Math class was getting really boring. Lizzie hadn't shown up yet, and I was starting to worry that Gilbert had jumped her on her way to class. I got the feeling she wasn't one to be late for anything, and navigating the halls shouldn't have been that difficult, considering she had a map of the school and everything. Maybe she had an errand to run for some or something. Hopefully that was it, and she wasn't lying dead in the storage closet after getting beaten up by Gil. It was probably him being crushed instead, though.

The teacher kept droning on about some algebraic equation we were supposed to be looking at in our books. I was half listening to her, half doodling tons of random stars on my paper, when I heard a tapping noise behind me. I turned and saw Lizzie's face peering into the window in the door. Good, she didn't get killed! I thought as I walked to the door to open it for her. The teacher heard the door click open and signaled for her to come to the front of the class. Lizzie went, reluctantly handing her a pass from the main office, then she sat in her seat next to me.

"Hey," I whispered to her. There wasn't a response. I frowned as she began to scrawl something out on a piece of paper. She folded it neatly and set in next to me. I opened it.

We need to talk after class.

I was a little bit confused. Was she really that hurt by what I had said that morning, about not wanting her to be my friend? What had I done? Had I hurt her feelings? I had too many emotions coming at me at once, so I jotted my response down.

Is this about this morning?

A second passed.

No, it's a little more important than that.

So why can't we talk about it now?

Because we're trying to learn.

But I don't understand it.

Then you should pay better attention.

… says the girl who started the note passing in the first place.

… says the guy who's letting it happen.

Whatever, this is boring.

I passed the paper back to her with a roll of the eyes. As I turned to face the teacher I caught a glimpse of something crimson on Lizzie's green shirt. Blood. It had to be. Who had she beat up this time? I couldn't wait to hear about Gilbert getting mauled by a girl again. He deserved every bit of what little punishment he got.

Lizzie was staring. But not at the teacher, to the other side of the room at some kid… Roderich? Why was she looking at him, of all people? That guy was a stuck up prick if you ever saw one. It wasn't like he couldn't be nice or anything, but he was just so arrogant it made you want to puke. I hated arrogant people, because they always got the best grades on everything and pushed people like me out of the way, even if it wasn't intentional. I didn't see why Lizzie was drooling all over the place.

So Lizzie was all google-eyed, looking like a chameleon going cross-eyed over that guy, until the bell rang. I swear, she was so distracted that she jumped nearly five feet off the ground when it sounded. As she grabbed her stuff from off the table she glanced my way. It was obvious that she had been serious about talking after class, because she grabbed my arm and practically dragged me out into the hall. She finally stopped at a little indent in the wall, and pulled me inside.

"What are you trying to do?" I protested. Lizzie gave me a glare and I shut up pretty fast.

"Okay, Alfred. What kind of stunt are you trying to pull with your brother?"

Well, crap.

"I'm not trying to pull anything," I lied. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lizzie's face flushed a bright red as she became even angrier. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. Matthew told me everything about your little hero complex, and it's not exactly helping him."

What? Matthew had told? I thought I could trust him with a secret. Now she knew everything about me protecting him, pretending to be him, lying about not only his, but my sexuality. He was going to get it when I saw him, stupid kid. This was going to be hurting him, not me.

Lizzie raised an eyebrow. "You averted your gaze, so now it's completely obvious you're lying. I guess I'm right, aren't I?"

I looked back up at her, starting to tremble. "C-can't we discuss this somewhere else?" I muttered.

"No, we can't!" she shouted. A few heads turned in our direction and I tensed up. She sighed. "We are discussing this here," she hissed. "And we are discussing this now. Do you know where I found your brother?"

"I'm not a mind reader-"

A strong hand grabbed my shirt and pulled me towards her. "Don't get smart with me. Matthew was curled in a fetal position in the woodshop room with blood streaming from his nose. Sound pleasant, Al?"

I felt the blood rush from my face. "Oh God…" was all I could say. The grip was released on me. "Oh God… where is he now?"

"I took him to the office. He's on his way home right now-"

"Home!?" Nothing good could come of this now. Nothing.

Lizzie looked insulted. "Well, of course! I'm not letting him walk around school with a bloody nose all day! People are going to question him!"

"But… no, Lizzie. You shouldn't have."

"Thanks," she said bitterly, not noting the seriousness.

"No, you really shouldn't have. Who… do you know who the office called?"

"Your father-"

"Shit!" I muttered. Lizzie gave me an angry look. "Sorry. But this is bad. Like, seriously bad."

"Why?"

"You don't know my dad, Lizzie. Mattie's going to die, I swear."

"Why, is he strict?"

I winced. I couldn't just explain it, but I couldn't stand having her not know things. This was too confusing. "You… you could say that."

"Worthless. God, you're so worthless."

Matthew shrunk back into the foyer, his head hung low. His father sat at the dining room table, muttering bitterly to himself while he worked. A flask hung in his right hand, dangling dangerously close to his fingers.

"I-I really am sorry, dad," Matthew squeaked out. Maybe this time an apology would help. It was worth a shot. Even if he was drunk again, the man could still reason a little bit.

The man stood up from the table, the chair screeching as it was forcibly pushed backward. "Oh, you're sorry," he mocked. "Well, you've been 'sorry' for the past… oh, fifteen years now. And guess what? It's never really worked for you, has it?"

"Well-" Matthew stopped as his father walked toward him, looking angrier than ever.

"You should be able to protect yourself by now!" his father shouted. "You're nearly a man! But no, I shouldn't say that. You have your little boyfriend, don't you? Do you just rely on him all the time, too? "

He felt himself grow red and shrunk back even further. "Dad, please don't bring Ivan into the conversation…" he whispered.

"Well, I just did. That kid is what's causing you to be a total wuss and not protect yourself." He was in Matthew's face now, with the boy trying to be as defiant as he knew how to be.

"Just because I love him doesn't mean-"

The response was a loud smack on the face. Now his cheek was red and stinging as his father went on with his rant. "Love him? Love this and love that, it's all you gay guys ever talk about! I'm done with it, you hear? You are not dating that kid any longer. It's making you a pansy, and that's the last thing I want. I'm not going to be known as the fag's father. It's sick."

His father stopped and turned, tired from the shouting he had done. Matthew found this to be the perfect opportunity to escape his father's rage. He tried to sneak upstairs quietly and made it to his room. The door clicked shut behind him, and Matthew locked it, just to be safe. He leapt onto his bed and buried his face in the pillow. At least it wasn't as bad as last time. Last time there was blood. It was only a small smack this time. He raised a hand to his cheek. It was still stinging where he had been struck. His heart wrenched inside of him as he felt tears beginning to form. It wasn't like other kids didn't have to deal with this sometimes. But it was a constant pattern, a constant cycle for him. Someday he would be able to get out of it. But right now, it was too dark to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, with his father's curses and loud banging on the door disturbing the needed silence.

A/N: Sorry for the slow updates, it's been pretty busy lately. Hopefully thanksgiving break will give me a chance to write a little more. Thank you for reviewing, by the way, it's always appreciated!