Trigger Warnings:
Suicidal themes
Wowie! It's been almost six months since I updated! Six days under it to be exact! I'm sorry it's taken so long but like I promised, I will finish all stories I update! Hopefully I'll get some more up soon and if you are waiting for the next chapter of my other story it'll be up soon unless there's something terrible. As always I'd love so advice and comments and I hope you guys like this new chapter!
3
Gilbert woke up at dawn the following morning, groaning into consciousness as the repercussions of sleeping on the couch became noticeable. Eventually he'd opened his eyes and pieced together the events that led to a complete stranger sleeping in his bed. Matthew slept until eleven, which was normal for him and Gilbert spent the meantime baking. He'd never loved baking and he never really liked sweet food but it was Ludwig's favourite thing to do when they were younger so, by the time a drowsy Canadian had slumped downstairs, there was a full table to meet him.
"Hey Gilbert" he yawned, brows furrowing in confusion, "A-Are you baking?". Gilbert offered a light-hearted humph in response, along with a fresh cup of tea. Matthew happily took it and greedily sipped at it as he pondered just how strange it was to be so comfortable with a stranger. He shouldn't be here, he shouldn't be anywhere but he ignored those thoughts, there was something he had to do now. Gilbert said nothing as he drank and Matthew let the silence wrap around him so he didn't notice the other packed every bit of food into containers.
"I cant take all of this Gilbert!" Matthew exclaimed upon noticing.
"Nonsense, please take it"
"But I wouldn't" he protested, only to be cut short again.
"Matthew please, I wont eat it all, share some with your brother, I mean I don't even like this stuff"
"Why did you make so much then!?"
"I uh, You looked like the kind of guy that'd like them" Gilbert grinned
Matthew wasn't satisfied with that answer but he smiled and took the boxes "Thanks Gil."
They took Gilbert's car to the café, it was a beaten up, old BMW but it seemed able to keep up with the man's irradic driving, and roomie despite the large bag of cakes between his legs. It was midday when they arrived so Gilbert shouted Matthew lunch, claiming he had "nothing better to do with his money anymore" which made Matthew more than a little sad.
"Want to try some?" Gilbert said holding up his burger "It's the best thing on the menu".
Matthew smiled but shook his head "I cant sorry, I'm allergic to red meat".
Gilberts jaw dropped, trying to comprehend how someone would, could choose not having red meat over an allergic reactions "What, are you serious?"
"Deadly" Matthew grinned at the other mans reaction.
"No burgers!?"
"No."
"No steak?"
"None"
"No sausages?"
"Definitely Not!"
"That must suck" Gilbert said, taking a bite of his burger, savouring it as not to take it for granted.
"It's never really bothered me but I guess so… you come here a lot right?" Matthew asked.
"Yeah, I worked just down the road and go to like the coffee here" Gilbert replied.
"worked?"
"Oh yeah umm, I work there" he corrected with a droll laugh. "What about you, where do you work?"
"McDonalds" Matthew mumbled, flicking his cup and almost knocking it over "It's the only place that would hire a dropout like me".
"Why don't you just go back, finish it this time?" Gilbert asked, carefully trying not to hit a sore spot.
Matthew laughed at the ridiculousness of the question, "I cant just go back, that's what losers do besides I'd have to move back in with my parents and there is no way that's happening".
"Okay sorry for asking," Matthew nodded in response.
"You aren't as…crude as you seemed yesterday y'know Matthew, You're a good kid".
Matthew looked at him in bemusement "You're still about as annoying as yesterday"
"I stand corrected" he laughed/
Just as Matthew finished his food, his pocket buzzed and he sighed taking out his phone, it had to be his brother Alfred was the only one who would call him. "Just a second" he mouthed to Gilbert and answered the phone "Hey Alfred"
"Hey Matt! So- I realised you havent been home in like two days and I was wondering when you get back so if you could bring some milk with you? his brother rushed out.
"Milk, huh? Yeah I can bring that, I'll be home this afternoon I've just been"
"Don't worry Don't worry!" Alfred butted in "I'm sure its SUPER interesting but I've almost finished this level…Oh and bring some skittles. Bye Matt!
"Bye Alfr-" the line disconnected, he sighed and put the phone back in his pocket "Sorry Gilbert".
"Don't apologize, so I'm buying you milk am I?"
Matthew stared for a moment before yet again realising he had no money "Shit, Gilbert I'm sorry!"
The other man laughed "It's fine, calm down man it's just milk!"
"And lunch and coffee and cakes!" Matthew exclaimed.
"And a lift home!" Gilbert added.
"What?"
"You cant walk all the way home can you?" he said, leaving $20 on the table and gesturing for Matthew to follow him.
"You cant walk all the way home can you?" he said, leaving $20 on the table and gesturing for Matthew to follow him.
Mumbling more apologies he left his salad and followed the other man to the car. Luckily there wasn't too much traffic so they managed to drive across fairly quickly and pick up milk on the way. "Thanks for driving me" Matthew said when they arrived at his apartment block.
"No problem Matthew, I'm going to call you tonight, and tomorrow and every night after, around eleven when you go to sleep"
"What, Why?"
"So I can make sure you're still alive, and you better answer or I'll be wasting my credit and I've already spent enough on you" Gilbert grinned.
Matthew frowned but nodded "Sure" he supposed it couldn't be THAT unpleasant "goodnight Gilbert", he clambered out of the care taking the cakes and milk with him.
"Night Matthew" Gilbert smiled, driving off.
Gilbert kept his promise of course, calling Matthew every night just before he went to sleep. Sometimes they'd talk for a long time about their days, those were the good times and sometimes it would just be a goodnight, those days weren't so good. But either way they were highlights. Some days they'd go and get coffee again and Matthew made sure he had enough to pay for Gilbert too. This went on for almost three weeks before it was twelve o'clock and he was still waiting for Gilbert to call.
12:01 he was never that late. 12:03 Matthew called Gilbert, no answer. 12:05 he began to panic. 12:06 the phone rang and he dived for it. "Gilbert! finally!"
"Hello is this Matthew Williams?" a lady's voice asked on the other side of the line.
That's not Gilbert…Matthews heart sank. "Yeah that's me"
"This is Patricia Augums from St Maria Hospital". Oh the hospital…his stomach sank and for a moment he hoped they were calling about Alfred. "We have a Gilbert Beilschmidt down here and no emergency contact but you were the only one listed in his phone. We were wondering if you could come down, there's been an accident. He's taken a lot of pills and we've taken him in He's alive but.."
Matthew hung up, he couldn't reply nor did he have it in him to listen anymore. He had failed Gilbert like everyone else but he had to go, do anything he couldn't. Gilbert had to be okay. He ran down the stairs…He had to be okay!