"You don't believe changing the way she speaks, acts, dresses alters Eliza?"

"No. Why the hell do you? Her personality isn't wrapped up in that shit. Her person doesn't change when the outside does."

"But is it not our words and actions that define us as people?" Francis insisted.

Lovino gestured widely as he spoke. "It's a part of it, but what about all that crap people say about what's on the inside is what counts? Personality is mainly defined as our character."

"But our character drives us to say and do things." Francis leaned in closer to his computer, engrossed in their conversation just as Lovino was. "So it is possible her actions morphed her person in some way."

Lovino shook his head, practically scoffing. "No. No, personality is more than that and it takes way more to change it. It's all of Eliza's experiences and upbringing and genetic bullcrap that makes her what she is. Acting like a "proper lady" for a few months can't change her that drastically!"

"But it can change her!" Francis exclaimed. "That was the question: does it change her personality? Even if only by a little, she is quite changed."

"It's her being. Her being. Who she is. Not simply the way she feels or thinks or talks, but those parts of her that won't ever change! At the beginning of the play she demands respect from Higgins because the man's an asshole and, at the end when he's still an asshole, she hasn't changed her stance one bit."

"Oh, but she was quite submissive in the middle acts, was she not? Anyone could see that when she went to fetch Higgins' slippers. She did it without much thought to it and the audience plainly sees she's become quite accustomed to this role on Wimpole Street."

"Convenience!" Lovino nearly shouted, wanting to shake Antonio's computer. "If you lived with someone who forgot where they'd put their shit half the time, wouldn't you grow accustomed to just going to get it instead of making it into a big deal? Knowing Higgins the conversations probably went 'Huh, where'd I put those slippers?' and Eliza would say 'On the stairs.' and he'd probably go 'No. I would never have put them there. They must be somewhere else.' and she'd insist 'No. I saw them on the damn stairs.' and he'd still just shake his head. 'Nope. Can't be on the stairs. I know better and won't listen even if you have literally seen them with your own eyes.'"

"So people simply cannot change, is what you are saying. Characters are innately good. Innately bad…"

"Ugh. No, you baguette loving-" Lovino rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. It released none of the building tension in his shoulders. "A person can change. It just takes a lot more than some shallow shit like changing an accent. Costume changes aren't disposition changers. It's like saying an actor is the person they play on the screen."

"You've never heard of method acting, Lovino?" Francis asked. "The actor becomes who they are portraying, even off screen."

"Temporarily. They don't become them; they get into the character's head." Lovino argued. "My point is: characters are dynamic. It takes an impactful experience or change in mindset to do it though. When someone all of a sudden "changes" from bad to good - or vice versa - they usually attribute this to characteristics they already have but portray them in more positive or negative ways. A manipulative person versus a persuasive one. Someone who convinces people out of their own selfishness against someone who does it for another's benefit." Lovino took a breath, jumping back into his rant before Francis could speak up. "And, hell, I am not going into a rant about the notion of a 'good vs evil' world or the real differences between the ideas of similar personality features in positive and negative light. This conversation is already too long and I am right." Lovino folded his arms and sat back, staring into the computer's screen challengingly.

Francis was never one to back down though.

"What are you guys even talking about this time?" Antonio asked from across the room, smirking at how well his friends were getting along. 'Well'. Yes, seriously, a debate over twentieth century British literature was a stable conversation between the two. If you thought this was heated then you should have seen the two argue about their respective countries' cultures. Cuisine. Fashion. Football. That was where things got dangerous.

Antonio was across the room, sitting at the door to his closet while he shuffled through the mess he kept in there. His mom had tasked him with organizing the thing, so there was now piles across his bedroom floor from where he had cleared the small closet space. Shoes, an old sports bag, a shin guard he had been missing since the end of soccer season, and so much more were all awaiting their turn to be found a respectable place to go in his room.

And, since he had been Skyping Francis while he had been working and Lovino had stopped by not long after, Antonio was saved of a boring day of nothing but chores. Listening to his friends, even if about something he really had no idea of, lessened the pain of the mundane tasks he had been given. They were only missing Gilbert, then all of Antonio's closest friends would be in one place.

