You Are My Sun - Chapter 11.

[thekeyholder91]

Title: You are my Sun Chapter 11. The Best Gift
Author:thekeyholder (Brigi)
Pairing: Belldom
Rating: PG 13
Beta: The lovely ms_belle10  :) Thank you, my dear!
Summary: Matt and Dom are classmates and even though at first they are not in good terms with each other, things evolve. Basically, it's a story about how was Muse formed.
Feedback: would be lovely if you have some time! <3
Warnings: Nothing in this chapter.
Disclaimers: As you probably know, I don’t own Muse but original aspects belong to me. So don't steal, please!
Author's note: This chapter clarifies the cliffhanger with which the previous part ended. I hope you'll like it! Thank you to those who still follow this story! <3




This beautiful sig was created by one of my good friends. Thanks, Rena!

Previous chapters:

Chapter 1. // Chapter 2. // Chapter 3. // Chapter 4. // Chapter 5. // Chapter 6. // Interlude // Chapter 7. // Chapter 8. // Chapter 9. // Chapter 10.

 

 

You are my Sun

Chapter 11. The Best Gift

 

“Love is a gift. You can't buy it, you can't find it, someone has to give it to you. Learn to be receptive of that gift.”(Kurt Langner)

 

 “How lucky that Dom was there with you!” Linda exclaimed as she sat down on her brother’s bed and hugged him affectionately.

 

“Indeed, he was so helpful. Thank you again, Dominic!” Matt’s grandmother said. She patted the blonde’s shoulder while he stood by the window and blushed at the praise.

 

 “Oh, Mrs. Bellamy, everyone would have done that,” Dom whispered, but the grateful twinkle in Matt’s and everybody else’s eyes spoke of something else.

 

“Okay, I think we should go, Dom, it’s really late. I bet Mum and Dad are already at home,” Athena said as she ruffled Matt’s hair gingerly.

 

“Holy Mary, I even forgot about them!” Dom exclaimed, wide-eyed. “I hope they didn’t call the police!”

 

“Don’t worry, I left them a note,” Athena reassured Dom. “But it’s really dark outside and Matt needs to rest.”

 

“Oh, don’t worry, you’re not disturbing me,” Matt stated quickly, but the shattered look on his face spoke of something different.

 

“No worries, I’ll visit you tomorrow and I’ll bring your homework too,” Dominic promised and shook Matt’s hand warmly.

 

“I won’t mind if you forget them,” the brunet answered cheekily, patting Dom’s shoulder as to thank again his kindness.

 

“Young man, I don’t care that you’re ill, I will not allow you to shirk your homework!” Matt’s grandmother threatened and her grandson blushed while the others laughed heartily.

 

“Bye, Matt!” Athena and Dom waved as they left Matt’s room, the two boys impatient to meet alone the next day.

 

The siblings got into Athena’s car and arrived home safely. Their parents were waiting for them in the living room and Athena told them the cause of their sudden disappearance while eating their late lunch. Dominic was unusually silent and when his mother asked worriedly what the matter was, he said he had a hard day and needed to sleep since he had school the next day. Before exiting the kitchen, Athena hugged him, a gesture which definitely made Dom feel much better. Sometimes, he wondered if his big sister could read his mind.

 

After a well-deserved hot bath, Dominic finally went to bed and he remembered the day’s events, just like he did every night before falling asleep.  It started so wonderfully with their little surprise trip to Exeter, but then it almost turned into a catastrophe.

 

“Matt…”

 

Dominic ran back to his friend who was wailing in pain while clutching his left ankle.

 

“Oh my god, Matt, what happened?” Dom asked, terrified that Matt might have broken his leg.

 

“I just slipped on the ice… I-I think I sprained my ankle,” Matt whimpered as two clear teardrops fell from his eyes.

 

Matthew tried to stop crying, but the tears just rolled down his face. He felt Dom wiping them away gently and the blonde assured him that everything would be fine. The pain he felt made the words difficult to believe, but Dom’s never-ceasing kindness made the pain bearable.

 

“Come on, Matt, we need to get to my place; it’s closer!” Dom said as he put his left arm on Matt’s shoulder and lifted him slowly. “I know it hurts, but I’m here and if you get tired of jumping on your right leg, I’ll carry you, okay?”

