❅❄❅ When the Snow Falls ❅❄❅
Ivan walked cautiously into the grocery store. Just take a pack, he told himself, and walk out. He took a deep breath. It will be easy, right? He approached the display of cigarettes. He quickly took a pack and put it in his pocket. He looked around and began to walk out.
"Hey kid," the man at the counter called. "Doing okay?"
"Yes sir," Ivan's voice was shaking.
"Can you come here for a second?"
Matthew was greeted by a ceiling and hair in his mouth when he woke up the next morning. He wiped his eyes and removed out the lock of his hair from his lips. Francis, who was halfway on him, was still slumbering and slobbering. Ivan was the same, only his face was faced-down in his pillow. Matthew gently lifted each limb one-by-one off of his body until he was able to at least sit up. Perhaps all of them sleeping in the same bed wasn't the best idea. Sleeping in the middle of the two was an even worse idea.
He spotted his phone and ear buds in the spot he was laying in. He picked it up and checked the time. 8:17 a.m., he read. He glanced up at the battery percentage; at least the battery survived the night. He retrieved both pairs of ear buds and unplugged them before tossing them to his overnight bag.
Matthew crawled over the sleeping Frenchman, quietly slipping off the bed. He plugs his phone into the charger. It's so boring, he tells himself, to be the first one to wake up. His stomach growled noisily, he wordlessly prayed there was something to eat.
When he opened the refrigerator in the kitchen, he spotted a nice container of cinnamon buns. Rejoicing, he began preparing them. After he put the buns in, he heard footsteps coming from the hall behind him.
"Okay," He turned to see Ivan walking out slowly into the kitchen, sporting sleepy eyes and major bed-head with his ear pressed against his cell phone. "I just woke up, but I'll get my stuff ready." He sat down at the counter and smiled sleepily at Matthew. "Yes, we had fun… No, no trouble at all… I know. I'll tell you about it when you pick me up… Okay mom, love you, too… Bye." He removed the phone from his ear and hung up.
"You're about to leave?" Matthew asked.
"Yeah, mom likes to get me home before she leaves for work. Katyusha also needs help cleaning the bathroom today." Matthew chuckled.
"That's how it was for me for a while, until Arthur started driving. I don't like bothering him too much, though,"
"Arthur is your oldest brother?"
"Yeah, the calmer one," Matthew replied as the oven beeped. "Want a cinnamon bun?" he asked.
Ivan nodded. "They smell nice,"
"Thanks," he took them out of the oven.
"I'll help you ice them,"
"Okay,"
The two stood close as they covered the pastries with icing without any more words. Matthew hummed to replace the silence in the room. Ivan began to hum with him when his phone went off.
He set his knife aside and pulled out his phone. "My mom's here," he quickly replied before handing his phone to Matthew. "I uh, I need your number before I go." Matthew nodded.
"Go ahead and get your stuff," Ivan disappeared down the hall.
Matthew entered his number into Ivan's phone and set it on the counter. Too bad he couldn't have breakfast, he thought. Ivan returned with his bags. "Do you need held with that?" he asked him.
"No, I got it," Ivan replied. "But give me a hug, I kinda can't," he beamed shyly.
"Oh, right," Matthew approached Ivan and hugged him tightly.
"One last thing," Ivan whispered to him before he pulled away.
"Yes?"
"Can you get one of those cinnamon buns for me?"
"Oh sure," Matthew let go of him and picked up his knife. After carefully getting one out of the bunch, he held the pastry up to Ivan. "How are you going to..?" Ivan took the bun with his mouth. "Oh,"
"Mmm, so gmm," Ivan muffledly laughed.
"What was that?" Matthew giggled.
"Is tashy," he responded.
"Oh, it's good?"
"Ya, I need phone,"
"Right!" Matthew grabbed the phone and slipped it into his pocket. "Don't keep her waiting,"
"See you, Matru, glaff to have met you!" Matthew opened the door for him. "Thank you," He watched as Ivan left.
"Glad to have met you, too, Ivan! See you later,"
"Hopefully soon," Ivan turned his head and smiled at him. Matthew waved goodbye and closed the door.
"I can't believe it,"
"At least he let us off without a fine,"
"That's beside the point, he tried stealing cigarettes,"
Ivan lay in bed with the covers over his head. He's been grounded to his room for the whole rest of the summer. Not being able to see Maks till school was a bittersweet blessing, and because of that, Ivan dreaded going back even more.
Every night, his parents came into his room and asked him the same question. "Why did you do it?" He always told them he didn't know when the real answer was he was afraid for his life.
After everyone had gone to bed, and has been in bed, that night, Ivan got out from under his covers and went to the kitchen. The fridge door opened to a half-empty bottle of vodka.
Ivan recalled the time he asked his mom and dad why they drank alcohol. "It's how adults cover up stress, darling," they told him. And that night, Ivan decided to try just that.
Matthew spent the next hour watching TV and sharing breakfast with one Francis's birds like every other morning he spends at Francis's residence. With his plate aside, he relaxed into the comfortable sofa.
"Hey, where's Ivan?" Francis asked, jumping over the back of the couch and sitting down next to Matthew.
"Maple Francis!" Matthew flinched and fell over. He shoved his friend with his foot. "You scared the crap out of me!"
"Oui, sorry," Francis took hold of his foot, squeezing it. Matthew pulled it away from him and sat back up. "Did he leave?"
"He left an hour ago," Matthew told him.
"Dang," Francis sat further back, taking a deep breath. "So,"
"So… What?"
"I'm still a rock star,"
"Francis, no,"
"Okay, so…" Francis smiled deviously at him. "Did your big bear kiss you good bye?" Francis made a kissy face at him.
Matthew knitted his eyebrows. "No,"
"Huh?"
"He… Didn't."
"Well, that's odd,"
"So was that question,"
"I'm just playing around. Aren't you interested in him, though?" Francis asked, leaning over to lay his head on Matthew's arm.
"I guess interested would be a good word for it," Matthew felt the top of his ears redden.
"How interested, though?"
"He like the same things as I do, and he's attractive, so…" Francis let out a laugh and reached up to pinch Matthew's cheek. "I'm not even sure if a relationship sounds nice or not, so don't even think of meddling,"
"Oh, Matthew! Of course not, and besides, getting to know and trust someone takes time. Especially on his part, though I'm sure he knows you mean no harm. I also know relationships are between two people, if and as desired, but I'm willing to help out if you need it,"
Matthew let out a sigh. "Does he even like guys?"
"I wouldn't be teasing you and him if I didn't know for sure,"
"You've discussed your fantasies about me and him to him?" Matthew squeaked.
"Shh, Matthew," Francis held a finger over his lips. "My conversations with him are strictly between him and I, as ours' are kept away from his ears. Oh, say, did you get his number?"
"No but I gave him mine…" Matthew felt around. "Oh hockey sticks, my phone's in your room," Matthew got up and ran for the room.
"Don't keep him waiting, mon cher!" Francis laughed.
Ivan's drinking progressed over the summer months. Every day that passed, the more Ivan felt the need to feel the buzz from a few sips of his mom's vodka or his dad's tequila. Life was becoming a drinking game for him. For every night run, a shot, for every time the rest of the house was empty, two shots, for every time Maks crossed his mind, three.
When he felt repentance for drinking or stealing his parent's drinks, he would simply drink more so he would forget he even felt emotion. The days coming up for him would just get harder, why should he dread them like he was shrinking away from the present as it is?
(8:45) From 223-495-1137:
Matthew! It's Ivan!
(9:07) From 223-495-1137:
Hello? Did you enter the right number? You might just be busy. I'll talk to you later than.
Matthew nearly smacked himself in the forehead. Oh, how could he have given him his number and forget to reply to his messages? He added Ivan's number to his contacts and quickly replied.
(10:21) To Ivan:
Sorry! I left my phone in the Francis's room to charge and I got distracted with Sunday morning cartoons and food.
Matthew walked back into the family room and sat down by Francis.
"Did he text you?"
"Yeah."
"What did he say?"
"What do you think he said?"
"Oh, Matthew, it's been so long already!" Francis threw himself across Matthew's lap. "My heart is growing with longing desire to see your sweet little Canadian face again,"
Matthew covered his face with his hands. "Francis…!"
"Come run away with me to mother Russia and feast upon hot Shchi and vodka before we make sweet, sweet illegal love in Putin's bed," Matthew and Francis were both choked up with laughter for the next few minutes. Matthew's phone went off. He wiped the tears from his eyes and took a deep breath before checking the message.
(10:24) From Ivan:
It is fine. Francis up? He always sleep late.
(10:24) To Ivan:
Surprisingly he's been up for a while now
"Hey!" Francis grunted and took Matthew's phone.
(10:25) To Ivan:
Francis needs his beauty sleep so he stays fresh and sexy anyway
Francis hit send and set Matthew's phone on his lap. Matthew sighed and turned his attention back to the TV. "We kinda cuddled last night."
"Oh what kind of cuddling are we talking about?" Francis asked.
"The only kind of cuddling there is?" Matthew looked at him confused.
"Non, was it just cuddling or was it ohh~ cuddling?"
"The kind of cuddling we do, Francis, only… It was a bit more... Touchy and emotional, if you will."
"Ohhh…" Francis smirked. "Why do you say that?"
"I well… I might have been comforting him. He asked if I knew, and I told him no. And he teared up a little."
"And then?"
"He kissed me here," Matthew pointed to his temple. "So I kissed him here," He moved his finger to his forehead. "And then we cuddled."
"Matthew, you kids are so touchy already," Francis shook his head. "I hope you know what comes with being with someone with emotional and some physical scars." Matthew nearly gasped. Physical?
"I know,"
"Matthew, really, it wouldn't be anywhere near the same as when you had to deal with me. I took my frustrations out much earlier and I never depended on anyone for my recovery. I don't mean stop liking Ivan due to his past or present struggles, be it you're his friend or lover, but don't let him think he can depend on you or someone else for his own recovery. Help him, but don't lead him astray."
Matthew nodded. "I understand."
"Good," Francis smiled. "I'm sure you can handle it, I was troublesome the many times I relapsed,"
"Not really, you just cried a lot sometimes. Arthur did get onto me for us running out of tissues though," They both laughed, Francis forcibly hugged Matthew, sending them back down onto the couch.
"You're a good friend, Matthew, I'm sure Ivan's in good hands,"
"He has you, too."
"But I'm sure he'll get closer to you than me," Matthew patted Francis's head. His phone went off again.
(10:31) From Ivan:
That was Francis no?
First day of 8th grade, Ivan almost instantly faced Maks upon being dropped off by Katyusha. Only this time, Maks had some friends with him.
"Heard you got grounded after stealing," Maks had the cocky tone of voice Ivan was not looking forward to on hearing at all for months.
"I did,"
"Were you in jail?"
"No,"
"How did you get away with it?" Ivan shrugged, all the boys laughed.
"That's awesome."
"We'll catch you later, Ivan," That was it. They left. Ivan almost denied the event as a whole. He adjusted the strap of his bag and entered the building.
Author's Note: I basically wrote 98% of this chapter in a day. I was just so bored up until Francis waking up.
Anyway, a few things to note here:
I usually don't make what specific sexualities characters are clear but if anyone's curious Francis is a pansexual, Ivan is homosexual and Matthew is bisexual.
Shchi is a type of hot soup, made with cabbage.
I have no choice but to reveal Francis's back story in a later chapter. Be looking forward to that.
I'm still laughing about the whole "make sweet, sweet illegal love in Putin's bed" thing like I have been for the past 2 hours.
And lastly, a little something to know about being with someone with depression or any other mental illness; falling in love doesn't fix your problems. A lot of people seem to learn this the hard way. I've had bad experiences with this sort of thing. And I don't mean you have to depend on yourself 100%, if you can't handle your demons, get professional help, talk to a family member, friend, lover. Just depending on someone else completely isn't a bright idea, and Francis wants both Matthew and Ivan to avoid this situation.
I think that's all of it. Have a good night everyone, I hope this installment was satisfying. I love you all! Mwah!