Chapter 6 - Speak the Mind

CHAPTER SIX: Speak the Mind"That's right, kid. Gilbert Beilschmidt. And I'm here because I saved your life."Matthew couldn't help but stare as the newcomer slowly approached him, with a goofy sideways grin plastered on his face.After a few awkward seconds of silence, Matthew stuttered out, "W-what...?" His head swam with confusion. Saved my life?Gilbert's grin dropped a bit. "In the gym... when you, ah... passed out..."Matthew felt his heart speed up at the memory, and forced his breath not to follow suit. His head tilted slightly in confusion. Before he could speak, Gilbert continued:"I was the one who gave you CPR."Matthew's eyes shot wide open. He remembered hearing someone saying his name, someone catching him... he had assumed, perhaps, his brother... but Gilbert Beilschmidt? He hadn't even been sure whether albino had actually known he existed."That... was you...?"Gilbert nodded silently, not knowing how else to respond.The blonde's lips parted slightly, as if he was going to say something more, but after a moment they met once again; the violet eyes above them were still wide, but now were directed at the foot of the bed as a rather uncomfortable silence fell over the room like the beginning of a chilly rain.Gilbert shifted his feet. He broke the silence with, "It made me mad... no one else even saw what was happening until I did something..."He immediately knew he'd said the exact wrong thing when Matthew sucked in a breath suddenly, turning away from him.shoot."Hey, hey, I'm sorry!" Gilbert said immediately. "I didn't mean to upset you!"He received no response from the smaller boy.The albino mentally kicked himself. Why hadn't he thought that through...? It was obvious the kid wasn't noticed very often at school. And Gilbert had just rubbed it in his face.Feeling terribly guilty, but not knowing what to do, Gilbert began to slowly back out of the room. His foot had just crossed the threshold when a new presence startled him into nearly wetting his awesome self."What the hell do you think you're doing here, Beilschmidt?!"The white-haired boy snapped his head around to find none other than Alfred Kirkland, arms harshly crossed, glaring at him from the hall."Well?!" the golden blonde snarled when Gilbert didn't respond right away.The albino narrowed his ruby eyes at Alfred, before pushing past him and exiting the room. He strode back down the hallway, having decided against responding to Matthew's fuming twin.Alfred watched him go, sneering at his back before entering the stark white room and approaching the bed."Mattie?" Al murmured, sitting down next to his brother. "What'd he do to you?"Matthew simply shook his head, not looking at his brother as a tear escaped and rolled down his pale cheek.Alfred grit his teeth. He glared at the open door, all but daring the big stupid albino to march back in.This dude, this... Gilbert Beilschmidt... he had hurt his brother.And Alfred was not about to let that go.***The front door of the Beilschmidt household banged open exactly forty-seven minutes later than it normally did.It was followed by the usual, "THE AWESOME ME HAS ARRIVED!" which was also forty-seven minutes late.Having Gilbert as an older brother would drive anyone else up the wall; but Ludwig Beilschmidt had his obnoxious elder sibling down to a science. He knew Gilbert came home from school, like clockwork, at 2:50 every day, loudly proclaiming his awesomeness.Just because he was obnoxious didn't mean he hadn't inherited some of their father's punctuality.Today, however, was different, too different for Ludwig not to pick up on it.Gilbert entered the kitchen, finding Ludwig at the table, bent over his homework. He smirked at the familiar sight, lightly elbowing his brother in the arm."Hey, bruder, you focus any harder on that and your brain will implode."Ludwig didn't so much as blink. "Why are you so late coming home?""Well, that was direct. No 'Welcome home, dear bruder,' or, 'how was your day, dear bruder'?""Shut up and answer the question."Gilbert snorted. "I think someone needs a nap."Ludwig glared at him."Alright, alright. If you must know, I was... visiting a friend.""Who?""Jeez, Lud, you're acting like you think I was out molesting someone!""I wouldn't put it past you.""Goooooott, you sound like Dad.""And you sound like a small child." Ludwig had turned back to his homework.Gilbert sighed. "Look, you wouldn't even know the dude if I told you his name.""It shouldn't be a problem, then.""Luuuuuuud..."The blonde raised an eyebrow, still not bothering to make eye contact with Gilbert."Why do you even care? I'm here now, aren't I?"Ludwig turned a page in his notebook."Oh, so now you're ignoring me?!"A textbook was opened."Fine. Fine. The guy's name is Matthew Bonnefoy. Are you happy?!"Ludwig snapped his book shut again. "Yes. And I didn't have to say a thing." He then stood, gathered his things, and went upstairs.Gilbert sighed overdramatically to no one in particular. At times, Ludwig could be so insufferably mature.***Matthew was confused, to say the very least.Alfred was all but ready for war with Gilbert. That much was very easy to see.But Matthew wasn't sure how he felt about the elusive albino who had just entered his life. The only thing he was sure of was the fact that he couldn't get Gilbert's face out of his head.That, however, was hardly his first thought the next morning.It was his first day of chemotherapy. His papa was sitting with him as they waited for a nurse to come help him get ready. The two of them were making light conversation, but Matthew was very unfocused, and kept losing track of the topic."Matthieu? Is something bothering you?" Francis asked, noticing how distracted his son was.Matthew blinked. "Huh? Oh... yeah, I'm fine... I'm a little nervous, I guess..."Francis gave Matthew what he hoped was a comforting smile. "The doctor said it is normal to feel nervous, oui?"The teen nodded slightly, pale purple eyes downcast."I will be right there the whole time," Francis promised, wrapping an arm around Matthew's slim shoulders and hugging him gently. "Everything will be alright.""I-I know... merci, papa..."A moment later, there was a swift knock on the closed door, followed by the click of the door opening as the nurse let herself in."Hello, Matthew," she said, as she entered. Noticing that Matthew looked a bit nervous, she softened her voice and smiled. "I'm Nurse Héderváry, but you can just call me Elizabeta, alright? I'm here to help you prep for chemo. Just let me know when you're ready, okay sweetie?"Matthew nodded again, looking up at her. "Okay... th-thank you..." He glanced at Francis, who smiled and nodded, then returned his gaze to the nurse. "I... I think I'm ready now..." The more he thought about it, the more he wanted the process to be over with as soon as possible.Elizabeta swung the door back open. "Alright then, honey, you and your dad can follow me."***In what Matthew deemed to be a short while later, though he couldn't be sure, he realized how unready he really was.His stomach heaved again, and he sobbed miserably as he emptied it into the bowl in front of him. Francis gently rubbed his back, murmuring comforting words and holding his hair our of the way.It felt like an eternity, but Matthew was finally able to lean back from the bowl, panting and trembling, only when his stomach ran out of things to force up his throat.Francis set the bowl aside, still rubbing gentle circles on Matthew's back. "Shh, shh, Matthieu... it's over, shh..."He whimpered, resting his head on his father's shoulder and taking shaky breaths. After a few moments of waiting for the smaller blonde to relax, Francis inquired, "Are you still nauseous at all?"All the exhausted teen could muster was a weak nod."The doctor might have something to help with it. I will go ask. Are you alright by yourself for a little while?""Y-yeah..."Francis helped him lie down, situating his arm so the IV line wouldn't be disturbed, and kissed his sweaty forehead."Okay. The bowl is on the table if you think you need to throw up again. I will be back soon, oui? Try to get some rest."Matthew answered by closing his eyes and relaxing against the pillows.He listened as Francis left the room, closing the door softly behind him, and tried to let himself sleep in the near silence of the room.However, as he drifted off, he let his mind wander, and the last thing he thought of before he fell asleep was Gilbert's face.

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