Chapter 3

Lovino stared at the entrance to the classroom as the stragglers dragged themselves in. He fiddled with the bent corner of his notebook as he waited - for what, he didn't know. Scratch that. He knew what,he just didn't want to admit it. He practically perked up every time he saw a mop of brown hair and bronzed skin as he walked around campus, sighing when he realized it wasn't him. He found it rather odd, because when he actually saw him, all he wanted to do is run the hell away.

He turned his gaze away from his abused notebook and back to the entrance when he heard a loud cackling laugh. He sat up straighter in his seat; that bastard albino kid was walking through the door, followed by the French bastard. His heart sank as he noticed that Antonio was not close behind.

That's strange.

Antonio usually would be with the other two when he came to class. Lovino sighed. Disappointing – he'd hate to admit it but he was actually looking forward to find any excuse possible to look at him during lecture. He checked his watch - class would start in two minutes. He leaned back in his chair and waited for the professor to load up his PowerPoint. Lovino pulled out his computer and booted it up as the professor gave the introductory information on substance abuse. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of someone quietly slipping into the classroom, and Lovino glanced over to see the familiar messy dark brown hair. He was wearing sunglasses and looked a little worn for wear with his hair was sticking up in awkward places and wearing a faded gray shirt and sweatpants. It was obvious he had had a rough morning. Ironically, Lovino found it rather attractive. Even though he had just clearly rolled out of bed, he was still quite...adorable. Antonio turned toward Lovino's direction and noticed him staring; he grinned and waved and mouthed a hello! Lovino could feel the blood rush to his cheeks, and he snapped his attention back to his laptop. Antonio waved toward Gilbert and Francis as he placed his bookbag beside his seat.

Lovino stared at the reflection in his laptop screen. Antonio leaned back in his seat and lifted his arms above his head in a stretch. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Lovino, the shirt he was wearing was a tad bit short and when he leaned back into a stretch, his abdomen was exposed in all its tanned glory. It was a glorious three seconds. Antonio worked out, as Lovino could tell by the toned, rippled abs he was sporting, and he had a patch of hair leading down his stomach into his sweat pants. Lovino could imagine himself running his hand down his abdomen, slowly making his way over his navel and finally-

Lovino gulped.

Well fuck.

He was fucking having dirty daydreams about this bastard in the middle of lecture. This needed to stop. He frantically opened a word document and started typing up whatever might be considered "notes" of the lecture. He needed to focus on something else, something preferably that wouldn't make his pants uncomfortably tight in the middle of class. The professor was in the middle of talking about withdrawals in alcohol dependence. Perfect - vomiting and the shakes weren't arousing at all.

He was able to make it through most of the lecture without getting distracted, but when the professor had finished the last slide and he glanced at the clock at the bottom corner of his computer screen, there were still about thirty minutes left in class. Lovino prayed that he would let them go early today, but, of course, he wasn't that lucky. The professor exited out of the PowerPoint and walked in front of the podium.

"Now, since we finished early, this would be a great time to get into your groups and start talking about your presentations. Topics are due by the end of the week. So if you would please break off into your groups now..."

Lovino rolled his eyes and groaned.

Awesome.

The class was filled with the sound of chairs scraping against the floor as people started to assemble into their groups. Francis and Gilbert came to Lovino and Antonio's desks, so Lovino awkwardly turned around in his seat to face the hot idiot behind him. Antonio took off his sunglasses and revealed a pair of bright green eyes. He (of course) was grinning ear to ear and cheerful as ever.

"How are you today?" Antonio chirped.

"Er…um, I'm fine. Uh, how are you doing, I guess?"

"I'm doing great! Oh, hey guys!"

Lovino looked up to find the other two standing next to their desks. Gil slipped around the back of Toni's chair and sat on the edge of his desk, punching his shoulder lightly.

"What's up, Toni? Glad you could make it today. Didn't think you'd even wake up after last night."

Antonio smiled up at him. "Yea, I woke up pretty late, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Took some aspirin and ran out the door! By the time I got here, I was feeling a little better."

Francis chuckled and sat on the other side of the desk.

"That's what happens after six shots of tequila."

"Yea, I know. It was fun, though - especially Gil and Matt singing karaoke together!"

Gilbert groaned. "Let's not talk about that."

"Aww, c'mon, Gil, you guys were pretty good! I loved you two's 'Teardrops on My Guitar'-"

"Shut up Toni! We did not sing that stupid song."

Francis snorted. "I beg to differ, and I have video evidence to prove otherwise."

Gilbert squinted. "If that ends up on the internet, I'll kill you both."

"Oh it won't… for now."

Gilbert grunted, then checked his watch. "Speaking of Mattie, I've got to leave in, like, ten to meet up with him. We're ditching today. Gonna go fishing."

"For your ex-girlfriend's rebound from you, you two are pretty close," Francis said .

"Dude, he has a boat. I can't pass this up. Besides, she's dumped both of us now, so whatever."

"Well, okay. Whatever makes you happy."

Lovino crossed his arms and stared at the floor, feeling surlier than usual and left out of this personal-life chitchat. Gilbert glanced over and snorted at him.

"What's up your ass kid?"

"None your business."

"Touchy, aren't we?"

"Leave him alone, Gil."

