AN: Hola, guys.

Another chapter for you.

To my reviewers:

Spamano4ever: Lovi is talented, both of the italy brothers are, in their own way. And yeah, I suppose I do update quickly. But it also says something about my social life: outside of my cosplay group, it's dead. Still, I enjoy writing, so whatever.

Enjoy the chapter!

That morning when the group got into school and situated in their normal place, Alfred came bounding by, dragging Arthur with him. Matthew wandered over at his own pace.

Alfred gave a cheeky grin. He looked at Lovino. "You did great yesterday,"he commented.

Arthur pulled his wrist out of the American's grip, rubbing it with a glare directed at the excitable blond.

Lovino bit back a laugh at that. "Thank you,"he said honestly.

Matthew smiled at Lovino once he stopped with the group as well.

Gilbert chuckled. "Alright, so you're okay with people commenting on your playing, but if I try to talk to you about anything else, you snap?"he asked Lovino. "I'm hurt,"

"Well, it's none of your fucking business, so of course I snap at you."Lovino responded.

Matthew raised his eyebrow. "Oh? Is there something else that's being questioned?"he asked, looking at Lovino. "Why exactly have you found yourself being questioned?"
Lovino rolled his eyes. "Francis and Gilbert think I have a crush on someone."he said softly. "As if,"

Gilbert went to give more information, but Lovino glared at him, keeping him silent.

Matthew smiled knowingly. "Oh."he said. "So..no?"

Lovino glowered at Matthew and shook his head. "No."he said.

But Matthew smiled faintly. "Yeah, sure.."he murmured.

Feliciano smiled at his brother. "You are so crushing!"

"I am not!"Lovino snapped. "Discussion dropped,"

Feliciano kept quiet for a moment before he grinned. "You are,"he said before letting it drop.

Throughout the day, Antonio was bugging Lovino about his 'crush' trying to figure out why Lovino was being so defensive about it.

When they entered the lunchroom, that's exactly what they were talking about.

"Come on, Lovi! Tell me!"Antonio said softly. "I just wanna know!"

Lovino shook his head. "For the last damn time, I am not crushing on someone, let it go,"

Gilbert laughed at the irony when he heard this. "Oh, this is priceless,"he told Francis.

Matthew, who was sitting with them that day, grinned knowingly. "So, it's Antonio?"he asked quietly before Lovino and Antonio got there and sat down.

Gilbert nodded once. "He just won't fess up to it,"he responded.

When the two sat down with the others, the topic was dropped.

Throughout lunch, things were pretty calm. As soon as the group finished eating, though, Francis spoke up. "So, Lovi, how'd you like being used as a teddy bear last night?"he asked.

Lovino turned red. "Fucking scared the shit out of me,"he said. "God knows when I sleep I'm dead to the world, so when I woke up this morning being used as a teddy bear, it startled me."

Francis laughed lightly. "I was wondering. You're face was still pretty red this morning at breakfast,"

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "You guys crashed at their place?"he asked.

Feliciano nodded. "They sure did."he commented.

Lovino dropped his head into his hands when this conversation continued. After a while, he looked back up and spoke. "Can we please drop this subject?"he asked.

Gilbert smirked. "Wanna admit you have a crush?"he asked.

Lovino glared. "Nevermind,"he grumbled, dropping his head back into his hands.

After a while, they dropped the topic and Lovino looked back up again.

Throughout the rest of the classes for the day, Antonio continued to bother Lovino about his crush.

Why can't he just leave it be? Lovino thought during their shared history class.

But Antonio didn't leave it be. It continued until they met up with the others outside. They were going to hang around for a while longer before heading to Gilbert's and Ludwig's house to hang out for a while.

After a while longer of Antonio bugging him and Gilbert and Francis giving him knowing smiles, he cracked. "Fine, god damn it, I have a crush. Can you guys stop now? You're all driving me insane!"

Francis smirked. "Nope. You have to admit who it is before we'll leave you be."

Lovino glared at the frenchman. "Fuck you,"he spat.

Still, Antonio backed off a bit then. Lovino was able to relax a little bit.

At least, until they started on the long walk to the Beilschmidt household. Then, Gilbert decided to start up again. "Lovi! Why won't you just admit it?"he asked.

Lovino growled. "Gilbert, damn it, you know why!"

