The next morning as he walked to school, he was actually looking forward to seeing Gilbert. Not because of anything his Papa said, but because it seemed like Gilbert wouldn't be forgetting him anytime soon. As he walked up to the school, he noticed a shock of white against the ugly brown building. He knew it was Gilbert, and he hurried up to greet him when he noticed he wasn't alone.

Gilbert was pressing some girl against the wall, making out with her, despite the biting cold. He had opened his mouth to speak but his throat constricted at the sight of this.

His good mood plummeted and he ran inside, away from Gilbert and the girl.

He made it to first hour and immediately put his head down, holding back his emotions of anger and sadness. He thought that he got what he wanted, a friend, nothing more. He had denied Gilbert liking him yesterday, and it turned out to be true. So then why did he feel crushed? The little voice in his head was laughing at his stupidity. He tried to block it out, but it was impossible. He shook slightly, clenching his hands into fists. He knew he could burst out crying in class and nobody would notice. And that only served to piss him off further.

"Birdie, what's wrong?" Gilbert asked moments later, gently touching his shoulder. Of course, it would be Gilbert. He looked up at him, holding back his tears still.

"N-Nothing," he said and swallowed thickly. He couldn't blame Gilbert for anything. All his problems started way before he met him. Gilbert just happened to be that one person to notice him. Matthew didn't want to bother him with his feelings. He could just bottle it all up, like always.

"You're lying again," Gilbert accused.

He shrugged and the bell rang, saving him from further interrogation. "Y-You have t-to s-sit down."

"Like hell I will," Gilbert said and set his hands on Matthew's desk, leaning over to look closer at him. "Now answer my question."

He looked down at the desk, some hair falling in his face. "I-I'm fine," he said softly, setting his hands in his lap.

"Birdie, you're not fine," Gilbert argued.

"Gilbert, please sit down," the teacher told him impatiently.

"But I'm trying to-"

"Now," the teacher interrupted. Gilbert glared but didn't move. "Did you hear me? Sit down or I'm sending you to the office."

Gilbert muttered something in German and went to his seat, everyone in class watching him. Matthew sighed in relief. But not two minutes later, his phone vibrated in his pocket and he jumped. No one seemed to even glance as him. As usual. He pulled out his phone and saw it was a text from Gilbert, who was sitting just three rows away.

Tell me what's wrong!

He glanced over at Gilbert to see him already looking at him. He mouthed the words he'd just texted and Matthew shook his head, putting his phone away. Even if he wanted to tell him, he didn't have the time. It would be a long story.

He tried to listen as the teacher talked about an upcoming project, but he just couldn't pay attention. Partly because Gilbert kept sending him texts, which he deliberately ignored by turning his phone on silent. The teacher quickly found out and made Gilbert hand over his phone, which he did begrudgingly.

Matthew sighed and knew this was going to be a long day. His first 3 classes dragged on, so by lunch, he was ready to go home. Francis had packed his lunch that morning like he promised, so he walked outside. It was freezing still, but he liked it better than being inside. He opened his lunch and nibbled on his food, not very hungry.

"Hallo, Birdie!" Gilbert yelled across the courtyard and walked over. He plopped down across from him and smiled. "How's your day been?" Matthew stared at his tray and shrugged. "So about this morning... are you still feeling sick? Or is it something else?" He shrugged again, not wanting to answer anything. "It's something else isn't it? I can tell so don't say it isn't. If something's wrong, maybe I can help."

Matthew finally looked over at him. Gilbert had a look of genuine concern on his face.

"You c-can't-" his voice broke off and he shook his head, looking back down at the table.

A moment later, an arm slung around his shoulders. He jumped in surprise, even though he knew it was Gilbert. "Well I can't help if you don't tell me."

Matthew shook his head, "I-It's fine. D-Don't worry about i-it."

"Wait, what did you say?"

"I-I said, d-don't worry about i- it," he sighed.

Gilbert started laughing and he looked up at him in alarm. "I heard what you said but I've never heard anyone say it like that!"

"W-What?" Matthew asked, clearly confused.

"The way you said 'about'. It sounded like 'a boot'," he cackled.

He frowned. "W-What's wrong with th-the way I-I say about?"

He smiled and nudged him. "Nothing. Where the hell are you from?"

"Y-You a-already know. C-Canada," he answered, allowing a bit of pride to swell in his voice.

"Oh, yeah! That's so awesome!"

"R-Really?" He asked. His brother teased him for being from Canada, but in reality, they were both Canadian. Alfred just refused to accept it. How did he think twins were born?

"Of course! Is it true they're always so polite and nice?"

Matthew shrugged and muttered, "have you met Al?"

He hadn't meant for Gilbert to hear that but Gilbert laughed loudly. "Mein Gott that's so true!"

Matthew laughed a little and a blush dusted his cheeks. Gilbert noticed and smirked, continuing to talk.

Soon the bell rang and he walked Matthew to his next class, talking to him the whole time. Matthew listened, almost genuinely interested. Almost. Gilbert was a little too... arrogant, no, narcissistic for his own good. It was kind of funny... in an annoying sort of way.

During fourth hour, he tentatively raised his hand to answer questions, but was never called on. Even when the rest of the class didn't participate, and he was the only one, the teacher looked through him. This happened all the time, but once in awhile he got lucky enough to be called on. This just wasn't one of those times. With a sigh, he attended fifth hour, where he took a math test on what he was supposed to learn yesterday. Finally, in sixth hour, Gilbert poked his arm the whole hour and talked to him, getting into trouble with the teacher a few times.

