Mattie's POV
When I woke up, I felt someone's arm on me, and I knew it wasn't Ivan's, since he has something I like to call sleeping etiquette, meaning he's not sprawled out on the bed, completely disregarding the other sleeper, unlike someone I thought I knew. I look to my left and see that Alfred snoring his worries away. Just like he always does. I must admit that he's always at his cutest when he sleeps, he's quiet, calm and plain ol' delightful when he's knocked out. I try my best to get his dead-weight arm off of me, but it seems that he's got a tight hold on me.
I poke his arm a bit and whisper, "Al, I have to get out of bed… I need to pee…" He just grunts at me then moves his arm down to my waist, pulling me closer to him. Before I knew it, I was being spooned by my own brother. Then Ivan walks in the room… I'm sure if Al wanted to destroy my life, he would've told me by now…
"I see you're busy, Matthew… I'll just make a cup of coffee to go and let you be…" He said to me, before walking out. I force my way out of Alfred's subconscious hold, and ran out of the room behind Ivan. "Hey! You! Ivan!" I yell as I run down the stairs. Ivan looked back at me then wrinkled his nose as if he smelled Kuma-bear-thing walk in, then said, "What?" I frowned and said, "You've been in such a nasty mood since Al appeared, Ivan!" I pulled Ivan into the kitchen, stopping in front of the table a, pulling out a chair and pushing him down to sit. He looks up at me, and I could tell he was a bit shocked that I would do that to him. So I pulled a chair in front of him, sat down, and said, "You're not telling me why… so before you go to work… I want you to tell me."
"Get him out of our house, Matthew, then my bad mood will go away as if it were never there," he said in such a calm tone that almost made my head spin. I wanted to respond with something a little witty but lost my gall and sighed, slapping my forehead. "Ivan, I never ask you for anything, but please… please, please, please try your best to get along with Al… I know he's can be… slightly obnoxious, but I know he's really a good guy, and if you two gave each other a chance, you guys can get along, even a little," I say trying to lighten his mood. Unfortunately, Ivan shook his head then stood up and walked to the coffee maker, not even giving me a second look. Well, I see that he's not going to make this easy, so I'll make it hard for him.
"Ivan… do you really love me?"
He put his cup down on the counter then stared at me for a moment, then said, "With all my heart. But you see, I'm not going to marry your idiot brother, I'm going to marry you." He went back to making his coffee, so I nodded and said, "Ok, that may be true, but as most people in some part of the world say, love me, love my dog, and apparently, Al is my dog, and I'm sure he'll be in my life for a very long time." He shrugged, then asked me if I wanted coffee, I shook my head, then he walked over to me, gave me a kiss on the forehead, then left. Even through all of that, I'm not sure if he had actually approved of Al being here. I bet he didn't, but why should I be skeptical of the love of my life?
I groaned as I walked over to the pantry, I pressed my forehead against the wooden door, sighing deeply… I'm so pissed at Ivan right now, that I might be willing to kick him in the nuts. I know he doesn't like Al, but I begged him. I, Matthew Williams, begged him. I didn't expect today to be the day that everything would mostly go to shit so early in the morning. Just what the hell is Alfred after?
After some time of sulking and holding back the urge to slam my head against the fridge, I walked to the coffee maker, pouring myself a cup of Ivan's leftover coffee. I stood there just sniffing the coffee. Ivan maybe slightly irrational, but he sure can make a cup of coffee seem more relaxing than it should be. I heard a yawn behind me, knowing it was just Al making himself known. I looked back, greeting him with a smile and a cheerful 'good morning'. He waved sleepily at me, grabbing the coffee out of my hand and walking out of the kitchen.
"W-Wait! Al! That was my coffee!" I called out, following behind him. He looked back at me and said, with the most innocent face, "Oh… well we can always just share, right?" I frowned taking the coffee out of his hand and walking back to the kitchen to get started on breakfast. "I'm the guest, right Mattie?" he asked walking in behind me. I nodded then said, "Yeah, but what kind of guest take the cup of coffee the host was ready to enjoy before starting breakfast for said guest?"
"Alfred F. Guest does." He says, flashing the hundred-watt smile of his. Right when he said that, a wave of exasperation quickly came over me, who the hell says their name then adds the 'guest' part to their name? Maybe I should send him back to bed. He sat in the same chair I made Ivan sit in. I giggle and ask, "would you like a muffin before having breakfast?"
"Yeah, that would be totally kickass, dude! So… what's for breakfast? Is something Canadian?" He mumbled, resting his head on the table. I go to the fridge, taking out some eggs, bacon, and English muffins and say, "if by Canadian you mean scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon, then yes, we're having a Canadian breakfast." He sticks his tongue out at me then offers to help me with the bacon and eggs, claiming he's a pro at making the best scrambled eggs. I hand him a bowl, salt and whisk, then brought the bread to the toaster, wondering what use I would be, being in charge of toast.