Gilbert frowned. "But..Lovi?"he said. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Lovino gave Gilbert a deadpan look. "Alright, how's this: the day you admit to Matt that you have a crush on him - and I know you do, because you've told me before after you got fucking drunk off your ass a while back - I'll tell the person I have a crush on that I like them."

Gilbert recoiled, suddenly glad that Matthew wasn't with them this time. He sighed. "Deal."he said, a stubborn light coming into his eyes.

Francis noticed and chuckled. "Alfred will kill you if you hurt his petit frère, Gilbert."he commented. "Just a fair warning."

Gilbert nodded in understanding. "I never said I would hurt him."he responded calmly.

The look that Gilbert gave Lovino made the italian think that he just screwed himself over. Again.

He had time, right?

Wrong. Damn. Lovino watched in shock as Gilbert spoke with Matthew. He could hear every word said.

It was still early that morning, but it felt like it was already time to go home to Lovino. His shock was evident.

Francis gave Lovino a knowing look, but said nothing.

That day at lunch, Gilbert gave Lovino a look that was clearly asking if he was going to back out. Lovino shook his head at that, sitting down in silence.

Matthew, who was sitting with them again, spoke. "So, Lovino, are you regretting that deal yet?"he asked. "Gil told me that that deal is what made him get the courage up to tell me he liked me."

Lovino sighed. "I'm going to be laughed at, I already know it."he admitted. "So, yes, I am regretting it very much."

Gilbert took pity on Lovino. "Fine. Listen, I'll help you figure out how to tell him, okay?"he said softly.

Lovino gave a half thankful smile and nodded. "Thanks, Gilbert."

Other than that, it was pretty quiet at lunch.

That same evening, Gilbert decided to text Lovino through classes to help him plan.

By the time they got out of school that day, Lovino was freaking out. "Gilbert, I can't do this,"he said. Gilbert, Matthew and him were the first ones outside of their grouping. "I'm going to make a fool of myself."

Gilbert sighed. "Lovino, breathe."he commented.

Feliciano and Ludwig showed up about then. "Francis is keeping Antonio back,"Ludwig said. "Which may be a good thing because it looks like Lovino here is about to have a panic attack,"

Lovino flipped him off.

Feliciano moved to take one of his brother's hands. "Fratello, calm down. It's Toni. He's not going to laugh at you,"

Lovino pulled his hand from his brother's harshly. "Feli, for once in your life, do not touch me."he said.

Gilbert understood then. "You've never told someone you like them before, have you?"he asked.

Lovino shook his head.

Gilbert groaned. "You should have told me this, Lovi!"he said, getting his phone out and sending a text to Francis.

Matthew took pity on Lovino. "Alright, I'll handle this. You calm down before you have a panic attack,"he said, taking off into the school in search of Francis and Antonio. He found them near some of the lockers.

Francis was reading something on his phone.

"Hey!"Matthew said in greeting.

"Hello, Mattheiu."Francis greeted, looking up. "Did Gilbert send you?"

Antonio smiled in greeting.

Matthew returned this smile before he spoke. "No. I sent myself. I figured Lovi needs all the help we can give him, because he's so close to a panic attack,"he said.

Francis frowned. "Poor Lovi."he said softly.

Antonio tilted his head. "So, do you guys know who it is he has a crush on?"he asked.

Matthew nodded. "Come on,"he said, taking off back outside.

Francis and Antonio followed behind.

Lovino was talking with Gilbert when they got back outside.

"...that's why I was so hesitant to even admit that I had a crush, much less one on Toni. I can't deal with normal relationships like other people can."Lovino said, his voice quiet, but still able to drift back.

Matthew caught Gilbert's eyes as he walked up.

Gilbert half smiled, glancing back at Antonio, who looked surprised, but had a faint smile showing. "Lovino?"he asked. "Turn around."

Lovino looked at him in confusion before turning, look of utter confusion still there until he spotted Antonio there, within hearing range.

He froze then.

Why did he still trust his friends so much? He didn't know. But, he supposed, Antonio wasn't yelling at him or anything, so maybe it was okay.

Hopefully.

And here it is.

So, one of the side pairings is going to be PruCan. Another, maybe, GerIta. Any others you guys wanna see?

Anyway, ciao.