He collapsed onto a bench and flopped on his back. His entire body was tired and he didn't want to move. Lovino waited for Antonio to come bouncing out of the school; he even watched the doors for him, but he didn't hear that annoying voice grate on his ears. It occurred to him, after a while of waiting, that Antonio was out sick and wouldn't be able to give him a ride home. With much effort and cursing, Lovino reached into the bag beside the bench and pulled out his phone.

"Drag me home, you bastard."

"I'm in news club. Sorry, fratello. We're review cafes around the city. Ah! I can't talk. Ludwig will get mad."

He groaned, cursing his brother and his stupid club in one long breath. Lovino was too exhausted to get up and walk home. His house was only a few miles away and it wouldn't take too long to get there, but he was tired; and although the weather was nice, as soon as he started moving, the sun would bear down on him and make his uniform stifling. So he laid there, watching the sky through half closed eyes. It was almost peaceful to watch the clouds pass, and it soon made him sleepy. With such pleasant fall weather, he dozed in and out of wakefulness.

"Oi!" shouted a voice sharply.

"What?" he shouted back equally as sharp, annoyed to be disturbed.

The voice paused at this and changed tone to one with stiff authority. "You realize the school is closing."

"Yeah." Lovino didn't care much for that tone, and his voice showed it.

"Then, you know you can't stay here."

"Yeah."

Again, the voice paused and changed its tone, losing the authority for one of wary concern. "Do you have a car?"

"Nope."

"Is someone coming to get you?"

"Nope."

Silence followed his words and Lovino began to fall asleep again.

"Do you want a ride?"

Lovino opened his eyes and sat up. He didn't know anyone who would offer him a ride, and most people wouldn't dare approach him. He locked gazes with two vivid green eyes, not bothering to hide his shock. The student president was standing next to the bench, keys in hand, and a scowl on his face as if he'd been stopped in mid-step by the sight of Lovino napping on the bench. Lovino glanced around and realized it was later than he thought. The sun was slipping under the horizon and it would be dark soon. It was unlikely his brother would be coming and he didn't want to walk home at night.

Lovino looked at the President again and frowned. There wasn't much to the President. He was a moody, temperamental man who got to presidential status out of his ability to get things done and done well. Lovino didn't know much about the President (Hell, he barely remembered the guy's name), but Lovino did know one thing: The President never did anything for anyone out of the goodness of his heart. The President was all hard work and effort, and Lovino simply didn't go out of his way to socialize with people like that, because it was in his nature to be lazy.

"Why?"

The President's eyes narrowed. "It's rude to inquire one's reasons for offering you a favor."

His lip curled in disgust. Lovino hated when people reminded him of his surly personality. It wasn't like he wasn't aware of how he came off to people; Lovino made sure he came off that way. He wasn't born just to please other people with polite words and kindness. "I don't know if you've heard, but people tend to associate 'rude' and 'Lovino' in the same sentence."

"I've heard." The President regarded him with mildly amused expression that made Lovino's skin crawl with irritation. "Are you going to give me an answer or shall I withdraw my offer?"

"Should I get in the car of some bastard I don't know?"

"Do you have much of a choice? Unless, of course, you want to brave the streets at night." Arthur's mouth turned up in a sarcastic grimace and the grip on his keys tightened. Now, who was being the rude one?

"It wouldn't be the first time," he practically growled. "I'm more suspicious of someone I don't know offering me a ride."

The President gave him an annoyed look. "Honestly? Fine, if you really need a bloody reason, Antonio called and begged me to give you a ride if you were still here. He said you'd be out on this bench and I suppose he was right. I thought he was being ridiculous to think you'd still be here so late, but I guess I was wrong."

At the mention of Antonio, he looked at the President with a changed view. If that idiot would go through the trouble of calling the President, then Lovino could go through the trouble of accepting the ride.

"Cheh." Lovino stood up and grabbed his bag, walking away a few steps. When the President didn't follow, he looked back and frowned. "Well, are you coming?"

