A/N: Pretty sure this is the shortest chapter, but hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 3: October 2nd
With a flick of his wrist, Matthew quickly dimmed the lights, focusing a few spotlights on center stage. On the stage, curtains opened revealing Francis standing alone and Lovino entering from stage left. The set was simple at the moment- a Victorian styled peach couch with dark mahogany tables and bookcases.
"Page 12. All actors ready for cues, Matthew-san." Matthew heard through the headset placed on his head.
"Thank you, Kiku, and no need to add the '-san'." He answered pressing a button that controlled volume on the side of his headset. He sighed quietly and turned on a few of the yellow lights, playing around with them until he had the lighting effect he wanted. He set up the queue and sat up to watch the actual scene play out. There weren't that many queues and they were almost through act two, giving a lot a free time to just sit there and think, or watch whatever was happening.
"Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?" The words floated up easily from the stage. Both Francis and Lovino had good projection and enunciation in his opinion. Matthew watched as Lovino, looked off awestruck as Francis made a scowl.
"I noted her not; but I looked on her" Francis replied in a slow, confident tone.
"Is she not a modest young lady?" Lovino looked in love, either acting or not, it wasn't noticeable that he was faking. He was one of the better actors, no one could really tell if he put on a front or not.
"Do you question me as an honest man should do," Francis had carefully kept his face blank. Matthew nodded to himself, the play was going well.
Matthew cast his eyes over to the side. Feliciano was working on Gilbert's costume, fixing a sleeve or something. He couldn't hear their talking, but he saw them laugh and Gilbert looked up at him. Their eyes met briefly and a smile was shot up. One second there, the next gone, and leaving a blushing Matthew confused if he'd actually seen it. It could have just been from the plans they made to get Lovino and Antonio together.
"Kiku, call everyone to break will you? And Matthew, the lights look great. Is the queue up?" Arthur's voice sounded out against his ear making him jump in his seat, hand close to turning on the house lights.
"Hai, Arthur-san."
"The queue is set, Arthur."
"Good, good. Then come down from the booth and take your break with the rest of the members."
"Okay…" Matthew took off his headset and set it down to one side. He berated himself quietly; couldn't he pay more attention instead of spacing off? Carefully turning off the stage lights, he left the houselights on as a guide for the other cast members making their way around to get snacks and chat. Slowly, he made his way down the carpeted stair, running one hand along the smooth, cool metal banister and the other against the slightly rough fabric-covered wall.
He liked to lose himself in the booth; it was just as peaceful as the small rose garden, with the addition of a comforting buzz of technology and fans that cooled down the lights on the catwalk. There had even been times, during the last play, where Lovino had had to yank him down from the light booth with the notion of 'the fucking auditorium is being locked up, idiot.' and 'I won't come to help you, if you get stuck there.'
"L-Lovi, wait!"
"Let me the fuck go, Feliciano!"
The sounds of loud arguing made their way to him as Matthew pushed the door open that connected the light booth's stairs to the auditorium. This wasn't too unusual: it had happened the year before too, during the school's performance of Oedipus Rex. He sighed quietly to himself as he shut the door behind him seeing the sight in front of him.
Feliciano was holding back his brother who was, in turn, trying to lunge at Ludwig. If Matthew hadn't known that Lovino had never liked Ludwig, he would have been worried about whoever had angered him. …Although he already was…
"Er…" Ludwig looked uncomfortable, just standing next to one the plush theater seats. Matthew sighed, watching for a bit, before he decided to step in.
"B-but brother! Please don't hurt him!" Lovino growled, yanking his arm from Feliciano's grasp.
"Why the hell not?"
"…Uh…"
"See? You don't even have a reason!"
Matthew laughed slightly before trying to get Lovino to stop. "One, you wouldn't be able to be in the play. They would give your part to someone else. And two, for your brother, don't beat Ludwig up?" Lovino glared at him before crossing his arms. A huff sounded out from his lips, his brother smiling at the halted fight.
"Thank you…"
"That's Matthew, dammit…" Lovino said walking over to stand next to said person.
"Si! Thank you Matthew!"
"Right, thank you for helping Matthew…" Ludwig coughed into a fist, motioning to Feliciano. "Well, we should… get to the vending machines before break is over."
"Will they have those yummy cookies you bought the other day?"
"We'll check alright?" With those last words they both left, Feliciano rambling on about the cookies and how it would be great to eat them again.
"Tch, stupid potato, stupid brother…" Matthew turned towards Lovino laughing lightly again.
