"Mattie! Wake up!"
"Huh? What do you want, Al?"
"Don't you want dinner?"
"No."
"Did you eat earlier?"
"No."
"Then you gotta eat now!"
"I'm sick. Let me sleep."
"I'll go get dad. Don't move."
Matthew was woken up rudely by Alfred. He still had a stomach ache and Alfred only ever made things worse. 'Don't move' that guy thinks he's a riot with his stupid jokes.
Alfred returned with Francis who fawned over him.
"What hurts? Do you have a fever? Mon Dieu you're burning up!"
"I'm fine, Papa," he said and smiled to reassure him. "I think it's just a little food poisoning."
"Did Arthur make something for you!?" Francis asked dramatically, like he would die if he ate the other man's cooking.
"No. It's from school," he said and closed his eyes, feeling nauseous.
"You just need some rest and soup then. I'll go make some," Francis smiled and left the room.
Alfred stuck around and looked out the window. "Why did Gilbert hug me today, Mattie?" he asked suddenly.
"I don't know," Matthew muttered. He barely knew the guy, but he seemed capable of doing anything he wanted without reason.
"I didn't mean to give him your number either."
"It's fine, Al," he said and pulled the covers over his head.
"Okay. I hope he's not causing you trouble," he laughed and walked to the door, "he's stupid, so don't listen to anything he says."
"That's my motto," Matthew said and Alfred finally walked out.
A few minutes later Francis walked back in with a bowl of soup and Saltine crackers. He sat up and took the bowl. "Merci," he said and sipped on the soup.
"Feel better, Mathieu. I'll check on you later, okay?"
"Okay," he said and blew on the soup to cool it. Francis walked out and he sighed. It seemed like the only time he was noticed was when he was sick.
He set the hot soup down on his nightstand and reached under the bed for a notebook. He grabbed a pen, flipped it to a new page, and began writing.
I met this albino named Gilbert today. He's interesting, loud. Sort of like Al. He says he's going to be my friend but I'm not sure about that. Sure, I'd like some friends, but I don't think he's able to fill that roll. I'm sure he has a lot of other friends that want his attention. Not to mention he's an attention hog himself. And he gave me this weird nickname. Birdie. I don't look like a bird! At least, I hope I don't... Anyways, I'm pretty sure I have food poisoning, so I'm probably going to stay home from school tomorrow. It seems like the only time I'm noticed is when I'm sick. And then, only Papa notices me. Maybe we'll get to spend time together tomorrow. That would be nice.
Sincerely, Sick and Dying
Matthew closed his notebook and slipped it back under his bed. He picked the bowl of soup up and began eating the now cooled down soup. Having tomorrow off of school would be nice. No one would notice him missing anyways. Unlike whenever Alfred didn't show up and half the students erupted into mass chaos. He sighed and soon finished the soup, setting it down. He didn't need to think about that. It only angered him.
He opened up his laptop but before it even fully turned on, he felt like he was going to throw up. He made a mad dash for the bathroom, slipping slightly on the linoleum, and made it just in time to spill his guts out in the toilet.
Moments later Francis was there, rubbing his back. "Are you okay Mathieu?" Matthew nodded weakly. "I'll get you some water." He left and came back a minute later with a glass of water which he gratefully took.
"Merci," he said, ridding his mouth of the awful taste.
Francis helped him up and back to his bed. "You're staying home from school tomorrow. And I'm packing your lunch from now on," He said and Matthew smiled a little and leaned over to hug him. Francis hugged him back and took the empty bowl. "I'm guessing you won't want more of this."
"No. I feel a little better now though," he said.
"Good," Francis said and fixed his hair for him, "Get some more rest now."
"I will," Matthew said and watched Francis leave. His papa was the only one that seemed to care for him. That's why he never tried to run away.
He woke up the next day to his phone going off. It was almost noon, lunch time at school. He wondered if anyone else had gotten food poisoning yesterday as groped for his phone. He grabbed it off the nightstand and peered at the screen. Three new messages from none other than Gilbert. He was shocked. Someone actually noticed him missing?
Birdie where are you?
Are you okay?
Birdie answer me if you aren't dying!
He sighed and decided he had to answer the idiot.
I'm fine, just sick.
Sick? With what?
Food poisoning.
Get better! I miss you!
He stared at the last message. Gilbert missed him? Did he mean that or was he just messing with him? He set down his phone, put on his glasses, and got up. He really didn't understand that guy.
He walked out to the kitchen and filled a glass of water. He was feeling a little better, but he didn't want to chance eating yet.
That was when it occurred to him he could watch TV in the living room for once. His own show choice, with no yelling Alfred. So he sat down on the couch, wrapped a blanket around himself, turned on the TV, and set it on a hockey game. Maybe he should do this more often.
"Oh Mathieu, you're awake," Francis' voice floated in and he looked over. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better," he said and Francis sat next to him.
"That's good. Would you like to try something to eat?" he asked and Matthew shook his head.
"No thanks, I-"
"Bloody hell Francis, could you stop leaving the bathroom a mess?" Arthur interrupted, walking over to him.
"It takes time for all this," he gestured to his long hair, "I don't mean to inconvenience you."
"You do it on purpose. Just to annoy me."
Francis laughed and stood up. "That is not true!" He grabbed the smaller man's wrists and pulled him against him.
"It is! Let me go!" Arthur yelled but Francis cut him off with a kiss.
Matthew looked away but smiled slightly. He liked it when his parents kissed; Arthur couldn't yell. Alfred, always had to be childish about it and made gagging just thought it was sweet.
Arthur glared at Francis after but ceased yelling, an obvious blush on his face. After all these years and they were still very much in love. He wished he could find that with someone.