"Franny, your mom let me in so I could grace you with my awesome presence!" Suddenly came the familiar voice from his computer, some unseen force answering his thoughts. "Hey, is that Lovino? What's up, shortstop?"

"Ugh, not you!" Lovino complained, sitting back and covering his face with one hand.

"I've missed you and the fact that you are unable to strangle me over the computer too, Lovino. How's life? Where's Toni?" Gilbert asked in his usual arrogant tone, plopping down next to Francis who looked quite annoyed to have been interrupted mid-argument.

"I'm here, Gilbert!" Antonio waved from across the room, only that arm visible to his friends on the computer. Lovino rolled his eyes and shifted the computer so they could talk.

It wasn't long until Antonio had to get back to work. He had tried to convince Lovino to help him, but he should have known that Lovino wouldn't want part in it. Your fucking work. He'd said.

Antonio didn't mind all that much though. He had good company after all and that was the best thing he could really ask for. He was content listening to his three best friends in the world talk to one another, adding in his own thoughts whenever he chose. All the while, Antonio was lining his closet with the couple pairs of shoes he owned: tennis shoes, flip flops, that one pair of dress shoes for special occasions. Even his cleats went in the closet at the moment because he'd unpacked his soccer bag during off season so it wouldn't get too smelly - not that it helped too much, but it was always worth a try.

At first, Antonio kept a lookout for the conversations his friends had across the room, not bothered of what they might say so much as how they might react. You see, while Francis and Lovino had the capacity to get along and hold somewhat civilized conversations, as arguable as they both were, Gilbert and Lovino had - how would you say it - no chill.

But, to Antonio's surprise, their voices stayed level with one another. Lovino seemed exasperated at most and Gilbert seemed to have forgotten how much he loved to taunt Antonio's Italian friend. Things were going really well. A shame that had to end.

"Hey, so how's being such a ladies man, Lovino?" Gilbert asked spontaneously. It was a favorite topic of his after once when the two had argued who was the smoother flirter. Lovino hated when Gilbert brought it up, as he had lost that bet. To decide, Gilbert had flirted with Francis while it had been up to Lovino to make moves on Antonio. It had been the cutest thing to watch Lovino turn the darkest shades of red when he'd simply looked at Antonio and given up immediately.

Like I would flirt with this idiot. He's not even a girl. It wouldn't count.

Naturally, Gilbert had called that weak and proclaimed himself the champion, never letting the other live it down.

So when Gilbert had asked, Lovino already had a response ready. "How's being such an asshole, Gilbert?"

Antonio was sure the two on the other side of the call could hear his snickers from across the room.

"It has its perks." Gilbert answered cooly.

Lovino huffed and got up. "I'm going to get a drink." He announced then stalked out of the room. Antonio sighed, relieved the argument hadn't gotten out of hand like it so often did. He got up and made his way to his computer. Francis was talking to Gilbert, shaking his head in exasperation, no doubt because of his childish antics. Gilbert still had that self-satisfied look about him.

When Gilbert noticed that someone had appeared on the screen, his smile widened. "Hey, man! Thought you were Lovino back already. How're the chores coming?"

"Oh, you know," Antonio laughed, "They're coming."

"Hey, speaking of ladies," Gilbert said, referring back to his conversation with Lovino moments before, "How's your girl? Still smooching it up and freaking old people out with PDA?"

Antonio laughed lightly, ducking his head a little in embarrassment. "We don't freak people out."

"Ah, but you do do it!" Gilbert said victoriously. Francis rolled his eyes and Antonio wondered who did it more often, him or Lovino.

It was true though. Him and Emma were still kissing. At first it had been this shy thing, each unsure if they should initiate it and when, but as time went by it had become more casual. Kissing Emma was as easy as remembering to brush his teeth - meaning that he forgot at times but it wasn't the end of the world because he did it on most occasions when he was supposed to.

And, wow, once again Antonio wins the best boyfriend of the year award.

And, of course, on top of all of that he still couldn't stop himself from wondering what it would be like to kiss Lovino like that. Yep, definitely best boyfriend.

