Chapter 4: "It's My Party but Boy's Don't Cry (even if they want to)"

Mathias looked at all of the tacky party decorations his mother had around the house. He didn't want them, but she'd insisted. It was probably because she wanted to look as put together as possible for when his father came over. His father hadn't actually spoken to her in three months, and he hadn't seen him in three weeks himself. He wasn't too excited, either. He acted so distracted last time and it was like Mathias didn't even exist. It wasn't always like that, either, but since his parents had divorced, his father had stopped caring. Seeing him was turning into a chore nowadays.

To top it off, his mother invited Lukas. To be honest, Lukas was the only one who would probably even show up. Gilbert was out of town for a while and Ned's parents thought Mathias was a bad influence, so he was never allowed over. He didn't really have any other friends besides them, either. Lukas didn't count as a friend, but he wished they were on better terms. He didn't want his father to see that he was so alone, but hey, you can only keep an act up for so long.

The first people to arrive were his grandparents, who plopped two gifts down on the table before hugging Mathias, who smiled, genuinely happy to see them. He loved his grandparents so much. It was different when his father walked in. There was no smiling, no hugs. He gave him a firm pat on the back and asked how he was doing in football. No surprise there.

Lukas arrived right on time. He held a flat gift in his hand. He looked so out of place and Mathias could sense it. He quickly took the gift and set it on the table. "Honey, if you want to go ahead and unwrap the gifts, you can." Mathias shrugged and looked at all of the gifts on the table, picking up his mothers first. It was a card with money. His grandparents. An xbox with two new games. His father. He knew already what it was when he saw it in his fathers hands. It was a ball.

"You've gotta keep up the practice," he said. Mathias forced a smile and thanked him, but it was so cold and so distant. Lukas couldn't understand a word they were saying because he didn't know Danish, but even he could tell that there was something not right. There was a long silence as he picked up Lukas' gift. Mathias felt so guilty for accepting the gift. He really didn't deserve it and almost wished he wouldn't have brought one at all. He tore open the package, revealing a music book.

"Cello Sonata in A Minor," he read slowly, glancing at Lukas. The younger boy shifted uncomfortably, then said, "It's Grieg. You can't play it yet, it's way too hard. It will give you something to work towards so you have a reason to keep practicing and getting better . . . " He trailed off towards the end when he heard Mathias' father laugh ever so slightly. Had he said something funny? "Thanks, Lukas. I think that's really smart, actually," he said, opening the book and looking through it with a small smile. He stopped when he heard his father say, "Come on, Mathias. Let's test the ball out."

Mathias looked from his mother, to his father, to Lukas, who tugged on his sweater sleeves awkwardly. Mathias knew Lukas didn't like sports from the way he acted in gym class. But he hadn't seen his father in so long and he knew he couldn't say no to him. "Lukas, do you want to play? We won't play long. You and me against him. He won't stand a chance," he offered, tossing the ball between his hands, then throwing it to Lukas.

Words couldn't describe how much Lukas didn't want to play. It was freezing outside and it had just sleeted yesterday so the ground was slick and muddy. He really wished he could go home, but it wasn't so terrible that he needed to call his mother yet, so he nodded. It was Mathias' party, after all, and it would have been rude to say no. He gave the ball back to Mathias and followed him into his backyard. He made markers for the goal ends and set the ball in the middle, starting it off.

Lukas mostly watched the two play, trying to stay out of the way as much as possible. He hated to have the ball at anytime and would rather scoot away than kick it himself. He currently watched Mathias try to take the ball from his father, who, in one wrong kick, sent the boy to the ground, clutching the back of his leg. "Jesus," he said under his breath, rubbing the back of his leg and wincing, his eyes becoming a bit glossy. He didn't cry, though. Boys weren't supposed to cry.

His father laughed. "Up, up, up! And none of those tears," he said, the ball still between his feet. Lukas looked from the father to Mathias, his eyebrows furrowing as he watched him struggle to stand on his own. He finally walked over himself and extended a hand. "I can help," he muttered, reaching for Mathias' muddy hand.

Mathias looked at the hand, then at his father. Back and forth his eyes flickered, until finally, he stuck his own hand back in the muddy grass and pushed himself up. Alone. Lukas crossed his arms and shivered, looking longingly at the door to the house, then at the phone in his pocket. He could hear Mathias and his father arguing behind him.

