To anyone who may be reading this and may find it familiar/similar to another story on this site:

This is a re-write of a set of stories that I had put up a few years ago. But in the past few years, my writing style has changed, and those stories were so full of grammar/continuity issues, so I am opting to rewrite them out. Once I have them started, I will be more than likely removing the old ones.

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Matthew sat in the very back corner seat of the classroom, waiting for the teacher to finish what they were talking about. Soon as I get an opportunity, I'll put my hand up… Matthew squinted. The teacher had said something that hadn't made much sense to the blonde, so he wanted to make sure he had copied the notes down right. Made it easier to study later if he actually understood his own writing.

"Now, are there any questions so far?"

Ah. Now's my chance. Matthew raised his hand as the teacher looked around the room.

"No questions?"

"…" Matthew looked up at his hand and slowly lowered it again. Right. Can't ask questions when I'm invisible, can I? He looked down at his notebook, frowning at the words that he didn't understand.

"Moving on then…"

Why do I bother? Matthew slumped down across his desk. Nobody would even notice if I just fell asleep, would they? He stared sullenly at the blackboard as she started going over the next part of the lesson. I really wish people would notice me… why am I invisible anyway?

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He hugged his textbooks to his chest as he made his way down the hall. Matthew tried to walk as close to the lockers as possible, attempting to avoid being run into by his classmates trying to get to their next class. I could just vanish completely and nobody would notice. Matthew let out a heavy sigh. Why did it have to be like this all the time? He just couldn't figure out why he was so hard for people to notice.

"What the hell are you staring at?!"

Matthew blinked and raised his head, glancing around the hallway in confusion. I wonder who that was? He tilted his head, spotting a tanned male by the opposite row of lockers, currently yelling at someone who had been just passing by.

"What, you've never seen someone come in late before?!"

I wonder if he's in a bad mood. Matthew looked around him and found the other students rapidly clearing the area, hurrying to get of the way before they started getting yelled at. At least he won't notice me. I can just take my time going by. Matthew nodded to himself and kept walking at his slow pace. At least that was one good thing about nobody noticing him. The teachers didn't notice if he was late.

"Shove off!"

Matthew jumped when the voice took a dangerous tone and looked back over his shoulder, watching the other student take off down the hall. Maybe something happened…

The tanned male slammed the locker door shut and glared after the other student who had run away, "Damned idiots. Can't mind their own business."

Matthew continued staring at him, he wasn't meaning to be rude, but the thought just kept going through his head. Why is he so mad?

The male turned back towards Matthew and glared at him, "What the hell is your problem now?"

Matthew blinked a few times. Huh? He looked around him, but nobody else was around in the hallway. "…Are you talking to me?" The blonde looked back at the other male in confusion.

"I don't see anyone else around to be staring at me!" The male snapped.

"… I guess there's not." Matthew continued shuffling down the hallway again, leaving the other student staring after him in confusion. That was a first. Somebody actually noticed me. Of course, it had to be someone in a bad mood, and by the sounds of it, probably looking for a fight, but oh well. He won't remember me if he sees me later in the day anyway, so I'm safe.

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…He's in my class. Matthew kept his gaze on the markerboard, only looking down at his notebook to make sure he was copying the notes down correctly, trying to ignore that the male from earlier kept looking in his direction. Why does he keep staring at me? I don't want to get in a fight! He tapped his pencil on the notebook.

Oh. He had been so busy worrying about the possibility of getting into a fight, that the teacher had erased the last line he had been trying to write down. "Ah." Matthew hastily raised his hand, hoping to ask what the end of the sentence had been.

"Before I continue, I want all of you to know now, that this will be on the test tomorrow! So make sure you're paying attention! Does anyone have any questions before I continue?" The teacher looked around the classroom.

Matthew looked up at his hand again as the teacher shrugged and looked back at the markerboard behind him, "… I don't even know why I tried."

"Hey!"

Matthew nearly jumped out of his seat when the loud voice from earlier suddenly started yelling at the teacher at the front of the room, "Ehhhh… that was scary."

"W-what? Did you have a question, Mr. Martinez?" The teacher had also jumped, and looked back at the male in confusion.

"Are you blind?" The male snapped, before pointing at Matthew, "He had his hand up!"

