YEEEEEEEE.

Thank you all for reading the story so far! You're all so great! I adore each and every single one of your reviews!

Enjoy Chapter 14, which will hopefully be longer than the last few chapters ;(

The first time the phone rang on Friday morning, Matthew ignored it, rolling over so that he was facing the wall. The second time the phone had rung, he pulled the blanket over his head, muffling the noise. It rang a third time, and Matthew began to grind his teeth. If the call was really that important, then they would leave a message. He knew it was probably for his parents anyway.

It was when the person called a fourth time that Matthew threw aside the blanket in unrestrained frustration and reached over toward his phone. He looked at the caller ID, and huffed when it came up as an unrecognizable number. He'd just have to tell the person that his parents weren't home, and they would have to deal with it.

"Hello?" He said quietly into the phone, his voice cracking with sleep.

"Good morning, may I speak to sleeping beauty, Oh wait, I mean Matthew?"

"…" Matthew closed his eyes and his head hit his pillow. No. NO. It was too early in the morning to deal with this cretin. Surely he was dreaming.

"Gilbert?" He said, his voice still monotone as sleep tugged at his brain.

"Yes, that would be I. Man, doesn't anyone else live in your house? I thought for a second that maybe your brother was going to answer instead of you, and man, that would be awkward."

"Wha…" Matthew said mid-yawn, "Alfred's at work…"

Matthew knew this because all he'd seen lately was Alfred parading around in just his red swim trunks with LIFEGUARD written in big white letters up the leg. Matthew could have died when he saw the pride and pure excitement written across his brother's face.

Oh, but it wasn't because of the job. Oh no.

It was because of the swimming trunks.

Alfred adored the color red. Along with white and blue. Matthew had no idea why. Maybe Alfred went out for the job just so that he could wear red for an eight hour shift and look good in it.

"Ohhh, I see. And why the hell aren't you working, may I ask?"

Despite the fact that Matthew had just received a rude awakening, he couldn't help but grin. "Actually, speaking of which, I got hired at the cafe."

"Hey, did I not say you would get the job? Man, I'm always right, I'm like…a fucking psychic, you know?"

Matthew laughed slightly. "Yeah, okay. Because you're psychic."

"So…" Gilbert continued, "When's your first day?"

"Actually, I started on Tuesday."

"Oh, sweet. What do you do?"

"Nothing really interesting. I make the drinks and stuff." But in reality, Matthew loved it. When Matthew had met up with Tino, they had discussed some things. For starters, he found out that Tino was actually thirty-one, which surprised Matthew greatly. He had thought Tino was a lot younger, because of the way he talked, and the general niceness about him. But, in a way it made sense. After all, it was highly unlikely that a twenty-one year old would own a café.

Another thing was that he was going to start Matthew out by simply having him make the drinks, and Tino himself would work the register. He was a kind and understanding person, telling Matthew that when he finally had the courage to work up front with the people, he would let him. Matthew had been touched that someone hadn't overlooked his rather shy nature, and instead worked with him on it.

He also told Matthew that he was going to hire some more people around his age to work the shift with him, so he shouldn't be too surprised whenever he was going to work with someone that he went to school with.

Once they had gotten past all of that, Tino had shown Matthew the different sandwiches and dessert-like treats that they sold, along with how to make the various drinks. It turned out for Matthew that the job was actually a lot more fun than he had expected.

"When do you work?" Gilbert's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I work every weekday, noon to four, and on Saturdays I work in the evening."

"Alright, awesome. So that means you're not working right now until the afternoon?" Gilbert's voice came through the phone sounding rather excited, and Matthew felt curious.

"No…Why?"

"Shortie, I am sitting at my dad's mechanic shop right now. Which is, you know…" He trailed off casually, "near the mall and everything…"

"Why? Are we going to be shoplifting or something?"

"Well, wasn't really thinking of that, but if you really want to, we can do that too. Anyway, why don't you come out here? There's something I want to tell you, via in person."

Who even used the word 'via'? Matthew sighed and stared at his alarm clock. It was now nine in the morning. How Gilbert managed to be so awake was beyond him.

"Well, I do have to pick up my new glasses…" Matthew had an eye appointment several weeks ago, since he was due for new glasses, and several nights ago they had called saying that they were ready for him to pick up.

"Great. Do you think you can be here in twenty minutes?"

"Probably…I don't know…" Matthew said, kicking his legs over the edge and standing up.

"Well, get here fast. I'll be waiting on the west entrance. You'll see me standing out in front of the mall. My sexy is not hard to miss."

Matthew made a face and silently imitated his final sentence. "Okay, whatever."

"Alright princess, be good! I'll be waiting!"

"Mhm…bye." And without even waiting for a reply, Matthew hung up the phone and threw it on the bed. Stretching his arms above his head, he pulled out the first pair of clothing he could find and walked out the door. He really couldn't help but wonder why Gilbert had sounded so excited. Matthew was beginning to think that whatever made Gilbert excited definitely wasn't a good thing.

The last time he had seen Gilbert was on Sunday, which had been five days ago. Matthew told the small voice in his brain to shut up when it pitifully squeaked that it had been boring and lonely sense then. He mentally listed all the things that he had gotten himself pulled into by Gilbert.

