Relationship Status: It's Complicated

Chapter Four

After being caught by Rupert, Matthew had been grounded for an entire week. He protested that Rupert had no right, because he had only known him and his mother for a few weeks, but apparently Rupert, who didn't even live with them, did. Matthew had expected his mother not to follow up with it, given that she rarely did, but apparently when they had caught the two boys skipping, they had been coming back from a parenting seminar which they had gone to upon the insistence of Rupert.

Though she is smart and successful, especially given her circumstances, is not the best with relationships. Matthew's father had left her as soon as Matthew was born, leaving her to fend for her and the baby at the age if seventeen. Though every other aspect of her life remained slightly normal, and she managed to finish business school and secure a decent job, her taste in men slightly deteriorated and she was too dependent for her own good.

That's how situations like this happened, where she let her current boy toy have a say in things he really shouldn't be meddling in.

Now, for a week, Matthew has to come straight home from school, and none of his friends are allowed over. No, not on the weekend either, and no, not even that Jones kid who is so good at charming Ms. Williams. Sadly, even when his mother is working at the bank, he follows the rules of the grounding, purely because Rupert has a tendency to stop by and check on him.

This is why instead of talking to Alfred, he is reduced to lying on his bed with his immensely overweight cat curled up on his stomach as he talks to him.

"I still can't believe I'm grounded for something so stupid." Matthew grumbles, running his fingers through the fine white fur. "It's been two days and mom has still not let up."

The cat lifts up his head, looking like he has a puzzled expression.

"Meeeooo?" The cat asks. His meows always sound like a mix between a cat and a cow, and Alfred had said it sounded like the cat was asking "Who?". The theory was further enforced by the cat resuming whatever he is doing after whoever was in his presence declares their names.

"Matthew." Matthew replies with a sigh. The cat drops his head back down, and Matthew takes it as a cue to continue his rambling on how Rupert is the worst man ever and how he needs to go back from the trailer park Matthew's mother had picked him up from.

"This is your fault." Alfred says for the umpteenth time as they two continue to waste away in detention.

"Quiet!" Barks the principal and Alfred rolls his eyes.

When Rupert had dragged Alfred back to his house, Mrs. Jones, an uptight and conservative mother, had been livid to say the least. She screamed at Alfred for skipping and "being a delinquent" and falling under bad influences, which was rounded off with the regular "Now if you weren't gay, you wouldn't be like this!" and a shaking of the head. She had called the school to personally apologize for her son's "atrocious" behaviour, and that was how the principal had found out that the boys had skipped a class by deceiving substitute teacher. That didn't sit with him too well, especially since the substitute was his own sister, naive and fresh out of teacher's college. That is the reason behind Alfred and Matthew having eight lunch detentions.

They are currently on detention #4, where they have to sit in the corner of the principal's office while he glowers at them.

"Not quite, eh?" Matthew replies quietly and the principal shoots another murderous glance.

Alfred huffs and continues twiddling his thumbs in his lap. He has never been good with sitting around for such a long time, especially when he isn't doing anything.

Both teens are grumpy about such a small situation being dragged into something so big. They are grumpy that their parental units are big bitches, and they are grumpy that they have to sit in the office with a principal, who does not engage in conversation that does not involve hunting or discipline.

But most of all, they are grumpy about all the time they are wasting in a stuffy office instead of focusing on more interesting things.

Matthew is now unavailable both after school and during lunch, and all the times Gilbert Beilschmidt has asked him if they want to get together to work on the project, he has had to turn him down. Well, he has only been asked twice, but still. He is not ballsy enough to pull any moves in history class because he cannot pull things off in front of a class full of people he knows, and because Gilbert does not talk to him a lot in class. Alfred tries to convince Matthew that even simply asking the other for a pencil can work to his benefit, but Matthew is too stubborn.

"This wouldn't happen if you didn't wave to your mom, stupid. Who the hell waves to their parent while skipping?" Alfred grumbles. "And you didn't even tell me who likes me."

"Shut up!" The principal barks again, and Matthew refrains from pointing out that Alfred was the one who had waved enthusiastically. They fall back into silence, lamenting over how slow and boring life can be.

