The sharp wind whipped Matthew's hair around his head but it didn't bother him. He closed his eyes as the tears fell. He swiped a sleeve across his face and opened his eyes again looking up to the dark sky. He looked back down at the space beneath him. 200 feet below the passing cars looked minuscule, little lights that flew past, blurring with the tears that had formed again.

Matthew let out an exasperated sigh before resuming his pacing once more. His brain brought him back to Alfred. What would he do if he went through with this? Arthur wouldn't even be the same, let alone Alfred. Then his mind became the cruel thing it really was; Alfred pushing him aside harshly to get to something, Alfred laughing at him, Alfred forgetting about him. Alfred didn't care about him. No one cared about him.

That's it. Matthew knew what he had to do now. He stepped up to the edge and looked down once more. The only thing he could think of right now was the bother he would be to the people walking below. He hated being a bother but at least this way someone would notice him.  He would finally be the one who was the issue, not the one who was being walked all over.

'Shit, it's high…' Matthew whispered to himself. He inched his feet forward so the white tips of his favourite red Converse hung over the edge.  'Goodbye Alfred, goodbye Arthur, goodbye Francis…' Matthew said closing his eyes, prepared to let gravity take effect.

'STOP!' a voice yelled from behind him. Matthew's eyes flew open with a gasp. He flung his arms out causing his already precarious balance to be thrown off even more. He wobbled dangerously, his weight pulling him down to the dark street. His shoes slipped on the marble ledge and then he was falling.

The feeling was strange. He felt heavy but weightless all at the same time but it all ended when a strong arm yanked him back to reality. 'I hate to break it to you buddy but you're not a bird.' Matthew looked up and all he saw was scarlet.

'No… I'm not…' Matthew responded stunned. He felt his weight being pulled up and back onto the safety of the ledge. He lay there for a moment before looking at the man who had saved him from what he wanted most. He was odd to say the least. His skin was pale white and his hair glowed from the surrounding city lights. His clothes contrasted sharply with his features, black on white. His voice was accented with something that rung a bell as German in Matthew's head. But the eyes were what Matthew locked onto.  They were red, unlike any red Matthew had ever seen before. They stared into Matthew and stole his breath away.

'That was a close one,' the man said ruffling his hair. Matthew snapped out of his daze with the voice.  Matthew frowned. He had made his decision and he wouldn't back down just because some albino punk German tried to stop him.

Matthew stood quickly and strode to the edge again. 'Go away. I'm not worth your time.' A rough hand ensnared his wrist.

'This is not an awesome way to die. Why would you do this?' His heavy voice softened bit.

'I already told you, I'm not worth it. Everyone forgets about me. You will too if you just leave me alone.'

'The Awesome me would never forget someone like you. I'm Gilbert, what's your name?'

Matthew twitched at the use of the word awesome again. Why did this man use it so much? Matthew knew the truth. He was forgettable. This man didn't know that. Nevertheless Matthew turned his head back slightly. 'My name is Matthew,' he said quietly.

'Well Matthew what brings you up to this tall building this time of night?' Gilbert asked letting go of Matthew's wrist and sitting on the edge, feet dangling over and lighting up a cigarette. Matthew stared down at him. Did this man just try to make casual conversation with him as he stood about to jump off a building?

'It's not a what but a who. Someone who broke my heart,' Matthew sighed. Why he was telling this to a complete stranger he had no idea but as long as he had attention he might as well take advantage of it.

'Well whoever they were, they were an idiot who missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime.'

Matthew laughed bitterly. 'You have no idea what you're talking about. Francis knew what he was getting into and knew what he was getting rid of. Now I'm on a one way trip to nothingtown, just an invisible idiot with a polar bear.' He leaned down and snagged the cigarette that was hanging from the albino's lips for a puff.

Gilbert blinked as he lost his nicotine kick. 'Fair enough, I don't know what I'm talking about but why this way?'

'This way is quick and I have no courage to do it any other way,' Matthew sighed miserably.  Gilbert snatched the cigarette back and took a long, drawn out puff; watching it disappear into the dark night.

'So falling 200 feet and waiting to hit the ground is quick and uncourageous? Also I believe you're not a coward.'

'Why do you say that?'

'You have been talking to me, a completely odd stranger, and you just told me you were gay. To tell that much to a stranger means you're either crazy or crazily confident.' Gilbert glanced over at Matthew again. 'It takes guts to tell anyone you're gay and it takes guts to tell the person who stopped you from the one thing you really want to do at the moment.'

Matthew blinked, digesting the words he heard. 'Even if I'm not a coward then I still quit.'

'Only cowards quit.' Gilbert threw his cigarette butt off the building and watched the small glow fall to some unsuspecting victim. He stood up and dusted off his pants. 'Well Matthew I think it's time for me to go. It was a pleasure talking to you and despite what you say, I will remember you. I hope we meet again someday.' With that Gilbert walked back into the darkness, leaving Matthew standing on the edge, stunned.

Matthew took one last look down at the ground before turning around and walking back to his life.
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Matthew walked into the music store, in desperate need of some new music. Little did he know that his life would change yet again from those red eyes.

'Hey Birdie, long time no see!'

'Birdie?'