Alone In A Crowded Room

Matthew wasn’t exactly sure what to do. He wanted to apologize to Toris, but he couldn’t exactly find anything he did wrong. But Toris just seemed to be happy that he could get that close to the object of his affection.

The Lithuanian dreamily looked after the two as they departed. Well, the one at least. It was odd how the one that he was madly in love with could over mask the presence of the one that made him fear for his life. Matthew wondered if that was what true love was like. He couldn’t imagine Toris being so overrun from mere lust.

Matthew tried to take a few deep breaths. He certainly wasn’t used to that much excitement. He was trying to figure out…. Was Feliks flirting with him? And even if he was, why would he? To tease him? If so Toris would’ve made a much better target, right?

Matthew was forgetting one of the most important rules in school. Never under any circumstances do you try to figure out Feliks. It will only ever lead to trouble. That’s all it’s ever done for anyone. And if you were a weak person, it would spell out your end.

That’s why Matthew was afraid for Toris. It was the fact that Feliks seemed harmless that made him so dangerous. It was much easier to worry about Toris than it was to even think about the dangers that await him.

It was easy to think about the problems surrounding Toris. He had them all figured out. But he found himself thinking of Ivan Braginski. This could never lead anywhere good. Ivan was a destroyer. Everyone knew this.

Why couldn’t Matthew help but think that he was broken? Matthew scoffed at himself. He was acting like a girl. Since he was forced to spend time with him he was merely trying to make himself feel more comfortable. Feel like he wasn’t some monster.

He had to find some way to not be scared of him. Matthew realized that this earned worse reactions. This is why he didn’t die last night. Maybe he could just get Alfred to supervise. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about the Russian at all.

There’s of course the issue that he’d be hiding behind his brother, but Alfred got him into this mess. Besides. Alfred always wanted to be the hero anyway. Letting him ‘save’ him would be like charity work, right?

Matthew thought of all of this, but he knew that it wouldn’t work out. He wasn’t lucky. Something would go wrong. Plus Alfred didn’t sense that anything was wrong with Ivan. The only person in school, Matthew added bitterly.

How could Matthew have such a stupid brother? It must’ve been some kind of anomaly. That’s it. That’s the only answer… When the bell ripped him from his thoughts, he nearly jumped before he haphazardly threw all his belongings into his bag. He gave quiet goodbyes to his lunchtime companions and they all went their separate ways.

It was then that Matthew realized something. Ivan wouldn’t need a tutor forever. Matthew just needed to improve his teaching skills. Then this nightmare could be all over and he could go back to being invisible.

He’d go unnoticed by the cute, but stupid cross-dressing cheerleader. No one would glance over him anymore. And that handsome, broken Russian would go back to being an object of fear instead of a point of interest. Everything would go back to normal. People would unknowingly shove him in the hall, step on his toes, but there would no longer be the pressure of being noticed. He just didn’t know how to deal with it.

Matthew swallowed hard when he noticed that Ivan was staring at him. Not like the way he normally stared at people when they were prey. It wasn’t a look that Ivan Braginski normally had. It wasn’t one that Matthew knew he was capable of.

He became nervous when he noticed that Feliks was excitedly talking with his older brother. Who looked to be quite pleased as he was laughing. Feliks had a cute smug smile on his face.

It was then that he decided that Feliks’ cuteness only made him scarier. Who would think that this adorable little blonde left destruction and chaos in his wake? Matthew only prayed that Ivan was looking at him for some other reason.

It felt like the whole world slowed down, when Matthew heard his shoe squeal violently against the school tile. Matthew lost grip on his books and waved his arms around to futilely try to regain balance. The ground quickly approached him and there was nothing he could do.

Luckily for Matthew only a dull roar of laughter greeted him upon impact. Most of the people had cleared out of the lunchroom already. Alfred blinked with confusion, Feliks giggled, and Ivan didn’t seem to understand the concept of slipping.

Matthew let out a groan. The ground was dirty. And… Kind of sticky. And the only thing that hurt worse than his head was his knees. Matthew desperately grabbed for his books and fought off tears. Typical Matthew, he cursed to himself.

