They say art is a form of expression, a way to get emotions out when you can't say them. Matthew always supposed those words were true. He used art as an escapist activity. He could lose himself in his work and just forget about the world around him. He could forget about being forgotten and ignored; he could forget about having no friends.

That is how he usually spent his art class. He sat in the back, got the assignment, and then proceeded to lose himself in his work where only the noise of his fellow students leaving brought him back to the world. He liked it that way. It was a relaxing moment in his day where he could just think and draw.

He sat down in his usual seat in art class by the window getting ready for the new assignment the teacher would give them if he was there. The teacher tended to be absent quite a bit, so the students would have days to work on their own art pieces.

Since his class before was close by, Matthew had gotten there early and allowed his mind to wander. He thought about the previous lunch period he had earlier.

It was a really good period. He was starting to believe lunch would be his favorite part of the day. It already was in the top three after art and the one class he had with Gilbert. It could pass up art once everyone got used to him and he them. He still felt a little nervous around all of them, but his nerves were feeling better. He knew some of them had trouble remembering his name at first sight, but he was able to put it off as them not having learned it yet and think about how at least he was remembered.

Everyone was as lively and talkative as the day before, and this time Matthew felt more of an initiative to join in and add his thoughts every so often. He kept mostly to conversation with Gilbert, but he was slowly opening up to everyone else.

One thing stood out to him when they arrived at lunch, though, and he kept thinking back to. When they arrived there was a shared look given towards Gilbert. Ludwig seemed to observe his brother carefully while Feliciano looked on with a worried expression.

Matthew didn't understand why they were so worried about Gilbert. He seemed fine and like his usual cocky self. He supposed that something did happen this morning, but Gilbert had just gotten over it. That or he was hiding his true feelings, but Matthew highly doubted it. He felt that he would be able to tell if something was bothering the other. To Matthew, it seemed as if he had just forgotten about it.

His thoughts seemed to be proven at least partially true by the expression held by Ludwig and Feliciano when Gilbert had first spoken about how much awesomer the table now was. Feliciano just seemed happy and grinned turning into his usually optimistic self, while Ludwig looked on a little longer, surprised.

The rest of lunch went on as it did the day before, but Matthew's mind kept thinking back to the looks. After a while he noticed Elizaveta glancing at Gilbert every so often as if she was wondering about his behavior. She seemed to accept it after a while, but it only made him question more. He considered the possibility that the two got into another fight, but it escalated farther than usual. He had decided it was probably some drama between them. After observing others from the sidelines for so long, he realized drama and little fights were just a part of high school.

He was broken out of his thoughts by a loud, energetic voice.

"Matteo!" Matthew visibly jumped in his seat at the sound of Feliciano's voice. He suddenly became more conscience of his stance and everything he was saying with the Italian's wide eyes on him.

"H-hi Feliciano. How a-are you?" Feliciano grinned widely and sat next to him.

"Ve~! I'm doing great!" Matthew listened to Feliciano ramble for a few minutes before seeing the substitute teacher walk in. He sighed realizing it would just be another free draw class before taking out his supplies. After getting ready for some sketching he turned back into the conversation with Feliciano ready to add his own words to it.

"It was nice to see that you were able to cheer up Gilbert today." Matthew stopped what he was doing and looked at the Italian.

"What?"

Feliciano punctuated his words with pencil strokes as he responded, "Gilbert. He was not himself today, but when he came to lunch you had already cheered him up and made him happy! No one has ever been able to do that to Gilbert when he gets like that!"

Matthew looked at the other for a moment processing his words. Gilbert wasn't… himself? At first it didn't seem quite right, but it made sense as he thought back to when he had first seen Gilbert in the morning. The other had seemed out of it, a little depressed even if he were to put a word to it. It seemed unlike Gilbert to act like that, but he knew good and well there was always more to people than what they showed.

It made sense, but the knowledge only added question in his mind: Why was Gilbert so upset? And what did he do to make the cocky albino feel better? Matthew couldn't quench his bubbling curiosity for a deeper understanding of his friend in the recesses of his mind.

