Hello! I wanted to let you guys know how much I appreciate everyone who viewed, favorited, followed, and reviewed my first chapter. It means so much and I'm just thrilled that you guys liked it! Thank you! Here's the next chapter and I hope you all enjoy!

Happy New Years! ~

Sorry for replacing this chapter twice now. I had a slight war with this document over how I could separate the different sections, but I finally found one that the computer will let me save! Yay! Go this symbol -/- ! Alright, thanks and sorry again. I'll try updating with real new content soon!

His mind-set didn't change and neither did Feliciano's. Only a few days later did Feli try once again to get Lovino to make new friends.

The four of them, Grandpa Roma, Romeo, Feliciano, and Lovino, sat at the dinner table where it seemed everyone but Lovino was having a competition for who could talk the loudest. It was hard to tell with Grandpa's booming voice, Romeo's way of indoor shouting, and Feliciano's constant excited jabber all taking turns topping each other for the high score. No one talked over one another, but their voices were so loud that it gave Lovino too much of a headache to even try listening to what they were saying. That is, until Feliciano said Lovino's name.

"-Lovino and I can meet so many people from the school and it'll be lots of fun! We can meet everyone and not have heavy textbooks to carry or class schedules to worry about! Romeo, I don't know if any middle schoolers will be there, but I can sure ask!"

"Wait, wait. What?" Lovino asked trying to catch up on what had happened while he had been attempting to contain his headache.

"A party, Lovi! We'll meet people from our new school! Gilbert, Francis, and Antonio are the hosts, though I don't doubt other Seniors will be helping. Oh, maybe we can help too! That would be so much fun!"

At the mention of Antonio's name, however, Lovino lost track of Feli's words once again. He remembered the last time he had seen that Spanish bastard and felt like he never wanted to show his face around him again, but there was that other feeling too. That nagging, heart skipping feeling that, for some unexplainable reason, wanted to see Antonio. Wanted Antonio to see him.

He shook his head and stabbed his fork into his Ravioli, another Italian delicacy that Feliciano could feel content with just calling "Pasta!"

He refused to acknowledge this odd feeling that surrounded him, and by all means, he was NOT going to this party.

-/-

It was Saturday. And he was standing in a corner of some nameless person's house with a red Solo cup in one hand which contained what he hoped was fruit punch, but not trusting it enough to actually drink it. The other hand was clenched into a fist, holding in his frustration that somehow, Feliciano had managed to get him here.

There were a lot of kids his age here, so he assumed there was either no alcohol or a lot of it. People were dancing like idiots and no one seemed uncomfortable in the least which led him to the conclusion of the latter.

He looked around for his little brother. If there was alcohol here, Feli would most likely find himself accidentally the victim of something and Lovino knew, no matter how mad he was with his brother for dragging him here, he could not stand for that. He knew Feli, on special occasion with Roma present, could hold his wine without much consequence aside from loud giggling throughout the evening, but wine could very well be the least of his concerns in a place like this.

In his search, his eyes happened upon the one person in the room he had been avoiding throughout the party. He felt his blood heat up and was so caught up in wondering why that was that he failed to realize Antonio had been looking his way already and was now making his way over there.

"Hello, Lovino!" Antonio's greeting the same as it had been in their first conversation.

Even though he had seen him coming, Lovino nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Antonio's voice. He snapped his attention away and continued looking for his brother. "What do you want?" He tried to make it sound as rude as possible. He didn't want Antonio standing this close; he didn't want this odd feeling swirling in his chest. It was all just too confusing.

"Nothing really. Just to talk." Antonio said casually.

He couldn't help his searching eyes from flashing back to Antonio for a second. "There are plenty of people to talk to over there, bastard." He finally caught sight of Feliciano in the backyard with the German, Ludwig, and another boy who was shorter and had black hair. Feli seemed alright enough for the time being.

"I think your brother is enjoying himself, don't you?"

Lovino glanced back and saw that Antonio had followed his gaze to Feliciano. Lovino didn't know how to voice his worries out loud. Then, he wondered why he would even want to. Why was he even considering talking with this bastard?

