A/N: Third chapter is up! Reviews are appreciated!

I stayed up 'til almost 1am working on this one. So tired now...

Warnings!: Emo!Canada, self harm, bullying, some strong language, violence, boyxboy.

*Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or any of its characters.

I walk clumsily into a nice little white house with the albino. It's a pretty house; the floor is mostly covered with soft, gray carpeting, the walls are white, there are a few potted plants on the windowsill. The windows are all covered by white curtains, helping to block out a little of the bright sun. Being an albino, they are probably there to help protect his easily damaged skin. There is a darker gray couch sitting near the middle of the room, with a TV sitting in front of it. There is a flight of stairs to my left, I think. I'm a little dizzy right now, so it's kind of hard to tell my right from my left.

"We should go upstairs. I don't know how my parents would react if they saw you in your condition sitting on the couch; probably freak out and call an ambulance," he said, apparently trying to lighten the mood.

We walk up the stairs and enter what I presume to be his room. There are clothes strewn everywhere. The walls are white, and I notice a poster featuring Haley Williams (Sweet, we like the same music!) near the door, along with the Prussian flag. There is a comfortable looking bed in the corner, covered by a black blanket. By the bed there is a small window with curtains pulled over it. Under the window, there is a bedside table with a lamp and a few other things sitting on it. There is a pretty nice black loveseat to the other side of the window.

The boy motions for me to sit down. I carefully lower myself onto the loveseat, not wanting to injure myself further.

"I'll be right back," he says. "I'm going to get my first-aid kit." He stands up and through the door. He returns a few minutes later with his medical supplies.

He rolls up my left pants leg and applies some Neosporin to my badly scraped knee.

"So, your name's Matthew, right? Matthew Williams?"

I look up suddenly. I guess I drifted off into my own little world for a minute there.

"Y-yeah," I say a little awkwardly. I've never been good at small talk.

He chuckles. "Well, I'm the awesome Gilbert Beilschmidt! Good to meet you!"

I almost chuckle myself after hearing him call himself awesome. I would kill to have even ten percent of the confidence he appears to have.

"How old are you, Matthew?"

"16," I answer.

"Cool, same here! So you're in my grade at school then!"

"Well, yeah," I say. I'm a little confused. Does he not know the kind of things people say about me?

We stay silent for a few minutes while he works.

"Hey, about those guys earlier...," he says quietly.

Here it comes. The part where he calls me a "gay faggot" and throws me out.

"...What was their problem? I mean, you know, what makes them think they have a right to judge you because of your sexual orientation?"

My eyes widen a little in shock.

"Look at me," he says. I look straight into his eyes.

"Listen, Matthew. Don't let people like those guys push you around."

His gaze intensifies.

"You look down to no one. Remember that," he says firmly.

I begin to ponder his statement.

He finishes up my legs and moves to examine my arms.

"No!" I scream.

He looks a little confused.

"I-I-I mean, my arms feel fine! See," I say as I wave them around, "no broken bones!"

He frowns. "I really think I should check..." He rolls my sleeves up.

I close my eyes and prepare for the ridicule. This kid cuts! Look at his dumb scars! Emo freak!

A minute of silence. You could practically cut the tension in the air with a knife.

"...How long have you been doing this to yourself?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

I feel tears prick at my eyes, then run down my cheeks.

He must know I don't want to answer the question because he doesn't pry anymore. He hands me a tissue. I wipe my eyes.

A few minutes of silence follows.

"Would you take off your hoodie and your shirt for a minute?" he asks. "I just wanna check on the rest of you."

I comply, though a little nervous about a hot guy looking over my half naked body.

I look at myself. I'm covered in nasty bruises, with a few scrapes here and there. I assume my back looks similar. I still hurt most everywhere, but I don't complain.

Gilbert sucks in a breath and gets to work repairing my injuries.

"They really fucked you up, Mattie," he says.

Mattie? He really feels the need to give me a nickname? We've known each other for less than a day!

"Well, I kind of figured that," I say.

He smiles a bit. I think he's glad to hear me talking after being so quiet directly following the beating.

"You're from Germany, aren't you Gilbert?" I ask, trying to make conversation.

"Yeah," he says, smiling even more. I look at his face. He has a rather distant look in his eyes. I wonder what he could possibly be thinking...

"Hm?" he asks. "What is it, Mattie?"

I snap back to reality. "Nothing," I say hastily. "So...how do you like Canada?"

He laughs. "It's pretty nice! I do get homesick sometimes, but it's nothing I can't handle. Although, my bruder stayed behind..." His voice trails off into oblivion.

I feel bad for him. I kind of know what it's like to be away from a brother. I'm not ready to tell him that yet, though.

"I'm sorry," I eventually say.

"It's all right," he answers gently.

He finishes up and allows me to pull my clothes back on. He then proceeds to gently press on my nose, to make sure it's not broken.

"Does this hurt?" he asks.

I shake my head.

He gently runs his thumb over my busted lower lip. My face flushes a deep scarlet color.

He laughs softly and pulls his hand back.

"Hey Gilbert?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you so much. I could've died if you hadn't come back there," I say gratefully.

"Ja, no prob," he says.

I get up and turn to leave.

"Will you be at school tomorrow Mattie?"

"Yeah."

"Do you walk to and from school?"

"Yeah," I reply. I have no idea where he's going with this.

"Well, do you live on this street?"

"Yeah." Really, Matthew? All you can say is "yeah"?

"Uh...," he says a little nervously, "Do you want me to walk with you to school? Make sure those guys don't show up again?"

I'm a little stunned. No one's ever offered anything like that to me before.

I clear my throat. "I-If you want," I say.

He grins brightly.

"Awesome!"

I smile a little. I mean I actually smile for the first time in a long time.

"Well, see you tomorrow then," I say.

"See ya Mattie," he says.

I softly close the door behind me as I leave, and smile once more.

For once, I can't wait for tomorrow to come.

A/N: Stay tuned for the next chapter!