Gilbert could hardly believe she'd given in that easily!
All it took was him asking if she wanted to go somewhere, and she'd just... done it. He was amazed, and a bit flattered. Was he really that enticing?
He looked at her walking beside him.
Sh seemed to feel his eyes on her, for she looked up at him quizzically, raising an eyebrow. Oh, god... He thought. That's so hot!
Gilbert wasn't even quite sure where they were going. They had been wandering in almost a circle for about an hour, and they still had a lot of time to kill. They'd hardly even spoken a word to each other.
Gilbert had to figure out a way to get her to talk.
He didn't really care what she talked about, he just wanted to know about her. She wanted her to know about him.
What was wrong with him? He'd never wanted to tell someone this much about himself before. He kept so much held inside, his interests, tastes, deep thoughts, and dreams.
He wanted so badly to tell her everything.
He coughed awkwardly.
"Yes?" She said, as if reading his mind.
"So... what's your favorite color?" H asked. Well, that's a start, I guess...
She laughed. "After all this time being silent, that's what you have to ask? It's green, by the way. Olive green." She said softly.
He smiled at her. "I guess that must be why the walls of the store are olive green."
"Yes, I picked out that color," She squinted at him. "Well, while we're on this topic, what's your favorite color?"
He thought for a second. "Red." He finally replied.
"Why?"
"Because... well, my eyes, for one thing. Also, it kind of is a really powerful-ish color, you know?" He said. He hoped she understood what he was trying to say.
"Yeah." She replied simply.
He grinned, relieved that she hadn't gotten weirded out by his explanation. She seemed to understand what he was saying.
"Why do you like olive green?"
"Hmm..." She closed her eyes. "Well, I honestly don't have much of a reason like you do... I just love how it looks. It's so pretty, but it doesn't get much credit for being that way, you know?" She sounded a little sad when she said it.
Gilbert nodded. Then, he wondered, just for a moment. Was she always recognized for how pretty she was? He shook his head. No, that was not possible. Anyone who was close to her like Roderich was couldn't possibly ever go a day without telling her how gorgeous she was. Could they?
He decided it was best not to ask about that. Perhaps when he got the chance, he would casually state that she was pretty, so it wouldn't seem pretty. Even so, "pretty" does not accurately describe how Elizaveta looked. She was... perfect. Gilbert found her so physically attractive that he could hardly keep himself from suddenly wrapping her in a hug... He shook his head. No, he couldn't think like that. What was he even doing?
"What's the matter?" She asked.
"Huh?"
"You look... upset." She said casually.
She'd caught him. He made a snap decision and resorted to his classic smirk.
"And you were... watching?" He said. He'd caught her too!
Her cheeks turned a little bit pink, which Gilbert liked. A lot.
"N-no!" She sputtered.
He chuckled, trying to seem more confident than he was.
"Okay, whatever you say." And they were silent.
After a few more minutes of walking, Gilbert saw a park with lots of little kids.
"Hey, why don't we go there?" He pointed to the park.
Elizaveta raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
He shrugged. "I like playgrounds, I guess..."
"Uh huh. And how old are you, Gilbert?" she smiled mischievously.
"Twenty-four. Why?"
She shook her head, chuckling. "I've never in my life met someone over fourteen who would willingly go to a playground and actually use it for what it is meant for."
Could she be the "I'm too cool for everything" type? Man, that would seriously SUCK. Only one way to find out. "Well, do YOU wanna go play on the playground?" He smirked, trying to look cool and confident, sure she could see right through it.
She grinned. "I would absolutely love to."
Gilbert gulped and his face heated up. God, she was so cute. Why did she have to be so cute? If she hadn't been engaged, then he totally would have just kissed her right there. Without hesitation. Actually, with any other girl he would have gone ahead and done it. But something about her... she made him want so much, but for some reason... he was completely able to restrain himself.
He looked away to hide his flushed face, but by her giggling he could tell she'd seen it. This only resulted in a deeper blush.
She stopped giggling. "Let's go, then." She started walking towards the playground. He jogged after her.
"Let's go on the swings." She said, as if it were such a normal thing for two people over twenty to go swing on the swings at a playground.
"Hey, Elizaveta?"
"Yeah?"
"How old are YOU?"
"... I'm twenty-four as well," She sighed. "Why?"
"I was just wondering."
"It's because I look young, right?" She said, voice straining a little.
"No! You look like you're in your twenties. Why would you think that?" Gilbert rushed out.
"I dunno. I guess people have always been making judgements about my appearance."
Gilbert could hardly believe that. How could anybody judge her appearance in any other way but to say it was mind-bogglingly beautiful? It didn't matter what your type was, Gilbert thought, she was perhaps the prettiest thing on Earth. He wished he could tell her so. But he imagined that Roderich probably told her that often enough. How could he not?
"Really?" He said.
"Yeah... When I was little... everybody thought I was a boy. There was this one annoying guy... he always would get in fights with me and call me Eli the homo... So I beat him up, and that only made everything worse."
That story sounded weirdly familiar to Gilbert. Eli the homo... Where had he heard that before?
Then it hit him. Oh shit. He was the annoying kid!
