Our papa and dad were sitting me and Alfred down on the couch, crouching in front of us with soft expressions.
"Now boys we need to have a talk. Matthew you're six this year and Alfred you're seven so I expect you to set an example and for both of you to listen like good boys." Dad began, glancing over at papa anxiously.
"Ah chéris, You have noticed that me and your dad have been fighting a lot recently oui?" Papa asked, to which both me and Alfred nodded.
"Well your dad is going to move out for a little while and Alfred, you'll be going with him. Me and you, Matthew will be staying here." He explained slowly before the room fell silent. Alfred was the first to break it, tears already pooling in his eyes.
"You can't do this, we're brothers! We have to stay together, how can I be Mattie's hero if I'm not around!"
"I know that, but we think it will be for the best. It's only for a little while and you can come and visit Mathieu whenever you want to." Papa tried to sooth him, reaching out to touch his cheek but Alfred slapped his hand away before turning and latching onto me.
"Now, now, Alfred don't make this harder then it needs to be." Dad said, reaching out to pull Alfred off of me but being stopped by papa.
"Why don't we let them say their goodbyes, I'll help you load the rest of Alfred's stuff into your car." Papa said, standing and walking from the room. Dad stood watching us for a moment before following after papa. My reaction came a little late but suddenly I was sobbing along with Alfred, clinging to him.
Eventually we cried ourselves out, still clinging to each other and emitting the odd sniffle, although the thought of not seeing Alfred daily still hurt. Alfred suddenly started wiggling about in my arms until he was free, crawling off to the bottom of the couch to grab his stuffed polar bear. He gave it a big squeeze before he pushed it onto my lap.
"H-Here, he'll protect you when I'm not here Mattie." Alfred said, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks as he hugged me again. Dad and papa walked back in, both giving us sad looks before dad finally spoke up.
"Okay Alfred, it's time to go." Alfred just peeked his head out from my shoulder to glare at our dad, his grip tightening around me and in turn mine tightened around him.
After a while of dad trying to convince Alfred to come quietly he eventually lost his temper, grabbing Alfred around the waist and hauling him over his shoulder. Alfred screamed the whole way to the car, kicking and trying to get free. I could only stand and watch from the doorway as my Alfie was taken away, eventually turning my face away and crying into papa's pant leg as the car pulled away. The last time I would see my brother.
I bolted upright in bed, my face was wet and my breathing ragged. I'd had that dream again, the one I could never even remember properly, it was already so fuzzy. I knew it was about my brother, from the time he had left, which was roughly 10 years ago now, I was 16. But I couldn't remember much at all from that time period in my life, I could barely even remember his face any more. It was sad. Papa didn't keep any photos, it made him sad remembering Arthur, so I didn't ask.
I sighed and leaned over to give my stuffed polar bear kumajiro, one of the only things I had left from my brother, a hug before sliding out of bed. I would have to hurry to keep from being late for school. So I grabbed the first clothes at the top of my drawer, which happened to be jeans, a shirt and my comfiest red hoodie, before I jogged down the stairs. I walked through the living room and into the kitchen where I found Papa, he was at the stove turning it on and getting out a frying pan.
"Morning Mathieu~ I'm making omelets for breakfast." He called way too cheerfully for this time in the morning.
"Morning papa, uh I'm not really hungry today. And anyway I'll be late if I don't leave now."
"Mathieu, you don't eat enough." He stated simply, but did not try to force me to stay. I grabbed my bag, throwing it over my shoulder before walking out the door and making my way to school.
It was a friday so when I arrived at school I had expected it to be quieter, half the school usually skipping the last day of the week, but I could barely get through the doors which were packed with chattering, giggling girls. I glanced around at the small handful of guys hanging around outside, not brave enough to try and get inside, and recognised one of the other shy guys from my class and shuffled over to him.
'Hey Kiku, know what's going on?' He turned and smiled politely, replying in a soft tone.
'Ah good morning Matthew, I hope you are well. From what I've overheard there is a new student -he's from America- and. Well. The girls seem pleased…'
'Think they're going to move anytime soon?' I questioned and continued when he shook his head. 'Well I'm not being late to class, excuse me.'
