People. Ugh. School. Ugh. Life. Ugh.

I'm so sorry this took so long to get out. I really wrote most of it today during class. I've just been so busy that I honestly haven't had a moment to work on this. But never fear! NaNoWriMo started yesterday and maybe I'll try to get 50000 words out of this this month. Maybe. Don't hold me to it.

Anyway, enjoy! There will be more Ivan next chapter ;)

Alfred opened his eyes slowly as a beeping filled the room, a sound unfamiliar. He blinked, propping himself up on his elbows with great effort. The beeping was coming from some place to his right, low down. All Alfred could think was that he had to get it to stop. As quickly as physically possible.

There was a rustle and a click, and the beeping was gone. Alfred glanced blearily at the door, half expecting his mother to be there. But no. The room was empty...unless...

"Morning, Al," a light voice drifted up over the bed. Alfred blinked at him, vision blurry. Why was there someone in his room? And on the floor, no less. And how did they know his name?

"Who're you?" he asked, more in bewilderment than anything else. The boy on the floor sighed.

"It's Matthew, Al. Mattie?" Alfred looked lost. "Not this again," he continued in exasperation.

And then it all started coming back. Alfred's mouth opened a little, forming an "o." Matthew. Cousin. Staying over. Right. After the events of the day before Alfred had forgotten and apparently (according to what Matt had said) this wasn't the first time. Oh well.

"So, uh, you gonna go out with Mom again?" Alfred asked, sitting up on the side of the bed.

"I think I'll just stay home," Matthew said, shaking his head.

"You could probably come to school. Chill with me during lunch or something," Alfred offered. Matthew looked unsure.

"Are you sure that's okay?" he asked, finally sitting up. Alfred nodded.

"Why not? It's not like anyone'd notice or anything," Alfred explained. Matthew looked as though he was about to speak but then he closed his mouth. He looked down, nodding a bit grimly.

"Yeah, you're right."

It took Alfred a moment to realize what he'd said. "No, man, I didn't mean it like that," he corrected, leaning forward. "I just meant that, like, they wouldn't notice anybody. Like it doesn't matter." Matthew nodded again. "Come on, you know I remember you."

"Not this morning," Matthew sighed, biting his lip.

"What happened to 'Alfred can't be held accountable for anything in the morning?'" Alfred asked, trying to make a joke. Matthew looked up, a mirthful grin on his face. Alfred's jaw dropped.

"Just joking," Matthew said slyly.

"I hate you sometimes," Alfred said. "I was really worried there!" He glared.

Matthew laughed. "Offer still up?" he asked.

"Whatever," Alfred pouted, crossing his arms. "I'm not so sure now."

"Then I'll stalk you there," Matthew affirmed, flattening his messy bedhead. Well, Alfred assumed it was messy. He wasn't really blessed with 20/20 vision.

"Matt. Glasses," Alfred said, pretending to be blind as he pawed around the bed.

"Here, Helen," Matthew said, handing Alfred his glasses. Alfred took them quickly, a look of horror plastered on his face.

"Matthew!" he scolded, "That's not cool!"

Mattie grinned.

Ah, how nice to be among friends.

"So, how are you and that Sunflower girl going?" Matthew asked from within the bathroom, a few minutes later. Alfred stopped what he was doing, shirt halfway up his arms and eyes wide. Oh yeah. Her.

This was gonna be an awesome day.

"Laaaaaa~!"

Alfred spun around the kitchen, singing as high as he could and clutching his phone in his hands. His mother didn't pay much attention—he'd been doing this for the past half hour or so. She'd decided to let it cool off before she asked him what exactly was going on.

"Alfred," she tried.

There was no response. Alfred spun around again, grinning more widely than she'd ever seen before. He flipped open his phone, whirling to a stop as he hit the counter. He leaned against it as he started to type in a quick message.

So frickn excited. When?

"Alfred?" his mother tried again, a bit louder.

"Huh?" His eyes snapped up, widening. It was as though he hadn't even noticed her there.

"What's up?"

His mouth opened for a moment before he smiled and pushed off from the counter. He started spinning again. "Nothiiiiing!" he sang, his phone clicking as it snapped shut again.

"So you expect me—" his mother started, realizing that her son wasn't listening. She reached forward, catching him mid-spin. His eyes flew open as he found himself not at all where he'd been a moment before. He looked up at his mother, his head tilting back even more than usual with the awkward position. "So you expect me to believe that?" she continued, raising an eyebrow.

He blinked before nodding. She sighed, shaking her head. "It'll take a little more than that."

Alfred broke out of the mother-hold. "Um, so it's kind of a long story," he said, looking considerably less excited than before.

"And you were spinning around the kitchen. I have time."

Alfred took a deep breath. "Um, okay. But you gotta tell me something too."

"We'll jump that hurdle when we get to it. Talk."

"Right," Alfred started, pocketing his phone. "So, um, there's this girl. Only, I haven't really…met her? Per se. But I know she's real and stuff because she gave me a bunch of notes and put this huge banner on the wall saying how much she liked me and stuff. And so we've been texting and she said that pretty soon I'm gonna be able to meet her so…I was kind of excited?"

