Sweet Symphony

Chapter 9

Disclaimer- I do not own Hetalia

Matthew felt paranoid after Mr. Jones and Elizebeta left. It normally would have been very touching that his teacher seemed to care so much about him. Though, under the circumstances of his predator, Gilbert, the meeting with Mr. Jones left Matthew feeling sick. He didn't know how Gilbert got his information but he knew in his heart that the other boy already knew about this encounter. His heart was beating faster than was normal and his stomach was churning. Oh, he felt positively terrified. Matthew had that aching feeling, knowing new pictures and another number would be placed upon his window that night and it scared him immensely, scared him to the point where he ended up sleeping on the floor of his closet just to get another door between him and his haunting window. Regardless he knew what was coming.

When morning came Matthew woke with a start, a jolt; as if his troubled mind had to know that instant, exactly was awaiting him. Though his better judgment begged him not to look, not to take a peek, Matthew approached his sentence with a mechanical air about him. He pulled his curtain back to reveal his fate…

Jonsey came to you? How revolting.

You knew I'd be angry, right

Blondielocks?

-31

31? He'd just been at 24! It was apparent Gilbert was livid. Usually the number only increased by one or two, not seven! If Matthew had felt sick with apprehension the previous night, it was a thousand times worse now. His stomach flipped warningly and his mouth watered, dashing to the bathroom he barely made it in time to upchuck in the porcelain bowl. His body did not take stress well.

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Summer was coming to a close. Well, at least for Matthew and the other kids from band. On Monday everyone would be back at school for summer band camp and contrary to popular belief, nothing raunchy actually happens at band camp. What really takes place is a bunch of high schoolers being outside marching sets repetitively to commit them to memory, that, and learning to accept sweating with each other, because the Texas heat is unforgiving.

While Matthew may have been frail as of late band camp had been the one thing he was looking forward to. Being able to be with everyone was going to be great. Plus, this was the first marching show he'd be doing at this particular school. Matthew had been invited to Eliz's and despite having avoided the human population at large for a while he walked over to her house. The simple thought of band the next day cheering him up.

They gushed about all things summer band related, the new marching show, the new show music, the stand-tunes, and the incoming freshman. Eliz was so relieved to see her friend in such high spirits, and he admitted to not have feeling so great in a really long time. It seemed band was acting as a cure all.

Before Matthew walked home that Sunday evening Eliz offered to pick him up in the morning since she knew Mr. Bonnefoy had to get to work early. Matthew accepted gratefully. He had departed and was making his way back home, a warm feeling of anticipation settling in his stomach about theupcoming day. Of course, while he was walking down the side walk he had a pair of headphones lodged in his ears, like every other teenager.

"AHHHHH-mpphhh!"

A hand was clamped over his mouth. Matthew could feel a warm breath on the back of his neck. A headphone was yanked clear from his left ear.

"Matthew, Matthew, Matthew~."

Matthew made a muffled yelp of fear and tried to struggle away from his captor, away from Gilbert. Thanks to Matthew's current sickly twig like nature all he managed was a deranged sort of laugh from the taller albino teen holding him hostage.

"Now you didn't think my lovely little window notes were empty threats did you? Oh no, this is going to be beyond awesome. Now start walking."

Matthew obeyed, what choice did he really have? They passed in front of Mr. Jones' house. Gilbert, whose hand was still covering the blonde's mouth, dug his nails into Matthew's face. He said nothing though. When they came to the corner of Eliz and Mr. Jones' street Gilbert nudged Matthew to turn right roughly. He guided him past the dead end and into the woods. Matthew should have known this is where Gil would have wanted to take him. They moved farther into the woods and farther away from anyone who would end up intervening. Even though nothing had really happened yet Matthew was covered in a cold sweat already. He could have sworn they had been walking for twenty minutes before Gil shoved him to the ground causing Matt to skin his knees.

"Get up."

