Red Wine (ScotFra)

Scholars

F R A N C I S

"Okay class, you've got an essay write! You will work in partners but I will let you choose them," Our teacher announced, earning a groan from her students. Antonio looked at me when she said "partners" raising his eyebrows as if to ask for me. I nodded in agreement.
"So amigo, how're we going to start the essay?" Antonio asked.
I shrugged, setting my pencil behind my ear. "Maybe we should find out what its about first," I suggested.
Antonio laughed, smiling at me warmly. "Good idea, Francis,"
Just as he said that, our teacher spoke again.
"Class, this essay will be about love. Discuss what you believe love is and what it means to love another person. Use The Great Gatsby as a source if you need to. Due on Monday."
My heart lept and I was incredibly happy to write the paper, as was Antonio. We were both romantics, loving the idea of love.
He turned to me excitedly, a wide, easy smile on his face that complimented him well. "This is going to be fun, amigo!"
I nodded. "Oui it is."
I stood up as he did and picked up my bag, the both of us walking toward a side of the room that was quieter. Alfred's incessant laughter with Gilbert made it hard to concentrate.
"Have you ever loved anyone?" I asked Antonio.
"Huh? Me?" He glanced across the room at Lovino. "I don't think so."
"I think you do love someone. By someone I mean Lovino," I raised my eybrows at him.
"W-what? Lovi? N-no no of course I don't love Lovi- he just- we're, we're friends is all. Amigos,"
I laughed at his flustered face and his nervous stuttering. "You sound like you're trying to convince yourself of that,"
He sighed and then shook his head at me.
"Well what about you? Have you ever loved anyone?"
"I've loved a lot of people, Tonio," I said with a wink.
"No I meant... Have you ever been in love?"
That was an interesting question.
Is there a difference between loving someone and being in love?
I thought for a moment, a handsome face flashing before my eyes. A face with brilliant green eyes and fiery hair.
"I was in love once," I said.
Antonio gasped. "What was her name?"
His, actually. It was a man.
"I don't remember," I said.
Did I even get his name?
No I don't think so...
I would've remembered it.
Antonio laughed at me. "So you fell
In love with a stranger,"
"Tragic, isn't it? I fell in love with someone before I even knew their name," I sighed sadly, my heart suddenly heavy as we took our seats. "And now, I have no way of meeting finding them,"
Tonio rolled his eyes at me, but was one of the few people who didn't see me as a pervert like everyone else did. Only he understood my everlasting search for love in everyone I met and know. So he gave me some sympathy.
"I'm sorry, amigo. But, if you really fell in love with them, fate won't ignore that. She might make it hard for you, but in the end, fate does right by everyone. You receive from the world the love you give to the world. And you love more than anyone I know, Francis. So don't worry, you'll meet them again. I know it,"
I smiled at him, "I hope so. I feel in my heart that we'll meet again, and that we will fall in love with each other each and every day we are together,"
"I'm glad you have so much hope, Francis." Antonio said, pulling out a note book. "Now onto this essay..."

We finished that essay in twenty minutes. Between the two of us, (I, a poet and he, a musician) we were able to complete the essay, our minds and hearts in sync with one another, each of us believing in love and knowing what it meant to us.