 

The boys managed to stumble to Dom’s house and Athena opened the door in a state of shock.

 

“Can you give us a lift to the hospital?” Dominic asked breathlessly.

 

Athena nodded and she acted promptly even in such a critical situation. She first gave a painkiller to Matt, put on a jumper and a coat, and helped Dom in placing Matt carefully in the back seat of the car. She drove quickly to the hospital and arranged everything with the nurses there. While the doctor was making an X-ray of Matt’s left ankle, Athena reminded Dom that Mrs. Bellamy hadn’t been contacted yet, so the boy went to a public phone in the hospital’s corridor and reluctantly called the worried grandmother. Dom managed to calm her, but she insisted on coming to the hospital.

 

By the time Dominic went back to his sister, she was in the doctor’s office, holding Matt’s hand while a nurse was bandaging the hurt ankle and the doctor was explaining what the patient had to do with his injury.

 

“Ice, ice, ice!” the doctor commanded. “Don’t put it directly on the skin or you’ll get frostbite. The best would be to use an ice bag. Also, put your hurt foot on a pillow to keep it elevated. Oh, and of course, rest a lot. Come back after a week and we’ll see the state of your ankle. I think Mrs. Bergman is done with the bandaging. Take care, Matthew; unfortunately, I have to go now, other patients are waiting for me.”

 

With that, the doctor hurried away. A couple of minutes later the nurse smiled and went after the doctor. Athena carefully put Matt’s sock and shoe back on his foot while Dominic told his friend that Mrs. Bellamy was on her way to the hospital. They sat silently in the waiting room for ten minutes until Matt’s grandmother stormed into the building. After she checked that her little grandson was beyond reach of danger and kissed his entire face, she thanked Dominic with tears in her eyes.

 

“No, no, my sister is the real hero,” Dominic smiled and presented Athena to Mrs. Bellamy, who hugged the girl gratefully.

 

Athena and Dom helped Matt to get into the car and Dom stayed with him in the back seat.

 

“What a day,” Matthew whispered nostalgically as he leaned his head against the seat. “I’m sorry for ruining your evening, Dom.”

 

“Matt, you didn’t ruin anything. You’ll see, next week we’ll be laughing about our antics,” the blonde replied and upon seeing Matt’s pout, he nudged his shoulder. “Hey, is everything all right?”

 

“Yeah, don’t worry,” Matt looked into Dom’s wide grey eyes and smiled tiredly. “You’re the best friend ever,” he punctuated with a light pat on Dom’s forearm.

 

The blonde boy repeated the last sentence over and over in his head and fell asleep with the words echoing in his mind. He’d already decided to prove that he deserved that title and the first thing he’d do was to visit his friend next day.

 

 

* * * * *

 

Contrary to Dom’s expectations, the next day was awfully boring without Matt. He had no one to chat with during the less interesting classes and no one to smile at. The empty seat was an angering and disappointing sight and Dom gulped with a feeling of bitter guilt. Some of his stupid classmates noticed his misery; they grouped around his desk and started mocking him:

 

“Aw, why is poor Dominic crying? Is it because of his little girlfriend? Huh? Did you and Bellamy break up?”

 

Dominic continued writing an essay, hoping that ignoring the brainless gorillas would make them leave him alone. However, his silence was taken as resistance and some of the guys started kicking the desk. Dominic put down his pen and looked at the harriers with forced patience. They would have disturbed him further had the teacher not entered the classroom in that moment and the blonde exhaled with relief.

 

No wonder Dominic almost ran to the canteen in the next break. He wanted to have lunch in peace and he hoped to have it beside Linda and Chris. They always cheered him up and it wasn’t different now. He somehow survived the next class and finally, he was free to go to Matt! Mrs. Bellamy received him with a kind smile and led him to Matt’s room.

 

“Hey, Matt! How are you? What are you doing?” Dominic asked impatiently, a satisfied grin creeping on his face when he saw the unkempt hair of his friend.

 

“Hi! Nothing much, I was reading. What about you?”