Matthew's face turned red as the teacher looked to his corner of the room, "Uhm…"

"Huh? Ivan, did you have a question?"

I don't know if I'm relieved that he thought it was the student in front of me or… Matthew slowly sunk in his seat at the annoyed expression on the yeller's face. Maybe I should just tell him not to bother.

"Not me." Ivan blinked at the teacher, "I had no questions."

"Hm? Then who was it?" The teacher looked around the room.

"Ehhh… don't worry about it." Matthew waved a hand in a panic to the male who was losing his temper again, "The teachers usually don't see me."

The look he got was priceless. Matthew shrugged off-handishly, and as if to prove his point, the teacher went right back to the lecture again. He blinked when the other student held up a note on paper, glaring at him in annoyance.

What, he can't see you or hear you?

"Evidently not." Matthew answered flatly, "Because if you didn't notice: nobody's hearing me now, except you."

The other student glanced around him, but everybody was focused on the board, "What the hell."

"I'm used to it." Matthew tossed his pen down on top of his notebook, "I shouldn't even bother taking notes. I'm not going to understand this later anyway."

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"How the hell is that even possible?"

Matthew glanced at the student walking to his left, "I don't know. It just is. It's why I didn't realize you were talking to me earlier, sorry. Most people don't seem to notice me."

"That's just messed up."

"That's how it's always been." Matthew rubbed the back of his head uncertainly, "I mean, my brother notices me and talks to me, but he's one of the only ones who do."

"Would you watch where you're going?!"

Matthew sighed as the male yelled at someone else who had bumped into him.

"Sorry, Cruz, didn't even realize I'd run into you!"

"You didn't run into me, you moron!" Cruz snapped, "You ran into him!"

"He can't see me…" Matthew whispered.

"Sorry, Alfred!"

Matthew hung his head and let out a long sigh, "I'm not Alfred…"

"… Who the hell is Alfred?" Cruz stared at him in confusion.

"My brother." Matthew hugged his books tighter, "Never fails. Either I'm invisible, or I'm Alfred."

Cruz raised an eyebrow at him, "And you live like this? How?"

"I'm used to it…" Matthew continued trudging down the hallway, ignoring the bumps from people running by. I'll never understand why everybody has to be in such a hurry to get to their next class though… it's not like they're going to be missing anything.

Cruz scowled, "Just because you're used to something doesn't make it right. They can't be bothered to get their heads out of their own world to even notice you?"

Matthew smiled slightly, "I guess not. But, it does have some good things about it. I can sleep in class without getting yelled at… and I can come in to class late without the teacher noticing."

Cruz stared at Matthew in disbelief, "Seriously? That's a hell of a trade-off though."

"Yeah… too bad I can't have a bit of both… I don't mind being able to sleep during class, and being able to come in late means I don't have to rush in the hallway but…" Matthew looked around them, "… I just feel out of place. Like I'm looking in a window."

Cruz grumbled something under his breath, and it sounded like he was cursing at students for not noticing Matthew, much to the blonde's surprise.

I don't think he noticed me before this morning! Matthew tilted his head, "Why were you late this morning anyway? Did you sleep through your alarm clock?"

"Don't have one." Cruz said flatly, "I just set the alarm on my phone, but it doesn't always go off." He rolled his eyes, "One of the many troubles of having a cheap phone."

"Your parents don't make sure you're up?" Matthew asked in surprise. Normally his would make sure he and his brother were getting out of bed before they went off to work.

"…" Cruz avoided Matthew's gaze for a minute as they continued walking through the hallway. At least it was emptying out for the most part, so Matthew didn't have to worry about getting run into.

Maybe that's a bad subject. Matthew bit his lip when Cruz didn't answer.

"They're not home." Cruz answered finally, "They're out of town on a business trip."

"Eh… both of them?" Matthew looked at him in surprise, "Who are you staying with then?"

"Me, myself, and I." Cruz smirked, "Same as it's always been."

"I'm pretty sure that's illegal." Matthew squeaked in dismay, "M-minors are supposed to have an adult staying with them!"

"It's not like anyone cares." Cruz shrugged, "My parents and I aren't close, so them being gone doesn't bother me in the least."

… if it doesn't bother you, then why didn't you answer? Matthew frowned slightly, but arriving at the next classroom took the thoughts out of his head, "Oh. History time."

