Hello to all!
This is the first story of Memories of Tomorrow, a series I am starting. Really though, they can all be read as stand-alones.
As I mentioned in the prologue of this story, I am collecting OCs for the background characters of this story (mostly students) so if you have any, don't hold back and send me their profiles! The more interesting ones will hold bigger parts of course, but I don't think They'll appear in more than one story. So if you have a character you want them to interact with, tell me as well!
Who like a bit of brother hurt/comfort? I do!
Who likes America? I do!
Who likes Canada? I do!
Who owns Hetalia? I don't! *sobs in the corner*
Alfred F. Jones slowly rose from his mattress, cursing his pillow for not being sound proof. His poor unawake ears were too sensitive to deal with the racket the door bell produced, especially when it was so early in the morning. Too early. "I'm coming!" he groaned, quickly pulling on random grey shirt and jeans. Showing up at his doorstep almost completely naked wasn't exactly the peak of etiquette.
His first thought was to check his apartment for any compromising picture or object he would have to hide, only to remember it was empty save for a few cardboard boxes. Nothing was left unpacked but his mattress, his captain America shield pillow and his batman blanket. He seriously hoped his visitor wouldn't mind the emptiness. Then again, his visitor was probably very well aware of it.
There were very little people who visited Alfred, almost none. Sometimes, he got a visit from the owner to demand the rent or his neighbour would come to complain about the loud music… When he did have a proper visit, it was usually or work related, or the pizza delivery guy. This time around, since he couldn't remember ordering the heavenly Italian dish, he could only assume it had something to do with his new job and the whole moving out thing.
After tripping multiple times on boxes, the blond finally reached his door and opened it, revealing a brown haired woman with green eyes. Despite being eye candy, the woman wasn't the type Alfred enjoyed talking to at first glance. She wore a necktie, a waistcoat and a tight knee length skirt, all black apart from a white blouse. In her arms, she carried a bunch of folders and official looking papers… Everything seemed to indicate she was all too serious and stiff to live properly.
"You're Alfred F. Jones, right?" she asked.
"Yeah, you want to come in?" he suggested out of courtesy "I'm sorry I can't really prepare stuff to drink… or chairs. They're all packed. Actually, I'm also sorry for my appearance right now but I just woke up."
"It's okay." The woman shrugged "No one likes dressing well on Sundays. I don't like dressing up on any day, as a matter of fact. Those clothes are too stiff; it's a wonder how anyone can breathe in them."
"My thought exactly!" Alfred exclaimed, happy to see she wasn't a boring dull person after all.
"Oh well, I have to work later so I can't indulge in sweaters and pants." The woman sighed "Anyway, I'm Elizaveta Hedervary, I'll be in charge of all your legal problems while you work for the Dublin Beilshmidt High School. Don't worry, four years of getting the school out of all the shit in which the headmaster dumped it made me a pretty good lawyer." She laughed a little before regaining a serious expression "No, seriously, I swear that the next time I have to explain why the SPCA is suing us for cruel treatments towards a Walrus on campus to a judge, I'm killing Gilbert."
Lawyer? Wasn't the headmaster the one who was supposed to pick him up? Oh well, things didn't always go according to plan. On the other hand, his new workplace seemed to be a big mess… Alfred couldn't help but think he would enjoy that.
"So," Elizaveta continued "Need help to move your stuff?" She gestured towards the truck that waited for them on the road "Luckily, you live on the ground floor."
"Oh come on! I'm not gonna let a woman strain herself for me." he replied, flashing his gentleman grin.
However, the lawyer's reaction was quite different from what he expected. A small fire lit in her eyes and a smirk stretched itself on her face. "I'm not that weak!" she said as she rolled up her sleeves "Actually, maybe you should just relax and let nee-san do all the work. Wouldn't want to strain yourself."
