"The best kind of romance is the one that can never be!" The short haired teen sitting opposite of a blonde with slightly longer hair announced dramatically. He in turn, rolled his eyes, slurping loudly at the drink that vanished over fifteen minutes ago. The teen averted the other's steadfast gaze as he drowned out his constant preachings over romance, which neither he nor Matt ever experienced.
The blonde stared off into space, thinking of all the times he spent time alone, never to share a moment's peace with anyone but himself. Although he had his step brother Alfred, the poor boy was absolutely dense, and therefore could never tell him how lonely he really was. However, he was the only person who stayed when all his friends gradually disappeared, and honestly, he didn't wish for anyone else. All those times he and his older brother Francis watched their step brothers Alfred and Arthur argue over the slightest things were the greatest of times.
"Hey Dude! Did you even hear a lick of what I just said?" Matt looked over at the teen, now hovering over him with a concerned glance, hands planted firmly on the table. The Canadian's lips still wrapped around the straw, he chewed it as he pondered whether to answer him or not. "Let me guess...was it some sort of love comparison to fast food?"
The other stared intently at him, silent for a moment as his eyes looked him over. "You got lucky this time. Anyway, why are you like this, is it because Valentine's Day is rolling around and you're alone again?"
"No, it's more than just that. All these people around us, look at them. Sure, they look so happy around each other, and hold their heads up high as if their love is the purest on earth. Look at her, though." The younger sibling followed his brother's finger and looked over at a younger teen with long hair, a smile plastered to her lips as she embraced a male who looked just as happy as she. "She looks absolutely happy with him, but look in his hands. In his hands, he's holding the number of the girl's best friend. I've seen it when I study after class, he sneaks to the back of the school with the friend and do unspeakable acts from where I get a big view of it from the library. That one girl from across the room, her boyfriend makes wonderful grades. I've heard he might even make it to Harvard, but you know what she does? She's cheated on him since day one, with every man in the baseball team, to the chess club. I know the poor guy perfectly well, but I know if I tell him, it will completely destroy him and his grades will drop. See what I mean? All these people pretend it's love when in reality they're being played for fools, They're just puppets played around in Shakespeare's tragedies by the gods, just to enjoy the misery we endure. I don't want this. I want mine to be real, and even if it takes forever, I'll wait."
"The way you look at stuff is just dark." Alfred uttered rather fearfully. Matthew looked up at him, letting out a strung out sigh. "I just don't know anymore. I'm already forgotten by the world as it is. If my heart gets broken, I don't think I'll ever be the same. Do you think I'm cynical for saying that?"
"I think you're absolutely hopeless." Alfred groaned, slipping back into his seat with defeat, eyes closed as his hands cupped his face.
"Well I just think you've read too many of Kiku's shoujo mangas." Matt silently retorted.
"Come on! Aren't you even a little interested in the guys that go here?"
"Not in the slightest," The blonde replied with a huff, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded over his chest.
"Then who do you like! It seems every time I talk to you about your love life, you always go off into space." Alfred asked, leaning close to his brother again, causing the Canadian to inch away.
"Just none of the ones you recommended to me. Sorry I'm not attentive when you're constantly badgering me over not liking any guys around here."
"What was wrong with them?"
"I'm sorry, but I want someone who's more interested in me than collecting my organs."
"But-but." To the American's dismay, he had already drowned him out by then, his eyes darting to another direction. From there, he spotted his brother Francis high-fiving the Spanish boy he always brought to the house, whom he later knew as Antonio with a brunette that he recognized as Lovino, who was hateful to everyone except him, since he usually forgot his existence. However, that was a common sight to see, what caught his attention was that an albino teen was next to greet his brother, giving him a firm hug before heading back to a blonde and Lovino's younger brother Feliciano. It was him, the one boy who always seemed to capture his attention since he was a intrigued as he was, he ripped his gaze away to his brother, who had gone on a complete rant over something he didn't bother to remember.
Suddenly, a shrill bell went off and away went the American to his business, leaving the Canadian once again, like always, to his thoughts.
"Leave me alone!" Ivan shouted over to Alfred, who just flipped him off in reply. "Burn in hell, you Communist demon!"
"With you in my presence, I'm already there!" The Russian snarled back at him, as the teacher just shook her head, due to the fact that this occurred on a daily basis. Soon, the American reached his brother, catching him by surprise. "Well, aside suffering some burns from that jerk, let's head home!"