"Can't you just leave them be?"
"No, I can't. Not after what he fucking did before." Lovino scowled, sitting on the edge of one of the chairs.
Matthew sighed plopping himself into the seat in front. His eyes drifted around the auditorium, everyone was in little groups socializing in the twenty minute break they had. He caught sight of Gilbert talking animatedly while Francis and Antonio listened intently. He would have kept his gaze moving but he caught both Gilbert and Antonio shooting glances their way.
"Oi, you listening?"
"What? Oh, sorry." Matthew smiled in apology. "I was spacing…"
Lovino glanced past his shoulder snorting. "What? Looking at Gilbert?"
"Shh! D-Don't say that out loud!" Matthew flushed a light pink. "And no, I wasn't!"
"Hm? Didn't you like going to the café with him?" Lovino smirked at him leaning back comfortably in his seat. Matthew stared at him questioningly, how had Lovino found out…? "Antonio told me right when the potato's brother texted him."
"You… knew?" Wide blue eyes were set on Lovino who just sighed briefly.
"Not like I wanted to fucking know, he thought I'd want an update on the irrelevant. Stupid idiot."
A soft punch made contact with Lovino's shoulder. "You could have told me you knew!"
Lovino laughed, a short bursting laugh. "And miss your reaction? No fucking way."
Matthew rolled his eyes at his friend. He tried to will away any embarrassment he had felt. "I don't like him."
"I never said that."
Matthew grew quiet, pondering his thoughts and how he could retaliate in any way possible without him ending up on the short side of the stick. "I won't end up winning this, will I…?"
"Nope." Lovino smirked popping the 'P' sound on the word. His eyes flashed towards his watch before looking back up at Matthew. "Giving up?"
"Oh, okay." He took a big breath resting his chin in the palm of his right hand. "…I'm not sure what to think of Gilbert."
"So, you do like him?'
Matthew stared at Lovino, shaking his head silently. "No, not really. I mean, he's nice, but I don't really see him that way." His thoughts ran past his mind at lightning speeds. Did he like Gilbert? They'd known each other for a while, last year to be correct, and they were moderately close… but he hadn't had much time just with Gilbert to say he did like him. It was nothing new, the impromptu meeting of the day before hadn't really managed to resurface the emotions, if any, that the young blonde might have had.
"…You sound really convincing, but I feel that like's not the complete truth."
"I already said I don't!"
"Then why are you blushing and defending yourself?"
"You do that when it's about Ant-!"
"Shut up, dammit! I don't fucking-!"
"See!"
"Damn you, Matthew…" Matthew gave him a quick smile.
"Doesn't that mean you like him though?" Lovino grew red, redder than Matthew had been.
"No, it fucking doesn't. Antonio and I are only friends," Lovino huffed out. "And don't turn the conversation away from yourself, dammit!"
"I thought you wouldn't notice if I did…"
"Tch, you did an awful job trying to cover it up." Lovino glanced at his watch, sighing at the amount of time they had left most likely. Matthew watched him, it wasn't hard to notice the glances he shot to one side as discreetly as he could. "Oi, are you almost done with lighting?"
"No…" Matthew stood up adjusting his sweater. "And now you changed the subject." He smiled starting to head back up into the light booth. "If anyone asks-"
"You're up in the damn light booth, I know. When the hell aren't you up there?"
Matthew stuck his tongue out. "I'm in charge of lights, aren't I?" He walked back, taking care to make sure to see if could catch any interaction between Lovino and Antonio. Unfortunately, he didn't see any, but walked right into Arthur.
"Matthew, watch where you're going." Arthur said, patting his back.
"Oh, sorry. I was watching everyone onstage…"
"That's fine. By the way, how close are you to being done with the queue?"
"For act one, just the next scene. For act two, well… all of them." Matthew said, taking account of what still needed to be done.
"Good, we're on track. Oh, and I have a favor to ask." Arthur, noted something on his clipboard before talking again. "Could you help Kiku with things backstage? He needs someone to help him with props."
"Oh, during the show or when?"
"Just before the show, during intermission, and after."
"I can help, no worries."
"Thank you, Matthew. I'll notify Kiku later. You can head back up to the booth."
Matthew nodded and rushed back upstairs to get the lights set up for the next scene. Helping Kiku wasn't a problem, but that would mean he'd be a bit busier during this time. Not that he minded being busy, it was nice sometimes. It helped clear his mind.