Matthew asked, "why was Gilbert so upset this morning?" Feliciano perked up at the not stuttered question then took on a concentrated face.

"Well… I'm not entirely sure. He never really likes to talk about it, and it's happened before a long time ago…"

"So… he just shuts down?" Feliciano shrugged his shoulders.

"Pretty much. For some reason he just… gets upset with himself I guess, and tries to fix it. He usually gets over it himself after a little while, but you were able to cheer him up!" Feliciano finished with a smile only thinking about the positive.

Matthew furrowed his brows. …but I didn't do anything.

Feliciano continued, "how were you able to do it?" Feliciano had gone back to sketching and started swinging his feet back and forth. Matthew paused at the question. He really didn't know.

"N-nothing. He seemed a little off when I f-first saw him, but he was fine after I started talking with him. I don't think I did anything…" Feliciano grinned.

"Maybe that was just enough to cheer him up." Matthew still looked confused, but decided to accept it anyways. All that mattered was that Gilbert was fine now anyways.

"I suppose…" Feliciano glanced at the Canadian with a knowing glint in his eye. People usually said he was unperceptive, but there were some things that he was perceptive about. The real reason why Gilbert was cheered up so easily was one of them.

Matthew went back to his own sketching for the rest of class pondering what he had been told. Maybe he would find out later.

"Don't lie Gilbert. There's no need to be embarrassed." Gilbert seethed at his friend's overly happy voice. She had been bugging him all through last period, and now, even that class was over, she still wouldn't let it go. At first he could understand why she would come to that conclusion, but the fact that she wouldn't drop it no matter how many times he denied her words was frankly starting to get on his last nerve.

"Just drop it already, Liz! I've already told you I don't like him like that!" Elizaveta was completely unfazed by his outburst, and continued trying to get him to admit his feelings for Matthew, weather he knew they existed or not.

Gilbert picked up his speed slightly in the crowed hall in a small effort to lose the other teen. Elizaveta took a few large steps to catch back up before continuing.

"Oh come on. You were all depressed this morning, but after talking with Matthew you were completely fine. How do you explain that?" She looked at him expectantly wanting him to give up already.

"I got over it by lunch. It was just a morning thing, okay?" He didn't completely believe his own words, and it could easily be heard by the lack of annoyance in his voice. It really didn't make much sense when he thought about it. He just… forgot about everything that was bugging him before when he started talking with Matthew.

Elizaveta smirked at the look on the albino's face. She could tell she had planted a seed in his brain, and he was starting to think about it. She inwardly grinned. I so knew it. She spoke up happily, breaking Gilbert's train of thought.

"So when are you going to ask him out?" Gilbert gaped at her surprised, not expecting her question.

"You're joking," he stated. Elizaveta tried to suppress her grin as she took on a serious demeanor.

"I don't joke about these things, and you have to be the one to ask him out because it's weird if a shy uke does it. So when are you going to ask him out?"

"Verdammt! I already told you I don't like him like that! It's a Friday. Can't you just let me enjoy my two days away from this hell hole," Gilbert pleaded. Elizaveta was about to say how he could be enjoying so much more if he would stop being a hardhead about his feelings, but was cut off by Gilbert after he saw Matthew down the hall at his locker.

Gilbert stopped and turned around to face her. "As lovely and completely not annoying this conversation is, I have more awesome things to attend to."

Gilbert mock bowed bofore heading off to talk to Matthew. Elizaveta just shook her head wondering why she hung out with such an idiot.

She took one last look at Matthew and Gilbert before going down a separate hall to her own locker. She really did think they would make a cute couple, and she would take it upon herself to help it happen if it came down to it. Gilbert really was an idiot for not being able to tell by now.

Matthew went to his locker in a good mood. It was the end of the day on a Friday, and he felt good all day. It was an odd feeling, the happiness. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this good about life for this long. He smiled thinking about how he would probably have to get used to it. As things were looking, it seemed like happy days were ahead.

