A/N: Oh man, I sure am spoiling you guys. Two updates in two days? Maybe I'm just making up for the delay I've had lately... Well, this is another short chapter, but one of the most important ones. Next update will be longer, I promise. I'm just not sure when it's going to be up.

The feedback I got from the last chapter was incredible! ;w; I'm almost at 50 reviews already, and I appreciate every single one of you who has taken the time to read this~ I'm flattered that you like it so much! So, here's the next chapter! :D

Tapping his pencil anxiously against his chair, Alfred stared at the blank sheet of paper in front of him, trying to figure out how he was going to form his thoughts into words. Words that could be read in the form of a letter- the last thing he would ever write.

He had made his decision before he went to bed the night before: when Matthew left to go to Francis's party, he was going to do what he should have done several months ago.

Their parents had gone out for the night and wouldn't be returning until much later in the evening, and Alfred could hear Matthew searching for appropriate clothes to wear in the room next to him. Suddenly everything was silent, and moments later he heard a quiet knock on his bedroom door.

"Alfred?"

Alfred jumped out of his chair, nearly knocking it over in his haste to get to the door and opening it for his brother, who looked slightly frazzled.

"Hey, Mattie," he said, a sad smile on his face as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Uh… Is everything okay?" Matthew asked tentatively, noticing his brother's sloppy appearance.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Alfred lied smoothly.

"Okay, well, I'm heading out to Francis's now. I'll see you in a few hours, yeah?"

"Right," Alfred said, a pang of sadness making his stomach churn. "I'll see you later." Before his brother could turn and walk away, Alfred grabbed him and pulled him into a big hug, burying his face in his brother's shoulder.

"A-Alfred?" Matthew asked, surprised.

"Hey, I love you, little bro, you know that, right?" Alfred asked quietly, winking playfully.

"O-of course," Matthew said, confused.

"Then go out and have a great time. Come home safely. Don't do drugs. Don't have sex. Don't get drunk."

"Alright… Bye, Alfred."

Alfred watched his brother descend the staircase sadly, knowing that it would be the last time his brother ever saw him. He quickly wiped the tears forming in the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, and shut the door quietly.

"Hello? Francis? Yes, I can hear you- no, get out of that room, the music is too loud, you idiot!" Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose, listening to the French boy babbling on the other line. "Yes, yes, I know- hold on, someone else is calling-" he checked the caller ID and rolled his eyes. "Never mind, it's just Alfred. What were you saying? Yes, alright, I'll get it, I'll be there soon, okay, bye." He sighed as he hung up and snapped his cell phone shut loudly.

Lacing up his shoes quickly, he grabbed his car keys from the counter and smoothed his shirt down. It may not have been a party he wanted to go to, but there was no way he would get caught looking like he had just crawled out of bed- which he most certainly hadn't.

Alfred sighed, putting his phone back on his desk as he got the busy tone for the third time. If Arthur wasn't going to pick up his phone, that wasn't his problem. He had hoped that maybe, maybe he would get to speak with his best friend one last time. It might not be in person, but it would have to do. He ran a hand through his already ruffled and messy hair and let out a long, shuddering breath.

Picking up his phone once more, he began to write out a new message, carefully choosing the right words.

Saturday, 7:51 PM

To: Artie is my bff

From: Alfred

I understand if you can't talk. Just wanted to say it was great knowing you. Thanks for everything. Goodbye.

Fingers twitching and hitting all the wrong buttons, at last he hit 'send' and turned the phone off, placing it carefully back on his clean desk. With a shaking hand, he opened the bedside drawer and pulled out the bottle of pills he had kept in there and twisted the cap off, looking into it with scared, wide eyes.

It was now or never.

Without hesitating, he took a few of the pills and downed them, shutting his eyes as he felt them slide down his throat.