"D-do you remember his name?"
"No... I just remember he was albino, like you." She said, totally oblivious.
Gilbert was blushing again, but Elizaveta didn't notice. His mind was racing. He was six! How could he have known that one day that tomboy would turn into an extremely hot girl?! She'd switched schools in the second grade, so he hadn't seen her since then. Thank god it had been eighteen years and she didn't remember his name!
"I swear... If I ever saw him again, I'd kick his ass." She growled.
"Well, what if he turned out to be a really nice guy? I mean he could be really sorry for what he'd said to you I mean maybe he didn't mean it..." Gilbert urged.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "That asshole has made me self-conscious for eighteen years. You think I can just... forgive him?"
"O-of course not!" He said, trying to act cool again. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to try..."
She shrugged. "Well, it's not like I'll ever actually see him, so what's the point?"
"Yeah, I guess." Gilbert was so thankful she hadn't remembered the kid's name.
She laughed quietly to herself.
"What is it?" Gilbert asked.
"Well..." She smiled up at him. "I only just met you and I'm telling you such personal things."
Gilbert smirked at her, his super-ego returning. "Yeah, I have that effect on people."
She slugged his arm (which hurt like HELL... Yeah this was definitely Eli from first grade...) and sat on one of the swings.
They were on the swings for about two hours. They talked and talked and talked. The parents with their children looked at them awkwardly as they swung, not quite sure what to make of the two adults playing on the swings.
Gilbert learned that the more he got to know her, the more he wanted to kiss her.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
...
Later that day, when Gilbert arrived at home, it was nearly 8:00 pm. Antonio was really confused.
"Where were you all day? I looked for you in the store but you weren't there."
Gilbert was sitting on the couch, and wasn't watching TV for a change. He was humming to himself and hugging his legs close to his chest.
"Huh? Oh... I was out."
Antonio raised an eyebrow. "Well I'm glad to see you aren't moping around anymore. There are some pasta leftovers that Lovi brought over in the fridge if you want them."
"Okay. Thanks." Gilbert said absently.
"Oh, and your brother called." Antonio said.
"What did he want?" Gilbert rolled his eyes.
"He wanted you to call him back. He didn't say what he wanted."
"Okay."
Gilbert walked to the phone and quickly dialed the number he'd memorized for just this reason. His brother was extremely awkward and always needed love advice. The only problem was that Gilbert was a total loser and couldn't even figure out his own problems.
After four rings, Ludwig picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hey, bro."
"Gilbert. I... need help."
Gilbert chuckled. "Again? Who with this time? Sakura? Katrina?"
Silence on the other end.
"Bro? You there?" Gilbert asked, surprised his awkward younger brother wasn't responding.
"It's... Feliciano..."
Gilbert coughed a few times. "What?" He must have misheard him.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE, GILBERT. IT'S FELICIANO."
"O-oh..." Well, Gilbert hadn't expected THAT.
"What do I do?!" Ludwig demanded, desperately.
"You're... gay?" Gilbert choked out.
Silence for a few seconds. Then a small, "Yeah."
Well, Gilbert was stumped. He had no idea how to give advice to a man... about another man. And... of all people in his life that could be... gay! His brother? Seriously? His little brother, who was a big sports guy, who served in the military, who had always been surrounded by a crowd of girls in high school. Gilbert was too baffled to say anything.
"Gilbert?" Ludwig whispered.
"I-I... I can't help you on this one, bro. I really have no idea."
"Okay... sorry I sprung it on you like that..."
"Nah... it's cool, man. Hey, if it makes you feel any better... Feliciano is pretty girly. I really would NOT be surprised at all if he was too."
Feliciano was Ludwig's Italian best friend. He was really bubbly, cheerful, chatty... not a very pleasant person. Gilbert couldn't really keep up a conversation with the guy without wanting to strangle him. He always hung all over Ludwig and gave him hugs and asked him to tie his shoelaces... Gilbert had always wondered why Ludwig was friends with him, but now he was starting to get it.
"I wouldn't be surprised either, to be honest. But the problem is... what if he doesn't feel that way?" Ludwig sounded really nervous.
"It's cool, man. Just be yourself." Gilbert was trying to keep his shaky voice in check.
"Okay... Hey, I'll see you later, okay?" Ludwig said.
"Yeah. Talk to you later."
They both hung up.
Gilbert plopped back down on the couch. There was too much to think about. Between Elizaveta and his gay younger brother... His head was spinning. It was too much for one day.
He then decided to make a list. Making lists always calmed him down.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ELIZAVETA:
-SHE SMELLS NICE
-SHE HAS PRETTY EYES
-SHE IS COOL
-SHE FORGOT THAT I'M A JERK
-SHE LIKES GOOD MUSIC
-SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW PRETTY SHE IS
-SHE IS RIDICULOUSLY HOT
-SHE HAD FUN ON A PLAYGROUND
-HER FAVORITE COLOR MATCHES THE WALLS OF HER STORE
-SHE IS HOT (I THINK I ALREADY SAID THAT)
-SHE'S BRAVE
-SHE'S KIND OF SCARY
Gilbert fell asleep before he could finish the list... It would have taken all night to be honest.