Chapter 16

3 days ago

[Berwald's POV]

The winter dance. The winter dance was in a couple of days. Days. I had been procrastination off asking him out for weeks now. I wanted to say something like 'I think you're really great please go to the dance with me.' But it's so hard to say it. I mean since our last walk home in the rain, we have been walking home together every day. The weather had been getting colder though. So, sometimes we go to his house first and his mum would make up hot chocolate to warm us up. Sometimes we went to mine and played video games until I had to go to tutor. So why was it so difficult to ask him out to the dance?

"Hey, Ber. Waiting long?" His voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Tino was wearing a blue and white Christmas jumper over his black jeans and combat boots. I noticed that he has been wearing less piercings as of late but today was the opposite and he was wearing them all. He looked great as usual. He asked me a question though so I shook my head.

"Hey I like your jacket. It looks nice and warm." He smiled. He was being nice. The jacket was an old boat coat mum got me two years ago when we went back to Sweden for a small family trip. It wasn't that nice it made me look like a child in their parent's jacket back then but now I guess it fits well.

"Thanks. I like yer jumper too." I pointed at the reindeer pattern. He chuckled and looked down at his jumper.

"Thanks! I'm expecting a different response though. It's not every day a guy who wear black and leather changes up to warm fuzzy Christmas jumpers but it's the first of December so it's important." He grinned looking back at me. Why was he so adorable?

"It suits yer." I said as we walked to school. The walk wasn't always like this. Normally, Tino is talking about something new. I like hearing him talk and I'm not really good at talking so it works out well. Tino smiled at the compliment but didn't say anything else. I glanced at him a little from time to time to check why he was so silent.

"so, are you going to the dance?" He asked looking up at the clouding sky. It was starting to snow lightly. Some of the snow was already falling on his hair and face making Tino's nose and lips become a dark pink colour. I was mesmerised until Tino turned to look at me. I couldn't look at him directly right now my face must be red, I felt it.

"Yea.. me neither.." He hummed talking my looking away a 'no'. I glanced at him a little. He was pouting lightly. I could feel my heart beating so fast. I wanted to say it right now and just telling that I wanted to go with him but it was like my mouth was sewn together.

"It's a shame though.." he paused his walk so naturally I did the same. "I have two tickets." He took two tickets out of his pockets and looked up at me. Suddenly a grin appeared on his face whilst I was still processing what was happening. What did this mean? Was he asking me to go with him? "You wanna go with me?"

His face was super red; hell my face was too. He just asked me to go with him. Tino asked me. I'm sure I must be dreaming and I swear if my alarm goes off I might just break the new IKEA clock. I was about to open my mouth and say I'll be more than happy to go with you but what came out was:

"Happy to I go with you.." and then I tried to clear it up. "I mean yea, I'll be happy go with you." Tino was trying not to laugh, I could see that. But he had his cute small smile. His eyes were back on me with a grin again. I get the feeling like I should get used to that look.

"You know.. I also happen to have two tickets for the movies for Saturday night… and I happen to be for the new star wars.." Tino grinned stepping a half a step closer. He had a compelling offer. Im pretty sure I could sneak out Saturday night. Mum wouldn't make a fuzz of me missing out on the antique show. Dad would so be home early that day anyways. I can definitely make it Saturday.

"Yea, I.. I can make that happen." Tino looked away a little.

"As in, you and I.. like a date." He clarified still not looking at me. I might just faint.

"I know." He looked up instantly and bit his lip a little. Not that I was looking there. He might have been playing with his lip piercing. A chuckle left his lips and then leaned up and kissed my cheek.

"You coming to school or what?" He asked holding my hand with his much smaller ones. I couldn't say anything but just nodded.

2 days ago

"So, what are you guys doing about the dance?" the dane asked during breakfast at the brothers who were barely awake.

"Working." Lukas replied groggily. Mathias looked at his bowl of cereal.

"I don't know.." Emil answered chewing on some toast.

"hasn't anyone asked you, Emil?" Emil went red and buried his face in his cup. Lukas looked up from his coffee and looked at his brother.

"So Leon asked you?" Lukas asked with a sleepy satisfied smirk. Emil pouted a little and nodded.

"But I don't have a suit so.. I don't know.. and those things look weird anyways..." Emil muttered the last part. Mathias chuckled lightly.

"Hey I have heaps. They might be big on you though, but we can go to the place I got it from." Lukas glanced at Mathias for second.

"Seriously? You're getting me to go buy a suit?" Emil asked surprised and sarcastically. Lukas had tried for years to get to him to go for years and each time Emil had refused. Even to their mother's funeral. Suits weren't an Emil thing and Emil wasn't about to go making them.

"Everyone should have one! They are important. So yea I'm going to drag you to that shop and get you fitted." Lukas snorted with an amused smirk with Mathias being so serious about a suit. Emil groaned a little. Mathias grinned a little too.

