"You're a fucking idiot." I concluded.

"You started it." Ludwig said in a sarcastic, childish tone.

"Oh mio dio..." I smiled. "My fucking sides hurt thanks to you, asshole."

"Are you sure that's not your tight ass shirt digging into you?" Ludwig remarked.

"Pfft." I replied. "You think this is tight?"

"Yes."

"Try wearing a corset." I shot.

"Where have you ever worn a corset?" Ludwig asked.

"In a production of Romeo and Juliet, idiot. I fucking work as a stage actor."

"Oh, yeah. Wait... who were you?"

"Juliet. I think I made a very straight man question his boner that day."

"Singing your own praises, are we?"

"No, I'm serious! He gave me his number and everything." I laughed.

"Did you ever call?"

"No, of course not! I'm dating-" I stopped, then sniffed and wrapped my arms around myself. "Was. I was dating Gil."

"Do you know where he went?" Ludwig asked.

I shrugged. "Off to his new boyfriend's, I guess."

"I texted him ealier, but he hasn't replied."

"What did you say?"

He flipped his phone out of his pocket and showed me the texts. It made me smile a little.

Yesterday: 'Wild Italian on the loose. Please call.'

Today: 'Wild Italian still here. Where are you?'

I smiled. "Wild Italian?"

"You're pretty wild."

"Thankyou!" I grinned.

"You're taking that as a compliment then?"

"Mhm. What was it meant to be?"

"Wow. You're insane."

I grinned again, before I heard a ping come from Ludwig's phone.

"Is that him?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Mm." Came the reply.

"Shit." I began to twist my thumbs around eachother. "What'd he say?"

"He asked if you were okay."

"Really?" I was half hopeful, half scared.

"Yeah." He showed me the phone.

'Gilbert: Is he okay?'

I smiled. He seemed... different. But for now, that was all I could conclude. I heard Ludwig tapping away.

"What're you saying?" I asked.

"The truth." He replied.

'Ludwig: He spent the morning vommiting for an hour and a half, then sobbing on my shirt, but he's evened out.'

I waved my legs wildly, slightly excited. Maybe... maybe I could learn to trust him again?

"What did he say, now?" I questioned.

Ludwig lookes at me. "You're enjoying this." He smiled.

"Maybe a little." I smirked. "What's he saying?"

"He seems worried about you." Ludwig showed me the texts.

'Gilbert: He was vommiting? Was he drinking?

Ludwig: Yeah, say goodbye to most of your beer, by the way.

Gilbert: I don't care about that.

Gilbert: Did you help him at all?

Ludwig: We had a deal that if he didn't vomit on the sofa then I'd hold his hair back.

Gilbert: And?

Ludwig: His hair is vomit free.

Gilbert: Thanks. By 'evened out' you mean?

Ludwig: Uh, pissing himself laughing?

Gilbert: Is he happy?

Ludwig: For the most part.

Ludwig: It's gonna take a while, you know.

Gilbert: For what?

Ludwig: For him to trust you again.

Gilbert: I know.

Gilbert: I just hope he'll try.

Gilbert: Luddy?

Ludwig: Yeah?

Gilbert: It's weird.

Gilbert: It's the first that it's hurt. I dated him for four years, man.

Ludwig: I know.

Gilbert: I feel like I remember him. I've forgotten the others so easily, but he keeps coming back to me.'

I could feel the tears spilling onto my cheeks again. I know he didn't regret it, he had a new boyfriend, a better thing to be with. But, he hadn't moved on.

I jestured to the phone, asking silently if I could talk to him. Ludwig gave it to me.

'Ludwig: What's your favourite memory of him?

Gilbert: Do you remember when he came over for Christmas in Germany?

Ludwig: Yeah.

Gilbert: I took some mistletoe from outside and hung it right over his head.

Gilbert: I remember gesturing to it all humourous. I think I was smirking. He blushed so hard.

Ludwig: I remember.

Gilbert: I thought he was going to punch me but he just kissed me. It was really the first time he'd kissed me.

Gilbert: It seemed like I made the moves, but he stood on his tiptoes and pulled me down. He kissed me so wonderfully, then he blushed and turned away.

Gilbert: He looked so cute. He said, "There you go, bastard." and blushed, and then he pulled me into a big hug.

Ludwig: That's sweet, Gilbert.

Gilbert: You know something?

Ludwig: What?

Gilbert: After you'd all gone to bed, we drank cinnamon hot chocolate by the fire. He turned the radio on and this slow dance song came on.

Gilbert: He smiled, and pulled me up from the sofa, and we danced together. I said "I cant dance." and he said, "Its a slow dance, just sway and act like you love me."

