Chapter Eight

Please Don't Leave

Lovino sat with his boyfriend, eating lunch in a quiet corner of the school yard. Antonio's hand covered that way as if they just happened to fall there. They weren't exactly holding hands, but the placement was clearly intentional and Lovino's forced ignorance of it clearly showed that he didn't mind. This is what boyfriends did after all, wasn't it?

Boyfriends. The term was still odd to him. It had been a couple weeks, but still at this point the term was nothing more in meaning than holding hands and sitting a little closer on the couch when watching movies. There had been no kissing and very little embrassing. Of course Antonio tried, but Lovino wouldn't have it. He just wasn't ready, the relationship itself was something he had to handle first. If anything, Lovino had to admit that he respected Anotnio's patience and respect.

Currently though he was acting strangely. Antonio was quieter than usual and the silence they had been sitting through since the lunch period began was something Lovino enjoyed, but coming from the older man it was simply worrisome. He was usually much more talkative. His usual bright and cheery smile had fallen to something more solemn and it was clear there was something on his mind that was bothering him. Lovino wondered when he had started noticing such details about Antonio.

"Just spit it out already," Lovino said, trying to avoid snapping.

"What?" Antonio asked. As if he didn't know.

"Something is clearly bothering you. If you have something to say you might as well just come up and say it otherwise you're just going to keep sitting there all weird and quiet like and ruin my lunch."

Antonio blinked and then chuckled lightly. "I suppose you are right Lovi. Well, we have winter break coming up."

"Yeah, what about it?" Lovino asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Well, my family is going back to Spain to visit my grandparents for the holidays."

A silence fell between them again, but it was different before as they held more of a silent conversation, saying things they would never let pass their lips.

"So? I guess I'll see you after break, have fun," Lovino said with a shrug, but Antonio didn't miss the disappointment in his voice.

He watched Lovino for a moment, the younger man not even looking at him. Finally, Antonio smiled. "Yeah, you're right," he said, he leaned over and kissed Lovino's cheek .

Lovino blushed but didn't say a word.

"I'll write you," Antonio said with a smile as he took Lovino's hand. The car sat running outside on the street. Antonio's parents waited patiently as he said his goodbyes.

Lovino rolled his eyes, leave it to Antonio to make this a sappy moment and say stupid stuff like that.

"You're going to be gone for two weeks, you'll be back before the letter," Lovino stated.

"Fine, I'll call," Antonio replied, amused.

"Don't waste the minutes. Just email will be fine."

"You always were hard to please."

"Then why did you fall for me? If it's going to be so much effort… bastard." Lovino tacked on the insult for good measure but at this point it was more of a term of endearment than anything worth taking offense over.

Antonio chuckled. "I'll miss you," he said.

"Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn't be leaving then, it's your own damn fault," Lovino replied bitterly.

Antonio's smile brightened considerably.

"I love you Lovi," he said, leaning in and kissing him.

It was quickly, hardly considered anything more than a peck, but still it made Lovino's face flush and his lips tingle. With a mix of dread and excitement Lovino realized he wanted more, but he didn't take it. He gave Antonio a half-hearted shove.

"Just leave already you bastard, and make sure you hurry back," he said.

Antonio wrapped him in a tight hug and buried his face in the younger man's hair. "As long as it's to you, I could never run faster."

Lovino relaxed into the embrace but ended up rolling his eyes again and pushing him off. "Stop saying stupid shit," he said, keeping his head down to hide the fact that his eyes were starting to gather tears.

Antonio placed a kiss to his forehead for good measure. "I'll be back before you know it."

"Whatever," Lovino grumbled, turning away. The last thing needed was for Antonio to see him cry, the last thing he needed was to see him walk out that door. Since when was two weeks such a big deal? "You're going to miss your flight if you don't leave."

"Yeah, good bye Lovino."

Lovino didn't answer until he heard the doorknob turn.

"Good bye," he replied, the closing of the door accenting his words as silence filled the room and a chill took over. Lovino took a deep breath. These two weeks were going to be harder than expected. He let the tears fall.