"Besides, I'm pretty sure Leon wouldn't be able to talk much." Lukas almost choked on his coffee as Emil spat his toast out fully red. Mathias began to laugh loudly as Emil just got more and more red and Lukas seemed to be beyond amused, he was smiling. Mathias stared at Lukas for a bit, giving time for Emil to recover.

"Like hell he won't. He won't shut up more like it." Emil answered a little bit annoyed that now it wasn't just his brother teasing him. He glanced at his bother and changed his mind however. At least his brother was smiling. Even if it meant that his nerves would be pushed and poked at more often than usual.

"Seriously, everyone loves people in suits. Smart and sharp look looks good 11/10 times." Mathias replied. Lukas rolled his eyes and Emil pouted again.

"What about you, are you going to that dance?" Lukas asked the nerd. Mathias shrugged a little not looking at Lukas or Emil in the eye.

"Nah, I have a date with my Xbox and a lord of the rings marathon. It's the only marathon I willingly run." Mathias replied with a grin. Lukas scoffed with an amused smirk.

"Nerd to the bone." Lukas mumbled. Mathias smiled.

"you're free to join me when you come back from work." Emil grinned to himself. Ah like fanfiction in real life.

"thought you said everyone likes smart and sharp." Emil muttered with a smug look. Mathias looked confused for a while and then went red. Emil was implying his brother. the oh-so-hot punk siting not that far looking at Emil like he was more crazy than usual. Emil shrugged smirking. "Anyways, I'm catching the bus with Leon. I'll see you guys at school."

Now

The school gym is normally a place most kids dread. Sports is a pain no matter who you are. But tonight it was different. Tonight it was the opposite. Everyone was anxious to be there. It was an important night for teenagers. The winter dance was the only dance the entire school was allowed to gather for dancing and a night of fun. Most picture it a magic and perfection when they describe it but that wasn't the case. No, it wasn't like the movies. It was stressful and no one was going to die if they didn't attend. However, it was the one night you could go and have fun in school grounds. And that is a rare occurrence.

"I still can't believe you got me to buy one of these tacky things." Emil pouted at Mathias as he pulled his light grey blazer on. It matched his slacks and white shirt. Mathias grinned and chuckling as he was in his pyjamas playing Assassin's Creed already. Lukas rushed downstairs with his leather jacket on his arm and his work uniform on.

"Emil, Is Leon coming to get you?" Lukas asked getting his bike keys and wallet. Mathias paused his game

"You're going too?" He asked getting up and going to the coat closet by the door.

"Yea I will be late if I don't leave now. It's starting to snow." Lukas was pulling on his jacket. Mathias handed him a scarf. Emil was watching from the living room grinning a little. Lukas gave Mathias a look and Mathias rolled his eyes with a grin and put the scarf around him.

"You're going to get sick if you don't take the scarf." Lukas rolled his eyes but there was a small smirk at the corner of his lips and went out. "Okay, have fun at work and drive safe." Lukas just turned around and shook his head as he went to his bike. Mathias grinned and shut the door.

"So you're going to get the surprise ready?" Emil asked with a mischievous grin.

"Yep, Thank you for helping with the measurements and getting the music." Mathias rushed to the living room and started moving the furniture. Emil grinned and started helping move the furniture with Mathias.

"Honestly, you just have to ask him out." Emil sighed getting the coffee table out of the room and had Mathias behind him with an arm chair.

"Easier said than done." Mathias replied getting out of breath quickly due to his asthma. Emil frowned a little.

"what's up with the wheezing?" Emil asked concerned.

"oh, I'm asthmatic and cold weather doesn't do me well. But I'll be fine." Mathias shrugged a little as they walked back into the living room and they both moved the big sofa to the window.

"Well, you're lucky Lukas doesn't smoke." Mathias paused for a bit. Did Emil not know? "He wouldn't even look at them because of how mum died."

"What?" Mathias stopped now. This was a lot to process. So Lukas smoking was a secret that Emil didn't even know of… and their mum had died from cigarettes? What was happening?

"Yea, mum died from second hand smoking. Dad once again but yea." Emil said clearing up the floor and putting a CD into the radio. Mathias didn't know what to do with this information. Like, he needed to tell Emil but he also knew that if he did he would get skinned alive by Lukas.

"Oh… I didn't know that. I'm sorry." Emil shrugged a little.

"Its fine. You didn't do it so.. yea. But it's good to know." Mathias bit his lips shut. And the doorbell went off. Emil stood up straight and fixed his shirt and his tie. Mathias decided to forget about this and just act like he never heard Emil utter the words that he just heard.

"That must be Leon." Emil looked a little dazed and nervous. The dane grinned and went to get the door. Leon stood there with a black suit with a thick black coat over it to shield him form he freezing weather outside. Leon looked up at Mathias a little surprised. Mathias grinned at him.

"Well, don't you look formal." Leon smiled a little.

"Is Emil ready?" Leon asked a little pink from embarrassment.