There was that time that they had discreetly painted a whole school…

Not to mention partying at somebody's house that you hardly knew, throwing up in their bushes, and then running off into the woods…

Only to return the next day to a very angry brother waiting for you, demanding you tell him where you were…

And that fight between Ivan and Gilbert…

Matthew's eyebrows scrunched up as he tried to remember what had happened exactly. Maybe it was the alcohol he had consumed since his mind seemed to give him vague details. It was hazy. All he knew was that he had been talking to Ivan one second, and then Gilbert was standing in between them. They had said a few things to each other, until Gilbert said something that made Ivan (literally) send him flying.

He had thought that maybe when he went to hockey practice on Thursday that Ivan would be angry at him or give him the cold shoulder, but things had been the same between the two of them. He decided that now or anytime soon wouldn't be the best time to bring it up to them.

But he couldn't help but wonder why they hated each other so much.

Matthew pulled into the mall parking lot, and couldn't help but laugh when he noticed that Gilbert had been right. He really wasn't that hard to miss. His white hair really stood out. Gilbert was leaning against the wall in looking in the opposite direction, obviously not knowing he was there yet. He beeped the car horn twice, and Gilbert looked over, a grin slowly spreading on his face. By the time Matthew pulled into a parking space, he was already limping up to the car.

When Matthew stepped out of the car, he gave one look toward Gilbert's knee then looked up at his grinning face.

"You know, how long are you going to wear that thing?" He asked looking up at Gilbert and squinting as the sun was already shining brightly despite it being so early in the morning.

Gilbert shrugged and looked down at the brace as if noticing it for the first time, "Until it stops hurting?

Matthew closed the car door. "You know something? I can't imagine you walking normally."

"Really? Well, maybe because I might never walk normally again. Because the doctors said it might be permanent."

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Are you being serious?"

"Of course I am. Would I lie about something like that?"

"Yes, yes you would."

Gilbert laughed slightly. "Oh, okay. But yeah, if my knee doesn't heal by the end of the summer, I have to get surgery on it."

"Oh…" Matthew said quietly and lowered his head. "I'm sorry…"

Gilbert looked at him a moment then snorted. "Look, it's my knee, and I could give a shit otherwise. It's not like I'm going to use it for anything important anytime soon, so don't worry about it."

Matthew sighed, "Yeah, but—"

"I said don't. And besides, what happened to you and your brother on Sunday?"

"Oh…" Matthew trailed off, playing with the car keys, "Um…we kind of fought and…stuff…"

"Okay, and what else?"

"Nothing really, it's just a little awkward between the both of us."

"Ohhh, is he still mad at you?"

"No, uh…he was, but then I kind of got mad at him?"

"Wow, you have a fire burning in you, don't cha?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Matthew raised an eyebrow.

"You know what it means. What did you get mad at him about?"

"Uh…" Matthew looked away, and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "He kind of…brought something up…"

Matthew hoped that Gilbert would catch on that he didn't want to be pressed about the subject, and he saw Gilbert give him a weird look, but thankfully, he didn't say anything.

Matthew pulled open the doors and walked into the mall, taking in all of the stores surrounding the plaza. The mall was pretty empty since it was so early, save for the few people milling around.

"You have to pick up your glasses, don't you?" Gilbert asked him, his tone slightly distracted as he watched a pair of college age looking girls walk pass them.

Matthew rolled his eyes as Gilbert caught the one girl's attention and smirked at her. She raised an eyebrow and smirked back and as she was walking away, she put more of her hips into her walk, giving Gilbert a better 'view'.

"Yes."

Gilbert continued to watch the girl as she walked out of the mall, then he turned toward Matthew. "What did you say?"

"I said yes, Gilbert."

"Oh…" Gilbert raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Matthew gave him a look. "Am I sure about what?"

Gilbert continued, his tone very serious. "Because if you are sure, I mean, this is a huge step for the both of us. Are you sure you're ready to say yes to sex—"

"Oh my God, Gilbert! Yes to the glasses! I said yes about the glasses!" Matthew hissed as he felt his face growing warm, and he turned away, stomping off toward the store. He heard Gilbert laugh at him as he followed.

"Awww, man…you're too much fun to tease."

Matthew's eyes widened. What was that supposed to mean?

"Yeah, you're really funny, Gilbert."

"Of course I am. And of course, who could ever resist these amazingly good looks to go along with it?"

Matthew sighed loudly. He walked into the store and turned toward Gilbert, stabbing a finger at his chest. "You. Wait over there." He pointed toward the area in the store where people waited and sat in the chairs.
Gilbert smirked at him, and Matthew turned away to hide his blush. There was no way this guy was going to get the better of him.

As he walked up to the front desk and give them his information, he turned around and watched that Gilbert was in fact, not listening to him, and was milling aimlessly around the store, picking the sample glasses up, looking at them, then putting them down. Gilbert noticed him staring, gave him a grin and waved at him. Matthew rolled his eyes and turned away to pick up the bag the woman at the desk handed to him. He thanked her, and walked up to Gilbert.

