it was a good idea since there was this tension between both of them but as time pass by things got a little out of planning.

It wouldn’t be a real friendship with benefits if one of them -or both- fall in love, huh?!

First, the kisses started to linger longer than usual, then they happened in moments other than sex like when y/n arrived at his house to shit talk about anything or when they were alone together and one of then needed to go. Then affection started to grow, but y/n kept telling herself that it was the kind of thing they used to do before, therefore Mat bringing her coffee at college or sending texts to remind of drink water and lunchtime wasn’t news. 

The clock hits 8am when y/n’s cell phone starts ringing and bringing the noise to all the room. She curses before reaching for the bedside table and turning it off. The bedroom was in a perfect scenario for sleeping all day long, blinds were closed, the air was cool and she was completely naked - covered only by the comforter -.

“pssst, wake up” she hears the whisper, smells the lotion and feels the hands in her hair. 

“Too early” 

“Honey, it’s already 8:30, the guys are arriving soon” 

And suddenly her eyes were wide open. 

Shit! She didn’t mean to stay the night when she got into his condo after a hell of a class. Eventually, they slept together the whole night, but not always, especially when they have breakfast with their group of friends. Mat seemed to sense her nervousness and kissed the top of her head sentencing “You were too tired last night, I choose not to wake you up.” 

“Matyyyy” she whined closing her eyes again and sinking further in the bed. He chuckles. “I gotta go home to clean clothes an-” “There are enough options in my closet” he explains finally letting his weight falls into her, but with caution, so she doesn’t get hurt. 

“You’re wet!!!!” y/n cursed one more time once she felt the drops of water hit her face and collarbone. 

“Just got out of the shower” Mat states simply. She rolls her eyes playfully and let a kiss into his chin.

“Smells good” she whispers “and you shaved…” 

He nods smiling. “I saw you were getting some scratches in the inner tight, so It was no big deal for me to solve this” 

Scratches…

Inner tig-

Her thoughts are interrupted once she understands what he meant. The pitch of her stomach gaining the well-known feeling. Mat loved to go down on y/n so once he noticed that the growing beard was a little inconvenient to her sensitive area he didn’t think twice before shaving it off. 

“I gotta go home to clean clothes before everyone arrives.” she changes the subject after the silence, actually, the silence wasn’t something uncomfortable between them. 

“I told you there are enough options here” he repeats himself and she reaches for his neck, lacing her arms around it. 

“How come?” 

“You always forget something, so I usually just wash and put it with my clothes” 

Y/n stays silent, she knew she left a pair or two of panties since the last time they ended up ripping the one she was wearing, but she didn’t think Mat was so careful and kept everything clean. 

It was kind of overwhelming, to be honest, she already had a toothbrush and some books at his place, but clothes in general? Space in his closet? That was...scary. 

It meant something and she knew it. 

“Babe, you have to get up” Mat pokes her side. 

“Honey”, “babe”...the nicknames, the soft kisses, the attention, the cuddles while sleeping at night...how they let things got this far?! This was far from the established line, wasn’t it?! 

Y/n gives no response, just trying to sink more in the cushions, Mat chuckles and stands up, pushing the comforter off. 

“Barzal, I’m naked!!!!” she grumbles covering her chest with one arm. “and it’s cold” 

“First, I see you naked always and second, it’s not cold. C’mon, go take a bath, y/n” he pleads and she puffs finally getting up and heading to the bathroom. 

She takes her time while washing her hair, brushing her teeth and choosing between a lot of clothes that -as Mat said- were at his closet. When she was finally dressed and combing her hair the doorbell rings. The voice of Tito, Joe, Emma, and Ed is heard from the bedroom and y/n takes a final look at the mirror before heading downstairs to her friends.

Joe is the first one to notice her and then Emma who’s sitting in the couch in front of the stairs, she gives y/n a well-known look, even tho y/n never talked about her ‘relationship’ with Mathew, Emma seemed to sense -but never enough to prove her point, so things usually consisted in Emma saying that she liked him and y/n denying every word. 

“Good morning, Y/n” Tito compliments heh with a strong hug. “You got here early?” 

“Yeah, it’s been ten minutes or so…”

“I see your hair still wet” Emma whispers while planting a kiss in her friend’s cheek.

“I came right after a bath, so yeah”. 

“Mhm, sure, gonna pretend I believe you” the blonde girl jokes and y/n rolls her eyes playfully. 

Ed and Joe are the next ones, Joe lingering a little bit longer in the hug and adding a small kiss in y/n’s cheek. “You look good today” he smiles before letting her body finally go. That, however, didn’t pass unnoticed by Mat. 

“So, what you guys brought to breakfast??” Barzal asks while walking to the kitchen, followed by the others.

“I brought the watermelon juice, y/n’s favorite” Joe states while walking right behind his friends.