Alfred pretended to be hurt "Dude! I'm a guy! There's no way you're stronger than me." he retorted. Alfred did have a lot of pride in his strength and he was quite right to. The blond man had always been more of the athlete than the intellectual and his hours spent running around trying to be a hero had made his body strong and healthy.
"Challenge accepted." Elizaveta declared, holding out her hand. "Unless, of course, you're a coward."
Immediately, Alfred reached out for her hand and shook it "Pffffff! Me? A coward? Try a hero." He grinned. He always loved the challenge.
The woman tied her wavy hair back in a ponytail and entered the apartment "Let's get to work then."
The new apartment was much wider than the previous, due to it being designed to house four people instead of one. One central room, which held the living room and the dining room was bordered by several doors; one lead to the bathroom, one to the main corridor, one to the kitchen and four to bedrooms.
"Here's your iced tea." Reluctantly said Alfred while holding out the bottle to the woman. He slumped next to her on the sofa, tired from a day of physical effort.
Elizaveta smiled at his childish pout "Don't be like that." She laughed "A loss is a loss; it's your fault for underestimating me! And anyway, the result is obvious. Not only did I load more boxes than you did, I also unloaded more." She playfully punched his arm, before breaking a small silence "Well, welcome home."
Alfred didn't know what to say to those words. How long had it been since the last time anyone had spoken them to him? Probably about six years.
But it felt good to hear them. They were like a hint of warmth in the cold harsh world that was their own and he could definitely get used to hearing them. Suddenly it hit him.
"Welcome Home"
Like, literally.
"OW!" he (in a very 'manly' way) screeched "Who the hell throws welcome mats in people's faces?"
"Stop that you two!" Elizaveta ordered, desperately trying to hold back a laugh "He's your new roommate, not a thief."
Alfred looked up to see two men, hands full of hockey equipments and books staring at him. The first one had messy blond hair and emerald green eyes, over which there were two caterpillars – ahem, bushy eyebrows. He wore a suit that for some reason or another really went well with his frown.
The second one was the exact copy of Alfred, with longer hair and a stray curl. He also wore the same kind of clothing; a red sweater and jeans. The resemblance was too obvious.
"Hey! I never noticed how much you two looked alike!" Elizaveta chirped "Probably because Matthew's presence is too weak compared to yours."
"Dude!" Alfred exclaimed "It would be so cool if we were brothers! I was adopted so I don't really know who my biological parents were…" He jumped off the sofa and held out his hand "Alfred F. Jones, nice to meet you!"
Alfred's look-alike smiled politely, shaking the hand "Unfortunately, my parents are my biological ones and I have no brother." He laughed a little "And anyway, the probability of such a coincidence is nonexistent. Though I'm sure it'll be helpful in the future to have a clone of myself… I'm Matthew Williams by the way."
"I have a feeling my life is about to become much more confusing than it already is…" sighed the other roommate, his English accent as thick as it could get "In any case, I hope we'll get along well, lad. I'm Arthur Kirkland. Luckily for you, our last roommate isn't here; that frog is a notorious pervert. And also, sorry for the mat. I mistook you for that bloody frenchy."
A phone suddenly rang, interrupting the introductions. Elizaveta took hers out of her pocket. "Wow… That's really creepy." She said, looking at her screen "I thought those 'speaking of the devil' moments only happened in novels. Anyway…" she pressed on the receive call button "Hey Francis, what's up? […] Nah, I'm helping out your new roommate. That jackass Gilbert ditched all his work on me again, slap him for me. […] Roderich? He probably got lost. The cemetery is pretty big after all. […] Kay, bye!" The woman sighed before turning to the others, ending the call with her thumb "Looks like I have to go, the cemetery is about to close and I can't miss paying my respects to grandpa Beilshmidt. Could you guys show him around?"
"Sure." Arthur shrugged.
"I can't really, sorry." Matthew apologized "I have to go see the owner of the ice rink nearby to make a deal for the school hockey team."