But was that normal? To want to kiss your best friend? He always wondered these things and never had a clue. When he thought about it he would decide to think on what kissing Francis or Gilbert would be like, but it always seemed so innocent, so platonic when he thought about those two. And thoughts of kissing them never came unbidden. Doing that with Lovino always just appeared in his mind. It was like a really catchy song he just couldn't forget.

And with this thought, Antonio couldn't help but think, what if Lovino had flirted with him that one time? He imagined it would have been cute, even cuter than his downright refusal to try.

Lovino burst into the room, a determined look on his face. "You know what, asshole?" He asked as he stomped up to the computer. "You're on."

The three looked at him, puzzled at the sudden (and unrevealed) challenge. He had his arms crossed across his chest as he looked down at the screen of the two boys who, at present, were across the country.

"Uuum." Gilbert responded. "What?"

"Our bet. I'm going to show you that I can flirt." Lovino said resolutely.

Gilbert lifted an eyebrow. "Our bet from half a year ago?" When Lovino nodded, Gilbert smirked. "Alright. I accept."

When Lovino faced him, Antonio was not prepared. Hadn't this been what he'd just been daydreaming of? Hadn't he wondered about this exact scenario just before Lovino had come in? Why was he so bewildered now that Lovino was there in front of him?

Lovino paused for a moment. He didn't look back toward the computer screen and Antonio knew it was taking a lot from him to keep his embarrassment at bay. The smirking faces of his friends definitely wouldn't have helped, so Lovino was keeping his face forward. He wouldn't look at Antonio either, but at his chest or behind his head. Then he sat up, leveling his head to maintain eye contact, and Antonio could see the fierce determination that resided there.

"Hey," Lovino started, his voice deliberately smooth in a blatantly flirtatious way, "Are you trash because I'd like to- to take you out." He'd coughed on that last part there but, despite this, the pick up line had frozen Antonio in place. How had he ever thought a smooth-talking Lovino would be cute?

Antonio had never blushed so severely in his life.

No one seemed to notice though. Francis and Gilbert were currently too busy laughing their asses off.

"Even your pick up lines are insulting." Francis chuckled, a hand placed over his chest. Gilbert laughed with much more abandon.

"Ah, man. You still fucking loose! Look how red your fucking face is!"

"I'd like to see you fucking try!" Lovino snarled, though still quite embarrassed.

Gilbert merely bowed. "Don't mind if I do." He turned to Francis and did his own, executed much more flawlessly than Lovino's by far. Antonio paid this little attention though because he was still lost to the warm feeling engulfing his body.

"Not fair!" Lovino protested after Gilbert's demonstration. "You're too comfortable around Francis."

"I did it with one of my best friends and you did it with yours." Gilbert smirked. "What's the matter?"

"You probably flirt with Francis all the time for the hell of it. I bet you can't do the same with just anyone." Lovino's voice once again held promise of a challenge. Gilbert happily obliged.

"Then I'll flirt with you instead."

Lovino's eyebrows shot up. "What?"

Gilbert just shrugged his shoulders though. "Why not?"

Lovino looked to be a deer caught in headlights for a moment before he narrowed his eyes. "Alright. Fine."

Gilbert was immediately into it, leaning forward, suggestive look on his face. Antonio expected him to use one of his dirtier lines just to fluster Lovino. He didn't expect this.

"You know," Gilbert said, "If there were no gravity on Earth I would still fall for you."

Antonio watched as Lovino's eyes lit up in surprise. He must have been expecting something along the same lines as Antonio because, once he had processed the words, a red brushed his cheeks. His blushes were never 'light' but, if they could be, this would be it.

Then Lovino stepped up to the challenge.

"Are you a bank?" He asked smoothly and Gilbert raised an eyebrow. He looked interested and Antonio couldn't blame him. He'd never heard this one before.

Lovino's voice suddenly went flat, not a trace of amusement left to spare. "Because I'd like you to leave me a loan."

The room was silent as they all stared at Lovino. His stare blatantly said 'Don't fuck with me' as he continued to watch Gilbert. Then, they all were laughing again.

Antonio let his worries slip to the back of his mind as he carried on with his friends and eventually went back to cleaning his closet. Whenever he looked at Lovino for the rest of the day, the warm feeling in his chest would reappear, along with the recent memory of Lovino flirting with him.

