A/N: Oh gosh guys, I am SO. SORRY. It's been forever and I feel really bad...D: but, I'm back! I promise the next updates will be sooner. I'm going for no delays over a month from now on. Sorry again...and thank you so much! I can't believe people actually read this! ^.^ I appreciate every fave, follow, and review! Thank you guys so much for hanging in there with me!
As usual, I don't own Hetalia, or any of the characters, or the random McDonalds they went to. Or any of them, actually. And your feedback is really important! Reviews make my day~! Plus, it's nice to know what I'm doing right (or wrong). Anyway! Most people probably aren't even reading this, so on with the story:
By the time they had both finished their food and stood to leave, Matthew had warmed up to Gilbert quite a bit. He bumped the albino's shoulder playfully as they exited the building. "So..." He murmured, careful to raise his voice slightly in order to be heard.
Gil turned to him, smiling. When was the quiet blond going to realize that he could hear him no matter how quietly he spoke? "Yeah?"
"So, was this, like, a 'date'?" He asked, using the air quotes that Alfred peppered his conversation with and raising his eyebrows slightly.
"N-no!" Gil answered, too quickly. "I-I mean, no... I, I don't, I don't think so, um..." there was an unmistakable pink tinge to his cheeks as he hurried to his car and got in the drivers seat. Matthew followed quietly, smiling a small, amused, slightly flattered smile.
Gilbert's thought raced as he began driving back to the campus. Did Matthew want it to be a date? He glanced over at the blond nervously to find him staring calmly out the window, a tiny smile still brightening his face. He looked so composed...so serene...so beautiful-WoahWoahWoahWoahWoah! Where did that come from?! No. He's probably not even interested. Or maybe...Gilbert stole another sidelong glance. This time, Matthew turned and directed a smile at him. The simple action caused Gil to quickly look away and intensely focus on the road ahead of him, the pink in his cheeks intensifying. Matthew grinned shyly, gazing back out the window and feeling extremely happy; he was sure he couldn't have wiped the smile off his face if he tried. Not only did Gilbert see him, he paid the quiet blond more attention than anyone had in years, and he hadn't so much as inquired after Alfred's health! The entire conversation had been the two of them; their interests, the upcoming semester, their experiences and stories. The only thing that could've made it better would be if he could've called it an actual date...maybe someday soon.
Gilbert made a decision as soon as he parked the car that he was going to talk to Francis. Usually this was a last resort, but he could actually give good advise at times. And Gilbert was certainly in need of advice. So, he stammered some excuse for leaving Matthew in the dorm after they returned, and headed toward his French friend's room.
When he arrived at Francis's dormitory and knocked loudly, the door creaked open just a few inches, a clear blue eye peering out suspiciously. "Ah! Mon ami, do come in." Francis exclaimed, opening the door and smiling a wide, rather nervous-looking smile. Gil stepped in warily, stopping short in the doorway. The room was completely trashed. Random objects were strewn everywhere, and the couch had been overturned.
"What the hell happened, Francis?!"He exclaimed, staring openly at the disaster zone before him.
"Ah...I...met my roommate..." The blond replied sheepishly.
"Oh." Gilbert said, as if that explained everything. It didn't. "Um...I came to talk to you about something, but if now's not a good time..." He trailed off, backing toward the doorway slowly, but Francis was having none of that. He pushed the couch back upright and sat down, patting the spot next to him nonchalantly. "Do have a seat, Gil. What can I help you with~?"
Swallowing nervously, Gilbert sat down, sighing. "Well, Mattie-uh, Matthew and I just got back from lunch-"
Francis interrupted excitedly. "Ah! A first date so soon?! I'm so glad! We must begin the wedding preparations, yes?"
The other man was quick to interrupt him. "No! No...well...I'm not sure..." He frowned confusedly.
Francis leaned forward and patted the other's knee comfortingly. "Oh, mom ami...what happened? You can tell big brother Francis~..."