"If you keep touching all of their glasses, they're going to have to throw them out. You're getting your jerkacules all over them."

"Mhm…" Gilbert picked up a pair of square framed glasses that were black and put them on. "How do I look?"

Matthew hated to admit the truth, but Gilbert actually looked really really nice in them. "You look…smart." He sniffed, trying to sound like he wasn't being truthful.

Gilbert took the glasses off and placed them back before he turned around and started walking out of the store.

"I'm actually supposed to be wearing glasses."

This was new. He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why?"

Gilbert kept walking, but turned to Matthew and pointed to his eye. "I have astigmatism."

"Oh…I didn't know that." Matthew said surprised.

Gilbert shrugged, "Yeah, but other than that, I can see fine, so I've never really wanted to wear glasses."

Matthew continued to stare at Gilbert, who turned to him and gave him a look. "What?"

"I don't know…it's just the fact that if you actually wore glasses, you'd look more serious."

"Yeah, and if you didn't wear glasses, maybe you'd look less like a girl."

Matthew huffed. "You know what? Do you actually hang out with anyone other than me?"

"I don't know. Do you hang out with anyone other than me?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Here, now that you got your bifocals, we can prance on over to the food court and eat some pretzels. You want a pretzel? Because I want a pretzel." Gilbert continued as if Matthew hadn't spoken in the first place.

Matthew opened his mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again and gave a small begrudged, "Fine."

When they reached the food court (Of course, they didn't prance over to it, like Gilbert said they would.) Gilbert told Matthew to sit down as he went to get the food. He gave Matthew no time to talk at all. So Matthew was sitting at a table as he watched Gilbert stand in line. He looked away and opened the bag that the people at the store had given him. Inside were two pairs of glasses in their cases, and a year's worth supply of contacts. He sighed as he looked at the contacts. His parents ordered both he and Alfred contacts along with their glasses so that they had two options. Even though Alfred wore contacts more often than glasses, Matthew couldn't bring himself to do the same. He felt weird without glasses on, like they were a barrier. He threw the contacts back in the bag and took out the glasses.

"Why do you have two pairs?" Gilbert asked him as he walked back up, shoving a soft pretzel into Matthew face, and taking a vicious bite out of his own.

"When we ordered them, it was that whole, buy two get one half price kind of thing." Matthew explained as he took the pretzel from Gilbert.

Gilbert chewed on his pretzel a second then made a 'hmn' sound and sat down in the other chair.

"Alright, now I can finally talk to you about what I was going to talk to you about earlier, but I couldn't because we had to pick up your glasses." Gilbert said as he took another bite out of his pretzel. Matthew nibbled on his slightly as he silently wondered how he got himself dragged into these things.

"Now, as we both know, our main concern for these past few weeks was wondering where in the world Antonio was. We had found Francis with ease, and now we're on the second level. This is going to be harder, I can just feel it."

Matthew couldn't help but grin as Gilbert talked with a jokingly serious gleam in his eye. Gilbert caught his grin, and returned it with a smirk.

"You sound excited." Matthew couldn't help but admit.

"I am excited." Gilbert said, not bothering to hide the anticipation on his face.

"So…what's your plan?"

"My plan is that, actually, I don't have a plan."

Matthew stopped chewing on his pretzel and stared at Gilbert.

"Wait. You call me at nine in the morning, making me think that you're going to tell me something really important, and instead you're telling me that you don't have a plan." Matthew said tonelessly.

"Well, I don't have a plan, and unless you've got one, you should speak up now. I mean, I have no idea how to get Antonio's number from where he lives now, and his parents won't give it to me. And I have no leads on where he lives or anything. The only clue is that he goes to Penns Marion. The school is significantly smaller than ours, so—"

"Don't tell me," Matthew held up a hand, "that we're going to go to Penn county (People that lived in that area went to Penns Marion High School) and we're going to look for him?"

Gilbert grinned.

"It'll be like finding Waldo. Besides, it's not like you're super busy on Sundays anyway to begin with."

Matthew blushed, knowing he was talking about the night after the party.

"But why do you want me of all people to do this with you?"

Gilbert's face grew serious and he stared at Matthew. He was silent for a moment, before he looked down and quietly said, "Because you've helped me so much already..."

Matthew's eyes widened. The picture of Gilbert looking so angry, scared, and desperate at the same time came into his head.

"…Fine." Matthew sighed.

Gilbert's face broke into a grin again. "Awesome." He stood up and threw away the pretzel wrapper, now empty. "I need to get back to my dad's place. I kind of, sort of left without him knowing."

Matthew stood up also. "Alright, I'll see you on Sunday, I guess." He turned around to leave.

"Oh yeah, and shortie?"

Matthew turned around and looked at Gilbert, "I'll be driving this time."

Matthew grimaced, remembering things he would have rather forgotten. "Great."

Gilbert laughed at Matthew's tone, then turned around, giving him one final wave before he left.

When Matthew got into his car, he leaned back in the seat and took a bite out of his half finished pretzel. He watched as Gilbert walked out a moment later and crossed the mall parking lot toward the auto-mechanic shop.