"Of course," the blond said sharply and quickly walked past him. His back was stiff with tension and he walked fast. Faster than Lovino liked.

Annoyed with the fast pace and interrupted nap, Lovino moodily trailed behind the President. He reminded himself with the reassurance that his house wasn't far and he wouldn't have to sit in the car too long with the grumpy man. The President unlocked the car and Lovino threw his stuff in the back seat, taking the front one for himself. The blond didn't say anything to him and started the car without so much as glancing at him. That was fine with Lovino, he didn't feel up to conversation.

"Where do you live?"

"Turn right at the first major intersection. Take the second left and look for Daisy Lane. The house with the red door," Lovino listed off mechanically, having repeated it far too many times for Antonio.

They sat in silence, both focused on their own thoughts. Lovino began to notice the cars passing them with much irritation. "You drive like an old man."

"I do not."

"I'm so sorry to inform you, Mr. President, but you do. Old people are passing us." He pointed at a geezer going around them.

"My name is Arthur, wanker," grumbled the blond, and continued at the same speed.

Lovino threw himself back in his seat with a loud huff, not caring if it was childish of him. "Fine, drive like you're eighty. I didn't want to get home before dark at all."

"If you wanted to get home before dark, you should have walked home!"

"Cheh! That's too much trouble!"

"Lazy git!"

"Bossy asshole!"

Silence fell again with a sort of lightness now that they'd gotten their opinions out in the open. Again, they focused on their own worlds of passenger and driver. It was Arthur that broke the quiet.

"You better tell Antonio I dropped you off. He was quite worried about you."

"Damn idiot. He should be resting, not bothering himself with me. I can find my own way home, dammit."

"I'm sure, but it seems he does have right to worry. I mean, considering he is your..."

"My what?" Irritation made his chest tight. "Despite common consensus, I am not in a relationship with Antonio. He's a fucking idiot and not my type. Too stupid."

That made Arthur laugh. "At least you have good taste."

"Cheh." He turned his face to the window. "It's not much about taste. I've known him long enough to know he's an idiot. Kind enough, but still an idiot."

"How long do you think that idiot will be sick?" asked Arthur in good humor.

"Least a week. Knowing him, he'll milk the hell out of this cold."

"He told me, he had mono."

"Cheh. I don't know who he got it from, but if he's going with that, it'll be two weeks."

"Well, with that said," Arthur turned at the intersection, "Would you like me to drive you in the evenings?"

He sighed. He had no ride home with Antonio sick, but Lovino didn't want to bother with the President. That would be troublesome to deal with. "Nah, I'll figure something out."

"Will you really?"

"Probably not," Lovino said with the honesty that came with being too apathetic to lie.

"I don't usually get out from school until late. Are you fine with waiting till then?"

"Don't care."

"Then it's settled. If you don't mind the wait, I'll take you home until Antonio is well." Arthur glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and Lovino pretended not to notice. "As student president, it's only natural to help a fellow student."

Lovino barely held back a scoff and looked out the window. The President thought too much of duty and responsibility, and Lovino could never understand why he worked himself up so much for other people. In this instance, Lovino supposed he should be thankful, because if Arthur didn't think it was his job to help other students, Lovino would be walking home in the dark (Or still asleep on that bench).

Arthur turned onto his street and Lovino reached behind his seat to pull his bag forward. They came to a stop in front of the only house with a bright red door and matching trim. He got out and shouldered his bag. Lovino went to shut the door, but hesitated. "Thanks...for the ride."

The blond smiled slightly. "You're welcome."

His nose scrunched up, the small bit of decorum leaving a bad taste in his mouth, and Lovino slammed the door shut. He hurried down his drive and to his porch. Lovino refused to glance back, knowing Arthur was still there and waiting.

Why doesn't he just leave? Lovino gripped the doorknob and ran into the door when it failed to give way. Cursing under his breath, Lovino realized it was locked and he had no key. "Fuck me. Just fuck me in the ass. Dammit, Feliciano!"

