The next day, Matthew decided he should go to school before he got too far behind on work. He put a band aid over his nose that morning to keep the swelling down. It looked stupid but nobody would even notice, so he didn't care.
He grabbed the homework he missed yesterday from the absent folder and read it over. It was an introduction to the project they did yesterday at his house. He was about to stuff it in his bag, but jumped when hands landed on his desk. He looked up to see Gilbert.
"We didn't watch supernatural together yesterday," he said, looking completely serious.
"O-Oh," he said, setting down the paper, "S-Sorry."
"We have to watch it today, okay?" Gilbert said and smiled as Matthew nodded in compliance. "Awesome. And then we can finish the project or something."
"O-Okay," Matthew agreed and got out his folder, putting the paper in. It turned out that they got the class period to work on the project. Which for most of the people in class meant screwing around. This included Gilbert, who moved over to a group of people to talk. The girls were giggling and were practically throwing themselves at Gilbert and the other guys. That's why he didn't like girls.
Wait... what did he just think? He blinked and looked away from them. What he meant to think was those girls. Those specific, slutty girls, flirting with Gilbert. That's what he meant to think. Well... not because they were flirting with Gilbert. He could care less who flirted with him.
He sighed and stopped his line of thinking before his could confuse himself more. So he attempted to do the project. He tried to read about the Austrian succession from a textbook, but every time he heard Gilbert laugh or say something, he lost focus. Obviously something was wrong with himself today. He just wasn't sure what. He spent the rest of the hour reading the textbook and listening to Gilbert. The next few classes he was able to completely focus just fine, and he figured he wasn't awake enough to concentrate first hour. That sounded right.
At lunch, he sat outside. By some miracle, his papa remembered to make his lunch so he began eating that. Gilbert soon sat across from him, which didn't surprise him. "How's your nose, Birdie?" he said by way of greeting.
"F-Fine, I guess," he said and shrugged.
"Good. Did you have fun last night?"
Matthew thought back to yesterday and looked down at the table to hide a small smile at the memory. "Y-Yeah."
"Awesome. I was thinking we could go back tonight."
"Oh, um, o-okay," he agreed.
Gilbert grinned, "It's gonna be even more fun, just wait and see." Matthew nodded and got up to throw the rest of his lunch away.
After that, he went to his last classes which were uneventful. Gilbert came over after school and they watched Supernatural together. Al was, thankfully, somewhere else, so they got to watch it in peace.
"Dean is so gay for Castiel," Gilbert proclaimed.
Matthew laughed, "Y-Yea he is. Did y-you hear about s-season eleven?"
"Ja! I'm so excited because I might get to watch it on TV if I watch the other six seasons fast enough," Gilbert said and bounced on the bed slightly.
He nodded and smiled, "Th-That would be c-cool."
Gilbert grinned and watched the show with him. They watched two episodes, almost finished the report, then watched another two episodes. By the time Gilbert said to leave for the park, it was getting dark.
They walked to the park, the air cooler than yesterday, but not bothering him much. There wasn't anybody there due to the late hour and temperature, so they had the whole place to themselves.
"Oi, Birdie," Gilbert said and Matthew looked at him. Gilbert poked his shoulder. "You're it," he laughed and ran away, toward the play structure.
Matthew rolled his eyes but chased after him. Gilbert ran onto the structure and Matthew pursued. He followed Gilbert down a slide, under the structure, and up a miniature rock wall. Gilbert laughed and taunted him the whole time. Until Matthew caught him, of course.
"You're it, Gil," he grinned and ran off.
But Gilbert just stood there. Matthew stopped and looked at him. "W-What's wrong?"
"You didn't stutter," Gilbert said and grinned, "you said three complete words."
"O-Oh," Matthew said, feeling embarrassed.
"That's progress, Birdie," he said and ran over, tagging him. "You're it again."
Matthew tried hitting him back immediately but Gilbert kept just out of his reach. He ran toward the swings and he ran after.
Gilbert sat down on the same swing as last time. Matthew stopped in front of him and tapped his arm.
"I g-got you," he said, catching his breath.
"That you did, Birdie. Sit down and swing now," Gilbert said, kicking off the ground.
Matthew sat and started swinging.
They stayed quiet for a few minutes, the creaking of the swing set the only sound.
"This thing needs some WD-40," Gilbert said.
Matthew glanced up at the hinges and nodded. "Y-Yeah," he agreed and looked back to Gilbert. It was so dark now that he could just make out Gilbert's outline in the moonlight. He hadn't even noticed how dark it had gotten.
"Do you think we're too old to play on swings?"
"You're n-never too old," Matthew said, swinging a little higher. The cold air stung his face but it barely bothered him.
"So we could be like 60 and come to the park to swing? Wouldn't that be creepy?"
He laughed, "M-maybe if y-you bring your grand kids it w-would be okay."
"Good idea. I'd be an awesome grandpa," Gilbert grinned. Well, he couldn't see his grin, so much as hear it in his voice.
"I-I bet y-you would," Matthew agreed.
Gilbert stopped his swing and pulled out his phone. His screen lit up, almost blinding in the darkness. "It's almost 9," he stated and moved his thumbs quickly over the screen, probably texting someone back.
"D-Did you want t-to go?" Matthew asked, stopping as well.
"No, I don't have a curfew or anything. Unless you do."
"N-No, I can s-stay."
Gilbert grinned and pocketed his phone, the darkness swallowing them once again. "Awesome."