He didn't mind this all that much though. And he didn't let his brain tell him what it could all possibly mean.

-/-

Finals approached again and it was back to the grinding block. There were three days left of school and Antonio, along with most other children at their school, had the fever. They wanted out.

Not Lovino though. Relief wouldn't come to Antonio's best friend until that final bell sounded and he walked out into the warm air of a summer day. This Sunday afternoon before their last week was a lot like Antonio hoped it would be on Wednesday, their final day - sunny with a warm breeze and the world a bright green around them that Antonio hadn't really noticed had appeared during Spring. Their backpacks were weighed down in tons and the two were scouring over any materials they could get their hands on for last minute studying.

Antonio looked up, contemplating if he should dare interrupt his friend's study to ask for help in English, but what he found surprised him. Lovino wasn't looking at a book or any notes. It looked like the other was distracted by something across the park.

Antonio looked over, attempting to follow his gaze. There was nothing of interest over in that area - just an empty field and a couple of people walking the trail that surrounded it. Antonio glanced back at his friend just to make sure and Lovino seemed to catch the movement, breaking out of his daze. He made wary eye contact with Antonio before shifting his gaze back into his lap and the physics book that sat there. It was always that class with this boy. Antonio couldn't wait until Lovino didn't have to bother with it anymore.

He wondered what classes Lovino had decided to take next year and shuddered. Lovino's eyebrows were drawn, looking more anxious than normal. Usually, Antonio would pin this on the fact that he was studying physics, but it seemed as though Lovino wasn't paying attention to the book at all.

"Want to take a break?" Antonio half-mumbled. He bit his lip, wondering how the proposition would go. Finals were always a scary time to interrupt Lovino's study.

To his surprise though, all it took was for Lovino to look up at him, look back down at the book, then push it aside, nodding his head. He stretched his arms behind his back.

Antonio could only stare for a moment before he mimicked his friend's behavior. He lay on his back to rest, sighing as he relaxed.

"I cannot wait for summer." Antonio said, thinking aloud. Friday he would be getting on a plane that was due for California where he would soak up as much sun and time with his friends as possible. Everything was already planned and he had convinced his mom to even let the two come over to stay for a week in New York. He practically had his summer planned out.

"Yeah, should be a blast." Lovino said dully. Antonio looked over. Lovino was on his back too, facing the sky, an unreadable expression on his face from this angle.

"You won't get lonely without me here, will you?" Antonio asked, half-teasing but still curious what his response would be.

"As if, bastard." Lovino paused, as if considering something. Antonio cocked his head. "I talked to my mom."

"Oh." Antonio said. That wasn't what he'd been expecting to hear. "That's great, Lovi; how is she?"

Lovino shrugged. "Doing fine. I've talked to her a few times, but Feli's really the one keeping in touch. He tells me mostly about her."

Antonio nodded, as if hearing all of this was completely normal. He supposed in some cases it really was.

"She wants to see us."

Antonio stayed silent. He peeked over with his eyes.

"So Feli and I are going to Oregon."

Antonio sat up, his mouth gaping. "You're what?"

"We're staying with our grandfather so we won't be with her all the time. And we'll be there for about two weeks." Lovino didn't sound very happy about this, but Antonio didn't know what to say.

"Wow." Was all he could come up with.

"Yep." Lovino replied. "Wow."

"Are you nervous?"

Lovino looked at him, trying to play off an irritated look. Antonio could see his anxiousness plainly and gave him his own look that said 'I can read you like a book'.

Lovino sighed. "Yeah."

Antonio nodded. "You know, I think it's great you're going to see her. I mean, it sounds really sudden, but you haven't seen her in so long. I'd try to look at it like a new chance, if I were you."

"A new chance." Lovino snorted. "For her to walk away?" Lovino paused and Antonio could tell he hadn't meant to say that aloud.

"I get it you're still pretty sore about it all and I would be too." Antonio said. Lovino gave him a look. "But, seriously Lovi, aren't you curious to see what she's like? How's she doing?"

Lovino shrugged and mumbled a little.

"Plus, you have to be there for Feliciano too, right? I bet you he's not missing out on this."

Lovino sighed again. "I just hope he's not disappointed."

