Ludwig stayed upstairs the whole evening. Gilbert went inside and actually did his homework, too angry and hurt to go out. He cooked a frozen dinner in the microwave and ate it, watching Say Yes To The Dress on TV. But after a few episodes, he got tired of watching happy couples walk down the isle. He flipped off the T, heated up another frozen meal, and walked upstairs.
"I brought you dinner," Gilbert said quietly. Ludwig didn't respond, so Gilbert left it outside the door. When he came back upstairs later to get a blanket, the dinner had stayed there, untouched and uneaten. He picked it up.
"Fine, starve, bitch," he spat through the door. He heard Ludwig laugh dryly. It wasn't his usual deep, bright laugh, but shallow and angry. The white haired boy sighed as he threw tray out, grabbed an extra blanket from the closet, and stormed downstairs. He swallowed the angry knot in his throat, refusing to cry himself to sleep as he flopped down on the couch, wrapping the blanket around him. It only took a minute, however, for his resolve to disintegrate and he felt hot tears run down his cheeks.
He opened his eyes to a large, heavy object falling on his shoulders. He groaned and pushed his book-bag off him and opened his eyes. He could still feel the red swelling in this eyes from crying. Ludwig was in the kitchen, drinking coffee and staring out he window.
"Get up," he said, not looking at Gilbert. The older boy sat up and looked down, noticing that he slept in his school clothes. He stood, patting the wrinkles out of his jacket with his hands. He looked up at Ludwig, who's eyes were also red, with dark grey smudges under them. Were it any other day, Gilbert would joke and ask him how he slept, but tensions were clearly too high for that. He grabbed a travel mug and poured some coffee, picking up his backpack and heading for the door, not bothering to turn and wait for Ludwig. He jumped down the front steps and started walking. He heard his younger brother lock the front door and walk behind him. Gilbert felt the blue eyes on the back of his head, but he kept walking, his eyes glued to the familiar road ahead of him. But this road wasn't familiar. It was only familiar when Ludwig was beside him, their fingers locked. Gilbert walked slower, hoping that ludwig would catch up and walk next to him. They didn't have to speak, he just wanted to feel his brother next to him. But when Gilbert slowed, so did Ludwig. The white skinned boy pressed on, disheartened by how his younger brother was just as stubborn as himself.
They arrived at school and went to their lockers, which were directly next to each other. Gilbert angrily shoved binders into the small space, crumpling papers that got in the way. He felt a shiver down his spine and turned around, looking downt he hallway to see Ivan and his two sisters, Natalya and and Katrina. Natalya shot Gilbert a deathglare as he kissed her brother on the cheek and turned into a classroom, her long hair swishing by her waist. Katrina, Ivan's short-haired, large-chested, sister, whoever, rand down the hallway, past Gilbert, and jumped into Ludwig's arms, kissing him on the cheek. The blond boy smiled and laughed, harshly.
"Hey Katrina," he said, holding her up off the ground with one hand, the other brushing her hair out of her face. Gilbert stared in shock.
"Hi, baby!" she said, smiling. He set her down gently and she grapped his collar, pulling him down into a passionate kiss on the lips. "How did you sleep?" she asked after pulling away.
"Just fine," Ludwig said, smiling. Gilbert could only stare as he took her hand and walked away with Katrina, down to their first period English clas.
"He asked her to prom last night," Ivan said, appearing beside Gilbert, who jumped at his sudden presence. "She's been calling him her boyfriend since."
"Boyfriend?" Gilbert said, whipping around to face the tall Russian. Ivan simply nodded, smiling at Gilbert. The German stared back down the hallway, not knowing if he flet more hurt or angry. His face contorted into a sneer.
"Fine," he said under his breath. Ivan blinked.
"What?" the Russian asked. Gilbert said nothing, instead, he took Ivan's hand and half walked, half dragged Ivan to English, making sure everyone in the hallway saw that their hands were clasped.
"Gilbert... Gilbert... GIL!" Ivan said, grabbing his wrist. The shorter boy looked up, eyebrows furrowed.
"What?" he barked, throwing his book bag down on the chair.
"You're hurting my hand, da," Ivan said, wiggling his fingers that were still clasped by Gilbert's hand. Gilbert let go quickly and wiped the sweat off his palm.
"S-sorry," he said. He watched the teacher waddle around the front of the room for a moment, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to face Francis, the class flirt that always had two girls hanging off him. He leaned forward.
"Are you and Ivan really dating?" he asked, his strong French accent slurring his worlds. Ivan opened his mouth to say no, but Gilbert cut him off.
"Of course we are," Gilbert said. He shot Ivan a look, and the tall Russian blinked, then smiled at Francis, who smirked and touched Gilbert's cheek, winking at him.
"Tres adorable," he whispered. GIlbert couched and turned his face back towards the front, feeling more and more nauseous as the minutes ticked by.
Gilbert walked out of english class, clutching Ivan's hand. When they got to his locker, Gilbert turned around, looking up to face him.
"You're my boyfriend now," he stated, not bothering to ask. Ivan nodded and smiled.
"Okay," he said, brightly. "But why?"
"Because, uh, I like you why else?" Gilbert asked, turning around and yanking books out of his locker.
"No you don't," Ivan said, pulling his hand out Gilbert's. The red-eyed boy whipped around.
"S-sure I do!" Gilbert said, defensivly. Ivan simply shook his head ask Ludwig approached, hand in hand with Katrina. Gilbert cringed and turned his head, wrapping his arms around Ivan's waist. Ivan froze, then wrapped his arms and the shorter boy's shoulders, smiling down at him until Ludwig and Katrina walked by. Gilbert dropped his arms at the same time as Ivan and sighed.
"You're right, I don't like you," he said, looking away. "Not like that at least." Ivan nodded silently. They stood there for a few minutes before the taller Russian put his hand on Gilbert's shoulder. Gilbert didn't look up.
"What are you hiding, da?" Ivan asked softly. The white haired boy didn't look at Ivan, but instead turned his head towards the hallway that Ludwig and Katrina just walked down. Ivan followed his gaze and sighed. "You love him."
"I do no-" Gilbert started to say but cut himself off. Ludwig was his life. THe counterpart to his bull-headed ego and outward personality. His arms were Gilbert's home. The only place he ever really felt he belonged. For over a year now Ludwig had been his guardian, his protector, his best friend, his everything. Ivan was right. Gilbert swallowed hard. "Yeah. I do love him." he whispered. Ivan said nothing, but instead put his arm aound Gilbert's shoulder and walked im down the hallway, out the school, and off campus.
"Where are we going?" Gilbert asked, staring at his feet.
"My house, da. You need some vodka," Ivan said, not brightly like usual, but not his usual cold self, either. Gilbert just nodded. Alcohol could definitely do him some good.