"Sorry, can't." Matt replied, gathering his things.
"Why?" Alfred whined, flailing his arms in every direction like that of a child.
"I have to stay after school. Francis talked me into tutoring someone and I decided to do it today."
The blonde eyed the other rather carefully, before nodding in resignation. "Fine," he reluctantly uttered. "Just be careful."
Matt sent him a small smile and nodded, making his way to the library.
The small library consisted of a small room packed with large bookshelves and several tables, with an artificial scent of roses, mingled with the aroma of aged paper inside ancient books waiting to be read. It now being after school, a few sat at the computers while others worked with books when Matt walked inside and sat in his usual spot in the corner, where no one could bother him. From there, he watched as several people came and went, when it was just him inside. At that moment, in walked Francis and another person, making their way towards him.
"Oh, hey Francis."
"Hi Matthieu, this is the friend of mine I need you to tutor." Beside him stood the intriguing albino he had seen previously, who gave him a large smile. "This is Gilbert."
That was the moment one could pinpoint when Matt felt a pang in his chest. His heart seemed to pace a bit quicker, his stomach twisted and turned like that of a roller coaster, and his throat swelled in itself. However, he shook the sensation off and delivered a small smile to the stranger. "Nice to meet you, I'm Matthew."
To the Canadian's dismay, the time flew by as fast as Alfred could run through an entire family meal and he had to say goodbye to the albino, heading home with his brother to the home he never felt welcome to. Through the front door, he shuffled up the stairs to his bedroom, where he tossed his things to the side and plopped down onto his bed, letting the events that occurred in the day slowly unfold in his mind.
He remembered the boy's smile, the way it looked so innocent. Never in his life had he seen someone with a smile like that. It was puzzling.
Not too soon after, he glanced over to the picture in the corner, the image of his father with Alfred's mother. The faces of a not-too pleased twelve-year-old Arthur glaring at Francis in the image made him chuckle, beside it was a picture of Alfred, suffocating Matt due to the excitement of having a brother who wasn't as mean as Artie. Soon enough, the memory that occurred just a few months ago flew back to him in a painful reminder. One of the numerous memories that made him fear abandonment returned, the wreck, the crisp verdant grass stained with crimson, the two forms covered by white sheets, a delicate feminine hand peeking from beneath it, and a gorgeous diamond and gold band wrapped around one of its fingers.
Matt ripped his eyes away from the picture and shook his head, fleeing the bedroom to the living room where Alfred sat playing video games.
"Oh hey Mattie, you wanna play with us?" Alfred chirped, holding up a spare console. Beside him sat two boys whom he met as Mathias and Ivan, both playing rather aggressively while Kiku lied on the sofa behind them, reading manga.
"Wait, I thought you and Ivan hated each other?" Matt replied.
"Oh we do, but he's still a pretty damn good player, so you in?"
"Sure," the Canadian mustered, taking the console and plopping down beside the two. He had unknowingly immersed himself in the middle of an all-out war between his party and that of others, playing a standoff between at least ten other players. (I know that there is a limit, but bear with me.)
"So, Mattie, you joining any clubs this year?" Mathias asked, eyes glued to the screen.
"I don't know." Matt replied, slowly but surely getting into the feel of the game.
"Come on Dude," Al whined. "We've been asking you to join our Daring Dudes group since Sophomore year, why won't you join!?"
"Leave him alone," Ivan replied cheerfully, "If he doesn't want to join a club, leave him be. Joining your club won't make his life any less mundane, it'll just get him hurt."
"My life isn't mundane!" Matt retaliated.
"Oh no, it really is." A voice uttered from the tv, answered.
"Lovino?"
"Yeah, you never want to hang out with any of us, and it's really starting to bother us- WHO THE FUCK JUST SHOT AT ME!"
"Ohonhonhon."
"Francis, how are you playing with them?" Matt asked through the mic on his headset.
"I'm at Antonio's house, I went over here a few minutes ago, but you didn't notice because you shut yourself up in your room."
"Which furthers our point even more." Antonio added, "we understand that you're still hurting from your mom and dad but it's been almost a year, you need to move on."
"It's not that, it's-" Once again, the poor Canadian was once cut off.