Even so, Gilbert was still went on about what was wrong with Matthew, even though he kept telling the other boy he was fine. He was even almost starting to convince himself he was fine until after school.

He had just closed his locker when his head was slammed into the metal. He groaned as his head spun, trying to catch up with what just happened. A hand fisted in his shirt collar and yanked Matthew toward the person. It was one of the football jocks by the looks of it. He snarled at Matthew and held him so close to his face, his feet could barely touch the ground.

"Jones," he breathed hot breath into his face. Matthew stared at him in fear and helplessness. "Do you know what you did?" Matthew continued to stare. The other one growled and shook him, "you know what you did! Don't look so stupid and innocent!"

"I-I-" Matthew attempted to speak but the jock cut him off by slamming him into the lockers once more. He gasped in pain as a lock jammed into his spine. Moments later, a fist was slamming into his face, directly to his nose.

He cried out in pain as he felt something crack and his glasses crushed against his face.

The pain was dizzying and his vision blacked out. When he opened his eyes again, he was sliding to the floor. He heard laughing and the jock kicked his stomach, making him cough violently. "Stay away from me and my girl, Jones!" He threatened one last time and he left with his posse.

Matthew caught his breath and pushed himself up so he was sitting, leaning his head against the lockers. He took off his glasses, his nose throbbing. His glasses were crooked and messed up, but so was his nose. He looked up and saw only a few people in the hall, completely ignoring the injured boy on the floor. There were no teachers either, no one that even tried to break up the fight.

He shakily stood up, placing his backpack on and holding his glasses in his hand. He trudged home, alone, and holding back tears of frustration and pain. He hated being beat up because of his brother. He hated it! But there just wasn't anything he could do about it. He thought about trying to hit back but the one time he tried that, it just made things worse. All he could do was take it and try to stay strong.

He walked inside and immediately went to his room to drop his bag on the ground. He set his glasses down and went into the bathroom to examine his nose. It was black and blue, swelling, but thankfully looked straight still. He grabbed a tissue and wiped the blood that was dripping out of his nose. Then he gingerly touched the bridge of his nose and gasped at the shock of pain. He wondered if he should bother to tell someone or if it would heal without seeing a doctor. He would just have to be careful.

Matthew went into the kitchen and grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer. He wrapped it in a cloth and set in on his nose, pain coursing through him as he waited for the cold to take over. He got a glass of water and Ibuprofen, and took that. He leaned against the counter and took a few deep, shaky breaths, trying to calm down.

Once he pulled himself together, he walked back to his room, not seeing anyone in his family. Not like they would see him anyways.

He went to his dresser and grabbed his back up pair of glasses. He always had a back up pair, in case of instances like these. He set them carefully on his nose, wincing at the pain, before deciding to just leave them off. It wasn't like he had anything to see. Contrary to popular belief, people who were farsighted, like him and Alfred, could see perfectly fine up close.

He opened his laptop and watched another episode of Supernatural, trying to ignore his own pain and focus on what kind of creature or demon was on a rampage now. That was pretty much he did all day. He even skipped dinner, his sore stomach not up for food. No one came to check up on him, probably didn't even notice he was missing. He thought he'd gotten through the whole day without any more social activity when he received a text at ten o' clock. From none other than Gilbert.

What's up Birdie?

Watching Supernatural. He reluctantly texted back.

You watch that too!?

Yea

That's awesome!

I guess

Maybe we could watch it together some time. What episode are you on?

Matthew stared at the text and considered this. Gilbert actually wanted to watch it with him? It was still hard to believe he was even texting him.

Season 5, episode 2.

Awesome, I just started season 5! I'll catch up so we can watch it and you can listen to my awesome commentary.

Yea. Sounds like fun

He talked with Gilbert until he fell asleep an hour later. He awoke to a throbbing nose and a splitting headache. He decided to take another day off. He wasn't one to play hooky, but sometimes he needed to stay home. Not like his B average was going to get better any time soon.

He fell asleep again and this time woke up at noon. He got up and went to the bathroom. He checked his nose and it looked worse, if anything. He sighed and used the bathroom. When he walked out, he heard a loud moan... Coming from his parents room. He groaned and quickly shut the door to his room. He shoved his ear buds in and turned on his laptop, trying to block out the sound and forget what he'd heard.

Didn't his parents have jobs? He hoped an episode of Supernatural would block out the sound of their... activities.

While the intro played, his phone buzzed, startling him slightly, and he picked it up. He had a few messages from Gilbert he had received while sleeping.

Where are ya Birdie?
Missing out on all the fun!
The lunch table looks lonely outside.
Skipping school is so not awesome of you!

I'm sorry, I don't feel good. He texted back, thinking that it was mostly true. He definitely didn't feel good.

Do you need me to come over and help you feel better?

No thanks

He shook his head at the implications of the last text. Gilbert reminded him of an easily jealous girlfriend when he texted: often, with growing impatience, concern, and sexual tendencies. It was funny and annoying at the same time.

Gilbert continued to text him while he watched the show, and Matthew wondered if he'd get his phone taken away for texting in class again. Surprisingly, he didn't, somehow evading the eyes of the teacher. He asked again if Matthew wanted him to make things feel better, and he politely declined once more.

I really couldn't help myself with the FrUk there, they don't get much attention in this story, so sad I know! And I'm on a Supernatural kick so yes, there's going to be quite a bit of it mentioned in here (sorry to those of you who don't like it or watch it). Also that really mean guy, just a small OC. I can't make any of them so mean to Mattie, I wouldn't be able to look at them the same. Anyways, I hope you liked, more to come soon! I send out my love to all of you in the spirit of Valentines day!