Eric x Matty: A love story you never knew

This tale, written by Mo, was posted during the Final Tribal Council of Survivor Mountains: Drakensberg, on July 10, 2018. It depicts the blossoming relationship between two contestants, Eric and Matty.

> It was a summer day, the sun burning bright. The wind was cool, and carried with the smell of Jamaniac's gunk, but only a hint. Eric and Matty sat together on the oak's thickest branch, neither speaking, neither looking at the other. In the distance one could hear Mo and LSE's spouting their childish chant again and again: “Eric and Matty sitting in a tree! K! I! S! S--”
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> Matty's heart beat fiercely in his chest, and his cheeks burned from embarrassment. Eric felt much the same, though one could not tell from simply looking at him. His mind was ablaze with thoughts and stratagems, ways to move forward. He turned, and at the same moment did Matty, and both stopped, and quickly looked away.
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> “Make a move, damn you!” Eric thought to himself. He mustered his courage, and reached gingerly with his hand. It crept forward and touched Matty's. Matty shook, as though struck by electricity, but didn't pull away his hand. Mo and LSE's chant died for a moment, only to be taken up again, even louder and more obnoxious.
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> Eric turned in his seat, facing Matty's side.
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> “Matty...” Eric began. After a moment Matty turned to face him, eyes not quite meeting his. His face was red like a tomato, and sweat was building on his forehead. The sight of this made Eric relax, to see that Matty was just as nervous. He moved forward.
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> “Matty,” Eric repeated, and cupped Matty's face. Matty jumped a bit, but didn't pull away.
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> “Eric, I don't know if we--” Matty began, but Eric leaned forward and kissed him.
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> Matty's heart began to beat even faster, so fast he thought it might burst from his chest. When Eric pulled back, Matty gave a little gasp.
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> Mo and LSE had gone silent. They stared in awe and fascination.
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> “Oh my God,” LSE said, “did they just--”
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> “Shhh!” Mo hissed. “This gunna get good.”
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> Eric moved closer to Matty, who squirmed in his seat. “Eric, we can't--” Matty began, but Eric shut him up again. The kiss was longer now, more intense.
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> “Oh damn,” Mo said, looking on. “He's using tongue now.” He nodded, impressed. LSE stared in silence, unable to form thoughts, stunned by what she saw.
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> Eric reached with his hand, and pulled Matty closer towards him, their chests almost touching.
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> “No!” Matty said, pushing away. Eric stopped for a moment, and then a crooked grin etched his face and he moved forward again. A brief kiss, and then Matty pushed away again. “No!”
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> “You're cute when you're embarrassed,” Eric said, unperturbed. He moved forward again.
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> “No Eric!” Matty said. “We're going too fast! There's still the game to think about.”
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> “I don't care about the game,” Eric said, scooting closer. “I care about y--”
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> “Don't!” Matty said, turning his head and shoving at the same time.
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> “Whoa!” Eric cried, pinwheeling his arms as he lost his balance. He fought to stay on the tree branch, but knew he was falling. Matty turned and saw his mistake.
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> “Eric!” Matty cried, reaching forward. He grabbed Eric's wrist, but it was too late, and two fell together.
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> They landed in a tangle of limbs, rolling across the overgrown grass. Finally they came to a stop.
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> “Ow...” Matty moaned, eyes shut and on his back. “Eric, are you okay?” Matty opened his eyes to find Eric crouched over him. His heart skipped. Never before had Eric look as beautiful as he did now.
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> “Eric, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--”
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> “Shh,” Eric said, and brushed hair away from Matty's eye. “No need to be sorry.” Eric leaned closer. Matty pushed against Eric's chest, holding him at bay.
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> “No, Eric,” Matty said, trying to ignore the muscular chest he felt beneath his hands. “There's still the game to worry about. So many people left, and so many votes. And all the challenges...and the lies...and the deception...” Matty began to cry.
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> “Matty, no,” Eric said, but it was no use. Matty covered his face in his hands, not wanting Eric to see him in such a state.
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> “This game, Eric, this stupid game! It takes so much from you, and doesn't give anything in return!”
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> “I don't know about that,” Eric said, smiling. “It gave me you.”
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> Matty shook his head, not listening, focused only on the sorrow he felt. Eric frowned, and forced Matty's hand's away from his face.
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> “No, don't!” Matty said. “I don't want you to see me like this!”
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> “I don't care,” Eric said, looking Matty in the eye.
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> “But--”
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> Eric leaned forward and shut Matty up the only way he knew how.
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> After a few moments, Eric pulled back. Matty had stopped crying, but the tears were still there, like dew on his cheeks.
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> “When we started this game,” Eric began, “we said we would get to the end together. But what we both knew and never said was that only one of us would win.”
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> Matty swallowed against the hard lump in his throat.
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> “But right now, *right now*, we can both be winners.”
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> “Eric...” Matty said, and pursed his lips. He reached out and pulled Eric close.
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> Fin.
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