It was already a summer evening as a lone child sat there, hugging his knees and crying softly to himself. He lost track of his older brother and his Papa, and felt so alone. "Hey!" A voice rung out, directed at him. The boy looked up, his wavy, blonde hair moving, and when his head was fully up, a long, stubborn curl was infront of his face. Matthew Williams stared into the eyes of another child, who had ruby eyes and snow white hair. "What are you doing?" The albino asked Matthew, making Matthew blink a bit in confusion. He pointed at himself. "M-me…?" Matthew asked in that quiet voice of his. The albino walked over and ruffled Matthew's head. "Man, you talk quietly! I am zhe awesome Gilbert Beilschmidt! But you can call me Gil!"  Matthew stared at Gilbert with bewilderment. "You…can see me…?" Matthew asked, which Gilbert looked with dumbfound look. "Eh? Vhat kind of question is zhat!?"  Matthew looked at the strange kid he just met. "Well, only my Papa and brother can remember who I am…more or less sees me…anyway, my name is Matthew Williams…not that you'll remember…" Matthew explained, hugging his stuffed bear. Gilbert looked at Matthew before ruffling his hair once again. "Kesesesese~ Vhat do you mean, 'I von't remember'? I am zhe awesome Gilbert, und I swear I won't ever forget you, Matthew!" Gilbert said as he stood up. "I know! I'll call you Birdie! Ja, I like zhat! Zhat vill help me to never forget you!" Matthew looked at Gilbert, who had his pinky extended to him. "P-promise to stay my friend..?" Matthew asked, while Gilbert just laughed and entangle his pinky with Mattie's.

             "Promise."




Matthew sat up sharply from his bed, breathing irregularly. Matthew gripped his head in his hands, cursing himself for having that memory as a nightmare this week. Matthew looked over to the clock on his nightstand, reading 6:30 am. A good time to get up. Matthew slipped out of bed and lazily changed from his comfortable pajamas to his school uniform. Before putting on his red hoodie, Matthew checked his wrists, and the cuts were still fresh, even bandaged. After slipping on his hoodie, slipping a pancake in his mouth and going out the door, Matthew Williams dreadfully made his way to school.
It was already 7:15 by the time Matthew arrived, and the doors were opened by then. Matthew walked in and signed language to his teachers a 'hello'. Matthew wasn't deaf or mute, oh no he wasn't. But due to excessive bullying from elementary to high school, and for his soft voice, he decided that speaking wasn't worth it, and acted mute. Actually, the only time Matthew opened his mouth was for eating, drinking, and breathing. And the fact that he barely eats anything but pancakes, and barely eats that, his figure was underweight. Matthew pushed up his glasses and reached for his textbooks and walked to class. He liked school, he did, but sometimes he wished that his brother, Alfred was still there to cheer him up. That cursed day was burned inside his memory.



"PAPA! ALFRED!" A ten year old Matthew shrieked rather loudly, as he rushed over to their fallen bodies. They both just got hit by a car, and the car was already speeding away. He kneeled down to both of them, shaking on how fast blood was underneath them. By the time the paramedics got there, Matthew was slumped over their bodies, sobbing hysterically. They were already gone.



Matthew closed his eyes as he sat down in his desk, which was Social Studies. Matthew brought out his sketch pad and began to…well, sketch. He had a lot of free time until class actually started. Most of Matthew's sketches were pretty depressing, like a sketch of his arm, or something else, but at the back of his sketchbook was two pictures that were actually happy. The first one was a sketch of his family before the accident, his twin brother, Alfred, and his Father, Arthur Kirkland. And Matthew was in the middle, smiling widely. The second was his only friend, Gilbert Beilschmidt, a German boy. But it was only an unfinished sketch, always unfinished because of one reason. One reason he wanted to forget.


Before long, the bell rang and everyone was going to their first period class, some people entered his class and talked to their friends, while Matthew remained silent. "Hey Mattie." Carlos, Matthew's only friend, greeted him. Matthew waved back as Carlos took his seat next to him. Matthew liked Carlos, because he was the only one willing to be his friend, and could remember him. And yes, Carlos protected him from the bullies. And to be fair, Carlos knew Matthew's story, and Carlos acted like they'd been friends forever even though that Carlos transferred from Cuba at the end of middle school.


Suddenly, a laugh echoed in the room that both Matthew and Carlos came to hate. "Kesesesese~ Zhe awesome Gilbert has arrived!" The most popular guy in the school, Gilbert Beilschmidt , announced. Girls and guys swooned over him expect Matthew and Carlos. Carlos hated him because what he'd done to Matthew, and Matthew hates him for abandoning him for popularity. Matthew gripped his head again, another memory returning.