 

Dom shrugged his backpack off and sat down on the edge of his friend’s bed. “Well, it was a boring day. By the way, you’re lucky, we only have homework in Maths,” he said as he handed Matt his notebook. “Oh, Julie and Andrew wished you fast recovery; our other classmates are dicks, just so you know.”

 

Matthew laughed: “Ha, I knew that already! I don’t care about them…”

 

Though unspoken, “But I do about you!” hung in the air and Dom smiled bashfully. Suddenly, he noticed a familiar object on Matt’s nightstand: it was the famous leather-bound notebook that attracted Dominic’s attention to Matt a few months ago. He couldn’t look away from it and bit his lower lip in frustration and curiosity. Dominic wanted to ask Matt what he kept in it, but suddenly, his mouth felt very dry. The brunet noticed Dominic’s stare and before the blonde gathered the courage to ask his burning question, Matt opened his mouth:

 

“Dom, would you be kind and bring me a glass of water, please?”

 

His friend, eager to help, went downstairs to fulfil Matt’s request. Mrs. Bellamy also gave him an ice bag to put on Matt’s swollen ankle. However, by the time he went back, Matthew had put away the notebook. ‘That notebook must be the hiding place of Matt’s biggest secrets,’ Dominic thought. He lifted the duvet and placed the ice bag on Matt’s left ankle. His friend hissed and Dominic looked up worriedly.

 

“Does it hurt?”

 

“No, it’s just cold, I have to get used to it. The ice actually numbs the pain,” Matthew smiled, though a bit forced.

 

“I’m sorry,” Dominic whispered. “It’s my fault; if I hadn’t run and provoked you…”

 

“Jesus, Dom, don’t you dare declare yourself guilty! First of all, I should have been more careful. But then, if Linda and Chris hadn’t invited us to Exeter or if the weather hadn’t been that shitty, it wouldn’t have happened. It’s not your fault, things just turned out this way. At least I can sleep ‘til ten o’clock and I don’t have to go to school,” Matthew laughed and was relieved to see Dominic smiling.

 

“Um, Dom…will you come tomorrow as well?” Matt asked with blushing cheeks.

 

“Of course. What, you thought that I wouldn’t because it’s my birthday?” Dominic asked smugly, proud that Matt wanted his presence around him.

 

“Yeah, well, I guess you have some preparations to do. Really, Dom, if you’re busy, you don’t have to come,” Matt assured his friend, but Dom couldn’t be deceived.

 

“No worries, I’ll be here after I’m done with school,” Dominic winked. “Before I forget, Athena asked me to give you this book,” the blonde said as he felt for it in his backpack and handed it to Matt.

 

“The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?” Matt asked and his whole face lit up. “Wow, this must be really interesting! Please, thank Athena for me, okay?”

 

“Will do! Bye, Matt, see you tomorrow!” Dominic said goodbye and headed for home.

 

* * * * *

 

“Happy Birthday!”

 

Dominic heard the wish for the umpteenth time that morning. This time it came from a random girl whom he barely knew. The pupils seemed a bit agitated, but it was normal for a Friday – they were making plans for the weekend. The breaks were all spent with girls kissing Dom’s cheek and guys shaking his hand and even though Dominic knew that most of them were just empty words, he was pleased that time just flew away that day. Soon, he would sit on Matt’s bed and laugh about his friend’s rebellious locks.

 

Mrs. Bellamy hugged him warmly before she let him climb the stairs to Matt’s room. Dominic kind of grew used to the small, but cosy room which reflected Matt’s personality: the desk where he worked was cluttered with books and sheets of music, just like Matthew’s thoughts tended to be very confusing sometimes. The posters beside his bed and the two guitars spoke of his musical interests, while his neat bookshelves – housing from classic novels to the newest books about aliens and conspiracy theories – were all parts of the boy’s incredibly varied personality.

 

As Dominic opened the door with a smile lingering about the corners of his mouth, he noticed Matt leaning against the bed with the acoustic guitar in his hands. Surprisingly, the brunet combed his hair this time which made Dom giggle.

 

“Hello, birthday boy!” Matt greeted him and the blonde laughed, shacking Matt’s hand.

 

“Hi, little patient! How are you today?” Dominic asked in a fake official tone.

