Chapter 2:

Nice To Meet You

~New Years Eve~

"Matthew," Mrs. Williams sighed, "Enough for you! It's New Years Eve!" She took her son's book away, effectively ripping Matthew out of his comfy position on the couch. He pouted slightly, annoyed he was interrupted, before his mother continued, "Remember? The teen's party, downstairs? I already laid out your best clothes for you in our room."

"Can I at least have my book back?" Matthew pleaded, needing something familiar to hold on to for the party. Mrs. Williams sized him up before sighing, and handed him back his book. She chuckled before walking away.

Matthew made his way towards their shared room, somewhat nervous about being in an area with a lot of people. He was really shy, and was only able to open up when he was with a close friend or family member. Arriving at his room, Matthew sighed and pushed open the door to get ready.

"C'mon Gil! You wanna be a champion, huh?" a voice echoed in the Lodge's gym.

"Yeah, duh, dad! I'm awesome! Am I going left?" Gil responded, dribbling the basketball a couple times. His dad makes an affirmative noise as Gil faked left, going to his right and shoots.

His dad was just about to compliment Gil when his mother interrupts, "Boys? Did we really fly all this way just to fly basketball?" Mrs. Beilschmidt scolded, shaking her head with a slight smile on her face. Gilbert and Mr. Beilschmidt glanced at each other thoughtfully.

"Yeeaahh," they responded in union. Mrs. Beilschmidt rolled her eyes.

"It's the last night of the vacation!" she explained. They gave her blank looks. "You know, the party…" Taking a look at her family, Mrs. Beilschmidt giggled slightly. They were always such a handful. And quite sweaty, as of right now. "Gilbert, there's a kids party downstairs in the free area."

Gilbert grimaced, "A kids party?"

"A young adult party," she corrected with a huff. "Now go shower up! Go on!"

Matthew walked in the room, surprised at the party. He made his way further in, and his fair skin turned red as a cute girl in a cowboy outfit tipped her hat at him, saying "Howdy sir!" It didn't help that she winked, either. Matthew smiled timidly at her, moving away to find a quieter area. He found a comfortable looking couch and sat down, going back to reading his book.

At the same time, Gilbert made his way into the party, skillfully dodging the large amount of people and drinks there. He glanced around, bored. No one there was awesome enough for him. The people currently finishing up a song from karaoke weren't something to write home about, either. Shrugging to himself, he decided he would just go sit outside or something. With a last glance in the room, Gilbert turned around and headed away from the party.

Near the center of the giant area, there was a small stage. A young man with a microphone stood on it, yelling out, "Well who's gonna be up next?!" The crowd clapped as two spotlights went around the room randomly.

They stopped on Gilbert, who cursed himself for not leaving the party quicker.

And Matthew.

'Of course,' they both groaned to themselves.

"No, wait, no I can't sing! I'm awesome at everything else but I don't sing!" Gilbert protested as people pushed him on to the stage.

Matthew protested as well, but no one could hear him. Unsure at what was even going on, he looked around like a scared animal, being pushed and shoved on to the stage as well.

The MC swung his shoulders around the two teens, laughing. "Ya know, some day, y'all might thank me for this." He handed them microphones and jumped off the stage. Apparently it was karaoke. They glared at him. "Or not, I really don't care."

The music started, the lyrics on the screen, and Matthew could feel himself flushing. He crossed his arms and felt like he was going to cry. Now, Gilbert wasn't the smartest guy in the world, but he could definitely tell that the guy next to him was super anxious. Being the nice guy he is, he sang first.

"Living in my own world / didn't understand." Gil coughed, nervous too, before continuing. "That anything can happen / when you take a chance."

A few seconds of silence later, Gilbert started to walk off the stage, thinking the guy wouldn't sing. But he did. And wow, was his voice was beautiful.

"I never believed in / what I couldn't see / I never opened my heart / to all the possibilities!" Matthew sang, still blushing. He enjoyed singing, but not in front of other people. I guess having someone else helps, he reasoned to himself. Or maybe it was just the atmosphere; either way, he left his shy and invisible self behind, if only for a few minutes, he was the center of attention.

And then they boys sang. Together.

"I know that something has changed / never felt this way / And right here tonight / this could be the start / of something new / It feels so right / to be here with you (ohhh)."

As the song went on, both boys became more comfortable, and Matthew smiled a shy smile at the nameless boy singing beside him. A bright, charismatic smile was easily returned. Matthew thought, despite the protests and complaints from the boy, that he had a nice voice. He couldn't help but think their voices complemented each other.

Gilbert pulled out a few dance moves, and the party turned its attention to the couple, clapping in time with the music. Both boys were full of smiles, keeping their attention on each other. Matthew giggled, looking away when the boy next to him held the microphone like he was from the 1960s.

By the end of the song, Matthew had completely left his shyness behind, and was letting loose. He started dancing as well, and almost fell off the stage, but was thankfully caught by the MC and pushed back.

"This could be the start / of something new," they finished in unison, their faces too close for comfort.

"Gilbert," the teenager with the white hair said, quickly introducing himself. 'Ah, a name to a face,' Matthew thought to himself. Gilbert held out his hand for a handshake, and he obliged.

"Matthew," he replied, his face red.

"But seriously," Gilbert exclaimed, leading them outside for the New Year's Countdown, "You have an amazing voice! You're have to be a singer, right?"

"Just choir," Matthew shook his head. "I tried a solo one time, and nearly fainted."

"Really? Why?"

"I saw all the people looking at me," he explained shyly, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks, "The next thing I knew, I was staring at the ceiling."

"But you were totally awesome in there!" Gilbert protested.

Matthew shook his head again, "That was the first time I've ever done something like that." He paused, thinking what to say next. "What about you? You sounded pretty good, you must have done a lot of singing."

"Ha!" Gilbert laughed, "Yeah, if you count my shower head, I'm a real star."

They both chuckled, looking at each other for a moment, before glancing away out of embarrassment. In the background, the countdown to midnight was gaining momentum, getting closer and louder.

"3… 2… 1…" The crowd chanted, "Happy New Year!"

Gilbert glanced at Matthew, obviously thinking something. He met Gilbert's gaze, and they both looked away awkwardly. The fireworks began, and Matthew nudged him, and they watched the display for a few quiet moments.

"Um," Matthew interrupted, backing away. The adrenaline from the duet was finally wearing off, and he was more shy than ever. "I better, uh, go find my mom. Tell her Happy New Year and stuff."

"Yeah," Gilbert nodded, "Me too. Well, wait, not your mom, my mom… and dad..."

Matthew chuckled, a shy smile on his face. The two teenagers were quiet for a moment, before Gilbert quickly broke the silence.

"Hey, hey! I'll call you tomorrow! Gimme your phone!"

He complied, giving Gilbert his own phone and taking his, putting his number in quickly, while the other boy did the same.

Gilbert looked off the balcony, enjoying the buzz of the crowd, and the new falling snow. He stretched his arms over his head, and not noticing that Matthew had quietly slipped away, started rambling.

"You know, singing with you was the most fun I had on this vacation," Gilbert smiled, and then chuckled. "This, uh, might be a little late, but where do you live… oh." He scanned the balcony, seeing if he could see the blond teenager from moments before, but had no luck. Sighing, he looked down at his new contact.

"Matthew, huh?"