Alfred's mother raised her eyebrows as the story went on, and as Alfred's voice peaked a little at the end in question she smiled. "Well then. It looks like someone has a secret admirer."

"Not secret much longer," Alfred said proudly, grinning. He started bopping back and forth to some unheard song, dancing a little in place. His mother smiled fondly.

"Good luck."

"Wai-wai-wait," Alfred said, holding up a finger. "You said you'd answer me now."

His mother crossed her arms. "Right. Ask away, then."

"Why were you asking all those questions about Arthur?" Alfred was considerably less excited now, more anxious than anything. He had to make sure his idea of the origin of his mother's curiosity was wrong.

"No reason," she answered nonchalantly. "Just wondering."

"Nope. That doesn't work on me anymore."

"I just thought I'd seen him before."

"Where?"

"Nowhere in particular. Just around."

"Then why did you care what color his eyes were?"

"Look, Alfred," she said, "I don't know what you're thinking but whatever it is you're wrong."

Alfred's eyebrows furrowed. "And how do you know that?"

"Because I'm your mother. I know you."

"But he's only, like, in high school."

Alfred's mother looked as though she was about to say something but then she stopped. For a moment she watched Alfred strangely. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean…if you…you know what I mean."

"I don't think I do."

Ah, dammit. She was going to make him say it, wasn't she? "Like, if you…um…and him…and then you didn't know who he was…but he's gay, so…"

Alfred's mother stared at her son, mouth falling open. "You think I…you think I slept with him?"

It sounded even worse when she said it than when Alfred had thought it. "…well, y'know. Not really. It was just a…nothing…"

"Alfred," his mother scolded. "I don't appreciate that."

"Um, I know," he said, shrinking under her gaze. "I was just…but why won't you tell me?"

She faltered for a second but then quickly regained her stern glare. "Because there's nothing to tell."

Alfred looked down, kicking the floor a little. His whole good mood from before was gone. "Right."

"Now, you should get ready. It's almost time for school."

Alfred nodded dumbly before turning and leaving the kitchen. However many times he'd ever told himself to stand up for himself he still wasn't very good at it. Even to his own mother (or, rather especially to his own mother) he cowered and let people yell at him. He supposed he should stop.

Alfred grabbed his backpack from the living room and slung it over his shoulder. He was already going to be a little late for class, but since it was only gym he'd be okay. He missed it a lot anyway, and being a little late to one class wouldn't have much effect on his grade. Much.

"M'going," he called back as he opened the front door, hopping out onto the steps. Then he started on his way, shoulders shrugged up high. He made sure it really looked like he was skulking as he passed the kitchen window, hoping his mother would see. She usually looked outside to watch him go.

There was a minute or so of silent walking before Alfred heard the footsteps behind him. He glanced back.

"Alfred!" the voice that had become all-too familiar called to him. He stopped, waiting for Ivan to catch up. It would be an understatement to say he was surprised, but there'd been so much surprise lately that this was really nothing.

"I didn't know you walked this way," Alfred said, in lieu of small talk. They continued up the sidewalk.

"I don't," Ivan said. "I usually drive. But сестра took the car and so I am here." He smiled lightly.

"Sucks for you," Alfred said sympathetically. "I just gotta walk every day. 'Cause I can't drive yet."

"You will learn," Ivan said. Alfred shrugged. Ivan stared at him for a moment. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing," Alfred said. "My mom. She was all mad cause I thought she slept with this guy only she didn't." Ivan snorted out a laugh, Alfred turning to him immediately in anger. "What's so funny?"

"The way you phrased that was interesting," Ivan answered mirthfully. "I have never heard that before."

"Whatever," Alfred said. It wasn't really working and Ivan laughed again.

"Anything else interesting happen?" Ivan asked, raising his eyebrows inquisitively. "See anything interesting…talk to any interesting people…learn anything new?"

Oh, right. Sunflower. Sunflower! "Actually, I was talking to this one person and…"

But wait. This was Ivan. Ivan the one who used to make Alfred feel like shit. Ivan the one who was scary. Ivan the one who was creepy. And even if they were starting to become friends, kind of, Alfred wasn't sure if Sunflower was something he should share.

"And?" Ivan prompted. Alfred shrugged.

"Nothing. Just talking to this one girl."

"Oh," Ivan said, face a bit darker than before. "And who would that be?"

"Um…nobody. Just some person I was talking to. Nothing big."

Ivan nodded. "And how are you talking to this person?"

"Texting."

Immediately Ivan's persona changed. He smiled, seeming to almost lift up. "Do you like this person?"

"Yeah, kinda."

Ivan's happiness was apparent now. He was weird, what with his constant mood swings. And weird questions. Though not as weird as his mother's, Alfred had to concede. But the margin was thin.

"I am happy for you," Ivan said, gazing wistfully ahead. "Good luck."

"I hope so. Hey, you think she's, like, hot and stuff?"

"Could be," Ivan said, before rethinking it. "Yes. Most definitely." He flashed a really uncharacteristic smile in Alfred's direction. If the shorter boy hadn't known better he'd have thought there was a skip in Ivan's step.

Strange.