Gilbert: I kissed the top of his head, and I said, "I do love you." and he smiled his wonderful smile and whispered "I love you too."

I had the phone in my hand, but I couldn't reply. I was shaking uncontrolbly, silent tears rolling down my face. Ludwig was sat next to me, and even he looked sad.

I couldn't think of what to say. How could I respond to that? Maybe I could say it was me? Or would that make him mad? I stared at the keyboard.

Gilbert: Ludwig?

Ludwig: Yeah, sorry.

Gilbert: Where is he?

I swallowed, looked at Ludwig, then typed the message.

Ludwig: It's me, Gil.

Gilbert: What? Since when?

Ludwig: Since I asked you about the memory.

Gilbert: Where's Luddy?

Ludwig: Sat next to me.

Gilbert: Oh. Is he looking after you?

Ludwig: For the most part. I keep the sofa vomit free and he keeps my hair vomit free.

Gilbert: That is so you.

Ludwig: I know.

Ludwig: Hey, Gil?

Gilbert: Yeah?

Ludwig: Have you cried yet?

Gilbert: Yeah. Have you?

Ludwig: Ludwig's shirt tells me yes.

Gilbert: He let you cry on him?

Ludwig: Yeah he's all snotty now. It's gross.

Gilbert: Wow. Somehow I can't imagine him comforting anyone. He's so stoic.

Ludwig: Careful what you say, he's reading everything.

Gilbert: Hi, Luddy.

Ludwig: Please don't call me that.

Ludwig: Rood, he stole the phone.

Gilbert: Dude, you two must be like, right next to eachother.

Ludwig: Well, I basically sat on his lap when he was comforting me.

Gilbert: Wow. Comforting, pffft, that's so not Luddy, it's weird.

Ludwig: Dude, he had his arm around me and everything. Like, seriously.

Gilbert: He wants dat booty.

Ludwig: I AM RIGHT HERE.

Gilbert: Aww, I love you bro.

Ludwig: I hate you, brother.

Gilbert: Lovino?

Ludwig: Hi.

Gilbert: What's your favourite memory?

Ludwig: When we met.

Gilbert: Yeah.

Ludwig: I am so glad I was on shift. I was going to call in sick, you know.

Gilbert: Must have been fate ;D

Ludwig: Shut up.

"How did you meet?" Ludwig asked.

I smiled, then shook my head. "Long story."

"Tell me."

"Okay, so I worked in a coffee shop at the time, and Gil, Toni and Francis walked in being rowdy as usual. I had to put on this smile and say 'Welcome, would you like a seat? Are you ready to order?' and all that. Gil was constantly flirting with me, but I kept brushing it off. Then a couple of minutes later this older, rich guy came in and really starting flirting with me. I had to just deal with it, but it got to the point where he took my hand and kissed it, and he started all the way up my arm. It was fucking gross and creepy, so I blurted out 'I have a boyfriend!' really loud. Luckily it was only Gil and co. and creepy guy in the shop, but they were all staring at me. This guy said 'who?' so I panicked and pointed at Gil. Creepy guy was so annoyed, but Gil took it to his advantage. Everytime I went to his table he'd put his arn around my waist or call me 'babe' just ti spite this other guy. Then when they asked for the bill, I gave it to them, and they payed by card. I was pissed off because they didn't leave a tip, but then when I was cleaning a table, Gil grabbed my arm. I spun around and he literally kissed me. On the lips and everything. He slipped a twenty pound note into my pocket and said 'your tip. See you later babe.' and walked out. When I checked the tip there was a note hidden in it saying 'The name's Gilbert' and his number on it."

Ludwig laughed. "That is so him."

I smiled, then texted Gil again.

Ludwig: Just explained to Luddy how we met.

Gilbert: Bet you twenty quid he said 'that is so him'.

Ludwig: Those exact words.

Gilbert: Told ya so ;) How was it sitting on my bro's lap, btw?

Ludwig: He has a bigger dick than you.

Gilbert: WTF

Ludwig: What? I wasn't feeling him up or anything he's just wearing tight jeans!

Gilbert: Dude, does my little bro actually have a bigger dick than me?

Ludwig: Yes. Sorry, just telling the truth.

Gilbert: Wow.

Ludwig: Gil?

Gilbert: Yeah?

Ludwig: I drank all of your beer.

Gilbert: I know.

Ludwig: I'm sorry.

Gilbert: No, I don't care. I just want you to be safe.

Ludwig: Don't say that.

Gilbert: Why?

Ludwig: Nevermind.

Ludwig: I just miss you so fucking much.

Gilbert: ...

Gilbert: I know, Lovino. I know.