"You sewed this all yourself?" Gilbert Beilschmidt exclaimed, amazed.

"Oui! It's beautiful, non?" Matthew Williams responded happily. "And my cousin Madeline said she'd wear it to her prom!"

Standing in Matthew's messy room, the friends were examining the red and white prom dress the blond had sewn over the weekend. While Gilbert was admiring the fine beadwork on the bodice, Matthew snuck a look at his fellow senior. The intensity with which the albino studied the stitching made his maroon eyes seem to glow with curiosity.

"You should see it on Madeline; the way she wears it, you'd think the whole world revolved around her."

Gilbert look at him, then cleared his throat. "Do you think, uh, maybe you could make me a suit for prom?"

"Sure! Who're you going with, so I know what colors to make everything?" Matthew reached for his sketch book, which was stuffed full with designs and fabric swatches.

"Actually… Matthew… Would you go with me?" Blushing, Gilbert turned away as the blond looked up.

Matthew froze for a moment, his brain whirling. An awkward silence stretched between the hockey teammates, and Gilbert began to fidget. "I was joking, birdie. It was a joke only a dummkopf would laugh at."

Nodding silently, Matthew turned to his notebook. He wanted to accept, and yet was terrified of the reaction that would cause…

"You don't have someone to go with?" he managed to squeak out.

"Nein," Gilbert muttered. "Uh, just forget about it. I do not even want to go to the prom."

He spun on his heel and began to leave the room

"W-wait, Gil!"

The silence in the room was deafening; Gilbert was rooted to the floorboards, and Matthew was breathing quickly.

"Ja, birdie?"

Shaking slightly, Matthew stood up and walked to his friend. Standing in front of the slightly shorter teen, he stared into the maroon eyes before him. Said eyes were beginning to fill with tears, but Gilbert returned the look.

"I… I would love to go with you t-to the prom."

Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, Matthew squeezed his eyes shut and waited for a response. Next thing he knew, he was being pushed against the door and kissed. A second later they were apart and panting. Matthew stared at Gilbert, who was grinning at him sheepishly.

"Sorry birdie, I should not have-"

Startling even himself, Matthew was across the distance between them and wrapping his arms around Gilbert.