Line
After breakfast, Al dragged me to his room to show me something he had bought me as a gift while he was walking around in his hometown, or city, much rather. He opened his suitcase and showed me a box that was pretty much wrapped up in some bright paper. He hands it to me and says, "This should be worth all 5 birthdays I missed out on." I carefully pull of the tape, since unnecessary ripping of paper is completely pointless to me, and stared at the box. He got me a picture of us when we were still kids, I was about 7, and Al was like 10. I don't remember the day very much, but I do remember pulling Al's hair and wailing loudly because he wouldn't give me back my bear. I forgot the name I gave the bear, but I do remember that Abigail had gotten it for me because she said that it reminded her of me, with how soft I was, or some nonsense of the sort.
In the picture, I had on this blue dress shirt under a black vest, some brown corduroy pants, and apparently shiny black loafers, and I had been holding the same bear. That was like a trademark look for me, nerdy and slightly childish. As for Al… Al had on his favorite cowboy costume he had worn multiple times before and after Halloween. I remember Martin groaning every time Al came into view with it, I used to quietly giggle from the sidelines, but it was annoying at times, since, if he weren't a hero, he was a cowboy or something…
"Wow, Al! How did you get this picture, did Abigail give it to you?" I ask as I put the frame on the bed. Alfred shook his head as he picked up the picture. He had a sort of distant look in his eyes, as if he were reminiscing. He let out a happy sigh and ruffled my hair. It was as if we were back in high school again… He'd ruffle my hair when he'd say something sort of important or heart-felt, what a guy, right?
"I had been holding on to it since I left, you know, I wanted to keep something of us, and I really like this picture," he says, before going back into his bag pulling something out. I squealed like a bitch when I saw what he had in his arms. It was a stuffed polar bear. It was a bit smaller than the one I was given by Abigail, but it was more… in tact. The teddy I had as a child was completely worn, and when both eyes and the right ear came off, I begged her to try to patch it up for me but Martin just took the bear and said 'Marlin! You're too old to have a bear'. And the father of the year was…
Alfred handed me the bear and said, "I know it's not the same one you had as a kid, but I saw this when I was in a toy store, and I thought about you… that's how my journey to New Brunswick started."
"Al… you're turning into such a sap," I say with surprise tears running down on my cheeks. Alfred smiles as he wipes away my tears with his thumb. I don't think I've ever seen him so honest and open about something like this. The only thing I wonder is what happened to him. Wait… a toy store? I bet he went to that huge fancy one in Times Square. I've made it a goal to go there, you know… if Ivan ever decides he wants to adopt…
"Oh well, whatever! Mattie! You promised me a game of Uncle last night, and we haven't even started yet!" He said hopping off the bed. Alfred grabs my arms and literally drags me out of the room. So much for overexcitement, right? We go downstairs to the living room then he takes one of my handmade throw pillows and throws it at me. That is not what I made those for! "I'm surprised you're starting with something soft, Al," I mused as I picked up the pillow, throwing it back on the couch. He then stood behind me and put me in a headlock, which, quite frankly, surprised me.
"Say uncle baby brother," he laughed loudly as he moved on to give me the classic noogie. I pitifully struggled against him, but he had me in a very tight lock. Dammit! Did I get weaker overnight or something?
Line
I'm face first in the dirt of my front yard while Alfred is hovering over me, holding my head down. He's been trying to make me say uncle for the longest of time now, and I won't give up without a fight. "Say Uncle, Mattie, you know you're going to lose," he whispers in such a husky voice, it reminds me of—I can't let myself think of that! I try to look at his face from the corner of my eyes, and I see that his eyes are slightly dark, as though he took this game seriously when we stepped outside.
"I would rather eat dirt, idiot!" I yell as I struggle against him. I finally push him off then tackle him to the ground, if there's one thing he hates, it's being pushed down. "No eat the turf!" I say smooshing his face in the grass. I hear the idiot laughing against the dirt which makes me laugh. "Alfred! Say Uncle! Now!" I scream forcing his head down again.
I hear a muffled 'Uncle' from Al, and just like that, our game is done, with I, Matthew Williams, the victor! I dance in circles around Al who was still lying on the floor with a sour face. It's not my fault he lost… Okay, maybe it is. I help him up and smile. Alfred pouts and demands a consolation prize from me. I have absolutely no idea what that is, but I lead him back to the house and say, "I'll make you something to eat."
"Nope, you're making my bed!" he says as he run past me laughing boisterously. I stand at the door watching the idiot run up the stairs without a care in the world. How bad a brother would I be if I were to kick him out right now?
Ok, so I won't lie... I started this in June, then I got sooooooo lazy, and ended up working on it piece by piece, I'm sure if you read it you can tell. Though I'm a total wuss, I can take criticism like a man... ok, a little boy, but I will use it. I listen! And I love you. Happy V-day!