Antonio thought over this for a moment. Feliciano had never known their mother and, while the same could be said for Lovino, Antonio knew that Lovino remembered her at least a little. Lovino had told him once that his mother used to hold his hand while he spun and spun and spun around until he was dizzy and sometimes had to make him stop or he would get sick. He said she would always laugh when she saw the disoriented look on his face after he halted on his heels, swaying back and forth slightly and grinning up at her.

That's what my dad says, at least. Lovino had told him afterwards, but his eyes told a different truth. One of memory and love. He may not remember all that he had told Antonio, but Antonio would bet anything some of it held in his mind somewhere.

His mother had loved him and Antonio knew she must have loved Feliciano just the same. She had still left and Antonio still had no idea why, but, if any of those stories were true, Antonio thought things could be mended between mother and sons.

"That's enough of that bullshit." Lovino said, sitting up. He pulled his notes toward him and brushed the conversation off. Antonio frowned but couldn't say he hadn't expected something of the sort.

Antonio didn't go back to his own work though. He wasn't Lovino. He couldn't do so much.

He could only pray that summer would come soon enough.

-/-

Three days and six exams later they were free.

"This calls for celebration!" Antonio exclaimed, walking beside his friend away from the prison in which they'd escaped…

School. He'd meant school.

Lovino, as was expected for the start of summer, looked relaxed for once. Tired, but relaxed. It was as if all tension and worries had floated away into the clear summer sky. Or like all that weighed him down had been shed as he'd stepped through the threshold into freedom. Like his demons had been held at bay by some unseen force that receded into the school's walls during the summer.

Yeah, Antonio was feeling a bit light himself if you didn't catch on. Leave it to the day after his English essay was due for him to suddenly develop a flowery repertoire.

But, back to the present, yeah?

Lovino was facing the sun, eyes closed as he soaked it all in. Antonio wondered if it was the heat or the feeling of summer and freedom around them he was savoring. When Antonio had spoken however, he'd peeked over at him through one eye.

"What?" Lovino let his head drop and questioned Antonio with both amber eyes.

"We should do something! Don't you think we deserve it after this grueling year? We were worked to the bone, so I think we should reward ourselves!"

"You know, high school will just get harder the further we go." Lovino said.

"Then I do not look forward to that! But for right now…"

And that's how the two came to be sitting across from one another in the booth of a local restaurant. They had sat next to a window where they watched people pass by on foot to visit other shops in the cute outdoor shopping mall they were located in. Antonio and Lovino were both sipping at the treats they had each gotten, chatting aimlessly, but mostly just appreciating the down time. They had been much too busy as of late to ease their exhaustion.

Antonio found himself examining the boy across from him while Lovino's attention was still to his left, watching life occur on the other side of the window as if it was simply passing him by. He had his chin in one hand, elbow propped on the table. The other hand stirred his straw slowly through the thick mixture of his cup. Antonio was still sort of appalled that his best friend had chosen strawberry of all things, but, when he thought about it, he knew he couldn't have expected any less. It kind of suited Lovino in a way. He wondered if the same could be said for him and his own selection of chocolate.

Milkshakes. It had been a milkshake sort of day, they'd decided. But, man, shouldn't everyday be?

Lovino's eyebrows scrunched inward and Antonio frowned. So soon?

"When do you think our scores will be out?" Lovino asked, face still to his left.

"In a few days?" Antonio replied, unsure himself.

Lovino hummed to himself and, after a period of silence in which Antonio hoped the other would drop it, spoke up again. "How do you think you did?"

Antonio fought everything in him not to sigh. It wasn't Lovino's fault he thought so much about this stuff. His mind just somehow always ended up back to the topic of grades, study, school. It just… got a bit much at times. And at least he was trying his best to keep it casual.

Antonio mentally shook himself. You're a supportive friend, Antonio. He told himself. You always make people feel better. So do it now. Come on. Come on. Come on.

"Alright. We did study a lot." Antonio offered his friend a smile. He'd avoided asking the same in response for a reason.

Lovino nodded absently. Before he could stress any longer, Antonio added, "And I'm sure you did too."

He finally looked over, doubt etching his features. Antonio sent him a look that pleaded 'listen to me'. Silently, Lovino nodded. That could mean anything, but Lovino changed the topic. Antonio was glad for that.

