I picked up my backpack and rushed to get my car keys, holding a piece of toast in my mouth. I was late for the last day of school, That was something I couldn't afford to do. Good attendance helps with getting into a college over others with the same grade point average people say. I hope they're right, because I'd need a scholarship in order to ever get close to college. I pulled out of the driveway and started on the drive to school. It would finally over today, juggling a job and school with my dad not being well and Alfred barely able to support himself, let alone me with his boss, Arthur, working him to the bone for way not enough, but Alfred refuses to quit. I don't know why.

I was happy to be graduating, but sad that Gil couldn't be there. He had headed off to college a year before and could only visit me during holidays. It was a kind of long distance relationship, but we made it work. I smiled to myself as I drove nearer to the school, after today I would have the qualifications for a real job, no more of this minimum wage bull-shit. I could help Alfred pay for Dad's meds. I could finally be useful maybe Al could finally go off to college if I could make enough to support Dad and I. Just maybe...

I pulled into the parking lot. No surprises in me not finding a space. After all, teens and parents alike were here today. Probably the reason I had seen cars parked up the block. I sighed and turned out of the lot to find a place to park, ending up about three blocks away. It was annoying, to say the least. I finally reached the school and got to my homeroom just as the bell rang. My teacher looked at me and asked, "No parking?" I shook my head. "I'll let you off then." I thanked him and found my seat next to my one real friend besides Gil, Ivan.

"That was really close, Matvey." Ivan laughed in his strong Russian accent.

"Well you're the one who didn't remind me to wake up. I had to work overtime last night!" I exclaimed crossly.

Ivan still laughed. It brought a smile to my face, it was nice to be around someone with a sense of humor. With Gil away, Ivan was the only person I could really talk to. "Are you ready for today?" I nodded and Ivan smiled at me, "I think you've worked harder than anyone else to get here." He was probably right. I had overall either B's or A's and mostly good attendance. For working two part time jobs, that was pretty good. Great, really. I was proud of myself. "I'm sure Gilbert would be here if he could." Ivan was pretty good at reading my face. He knew more about me than anyone else.

"I know, and I want him to get a good education, it's okay that he couldn't come." I smiled. Ivan didn't believe me for a second, I could tell, but he said nothing.

"Matthew Williams." I took a deep breath and walked up the short stairs onto the stage, my graduation robes wafting around my legs. The principal and vice principal stood side by side next to the podium. One held my diploma. I reached out to shake the vice principal's hand. She smiled at me. Then came the principal. As we shook, he handed me my high school diploma. It was mine. It was finally true. I had passed high school. I smiled as the auditorium cheered and stepped off the stage to make room for the next person. As I started back to my seat someone grabbed me from behind and I squeaked in surprise.

"You're awesome, Mattie." I felt tears in my eyes as the arms released me and I turned around to see Gil. I leaped into his open arms and he spun me around, laughing and grinning that grin I loved. We stopped spinning and I buried my face in his chest.

"I thought you weren't coming."

"Ivan and I decided to surprise you." I was happy they had finally agreed on something. It wasn't very fun when your only two friends, for some unknown reason, hated each other. I don't think they even remembered why they hated each other, at this point it was just something they did. "I'll meet you at your house after the ceremony, okay? I doubt we could find each other when this whole crowd is leaving." Gil let me go and went to find a place in the stands while I went back to my seat. I waited anxiously through the rest of the ceremony, I couldn't wait to catch up with Gil back at my house, I hadn't seen him in like... two months. I smiled. So much had happened since that day... getting close to three years ago now. The day he'd asked me to go out with him.

I got a text a while before the ceremony ended, but decided not to check it. When we were all finally allowed to leave, I pulled out my phone and stared at th screen.

'Alfred- Hey Matthew, guess what? As a graduation present I bought you a new mattress, I know the one you have now is horrible, so no need to thank me! Also, as an added bonus, I'll get rid of your old one for you. From your awesome older brother.'

I broke into a run, trying to get to my car. I had never taken my old journal out from under my mattress. Anything that ever seemed at all secret about my, my brother wanted to know. Finding a journal would be like a gold mine for him, and I had no doubt in my mind that he would read it the second he found it. I cursed as I failed several times to start my car until I finally got it to run and started towards my house. The traffic was horrible. I hit my head repeatedly on the steering wheel. I just needed to get there before Gil did...