He turned away back to where he could see Feli. He was seriously considering marching over there, taking his brother by the arm, and leaving on the spot.

"You seem worried." Antonio continued. "Is it Ludwig? Trust me, Ludwig would never do anything to harm Feliciano. I don't even think anything like that is in his vocabulary... if that makes sense..." Antonio trailed off, seeming to be trying to make sense of what he had just said.

"No, that's not it." Lovino continued, not knowing why. His voice came out surprisingly calm, but he quickly changed that. "I don't expect you to give two shits because it's your party and all, but I'm not really one for letting my brother get drunk or high or whatever it is you guys do here."

Antonio seemed surprised at that. "Oh, Lovino." He chuckled. The damn bastard chuckled. "I can't say I know what's around, but I'm sure neither you or Feliciano would find yourselves in it. Like I said, Ludwig will look after your brother. And for you yourself, well, I'll look after you."

Lovino's eyes widened and he felt his face change shades darker. He considered stalking away like he had last time.

Thinking about it, he found it suddenly hard to look at Antonio. He had made such a fool of himself in both of their conversations they had previously had. He settled on checking on Feliciano again. Still in the same place. Still having a good time. Still making every friend possible.

"I don't need you looking out for me like some little kid, bastard." Lovino mumbled. Antonio chuckled.

"So, Feliciano has said you've just moved here." Antonio prompted. Lovino wondered why he was still here. What could he possibly want to hear Lovino say?

"Yeah, and if you're so damn curious about it, then why don't you go ask Feliciano?"

"Because I want to hear it from you."

The comment affected him more than it should have, but he pushed that all away. He had to think logically. Why was this bastard talking to him? Wouldn't you think a host would have better things to be doing?

But, that was what he was doing right now, idiota. Being a host. Finding the person that wasn't having fun and get them to socialize. That's what hosts did. He was just another person trying to make Lovino be someone he wasn't.

"No." Lovino meant to say it rudely. To detach himself from this conversation. But, it came out as a whisper.

He couldn't stand this. He couldn't understand this feeling that swirled in his chest when he was around Antonio and he couldn't stand the thought that the only reason he was paying attention to him was because Antonio felt sorry for him.

So he turned and strode through the crowd, once again fleeing to his home and shutting himself in his room until these feelings were safely under control.

-/-

"Lovino! Why'd you leave without me? Did you not have fun? I'm sorry, I really thought you'd like it!"

Feliciano continued until Lovino finally opened the door. He had only just remembered that he had left Feli at that party alone and was now feeling guilt chewing its way through his stomach.

Lovino waited for Feliciano's silence to apologize. "I'm sorry, Feli. I just got really tired. Did you have a good time?" He asked taking the spotlight off himself and also making sure Feli had been alright for the rest of the party.

"Yes, but Lovino, you should really tell me if you're leaving next time. I was worried until Antonio told me you had decided to go home."

Antonio's name resulted in the same flip in his chest as always which frustrated the hell out of him. "I'm sorry, Feli." He said again.

"That's alright! Did you make any new friends before you left? Antonio said you guys talked a little!"

He didn't want to have to break the news to him that no, he hadn't made any friends or even talked to anyone that wasn't an annoying Spanish bastard, so he did what he always did: made an excuse, ran away from the situation.

"Feli, I'm really tired. Could we talk later?"

And with that one measly, terrible excuse for an excuse, his brother enthusiastically bid him good night and skipped to his own room.

Lovino then let his door click shut, hoping that he would never have to open it again.

-/-

It turns out never opening the door again wasn't an option. The next morning Roma made him come out to take out the trash. So much for Sunday as the day of rest.

When Lovino came back inside Romeo was glued to the couch skipping through channels on the TV once again. Romeo was Feli's and his cousin. His parents traveled too much for him to have a normal education or life, so Roma looked after him. That way he could keep his life steady and stable and not on the go all the time like his parents'.

