Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone

Just the one-two of us, who's counting on

That never happens I guess I'm dreaming again

Let's be more than this

-"CrushCrushCrush" Paramore

It was just as Matthew predicted; he walked into the school and was almost immediately met with calls and jeers of "Hey, Juliet!" and from one of the few nicer people: "Good job, Matthew!"

People actually connected the name with his face, surprisingly. Though he already knew by now. He had gotten the part of Juliet. And he was more than
certain that Gilbert was right, and that the two had indeed gotten the lead roles.

"Hey, Matthew!" he heard his name called and groaned, letting his head hit against his locker lightly. "G'Morning, Gilbert," he muttered, turning his head to look over at the pale teen.

"So I guess you've heard the news by now, huh? Everyone's talking about the play," Gilbert puffed his chest out proudly, "and I'm super happy that I got the part for Romeo."

Matthew nodded a bit, crouching down to gather the books that he needed for his first class. "I'm happy for you, Gilbert," he said simply, straightening up and closing his locker.

"Can I get your number?" Gilbert asked suddenly, startling Matthew. He stared wide-eyed at Gilbert for a few moments before he nodded. "Let me see your phone," he replied, holding his hand out for the device.

Gilbert nodded and set the phone in Matthew's hand, watching as he added himself as a contact and out in his phone number. "There," he said quietly, holding the phone back out to the albino.

Gilbert slipped his phone back into his pocket, but by the time he looked up, Matthew had already turned on his heel and started to walk away, hurrying off to class with the hope that Gilbert hadn't noticed the light pink tint that stained his cheeks.

It was during the middle of history that his phone scared him half to death, buzzing against his thigh almost violently.

From: ?

Hey there, Birdie. Couldn't wait any longer to see if this was your
number. Text back?

Matthew glanced at the message, raising an eyebrow before he sent a message
back.

To: Gilbert
My name's Matthew. What kind of nick name is Birdie?

He sent back, saving Gilbert's number to his phone. A few seconds later his phone buzzed with a reply, though he ignored it for the time being. He was actually trying to keep good grades. Gilbert's texts could wait until he had a free moment, or until class ended and he could go home.

From: Gilbert
Aw, but you seem like a little bird to me.

From: Gilbert
Matthew?

From: Gilbert
Does that upset you that much?

From: Gilbert
Matthew? Are you angry with me?

From: Gilbert
I'm sorry :c

Matthew inwardly groaned, pulling out his phone and looking at the messages.

To: Gilbert
Thanks for apologizing, but I'm not angry. I'm just in class. Shouldn't you be, too?

Matthew didn't bother putting his phone back in his pocket this time, he simply turned it off vibrate, leaving the screen face up so he could see when he got another text.

He found himself smiling and immediately reaching for his phone, jumping in surprise when the electronic was pulled from his hold.

"No phones in class, ," the teacher went over to her desk and set the electronic on top of it, "You can get it back at the end of class."

Matthew flushed slightly and nodded, picking his pencil back up and continuing to do his work, He was definitely going to have to tell Gilbert not to text him during class.

When the bell finally rang, Matthew was quick to pack his stuff up, going over to grab his phone, and then head out into the hall. He made his way to his locker, putting his books away, and then retrieving his back pack from the metal trap's depths.

Matthew closed his locker and nearly jumped out of his skin, surprised to see Gilbert grinning at him, beginning to cackle when he heard the blond's
yelp.

"Gilbert!?" Matthew rested his hand over his chest, his face as he looked up at the albino. "Wh-Why would you scare me like that!?"

Gilbert shrugged a bit. "Maybe I just want to make sure you'll remember me when I graduate at the end of the year and go on to do amazing things?" he
gave Matthew a lazy grin, and the blond playfully pushed at Gilbert's shoulders.

"Jerk. I'm pretty sure you'll want to be remembered better than 'The Guy That Nearly Gave Me a Heart Attack'," Matthew muttered, pouting
dramatically and walking past the paler teen, "Come on. We need to go to practice."

