Long live the reckless and the brave
I don't think I want to be saved
My song has not been sung
So long live us

- "Reckless and The Brave" All Time Low

Matthew felt horrible when he woke up. He truly did. His was pounding like he had been hit in the back of the head with a rock, the pain seeming so deep that even his brain was throbbing. He felt like he was overheating, the blankets feeling like sheets of burning coal on his skin. It was uncomfortable, horribly so, and he wasted no time in throwing the blanket aside, his stomach flipping at the movement.

"Ugh..."he groaned, getting up and rushing to the bathroom to empty his stomach. His throat burned from the bile and he had to fight back the urge to retch again, knowing it would hurt worse than the first time around. The blond whimpered softly and rested his head on the cold white rim of the toilet, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. He felt disgusting, weak and it took him a while until to stand, shakily wiping his mouth. The blond was quick to return to his bed and curl up in a ball, not wanting to face the day or do anymore than lie in this pocket of warmth.

He wasn't really used to being sick. It wasn't often that he felt ill enough to stay home, so the fact that he felt so bad he didn't want to get out of bed was a whole new level of sick for the blond. He felt absolutely miserable, and the turning of his stomach, despite it now being empty, was not helping one bit. Eventually he became too warm and tossed the blankets off of him again, kicking them away with an almost strangled sounding whine.

It was then that his phone caught his attention, having jumped a bit from it's original spot when Matthew had kicked his blankets away. He reached out to grab the device, staring at the screen and the messages on it for a moment of shock. He actually had text messages. Someone had actually bothered to see if he was okay when he hadn't shown up for school that day. Although he wasn't all that surprised with who it was.

From:Gilbert

Matthew? Why aren't you at school?

From:Gilbert

Are you okay?

From:Gilbert

Maaaattieeee.

From:Gilbert

I miss you :c

From: GIlbert

Really? Are you sick?

From:Gilbert

It's really lonely without you...

Matthew couldn't help but smile at the message. He was happy; really happy that Gilbert had thought about him. That he missed him. It was a wonderful, although foreign feeling to himself, and it made him feel all light and fluttery to know the albino really did consider him a friend, at least. He began to type out a reply, though his mind was just so hazy and sluggish feeling that he started to sleep back off to sleep, his thumb sliding across the screen to press send just as his eyes closed. He fell asleep barely a few moments later, nuzzling his face into his pillow.

To:Gilbert

Sorry. Dn't fell god. Mbe see you tomnqrwa.

From:Gilbert

tomnqrwa? I'm worried you're going to die now.

Matthew wasn't coherent or awake enough to even look at his phone or get out of bed to eat for about three days.

When he finally awoke from his hibernation and reached out for his phone again, he actually had texts. 43 of them. Gilbert had asked him every morning how he was feeling, and eventually he resorted to telling him about each class and all the dumb people at school. There were quite a few little stories in there that made Matthew smile, and he could do little else but read them drowsily, smiling at the ones he particularly enjoyed.

Every night he got a text from Gilbert saying goodnight and wishing he got better. Matthew couldn't help but smile softly at the messages, wondering just how much of a soft side Gilbert had for him. The paler teen wasn't very open about his feelings, preferring instead to focus on those around him, or on making people smile. At least, that was the feeling he got from Gilbert. Knowing that the other cared for him enough to wish him to get better, or even tell him that he had missed him, made Matthew feel really good. He felt important to someone, for once. And Matthew found that he really enjoyed the feeling of being missed.

To:Gilbert

Aw, you're so sweet, Gil 3

To:Gilbert

Hey, do you think you can get the homework for me?

From:Gilbert

Ew, you want homework? I guess I can. I'll stop by after school.

To:Gilbert

Thanks, Gil :)

Matthew smiled and got up, wrapping his comforter around his shoulders and shuffling down the stairs to the kitchen. He got himself a glass of juice and downed it quickly to ease his sore throat, then refilling his glass and going to settle on the couch. He put on The Nightmare Before Christmas and curled into his blankets happily, setting his glass on the coffee table and lying down.

He was woken up by the sound of the door bell ringing. Matthew groaned and pouted, untangling himself from the blanket's snare, just to shiver and wrap it back around his shoulders.

"Coming," Matthew croaked out, his voice hoarse from a mixture of sickness and misuse. He went and opened the front door, blinking against the bright light. Matthew whined and rubbed at his eyes. "Yeah?" he asked.

Gilbert chuckled, catching Matthew's attention. "I brought homework." he said softly, holding the manilla envelope out to the blond.

Matthew nodded and took the envelope, stepping back and looking through the papers. "Thanks," he muttered, voice cracking.