"Is everything alright?" Arthur called from the car.

"None of your fucking business. Drive away already!" He flipped the doormat. No key. He checked the top of the doorway. No key. It finally came back to him after checking the mat again, Feliciano had given the key to his friend after losing the damn thing almost every time he took it. Lovino sighed and turned away from the door, counting quietly. He wasn't going to lose his temper. This was easy to fix.

Lovino turned sharply and kicked the door, cursing when it hurt his foot.

With the small outburst of anger out of his system, he took a deep breath and dug through his bag for something—anything that might help him. Lovino didn't carry a key, because he never locked the door and there was usually a key around somewhere if the door was locked (Not to mention, he'd most likely lose the key in his bag).

"Are you locked out?" Arthur asked from behind him.

"Ah!" Lovino jumped and dropped his bag, scattering the contents across the porch. He sent a glare at Arthur, who took a step back in response, and bent to pick up the innards of his bag. "Yes. My idiot brother locked the door and took the key with him."

Arthur muttered an apology and helped him gather his things. "Don't you have a key?"

"If I did, do you think I'd still be out here?" Lovino shoved the papers back into his bag. Lost pencils from the bottom of his bag rolled around by his feet, and Arthur collected them quickly. He picked up a stolen library book and a small rod of metal fell from the pages, ringing like a bell as it clattered on the ground. Lovino immediately recognized the hooked piece metal, but Arthur picked it up before he could. "Give me that."

"This?" Arthur looked at the metal in confusion and Lovino snatched it from his grip.

"You just picked up half my key." Lovino looked for the wrench and found it in Arthur's other hand.

"Aha!" He let out a laugh of relief and took the two tools. Lovino knelt in front of the doorknob and pushed the tension wrench into the lock. He followed with the pick and pushed down all the pins with the quickness that came only with having done it many times before. There was a click as he turn the lock and opened the door.

"Did you—You did!" Arthur pointed an accusing finger at him. "How—Why do you have something like that!"

Lovino nearly laughed at Arthur's expression and stood up, slipping the picking tools into his blazer pocket. The law-abiding President looked caught somewhere between disgust and amazement, and he rubbed a hand over his mouth to keep from actually laughing. "Goodnight, Mr. Student President." He took his things from Arthur's hands and walked inside, closing the door on the still sputtering blond. Lovino hung up his blazer and dropped his bag on the couch.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, pausing to get his pack of cigarettes from his bag, and dialed Antonio. "Pick up, dammit..."

"Hola..." The voice over the phone grated roughly and quickly degraded into coughs.

"Wow, you sound like shit." Lovino leaned against the kitchen counter and turned on the stove. "I thought you were faking being sick."

"Nope. Not this time." Antonio laughed, but almost immediately broke into a fit of coughing.

"So, mono?"

"Yep. I got it from that girl the other day."

"The one whose brother is a drug dealer?" Lovino lit a cigarette off the stove, and put on a pot of leftovers from the fridge.

"Si. It's too bad." Antonio faded off for a moment, but he could hear the coughing in the back round. "Did you get home alright?"

"What were you think asking some goody-two-shoes to drive me? The guy's too...you know. I don't like 'em like that. Everything he says makes me want to punch him in the throat." Lovino went back into the living room and took his homework from his bag, throwing it on the kitchen table.

"I know, but Gilbert won't get anywhere near you since you broke his nose and you hate Francis... He was the only other person that doesn't know you well enough to say no, and he has that whole thing about being a gentleman." Antonio sighed. "I hope you didn't give him too much trouble."

"Nah, we just talked shit about you." Lovino balanced the phone against his shoulder, taking a big drag from his cigarette, and started on his math. "So, what did you offer him for driving me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't fuck around, Tonio. Arthur doesn't do shit for nobody without getting something out of the deal." He took another drag, tapping off some ash. "What'd you do to bribe our noble president?"