“Quiet, all of you!” a strict voice scolded in a thick Asian accent, “Don’t you all have anything better to you. Shoo! Shoo!”

Matthew was positive that he had never talked to this person. The only Asian foreign exchange student he had ever talked to was Yong Soo.

Matthew looked up at the person who had come to his rescue. At first he couldn’t sworn that it was a girl. The voice was rather feminine, and he had rather soft looking long hair. Despite that he could tell that this was a boy. He took off his silver-rimmed reading glasses and tucked them into his back. He offered his hand to help Matthew up.

Matthew almost cried. Someone stood up for him. Someone who didn’t even know him. This person had an air of confidence. He seemed so… Mature. Matthew instantly admired this person, even though it would seem weird to some.

He waved his hand at onlookers with an annoyed look on his face. He was actually pretty cute. He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Are you alright? You need me to take you to the nurse’s office?” He put his hand on Matthew’s shoulder.

Ivan’s facial twitch went completely unnoticed by Matthew. Feliks gave an adorable giggle. Alfred rushed to check on his brother, his ‘friends’ in tow.

“No, I’m okay. I’m pretty clumsy. I trip all the time,” Matthew instantly regretted admitting this. Not like he could take it back.

“You should work on your balance then. I do training every day,” he replied cheerfully, “You’re in my cousin’s class right? Oh, yeah! I’m Yao.” He had a charming smile on his face.

Matthew remembered now. Yong Soo lived with his two cousins, Yao, and Kiku. He often commented on his beloved cousin, Yao. Matthew knew that it would probably take an awfully strong person to keep Yong Soo in check.

“Yeah. I’m Matthew. But… Your cousin wouldn’t have told you about me right. I mean, there’s not much to say…” his eyes were downcast as he said this.

Yao waved a hand in front of him, “Not at all. Yong Soo talks about you all the time. He says you help him when he messes up,” Yao earnest grabbed Matthew’s hand, “And I mean to thank you for all. If you help him whenever he messes up, I’m sure it’s a fulltime job.”

For the first time in a long time Matthew laughed. The genuine look on Yao’s face… It’s good to know that he wasn’t the only one with family problems. Oh! But that would mean… That Yao was a year older than him. No one wants to hang out with someone younger than them. Matthew nearly sighed. And no one ever wanted to hang out with him.

Yao tsked rather loudly, “What do you want Ivan? Keep walking,” it was obvious that Yao had been protecting some of the younger students, but Matthew couldn’t imagine why someone as small as Yao would give Ivan even a second pause.

Ivan let out his upset laugh that sent chills up everyone’s spines. With the exception of Alfred. And apparently Yao. Matthew would give anything to have even half the bravery that it seemed that Yao had.

“Yeah, yeah,” Yao said dismissingly, waving Ivan off, “We’re in a hurry. I’m going to take him to the nurse’s office.”

“Oh, no! Poor Matty!” Alfred whined loudly. Feliks quickly mimicked in mocking tone, ‘Oh, no! Like, Poor Matty!’

Matthew looked over at Yao with a confused expression, “But… I told you that I’m fine. There’s really no need for me to go to the nurse’s….”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s what you say,” Yao seemed unconvinced, “But I would be a bad person if I just let you go to class. You might not know that you’re hurt. Besides. Yong Soo would moan at me all night if I just let you go off by yourself.”

Yao grabbed Matthew’s hand, muttered about not letting him get away. Apparently Matthew seemed like the running type. Or maybe he just needs to do this with his cousins…

“Like, what’s your problem?” Feliks asked, as he looked up at the Russian. It showed how upset he was that Feliks actually noticed.

What neither of his ditsy blonde friends noticed was that Ivan’s eyes were focused on a single point. He kept staring at where Matthew and Yao’s hands were connected.

A/N: Here’s that new chapter that I promised Onee-chan. Do I gets a cookie? I certainly want one. >> Mmmmm….. Cookie.(Why do those Asians keep popping up? Hmmmm....)

Jeazard: Yup. Feliks will continue to be in this story. Because I can’t keep him out of my head. I dunno who gave him to keys. >>

Dragon Lover: Yay! Thankies! I will try my hardest to keep everyone’s interest. ^^