"You're going in already?"

"It's cold out here, dad. Besides, I hurt my leg."

"Oh, enough, Mathias. Don't be a baby."

Mathias stopped on his way to the door and looked at his father, then at Lukas, who couldn't even look up. Lukas' nose and cheeks were red and probably frostbitten by now. He might have stayed if it weren't for Lukas looking like he was going to freeze to death at any moment. "Come on, Lukas," he mumbled, ushering the younger boy back into the house. Lukas felt like he was melting when he felt the warm air. He was glad Mathias had chosen to come inside instead of staying outside.

"Mathias, sweetie, come blow out your candles!"

Both Mathias and Lukas sat at the table as his mother lit the candles on a pricey looking store bought cake. They all sang happy birthday and Lukas followed along quietly. His mother cut the cake, handing a piece to Mathias first, who ate sloppily, then to Lukas, who ate very slowly and couldn't take his eyes off of Mathias as he was eating. It was like watching a lion tear up a gazelle. Disgusting, yet intriguing.

"Hey, Lukas and me are going upstairs. I'll be in my room. Thanks for coming, guys," he said rather quickly as he hugged his grandparents on his way to the stairs. Lukas abandoned his half-eaten cake and followed, honestly a little afraid. He wasn't sure he wanted to be alone with Mathias after what happened the other day. He followed him into his bedroom regardless.

The room was very nice. Plain, but nice. All of his gifts had been placed on his bed by his mother and he reached for them, picking up the xbox first. Lukas wasn't surprised. He set it down by his television and added the games to his collection on a shelf by the window, then he reached down and grabbed the music book off of his bed and sat. "Thanks. This is cool. You didn't have to get me anything, though."

Lukas hesitantly sat on the bed with him, not knowing exactly what to say. "Where is Gilbert? And Ned?" He asked. He regretted asking, because clearly Mathias wished they were here. "Uh, well, Ned's parents hate me. And Gilbert is out of town."

"There was nobody else to invite?" He asked, looking at Mathias face. The taller boy shook his head and forced a smile, looking down at the book again. Lukas felt guilty. This had to be the worst birthday he'd ever seen. "I'm glad you came, though. I know my mom made you come, but still. It would have looked even worse if I had nobody here."

"I got cake out of it," the smaller boy said, trying to make a joke. Mathias cracked a small smile and looked at him. "Yeah, gotta think of the positives, right?" Lukas smiled a little more, then said, "Is your leg hurt?"

Mathias pulled his jeans up and saw a bleeding scrape that was already bruising. "Yeah but it isn't bad. It isn't a big deal. My dad would say to just rub a little dirt in it." Lukas rolled his eyes at that and looked at the scrape. "I think that's stupid to say," he said finally. Mathias turned to look at him, smiling wider and letting out a slight chuckle. "It is really stupid. You've got a point."

They sat there in silence for a minute or so until Lukas stood up. "I think my mom should be here about now," he said, standing in front of Mathias. He nodded, watching as Lukas walked towards the door. " . . . hey wait! Uh . . . " he stood, walking over to him with a hopeful smile. "Maybe I could see you again? Outside of school, I mean. I don't know if you celebrate Halloween or anything. I guess I really don't but my parents normally buy me a lot of candy for it and put on a scary movie. But it doesn't have to be scary! And Gilbert will still be out of town. So you won't have to worry about him being here!"

Lukas felt his heart beating faster and he wasn't sure if he was nervous or excited or sad or happy or what. "You need to stop being mean at school," he said after much thought. Mathias nodded slowly, looking down sheepishly. "Why are you so mean to me, Mathias?"

After little thought, Mathias shrugged. "I don't know. I just was being stupid, that's all. I won't be mean anymore," he said, looking hopeful again. Lukas nodded, smiling very faintly. "Promise?"

"I promise."

Lukas headed for the door again. "I think halloween would be nice," he said, leaving Mathias alone in his room with a stupid grin on his face. He looked around, first at the xbox, then at the book on his bed. He picked it up, wrote his name on the inside cover, put it on the top of his bookshelf, and reached for his book on beginners cello.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but REVIEWS and FOLLOWS excite me.