"Th-thank you," he murmured. He continued to cling to Lars, feeling safer the closer he was to him. "Thank you…f-for saving my life…"

Lars grunted. "Don't…say that. I'm…sure you would have been fine without my help…"

He shook his head against his chest. "N-No…You saved me…I know you did…"

"…Yeah, well…just don't go passing out over the edges of buildings anymore."

"Am I still a…an uncoordinated…piece of…?"

Lars shook his head. "No. Sorry…I didn't mean it. I shouldn't have said that. I was just startled."

Despite being the last thing he wanted to do right now, he slowly thrusted himself away from Lars, rubbing his eyes. Matthew mutely stared at him, a longing desire hypnotizing him.

Lars couldn't take this odd behavior anymore. "Is there something you want to tell me?" he demanded. "It must be important if you nearly killed yourself over it."

Matthew nodded sadly. "Y-Yeah…I've…been meaning to-to tell you for a while, but…I either lost m-my nerve or got d-distracted…" He began to cry again, gently sobbing with his head hung low. "L-Lars, I…I love you. I-I understand if-if you don't feel the same, I-I just…just thought you should know…I-I think about you all the time, a-and when you're with me, my heart pounds until the point when I just can't stand it. Y-You're so talented and a-amazing and…and I'm just…b-boring…I-I…" His words drabbled off into nonsense, the clearness of his words dissolving.

Then something pressed against Matthew's face, cutting off his incomprehensible blabbering. He stared, confused, and was struck with motionlessness. Why is…Lars' face…so close to mine? His eyes widened.

Lars rested his hand against the side of Matthew's head, parting his lips just slightly over Matthew's. Something strange and unfamiliar came over him in that moment. He wanted Matthew to just shut up…but…he wanted to embrace him as well. To let him know he was safe. He shut his eyes, pulling Matthew close. These conflicted, unusual emotions that he got when Matthew was around…were these the same things Matthew was experiencing? He held his breath, hearing his heart pounding in his ears.

Matthew could have sworn there were fireworks lighting up the night behind him, though it may have just been the city lights illuminating the room. The world could have been ending, and he would have hardly given the Earth as much as a final glance. He was captured in Lars' spell. His lips pinched together against Lars'.

Their lips made a light smack sound as Lars pulled away, leaving Matthew leaning forward with a dazed air. Matthew's half-lidded eyes slowly gazed up at Lars, cheeks now bright red rather than pale.

Lars quickly turned away and apologized. "Sorry. That…probably wasn't the right thing to do."

"It's okay," Matthew cooed. A calm smile bent his lips. He giggled shyly and looked down. "…I liked it…" His eyes glistened. "…Does that mean…you…?"

Lars nervously cleared his throat. "…Y-uh…Yeah…"

"Say it then," Matthew ordered cutely.

"S-Say what?" he asked obliviously.

"Say that you like me!"

Lars huffed. "Fine…I…appreciate…"

"Nooo. Say, 'Matthew, I like you.'"

Lars glared at the ceiling, blushing with embarrassment. He grumbled nervous nothings to himself. What did I get myself into? He rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to Matthew and sighed. "Matthew…"

Matthew ushered him to continue. "Yes?" he asked innocently.

"…I…really like you."

Matthew had never smiled so brightly before. He launched himself back into Lars' arms with an excited squeal that made Lars flinch. Matthew laughed with absolute joy, resting his face in the crook of Lars' neck. Lars awkwardly patted Matthew's back. "Alright, that's enough," he murmured, shoving him away, only to have Matthew attach back to him like a magnet. He sighed. "Come on, Matt…"

Matthew giggled and looked up at him. "'Matt'? Is that my nickname now?" Matthew looked down, the loud roar of Lars' stomach enough to frighten him. "Oh! I just remembered!" He jumped to his feet, stumbling through the room. "I hope supper didn't burn!" Stars rushed before Matthew's eyes. He stood still and held his head, propping his other arm against his bedside table. "I-I stood up too fast…"

"You need to calm down," Lars grumbled, scooping Matthew into his arms. "Just be quiet for a few minutes."

Matthew enfolded his arms around Lars' neck, nodding. Lars carried him downstairs, Matthew's eyes never leaving Lars' face. Lars kept a blank stare while watching his step down the stairway. He had a sense of relief. Matthew was the only thing that made him feel human, or of some worth. Now, with their feelings for one another revealed, Lars had no idea how to respond. Would he have to…date Matthew now? Never having been in a real relationship before, he was totally lost. Sure, there were some girls that thought they loved him. They swooned over his ability to paint and fanned themselves at his romantic words. Unfortunately, he proved them wrong. It never lasted with any of them. He glanced down at Matthew, still longingly staring up at him. He rolled his eyes and looked away again, making Matthew giggle.

He set Matthew down once they entered the kitchen. Matthew scurried to the stove and hurriedly checked their supper. "Phew. Just in time."

***AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Ten chapters! :D Thanks so much to my followers and everyone else reading my story! I hope you carry on until the ending! I love reviews, so please feel free to do so! I get so excited when I see I have a new follower/review. It means a lot. Thanks again! ***