When I reached my house I left my car running in the street. Gil's car was already there and the front door was open. I heard something smash and ran into the house.

"YOU FUCKER!" I found them in the kitchen, rolling around on the floor, Gilbert and my brother. "YOU RAPED MY LITTLE BROTHER YOU SICK BASTARD!" There were shards of glass on the ground from a broken glass that had been knocked off the table, both of them were covered with little cuts and nicks in their clothes and skin, Gil's eye was already starting to bruise. Alfred pinned Gil to the ground and started punching him, over and over. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Gil screamed, trying to free himself.

"Stop it, Alfred!" I ran up and grabbed my brother's arm, pulling him away.

"Let me go, Matthew." There was a dark tone in his voice.

"No." I held firmly to his arm, hugging it to my chest. "Stop hurting him."

"He raped you! He hurt you, so why shouldn't I return the favor?" Alfred growled, glaring at Gilbert, who was still sitting on the floor with his hand to his bleeding nose.

"I think he broke my nose." Gilbert exclaimed.

"You deserved it!" Alfred snapped back.

"Stop it!" I yelled. Alfred looked hurt.

"Why didn't you tell me, Matthew? Why the hell wouldn't you tell me, I'm your brother!"

"This is why!" I gestured to Gil and the mess around the kitchen, "I didn't want people to get hurt!"

"But I-"

"Why the fuck couldn't you just respect my privacy, hunh? Tell me! I didn't want you to be the hero this time, Alfred!"

My brother yanked his arm away from me and growled, "Fine. Maybe next time I'll just let you suffer on your own. Or maybe even die. Who knows? Happy graduation, Matthew." He spat my name out like acid and stalked away up the stairs.

I sighed then heard Gil behind me, "Matthew... what was he talking about? What were you talking about?"

"He- he was lying-"

Gilbert cut me off, "You seemed to believe him." I hung my head to avoid looking into his eyes. I backed into the wall and slowly slid to the floor. I put my head in my hands and started to sob. I should have guessed that things would fall apart eventually. It would have happened at some point. If Alfred hadn't found the journal, than someone else. I should have come clean to Gil the moment he woke up that Christmas morning, not tried to hide it for over three years. I heard Gilbert shuffle over to me, then a hand on my shoulder. "Tell me, Matthew."

I wiped away my tears and looked up into Gilbert's pleading eyes. "Do you remember the day of the Christmas outing, the first year that you met me?"

"Vaguely."

"It was then that... you... you got drunk and..." I considered lying for a moment, then saw Gil's face. He was truly trying to understand what was going on. "I wrote it in my journal, my head told me I had to, and that's why Alfred could find it and he tried to hurt you because... You raped me." Gilbert was silent. He only stared at me. "...Gilbert?"

"That's why... the blood in the car... your glasses were broken... you were hurt... I did all that? But why didn't you tell me? Why weren't you angry with me? Why aren't you angry with me? Why don't you hate me and never want to see my face again?" He asked.

"Because, even back then, I was in love with you. When you said you couldn't remember what happened I thought I could pretend it had never happened, things could stay the same and you wouldn't get in trouble. I guess I was wrong." I buried my face in his neck and cried. He slowly put his arms around me and held me tight to his chest.

"It's okay, Matthew, it's alright." He muttered, "You're okay and that's all that matters to me." We stayed that way for a long time, with me in his arms and him lending me a shoulder to cry on.

Finally, I had let go of the secret that had been haunting me for the past three and a half years. Gilbert didn't mind that I had kept it a secret from him, everything was alright.

I backed away from the kitchen and ran out the open front door again. I laughed as I slowed to a walk. Well this is an interesting predicament, things would be pretty interesting if this news ever got out... I left the house behind, no one noticing me arrive or leave. My destination? The police station. It was time for revenge on that white haired bastard.

So... Can anybody guess who's POV that last part belonged to? Anyways, this part took a bit longer than usual for me to write, I knew that Alfred had to find out at some point, but beyond that I just kind of winged this chapter. Whatever, tell me what you think? Reviews are always appreciated and thanks to my first reviewer and all the people who've put this story in their favorites and alerts, knowing that people are reading it is what keeps all these updates coming, eh? So yeah. Any flamers will be sold to the Russians, be keeping a look out for the next chapter!