Lovino didn't like his aunt and uncle too much. They had traded their careers for their son. Lovino knew that if his mom were still alive and had to make that choice, she would always pick him and Feliciano. She wasn't the kind of person that could abandon her kids and just leave them alone with her father for most of their lives. By choice, that is.

Of course, it had happened anyway, though.

Lovino passed the living room and entered the kitchen where Roma and Feliciano were making eggs. Feliciano was telling their grandfather all about the party last night.

"And I got Ludwig to dance and I met a girl from Hungary named Elizabeta and Gilbert doesn't like the exchange student at their house too much, but I still can't wait to meet him. His name is Roderich and he's from Austria! Isn't that funny? I met a Hungarian girl and I'm going to meet an Austrian boy! It's like Austria-Hungary! Wouldn't that be great if they became friends? Oh! I also met- oh, hey Lovino!"

And like that the attention was now on Lovino.

"Good morning, Lovino!" His Grandpa greeted him. "What did you think about the party last night?"

Lovino's eyes shot to Feliciano. So he hadn't told Grandpa that Lovino had skipped out? He tilted his head, questioningly, but Feliciano just shrugged.

"Um," Lovino considered carefully what he should say, "It was okay." He sat down at the table.

"Just okay? It sounds like you brother had the time of his life!" He waited a few moments for Lovino to say anything else and, when he didn't, continued. "Anyway, I have a list of groceries on the fridge that seems pretty full. Why don't you and Feliciano head to the store today?"

Lovino was just about to claim some sorry excuse for staying home as he didn't want to leave this house until school started, but Feliciano spoke up first.

"Oh, I'm sorry Grandpa! I told Ludwig and Kiku that I could hang out with them today!"

This made Feliciano out of the count for getting groceries and as Roma was busy that day too, the only other one in the house with their license was Lovino.

He sighed. "I'll be ready in ten." He then retreated upstairs where he was tempted to just dive back into bed, but instead sighed again and got ready to leave for the grocery store.

-/-

Most of the items on the list were to be expected, all of them normal things for the Vargas household. Before long his cart held olive oil, a variety of pastas and cheeses and even ingredients to make dough. Was Roma going to make pizza?

Lovino looked down at the list and concluded that it seemed everything was in order. Then his eyes landed on the very ingredient that could make or break every meal in his cart. "The fucking tomatoes."

He made his way over to the produce and stocked the cart with even more of his family's embarrassing Italian tendencies. Before long the cart looked like it was ready for an Italian restaurant commercial.

"Another lover of tomatoes, I see!" An all to familiar Spanish voice spoke beside him. Both his heart and his body jumped in shock.

"Merda!" He spun to face the person that he had run from just last night. "Don't do that, bastard!"

"I'm sorry, Lovino! I must have gotten carried away!" He seemed much too happy. Why did he always seem so damn happy?

"What do you want?" He wondered if Antonio would bring up the night before and dread filled his heart.

"Why do you always ask that, Lovino?" Why did he keep saying his name all the damn time? "Does one have to want something to speak with someone?" Antonio switched his shopping basket between his hands and waited for Lovino's reply, eyes shining between his locks of brown curls.

"No, but there isn't any other reason you would want to talk to me." As soon as he said it he wanted to take it back. Why did he always say the dumbest things? Why would Antonio want to keep talking to him if he started sounding like a whiny brat? Why did he even care that Antonio might stop talking to him?

"Lovino, I want to talk to you because I want to hear what you have to say. I enjoy talking to you!" He sounded completely serious. But how was that possible? It didn't make sense.

Lovino didn't know what to say next. He considered running away again, but knew there was no way with this bulky cart he had to wheel around with him.

So, he was stuck.

And louder than ever his heart beat and faster than ever his chest swirled. Nothing to say. Nowhere to flee.

But then Antonio broke the unbreakable silence. "I best be on my way, but it was nice talking to you, Lovino." His voice was as cheerful and carefree as ever. "I hope we can talk again soon."

And as if it had been the most normal interaction he had ever had with someone, Antonio pushed his cart past his with a smile. As Lovino watched Antonio be the one to walk away this time, he realized that he did not him to go. He wanted to talk to him.

