"So," Alfred says, as he began stuffing his face with pancakes, "Are you two like a thing now or what?"
Matt's face reddens, "What? No. We're not together."
Gil laughs and turns his head away, attempting to hide embarrassment. Arthur however, being himself, knew exactly what Gil was doing and nudges Al with his knee.
Alfred just laughs, taking the hint.
"Well, I guess Artie and I will get outta you lovebirds' hair. You ready Artie?" Alfred smirks at Gil as he rises.
"Alright," Arthur rises from his chair and smiles, winking at Alfred.
When the two were left alone, Mattie just fiddled with his fork not looking Gil in the eye.
Gilbert grabbed Mattie's hand to stop his incessant fiddling, "Hey, you vant me to walk you home or do you vant to stay here for a bit?"
"Um, I should probably go home. I have some cleaning to do at the house."
"Ja, okay. Let me go get on some clothes and we can go." A few minutes pass and Matt hears Gil call from upstairs, "Hey, do you want to borrow a jacket? It's cold out."
"Yes, please. Thank you"
Moments later, Gil appears in a red shirt and dark jeans, a jacket thrown on and carrying another in his arms. "Here you go birdie.. err I mean Mattie.."
Matt takes the jacket from Gil and puts it on. It fit pretty well and with a smile he says, "Well, how do I look?"
"Like a model all the way from Berlin."
Matt mocks a strut down the runway towards the door and they both start laughing just as they get outside.
"So the scenic route or the fast lane? Your choice Matthew."
"Scenic is good," Matt replies.
"Vundabar!" Gil turns in the direction of the park in the middle of their neighborhood and pointed towards the sky. "Onvards! Zhe awesome me will guide the awesome you through the beauty that is nature!"
Matt laughs and follows Gil.
Gil leads Mattie through the park, pointing out random things and acting like a tour guide. Matthew laughs and plays along. He acts astonished and says ooh and ahh at the appropriate moments.
"You zhee zhis flower here is very rare," Gil gestures at a cornflower, "it only blooms once every few years, and its color helps it to blend with the sky so little bugs on the ground can't see it."
Matt nods, "How unique!" He says enthusiastically.
"Ja. I know…" Gil smirks at Mattie.
Ok Gil... time to make a move…. it's been an entire week... there's no denying now that I like him… but there's no way I can make a move on him just yet... I mean I don't even know if he likes me... I think he does... the fact that he hangs out with me still...it probably means he likes me and thinks I'm awesome… but I don't know… come on Gilbert! you've dated before, you flirted... why is Mattie any different than any other guy!? maybe it's because I like him too much, I don't want to ruin our friendship or anything by asking him out or making any kind of move… The movies make this whole confessing to people seem so easy … but no matter what we're not in a mood this is not some work of fiction this is real life… and I have to make a move, I just don't know if I'm awesome enough and willing to risk it… but then again… if I don't… ok Gil… time to make up your mind...
I can't help but stare at him every time I see him. He's so handsome. Sometimes I get theses urges to just grab his hand and tell him my feelings for him, but I'm too afraid of rejection. Surely he must be suspecting I like him at this point. So if he was going to make a move he would've done it by now. Huh… maybe I should make the move… now would be as good a time as any...
As Matthew came out of his train of thought, Gilbert was still in his. However, they walked in a comfortable silence.
But no sooner had Gil broken his train of thought as Matt decided the silence was now becoming too loud. After all, it wasn't usually in Gilbert's nature to be quiet for more than a few seconds.
"Hey, Gil? You okay. You're kinda quiet all of a sudden."
Gil snapped his head towards Mattie, but then nervously looked away. "I, uh, hey look at zhe birdie!" He pointed up to a tree.
Matthew turned his head to where Gil had pointed. For the split second, they were face to face, Gil closed the gap.
Their kiss lasted no more than a mere five seconds, ending as Gilbert realized what he'd just done and took off. Matt stood there in a stunned, but happy shock, a goofy grin on his face (not unlike Alfred's). Then he hurried to catch up with Gilbert.
He found him sitting on one of the park benches by the small duck pond, with his head in his hands.
"Gil?"
Gil's head jerked up at his voice, "Mattie!... I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass-"
Matthew cut him off with a small peck on the cheek.
"Mattie?"
"What?"
"Wanna go out sometime?."
Matthew laughed. "I dunno… am I awesome enough yet to be in your presence? let alone your boyfriend?"
"You have surpassed, my awesome Birdie..err Mattie."
"You can call me Birdie…I don't mind"
"Really?"
"Yeah… But only if you let me call you maple."
"No vay. I've died in battle for you, mashed potatoes and mystery meat straight to zhe heart… You must call me 'his awesome Lord Gilbert of the Maples'…"
"Gil it is then," Matthew decided mockingly and gave Gil another quick peck on the lips, but Gilbert took the chance to make it last longer.
"C'mon, you gotta get home to change so we can go on that date."Gilbert rose from the bench, grabbed Mattie's hand and they both took off running down the sidewalk, both with the biggest of smiles.
As they ran along, Mattie noticed that they passed by a certain bus stop. He smiled to himself.
Best week ever.
THE END
EPILOGUE!
Several years passed. Gil and Mattie graduated high school together.
They were engaged the summer before their last year of college.
Matthew, of course, said yes.
Among the gifts they got from friends and family, was a photo album from Alfred and Arthur.
Inside were countless pictures of them throughout high school and college, both the big and little moments that made up the entirety of their relationship and life together.
At the very last page was a picture. Of two figures sitting together on a park bench near the duck pond.
The one below that was a picture of their first kiss.
Well, that's it! its finished! There wasn't much more to say, but I felt like it needed its own chapter.
I really hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I did dreaming it up.
Comments and criticism are always welcome.
Happy Valentines Day! Thanks for reading!
Radish out!