Enough people showed interest that I felt inspired to write a second chapter to this story! I also have a rough idea of a plot worked out, so hopefully this will continue. Don't expect rapid updates, though. NaNoWriMo is coming up, so I'll be pretty busy trying to balance that with school. :D Reviews are love! CC is welcomed with open arms!

"Alfred! Come down here and help your father get these hamburgers ready to carry over!" Mrs. Jones called up the stairs to her son. Alfred promptly tossed his comic book to the other side of his bed and leapt up. He bounded into the kitchen, ready for action.

"Hey, Dad, how's it going?"

Mr. Jones smiled at his boy's enthusiasm. At least food was still a never-fail way to get his teenager's attention. "I think we're going to blow everyone away this year. I've got a new seasoning mix," he said with a wink. Alfred's father was the official burger extraordinaire at the neighborhood's annual August barbeque, and it was a well-known fact that you have never tasted a hamburger until you've had a Jones hamburger.

Alfred's neighborhood had many events throughout the year. He used to love going to all of them as a kid, but now he thought most of them were pretty lame. A bike parade? Please. But the barbeque was definitely the least lame. Who doesn't love hamburgers?

As Alfred started helping his father shape the meat into perfect patties he thought about the upcoming event. It was a potluck party, and after all the food was eaten, somebody usually started up a game of football. Alfred loved football almost as much as he loved hamburgers, so he was surprised he wasn't more excited for this afternoon.

Well, actually he knew why. This would be the first time he'd seen Matthew since that awkward moment on his back porch. Alfred had been hoping that two months away from him would make Matthew forget about...what he'd tried to tell him before he'd left. He should have known that wouldn't happen, though. Mattie was nothing if not dependable.

It wasn't that Alfred was grossed out by Matthew's feelings, he'd just never even thought of his neighbor that way. Matthew wasn't...interesting. Sure, Alfred had known him forever, but that didn't mean they were that close. He's just always been there. So had the tree next to the bus stop, and Alfred didn't feel any particular attachment towards it. Matthew was like part of the scenery.

Still, Alfred didn't want to hurt his neighbor. Matthew may not be someone really special to Alfred, but he was still his pal, and everyone had feelings. Maybe he'd try being a little nicer to Matthew tonight, to help soften the blow. Yeah. That sounded good.

"Are you men about ready?" asked Alfred's mom as she walked into the kitchen.

"Sure thing!" said Alfred, setting the last hamburger onto the tray. "Let's go!"

An hour later, Alfred had already been through the buffet-style line twice and had concluded that the most delicious thing there, aside from the hamburgers of course, would have to be the potato salad. It wasn't typically one of his favorite foods, but this stuff tasted amazing! He was just shoveling another forkful into his mouth when Matthew and his parents started to approach Alfred's family. The adults greeted each other politely, and Matthew looked at the ground. Alfred hurried to swallow his food.

"Hey, Mattie. How's it going?"

He looked up in surprise and blinked his eyes. "He-hey, Alfred. I'm doing well. How are you?"

"I'm good. This food is awesome. Totally loving the potato salad. Whoever made it is a culinary genius.

Matthew held one of his arms with the other and blushed. "A-Actually, I made it."

"Really?" said Alfred appreciatively with raised eyebrows. "Then congratulations on being a culinary genius!"

"It's not that hard, I," he took a breath. "I could show you how to make it sometime, if you want."

Oblivious to the hope riding on his answer, Alfred replied, "No thanks. I'm not really any good in the kitchen. Just with hamburgers." He glanced over at the field where some of the neighborhood guys were beginning to assemble. "Hey, look! The football game's starting! Wanna play?"

"I'm not very good at it," Matthew said, deflated.

"Well then, I'll see you later!" He turned and jogged toward the field.

Alfred's team was ahead 7 points and he was dirty, sweaty, and grinning when he noticed Matthew sitting under an oak tree watching the game and remembered his decision to be nice to him today. Should he call Matthew over? No, Matthew didn't like football. Should he go sit with him? That seemed right. He threw a goodbye over his shoulder to the group before heading over to the tree.

Matthew watched him approach with surprise, which bordered on shock when Alfred sat down next to him. "Is something the matter, Al? Are you hurt?"

"Hurt, nah. I just got tired. Decided to come hang out with you. So, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing." Matthew looked away as if he were trying hard not to pay attention to Alfred.

"Hey, are you going to be in physics this year?"

"Yes, are you?"

"Yup." Alfred made a face. "I hear it's really hard, especially when you're not good at math, like me."

"You're not that bad at math," Matthew protested. "You do really well when you work hard."

"Ha, yeah right. I never would have passed chemistry if it weren't for your help. You're really smart, you know."

Matthew blushed, looking up at Alfred in surprise. "You think so?"

"For sure, man. Like, super smart. I'm surprised you haven't gotten some nerdy nickname."

"Not many people notice me."

"They should."

Suddenly, Matthew found the blades of grass between his fingers very interesting and did not look up from them.

Later, when Alfred was helping his dad clean up, he congratulated himself on his very successful mission of being nice to Matthew. Even though his neighbor had been acting a little weird at the beginning, they had almost returned to normalcy by the end of the picnic. Alfred breathed a sigh of relief. He hated things to be awkward, and now it looked like everything was going to be just fine. No worries.

Suddenly, he felt a light tap on his arm and turned to see Matthew holding a Tupperware container.

"You liked the potato salad, right?" he asked his shoes.

"Sure, it was great."

Matthew tentatively extended his hands hand transferred the container to Alfred's. "You can have the rest."

"Gee, thanks!" Alfred said brightly, totally excited about the gift of food. "I'd offer you some hamburgers, but there's not any left."

Matthew looked up and smiled. "Thanks. I'm good, though."

"Okay. Well. I have to get this stuff back to my house. Thanks again for the salad. See you later!"

"Bye, Alfred."

Yep, things were good. Hamburgers, potato salad, and un-awkward friend-ness between him and Mattie.