Pulling his Vespa in alongside Parker's van, Matt proceeded to dismount and latch his Vespa to the nearest lamp post. After assuring that his Vespa wasn't going anywhere (at least without either the lamp post or a pair of bolt cutters), Matt half-jogged up the stairs to catch up with the rest of the group. Letting the door close behind him he followed Søren into the living area. Shrugging off his jacket and laying it in the chair, thus claiming his seat. Leaving Søren to... be Søren and Lucy to her own devices Matt headed towards the kitchen to have a talk with Parker.
 
In the little time between the living room and the kitchen Matt tried to order his thoughts. Going through various permutations of what he wanted to bring up he decided on the simplest route. "Please tell me you aren't entertaining thoughts of hooking up with Lucy again?" Matt tried to say it as if it wasn't an outlandish idea but it sounded much more like an accusation than anything else.
 
 
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The question caught Parker off-guard, not expecting Matt's approach in addition to the obvious, off-putting quality of the inquisitive statement, causing him to stop opening the refrigerator mid-swing and turned to his friend. "Pardon me?" Parker's response came out more defensive than he would've preferred, but the confrontation was already quite annoying so it seemed his tone couldn't be helped. Knocking the refrigerator door closed with his heel, he moved toward his usual corner in the kitchen and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms with a sigh. "I suppose I'm not getting out of this conversation, so I guess you should start by explaining why it even matters to you, and why particularly now?"
 
 
 
Sighing Matt hopped up onto the counter. He knew this conversation was going to be an awkward one. Breathing in deeply Matt began in what was almost a rant. "The why isn't about me. Not really. I don't want to see this band implode like some of my previous ones. Romance in bands hardly ever ends well. I can think of like 2 successful examples and endless examples of it causing bands to fall apart." Dropping back to the floor and standing once more he continued in a much more subdued tone, "Look I don't want to come off as if I'm saying 'no you absolutely positively can't date within the band, rather Søren, Lucy or even myself'..." He interrupted himself here with a slight chuckle as a disturbing image of Søren, Nete and Parker in bed floated through his mind, "...but I've seen the way you look at her... Just remember there was a reason, whatever it was, that you guys ended things before."
 
 
 
The words stung at Parker's memories, bringing up things he never liked to think about. He knew Matt was right, but being confronted and hit with painful memories only made him want to lash out at his friend. "That's something you know nothing about," Parker spat in a spiteful tone, but not raising his voice as to alert the others. "That reason... those reasons should be gone. And if they're not, that's not your concern, either." [i]What am I even arguing about?[/i]
His thoughts raced. [i]It had crossed my mind but she always does; I was never actually considering it, was I?[/i] Despite his lack of clear reasoning, his rage didn't fully subside, maybe more confused than angry now. His hands were at his sides now, after previously using them to punctuate his anger. They were still tense, so he tried to let them fall limp as he dropped his gaze, and took a breath. "This isn't [i]anyone's[/i] concern, actually. I will probably always look at her that way, but... I'm fairly certain that shipped has sailed. Or blew right the fuck up before then... Look, just stay out-- just... don't worry about it, okay?" Parker's tone slowly dropped as his words flowed on unsteadily, eventually able to meet Matt's gaze again but only long enough mutter an embarrassed apology about his outburst. The subject within itself was more than a sore spot for him, so the apology was barely sincere, but he knew Matt's intentions were good even if he couldn't show it at the moment. Turning toward the refrigerator again, he quickly jerked it open again only to kick it shut just as fast. "I'm not really in the mood to make any snacks for the marathon... not like we didn't just eat," he continued to mutter, briskly walking through the small kitchen's doorway and turned into the hall. "I'll be in the shower. Start without me, Sozo," he called out over his shoulder to his friend, shutting the door quickly as to not hear Søren's usual bitching about the nickname. 
 
 
 
Watching Parker all but storm out of the kitchen Matt had to wonder if had maybe not broached the subject in the best of manners. Scrounging the kitchen for popcorn and a bowl Matt thought to himself, [i]'He's right especially about the reasons they broke up. But he's also wrong... this is my concern. Hell it's the whole band's concern.'[/i] Finding the popcorn he yelled into the living room "I'm gonna fix popcorn. That okay with you guys?”
 
With the popcorn ready and the movie rolling Matt dropped into the chair giving a glance down the hall towards the bathroom that Parker had retreated to. In his mind he was strongly divided between two sentiments, the first being a concern for Parker, the second being a strong sentiment of screw him.