A/N: Thanks to everyone who is still here after a three year hiatus. Life chewed me up and spit me out since I've updated last. I briefly went back to school, had four jobs (two of which I'm working at now), and lost my brother but gained a wonderful group of friends through Dungeons and Dragons. Posting this to get back in the mood of writing this story again.

The date with Gilbert was fast approaching, and even though Matthew hadn't left Gilbert's side aside from class today, his heart raced in his chest and butterflies made themselves comfortable in his stomach. Matthew wasn't sure why he was so nervous; Gilbert had proven himself to be a gentleman, despite the fact that his rough punk exterior had other plans for him. Matthew's anxiety nagged at him. What if something went wrong? What if Matthew somehow messed up big time?

All of his thoughts melted away when a knock at his dorm room door. Matthew, like the paranoid and anxious mess he was, looked through the peephole: Gilbert's obnoxious wide grin was in full view. He leaned on the doorframe with the seduction of a hormonal pre-teen but he was confident enough to pull the look off with ease and a strange kind of grace. Gilbert's newly dyed platinum blonde hair shimmered in the harsh fluorescent lights like an anime protagonist's love interest; his chunky black boots were scuff-free, and his all black outfit contrasted well with the paleness of his hair.

"Hey there, stranger. Long time no see," Gilbert greeted, and wrapped Matthew in a bear hug. Matthew squeezed him back. Although Matthew wasn't much of a physically affectionate guy, the attention was…nice. He wasn't sure how else to describe it. Normally he was more articulate, able to grasp at words to describe his feelings better but there was something about Gilbert that made Matthew's words dissipate. That easy charisma, that confident swagger, the movement of his hips, drove Matthew crazy with lust.

...Great. Now he sounded like a cliche, love-stricken fool. Maybe that's what he was, and would always be, or at least for as long as the relationship lasted. That would be nice, Matthew supposed, a long lasting relationship.

"It's been, what, five thousand years?" Matthew retorted. Poorly attempted sarcasm

"Probably," Gilbert squeezed Matthew's hand and kept his square hands intertwined with Matthew's slender fingers. They stood as close to shoulder-to-shoulder as they could with their height difference. Matthew was a few inches taller, which Gilbert had said once included his mop of strawberry blonde curls. The hug lingered lingered long and Matthew wished to never let go; here in each others arms was bliss, a bubble they could live in, where time didn't pass and nothing else mattered.

Matthew's heart skipped a few beats, bringing him out of the reverie. Matthe pulled Gilbert into his own dorm, the precise details of the world around them clearing from hazy romance, to reveal meticulously cleaned surroundings.

"Did you bring me here to show off how tidy you are?" Gilbert asked, and Matthew let out a genuine laugh.

"No, it's more important but less interesting than that," Matthew said, wringing his hands out of anxious habit. He leaned in for a kiss on the lips, intense and passionate. When they broke apart, Gilbert whooped.

"I was waiting for you to make a move," Gilbert admitted, "and it took you long enough."

"But why didn't you do anything if you liked me so much?" Matthew asked, incredulous.

"Because I'm not gonna carry this entire relationship on my delightfully broad shoulders. Now let's go to our date before our dinner reservation

Matthew gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. A part of him was worried that Matthew's relationship with Gilbert would turn sour if they got too close. What if Matthew scared off Gilbert by being annoying or vulnerable? It was a risk he'd have to take.

The silence in the car, combined with the sounds of ongoing trafffic, made Matthew jumpy. He turned on some music as a distraction. Although Matthew was grateful traffic wasn't bad as it had been historically at this time of the evening (living in a college town had it's ups and downs, but traffic was by far the worst reason to live here), it was bad enough that he had to do some strategic weaving so as to not get hit; GIlbert, as always, acted as if the traffic wasn't there, and was stuck in his own world. He sang along to Matthew's music, sounding a little bit like a classic rock singer, but as soon as Matthew noticed, Gilbert stopped.

"What in god's name made you stop singing? You're good," Matthew exclaimed. Gilbert didn't make eye contact, which was strange as he was a pretty engaged listener most of the time.

"Call me a sentimental fool, but I'm a little scared of how much I like you. I've had my experience in dating and relationships and shit but I've never felt this way about anyone else. There's something about you that drives me crazy and I hope we never lose that," Gilbert's explanation made Matthew blush. Maybe his fears were unfounded.

"I feel the same way about you. I think we'll work out."