Matt pushed himself up, knees burning. He watched Gil trying his best to keep as calm as possible. Try all he might, he was shaking like a leaf.

Gil stepped closer to the other boy in a swift motion and punched him in the stomach. Matthew doubled over winded and in pain.

"Matthew, this is your own fault. You know that right? You stole from me. Stealing is unacceptable Matthew. You took my attention, you took my friends, and then you go and take Jonesy from me? That just won't do."

Another quick punch this time to the left cheek. Matthew whimpered in complete fear and obvious pain.

"Two out of thirty-one. Do you get it now? What was the last number left on your window? Thirty-one. Wasn't it?"

A punch to the right cheek.

"That makes 3."

After an infinite amount of time Gilbert stopped his ministrations and climbed off of Matthew, who during some point of the beating had fallen to the ground. Punches had been thrown all over Matthew's fragile body, his face, his abdomen, his chest, anywhere Gil's fists decided to connect with his flesh. He was in agony and tears were streaming down his bruised and battered face.

"See you tomorrow Blondielocks."

Gilbert literally spit at him before walking away from a very banged up Matthew. He was curled into the fetal position and continued to sob from the insufferable pain and sheer terror he was in. Matthew stayed there in the woods for who knows how long. He felt miserable, and with good reason. He had a bloody nose, a gash under his right eye, a busted lip that would render him from playing his saxophone, and a plethora of bumps and forming bruises littering his meager body.

Slow, agonizingly slow, Matthew pulled himself to his feet. He trudged inch by inch back through the woods and up to his house. He made his way to the bathroom to wash away the access blood from his wounds. Thankfully his Papa had trusted him enough to make his own way home and had gone to bed. Matthew winced under the shower head as the water assaulted his tattered body. He made haste as best he could in his condition and stepped out and slinked into his room. He gingerly crawled into bed and quickly succumbed to slumber, completely foregoing any sort of sleepware.

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Matthew's alarm rang at 7:15 the next morning. He had felt energized about band camp, but that energy was prior to his mishap with a specific white haired youth. Now he felt drained and halfhearted about the whole ordeal. While it would be nice to see all his friends again and get back into living and breathing music, one he'd have to see Mr. Jones, and two he'd have to face Gilbert.

His father was already gone for work so he didn't have to deal with his Papa's fussing over his condition which was good. He made his way outside to the end of his driveway to wait for Eliz. He was wearing the usual summer practice clothes of a short sleeved shirt and shorts which left his bruised arms in plain view. Eliz finally showed up and he climbed in to her car and as soon as she saw the state he was in she gasped.

"JesusChrist, Mattie what happened to you?"

He didn't reply, he felt ashamed. Somehow though she knew exactly what happened. She shook her head in disbelief.

"Gilbert."

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Matthew was never more glad for his tendency of not being noticed. He went a whole good hour before anyone other than Eliz took note of him. It wasn't until break after basics block that anyone said anything. Feliks was walking to where the saxophone section had their cases to talk to Toris. That's when he bumped into Matthew nearly knocking him to his feet.

"Oh geez, I didn't see you at all! I'm like totally sorry and didn't mean to!"

Feliks turned his eyes to face his violet eyed friend and audibly gasped.

".God. What the hell happened to you? Toris, have you seen him! He's all like beat up and junk!"

Toris turned and once he too caught sight of Matthew's injuries his eyes held concern.

Of course with Feliks' loud voice he drew attention to some of the other people from their lunch group. Soon there was a miniature crowd around Matthew and people buzzing with speculations of what could have happened. Vash took note of the group of people around the sax section and once he realized that they were all the people from the lunch table he also made his way over. It took him only one glance at Matthew to piece together exactly what happened. He knew the instant he saw Matthew that it was all Beilshmidt's doing.

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A/N: Finally an update (: Sorry for the wait but I'm afraid you might have to wait again after this. I don't quite know what to do with this story next and I've started band camp. Any ideas would be much appreciated! As always reviews are welcome.