"Meh, it's fine." Alfred smiled "I doubt I'll need two people to tell me not to get lost."
"So, recap, There are two buildings: the school and the dorms." Alfred started as soon as he came back with Arthur to their apartment "For the dorms, first floor is the cafeteria, the lounge and the library for students, second floor is for the boys, third is for the girls and fourth is for the teachers. We get to have awesome apartment-like rooms while the students have simple rooms and shared bathrooms."
"That's right." Arthur nodded.
"As for the school, the ground floor has a gymnasium, a school supply shop, an exposition room and a stage. First floor is for the lockers, classes and the day-care, second are all the after school clubs, third has the school restaurant, fourth the headmaster's study and all the administration offices and crap, fifth has more random classes and sixth has all the labs and computer rooms." Alfred finished.
"Good, now you won't get lost." Congratulated Arthur. "What are you going to be teaching here? I'll try to find your assigned classroom."
"Don't worry about that," the blond dismissed "I'm hired to take care of all the little kids teachers don't have the time to take care of, I guess I'll be staying in the day-care."
A look of pity overtook the Englishman's face. He patted his new roommates shoulder "Good luck. These little runts are hard to keep an eye on."
Alfred was confused "The day-care is only for kids younger than ten! How many teachers have a kid or a sibling of that age? There can't be that many."
"Most teachers here are pretty young… the oldest must be thirty five." Arthur informed "Their kids are rarely older than four."
Alfred groaned, burying his head in the first pillow he could reach "What is wrong with this school? Where are all the old naggy teachers?"
Arthur let a small sad smile replace his usual frown "You accepted the job without knowing what kind of school this was? The Dublin Beilshmidt high school was created by the current headmaster's grandfather with only one goal; to help the outcasts of society live a normal life. Some people lose trust in others, others lose their families and friends and some are just plainly rejected because they are different… This school helps everyone get up; it accepts even the most corrupted souls with ease. Most move out once they found their place in society. To make it brief, all the people you'll encounter are overgrown kids who don't what to do with their lives. You included."
"In this case, I guess this is the perfect job for a hero like me!" Alfred laughed. "Anyway, what do you teach?"
"Literature." Arthur answered.
"Figures." Alfred sighed "I guess Mathew is a PE teacher, since he seems to be taking care of hockey, and Francis a French teacher, right?"
"Actually, no." Arthur corrected "Matthew teaches French, hockey is the after school club he coaches. Francis teaches… sexual education."
"Life here is bound to be interesting." Alfred noted.
On the other hand, Matthew was having a less good time. It was obvious Alfred thought nothing of their similarities, but Alfred had always been kept in the dark after all. He didn't know anything, nor what kind of parents he had nor what he did to Matthew.
Guilt and anger fought within the Canadian, how could he blame someone who wasn't even aware of the situation back home? He technically wasn't even related to the family!
But could Matthew simply forgive him an act like nothing bad ever happened? He was a kind soul by nature but there was limit to even the most forgiving minds, and that limit happened to be a whole neglected childhood.
Matthew took a deep breath, thinking he could focus on cooking as soon as he opened the door. Hopefully, it would take Alfred off his mind.
Click.
"Hey Mattie! Welcome home!" Alfred immediately greeted, jumping from the sofa to help him carry the groceries he had bought on his way back.
"No!" Matthew yanked his arm from Alfred's hand, by a simple reflex of repulsion. He quickly realized his rash mistake, guilt taking over from Alfred's hurt expression, and took it to himself to calm down "I – I just wanted to surprise you with tonight's welcome dinner. It won't do if you already see the ingredients, right? Hahaha…"
Yeah, that laugh was way too unnatural. He mentally concluded.
"Oh really?" Alfred grinned "Thanks bro!"
Matthew froze. Did he just say…? Nonsense. It was just a friendly nickname.
"… Yeah… Really," Matthew replied with as much enthusiasm as he could muster "You deserve one. Just go back to watching…" he craned his neck to see past Alfred and into the TV screen "… Adventure Time… And relax."
