A/N: Hey guys! Here's another update for you! I've started college recently, so updates may be a little hectic and sporadic at the moment. I swear I won't forget you or my stories, though!

.

Arthur laid on his hotel bed that night, pondering what the next day was going to be like. He was going to be on the road for about eight hours before he reached this guy's house. Why did everyone have to live so far apart? It was frustrating. Then again, it was an adventure. He had to remember that. And what was an adventure without travel? It wasn't like he hated driving anyway. But eight hours? Thank the Man Upstairs for podcasts!

He wondered how it was going to be when he was finally reunited with Alfred. Would they hug? Would they fight? There was no telling what three years of bitterness had done to him. Then again, everyone had been telling him that Alfred wasn't bitter, but how was he supposed to believe that? Those people hadn't been there for their final conversation. They didn't know what the two had said to each other, those words that could make someone's blood run cold.

Was this right of him to do? If Alfred still cared, why hadn't he reached out? Why did Arthur have to reach out first? It was all so confusing. What did it all mean? Why did he have to go on this wild goose chase to find him? Was this some scheme of Alfred's? Why did he have to know everything that had happened since their falling out? Was there a point to all of it?

Knowing he was going to give himself a headache with all of these questioning thoughts, he stuck his earbuds into his ears and closed his eyes, switching off the bedside lamp. He hoped that a deep and restful sleep would claim him soon and bring forward tomorrow. Perhaps then, some questions deep inside of him could be answered.

.

Arthur was on the road the next morning before the sun had even risen. He wanted to reach his destination early enough to talk to the guy. His green eyes went to the clock on his dashboard as the lights switched to the next number. 5:27AM. Though he had barely slept, he felt refreshed. Maybe it was the two coffees he had before driving. Either way, he was wide awake, his podcasts blaring from his car speakers.

One thing was troubling him. He hadn't spoken to Elizaveta since she had hung up on him the night before. It didn't really bother him too much, considering that she was a bit temperamental at times. There were times when he honestly wondered how they were still together, considering how they fought 95% of the time. Sometimes, he would think to himself that if they were to break up during one of their fights, he may even feel relieved.

He sighed as he saw the beginnings of the sunrise on the horizon. At least he would witness the beauty of the sunrise as he drove. For someone like him, a sunrise was a rare sight. If he wasn't fully motivated by the thought of making up with Alfred before leaving the country for school, there was no way Arthur would even think about being up that early in the morning.

Even on school days, he would sleep until the very last minute, and spend fifteen minutes rushing around the house and getting ready before heading out. Arthur Kirkland most certainly was not a morning person. He firmly believed that it wasn't in his blood, although his parents were always awake before dawn. How they could manage to do that every single morning was beyond him.

He began to ponder what type of a person this Gilbert Beilschmidt was. If he was a friend of Alfred's, did that mean he could be trusted? Would Gilbert be hostile at first like Natalia? His head spun with questions. How was he going to manage this entire trip if this was how he was going to be thinking before meeting each person?

Then his mind went to Alfred. For as long as Arthur had known him, that boy had always been straightforward, almost to a fault. Alfred's honesty would sometimes get him in trouble with people because he always stated specifically what was on his mind and took on confrontations head-on. It left Arthur to wonder why he had to jump through so many hoops to get to his former best friend. Why was Alfred hiding behind everyone? This wasn't the Alfred he knew. What had happened to him?

.

Arthur pulled up outside of an apartment building around two that afternoon. It most definitely looked like someone his age lived in it, in the sense that it didn't exactly look like where a family would be living together. Then again, you could never be too sure.

He got out of his car, making sure to lock it tight behind him, and headed up the outer flight of stairs to the apartment on the second floor. Stopping at the apartment number on the paper, he reached out and knocked on the door. His heart raced a little in his chest. He felt ridiculous, going to a complete stranger's home to find a friend of his, but if this was what Alfred wanted, it was what he would do. Even if he hated it.

The door flew open and a man with striking white hair, pale skin, and red pupils stood in its place. His eyes widened at the sight of him. "So you're Arthur!" he excitedly greeted. "It's great to finally meet you! I'm Gilbert! Come on in!" He led the way into a small studio apartment. "Please ignore the mess. I broke up with my boyfriend recently, and he still hasn't come for his shit."

Arthur looked around. The entire apartment was spotless other than a small, neat pile of clothes with a few music books on top of it. "You're good," he slowly said, failing to see any sort of mess. "And yes, I'm Arthur Kirkland. You must be Gilbert Beilschimdt."

"Call me Gil!" the other man enthusiastically replied, grinning from ear to ear. "Could I interest you in something to eat or drink? It must've been a long drive from Nat's place to here."

"I'm good," the blond replied, sitting down in a lounge chair in the living room section of the studio. "I assume you know why I'm here."

"Of course I do!" Gilbert replied, tossing himself onto the couch. "It's my job to tell you about Al. You are here to listen to what I have to say about him. Granted, I can only tell you my side of things, but once you're done here, you'll really start seeing the bigger picture. Toris would never shut up about how my role is the most important." He rolled his eyes. "Seriously, that guy can get the stick out of his ass before I shove it further up there by force."