Matthew watched from afar as his childhood friend, Gilbert, was surrounded by everyone in the class, Matthew promptly ignored. Gilbert was enjoying the attention, and for the rest of the day…Gilbert never talked, or even send him a glance toward his Canadian friend.

At home, Matthew decided to call him. After a few rings, he heard a 'hallo' which made Canada smile. "Hi." Matthew said. Suddenly Matthew's eyes widen as he stared at the phone. "Never mind, I called the wrong number. Sorry, goodbye." Matthew hung up, and stared at the phone. Tears dropped on the phone. "G-Gil…bert…you…pro..mi..se…" Matthew cried softly, his voice now nothing as he cried.
Gilbert had broken his promise.



The bell signaled the last period of the day, and Matthew really liked his last class, which was music. He loved how he could express himself on any instrument, but his favorite was a tie between the violin and the piano. Reason? They were the most sad-sounding instruments. The perfect way to express himself other than cutting or drawing. "Matthew Williams and Gilbert Beilschmidt, please report to the office." The intercom screeched, making both Matthew and Gilbert flinch. What did they do? OK, Gilbert wasn't thinking that, since he was a member of the Bad Touch Trio. Both men stood from their seat and walked towards the dreaded office.


Both Matthew and Gilbert entered the office, not talking to each other.  The principal looked at the two boys. "Boys, sit down." Both Matthew and Gilbert sat down, anxious. "Mr. Beilschmidt, you may be the quarterback of the football team, but your grades have fallen significantly. That is why you are unable to play until you have a B average in your core classes." Gilbert stood up, outraged. "And how am I going to do that!? The guys need me!" Gilbert questioned angrily, looking at the teacher. "That is where Mr. Williams comes in. He will be your tutor." Matthew also stood up, not saying anything but one look into his eyes and you could tell that he hated that idea. The principal looked at Matthew with soft eyes. "Now Mr. Williams, I know you have discomfort about this, but he is failing, and you have all the same classes as him, even you have perfect marks! Please, do this." The principal pleaded, making Matthew sigh in defeat. "Work out a schedule. And Gilbert, I hope you get better grades this year."

As soon as they stepped out, Gilbert turned to Matthew. "Oi, mute boy. Can you just DO my work for me?" Gilbert asked cockily, making Matthew a bit mad. How dare he? He got out a writing pad, and promptly stomped on his foot. "Ah! The hell man!?" Gilbert shrieked. Matthew scribbled down something before shoving the paper in his face. 'No, you don't learn if you don't do work.' Matthew was clearly angry how Gilbert was asking. Matthew snatched the paper again and scribbled down information for the poor albino and shoved in his face and walked away as the bell rung, and students rushed home.




"Yo, Mattie." Matthew brought were his head was, which was between his knees, and looked up. Carlos looked at the Canadian with concerned eyes. Ever since they became friends, they made secret hide outs so no one would disturbed them. One of them was a hill, concealing a field. Perfect to be alone in. Matthew brought out his writing pad and began to write. 'It was awful…I now have to tutor Gilbert…' Matthew wrote, new tears springing up again. Carlos' eyes widen in shocked. "That bastard!" Carlos insulted the principal, and hugged Matthew in time as his eyes spilled out tears, and Matthew silently cried into his friend's shoulder. Carlos had no idea what to say to his friend. He just hoped that Matthew wouldn't cry himself to sleep again.




"…And then the guy stomps on my foot! What a dick!" Gilbert exclaims to his two best friends, Francis Bonnefoy and Antonio Carrideo Fernandez. "Ah, Mon dieu, I 'ave never 'eard of anyone doing that to you!" Francis exclaims, and Antonio laughed. "Kinda reminds me of how I met my little Lovi~" Antonio cooed, putting his hands to his cheeks as he remembered the day when they were kids.. "Anyway, his name is Matthew Villiams, which is NOT an awesome name." Gilbert rambled on. "But I do remember meeting someone in my childhood named Matthew, but I forgot about him." Actually, even though Gilbert forgot about Matthew, he wants to remember him. Little that he knew, The Matthew he was insulting WAS the Matthew he wanted to remember. "Und he is mute! How am I supposed to know what the hell he is teaching without explaining it to me!?" Gilbert kept rambling on to his friends, all taking a swig of their beer.