Author's Note: All right, so now I'm actually getting into the plot... If you have any suggestions as readers feel free to tell me :). Reviews and critiques are much obliged. Added Note: I edited this to make it easier to read... ."
I really couldn't believe my ears. Did he say it was Antonio's birthday tomorrow? Shit. I had no idea, no fucking idea. "You're joking, right?" I asked, hoping that I had misheard him.
"No! It's February 11th! And tomorrow is the 12th! So what are you going to get Antonio?" Feliciano looked at me expectantly.
"Like I'd tell you! I-I got him something that he'll like! B-besides, if I tell you you'd probably steal it!" I mumbled, trying to cover for myself.
"No I wouldn't! I already got Antonio a present!" explained Feliciano.
"W-what did you get him?" I eased into the question, hoping that Feliciano would give me some kind of inspiration.
"Eh? Oh, I got him a box of tomatoes and I drew all of our faces on it! Cute huh?"
I looked at Feliciano in disgust. What's with the 'cute huh?' it makes me want to vomit. It's like he's asking if his idea is cute, some kind of self- satisfaction thing. Shit, why am I taking my own frustrations out on my brother…
I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want to reveal that I wanted to get Antonio the best present. I could feel anger bubbling up inside of me. Dammit, I've seen the idiot every day since I was five and he didn't mention that it was his birthday? How the hell did I forget? I leaned against the wall in defeat. A million thoughts sprang through my head, each of them ending in tomatoes. No, tomatoes are too obvious. Everyone is going to get him tomatoes. I sighed and closed my eyes. I had completely forgotten that Feliciano was still there.
"Lovi?" Feliciano sounded close.
I opened my eyes and looked at my brother. His eyes were filled with worry, his head cocked idiotically to the side. "Are you okay, Lovi? You don't look well," I stared into his dark brown eyes and sighed.
"It's none of your damn business, leave me alone," with that snarky remark I stormed from the room in search of a present for Antonio.
Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit. I didn't even know why the hell I was thinking so hard about this. It's just damn Antonio. He'll forgive me anyway if I don't come with a present. He's not the kind of person to hold a grudge. I was so submersed into my own thoughts that I didn't see the person behind me until he pounced onto my back.
"WHAT THE HELL!" I threw him off out of instinct until I saw that it was just Alfred. "What're you doing?" I didn't have time for the 'hero'.
Alfred stood up, dusting himself off. "I heard you don't have a present for Antonio's birthday!" he said.
I felt my face color. I wasn't sure whether I was extremely angry or embarrassed but whichever it was it made me even more frustrated than I had been before.
"Wh-Who did you hear that from?" I stuttered. Great, now I was stammering, I could feel whatever manliness I once had slipping away with each stumble.
"I heard it from Feliciano, your brother," said Alfred, putting an arm around my shoulder.
Dammit, for an idiot Feliciano's quite perceptive in that kind of thing…
Alfred had begun to talk but I wasn't actually listening. "You know, birthdays are really important to people, they mark the start of a new year of their life! Without birthdays people wouldn't feel special for one day of the year. It's their day to reign as king of queen for one day!" he was babbling.
I had no fucking idea what he was saying. "Get on with it," I grumbled, rolling my eyes.
"Okay, okay, so, when it comes to birthdays, people take them seriously! They mark a very important day in their lives! You have to take them seriously too! So no half-assing on the present, got it? People expect to be loved on their birthday! And if they're not loved by the people closest to them… Well I'd have to say that's one of the saddest feelings in the world," Alfred gave a look that I could only define as a mixture of sadness and sympathy.
"What are YOU getting Antonio?" I questioned.
"Me? I'm getting him a t-shirt with the American flag on it of course! I bet he'll love it!" he looked absolutely thrilled with himself.
I couldn't believe Alfred's stupidity.I didn't have a chance to tell him that was a horrible idea for a present when he walked away, having spotted England.
I was no closer to finding a good present for Antonio than I was before. I walked down the cobblestone streets, hoping to come across some spontaneous inspiration. It was then that I spotted Gilbert. Thank God, someone who knows him… I ran up to him.
"Oi! It's Lovino!" Gilbert smiled at me. "Come to see the awesome me for advice on what to give Antonio for his present?" he inquired.
Did Feliciano tell fucking everyone? I thought in disdain. "Yeah, what does he want for a present?" I asked; I was getting tired of small talk and wanted to get this over with.
"Well, obviously you can't get him anything better than my awesome present because anything I give him will be ten times more awesome than what you give him," my hope for Gilbert dwindled in that short amount of time. I hadn't noticed that Francis was there too.
"Ah, little chickadee, you need to be wise when you think of what to give him. Now think, very clearly. What does our dear Antonio love more than anything in the world?" asked the flamboyant man.
"Tomatoes," it was an answer that came naturally to me. All that Antonio ever thought about was tomatoes.
"NO!" Francis hit me on the top of my head. "Ouch! That fucking hurt!" I shouted, glaring at him with malice.
"Of course it did, they're Francis's legendary karate chops of love," said Francis, swishing his golden hair back and forth.
"So what do you think I should give him, all-powerful motherfucker," I was now in a particularly shitty mood due to all of this running around. I've had to go through all of this trouble for fucking Antonio. If he knew how hard I worked he would be the one giving ME a present.
"I will put aside that hostile language and be of your assistance, Mr. Vargas. I suggest, knowing Antonio's personality, that you give him..." Francis paused, I couldn't tell if he was actually thinking of what he was going to say or if he did it for dramatic effect.
"Your body."
I really didn't mean to do it. My hand just acted on its own. As I walked away from Gilbert and Francis I heard the man begin to sob over a broken nose. I will say it again; I didn't mean to do it. Some suggestions just deserve that kind of punishment.