But will it really last? He frowned at the thought. It made his chest clench tightly just imagining all his newly aquatinted friends forgetting him. It wasn't an unjustified fear. Similar things had happened before. He had become close to people over a short amount of time, and in the same time span later, was completely forgotten.

He shook his head in small movements trying to rid himself of those thoughts and convince himself that nothing bad would happen.

They won't forget. They'll remember. They'll remember. They're your friends. They just can't forget you. They'll remember. You won't be alone. They'll remember. They'll –

"Hey Mattie." The Canadian's thoughts were cut off by the bang of someone leaning against a locker and the sound of a now familiar voice.

Matthew looked up to see Gilbert leaning against the locker next to him with a smile. He couldn't help but have his lips twitch up into their own small smile at seeing the other.

"H-hey Gil." Gilbert smirked and raised his eyebrows.

"Gil? Not the best nickname, I'd prefer something more like King of Awesome, but it's still good if you feel the need to shorten my awesome name."

Matthew blushed realizing what he said and looked down at his backpack trying to hide his embarrassment as he packed up the last few books he would need for the weekend.

Gilbert tilted his head still smirking to get a better look at Matthew face. He chuckled at the large blush that made its way on the blonde's face. Matthew closed his locker, and looked at him still embarrassed.

"S-s-sorry." Gilbert's smirk fell slightly at the other's words. Did he really think I was being serious?

"Nah, dude, it's okay. I was just joking with you." Gilbert lightly punched Matthew's arm. "Besides, I call you Mattie all the time."

Matthew smiled at the albino. It wasn't the entire reason he was embarrassed. He just still wasn't used to all the friendly joking.

Upon seeing that Matthew was feeling better, Gilbert continued talking.

"We should hang out today." Matthew almost stopped walking with surprise but was able to suppress the urge. He really shouldn't be surprised that Gilbert wanted to hang out. They were friends after all.

"W-what do you have in mind?" Gilbert stopped and looked deep in thought. Matthew stopped walking as well to watch the other with a smile.

"I have absolutely no idea… but we really should hang out this weekend. You can just come over and hang or something."

"I thought you said today…" Matthew trailed off. Gilbert gave Matthew a look and shrugged.

"We can hang out today and this weekend. I've got nothing to do… unless you're busy?" Matthew quickly shook his head.

"N-no, I'm not busy." He started fiddling with the bottom seams of his hoodie. "I was just wondering."

"Awesome… well I guess we should drop our bags off at home then meet up somewhere."

"Where exactly?" Matthew asked. Gilbert thought for a moment.

"Well, I remember where you house is from yesterday so I'll just meet you there after I drop my stuff off, then we can find something to do."

"Alright, sounds good." Gilbert quickly made his goodbyes complaining about how West would leave him if he took too long.

Matthew just smiled and slowly made his way back home. Everything was turning out good. The fear of being forgotten again was hiding in the back of his mind. He could worry about that stuff later right now he wanted to focus about having fun and hanging out with a friend.

A/N: First off, sorry for the late chapter and it being shorter than usual. I've been busy with engineering, model UN, and general school stuff. You've probably heard all the excuses before.

I know the quality of the actual content in parts of this chapter are a little lacking, but it's more of a transition chapter. If this fic was split into parts, the next part would be the start of part two so prepare for that because things should start to pick up again.

Also, I plan on having a friend Beta the chapters after this one, so you will no longer have to deal with my grammar mistakes and typos. Hooray!

In other fun news: I'm going to oni-con this weekend! I plan on cosplaying fem!Canada if I can put together a costume in the next few days, but I'm very happy about it. XD So I'll be the odd looking Canada walking around with Nel all day.

Last but not least, a big thanks to all the people following this story and reviewing it. Especially to Mayflowerxxx on deviantart. I was not expecting to get a message there, and it really inspired me to try to find more time to write. I even started writing it on paper at school to get it done.

I love you guys so much, and will try to update soon!