Mathew discreetly rolls his eyes and y/n is fast to see, shooting him a small giggle. 

Everyone putting their designed plates in the table minutes before the loud voice and laughers start along with mouths full of food and eventually some choking and more laughs. 

The group of friends left Mathew’s house around lunchtime, but they would meet at some Tito’s friend party in the evening, which probably was the main reason why y/n went home...or maybe she needed some alone time to put straight her thoughts. Barzal drove her home and they said their goodbyes with a small wave, something seemed off and both could feel it, the tension almost touchable. Happens that during all morning Joe kept flirting with y/n in a way he never did before, which was funny to all of their friends who were seeing all of that as one of Joe’s typical class-clown behavior. He was a funny guy, but Barzal was sure at that moment he was not kidding, he meant it and the way his eyes were trailing her body made his blood boil.

But what Mathew could do? 

Nothing! 

They were not dating, he couldn’t simply demand him to shut up, not when y/n didn’t look at him pleading help with her eyes or showed some kind of discomfort, she was apparently seeing all the situation as comic. 

He wanted to feel comfortable with someone praising y/n cause Mat was sure she deserved all, but he was afraid. And not from the praise or guys at all, he was afraid of her falling for someone else, seeing the possibility of the same relationship with someone that wasn’t him. 

Hell, he wanted to show her off to the whole world and praise her in every way possible. 

In the monarchy times, she surely would be his queen almighty. And him...he would be just a fool in love.

In love.

These words were his only company all day long while his mind raced with thoughts about what the hell was happening until he felt tired enough to fall asleep. 

Mat woke up with the call from Tito asking if he would make it in time and he was confused once the sleep made him forget about the party. Mathew raced for the bathroom, taking a batch, changing and finally leaving thirty minutes later for the party. 

Bruno Mars was blasting through the speakers of the club while the group of friends talking in a discreet corner. Y/n standing beside Emma with her drink in hands a small smile displaying on her face. Her waist was moving slightly and as much as she wanted to feel the music and delightfully dance something was missing…

Almost forty minutes later his perfume is close, her stomach does some flips and finally, the voice is heard. 

“I fell asleep, sorry guys” he states while going to compliment everyone in the friends' circle.

Tito is fast to start chatting and so the night goes with a lot of talks, dance, music, laugh, and glances. When the club started to get full and they wanted to keep the conversation and subjects between their group Emma suggested to go to Ed’s house that was close from there. 

They did as suggested and when everyone was getting comfortable in the living room Joe started “we should play truth or dare”.

“Don’t we have something better to do” it’s Ed’s turn to speak and he glances at his friend with a curious and sarcastic face. 

“C’mon, it will be fun! We gonna talk shit anyway…” Emma jokes and y/n chuckles, her friend was always open for adventures and since it was only their group she felt safe to be who she was and to do all the things she wants as well. 

“You see, Em’s by my side?!” showing his tongue Joe disappears into the house getting back some minutes later with a bottle.

All the five already sitting in a circle in the middle of the room. Emma is by y/n’s right and by her left is empty and then Tito talking with Ed and Barzal. Joe takes the opportunity and sits by her side which doesn’t go unnoticed by Mathew one more time, but whatever, they were all friends, it was normal to eulogize and give attention and take care and...right?! 

Because of her excitement, Emma is the first to start throwing the bottle that lands with the bottleneck pointing to Edward.

“Truth or dare, Ed?” 

“Truth” he exhales. 

“Ok...were you in love with our physic teacher in college?” she’s straight into the point and Joe laughs seeing his friend become bright red and then pale.

“Oh, c’mon Ems, we don’t even have this class anymore!!”

“You said the truth” Tito chuckles standing for his friend. “Let’s go, man, answer fast.” 

Ed grumbles before giving their friend a positive answer that made all of them cheer and laugh.

When Ed spins the bottle and it lands for y/n she arches her brows. 

“Truth or dare?” 

“Dare” she rolls her eyes and takes a sip from her drink. He would probably send her to ring the doorbell of the neighbor or walk barefoot in the sidewalk, or so y/n thought.

“Kiss Joe”

“What?” Tito chuckles not believing in Ed’s command.

“You gotta be kidding me” y/n curls her lips into a funny way.

“Am not. I dare you to kiss Joe” 

She rolls her eyes that land into a pair of honey already staring. His eyes were dark and he had this stressed face that he does when some player hits him in the ice. Mathew wasn’t happy with that little game not even a little. 

She waited to see if he was going to say something, but as nothing left his lips she used hers to kiss the boy by her side. Joe's hand’s found her cheek and he was looking for some kind of dominance in the kiss, trying to get her close every second so so different from Barzal kisses, she remembered. Mat always holds her close, wait for some sign of consent and usually tangles his long fingers into her curly hair. 

Emma does this surprise noise when Joe and y/n break the kiss and Mat looks a little disappointed. 