"Said I'd stop selling cigarettes."

"You don't sell cigarettes. I do." Lovino frowned at the numbers.

"I know."

It took him a moment and he started laughing. Antonio joined in, but stopped after another bout of coughing. "Alright, you get well, bastard. I don't like selling your stock along with mine, too much work."

"Yes, boss."

"Adios, pendejo."

"Ciao. Oh, and Lovino?"

"Yeah?"

"Be nice to Mr. President."

He laughed. "I make no promises." Lovino hung up and set his phone down, shaking his head. He enjoyed his cigarette, momentarily ignoring his work, and stirred the pot of leftover tomato sauce. He filled another pot with water and set it to boil. Lovino was in surprisingly good spirits, considering Antonio was out sick and he was stuck with the student president driving him home in the evenings. He shrugged off the feeling and returned to finishing his homework.

The hissing of boiling water reached his ears and he opened the cabinet where they kept the pasta, dumping what was left into the pot. Lovino moved his work from the table to the counter from where he could occasionally stir the pot. His cigarette began to burn his fingers and Lovino snubbed it out against the stone counter, quickly lighting up another. The math work was almost too easy. He threw it back into his bag and took out his essay. They were suppose to do editing on their work. Lovino scoffed and took out a pen, marking the minor mistakes in grammar and sentences that could be improved. Again, he ignored his work, and strained the pasta. He glanced at the clock, putting out his cigarette, and turned on the fan to take out the smoke.

From the front, he heard a car pull up and the front door opened. "Lovino, I'm home!"

"About damn time. You couldn't have left the door unlocked for me, could you." He put some pasta onto a plate and drowned it in sauce. "You fucking locked me out. Again."

"I'm sorry," another voice said, and Lovino immediately felt his mood take a turn for the worse. "I told him to lock it, because of robbers and such."

Lovino turned and glared at the tall blond invading his kitchen. He looked to Feliciano standing beside the brute, and his brother slunk behind his shield of German. "The only person that is going to break into this place is me, and that only happens when someone tells my brother to lock the fucking door."

"It's not safe to leave it unlocked." Ludwig frowned, blue eyes icy with impertinence.

"This isn't your house. Don't go changing things that are none of your business."

The blond stared at him coldly. "It smells like cigarettes in here."

Feliciano immediately spoke up, "I don't smell anything."

"That's right," he said slowly, barely restraining himself from giving Ludwig a matching nose with his brother. "Neither do I."

And just like that, Feliciano went off on a roll about how good the food smelled and tugged Ludwig to the kitchen table. Lovino didn't like to see his brother hanging all over such an Aryan know-it-all, but he was better than some of the other assholes that Feliciano could make friends with. He took his plate and essay out into the living room and gave Feliciano the kitchen. Unlike his views for his brother, Lovino was already friends with "bad" people and felt no need to surround himself with "good" people when it was a little too late. In fact, the only reason he even allowed the damn German into his house was because he had good grades and God knew how badly Feliciano need that kick in the ass to do his work.

"Hey, brother, where's Antonio?" Feliciano bounced out of the kitchen.

"Out sick, remember? That's why I wanted you to take me home, idiot."

"Oh, that's right! Did you walk home?"

"No, I got a ride."

"That's good. I'm sure Gilbert won't mind an extra person in the car in the mornings."

Lovino bit his tongue to keep from saying anything. In truth, Gilbert would mind very much if there was an extra person in his car, especially if it was Lovino. Ever since he punched Gilbert for being his usual self, they hadn't exactly been on the best of terms. Which would be if fine if they didn't have any the same friends, but no. Almost all of Gilbert's friends were people Lovino had to interact with, and in turn indirectly interact with Gilbert.

With that thought in mind, Lovino ignored his brother's chatter and focused on his essay.

Tell me what ya'll think. I'm not far into the story, but I figured I should at least give ya'll a taste and see if I should continue before I get too far into it.

-Windy