Near to You.

Matt wondered around Zacky's apartment and for the first time in his life he was actually worried about what he was going to wear. He didn't know how her friends acted and he was terrified that they would look down on him. "Wear this," Gena grinned and threw a black long sleeve dress shirt his way. Matt pulled the old plain blue shirt over his head, threw it on the floor, and began buttoning the dress shirt up. "Here," Gena began rolling up his sleeves and smacking her gum. "looking handsome for the first time in your life." She beamed and patted his shoulder. "She's going to fall in love." 
"Gena, she hates me." 
"With those eyes," She laughed. "And those dimples, I know she's already in love." 
"Okay, enough hitting on my best friend." Zackys playful voice boomed from behind the two. "She's here by the way." He grabbed Genas hips and pulled her against him as she let out a small giggle. 
Matts heart began to race as he heard the soft pounding against the white wooden door. He swung the door open quickly and watched her surprised face contort into a subtle smile. She dolled up so beautifully. Her long blond locks where pulled up and twisted into a bun and where bangs were braided off to the side. A red knee high dress hugged her body,  black high heels accented her tone legs, and a black shawl hug loosely around her shoulders. "Hey there," Matt wrapped an arm around her shoulder but she politely brushed it off. "Uh," He tried to regain himself. "You remember Gena, right?" 
Asher stepped against the marble floors, flashed Gena a smile, and a small wave. "Hey Gena, hey Zacky." The happy couple waved and began to usher them out. 
"Have fun you two." Asher heard them call as she turned the key into he ignition. 
"You look nice," She admitted and bit down on her lower lip. Staring at him, sitting quietly in the passenger seat of her car, she felt herself becoming clammy. 
"You look beautiful," He responded and rested his head against the window. 
"So my friend, Lisa, lives in Laguna. We just go down PCH, passed Ocean Avenue, and were there basically." She couldn't help her self from rambling. "There isnt going to be a lot of people, I don't think. Just a bunch of my college friends from Pepperdine." 
"Wait," Matt paused. "Pepperdine?" 
"Yeah," Asher glanced over at him as they zoomed down the highway, finally leaving Newport and entering the boundaries of Laguna Beach. 
"Wow, fuck." He gasped as a smirk grew on his lips. "What did you major in?" 
"Psychology." Asher grinned as the passed Main St. "It's really not that big of a deal." 
"It is a big deal!" He laughed. "You must be in debt up to your eye balls." 
"Actually," She sucked on her lower lip, "My parents paid for it." That's when he finally remembered where she came from. Money. He forgot the reason why he had given her the nickname "Newport," but it was all coming back. She was a scrawny, rich, blond girl who looked like she just moved from Newport. He smiled to himself. 
"Well," He chuckled as they pulled into a parking spot and hopped out. He grew nervous as they made their journey up the stairs. No music was pounding, nobody was passed out on the stairs, and there were no lingerers down stairs. It was a new experience for him. Asher pushed the door open and  grabbed Matts hand absent mindedly. Matt beamed down at their intertwined fingers and felt his heart flutter. 
"That can't be Asher, is that my Asher?" An excited feminine voice screamed from down the garland dressed hall. 
"Lisa!" Asher yelled back, releasing Matts hand and running into the tall brunettes arms. This gave him a chance to check out his surroundings. The walls were decorated with hanging Christmas lights, garland, and tinsel. Warm lighting fixtures hung above the kitchen, little snow flakes danced on the wooden furniture, and red pointsettas lined the tables. It was had a cozy feeling Matt liked, it made him relax a bit. 
"You're going to need this," A tall, thin man held out a glass of jack with two ice cubes. "I'm Lisa's finace, Kevin." He smirked and motioned toward Asher and the other woman, still chatting. 
"Thanks man," Matt took the drink gratefully and pressed it to his lips. "I'm Matt," He shook Kevin's hand and smiled. "I'm Asher's pity date." He laughed. Kevin just nodded, probably understanding exactly what he meant.
"Come with me, I'll introduce you to a few people because I'm sure those two will be talking for a while." Kevin, dressed in a black turtle neck, black jeans, and nice dress shoes lead him over to a table of men. Some had glasses of wine in their other hands while others sipped on beer. 
"Guys, this is Matt, Asher's date." The group all cracked a smile. 
"Good luck with that one," A guy with dusty blond hair and a black blazer on laughed. "She's a tough one to crack." 
"I'm working on it," Matt laughed and took another swig of his Jack. "She hates me though," He said with another laugh. 
"If she hated you," Another man spoke, his curly black hair hung into his eyes. "She wouldn't be here with you." All of the men agreed. "I'm Jake by the way, this is Mark, and Ben." They all waved. "You know, I figured Asher would bring home a nerdy, introverted guy not someone like you," This didn't sit well with Matt, he could feel the anger boil deep inside of him as he waited for his next comment. "A rock star, I mean." A laugh slipped from everyones lips, including Matt. 