As soon as the path was finally free of Americans, Matthew headed to the kitchen.
He slowly took out the ingredients for the salty crepes he was preparing, glad for every second he could spend alone. However, this isolation quickly turned sour as he could hear his three roommates conversing in the living room. From their laughs and Arthur's tsundere shouts, it was obvious they were having fun… or at least more fun than they ever had with Matthew.
Jealousy was taking over him again.
It was exactly like the days when he was younger, when his father cherished his work more than his family and his mother fell in a frantic search for Alfred.
Matthew was a good kid; he was kind, generous and cheerful, everything his parents needed to keep standing during those moments of deep crisis. But when money finally made their way into their hand, what need did they have of a kid who could be taken care by teachers and a nanny? Matthew was too boring, too polite and not interesting enough.
And so began Matthew's transparent existence. Who cared about the kid who always did things right and never got into trouble? His shyness was too handicapping in a conversation to enjoy talking to him anyways.
Everything, everything was his fault. If he hadn't been born …
"Merde!" Matthew swore as he cut his finger instead of a tomato, accidentally pushing his glass of water over the counter.
Crash!
".. and then BOOM! We couldn't see anyth -" Alfred explained to Arthur, Francis or both, covering the sound of the glass shattering.
So naturally, no one heard Matthew's blunder. As usual. He could have gotten shot and they would only discover the corps when the smell of rotting flesh got to their nose, either that or when their stomachs complained.
He cleaned everything up, indifferent towards the cuts the many shards painted on his fingers. He would bandage them afterwards, by himself, like always.
"Dinner's ready!" he called a few hours later, placing a full plate on the table's four sides.
But once again, the television seemed more present them him.
"Dinner!" he repeated, straining his vocal cords.
Alfred turned around, his eyes widening in joy.
"Crepes? With tomato and cheese? I love these!" he chirped, reaching the table in a single stride. He took an enormous bite as soon as everyone was sitting and gulfed the whole thing down right after "Oh my God! You're a king at this Mattie!" he complimented, eyeing at a second serving with anime-like sparkles in his eyes.
"Glad you like it." Matthew smiled, saying the only words he would pronounce for the whole dinner.
Just as he guessed, eating was mostly a conversation between his roommates, himself excluded. Alfred's life was just so much more interesting than his, what could he possibly say to top all his adrenalin filled adventures? Talk about the time he rode a moose? Ridiculous.
No, what he could do was smile and nod and laugh to be a good audience. It was easy for him, especially with all the practice he'd had with his parents.
Francis and Arthur too were starting to forget him. Not that it was a brand new phenomenon in the brit's mind to omit Matthew from its memory. What really hurt was for Francis not to notice how bitter his eyes were, the Frenchman was practically born with a six sense to read people's heart and it was far from his habit to leave the hurt ones alone and licking their own wounds. Was Matthew just that invisible? Had he died and become a ghost without even noticing it?
Or had Alfred even stolen his friendship with his roommates?
Matthew stood up, picking up his empty plate.
"I'm really tired from preparing my classes. I think I'll head to bed now." He apologized.
"It's only nine!" Alfred whined "Stay with us a bit longer!"
"The school year starts tomorrow, Alfred." Matthew sighed "Wouldn't want my Canadian accent to slip in cause of sleep deprivation, eh?"
"Mon dieu," Francis smiled "Go to bed now. If those kids start mispronouncing my beautiful language I will butcher you and feed you to my birds."
Matthew let out a small laugh and shut himself in his room.
He quickly changed and collapsed on his bed. He hadn't lied, he really was tired. Negotiating for the hockey field and finding texts and books to study for every single grade was taxing on his usually stress-free mind… and with Alfred's arrival…
With the last bit of strength he had, Matthew set his alarm.
Then, he closed his eyes.
It had been long day.
Feedback? Comments? Anything?