As Matthew stumbles in slightly late to class after lunch, mumbling something to Vargas about a jammed locker, Francis reaches pokes Gilbert on the side with his pencil.

"How is your project coming along?" He whispers, as Gilbert leans sideways to listen.

"What project?"

"The one for this class, Gilbert."

"Oh." Gilbert leans back to his chair, and shrugs. "The kid's unavailable. Something about being tied up for a week or two or some shit like that."

Francis hums in response, and remembers Alfred telling him something about him and Matthew getting their ass kicked by their respective parents. Quite a shame, because after he, and Arthur to some extent, had been roped in by Alfred to help Matthew (without Matthew's knowledge nor consent, of course), he has been quite eager to get things going. After all, ever since Gilbert had fallen through with Natalia, and then with Roderich, his friend has been a bit of a kill joy, acting cynical and stomping over both Antonio's and Francis' love life, purely because he is bitter.

However, the lull in things with Matthew is very, very temporary.

"Alfred!" someone calls out, slapping Matthew on his back as he walks to last period. He turns to look at the person, and with fake enthusiasm, says, "Peter!"

Thick brows furrow for a moment, and the person scowls, then breaks out into a naturally rakish grin.

"Sorry 'bout that, mate." Arthur chuckles, running his hand through his spiky blond hair and Matthew gives a small smile back.

Every time Arthur mistakes Matthew for Alfred, Matthew pretends to think that Arthur is actually Peter, his younger brother and the title-holder of the 'Most Annoying Person Ever', even though the two are nothing alike. Peter is a clean-cut, obnoxious freshman with an obsession with hanging out with older people, while Arthur is a complete punk, complete with a lower lip ring and obscure band shirts.

However, he is a punk that wears tweed on the weekend when he goes to the local book club, so maybe the two are more alike than they let on.

"Have you seen Alfred?" Arthur asks as he falls in to step with Matthew.

"No, but I have math right now, and he's in my class." Matthew replies. Someone walks in to him, deterring him for a second, and Arthur sighs and pulls Matthew out of the way.

"You need to watch out more." He says, and Matthew shrugs. Even when the halls are not crowded, he is used to people accidentally bumping or walking in to him and then walking away without an apology.

"Why do you want to see Alfred?"

"Because he's not replying to any of my text messages."

"He had his phone taken away a couple of days ago."

"Oh..." Arthur falls silent, and they stop as reach the main stairwell. "Well, when you see him, tell him that there's going to be a fight after school."

"Who?" Matthew raises an eyebrow.

"Garcia and Beilschmidt."

Matthew's ears perk up at that name, but he tries to keep his expression even. "Why?"

"No bloody idea. They've been getting each other's panties in a knot for over a while, and they're going to let it out after school today. At the far left field right off school property. Tell Alfred to come, it'll be entertaining to watch."

Matthew nods, and starts to step up the stairs, when Arthur calls out to him.

"Matthew!"

"Yes?" Matthew cranes his head back to look at Arthur, who has the rakish smile on again.

"Tell Jones he should bring a friend."

"Ahh," Alfred says, leaning back into his chair with his arms behind his head as Matthew relays the information. "This is perfect."

Braginski, who is up writing their math questions up on the board, turns his head to give them a cold, cruel smile that has anyone else quivering, but the two boys simply smile back, and ignore it.

"Perfect?" Matthew queries, and Alfred nods. "How?"

"Well, for starters, you and me," Alfred jabs his thumb into his chest. "Are going to go."

"Can't," Matthew sighs. "Rupert still checks up on me."

"Well fuck Rupert, we're still going. Tell him you need to stay after school with study group or something."

Matthew looks at Alfred pointedly, reminding him that Rupert is a man that takes no shit.

"But this is the perfect opportunity!" Alfred protests, tapping his pencil on Matthew's desk.

"Jones, Williams. Please be quiet." Braginski requests and is yet again ignored as Alfred continues.

"See, if there's one thing Francis and Arthur tell me that Beilschmidt likes is when people have his back."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, and in order to get into his pants, you need to do things he likes. Bro, I think we found your opportunity."