Wading through a crowd was not easy when you were a foot taller than them and as thin as a beanstalk, but once I got through the doors and crawled under someone's arm I managed to get my back to the wall. Now all I had to do was slowly shuffle my way around the edge of the room and I could get to class on time. Being tall also gave me a good view and it seemed that the schools whole female population was crammed in here, on the opposite side of the room was the school's elderly receptionist and a young man bent over the desk signing paperwork. Curiosity got the better of me and I paused for a moment to look, hunched over as he was I could tell he was tall, with a bedhead of sunshine coloured locks. He wore a Brown Leather jacket and a white T, with casual lowriding jeans.
I was about to continue my shuffle when he looked up and grinned, sending the whole room into a chaos of girls screeching. Perfect opportunity to escape, but I couldn't resist a peek. His face was all sharp angles and sun kissed skin, sparkling blue eyes and perfect white teeth. A models face almost if not for the funky crook to his nose. I now understood everyone's reaction, he was drool worthy and his grin told me he knew it.
Startled, I ducked my head and hurried around the corner of the room, finally free of the crowd. It was like he had looked right at me, and then I realised DUH! He probably was looking at I was the only guy in a room full of woman cooing over him. Wow, way to be inconspicuous Matthew. Now to hurry to class and avoid new guy forever.
My plan didn't really go so well, new guy decided he wanted to sit with me for lunch. I had sat in the far corner of the cafeteria with my packed lunch, not paying any attention as no one ever sat next to me, but then the chair was scraping across the floor next to me and he suddenly appeared. He was wearing spectacles, something I hadn't noticed earlier and they were speckled with rain.
'Hey there, mind if I sit?' He asked, shooting me that dazzling grin which only grew brighter when I shook my head. I couldn't help but stare, dazed, as he ruffled a hand through damp hair making it even wilder. Something in me just shivered.
'It ain't always gonna rain is it?' He quizzed, glancing over with an almost moody pout. He had a slight drawl to some of his words leading me to believe he was from the south which would explain his deep tan, but still main brain couldn't managed to form any actual words and I just stared, utterly dumbfounded. He stared back for a long uncomfortable moment before turning to dig his lunch out, but I could hear him chuckling.
Great. He thought I was some kind of idiot. Quickly turning away, I took some deep breaths and tried to compose myself a little. Maybe if I just didn't look at him it would be easier.
'H-Hi I'm m-mathew.' I mumbled before quickly taking a bit of my sandwich, the sooner I finished the sooner I could run away without seeming weird. I felt the weight of his gaze suddenly on me again, waiting for me to look up for a long moment before hurriedly replying.
'Oh um, Hey I'm Alfred… I just moved here with my dad cos he wants to be closer to his family, he's like, Brithish. But I'm American' He chattered away, emphasising that last part and needing no input from me to continue. 'Anyway yeah that sucks cos England sucks and Rain sucks and I can't do anything about it until I'm 18-'
'Wait!' I interrupted, looking up surprised before blushing heavily at my outburst. 'Oh um, you're not, um, 18?' Because he really looked it, stubble already heavily dusted his jaw and he just screamed confidence.
'Oh pfft, nope just 17 but yeah I know, I look old, the ladies love it.' He chucked, waggling his eyebrows in a way that looked so ridiculous I couldn't help but laugh softly.
Everything about him was just very disarming, he made you feel relaxed, every flash of that charming grin had you smiling back. Despite his somewhat… intimidating good-looking he was actually quite goofy. And one hell of a chatterbox. I found I didn't hurry to leave after I finished eating, in fact we were there chatting until the dinner ladies shuffled us out.
'So uh hey, which part of this tiny hell hole do you live anyway?' He asked, coming to a halt in the emptying corridors, I was going to be late.
'Oh um 24, Mill Lane.' I rattled off, awkwardly shuffling down the corridor trying to keep him moving.
'Oh snap, I live at 32. Bit of a trek since its a country road but hey, maybe I could walk you to school on Monday?' I froze in surprise and flushed, peeking up at him as he was just slightly taller.
'Yeah sure, I'd um… I'd like that.' I replied softly. His grin was blinding as we parted into our respective classrooms.