"You're lucky Lukas left for work already." Leon raised an eyebrow and then grinned back at Mathias who was chuckling away amused. Emil got his coat and looked at Leon from behind Mathias. They gaze instantly locked with each other. Mathias stepped aside with a smug look.

"you look.. formal." Leon tried to talk. Mathias patted Emil's shoulder who rolled his eyes at him.

"Have fun you two." Leon offered Emil his hand and Emil took it, only glancing back at Mathias and mouthed a thanks and goodluck. Mathias grinned a bit, happy for those two. "Don't be too late home."

The stadium had been drastically changed to its usual grim reminder of the 'fun' games like dodgeball. The usual basketball hoops we're currently being used to hold up a massive elaborate tent that had was what the most important area. It would seem that Francis really out did himself this year. The tent inside and outside were amazingly elegant. The fabric was white and the lights were a beautiful light blue hue making everything have a winter look instantly. The tables were all dark blue with a warm centre light piece. The proud French was talking to the Dj at the very front, possibly flirting. He was probably telling him to watch out for the smoking machine under the Dj table. There was honestly so many cables that Francis had to call in a favour from Gilbert and get Ludwig to organise and clear it up. And last but not least at the centre of the tent much like the tables, there was a large light decoration made of one main floor light source and lots of fabric coming up to the highest point of the tent and also out, like a giant bloomed rose. By doing that with the fabric, it dimmed the bright light and made it look like sheets of ice over each other. Whisky the smoke machine gave the illusion of cold. Clearly, Francis hadn't been joking when he said that it was all about presentation.

Emil and Leon were at the front and joined Tino and Berwald waiting in line. Tino was looking really good with his piercing still in and tattoos peeking out the neck and sleeves like enticing you to want a closer look. Berwald was very much enticed. Tino's suit was white with black dress shirt and white tie whilst Berwald was wearing light blue and a bowtie. Emil grinned at Leon as they watch the wo love birds talking and hugging to keep warm. Tino looking up at Berwald with a beautiful smile and looked completely focused on Berwald. Leon and Emil almost felt bad for interrupting.

"So the surprise is set and ready?" Tino asked with mischief on his tone. Emil smiled and nodded.

"He is ordering 4 boxes of pizza and making the punch by now. Lukas is going to either refuse completely or go along really embarrassed. I wish I was there to see it." Emil pouted a little.

"Best to leave them to sort things out on their own." Berwald added glancing at Tino a little. Francis approached them suddenly.

"Ah! Hello! You guys all look so cute and in love! I was wondering if Mathias was ready for my friends to come in and help with the surprise." Francis smiled looking at the couples happily.

"Yea, he should be. Thanks for this Francis. Seriously, you must be so stressed." Tino looked at him a little worried.

"Non non, I'm fine! I'm used to organising big events." Francis winked and then grinned. "I'm just glad to help those two together because it's like watching Feliciano and Ludwig try to say they are only friends."

"I'll call him to tell him your friends are on their way then?" Emil asked finally realising how serious he needed to get Mathias and his brother together.

"Oui, I will also be heading over there to make sure it's all perfect. But go ahead and go in, your table is number 4." Francis pointed at it and then dashed off.

Emil got his phone out and decided to make the call whilst they went inside. Leon was holding Emil's hand still, not wanting to let it go and relaxing in its warmth and the way their hands just seemed to perfectly fit each other.

"Hey Mat, Francis is on his way there and he is bringing help. Just make sure it's all cleared and don't exhaust yourself." Leon sat on one of the seats as they got to the table. His other arm went around Emil's waist and his face leaned into Emil's side. Emil rested his arm around Leon's shoulders blushing a little at the sudden contact in front of people. Mathias was talking on the phone but Emil's mind was clearly on Leon and all about Leon. "Mat, it will be fine. Just keep him smiling and everything will go as planned. I got to go though. Good luck.."

Tino and Berwald decided not to interrupt the romance clearly happening and instead Tino dragged Berwald over to the punch bowl and getting a drink. The music currently playing was slow indie music you'd normally hear on the way to school on the radio. Everyone was slowly drifting in and taking their seats.

"They look so cute." Tino cooed a little at the other duo on their table being affectionate.

"About time that happened too." Berwald commented with a bit of surprise as he hadn't imagined Emil or Leon as the type to be affectionate in front of people.

"Do you think Lukas will like his surprise?" Tino asked a little worried. Berwald leaned down and kissed his cheek softly causing Tino to look up and smile at him and wrapping his arms around Berwald's waist.

"They will be fine." Tino smiled bigger at the reply.

AAAA okay i wont do review replies on this one bc i'm posting again in like a couple of hours after i edit the next one but i just needed to splt this into tow chapters of it owuwld have been more than 7K words holy crap!

bUT I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE REVIEWS HAPPEN SO QUICK HOLY CRAP!

thank you so so much! so i will be right back with the next one which will be like taking a shot of pure liquid sugar

its so sweet and adorable i was crying and writing but that's the best way to write!