Matthew has a blank look on his face, then realization dawns upon him.

"You're not asking me to fight, are you?"

Alfred just beams at him, and Matthew decides to scooch away an inch.

"Oh, hell no, I am not going to fight anyone."

Matthew is not much of a fighter; well actually that's a lie. Matthew can pack quite a punch when he needs to, and can slam into others like a bad ass due to playing hockey until he was fifteen. But Matthew would rather not use that strength to instigate violence, and he definitely does not enjoy getting into fights. He is the type that will hit the other person where it will hurt the most, then book it out of there and go into hiding before anyone can find him and hit him back. He'd rather not get into any fight at all; passive-aggressiveness is more of his thing, and he'd rather be a peacemaker.

"Who said you had to fight? All you have to do is have his back!"

Something in Alfred's voice tells Matthew that he really does not have any option in this.

"It's the same thing, eh?"

The period comes to an end, and Matthew would be a lying bastard if he says that he isn't nervous as hell. Through the period, Alfred had made it very clear that they were going to the fight after school whether Matthew wanted to or not.

So they pack up their books, and head out into the hall, and Matthew can already hear whispering about the fights. They reach Alfred's locker, and Matthew keeps out an eye for Gilbert, wondering if the teen will come. Sure enough, there's Beilschmidt, marching towards his locker, not looking too happy. Francis, Antonio, and a third kid, a tall Danish junior with wild blond hair by the name of Christensen, are following behind Gilbert with looks of suppressed glee.

Matthew pretends to be listening to Alfred, while he is actually straining his ears to listen to the four boys eight lockers down. And sort of staring at Gilbert, who looks really good, even though he's got the expression of being pissed beyond pissed. Everyone in the other's friend group looks really good, but if Matthew has to pick, Gilbert Beilschmidt was definitely ahead in the looks department. Anyone who wears dog tags and black combat boots can't go wrong.

As Gilbert puts on his black jacket and pulls up the fur hood, Alfred snaps his fingers in front of Matthew's face.

"Stop staring at him, doofus," he says. "You're practically eating him up with your eyes."

Matthew's face slightly flushes and he scowls at Alfred.

"I'm not eating him up with my eyes Alfred, don't be stupid."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Alfred closes the locker door, and then looks down to the group. More people have joined, eager to tell Gilbert Alejandro Garcia's whereabouts.

"I'm not surprised that fucker's hiding." Matthew hears Gilbert say, and Antonio and Christensen give out a slight cackle at this. He sees Arthur joining the crowd, slapping Gilbert's back and whispering something into his ear. A smug grin crosses Gilbert face as he slams the locker door shut. His gait has gone from a march to a saunter, as he starts moving towards the main stairs.

"C'mon," Alfred says, and grabs onto Matthew's forearm, pulling him along with the crowd.

By the time they make it out of the school, the crowd of students eager to see a fight has grown exponentially. Some of them are Gilbert's friends, and most of them are just blood-thirsty spectators. Matthew protests, and tries to prevent Alfred from dragging him along, but when his friend's determined, he's also strong. By the time they have gotten to the field, an equally impressive mob is already there, waiting, and at the front stands a lanky, tanned boy with a grin as cocky as Gilbert's.

"Yo! Beilschmidt! You showed up!"

"The fuck I did, Garcia. Are you gonna run away like last time?"

Ever the efficient people, the crowd falls into a circle almost immediately, with Gilbert and Alejandro standing across from each other in the middle, sneering at each other. Matthew is thankfully only in the middle of the crowd, still persuading Alfred that no, he won't fight.

"C'mon Matt, it's your time to be a hero!"

"I don't want to be a hero, Al! I don't want to just randomly jump in there and defend him or something!"

"Yes you do! You need to go save the damsel in distress!"

Matthew is glad that the people around him are too busy causing a commotion, yelling at the two boys in the middle to get it started, otherwise he is sure that someone would tell Gilbert that he had just been referred to as a damsel in distress. The first intimate contact with Gilbert that Matthew wants to have does not include his own face being bashed in by the other.

