And just pretend…

Ring~ Ring~ Ring~

"Seriously, Feli, if you want to get laid, ask Ludwig!" Gilbert muttered into the phone after answering. "My bruder loves you!"

He was just about to slam the phone down to hang up, but the voice that called his name quietly through the speaker stopped him. It sounded so familiar, and somewhat scared.

"G-Gilbert?"

"This is the awesome me speaking!" Gilbert felt a little brighter, but he didn't know why. "Who's this?"

"Matthew…" When Gilbert didn't answer right away, he continued. "T-that boy that I-Ivan sat on in the l-library…"

"Oh that was you?" Gilbert smiled as he remembered the cute blond. "He didn't crush anything too vital, did he? Kesesese~"

"No." Matthew replied, still quiet. "You t-told me to c-call…"

"I remember." Gilbert turned to see his angry brother heading in his direction. "Oh hey, want to meet up?"

"S-sure…" Matthew squeaked.

"Great! Meet me at the school in ten!" Gilbert hung up and turned to grin at Ludwig. The blue-eyed teen knew what was coming. "Hey, West, I gotta go meet a friend! Bye~"

He pretended he didn't hear the blond German mutter the word "worthless."

He also pretended it didn't hurt.

When Gilbert arrived, he immediately spotted the dejected-looking boy he had met the day before.

"What's with the sad face?" Gilbert sat next to the boy on the bench.

"Nothing." Matthew brightened up when he realized Gilbert was there. "H-how are you?"

Gilbert shrugged, and forced a smile. "I'm great. Totally awesome~"

Matthew frowned, before a light bulb seemed to go off in his head and he dug around in his bag. Finally, with a look of triumph, he pulled out a bottle of maple syrup.

"I hope this makes you feel better." He handed it to Gilbert, smiling shyly. "I-it makes everyone e-else happy…"

Gilbert looked down at the liquid before glancing back up at the Canadian. "Is this an April Fool's joke?"

The wheat-blond dug around in his backpack again, and pulled out his phone to look at the date; April first. A groan escaped his lips as he face-palmed.

"No." He said quietly, back to his entirely shy self. "I-it's from Maple M-Mattie…"

Gilbert stared at the boy for a moment, before everything seemed to click in his head with a gasp. "You're Maple Mattie!"

Matthew nodded almost unnoticeably.

"Wait, how'd you know that I was upset?"

"Anyone who cared enough to pay attention could tell that your smile was faked." Matthew murmured with a sad smile. "I always noticed when people were upset… Even when no one… noticed… me…"

Gilbert didn't know what to say, so he just settled for staying silent, watching the cars drive by the school. Neither wanted to break the comfortable silence.


I can't get a break…

Gilbert slammed the door to his bedroom as he came in, and collapsed on the bed to let out a muffled scream into his pillow. His arm hurt like now other, seeing as how his father had twisted it roughly behind his back for no reason whatsoever.

"This sucks." He muttered as he sat up, groaning as another wave of pain shot through his arm. "Stupid dad…"

The albino walked over to his window to see the house a few down, across the street. Matthew was helping his papa and mama with the rose garden outside in his front yard. The blond noticed Gilbert, and waved at him. Gilbert returned the favor with a smile, before Matthew turned away and continued working.

"Why do I love him?" Gilbert moaned, dropping down to the floor so he lay on his stomach. "He's perfect. He has the perfect family, the perfect grades, the perfect looks. What am I compared to him? No amount of awesome can fix my… condition…"

He pretended he didn't feel like a total idiot talking to himself, and rolled over onto his back.

"Albino… What the hell would Matthew see in me?" Just then, the door to his room burst open. "Was zer hölle?"

"Get up." Gilbert's father growled, but when Gilbert didn't move fast enough, he kicked him back down.

"S-stop…" Gilbert whimpered, immediately returning to the mind-set of a child when his boot connected to Gilbert's side.

"Or what?" His dad sneered, yanking the albino roughly to his feet so their faces were inches apart. Gilbert recognized the stench of alcohol on his breath, and he recoiled, only to have a well-aimed punch to his chest, pushing the air out in a gasp of pain.

"P-please…" Gilbert pleaded, tears pooling in scared red eyes. He knew what this would turn into, but he didn't want things to go that far again. "Please stop…"

Another punch drove the remaining air from Gilbert's lungs, and pushed him to the ground. Kick after kick, punch after punch was delivered, leaving Gilbert on the floor, tears streaming down his cheeks. His dad left after Gilbert couldn't stand on his own.

Shaky pale hands got ahold of his phone nearby on the floor, and opened it, dialing a number he had unknowingly memorized.

A quiet, shy voice answered, "hello?"