March 17, 2014

I had known him for a long time. We have lived next door to each other for almost as long as we had known each other. I remember the day he moved next door to me. That's when our friendship really started.

I remember how I had taken a liking to him the moment I met him. I don't know if it was because of the way he felt so passionate about things or the way he never really smiled unless he was happy. I love that smile so much. It was a rare occasion to see it and I think that's what made it even more special. I think I loved him from the moment I saw him.

I could tell it would take awhile for him to to return my feelings but I did see a slow change in the way he talked to me. He had started by ignoring me. Yes, he intentionally avoided speaking to me. Most would have stopped trying to talk to him, but I didn't. There was something about him that I couldn't help but want to be around him. So I persisted. He slowly began talking to me; they were short sentences at first. Things like "shut up" and "bastard". Sure, those aren't what one might want to hear someone say to them but it was a start.

The day he moved in across the street marked the beginning of what would become some of the best year of my life, but it didn't start out like that.

Lovino stopped reading and closed the journal; he stared at the wall, thinking back to the day that had changed everything.

0_0

Lovino stepped over the threshhold and looked at the bare walls of his new home. He should be used to this; after all, this wasn't the first time he had moved. After his parents died, he and his brother had been sent back to Italy to live with their grandfather. A year later they moved back to America and moved several more times before settling into this house.

"Lovi guess who lives next door!" Feliciano, his little brother, came running inside jumping up and down. The constant moving never bothered him as long as they didn't have to change schools.

"It's not that potato idiot, is it?" Lovino grumbled back.

"Nope."

"Lovi?" Lovino spun around, recognizing the voice.

"No. Please tell me we didn't move in next door to you."

"Si! Well, actually I live across the street, but we're still neighbors kind of," the Spaniard smiled at the Italian.

"Great," Lovino groaned.

"Lovi? Your face is as red as a tomato. Are you okay?"

What? Why am I blushing? It's not like he's hugging me or anything, though that wouldn't be too terrible. Wait, what? Why would I think that? I hate this guy! Lovino questioned himself.

"Fratello? Did you hear me?" Feliciano poked Lovino's side.

"What? Don't touch me," he shifted away from his brother. "I'm going to go unpack."

"Okay, adios Lovi," the Spaniard chirped.

"Ve~ Do you want some help?" Feliciano asked.

"No," Lovino marched up the stairs and picked a room to claim as his own. He shut the door and tossed his bag in the corrner. His bed had been set up so all he would have to do is put the sheets on it.

"What is wrong with that idiot? Why can't he stop following me around?" Lovino slid down the door and stared at the opposite wall.

The next few weeks passed by quickly as they finished unpacking box after box of their belomgings, and the house slowly began to look like a home. School had started and to Lovino's dismay, he had several classes with Antonio, who had decided to walk the Italian to all of his classes.

"Why are you following me, bastard?" Lovino grumbled one day.

"I'm not. I'm walking with you to class," Antonio replied, walking along with him.

"Aren't you going to be late to your class?" he questioned in hopes of getting the idiot to leave him alone.

"Nope! My next class is next to yours, so I can walk with you everyday. Oh and since you live across the street from me now I can walk you home! Isn't that great?"

"Oh yeah, that's fan-flippin-tastic,"Lovino replied sarcasticaly.

"Si, it is."

Lovino didn't really mind that they walked together but he couldn't let that idiot know. He didn't know why Antonio's presence didn't bother him as much as it had when he had first met him but he had slowly gotten used to the Spaniard's company. He kind of enjoyed it. It was easier to talk to him since Antonio did most of the talking.

As the weeks passed, Lovino began to look forward to the six minutes between classes where he could talk to Antonio.

"Lovi?"Antonio asked on day after their chemestry class.

"Sí?" Lovino closed the notebook he had been drawing in and looked at the Spaniard.

"I was wondering if you would want to go out with me this saturday," Antonio tilted his head and looked at his friend.

"Are those idiots you call friends going to be there?" Lovino questioned wearily.

"Nope. Its just going to be me and you if you want to go," Antonio smiled at the Italian.

"Oh..." Wait. Is he asking me out on a date? Lovino thought to himself. "Um... I-i don't think I'm doing anything this weekend. I guess we can."

"Great!" the Spaniard cheered before hugging Lovino and skipping off to his class.

Did he just ask me out on a date? What does that mean we are now? Lovino stared after the happy Spaniard before turning and stepping into his class with a small smile on his face.

Lovino stood in the bathroom getting ready for the movie and checked his watch. Antonio should be here to pick him up in about ten minutes.

Thank God Nonno and Feli both made plans. The last thing I want is for them to know who I'm going out with.

There was a nock at the door and Lovino rushed down the stairs and pulled the door open.

"Hola Lovi," Antonio grinned from ear to ear when he saw Lovino, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's go," Lovino stepped outside and locked the door behind him before following Antonio to his car.

The two sat in a comfterble silence as Antonio drove through the streets.

"So what are we doing?"

"I was thinking we could go out to dinner," Antonio repied nonchalantly as they sat at a red light.

"Alright, where at?"

"Its a small Spanish restraunt my parents took me to when I was little," Antonio smiled as though he were remembering something.

"What do they have?"

"That have several kinds of paella, croquettes, tortilla españiola, y pisto," he happily listed.

"I shouldn't have asked," Lovino muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"I have no freaking clue what any of that is."

"Oh, well-"

"No, don't. I'll just have whatever you're having as long as it has tomatoes."

"Okay," Antonio chirped as he pulled into the parking lot.

The pair steped out of the car and walked up to the restraunt. Small was an over statement. The place had maybe six tables and five booths postitioned along the wall. There was a group of six waiting to be seated at one of the booths. Two tables were open, one near the door and another in the corner. Lovino picked up the soft sound of a spanish guitar playing over the speakers before he felt someone grab his hand.

"Come on Lovi. They have our table ready," Antonio smiled holding the Italian's hand and walked him to the table in the corner. Lovino took his seat and watched the Spaniard pick up the menu and leaf through it.

"Aren't you going to look at the menu?"

"No. I already said I was having what you pick. Why do I need to look at the menu?"

"Haha, I guess that's true. Well I'm going to have paella," Antonio decided, placing his menu on the table.

The waiter returned shortly with their drinks and asked for theirorders which Antonio happily provided.

The pair made conversation while they waited for their meals, well Antonio talked and Lovino nodded and gave short comments or answers to keep the conversation going. He really just wanted to hear Antonio talk. He found that he loved the way hewould lisp his "s" and roll his "r". Lovino was dissapointed when their food finally did come. It wasn't that the food wasn't good, no Lovino enjoyed the food very much. He was dissapointed that the conversatiin was replaced, for the most part, with eating.

When the bill was brought Lovino casually reached out totake it before Antonio snatched it from his grasp.

"Nope, I'm paying Lovi," Antonio responded to the Italian's glare.

"At least let me pay for my food," Antonio simply shook his head and pulled out his wallet.

"Whatever," he muttered as he watched Antonio place the bills in with the check.

"Lovino?" someone called.

"Lovi?" the voice called again.

Lovino was pulled from his thoughs and looked to where Antonio stood in the doorway, "What are you looking at?"

"I was looking for my brushes and found this," Lovino held up the journal he had clasped in his hands. Antonio frowned and walked into the room sitting on the bed next to Lovino.

"What's wrong?" Lovino asked curiously, fearing he had done something wrong.

"You ruined your birthday present," Antonio laughed.