Arthur blinked in surprise. This man was much more peculiar than he had originally imagined. He wasn't sure how this was going to go, but at least he was certain that Gilbert wouldn't be glaring daggers at him for an entire afternoon. For that, he was grateful. "So where does your story begin?" he asked.

The albino grinned. "It begins right where Natalia's left off. Exactly one week later. Let me tell you, at that time, Al was so fucking pathetic. He was wandering around school like a kicked puppy. At that time, he and Toris were still fighting, so he had no one to sit with but Charlie. That girl is a fucking angel, that's for sure. One afternoon, I just happened to stumble across their table. I guess you could say it was a lucky chance."

.

Three Years Previous

"Hey, are you sure you're okay, Alfie Jones?" Charlotte asked her friend, placing a hand over his. "The expression on your face this past week just makes me want to build you a blanket fortress to keep you happily in there until the end of time." She sighed. "What can I do to cheer you up? I'll do anything to make you smile again."

Before Alfred could reply, a lunch tray was dropped on the table with a loud crash. The two looked up to see an upperclassman with albinism smirking down at them. "This spot taken?" he asked, sitting down before they could reply. "I've seen you around, kid." He pointed at Alfred. "Word on the street is that you're a genius. Is it true?"

"I guess you could say that I'm smart," Alfred quietly replied. He looked up at the boy across the table from him. "I'm Alfred Jones, and you are?"

"Gil," the other boy replied with a grin. "This your girlfriend?"

Charlotte glared daggers at Gilbert as Alfred reacted as if he had been unexpectedly punched in the gut. "Do you have any decency?" she demanded. She leaned across the table and muttered, "His girlfriend dumped him and moved across the country last week."

"How was I supposed to know?" Gilbert hissed back. He cast Alfred an awkward smile. "Hey, I didn't know, Al. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up any bad feelings. Are you okay?" He reached across the table to pat the blond's shoulder. "You know, if you ever need some bro time to help you get over her or whatever, I've got you, okay?"

Alfred let out a cynical laugh. "You sure about that, Gil?" he asked. "The last 'bro' of mine that I had dropped me like a bad habit the moment I started dating my girlfriend. And the one before him…" His voice trailed off as he thought about Arthur. "Nevermind."

Noticing Gilbert's confused expression, Charlotte quickly changed the subject. "So, Gil, what grade are you in? Alfie Jones and I are freshmen, but I saw you drive to school this morning, so I know you sure as hell aren't."

"My car gave it away?" the older boy laughed. "I'm a senior, bitches. This is my final year in this hellhole, and I'm so stoked about it!" He grinned manically before digging into his lunch. "I've got a little brother who is a grade ahead of you, but the little jerk doesn't even say hi to me in school," he complained between bites. "It's kinda depressing, y'know?"

A small smile made its way to the blond boy's face. "I'll say hi to you in school," he offered. "I may not be your brother, but everyone deserves a friendly greeting in the mornings."

The albino dropped his spork and laughed. "You're funny, Al! I think you've mistaken me for someone who has no friends." He puffed up his chest and jabbed his thumb into it as a gesture to himself. "I happen to be one of the most popular guys in my grade. I just chose to sit with you two because you looked like you needed cheering up. See how nice I am?"

"That's very kind of you, Gil," Alfred replied, smile growing wider. "Thanks. I don't know how you knew, but I really needed it today. It's been a bit rough." The bell rang, signaling ten minutes until class started again. "I should probably get going now. I have AP Chemistry across the school, and I don't want to be late." He stood up and grabbed his tray. "Also, if you see me in the hallway and don't say hi, I'll understand. I am just some random freshman, after all."

When the blond turned around to leave the table, Gil stood up and grabbed his arm, leaning across the table. "What's with that kind of parting?" he asked. "You think I won't say hi to you because you're a freshman? Well, let me tell you something about that. Normally, I won't say hi to freshmen in the hallway because getting to know them would be a waste of time, considering I don't have much time left in this school." He smiled at Alfred. "But you're an exception, Al. You can guarantee that any time I see you in the hallway, I'll acknowledge it."

The other boy's cheeks flushed. "Thank you, Gil. I'm flattered." He grinned. "And I'll always be sure to say hi back!"

"You better!" the albino boy called out as the two freshmen left the table.

.

Present Day

Gilbert sighed and smiled to himself. "That boy is one of a kind, for sure," he sighed, reminiscing. "And to think, Arthur, you knew that before any of us did." He frowned to himself. "If only I was able to have more time with him, then maybe things wouldn't be the way they are right now between us."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked, leaning toward the other man. "I don't quite understand what you mean."

"If I wouldn't have had to go to college, then maybe I could've helped Al." He glanced over at the man in the chair across the small area. "No offense to you or anything, Arthur, but if I could've had a little more time with him, maybe I could have helped him move on from you."

"Move on?" the blond asked. "What do you mean?"

Gilbert smirked. "You mean to tell me you don't know?" He let out a wild laugh. "Please tell me you're joking! How could you not have known?!" At Arthur's confused expression, he sat straight up, jaw dropping. "Are you serious, Arthur?!" He cast the blond a manic grin. "Alfred was head-over-heels in love with you!"