Author's note: If you like Ada, then you might feel sorry for her in this chapter. I don't hate her necessarily, but I don't like her a whole lot either. I don't hate Alice either, so her actions are just to match the story. First though, for a change of pace, the story will start in Gil's point of view. Manami Nightray: Hope this won't disappoint. Of course, this is only the beginning. youngnozomi: Elliot and Leo's duet was my favorite part to write. I love writing anything involving my OTP. Oz better hope that the employees keep food on hold. Animelover779: I missed you! I'm very sorry that I haven't been active lately, so I haven't been able to review or read your stories either. I'll be sure to go back and do so when I get the chance. To everyone: If this doesn't meet your drama standards, please be patient. I'm trying to go little by little starting with a bit of past drama. Also, I was originally going to ask for 3 reviews, but this chapter ended up shorter than I intended, so 2 reviews will be enough to motivate me. Please?

And now, onwards we go!

I still own nothing except Mirella.

Chapter 7: Who do you love more?

Gilbert's POV

Approximately 10 to 15 minutes prior to Elliot and Leo's duet.

Oz...

As I recalled the way Oz gave me my raven back (now repaired without obvious stitches) as a birthday present, I held it close to my heart after quickly lighting a cigarette and placing it between my lips. Alice and Vincent are starting to catch on... I knew full well that Oz is a flirt and probably isn't into guys so I planned on not saying anything, but, to be honest, I don't really know anymore. Exhausted from thinking so much, I blew out a ring of smoke, slipped the raven back into my pocket where it was out of sight, and then let my arm rest at my side when suddenly Alice appeared with an incredibly displeased expression on her face.

"Oi, Seaweed head," Alice called out spitefully upon finding me alone smoking away from where people can be affected by secondhand smoking.

"What is it, stupid rabbit?" I replied on reflex as I put out my cigarette, threw it onto the ground, and stepped on it.

"Why are you getting too close to Oz? Could it be that you plan on confessing to him? I know you're in love with him."

"He's my best friend. And no, I don't have any feelings for him, so I won't be confessing anything of the romantic sort to him."

Upon uttering those words, I felt a knife stab my chest and twist painfully to make me regret lying to her. Surprisingly, Alice caught on to this, but she didn't bother to comment on it specifically.

"So you won't care if I take him?"

My mouth went dry as I contemplated whether or not to protest or keep my mouth shut. Unfortunately, in the end, I chose the former like an idiot. She flashed her trademark smirk at my response as she made a fair game with the condition that the loser wouldn't get involved in the winner's pursuit of Oz. I knew that either way we wouldn't give him up without a fight, but I couldn't help feeling guilty that we were making plans behind his back even though this will be his choice to make and his alone. I'm sorry, Oz, but I'm not going to give you up.

"Alright. What is the challenge you have in mind?"

Oz's POV

(It's about 5 PM)

A tense atmosphere hung in the air as we remained silent for a moment to allow Elliot to have some time to stop fuming. Leo seemed to not care as he casually sat on love seat nearby and read the recipe book that was left out in the open. Once Elliot managed to calm down enough to talk somewhat civilly, Leo put the book back where he found it and waited to have his say.

"Oz..." Elliot growled as he grabbed me by the collar. "You better not tell anyone about this or else I swear I'll-"

"Shut up, Elliot. That's not what we've come here to discuss," Leo chided as he pried him off of me and threw him onto the couch.

"Then what the hell are we planning to talk to shorty about?"

Shorty? He's not that much taller than me!

"Since you must know, then it'd be best to skip straight to the point. Oz, answer carefully. Do you have any romantic feelings for Alice Baskerville?"

Upon hearing her name along with those words, I froze. Alice is one of my best friends. She's dear to me and I'd feel a little jealous if she was with another guy, but are those feelings the same? I opened my mouth to tell him my answer, yet no words would leave my lips. After clearing his throat in response to my (lack of a) response, Leo rephrased his question.

"Who do you love more: Alice Baskerville or Gilbert Nightray?"