But it was too late now. He had already repeatedly told Antonio that he did not want anything to do with him. Lovino had screwed it up like everything else in his life. Why would Antonio ever want to speak to him again? But, as Lovino went through the check out line he hung onto those last words Antonio had said to him, had said despite Lovino pushing him away and vocalizing his wishes to never talk to the bastard again. I hope we can talk again soon.

-/-

The rest of the day went by rather dully. Both Feli and Romeo were out with friends and Lovino was stuck at home, listening to Grandpa Roma sing so boisterously that his voice could be heard perfectly from upstairs, through Lovino's closed bedroom door.

This made it hard for Lovino to do anything, really. He tried reading and writing and drawing, but couldn't concentrate. He thought about going downstairs to watch the TV that was rarely available, but knew he wouldn't hear a thing from it in all the noise. In the end he settled for putting his earphones in at full blast and try to work on some of the summer work his new school had assigned.

That evening Feliciano was ecstatic when he got home. Over dinner he told them that Kiku's eldest brother -who acted much more like a mother to him and his many siblings- had driven them all to the mall. Kiku's brother had driven his party home early but Ludwig and him had gotten a ride with Ludwig's brother, Gilbert. It sounded like a pretty normal afternoon, but for some reason Feliciano was even more excited than his usual self, which is saying something.

Lovino didn't find out the real reason for this until later that evening when he heard a soft knock on his bedroom door. When Lovino opened the door it turned out unsurprisingly to be Feliciano; Feli was the only one to ever knock this late at night and Lovino stood back and let him in.

"Can't sleep?" Lovino asked. Feliciano sometimes had a hard time getting to sleep when he was thinking about too many things. Usually Lovino could help by just listening.

Feli nodded but he still had the same wide excited eyes from the dinner table. At least whatever was keeping him awake couldn't be all that bad and the lack of sleep hadn't taken a toll on his energy yet. Lovino usually worried when that happened.

They both sat on Lovino's bed, Feliciano preparing himself to speak and Lovino ready to listen.

Finally, Feliciano said the words that in no way Lovino would have ever been prepared to hear. "I have a boyfriend."

In all the right ways Feli looked absolutely ebullient. In all the wrong ways, he looked uneasy and stressed.

Though thrown off guard, Lovino was quick to shed his confusion and throw on the smile he only used when it was just Feliciano around. "Really?" Lovino had never been good with this stuff, but he knew he had to show his brother his support.

Feli's smile grew a bit more and his stress waned. He nodded silently.

"Who is it?" Lovino suddenly grew protective though he already had a suspicion who it could be.

"Ludwig."

"The Potato Bastard? If he hurts you-"

"Ludwig would never!" Feliciano defended.

Lovino just nodded. The German seemed like a well enough guy, but he still didn't like him. He looked at Feliciano who looked just a tad nervous now. He wanted his approval. Feliciano cared what Lovino thought of his decision to be with this boy.

So, Lovino smiled. That was what Feli needed and, if anyone, he certainly deserved it. Lovino trusted this Ludwig enough at the moment and he sure as hell trusted his brother. "I'm happy for you, Feli."

Feliciano looked back at his brother and his smile came back. "Thank you, Lovino!"

His brother's eyes held the same light as they always did and Lovino was happy. Feliciano deserved happiness. "Now can you get some sleep?"

Feli was already looking tired, but that had nothing on the intense smile he gave Lovino in good night.

The Vargas family had never been ones for much sleep, but that night, sleep was kind to them. Romeo lay snoozing in front of the television downstairs where no one bothered to move him from anymore. Grandpa Roma had long been asleep in his own bed, dreaming of his younger days and of times where his family was still whole. Feliciano fell easily to sleep with his thoughts at rest and a carefree smile on his face.

As for Lovino, he curled in his blankets in an uneventful slumber until late morning where he was woken by his family preparing a late brunch. He hadn't had a single dream and his night had been a pitch black abyss of unconsciousness. But, then again, that was Lovino's favorite kind of sleep, after all.