~*~

Chapter Two: Ciao, Bella! Mwah! Mwah!

~*~

Once the Canadian had finished eating, he dressed slowly, thinking about what everyone had said. Ivan and Francis were being too overprotective, Alfred had no clue that Matthew had been secretly pining for him since the second grade… the only people who hadn't really called to tell him off were Feliciano, his across-the-way neighbor, and Ludwig, the boy that was always at the Italian boy's house. (Feliciano said that there was nothing going on, but somehow Matthew knew that the German had a special place in Feli's heart.)

Matthew got done dressing and picked up the phone again, dialing the number he had so often called. He could've just walked over and rang the doorbell… but it was the morning, and the Italian was a bit of a nudist in the morning.

"Ve~ Ciao!"

"Morning, Feli…"

"Mattie! Is something the matter?" Feliciano asked.

"You told on me… that's what's the matter, eh," Matthew replied, but his voice was still level.

"I'm sorry, bella, but I saw you with Alfred and had to tell someone. I had no idea Ludwig would tell Gilbert. Gilbert was the culprit. How is Freddy, by the way?"

The Italian and Alfred had been Matthew's only friends for a while. Now Matthew had Ivan and Francis, but he still turned to Feliciano because they were somewhat alike. They were both in love with someone who was still getting over another (the German had gone five years without a date because a girl from Belgium dumped him for Francis…), for one, but they had been living across from each other since Matthew had moved to the city. Alfred had been the first friend for him at school, and Feli had been his first friend in the city.

"Bella…?" Feliciano asked when the Canadian didn't answer.

"Alfred's fine. Devastated by his break-up with Arthur, eh."

"It's a shame. The whisper was that Alfred was going to ask Arty to marry him~"

"Yeah… instead of that, they broke up, and Alfred turned up on my door like a frightened puppy!"

"Ve~ Lucky you, Mattie…" Feliciano said.

"Ludwig did the same for you, didn't he?" Matthew asked.

"Yes… but it's been five years… I haven't even kissed him, remember…" Feliciano said.

Matthew sighed, "And I haven't even seen Alfred in five years. First there was that two-year relationship with Antonio. Alfred caught him with your brother…"

"Ve~ It was the Spaniard's fault. Lovino would never sleep with a man like that. You know perfectly well…"

Matthew sighed, "And then this three-year love-fest between Arthur and Alfred. He gets so obsessed by these relationships and I never get to see him!"

"Listen, Mattie… pushing all this talk of unrequited love behind us… why don't you come over tonight and have some pasta with Ludwig and I. Lovino's off on business, and it gets so lonely in the house… and a lovely dinner party would be nice, yes?" Feliciano asked, "Definitely bring Alfred. I'd love to see him again."

"Would Ludwig mind?" Matthew asked, biting his lower lip.

"If I'm around, whatever happened between Ludwig and Alfred will be put to rest… I will make sure of that, bella. So I'll see you around six?"

"Yes… I'll go tell Alfred right now, eh. Bye, Feli…" Matthew almost sighed.

"Ciao, bella~ Mwah… mwah~"

The Canadian giggled as Feliciano said his stereotypical Italian farewell (A kiss on both cheeks, non? Francis said in Matthew's head, a kiss on the mouth is what you need, Mattieu… And why were Ivan and Francis taking over his thoughts? It was like those stereotypical angel/devil partnerships in the cartoons… except Alfred would call them both devils, if he knew…), and hung up the phone.

He opened the door to Alfred, who was just about to knock, and instead knocked on Matthew's head. Matthew ducked out.

"Who was that, Matthew? A lover?" Alfred teased.

Eek! He still doesn't know I'm still a virgin! Matthew cried in his head.

"N-No… it was Feliciano…" Matthew replied, "We're having dinner with him and Ludwig…"

"All right… as long as Feliciano keeps Ludwig's mouth shut, I'm game," Alfred replied, "What were you planning on doing today?"

"I was planning on doing some yard-work, eh," the Canadian replied softly.

"In the heat, are you nuts?" Alfred asked.

"Yes, I am… I've been neglecting working on this house—" Because of Francis and Ivan, "—and I haven't weeded the garden OR fixed the fence in a week! There was that nasty storm, if you remember, and it blew down that back fence…"

"I remember that storm, yes. Arthur and I cuddled under a blanket because he was scared," a smile appeared on Alfred's lips for a split second before his blue eyes turned cloudy and grey, like the storm had been.

Matthew hated this already. He let out an exasperated sigh and charged past the older boy, down the steps and out the back door. Alfred snapped out of his bittersweet memory and called after his young friend, "Mattie! Wait, I'm going to help you~" like nothing had happened.

~*~

Yeah. I would like it very much if N. Italy and Canada were actually friends. 'Tis a nice friendship, in my mind.

And yes, Canada's still a virgin. I was thinking of making N. Italy, as well, and a story about that will happen... soon.

Next Chapter: Matthew and Alfred work outside in the heat of summer. Shirts will come off, I promise...

Please review~

AR