For Mattie

Chapter Eight

×Chapter Eight×
×Differences Between Good and Bad Teachers×

The next morning came like a blur to Matthew, who wanted to cry as the day was most likely going to go by past. Since Arthur showed up late, claiming work was piling in quickly and his older brother being a pain in the arse, they had dinner without. Francis did not want to spread the lovely news and decided to announce Matthew's crush to the other two tommorrow night. Matthew was freaking out and for the first time in a couple years, he was scared for a different reason then being punished when he arrived home.

The small Canadian wasn't dumb, he knew how much Alfred hated Ivan and Gilbert with an passion. Stating Ivan was into communism amd Gilbert was some pedophile freak. It hurt Matthew that his brother didn't think he was capable of making friends, and now he was even more hurt that Alfred talked shit behind their backs. But he refused to stamd up for himself and friends, afraid Alfred would get angry and hurt him again.

"Boys! Breakfast is ready!" Arthur yelled from downstairs, the high pitch whistling of the tea pot nearly blocking out his voice. Sighing, Matthew got out of his bed and made his way to his bathroom, taking a nice warm shower that lasted 5 minutes. He hummed an old French song while he brushed his hair and his teeth, gazing upon his reflection. He looked so young. Well, being 14 is young,  but all the other guys in his grade were growing facial hair and had deep masucline voices. It wasn't a lie he hated his body, going beyond the limits to being self conscious when changing for P.E.

"Hey Mattie, you almost done?" Alfred's loud voice shouted from the door. Shaking away hid negative thoughts and forcing a smile for the sake of his finally happy family, Matthew straighted out his shirt once more before leaving the restroom.

"Good morning, poppet. Sleep well?" Arthur asked from the kitchen, gathering his paperwork while swatting away Francis' wondering hands.

"Good morning dad. And yes, I slept well" Matthew looks at Alfred, who nodded and opened the door.

"Well see ya old man! Bye papa!" With that said, Alfred led his baby brother out the house and the both let out breaths of relief.

"Good bye mon petits!"

"Alfred F. Jones!"

"That was fun. Hey, you wanna ride with me and my friends?" Matthew held the urge to scold his brother for his incorrect sentence but bit his tongue.

"Sorry Al, not today. Lars is giving my friends and I a ride to school. Maybe tomorrow?" Matthew says softly, looking up at his brother, expecting to see a cheerful grin. Instead their was a frown accompied with furrowed brows.

"Is Ivan going to be in that car?" He asked, voice rough and cold. Avioding eye contact, the smaller blonde began to make his way towards the waiting car across the street. But a hand shot out and grabbed his upper arm into a tight bruising grip.

"H-hey! What's wrong, Alfie?" Matthew whimpers. Alfred let go of his arm and grumbled, walking away. It brought guilt to Matthew, who tried pushing away the unwanted emotion but it overpowered him. He didn't understand what he did to make his older brother be mad but the honking of a car and yells of impatience made him move away from his spot and towards the awaiting car.

"You alright Birdie?" Gilbert asks, opening the backrow door. Matthew gave him a nod in thanks and got into the backseat, forcing another mask to hide his true emotions. He just prayed to whoever was out there that Alfred isn't going to hurt him. That his family would not go back into being distant and abusive.