I HAVE A VALID EXCUSE BUT I'M GOING TO SPARE YOU ALL AND JUST GET ON WITH THE CHAPTER

Chapter 5: How to Make Small Talk Part 2

Julchen and Matthew sat side by side on the Peeters' porch—because, despite the unusually hot October weather, it was the only place in the house that they could go without being bombarded by people that Lovino had contacted—in a comfortable quiet.

"You know, Birdie," Julchen cracked the silence and her knuckles simultaneously, "I think we've seen almost everyone that goes to our school."

And then Matthew, who was sure that his mouth was determined to ruin this for him, blushed slightly and said, "And they all seem to think we're dating."

Matthew was too concerned with mentally bashing his head into the deck to notice that Julchen's cheeks also flushed. "Yeah. I mean, do we even look like a couple?"

Admittedly, they had spent a good ten minutes of the party with their fingers interlocked, and there had been several instances where Julchen had been holding onto and/or hanging over him, but overall, "I don't think so," But I wish we did.

A few moments of silence, then, "I'm really glad we're friends, Birdie."

Matthew turned his head so quickly, he was sure he'd have whiplash, "Eh?"

"I mean," Julchen waved her hands, her eyes stubbornly not meeting Matthew's own wide ones, "Tonio and Franny are great and all, but it's nice to have someone outside the trio, you know? Like, Toni has the Vargas' - he pretty much claimed them when he met them - and Francis has at least two close friends beside us, but I never really had anyone. Not before I met you."

"Jules... I-"

"I know what you're thinking, 'Gee! If Jules doesn't have any friends, then who are all those people she hangs with?' and they're okay, but if I was dying and I could only chose like 1 person to hang out with before it happened, none of them would even be in my top 20 choices. And it's so dumb because I'm fucking awesome, I should be able to keep close friends, but I always accidentally end up pushing them away or they get tired of me, and I'm sure that you and Tonio and Franny will eventually, but you haven't yet and I just-"

"Jules." Matthew grabbed her rapidly gesturing hands and smiled softly into her wide and slightly wet eyes, "I'm glad we're friends too."

And, if anyone asked, Julchen Beilschmidt definitely did not end up crying into Matthew's shoulder while he rubbed calming circles on her back.

They stayed there for a while, enjoying each others company, until Julchen was sure that her face wasn't a puffy, red, tear-stained mess, then decided to brave the house again.

"Maybe we should go find Ms. Peeters? We could ask her and then thank her for the party." Matthew suggested after Julchen admitted that she had no idea how to get back to the basement.

Julchen only sighed in response, like she was explaining the complexities of the universe to a child, "Look, Birdie, you may think it's rude but this guy that Lotte's dating is my cousin. He's captain of the archery team and super creepy and protective and he could skewer the wings off a fly from a hundred feet away if he wanted. You wouldn't want to meet him."

Matthew hummed, still unconvinced, and was actually extremely happy when a feminine voice called out to them as they walked.

"Yoohoo! Jules!"

"Ugh, we can only hope that she's not with Jorgen Von Shooter," Julchen groaned quietly before slapping on a smile and turning to the blonde behind them. "Hey Lots, this party is totally awesome."

The headbanded girl bounced happily, "Wonderful! You just missed Vash, you know; he went to drop Lily back off at their house a couple minutes ago, but oh well." Julchen's grin turned a notch more sincere as Lotte glanced at Matthew the same way that everyone that they had talked to had glanced at him. He inwardly sighed, preparing for the worst. "Anyway, who's your friend?"

"He's not my boyfr-" Julchen started robotically, trailing off and squinting at Lotte when it processed that she had just said 'friend'.

"Oh dear," Lotte covered her mouth in surprise and innocence, although the light in her eyes told Matthew that this had been her plan. "Someone is really, completely unnecessarily, defensive today. You know, Vash used to act just like that before-"

"Matthew Williams," Matthew's inner gentleman cringed as he spoke over Lotte, but he was sure that his face resembled a rose and Julchen looked like she wanted to punch something, "Pleasure to meet you."

Lotte took his hand with a grin, "Lovely to meet you as well. You're so much nicer than Julchen's other friends."

"Lars hating Tonio because of middle school doesn't give you cause to," Julchen seemed to actually growl in defense of one of her best friends.

"It doesn't, does it? Good thing that annoying Iberian provides me plenty of other reasons to dislike him, then!" Lotte held a hand up to silence any objections from Julchen. "It was nice seeing you both, and I hope you have a wonderful night! I have a party to keep under control, but the basement is right over there, third door down the hallway, if that's what you're looking for."

Julchen seethed as Lotte flounced off. "I don't get what's up with her. She and Lars and 'Vino are the only people I can think of that don't like Tonio. Well, them and Gwenie, but she at least acts like she can stand him most of the time."

"Maybe it's an 'L' thing?" Matthew suggested, hoping to at least get her to smile, "They probably have secret 'L' name meetings to decide on who to hate, and Antonio just keeps getting unlucky."

Julchen snorted and ruffled his hair. "You always know just what to say, Birdie."

As soon as they got to the basement, Lovino grabbed Matthew.

"Thank god you're back. Guinevere and the bastard are fighting about the elusive shit that went on in 8th grade again."

"Again?" Matthew questioned. This was the second time he'd heard something about fighting tonight.

Julchen spared him a glance that said It's out of your depth, and addressed Lovino, "Why didn't Fran stop them?"

Lovino rolled his eyes, "Because they have 'unresolved tensions' and they 'need this'. Fucking Frenchmen." Julchen huffed and Lovino carried on, "Anyway, you have to stop them. It's annoying as hell and they won't even tell me why the fuck they're arguing."

"Yeah, yeah, I wi-Wait, you're leaving?"

"Duh. It's getting late and I have to drop off the potatoette and Matteo. I don't have time to deal with these assholes."

Matthew wondered if he was going to get any say in whether or not they stayed, but as Lovino was incredibly stubborn and his ride home, he didn't see any point in arguing it.

"Oh, um, okay," Julchen smiled, looking almost sheepish, before quickly hugging Matthew. "See you on Monday, Matt?"

Matthew felt like he was floating. "Yeah, see you then!"

THIS ARC IS FINALLY OVER HALLELUJAH

Jesus christ that took forever. Anyway, about the Jules crying thing, that has literally happened to me. I broke into sobs on a friend (that I had a crush on) at a party because friendship.

ANYWHO! the 8th grade part is going to be a thing by the way (So is the Lotte Hates Antonio thing. Lotte is going to be important, if not in this one, then in Lovino's). It will be explained in the eventually coming companion fic that will focus on Fem!Iggy and... FRUKUS! Why? Because I like frukus and after I declared fruk the winner, a bunch of usuk people flocked here and why have love triangles when you can have the amazingness that is a polyamourus relationship amirite

I think that's all, and I have to be up in less than 4 hours, so good night!