Antonio looked across his desk at Lovino frowning, leaning his forearms on the back of his seat, and he cocked his head to the side.

"Are you all right, Lovino?"

The look of concern on Antonio's face threw Lovino off guard and caused his stomach do an unsuspected flip.

"I-I'm fine. Th-thank you." He tried to smile, but it came out as a half smirk - but by the grin on Antonio's face, the point was made.

France and Gilbert glanced at each other and smirked. Gilbert started laughing.

"Kid, you're so bipolar."

Lovino's smile fell off his face.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Dude, you're totally bipolar. Like, seriously. One minute you're look like you're going to murder someone and the next you're smiling like a doofus."

"Huh? Wha- whatever, I'm not bipolar. That's fucking stupid."

"I sense someone is in denial," Francis teased.

"I am not! Shut the fuck up, now!" Lovino growled.

"Whatever, dude. That's what you say." Gilbert snickered, but then his eyes lit up and he pumped a fist in the air.

"Fuck yes! I've got our topic for this shitty project. Bipolar disorder!"

Francis shrugged. "Sounds decent enough."

"Since I gotta split…" Gilbert hopped off the desk and tore out a strip of paper from Antonio's notebook, stealing his pen to scratch something down before turning the paper toward Antonio.

"Toni, put down your number, and you too, Francis. We have each other's, but buddy here doesn't."

Lovino watched as Antonio scribbled down his name and number before he passed it off to Francis. He quickly wrote down his own information and shoved it in Lovino's direction. Lovino picked up the piece of paper and stared, rereading the second number over and over. He studied the loops and swirls of Antonio's cursive, his name written neatly next to his ten digit number. He reread it over and over, internalizing it. He was snapped out of his thoughts by the chirp of a cell phone. Gilbert pulled out his phone from his back pocket, pausing to look at the screen. He quickly tapped away at the keyboard before closing it back up with a snap.

"Okay, just got a text from Matt. He's waiting for me with the boat. Catch the three of you later!" He jumped down the lecture hall's stairs to his desk, slinging his backpack on his shoulders on the way and practically skipped out the door.

"Well if Gilbert is leaving, then there's no reason for me to stay. Antonio, are you coming?" Francis asked, standing and straightening his clothes unnecessarily.

Antonio shrugged. "Sure! Why not?"

Lovino couldn't help but feel a bit deflated as Antonio started packing his bag. Lovino turned back around in his seat and turned his attention back to his computer. He was refreshing his email when he felt a pair of arms snake around his shoulders. Antonio had come up from behind and landed a surprise hug.

"Bye Lovi! I hope you have a good day!"

"G-get off me, you bastard!"

Toni only giggled as he followed Francis out of the classroom.

Lovino banged his forehead against his keyboard. His whole face flushed two shades of red; he could feel the blood rushing to his ears.

Fuck me.

Lovino dropped his bookbag on the floor and plopped down on his bed. His head was pounding and his eyes were aching in his skull. After Abnormal Psychology with Antonio and the others, classes seemed to have run longer than usual, and everyone just wanted to piss him off today. He had three tests next week and tons of homework to do. He wanted to punch a wall, but he knew if he did, he would be paying some heavy damage fees - or a doctor's bill. He contented himself with popping three aspirins and lying down in his bed. Of course, his silence was broken by the sound of Alfred banging open his bedroom door.

"What's up, Lovi?"

He groaned into his pillow loudly. "You look like hell, man. You feeling bad?"

Lovino turned his head to face his roommate. "Well, no shit,Sherlock."

Alfred chuckled. "I'm sorry, buddy. Take a nap."

"I was trying to until you barged into the room!"

"Sorry bro, I was just checking up on ya!"

"Thanks, Mom, but I'm fine. Go away."

Alfred smiled. "Sure, whatever. By the way, what's for dinner?"

Lovino rolled his eyes and groaned, "I don't know, fatass. I'll make it later. Now leave me alone."

Alfred giggled as he quietly (for once!) shut the door.

Lovino rolled over and relaxed as he relished the silence. Finally - a break.

Then his ring tone started to blare from his bag.

Lovino groaned. Holy mother of God, can I get a fucking break?

Lovino whined as he opened his bag to find his brother's name flashing across the screen.

Lovino sighed and cursed as he finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lovi! How are you?"

Lovino pulled the phone away from his ear.

"God, Feli! Don't scream into the phone. I don't need you to blow out my ear drum. I already have a headache!"

"Oops. Sorry Lovi. Are you feeling well?"

"I'm fine, Feli. What's up?"

"I was just calling to tell you Grandpa and I will be coming by for a visit tomorrow! He wants to take us out to dinner!"

Lovino's breath hitched.

"Wait, what? Grandpa is coming...tomorrow."

"Yep! Isn't it wonderful? He want's to see you and stuff since he didn't get a chance last semester."

"Goddamn it. Feli, why didn't you tell me earlier!"

"...I forgot?"

"Jesus Christ! Ugh, okay, that's fine. Just..." He sighed. "Just tell me earlier next time, okay?"

"I'm sorry, Lovi."

"It's okay, Feli. I got to go. I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay, I love you, brother!"

"Love you too, Feli."

With that, Lovino hung up the phone. Lovino stared at his home screen for a few seconds before throwing his phone against the wall and sprawling across his bed.

Today just couldn't get any better, could it?