I shut my mouth immediately once he uttered that very question. Gil had always been such a touchy subject. Years ago, Alice confessed her love to me before I left, but I never could find the words to answer her question. How could I? I didn't know anything about love. Sure, I've had a crush on a person once in my life, but I knew in the back of my mind that it wasn't real and she knew it too. And to add Gil into this... My best friend... The one who is always there when something happens between my father and I... He's different than her. I see him differently from Alice too and he seems to do the same for me, but is that love? Agh... I just don't know what to think of this.

Annoyed with my silence, Elliot decided to break the silence with a story. A story I probably would've been better off not hearing if it wasn't for my own good. Anyway, approximately five months ago, Elliot was in a relationship with my sister. Whoa wait. Elliot and Ada? Hell no. Shocked, I stood up in preparation to start a fight until Elliot punched me with all his strength and told me to sit down and listen until the end.

Continuing on with his story, he dated her for three months, yet he never laid a finger on her other than hugging her and holding hands with her on rare occasions. He didn't even kiss her once. It took a comment from her to realize that a cold relationship like that wasn't romantic at all, so they broke it off.

"It's not good to leave out important details in the story, Elliot."

"He doesn't need to know!"

"Doesn't matter. You're not the one telling this part of the story."

To add to Elliot's story, Leo told me about how their current relationship connected to Elliot's previous relationship with Ada. He mentioned the fact that Elliot's family did not like how they were best friends, so they have tried time and time again to pull them apart to no avail. The reason for their loathing of him was due to his preference of men over women. That and he was also once

an orphan with no noble lineage until now. Elliot only knew that he was once an orphan because he became friends with him while he was still at the orphanage. However, he was not aware of his sexuality until his family informed him about it, but he didn't care in the slightest.

No matter what happens, I will be beside you.

Gil...

"Of course, Elliot, being the gentleman he is, made the first move," Leo teased before dodging a punch directed at him from Elliot.

"Dammit Leo!"

He sighed in exasperation before he brushed off Leo's teasing (with a bit of difficulty) and solemnly apologized for not treating Ada like a girlfriend due to his mind being full of his best friend. Of course, he was mumbling all of this, but most of his words were clear without verification. Now that I knew the story behind Leo's sudden questioning, he instructed me to find out who I loved more before everything slipped through my fingers. If I decided to follow through and admit that I loved Gil like the two of them believed, then I would have to face many obstacles to keep that love alive. Not only that, but I will be shunned even more by my father who refuses to look at me and my friendship with Alice will most likely be ruined. On the other hand, if I chose Alice, then I may lose Gil in the process even if he says he will never leave me. And if he still stands by me, then I will feel guilty for the rest of my life.

Friendship or love? Gil or Alice? Why is everything so complicated?

"Sucks to be popular. That applies to you too, Elliot."

"I never asked to be popular, so stop rubbing it in, Leo."

If only I could come to a conclusion...

Out of the blue, all of our cellphones suddenly beeped with a text from Reim. According to the message, we were given a job opportunity that should give us another boost in recognition, and that Reim wanted the band to meet at Pandora to discuss whether or not to accept the job and the details of what will happen if we do accept. Since this meant that our break time would be cut short, Leo decided that now would be a good time to go our separate ways. Strangely enough, I finally remembered that I ordered pastries earlier that I forgot to pick up, so I hurried out of the room to (hopefully) get my order and race home to put it in the fridge for tomorrow. What a relief that Marie was kind enough to box the cake instead of giving it to another customer or throwing it out. For that, I dropped a few euros before taking off towards my current residence.

Sorry for the wait everyone! I decided to make the next part a separate chapter because it's an entirely different scene altogether (Elliot and Leo's role lessens in the next chapter and focuses more on Gil, Alice, and Oz). Because of that, I decided to have a little fun and have Leo provoke Elliot a bit because it's amusing. Also, if you're wondering why Leo automatically asks "Who do you love more?", then the answer would be because of his intuition. I think of both Oz and Leo as intuitive characters. Well, I guess that's it. Bye~