"Yo! Alfie!"

Alfred jumped at the sound, shoving his backpack into his locker as quickly as possible. Calls like that were usually followed by less savory things, like getting tripped or pushed into stuff. He clenched his jaw in preparation, but the violence never came.

Instead, he turned to see Gilbert jogging toward him, backpack lazily slung over a bony shoulder. Alfred froze. Gilbert. Oh shit. Gilbert. The Gilbert. The one who was…with…on the rock…and…oh crap. Alfred couldn't let him know that he knew about Ms. Héderváry. Bad things would happen. Bad, bad things. Gilbert was more muscular than him, a bit taller, angrier. Alfred swallowed thickly, biting his lip.

"Hey, man!" Gilbert greeted as he approached. "We're filming again today. During lunch. This time we need you to actually learn some lines and stuff."

Alfred processed the request before biting his lip a bit more than a little apprehensively. "Um…yeah, about that…"

"Artie's not gonna molest you again, I swear," Gilbert promised, holding up his hands. "We talked to him about that. We gotta keep you around."

"So…what happens?"

"In the scene? Well, Frenchie and Artie make up and get back together, and then they go to you and stuff gets all better only then the dean comes with cops and tries to arrest people, and then there's some cool stuff. Only we're just doing the making up and you coming in part today. And," Gilbert added with a grin, "Imma makin' an awesome cameo."

"Sounds good," Alfred said, if not a bit awkwardly. Gilbert nodded, oblivious to how reluctant Alfred seemed.

"'kay. See you there. Because you are gonna be there."

"Yeah," Alfred said, trying to make it sound sure and forceful. "Yep, I'll be there."

Gilbert smiled and left, running back down the hallway. Alfred sighed before realizing that he'd closed all of his schoolwork in his locker. So he opened it up again, retrieving his things just as the bell rang. He walked as fast as possible down the hallway, realizing only faintly that he had gym today. With Gilbert. Oh, there was no getting away, was there?

Alfred came to the end of the hallway, where the water fountains sat partially beneath the stairs. And then he stopped.

Arthur and Francis were sitting by the wall, locked tightly at the lip. Arthur had his arms wrapped around Francis's neck, and the latter was pinning him to the wall. They were entirely unaware of anything around them.

Alfred's breath caught and for just a moment…he didn't know. He averted his eyes, but only a moment later they were back. His face remained blank as his eyes wandered over the two, and for some…some reason…he didn't know. But there was something there. Something…something he hadn't expected. This faint aching in his chest, and somehow…it was entirely foreign. He swallowed, tightening his grip on his notebook. This was…what, dammit? Why?

He needed to get to class. He was late enough as is.

That moment had not left Alfred's mind, and all he could do was puzzle through it in wonder. It couldn't have just been a normal reaction-nothing like this had happened before and Alfred had definitely seen people kissing before. A lot. And yet he'd never felt the urge to just stop and stare like that, to watch them and what the hell was going on? Gym passed in a blur, Alfred's thoughts too far removed to participate very well. It was as though the image of Arthur and Francis was burned into his mind and no matter how he tried he couldn't shake it.

This feeling also couldn't be repulsion. Alfred was in far too much wonder for that. He sat in study hall, replaying those moments in the hall again and again. It was just two people kissing, right? No biggie. But, of course, there was a major difference.

Arthur and Francis were both guys.

Alfred's mouth got a little dry and he bit his lip. That shouldn't matter. They had really been going at it-maybe it had just been surprise. And, then again, there was that shadow in his mind, one that was very new and foreboding. One Alfred couldn't even wrap a bit of his brain around. Because he wasn't. He couldn't be. Alfred Jones was not gay.

There. He said it. Not gay. Because it was only logical. He liked girls. He'd always liked girls. With long hair and makeup and dresses-that did it for him. He liked Sunflower. HER. A girl. He'd always imagined her as this pretty young woman, with a sunflower tucked behind her ear. Wearing a sundress. He liked that image. It was good. Nice. Case closed. Not gay. There was nothing wrong with being gay, but he wasn't.

But then, the ominous shadow in his head said, there's always another option.

No.

But yes.

Alfred stared down at his hands, fidgeting absently on the table.

Arthur.

Alfred may have liked girls but...there could be an exception, right? Just one. And it was the only answer that made sense to him. Maybe he liked girls...but maybe...maybe Arthur, too. It would explain what happened when they were filming...it seemed like an eternity ago.

As he repeated the words in his head, Alfred grew more confident. He could be straight and still kind of like Arthur too. Nothing wrong with a little crush, especially when Arthur was already taken. A love doomed to be unrequited...no, not a "love." it was just a little crush. A little bit of barely anything at all. It would explain so much, and then when Alfred finally met Sunflower they'd hit it off and then he'd be free to date her because of course he wasn't really gay and...and...

Perfect.

As if on cue Alfred's phone went off in his pocket. He was giddy, and when he saw the word "Sunflower" in the caller id his grin nearly broke his face. It was so good to have figured this all out. So damn good.

Whenever you feel you are ready, love.

Review? And if you can point out any typos I'll give you a napkin with Leonard Nimoy's DNA. (5 points if you got that)