"Terrific." Cruz shoved open the door.

… Eh. Do we have this class together, too? Matthew blinked in surprise, wandering in behind him. I wonder why I didn't notice him in these last two classes before.

"Mr. Martinez, try not to be late to my class." The teacher sighed heavily, "Honestly!"

Cruz stared at the teacher in disbelief, before looking over his shoulder at Matthew, who just waved at Cruz with a smile on his face, "Invisible, remember?"

"Even still." Cruz scowled, "We came in at the same time."

"Anytime you want to take your seat." The teacher sounded rather annoyed, but continued writing on the board.

"Any time you want to get a pair of glasses." Cruz snapped at the teacher on his way by.

"Excuse me?" The teacher gaped at him as Matthew made his way back to his own seat. Back in the corner as usual.

Cruz didn't bother to answer the teacher and just sat down at his desk, tapping the surface in annoyance. How could anyone be so oblivious? Sure Matthew had just come in right behind him, and Cruz was taller, but even still! The teacher hadn't seen Matthew walk back to his desk at all? How was that even possible? … Did I even notice him before this morning?

Matthew tapped his pencil on the top of his desk, watching as the teacher gave up trying to talk to Cruz, and continued with what she had been discussing. Being invisible does get annoying though. It's like I'm staring in a window watching everyone else live their lives, and I'm stuck in one place, because nobody ever sees me.

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Matthew picked a table in the far corner of the cafeteria to sit at, quietly setting his tray down before taking a seat in front of it. He stirred his soup, watching the other students mill about the room. Lunch hour was definitely the time when he felt the loneliest. Everybody else was sitting and talking with friends, and it seemed as soon as he sat down at a table, that table became as non-existent as he was. It must be nice to have friends to talk to. He was wondering how long it would take Cruz to forget about him. They had never talked to each other before today, so why would it be any different from anyone else?

He could remember having friends in middle school, back in sixth grade… or maybe it had actually been fifth grade? Matthew tilted his head. I don't really remember. I think my last actual friend was… Arthur. And that was because he was friends with Alfred. Matthew frowned into the bowl of soup in front of him. Arthur didn't talk to him anymore either, but then again, the other blonde never even spoke to Alfred anymore. I wonder what happened… they were such close friends one year… and the next… they weren't. I wonder if it was a fight?

"Screw it." Cruz sat down across from Matthew, jerking the blonde from his thoughts.

"Eh?" Matthew blinked at him in confusion.

"Nothing. I was just cursing at someone else, not you." Cruz shook his head and untwisted the cap off a bottle of soda.

"…You're not eating?" Matthew asked.

"Forgot to bring money for it. Had enough change for a soda." Cruz shrugged.

Matthew looked down at the soup and sandwich on his tray. He offered the sandwich out to Cruz, who stared at him with a blank expression, "I can usually only eat one or the other anyway."

Cruz didn't look like he believed the blonde, but he took the offered sandwich anyway, "What were you thinking about before? You looked lost in thought."

"Oh, I was just trying to remember something." Matthew made a face, "Someone I used to call a friend back in middle school… or maybe it was elementary."

"Not friends anymore?" Cruz asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No… just out of the blue… he stopped talking to both Alfred and myself." Matthew continued stirring his soup, "I wonder why… I mean, he was more Alfred's friend than mine anyway, but we'd all been friends since kindergarten…"

"…Then how was he more of a friend to your brother?" Cruz took a bite of the sandwich and made a face before inspecting the sandwich carefully (for what, Matthew had no clue).

"Uhm… how do I say it?" Matthew tilted his head, "I suppose they just were closer? Arthur had moved just moved here before we all started kindergarten, and I guess Alfred kept him from getting made fun of by our other classmates."

Cruz stared at Matthew blankly, "Why the hell would they make fun of him?"

"Accent I guess. He was from Ireland or something originally. Maybe it was Scotland. Somewhere over there." Matthew sighed, "I don't remember anymore. But you know how kids are: anybody strange or different gets teased."

Cruz made a face, and took another bite of the sandwich rather than answering Matthew's statement.

"But Alfred is always one for helping other people, even then." Matthew smiled, "He always wants to be a hero!"