"Okay, Okay. Wow, for someone who 'didn't want the part'," Gilbert actually used air-quotes for that, "you really seem enthusiastic to get to
practices." He followed him, regardless.

Matthew paused for only a brief moment, Gilbert starting to walk alongside the blond. "Well, I find the lighting booth to be a very calming place. It's always nice and quiet, and everyone forgets I'm there so... I get left alone," he said softly.

Gilbert nodded in understanding. "Huh, well now you won't be able to do that so much anymore. Someone is taking over your job, right?" Matthew blinked, having forgotten that fact. "Yeah, you're right... Maybe I'll just have to go up to the catwalk to get some peace and quiet, then," he replied simply, smiling faintly over at Gilbert.

The other chuckled. "You would go that far to avoid me?" Matthew raised an eyebrow and nodded, smiling slightly at the look of incredibly over-dramatic hurt on Gilbert's face. "I'm kidding, Gil. I actually sort of consider you my only friend," he said quietly, giving him a small, almost shy smile.

Gilbert's cheeks flushed a faint red, though it was obvious compared to his snowy pale skin. "I'm your only friend?" he asked quietly, pushing open the doors to the auditorium.

Matthew nodded, slipping inside. "Yeah. You ar-" He was cut off then, the teacher calling out to him in the middle of the blond's sentence. "Matthew! Head up to the lighting booth! Lovino needs to learn the lights," he instructed, and a dark brunette waved at him from the door that led up to the booth.

He headed over to the other and unlocked the door, heading up the stairs. Matthew was surprised to hear two sets of foot steps behind him, and flushed when he realized Gilbert had come up as well.

Matthew simply continued up the stairwell, heading through the door and into the lighting booth. "So then... um... of course the spotlight is over here," he said, gently resting his hand on the rickety old machine.

He began to explain the workings of the spotlight and everything that the room could control. They played with the lighting a bit, just so that Lovino could get a feel for the way everything worked.

Gilbert leaned against the window looking out over the auditorium, his face illuminated by the slight shine off of the windows. The shadow brought out the sharp curve of his jaw, and made his eyes seem to glisten.

Matthew sighed softly and leaned back against the wall behind him, admiring the way the light danced across his face. He felt the sudden urge to reach out and trace his fingers over Gilbert's jaw, to press small kisses over the strong curve, and run his fingers through the other's snowy strands.

He wanted Gilbert to kiss him, unexpectedly; wanted to feel the press of his lips. Matthew obviously zoned out, not noticing when Lovino asked him a question, nor when the Italian glanced between the blond and Gilbert, a knowing look dawning across his face.

"Matthew?" Lovino tapped on the blond's shoulder and he squeaked in surprise, his face flushing darkly. "S-Sorry. What was that?" he questioned, avoiding the confused look from Gilbert.

"Oh, I just wanted to know what the catwalk was like. Don't you have to go up there sometimes, too?" Matthew nodded and went to unlock the door, leading the other two up to the darkened area.

"The stage lights are over there, though it's unlikely that you'll ever need to come up here to move them, unless the knob in the booth ins't working. There aren't many things that you'll need to be up here for, really," he said quickly, then gave the two an apologetic look. "Sorry, I... I don't feel good. We should head back down, I think I'm gonna go home early today," he had begun to feel his face heat up more than just his blush, and his head began to ache in the back of his head with dull pounds.

"Yeah, right. Don't want you to get too sick and miss the play completely," Gilbert muttered, and let himself and the other be led back down the stairs.

Matthew was quick to go talk to the teacher once they were back in the auditorium, before he grabbed his backpack. He left before Gilbert even had the chance to offer him another ride.

So I've decided I'm going to update this every Friday. I've already gotten up to chapter 8 planned out and I've just begun writing chapter 4 today, so don't worry, there will be future chapters.

I do enjoy getting feedback though, and don't forget you can see where I'm at with my various stories at my writing blog RainWritesThings on tumblr.

-Rain