“I’m gonna grab some air,” the number 13 of the nyi says before leaving the room. Y/n was fast to notice the change in his tone, he was mad. 

Emma glances at her and she stays still, not really being able to understand everything including the mood swing from Mathew. “Your turn to spin the bottle” Ed mumbles noticing that his dare wasn’t one of the best ideas. 

“I...I gotta talk to Mat” she stands. 

“You should wait h-” Emma was not able to stop y/n from standing up neither changing her mind. She knew her best friend and she knew that once y/n decided to do something it was pretty hard to convince her otherwise. 

“You’re thinking what I’m thinking, right?” Tito’s voice is the last thing y/n could hear before leaving the room. 

Mat was leaning in the wall, the empty corridor not doing much to hide her presence even with the constant beep of the elevator. 

“What the hell was that?!” She was starting to get angry, but with the fact that he acts like something was happening, he left evidence to their friends when they had made it clear that thein fling could never ever be known. It would make the friendship a little complicated. “What?” “Don’t act like you have no idea about what I’m talking about. That scene in the living room in front of our friends...it was so...childish!” 

“C’mon, I’m not gonna stand here to hear you say that shit” he answers.

“We’re friends, Mat, that was not the attitude of a friend and you know it! Emma is always talking about us and I know Tito is all about jokes with you too.” 

“We’re what?” 

“Friends, Mathew!” 

“We’re not just friends, and you know it!” he speaks almost softly. 

Y/n freezes in her spot, the elevator still not there, but Mat wished it was for some seconds. It was not easy to start a relationship discussion in the middle of their friend’s apartment corridor. 

Knowing y/n like he knew, Barzal expected her to say some shit about his statement, some sass comment or even a roll of eyes, however, just like she had nothing against it she said: “Ok, but it’s just a kiss…” 

“You don’t go out there kissing everyone!” 

“Don’t you?!” she furrows her brows.

“Gosh, what image do you have of me? I’m your friend…”

“But if I recall we both agreed with the not serious status, and the main reason is our friendship.” She bites her lips and starts to tap her bare feet in the ground. 

“See, that's the thing!” he sighs. “Mat, stop talking to me like I’m able to fucking read your mind!! You have to tell me stuffs, we should take like we usually d-”

“I don’t wanna be just friends with benefits anymore” 

She goes silent and the elevator finally arrives. It’s like her mind still racing and processing what he just said. He was jealous. He confessed he didn’t want to do that anymore. But what did that means? Mat want them to be over or does he wants to start something serious?! 

Before she was able to speak he enters the elevator, however y/n’s able to see the look of disappoint in his eyes, the eyes that she knows so well..the eyes that she woke up beside during some days of the week, the eyes that usually made her body shiver, the eyes that spoke into words that not ever she could read. 

So when she finally put the things together she calls the elevator, praying for the time to be by her side. That’s what they say in the rom-com movies, that the time works perfectly when it comes to two lovers.

This time it does not take long to the elevator arrive and she hops in, barefoot, messy hair and a racing heart. 

When it comes to a stop she runs looking for his car in the parking lot of the building. It’s not even open yet, he’s standing in the side of it. Hands holding the door like he was looking for some kind of strength to his body. 

“Mathew!!” she tries to run faster catching his attention.

“I…” he starts but she cuts him off. “I guess I don’t wanna be just friends with benefits anymore too…” her voice was puffy, gasping for air. Mathew opens his mouth to talk once again, but she rolls her eyes speaking first again “Why couldn’t you just wait for my answer?! I’m not a professional athlete like you…” 

He chuckles. 

“Sorry” it’s a whisper, she knows it’s not just him making her run, it’s about no being patient, not waiting for things to calm down to talk...not telling her before. But as they said, love has its own time huh?! Or that’s what he wants to believe. 

She gets closer, hands holding his shoulders. 

“And now?” 

“I mean...we go on a date or our nights' count as it?” he jokes and laughs softly. 

“Where would you take me?” she asks, brows furrowed.  

“As I already know you, I know you know where I would take you...but let me make this as a surprise” he pecks her lips. 

“With how many dates we can kiss?” y/n gets closer.

“I don’t know, you tell me” 

“Can we start it with the kiss first and then the date?” she jokes and lean even closer, her barefoot almost leaving the ground.

“We can start however you want”

Just making this post so I got to save the date and clarify some stuffs about me

- I’m starting this blog cause mine has been full of hockey shit even tho it isn’t a hockey acc

- you can call me Mel

- I’ll write and take requests but I’ll have my own time in the pieces cause sometimes I can be much of a perfectionist and also cause I’m a uni student

- I’m gonna post a lot about Barzy and Tito cause I love this duo sm and yeah thats it

ps. Im always down to talk abt any shit (I love music and books in general)

😙🤞🏾