"… That idiot always proclaiming he's a hero is your brother?" Cruz asked, nearly choking on his sandwich, "And people confuse you for him?"

Oh. I guess he knows Alfred then. Matthew sighed and hung his head, "He could be a bit quieter, I'll admit that much. But he really does like helping people…"

"He's an idiot. And an annoying one at that." Cruz scowled, "He needs to be a lot quieter!"

I suppose there's either tolerance of Alfred or no tolerance at all. Not really a middle ground. Matthew was used to his brother's antics however, and only shook his head with a smile, "He doesn't mean anything by it."

"Ugh." Cruz glowered at the remaining part of the sandwich, "By the way…"

"Hm?" Matthew blinked at him in confusion.

"Saying you're only hungry enough to eat one or the other only applies if you actually eat one of them." Cruz pointed at the soup that Matthew had been stirring.

"…Oh." Matthew looked down at the bowl, "I guess that would help."

"Unless you plan on starving until dinner." Cruz rolled his eyes, "And that might be a while off."

And that's only if I feel like eating supper. Matthew took a small sip of the soup off his spoon. At least it had cooled off while they had been talking.

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Sadly, Matthew did not have gym with Cruz. I wonder if that means he'll forget about me after this class? Usually this is about the amount of time needed for most people. Matthew stretched both arms above his head, mimicking the teacher's exercises. He was amazed that Cruz had been talking to him during lunch. I wonder why he sat with me anyway… doesn't he have friends during that lunch?

Matthew held up one leg behind him, still lost in thought while the teacher was counting down the seconds for holding their current pose. Then again… he's been talking to me most of the morning and I haven't seen anyone else even say hello to him. Maybe they're scared of him?

"All right! Now that we got the warm-up exercises in, let's see a good game of football!"

Matthew let out a long sigh. Of course. It had to be football. Why does it always have to be contact sports…? Why can't we play baseball or something?

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The blonde trudged much slower through the hallway, still trying to brush the dirt off his glasses as he went. Stupid contact sports. Stupid shove-the-person's-face-into-the-dirt-contact-sports… He held his glasses out at arm's length in front of him and frowned. A few more scratches on the lenses. Figures. Matthew sighed and put them back on, ignoring the person who had just run into him and kept going. I wonder if anyone would notice if I just left school…

Would anyone notice if I didn't come back?

Matthew shook his head hastily. I'm not retreating to that mindset again! He hugged himself tightly and quickened his pace through the hallway, trying to make it to his next class. Hopefully listening to a teacher would put the thoughts out of his head. He could still hear his parents… and Alfred… after they had found him the first time. Ugh… their screaming is a constant nightmare. Matthew paused and just leaned against the locker he was next to.

But he had survived. Now here it was, two years later, and he was right back to where he had started. Matthew looked around the hallway, watching everybody move past him. They don't know… they don't know what it feels like… Alfred's constantly getting attention from everybody… he's good at sports… he's popular… Matthew slowly sunk to the floor and stared at the lockers across from him. I wonder if anyone besides them would notice…

"Hey."

A shoe kicked his leg, and Matthew glanced up at the speaker, slightly surprised to find himself looking up at Cruz, "Oh hello."

"What are you doing on the floor?" Cruz asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"… Thinking." Matthew answered.

"Looked more like spacing out." Cruz offered a hand to him, "You going to your next class?"

"Haven't decided yet." Matthew answered truthfully, but took the hand to pull himself up off the floor again, "I might just leave."

Cruz leaned forward, looking at the blonde's face, "Was gym class that bad? I don't think I'll go if it was."

"Oh it's perfectly fine if you like football." Matthew sighed, "But I don't."

"I don't mind it. Gives me an excuse to hit people without having to be forced to apologize." Cruz grinned before trying to brush some dirt off of Matthew's red sweater.

"Perfect sport for you then. Not so much for me." Matthew looked over his shoulder as the bell rang, trying to decide if he should head for class or not, "… I really don't feel like going to class again. Not like the teachers will notice if I just head home."

"Nobody there?" Cruz asked.

"No. Mom and dad won't be home from work until after five." Matthew shrugged, "So no one will even know I'm not here." He shuffled past Cruz in the direction of the doors, "Have fun in gym."

"Yeah… thanks." Cruz muttered.

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I like this first chapter a lot more. C: