A/N: Wow, so many alerts for this story already! I'm glad you guys seem to like it so much! So I bring you chapter two :D
As you may notice, some things in this story are very repetetive- and it's meant to be that way, so it's not like I did a terrible editing job (hopefully). Enjoy!
Matthew bit his lower lip as he exited Alfred's room. He was acting strangely, but Matthew couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe Alfred was just having a bad day and didn't want Matthew to worry about it.
But something in Matthew told him it was something else. Something he should worry about.
Maybe Arthur would know.
Monday, 9:07 PM
To: Arthur
From: Matthew
Hi Arthur, have you talked to Alfred lately?
Monday, 9:10 PM
To: Matthew
From: Arthur
Yes, I talked to him about fifteen minutes ago, why?
Fifteen minutes ago. Huh. Matthew frowned. That must have been right after he talked to Alfred about the party.
Monday, 9:12 PM
To: Arthur
From: Matthew
Oh, he's just been acting a little strange lately and I was wondering if you knew anything.
Monday, 9:15 PM
To: Matthew
From: Arthur
No, he was just being his usual annoying self. Maybe you should try talking to him, Matthew.
Monday, 9:17 PM
To: Arthur
From: Matthew
Okay, thanks
Matthew furrowed his eyebrows. He must be overreacting if Alfred's best friend said there was nothing wrong with him. Maybe he had walked in on Alfred when he was busy studying for a big test the next day. Or… Or… He sighed and crawled into his warm bed, clutching his stuffed polar bear Kumajirou close to him and sticking his nose in the bear's fur. In the morning, his brother would bounce back to his usual attitude.
Arthur rolled his eyes at the text messages he was receiving from Alfred. He wasn't sure why Alfred hadn't been invited to Francis's party, but he didn't think much of it. Francis had probably forgotten the invitation or assumed Matthew would pass on the message.
But Alfred had seemed quite upset that Arthur would rather go to Francis's house instead of spend time with his best friend. Not even upset- a bit put down.
Alfred would need to learn that Arthur had other priorities, too.
And then he got the messages from Matthew. So the younger twin thought there was something troubling his brother? Arthur hadn't noticed anything different when he spoke with Alfred, so he didn't press the subject any further. It was rude to pry, anyways.
It was hard to ignore the fact that Matthew thought there was something wrong with Alfred, however. Matthew never worried about Alfred. It was usually the other way around.
Alfred was probably having a bad day, Arthur decided. That's all. Matthew is just overreacting to everything. Everything would be better the next day.
Or so they all thought.
"Alfred, can I copy your homework?"
"Alfred, did you do the assignment?"
"Alfred, can you tell Braginsky that I went to the nurse so I can skip class?"
"Alfred. Alfred. Alfred Jones, answer me!" Alfred winced, finally acknowledging Arthur talking to him, looking quite irritated.
"Alfred, have you gone completely deaf?" the British boy scowled, glaring at Alfred. The latter forced a small, apologetic smile.
"Haha, sorry, Arthur, I kinda spaced out a bit…"
"You don't say," Arthur grumbled.
"What's up, Artie? Shouldn't you be in class? You don't usually look for me at this time. Is something wrong?" Alfred asked, wondering why his friend had come to see him. If he wanted something-
"Alfred… Are you alright?" Arthur murmured quietly. Alfred blinked in surprise at the question.
No, he thought. You can tell him the truth. You're not alright.
"I'm fine." Lies. The lies were everywhere. All he could do was lie. It was the only thing he was good at.
"Uh, alright, then," Arthur said awkwardly, shifting the weight of his backpack to his other shoulder. "I have to get to class, so I guess I'll see you around, right?" he offered a smile, which Alfred returned.
"Yeah. See you soon."
You had the chance. You could have told him.
But you didn't think it mattered. Or he wouldn't care.
Even if he is your best friend. Or so you thought.
He should have pressed on.
The opportunity had been right there. He could have gotten all his problems off his chest. Arthur would have listened. Or would he? Arthur didn't make sure Alfred was okay.
"Matthew, you've made sure that your brother isn't coming to my party, correct?" Matthew frowned ever so slightly at Francis. He still wasn't completely sure why his friend dreaded the idea of his brother attending the party. To be honest, it was bothering him quite a bit.
"He's not going, but I don't see why you're so adamant about making sure I don't bring him along," Matthew said, trying his best to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
"Ah, don't you see? Er… Certain… People… are quite skeptical about his presence. And I myself have my reasons for not inviting him. But never mind that! That is not important," Francis said with a wink. Matthew's frowned deepened, but he said nothing.
"In that case, I'm not sure if I should go…" he eventually mumbled, so quietly that Francis almost didn't catch it. His eyes widened as he was quick to persuade Matthew to come.
"No! Matthew, you must attend! I assure you, it will be lots of fun! Besides, I'm sure Alfred has plenty of other friends he can hang out with!" Francis protested, placing a hand on Matthew's shoulder. Matthew shrugged it off. He knew they were all going to Francis's party, anyways.
Matthew sighed heavily, going over the choices in his head. His brother, or his friend? "Fine. But if you continue to talk about Alfred like that, you can forget it."
"Ah, of course," Francis agreed quickly.
"Good bye, Francis," Matthew said, walking away as fast as he could.
He had chosen his friend over Alfred.
Alfred stared at his panicky reflection in the mirror, clutching the porcelain sink so hard that his knuckles turned white. Water trickled out of the faucet in a steady stream, stained red. Something made a clicking noise as it continued to hit the sides of the sink. There was fear in his wide eyes, and he couldn't look away from his face. He felt something warm flowing down his arms, dripping from his fingers, hitting the white sink and coloring it, no, anything but that, no, stop, what are you doing, nonononono-
Arthur threw down his pen, frustrated with all the studying he had to do. He had finals in a week, and too much to study for. He thought of texting Alfred for a moment, but then decided against it.
Studying.
Arthur needed to study.
That's probably what Alfred was doing.
Everyone was studying now to cram in everything they forgot, and learn everything they were never taught.
He turned back to his physics notes, trying to focus on what he had written so many months ago and had long since forgotten. What did that say? Oh.
Arthur glared down at the thousands of papers in front of him, running a hand through his already messy blond hair. There were much better things he could be doing with his life. But he couldn't afford a bad grade on his exams- that would damage his perfect record. He couldn't have that.
So studying it was.
Matthew glanced at Alfred's bedroom door and noticed that it was slightly ajar. Frowning, he pushed the door open, only to see that Alfred was nowhere to be seen. He shrugged, and noticed the light in the bathroom was on.
Matthew closed his brother's door, and walked downstairs towards the kitchen. Looking through the pantry, he grabbed a bag of chips and a bottle of cold soda. Fuel for studying.
As he made his way back to his room, he was almost ran into Alfred, who had emerged from the bathroom. He almost dropped his food at the sight of Alfred's horrified face.
"A-Alfred?" Matthew whispered, worried. Immediately, Alfred's mouth turned up into a big smile that didn't quite reach his blue eyes.
"Hey, Mattie!" he said, waving slightly. His other arm was pressed to his stomach.
Matthew could tell that the enthusiasm was forced, but didn't understand why.
"A-are... Are you okay?" he managed to ask, scanning the older twin's face.
"What? Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine! Don't worry about me, little bro, go back to your studies!" though Alfred tried to sound normal, but his voice was getting higher by the second, almost shrill.
Matthew frowned. "No you're not," he said, surprised by his own confidence.
"Of course I am! What makes you think I'm not?" Alfred didn't wait for an answer, before saying, "Hate to leave you on your own, but I gotta go study! You know, finals are next week!" he almost sprinted into his room, leaving Matthew standing in the hallway with his mouth slightly open, shocked.
That was weird, Matthew thought. But if his brother didn't want to tell him, he wouldn't push it. It probably wasn't any of his business. He often did have mood swings, after all.
Back in his room, Alfred had to resist the strong urge to slam his head into the wall- then Matthew would come in, and not leave until Alfred told him what was wrong. Make him spill everything.
Matthew.
Matthew.
Matthew.
He had been right there. Asking him what was wrong.
Alfred could have told him. Could have told him what he just did. Could have asked for help.
Could have.
Could have.
Could have.
But he hadn't.
Just like Arthur.
Help me.