"Y-You say that a l-lot."
"Because it's an awesome word," Gilbert said and leaned toward him. Matthew could see his red eyes now, which looked almost black in the darkness. "Don't you think so?"
Matthew laughed slightly, "Y-Yea. Awesome i-is a pretty g-good word."
"Do you have a favorite word, Birdie?"
"N-Not really."
"Well then we're gonna find you one," Gilbert said. He put his hand around the swing chain and pulled him closer. "Okay?"
"O-Okay," Matthew agreed.
"Come here, I want to try something," Gilbert said quietly, tightening his hand around the chains.
"W-What?" Matthew asked, staying in place.
"Just... come here. Don't you trust me?" Gilbert asked, his voice wavering. He seemed a little nervous, but he had no idea why.
"Um, y-yeah," he said and leaned closer. He could now see Gilbert's features better, but his eyes settled on his lips. "S-So, what a-are you gonna d-do?"
Gilbert smiled and closed the few inches of space between their lips. He pressed his lips against Matthew's, and all he could do was sit in shock for a moment. Gilbert was kissing him. That's all he could think during those few seconds that felt like minutes before Gilbert pulled back.
He felt incredibly hot even though it was freezing outside and his heart was beating hard. Gilbert was looking at him, seemingly calm.
"I... I..." he couldn't say anything, just stare at Gilbert who was still very close to him.
"Birdie, your lips are really soft," Gilbert said lowly and even more heat rose to his cheeks, if that was possible.
"O-Oh, um..."
"You're cute when you're flustered. I mean, you're always cute, but even more so."
"C-Cute?" Matthew stammered, still not fully processing that a guy just kissed him.
"Ja, you're cute. And funny, and smart and... and I really, really like you." Gilbert said, smiling almost shyly, like he'd used up all his confidence.
"Y-You... l-like m-me?" Matthew asked, only able to repeat what Gilbert said.
"Well, um, Ja... since the day I met you." Gilbert said and let the chain go. Matthew's swing swung sideways but he kept his eyes firmly locked on Gilbert, who looked down at his knees and continued talking. "I know it's only been a few days and, um, it's way too soon to even think that but... whenever I look at you I can't think straight and... and when you smile or laugh it's just... beautiful."
Matthew stared at him wordlessly, not knowing what to say. So Gilbert let the silence hang there for a few minutes, which was awkward but with a sense of that same peace from earlier.
"You should smile more. I want to help you smile more," Gilbert said and cast his eyes toward him.
"Y-You do?" he asked.
"Ja, I really do."
"So... w-what about those g-girls?" Matthew asked.
Gilbert shrugged. "They don't matter. I'm bi, in case you were wondering," he paused, "Wait, is that what you were all upset about, like, three days ago?"
"Um... k-kind of," Matthew muttered, "I-I'm not sure."
Gilbert grinned, "You're jealous. You like me too, admit it."
"W-What, n-no," Matthew denied and thanked the darkness for hiding the blush returning to his face.
"You do!" Gilbert said and poked his shoulder.
"I- I'm not gay," Matthew said.
"Then why didn't you pull away when I kissed you?"
"Um, I, uh...I w-was in sh-shock."
"Ja, because your dream was coming true."
"W-What dream?"
"Kissing the awesome Gilbert."
Matthew rolled his eyes, "Y-You're making th-things up."
"Am I?" Gilbert retorted, silencing him, "I admitted to liking you so the least you could say is 'I like you, too'."
"B-But I'm n-not-"
"Birdie, no one is going to hate you if you're gay or bi. And even if someone does, they don't matter because they just don't understand, and they can go fuck themselves," Gilbert said matter-of-factly.
Matthew twiddled his thumbs and stared at them. "I-I've just never thought a-about it. I-I mean, n-no one r-really notices me s-so..."
"So you ignored them and focused on other stuff," Gilbert finished his sentence for him.
Matthew nodded, "Y-Yea."
"You sound like you could be asexual," Gilbert said and started laughing, "or 'eh'-sexual. Get it? Like that word Canadians say?"
Matthew couldn't help from laughing a little, "G-Gil, are y-you on drugs?"
"Nope, I just think I'm hilarious. Which I am," Gilbert said.
"Y-Yeah," Matthew smiled.
Gilbert stood up and stretched. "Ready to go?"
"Y-Yeah," he said and stood up as well. Gilbert took his hand and threaded their fingers together, making Matthew blush hard.
Gilbert said nothing and just walked him home, the whole way in comfortable silence. Gilbert let go of his hand on his porch, and he could see Gilbert now from the street lights. "Did you have a nice night Birdie?" he asked and Matthew nodded. "Good, I'll see you tomorrow. Dream of me, okay?" He smiled and kissed Matthew again, quickly, before turning around and walking down the sidewalk.
Matthew watched him leave, a question stuck in his throat. Gilbert disappeared from his sight and he walked inside, deciding to ask him later. The house was dark, so he carefully walked to his room, nobody even noticing his return. He could see light coming out from under his parent's door and Alfred's door, so he closed his. He kept the light off and crawled into bed, taking his glasses off. He soon fell asleep, dreaming of Gilbert.
You guys are all so awesome and as a reward for being awesome, I present to you the long awaited kiss! And don't worry, of course there's going to be more cuteness and kisses. These two just can't keep their hands off each other, even if dear little Mattie still claims to be straight. And thank you for all your reviews it makes me feel all excited!