Alfred burst in a few hours later and the first thing Matthew said was, "The TV is mine!" He even went so far as to sit on the remote. He wasn't giving up his hockey for some stupid cartoon.
But Alfred just laughed. "Don't worry bro, I have a social life, unlike you!" Before Matthew could even try to defend himself, the person that walked in after Alfred made him freeze.
"Oi Birdie, fancy meeting you here!" the albino grinned.
"G-Gilbert? W-What a-are you d-doing here?" he asked quietly.
"I have a social life too!" Gilbert laughed. Alfred had disappeared, leaving them alone. Gilbert leaned toward him and he sunk back into the couch a little. "How are you feeling?"
"L-Like I'm d-dying," he muttered somewhat sarcastically.
"Well you certainly look like it," Gilbert grinned and messed up his hair.
Matthew sighed and attempted to fix it. "C-Could y-you move? I-I'm t-trying to w-watch a g-game."
Gilbert stepped back and looked at the TV. "Hockey? You're such a Canadian."
"I-Is t-that a b-bad th-thing?" he asked crossly.
Gilbert looked back at him and flashed a smile. "No, it's cute."
"C-Cute?" he said.
"Ja. Cute," he smirked. Alfred came thumping down the stairs.
"Found it!" he yelled proudly, holding up a basketball.
"Awesome! Want to come watch a real sport Birdie?"
"N-Not really," he said. He was feeling much better but going somewhere with them would probably make things worse.
"Of course he wants to go. You just gotta get him up," Alfred grinned, spinning the ball on his finger.
Gilbert smirked and before Matthew even knew what was happening, Gilbert had him slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"You're light Birdie. Do you eat?" he laughed.
"P-put m-me d-down!" he stammered and Gilbert thankfully complied.
"Get your shoes on. We're going to the park," Alfred instructed and walked into the kitchen.
Matthew sighed and walked to the front door, slipping his shoes on. He looked up at Gilbert who was leaning against the wall. "W-why a-are y-you here? Y-You've never c-come o-over b-before," he asked. He didn't keep track of Alfred's many friends that stopped by- or even all the girls- but he was sure he'd remember Gilbert.
"I wanted to see you Birdie!" Gilbert answered and Matthew looked at him dumbly.
"M-me?" he asked.
"Ja you! Did I speak too quietly?" he lowered his voice to a whisper, mimicking him.
"D-Don't m-make f-fun of the w-way I s-speak," he said, getting slightly flustered.
"I would never do anything without your consent Birdie," he smiled, lowering his voice so that he wasn't mimicking him but it sounded like he was... flirting? Was Gilbert flirting with him? The mere thought made a small blush rise to his cheeks. No one ever paid enough attention to him to flirt, but he just figured he was straight, like Alfred.
"Alright let's go!" Alfred walked back in, armed with two bags of chips and a six pack of Coca Cola.
Gilbert took the chips in one hand and opened the door. He then grabbed Matthew's wrist and pulled him out behind him. Alfred walked out, dribbling the ball with one hand down the sidewalk.
After a few minutes, Gilbert slipped his hand down so they were now holding hands. Matthew had no idea why he blushed, but he did, and he immediately pulled away.
Gilbert just smiled at him and he looked ahead at Alfred, who walked into a park. There was a few little kids around, playing on the structure, but no one on the court.
Alfred ran ahead and sunk a shot into the net, cheering. "Two points to me!"
"That's cheating!" Gilbert accused and set the chips down on a bench.
"Is not," Alfred said and set the pop down before running back over to the court.
"Are you going to play, Birdie?"
Matthew shook his head and sat on the bench. "N-No, I-I'll j-just watch."
"Okay," Gilbert grinned and ran over to the net, stealing the ball from Alfred and making a shot.
Matthew watched them mess around for awhile. His stomach rumbled and he decided it couldn't hurt too bad if he had a few chips. He opened the bag of Doritos and nibbled on the cheesy goodness.
"That's game," Gilbert said after sinking the ball in.
"No! Rematch!" Alfred yelled. "You're cranky when you lose," Gilbert laughed.
"I didn't lose! I never lose! Now rematch!" Alfred demanded.
Gilbert laughed still and walked over to the bench. "Let's just take a break," he said and sat next to Matthew, slinging him arm around him. Matthew jumped slightly. "You're a nervous person, Birdie." He just shrugged and offered the chips to Gilbert, which he took. "Danke."
"You need to speak English once in awhile dude," Alfred said, chugging down a bottle of coke.
"You need to learn German," Gilbert said and grinned, "dummkopf."
"Was that an insult?"
"Maybe," Gilbert smirked and leaned closer to Matthew's ear, whispering, "it means dumb ass."
He couldn't help from laughing while Alfred whined. "What does it mean?!"
"Figure it out for yourself," Gilbert said.
Alfred huffed and took out his phone from his pocket. "How do you spell it?"
"If I told you then it would take all the fun out of it." Gilbert replied.
Matthew rolled his eyes, holding back a laugh. Gilbert was sort of amusing, but he wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.
Alfred sighed and attempted to spell it. After a minute he gave up. "If I win next game you have to tell me."
"You're on," Gilbert said and stood up, stealing the ball from Alfred and making the first shot. The ball sailed in smoothly and Alfred quickly picked it up.
"Now who's cheating?" Alfred said.
"Still you," Gilbert laughed.
Matthew quickly lost interest in the game and looked over the the playground. The swing set was empty and he had an urge to go swing on it. He glanced back at the two before getting up and walking over to the swings. He sat down, and started moving, the structure creaking slightly under his weight. He closed his eyes and swung, enjoying the sensation of falling in the darkness.
Wow I got a lot more feedback than I thought so I'm updating so soon as a thank you! I decided to not be lazy for once and actually do something since I feel all special. Thank you all soo much, and please review!