"You know, my wife makes me drink this shit," Ben held up his wine glass and cringed. "I can really the use comfort of my friends Jim and Jack." This wasn't was Matt was expecting at all, these where down to earth people, just trying to have some fun. 
"I agree with you 100%," The other two remarked and strolled into the kitchen but just as Matt went to follow, he felt a petite hand slither over his forearm. 
"I see your warming up quickly to them," The beautiful Asher said with a grin. "You want to meet my girl friends?" Matt only nodded, feeling her hand wrap around his once again, sending his mind racing, feelings bubbling, and palms swearing. 
"Lisa! This is Matt, my pity date." She informed her with a long hard laugh. 
"Well," Lisa paused. "Hell-oh," She batted her eyes and touched his arm. "It's nice to meet you." Asher couldn't help but be jealous. She defensively pushed Lisa's hand away and smiled innocently. 
"Someones jealous," Matt bent down and whispered in her ear. Letting his lips brush against the skin on her neck. 
"okay!" She sighed and "Matt, this is Macy, Natalia, Becca, Marley, and Zooey. Girls, this is Matt." The large group of girls fawned for a moment. 
"Hi Matt!" They said in unison and began laughing hysterically. "Oh shit," An auburn haired girl spoke up, "look who just walked in." 
The whole room, including Matt turned to face the door. There stood a tall fake blond and a husky looking guy, dressed in a sharp suit. 
"That's Andrea, she's a total bitch and her boyfriend is a douche." Asher leaned into his shoulder and whispered. 
"The perfect couple, huh?" Matt chuckled and wrapped an arm around Ashers shoulder. She didn't brush it away, matter of fact she snuggled closer. 
"Hey girls," She marched over in her red peep toe heels. "And guy." She said seductively. "It's nice to meet you," She held her hand out. "I'm Andrea, and you're?" 
"Matt, my boyfriend." Asher blurted out. The girls looked from one another then back to Asher. A smile crept on Matts lips and he squeezed her shoulder gently. 
"Who's this?" A booming voice urged from behind the small crowd. 
Matt quickly spun around, not liking the tone in his voice. "Matt and you are?" Matt went to shake his hand but was immediately rejected 
"Robert, Andreas boyfriend." 
"That's cool." Matt didn't know how to respond. 
"You should leave buddy." Robert growled. Everyone fell silent, even the guys walking out from the kitchen stared in disbelief. 
"Excuse me, this is my party." Lisa pipped up. 
"Maybe you should kick him out tramp." 
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Kevin made his way over. "You will never speak to her like that again." He spat. "You should leave." 
"No!" Robert screamed. Asher looked up at Matt, squeezing his hand tight, for reassurance. "That HB trash should leave. Look at his fucking Tattoos, he a 909er." He hissed. Matt had it, he unwrapped Asher from his arms and stepped and inch away from Roberts face. 
"Fuck you man." Matt growled and clenched his fists. 
"Hey," Asher jumped in-between the two. "Calm down." Matt just wanted to wipe that smug grin off Roberts face. 
"Listen to your bitch, you're embarrassing yourself." 
"Call her a bitch again," Matt screamed, trying to push back Asher who was holding him with all her might. "See what fucking happens." 
"Matt calm down!" She squeaked again. 
"I'm fucking scared." 
Matt roared and tried to swing, Kevin and the rest of the guys stepped in, trying to pull an upset Matt away. 
"I'm going to fucking kill you!" Matt screamed as they held him back. "You don't ever fucking insult my girl or where the hell I came from." in the midst of all this chaos, Asher couldn't help but feel the butterflies flutter in her stomach as he said that. 
"Matt," Asher grabbed each sides of his face and looked him dead in the eye. "We are fucking leaving now." Her voice was an eerie calm, making Matt fear just a little bit. He stopped yelling as she dragged him out of the apartment, apologizing to all her friends as she shut the door behind them. 

"You embarrassed me," Asher spoke softly as they sat at a red light, waiting to drive into Huntington. 
"Oh I'm sorry!" Matt yelled. "What? Did you not want me to defend myself? To sit there like a pussy?" 
"I wanted you to handle that situation in a classy way," 
"Right because I'm fucking trash, I don't know how to be classy." 
"I didn't mean it that way Matt!" Asher screamed and stepped on the gas. "Stop twisting my words."
"That's exactly what you meant Asher, you were embarrassed of me even before I got into that fight!" 
"If I was embarrassed I wouldn't have invited you in the first place Matt!" She screamed, slamming her hands against the steering wheel and peeling around a bend. 
"Just admit it! Fucking admit it! That's why you don't want to date me, because I can't love up to your rich, Pepperdine graduate friends. I'm just some trashy guy in a band. just face it." Matt was screaming at the top of his lungs at this point, his face was red with anger, and his heart was pounding. 
"Matt you are just a retard!" She screamed. "Nothing I say or do goes trough that thick skull!" 
"Oh shut the fuck up Newport." The car fell silent and immediately Matt knew he had fucked up. As Asher brought the car to the curb of his home, she spoke barely audible. 
"Get the fuck out and don't ever talk to me again."