Gilbert cringed slightly at the noise. "Jeez, sound terrible. Have you tried eating warm soup to help with your throat?" he asked.

The blond shrugged. " I haven't eaten at all. If you want to make me soup, go ahead," he raised an eyebrow, wishing Gilbert would stay.

Gilbert laughed, but nodded, following Matthew inside and closing the door behind him. The blond smiled faintly, going back over to the living room and putting in another movie.

"The Lorax? Really?" Gilbert chuckled behind him, going over into the kitchen. Matthew could hear the cabinets opening and closing behind him.

Matthew pouted a little, lying down and curling up in his blanket, cocooning himself once more. "It's a good movie," he said quietly, watching the screen with a child-like happiness.

He didn't even realize he had fallen asleep again until he woke to the feeling of Gilbert nudging his shoulder with his knee.

"Hey. Wake up, Mattie. I made you soup," he said gently. Matthew whined but sat up, looking up at Gilbert pleadingly. "Feed me?" he asked softly, not thinking much of how strange it would seem to the other.

Gilbert flushed and sputtered slightly, though he nodded after a moment, sitting on the couch and filling a spoonful of the soup.

Matthew smiled and opened his mouth with a soft "Ahh," causing Gilbert to pause briefly before he carefully fed Matthew some of the stew he had made, "You're like a kid when you're sick," he chuckled, awkward but amused.

The blond happily accepted the offered food, humming in delight. "It's really good," Matthew muttered softly, not noticing Gilbert's clear tension.

he paler teen smiled gently and nodded, muttering a soft "Thanks," as he continued to feed the other. The soup was eaten quickly, seeing as Matthew hadn't eaten much in the last few days, though after finishing he was definitely sleepy.

Gilbert went to go put the dishes in the sink, washing them quickly and then going to sit back next to Matthew. "You look tired," Matthew could hear him comment, and the blond merely shrugged, hugging Gilbert's arm and nuzzling against his shoulder.

The other tensed slightly, though after a moment he pulled his arm from Matthew's hold, and then he felt himself being tugged closer, Gilbert's arm going around his shoulders.

Matthew smiled faintly and pressed himself against Gilbert's side, breathing in the faint smell of some deodorant he couldn't name, and the lingering scent of the stew he had made.

It was nice, really nice, to be this close to Gilbert, and his sick mind was enjoying every second of it.

-Gilbert's POV-

Matthew fell back asleep soon after he began to cuddle against Gilbert's side, his soft breath causing his chest to rise and fall.

Gilbert sighed deeply, looking down at Matthew and beginning to run his fingers through the blond locks. His hair was tangled in some places, and Gilbert gently de-tangled the curly hair. It was cute, really, the soft natural curls that somehow didn't get that messy while the other slept.

He smiled softly as Matthew hummed quietly in his sleep, his hand resting against Gilbert's chest, next to his head. "Mm..." he felt Matthew nuzzling against him, and let out a soft, amused chuckle.

Matthew was cute cute, he had to admit. His cheeks were flushed and lips slightly parted. Gilbert really wanted to kiss him in that moment, feel if Matthew's lips were just as soft and supple as they looked.

His face flushed lightly when he realized what he had been thinking about. He carefully pulled away from Matthew, getting up.

"Gil?" Matthew stirred, blinking up at the albino sleepily. Gilbert looked down at him, nearly melting at Matthew's sleepy little yawn, the blond wiping at his eyes.

"S-Sorry, I gotta get home, Mattie," Gilbert said quickly, trying to resist the urge to scoop Matthew up in his arms and kiss all over the other's face.

He was sure Matthew would reject him though; push him away and stop talking to him at all. Matthew pouted at him then, his bottom lip sticking out. "Oh, okay," he said softly and curled up in his blankets.

Gilbert made a beeline for the door then, getting out of there before Matthew convinced him to stay, and he did something he would Regret.

He didn't want to lose someone he cared deeply for.

Hey Guys!

I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to post this chapter last Friday, but since it was Halloween I was super busy that whole weekend and didn't have a chance to type this chapter out.

However, to make up for it. I have both this chapter and the next chapter that I'm going to post tonight, so you guys will actually get a sort of a two-for-one deal (even though this chapter is late)

I'm trying so hard to keep these chapters at least 2,000 words, but it's just so hard to find ways to fill in the word gaps without adding strange little side moments that weren't originally planned.

I promise you though, you guys will definitely like where this story is going.

Well... you may hate me for a chapter or two that I've got written out, but I promise you'll love where I take this story!

As always, please review. I really love seeing everyone's comments on my work and it really does give me the inspriration to keep going.

-Rain