Chapter Text
Matthew was the ghost of the family as people called him. Overshadowed by his brother Alfred, Alfred was the heartthrob and the star quarterback being the captain of the team. Matthew hated it. He was bullied by the team when Alfred wasn't around. It wasn’t even just light bullying it was physical and harsh.
One day Matthew was in the kitchen he was helping Francis bake a cake for Francis’s work party. Francis owned a bakery and his work was having a party to celebrate their success. Francis was the only one who saw Matthew in that family.
Arthur would get Matthew and Alfred mixed up and Matthew would politely tell him he wasn’t Alfred and Arthur would apologize only to do it again. It hurt.
He was brought out his thoughts when the timer went off and Matthew rushed over to the oven to pull out the chocolate cake and he grabbed tooth picks and stuck it into the cake before calling over to Francis “papa the cake is ready!” He exclaimed. Francis smiled and sat his news paper down and went over to the kitchen “mm smells good” he said as he walked over and admired the cake “now all I need to do is making icing and it’ll be ready for the work party” he said.
As Matthew and Francis iced the cake Arthur came into the kitchen giving the 2 a nod as he made himself a cup of tea. Matthew looked over. He wanted to tell Arthur about a honours award he got “hey dad-“ he was cut off “not now Alfre- shoot wait sorry M-Matthew!” Arthur said looking at Matthew.
Matthew frowned before giving a polite smile “it’s ok” he said before he nodded at Francis and headed into his bedroom. He searched through his drawer and found his art book and he started to draw before he found himself crying..why was he crying? He shouldn’t be crying over something so stupid.
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Since it was a Friday the next day. Matthew had to hear his twin boasting about a party he was going to that night “just don’t get arrested..dad wasn’t too happy about bailing you out last time..” Matthew said and Alfred gave a goofy grin “no way bro that would be like so not cool of me!” He exclaimed. Matthew sighed and shook his head before he and Alfred broke off and headed their separate ways for classes. Matthew went to his honours math class and sat down.
His second class science nothing too exciting in his first two classes of the day. Matthew was headed to the cafeteria to buy himself something to eat when he was shoved against a locker and he yelped only to find one of the football players and he groaned in pain “hey nerd” the jock sneered in his face “where’s your brother..probably making out with another cheerleader” he laughed as he pinned Matthew there by the neck.
It didn’t take long before Alfred came around the corner and barked at the guy to back off and he huffed and gave Matthew a look that said ‘your lucky’ before storming off in a rage.
But Alfred didn’t stay long before walking off laughing with some girls. Matthew sighed he never expected much from his brother at school before heading off.
At the cafeteria Matthew stared at the menu before deciding he wasn’t hungry and hurried off to his art class. A class with a kind older teacher who Matthew adored. As class went on after lunch had ended Matthew sat quietly working on his art piece.
The art class was doing landscapes and Matthew was doing a mountain landscape as he worked on quietly he got a pencil thrown at the back of his head and he turned and saw a girl smirking at him and mouthed a snarky ‘sorry’ before giggling with her friend..he recognized her as a cheerleader who had a crush on his brother. He sighed and shook his head and went back to his art piece before an eraser was thrown at him. He turned and the girl pointed at her friend and they both smirked and giggled with each other.
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After school, Matthew had a spare during the last period of the day. He took it and went to the ice cream store nearby and he paid and got some chocolate ice cream on a cone..one moment of happiness. He stood outside eating his ice cream as he sat on a bench humming the song playing in his headphones ‘Who I’am’ by Alex Warren.
Time went on and he found himself walking home listening to his music allowing him an escape from reality for a moment.
On his walk he found himself at the river in the park. He sat down and pulled his knees to his chest. He stared at his arms and sighed as he rolled up his sleeves a little to look at the bandages before he rolled his sleeve down to the bandages again. He sat there watching the river. He sighed thinking back to when he was younger and carefree with Alfred.
Matthew and Alfred had been adopted by Francis and Arthur after their birth parents wanted nothing to do with them.
Matthew found himself crying again…damnit why was he crying again and here of all places. He wiped his tears and looked at the time it read 5:30pm. Dinner time at home. His eyes widened and he stood up and bolted home.
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He got home throwing the door open startling both Francis and Arthur “I’m so sorry I’m late-“ he said looking at them “ah Mon Cher!” Francis exclaimed “we were getting worried about you” he said and Arthur just huffed “try being on time next time” he grumbled sipping his tea as Matthew went over and sat down to eat “where’s Alfred?” He asked and Francis chuckled “at one of his parties if not practicing” Francis laughed and Matthew sighed as Arthur rolled his eyes “he better not get arrested or I swear I’m not bailing him out next time!” Arthur said pissed off “now, now come on remember our high school days~” Francis started and Arthur cut him off with a glare.
After dinner Matthew went to his room and sat on his bed. He had no home work to do so he sat in his laptop. He was a senior so college was on his mind. He had a college in mind..a art college 3 towns away. It’d be a fresh start for him…