At any other time, Gilbert would have laughed, at least a little, but now he was just frustrated. "I don't know!" He nearly yelled.
Francis was immediately serious. Gil almost never raised his voice, but when he did, he meant business.
"It's just...I don't know. He asked...if it counted as a date..." He hesitated.
"And what did you say...?" Francis questioned, gently but impatiently.
"I...I really don't remember...but, it's not important-"
"Tell me everything anyway, whether you think it's important or not." Francis insisted, eyes rivited on his friend.
Gilbert took a deep breath. "Okay."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Gilbert departed at the door, still a bit flushed, Matthew was a bit concerned, but that was mostly overridden by more positive emotions. He entered the room and flopped onto his pile of beanbag chairs and blankets happily, in keeping with a childhood habit. Burying himself under a heavy comforter, he allowed himself a giggle. Gilbert was too cute sometimes. His friend, Francis, who had defended Matthew some last year, had been considered an expert on matters of the heart. Perhaps Matthew would talk to him later.
Matthew woke up to the sound of someone pounding on the door. Herubbed his eyes and sat up sleepily. Had Gilbert forgotten his key? The blond wandered over to the door and opened it, smoothing his hair a bit. The person stepped in immediately, seeming right at home.
"Oh, hi Francis, I wasn't expecting you..." Matthew trailed off uncertainly, a bit embarrassed.
"Ah, it's alright, mon ami! I was not expecting to drop by either, but I thought I'd step in to chat if you weren't busy." He smiled sweetly, and Matthew sat on the bed slowly.
"Okay..."
Francis sighed dramatically. Matthew was really not using his natural beauty to his advantage. He sat with his shoulders curled a bit, and kept his head down. He always seemed to look as though he was trying to fold up as small as possible. Francis had to admit, however, that he had done well with his hair. It was natural, not overdone but not neglected. Contacts would be a good idea, Francis concluded, because his eyes were a perfect color, but hidden under his glasses. Though the glasses were a good choice for his face shape and even his demeanor. Caught up in his fashion observations, Francis failed to realize that he was staring. Matthew fidgeted uncomfortably. "I-is something wrong...?" he questioned timidly.
"Oh! No, no. My apologies, mon cher, I was just thinking how well your glasses compliment your face. But thats not what I'm here about."
"Ah, thanks, I guess...wh-what is it, then?"
"Its about Gilbert." Francis answered matter-of-factly.
"O-oh..." Matthew murmured. "Um...is something wrong?" surely nothing had happened since he saw him last...
Francis just smiled coyly and got right to the point. "How was your date?"
"Um, well, it-it wasn't a date, exactly..." he said quickly, a smile pulling at his lips all the same. Francis grinned knowingly.
"Ah, I see~...Well, he said you'd asked..."
Matthew chuckled softly. "Yeah...he got all flustered...it was cute." He muttered the last part almost inaudibly, trailing off shyly.
Francis grinned and propped his chin in his palm. "Did you want it to be~?" He asked, a teasing glint in his blue eyes.
Matthew hesitated. "...you'll tell him everything I say..." He said warily. He would rather Gil think he wasn't interested than ignore him.
"Mon cher!" Francis exclaimed, feigning hurt. "Anything you say to me is spoken in complete confidence. Trust me." He leaned forward confidentially, turning his famously irresistable pout on the other blond.
Matthew just rolled his eyes. "Well...I wouldn't mind..." He murmured, a smile tugging at his lips.
Francis grinned triumphantly. "I see~" He winked, then got up and headed for the door. "Well, it was nice talking to you, Matthew. Maybe we can do it again sometime~?" He smiled flirtatiously and disappeared, leaving Matthew to wonder what on earth had just happened.
"Um...okay...uh." He closed the door and stood there for a minute, letting the conversation sink in. Then he covered his blushing face with his hands and quickly dove into a textbook to avoid having to think about a certain albino roommate.