 

“Better, Doctor Howard. I’ve heard that it’s your birthday today…would you mind if I play something on my guitar?”

 

“Not at all, it will be a pleasure to listen to you,” Dom replied and he sat down beside Matt, eager to hear the song.

 

It was the traditional “Happy Birthday” song, accompanied by Matt’s voice, but the brunet somehow managed to pour his true feelings even in such a simple song. At the end of the performance, Dom clapped and wanted to thank his friend for the thoughtful present, but Matt handed him a rectangular object with a bow on it.

 

“What is this?” Dominic asked suspiciously, still shocked.

 

“Your birthday present from me! Come on, open it!” Matt squealed and watched with satisfaction as Dom opened the cover…of a photo album.

 

However, it was not empty: Dominic had no idea how or when, but Matt filled it with different pictures. The first photo was the one Tom took a couple of months ago of the LICHRIDOMA gang in the canteen. It was followed by lovely shots taken at different events like Linda and Chris’ birthday parties. The real surprise was the last photograph: it was the one where Matt, the fierce vampire, was about to bite into King Dominic’s tempting neck at Linda’s birthday/Halloween party.

 

Matthew watched with satisfaction as Dominic gulped and his Adam’s apple bobbed. The blonde bit his lower lip, his mind suddenly filled with unexpectedly pleasant memories. Dom looked at his friend who waited nervously for his reaction, made obvious by his fidgeting. He decided to put an end to the torturous wait by flashing his brightest smile at Matt.

 

“Do you like it?” the brunet asked quite apprehensively.

 

“You need to ask?” Dominic asked laughing.

 

Matthew was completely taken aback when Dominic crawled closer and hugged him tightly, hiding his face in the crook of Matt’s neck. The brunet wrapped his arms around his friend and smiled to himself as he patted Dom’s back.

 

“This is the best birthday gift ever,” the blonde whispered, the hot air brushing Matt’s neck.

 

“R-really?”

 

“Yes, Matt, it’s great!” Dominic lifted his head and smiled at his desk mate. “Now tell me, how did you get your hands on Kirk’s photos? I asked him numerous times to give them to me, but apparently you two schemed behind my back.”

 

“Well, it’s true, I did ask him to ignore your requests,” the brunet confessed, “but it was for a noble cause!”

 

“Oh, you two imps! I’ll thank Tom though at the party this evening,” Dominic said, deep in his thoughts.

 

“Oh right, the party! Dom, don’t let me keep you! I’m sure you have lots of things to do!” the brunet exclaimed and tried to smile, but it was obvious that it hurt him that he couldn’t go to the birthday party.

 

“No worries. I just wish you could come,” Dominic whispered and pouted.

 

“There’s always next year and the following years. I promise I’ll try to be there from now on, okay?” Matt said as he took Dom’s hand between his.

 

“Promise?”

 

“Promise.”

 

* * * * *

 

 ‘Matt better keep his promise,’ Dominic thought during his birthday party, even though he was having a good time. He only invited a few friends who were true friends and not just wannabe mister or miss popularity. As usual, Tom was the DJ and the photographer of the event, but he also had time to flirt with pretty girls. Linda and Chris were there beside Dominic, but later they also hid in a darker corner and kissed eagerly, as only teenagers can do. Dom danced and tried to be a good host, but there was something missing and it seemed that only he had this problem.

 

Then his mother turned off all the lights and Athena brought in the cake she baked for her brother.

 

“Make a wish, darling,” Mrs. Howard nudged her son.

 

Dominic looked at the seventeen burning candles, each a symbol of his years. However, it seemed that one, the candle representing this last year, was the brightest: the blonde had a fantastic year – not counting a few bad incidents – he met Chris, Linda, Tom and Matt. They were people he wanted to have as friends even when there would be seventy candles on his cake, because he knew his years would be great.

 

In that moment he recognised why he felt that the party was imperfect: Matthew was not there and that caused his heart to feel hollow. Only later, as the storm of applause rang in the dark room did Dom realise that he snuffed out the candles thinking about Matthew. For a second in the perfect darkness, the blonde understood the complexity and depth of his feelings, until somebody turned on the lights and the sensation disappeared, as though it had never even been there…