"So why aren't you celebrating the last day with your girlfriend?" Lovino asked. It wasn't totally out of the blue; they'd talked about her before, but it took Antonio off guard for some reason. Whenever he was with Lovino, it was like nothing else existed.

Antonio shrugged. "We didn't really have anything planned."

"But you're leaving in a few days." Lovino said, as if pointing something obvious out. Antonio didn't follow.

"Yeah…?"

Lovino sighed and rolled his eyes. "Don't you want to see her before you're gone for a month? That's what couples do, don't they?"

"Oh."

To be honest, Antonio hadn't thought that far ahead. Usually in their relationship Emma was the one deciding things. Where to go. What to do. When to see each other and for how long. Now that he really thought about it, what had he done for their relationship? Sure, he sometimes paid for different things they did and he'd remembered anniversaries and stuff, but was that it? Was that "what couples do"?

"You must really like her, don't you?" Lovino asked, pulling Antonio from his thoughts. Antonio looked up. "I mean, you've been together for a while."

Antonio smiled sheepishly. "It's been two months."

Lovino shrugged his shoulders from where he was sipping at his milkshake. "Look, from what I've seen so far, there are two types of relationships in high school." He held up a finger, punctuating reason number one. "The couple that was together for such a short amount of time that no one even knew they were a thing until after they'd broken up." Another finger up, as if he was throwing a peace sign. "And the couple that's together for practically all four years. Maybe even beyond."

At this Antonio's face must have done something funny without him knowing because Lovino chuckled.

"Don't freak out, idiot. I doubt high school relationships last past the four years most times and, really, I'd worry for you if it did." Then Lovino blushed and looked down, sputtering. "I- I mean! Not that Emma is bad or anything! I'm just saying, the chances aren't high… for it to…" Lovino cleared his throat, throwing his gaze once again out the window. "Yeah."

It was Antonio's turn to chuckle at the other. "I know what you mean, Lovi."

They lapsed into silence again. They were good at that. Silence wasn't difficult for the two or awkward like other people. It was simply a space in time where they could take their time and not worry about the other, because Antonio knew Lovino was just as comfortable in their silences as he was.

"I mean it though." Lovino said. "You really like her."

"What do you mean by that?" Antonio asked, licking some whipped cream from his straw.

"Hm… I don't know. I just mean, you text her a lot and you guys go out, like, every weekend… and she makes you smile too."

This had Antonio raise his eyebrows. "Makes me smile?"

"Yeah." Lovino smiled a little. He looked completely serious for once. "Remember that day Mrs Jones took your phone because she caught you smiling down at it? You were texting Emma, weren't you?"

Antonio blinked, waiting for his mind to catch up. Oh yeah… that had been when they were fighting. Emma had asked if he'd have work after school. "She… was." Antonio said, though something seemed a little off when he remembered it.

Lovino nodded, expecting this and slightly satisfied he had been right. "You guys have a good thing going."

After that the conversation dropped off. Lovino seemed content to finish his milkshake in silence while people-watching out the window. Antonio, on the other hand, seemed to be puzzling something together.

He was forgetting something. Something about that day and the way he was trying to remember it seemed wrong…

He remembered looking down at his phone, reading Emma's message. She'd winked at him from across the classroom, slick so the teacher wouldn't have noticed. And he'd been about to text back when he'd thought of soccer… no, he'd been thinking of soccer before that… no, he'd also thought if it after…

Because he'd been looking at the little charm on his phone - the one Lovino had given him.

And then he'd smiled.

Not because of Emma, but because of Lovino.

Because of Lovino.

Because of Lovino.

Oh shit.

CV: Ooo, what exactly is it that Antonio is thinking? Is he finally... maybe... realizing something!? We can only hope. So the argument at the beginning was about the book Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. It was based off of a question I had in class, but this was a month or two ago so I can't remember the exact details. Reading over it though, I kind of want to make changes to the argument, but figured abstract ideas are already hard enough to convey so I left it. I'd love to hear thoughts on the topic if you've got any though! Come nerd out about British Literature with me~

Thanks, you guys, for keeping up with this story!