"Leave him alone guys, maybe he just got bit by the love bug and is too embarrassed to say anything." Elizabeta cut in. "AH FUCK YES, GOT YOU LOVINO. ARE YOU CRYING, CRY, IT FUELS ME!"
"Calm down Liz."
"Who invited the guy with the potato fetish?" Lovino groaned. "Hey everyone, Let's all go back to Bioshock!"
"Shut up," Ludwig retorted. "At least I didn't get pwned by a girl."
"You mean a guy dressed as a girl?"
"I heard that Lovino, don't be mad at me. You seriously need to take that stick out of your ass, oh wait, that's just Antonio's dick."
"Oooh." The entire group of players droned, a few laughing over the server.
"How do I shoot?" Feliciano's voice suddenly asked amidst all the abstract nonsense occurring around them.
"Feli..you're holding the console upside down…" Ludwig's voice replied with a sigh.
"What am I even doing here-Aru?" Yao asked.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING YOU FUCKING GRANDPA!" Lovino shouted as the Chinese male blew up everyone in his team.
Alfred laughed at the Italian's dismay, when a bullet ran through his character, knocking him from the tournament.
"Ivan, what the hell! Why did you shoot me, I'm on your team!" Alfred shouted to the Russian beside him.
"That doesn't change the fact that I absolutely abhor you."
"Well, I'm out." Elizabeta muttered, tossing her console down. "Someone shot me."
"Never underestimate my little sister Lilli." Another voice answered bluntly.
"Why is a twelve year old playing with u-WHO IN THE BLOODY HELL KILLED ME!? ALFRED!"
"Bro, it wasn't me!"
"IT WAS I, PETER!"
"WHAT? BERWALD, WHY IS YOUR LITTLE BROTHER PLAYING WITH US!"
"Ha! Now that I'm on the server I will eliminate-" At that moment, Peter's character was shot down by every player remaining in the game.
"I guess not!" Lovino remarked, laughing evilly.
"Wait, where's Gilbert, he's usually on by now."
"No, I think he's working on something. I'll go get him." Ludwig disappeared for a moment and shortly returned with another player. "NOW THE PARTY DON'T START TILL I WALK IN!"
That was enough. The incoherent screaming was bad enough as it was, but for him to come on, all his nervousness took over and he stood up. "I gotta go Al, i've got homework to do " The Canadian disconnected his console, removed his headset and fled upstairs, the American growling into his mic. "See what y'all did, y'all drove away my brother."
Matt sauntered into his bedroom and hopped into his bed, pulling the covers over his head as the absence of the sounds in the atmosphere lulled him to sleep.
The next morning, the sunlight seeped through his blinds and pried his eyes apart, forcing him to wake up. With one glance at the clock, Matt stumbled onto the floor, pulling the comforter apart which happened to have snaked around his legs. Kicking the sheets off frantically, he ran into the closet for a quick change, when Alfred kicked his door down and stepped in. "Sorry Bro, I overslept. Arthur went with Lukas and Emil, and Francis got a ride from Antonio! We're on our own!"
"Wait, but Ivan lives like a block from here."
"I'd rather get skinned alive than get help from that demon, let's go!"
Still groggy, the two hopped out of Alfred's car and dashed to the entrance along with the other infamous school slackers. None paid note that Alfred was still nearly asleep while driving, explaining the many items including pedestrians lingering on the car's bumper.
Matt stormed the building, hair disheveled, clothes wrinkled, and his glasses dangling from the tip of his nose. Meanwhile, Alfred yelled a quick 'see ya later' and slid into his classroom, leaving the Canadian to the foot of the stairwell. Three steps into the trek and his untied shoelaces decided to give out, knocking the teen to the floor along with all his school books. With an annoyed huff and a mix of English and French curses, he knelt to the floor to retrieve them.
As he reached for a strayed book, another hand beat him to it. "Today hasn't been a good day for you, huh?"
The blonde's violet hues met a pair of vivacious crimson orbs, a bold smile surfacing on his features. Suddenly the bell broke the eye contact, causing panic to rush through him. "Oh no, I'm late!"
"Ah, who cares? Come on, let's go somewhere fun!"
The Canadian stole glances at the staircase, and back at the German with the inviting smile. He was already forgotten in most classes as it is, why not actually skip for once? "I'm late anyway, what more damage can it do ?"