Matthew wasn't entirely sure what it was or how to describe it, but suddenly being around Alfred felt different. As they sat next to each other on the couch, he found it was hard to concentrate on the actual game, even as he went through the motions of being a total hockey nut. It was just hard to focus when Alfred was right there next to him, all smiles and energy, red faced with excitement and breathing in quick shallow breaths. His mind was going to all the wrong places.
When Alfred had pulled him into a headlock and laughed, Matthew struggled to keep from relaxing into his hold. When his struggles escalated into an otherwise typical wrestling match that pushed up Alfred's jersey, (revealing just a bit of the tanned skin underneath), he knew he had to get out of the room.
As he flipped the burgers in the pan, he wondered if it was this hard for Alfred.
Probably not. Aside from being a little more touchy-feely than usual (or maybe that was just his mind playing tricks on him), he didn't seem nearly as affected by all this as Matthew was. It was kind of surprising, really, that he hadn't tried anything yet. Well, ok. He had sent the roses that morning. But other than that, he was just really focused on the game today.
Matthew frowned a bit as he put a burger for Alfred on its bun. He hadn't already given up, had he? He sighed and reached for the ketchup as a loud yell came from the living room.
"GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL! In your face!" The Devils must be staging a comeback. It was a little late in the game for that though; there were only a few minutes left.
He looked down at the burger, and couldn't help but smile a bit. His mind may be somewhere else, but that didn't stop him from writing a confession of his own on Alfred's burger in ketchup. He placed the bun top beside the burger on the plate, grabbed Alfred's piss-er, beer, and brought both out to the living room.
"Hey Mattie! You almost done in there? The game's almost over! You're gonna miss the best part!"
Matthew smiled as he walked over and set the plate and beer down in front of him.
"Yeah, I'm done." He bit the inside of his cheek as Alfred turned to the food.
Except he wasn't actually looking at it. He was watching the screen as he took the bun, placing it on top of the burger, and devoured it quickly. As Matthew watched in disbelief, he could only think of all Alfred's efforts that he had thwarted on purpose.
Well, damn. He'd been a total asshole.