"What am I going to do? Just go in there and say, Oh I don't want you to get hurt or we won't be able to finish our project?"

"That's such an awesome idea! You should totally say that to him!"

"Alfred!" Matthew tries to yank his arm back, to no avail. "Damn it, Al, I said no! I don't fight, eh?"

"Well, you will!"

"I don't think I know him that well! I can't just jump in there with him in the hopes that he'll like me!"

"You can, and you will, Matthew Williams!"

Alfred wheels around, and looks at Matthew with a very serious stare as the people around them bustle.

"Matthew Williams." He begins, his voice firm. "Listen to me."

"No."

"Well, fuck you. There comes a time in a boy's life where he needs to shank a bitch. Here's your shank." Alfred lifts up one of Matthew's wrists, then points to Alejandro. "There's your bitch."

"Uh, I really don't think that's a good idea..." Matthew trails off, but Alfred has already started pulling Matthew deeper into the crowd. They shove through people till they are oh so close to the circle, where Gilbert and Alejandro are still spitting insults in each other's faces.

"I'm going to fucking cave your face in, Beilschmidt." Alejandro says, spitting in Gilbert's direction, and Gilbert dodges.

"Oh, I'm scared." Gilbert replies, raising his arms and stepping towards Alejandro. "All you've been doing is talking shit for the past few weeks, and you can't even make a fucking blow."

Alejandro narrows his eyes, and shoves Gilbert forcefully in the chest.

"Don't get too close, fag." He sneers, and the crowd ooh's.

"Afraid you'll get some homo, Garcia?" Gilbert's eyebrow twitches but he keeps a cool facade. "Does it matter? As if you get any girls in the first place."

He punctuates that sentence with shoving Alejandro hard enough that he stumbles back into the crowd. Someone pushes him back out, and the guy looks ready to kill.

"Al, I really don't want to do this." Matthew whispered, but Alfred ignores him and continues dragging him.

"Fuck yeah, you do! Bro, this is your time to be a hero!"

"I'd rather be a bystander." Matthew mutters, and digs his heels into the ground. The attempt is futile, and they are right in the inner ring.

"I don't want to hit you too hard, Gilly, you might be too sore from whoever gave it to you up your ass last night." Matthew hears and cringes.

"Get at me, bitch."

"Now go in there and show them what you got." Alfred whispers, as he nudges Matthew.

"I don't fight!" Matthew hisses, but unfortunately the person standing beside them happens to be Francis, and has heard snippets of their conversation.

"Oh, Matthew, you wanna fight?" Francis asks, and Matthew shakes his head vigorously while Alfred nods. But it's too late.

"Fight?"

"Someone else wants to fight?"

"Sweet! Bring him in!"

"But I thought it was only Garcia and Beilschmidt!"

"Who cares? Bring him in!"

"Fuck yeah!"

"Bring him in!"

"They call for you, young one." Alfred says as the crowd starts to chatter loudly, looking for the new challenger. With the help of Francis, who thinks Matthew having Gilbert's back is a terrific idea because now he doesn't have to sweat any, Alfred shoves Matthew into the circle. Matthew stumbles into it, separating Gilbert and Alejandro who have started to push each other. Both boys step back, bewildered as Matthew stands cowering between the two, facing Alejandro.

And as instantly as it came, the tanned boy's startled expression disappears, and is replaced with a wicked smirk.

"One of yours, Beilschmidt? Is this seriously the best you can do?"

"Oh shit." Matthew mumbles, as everyone's eyes fall on him. Suddenly, he wishes things were boring again.

K so in my head/this AU, Gilbert's a total baller. Well, almost a total baller. As baller a high school guy can get. So's Alfred. I can totally imagine them being the wanksters who spin circles in the parking lot at 1 am. That means they're actually not baller. Welcome to the 'burbs.

Alejandro's an OC for Mexico that I'm considering and I wanna...sorta flesh out? idk XD I normally don't use OCs within fanfiction, they're not really my thing, but I've always wanted a Mexico. And I like making my characters the bad guys sometimes so -shrugs-

Reviews are reaaaally appreciated ~