Sorry the beginning goes by a bit fast, I just really want to get to the interesting parts XD
My fists were clenched against my side. I looked over at Peter whose eyes were wide with fear. That just about broke my heart but I didn't let it show. Francis glared at me.
"Leave my brother out of this" I growl
Peter squeaks as Francis shoves him aside against a wall.
"I said leave my brother out of this" I growl again
Francis smiles smugly and flicks a lock of his golden hair out of his face.
"What are you going to do about it Kirkland?" Francis asks
Before I go any further let's let you all catch up. My name is Arthur Kirkland, I'm 17 and both my parents are dead. I'm stuck raising my little brother Peter practically on my own as my Aunt cares for her just about as much as you'd care for a speck of dust. Francis was a part of a gang of bullies who I happened to owe money to.
I was lucky they had sent Francis, he was the weakest of the group. The others were Antonio Fernandez Carriedo and Gilbert Beilschmidt.
Peter whimpered, I knew this was really scaring him.
"Now hand over the money" Francis says
I manage to edge over to Peter shielding Peter's body with my own just in case Francis got any ideas.
I reached into my pocket "This is all I hand right now"
Francis takes the bill and gives me a disgusted look "This is 20 dollars, you owe us 150"
"I'm sorry that's all I have right now" I reply
"Well it's not enough" Francis replies in a snobby tone
"I don't have anymore money!" I exclaim
"What did you use our money for in the first place?" Francis asks
"Food" I reply
"Don't your parents feed you?" Francis laughs
"My parents are dead!" I exclaim
Francis gives me a sad look and gives me 2 more weeks to get the money.
"Arthur please don't borrow money from them anymore" Peter says in a small voice
Peter and I had just been walking home from the park with Francis approached. Peter must have been terrified.
"Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you" I promise "You don't have to be scared"
"But I am scared" Peter replies his eyes watering "Your going to get us all hurt"
I squeeze Peter's hand and smile down at him "Don't worry"
Peter and I don't talk for the rest of the way home.
Our Aunt is sitting in the living room watching soap operas she doesn't ask me why I have a black eye or why Peter's clothes are all dirty. We both walk upstairs, I wipe off Peter's clothes and tell him to go get his pajamas on. I walk into the attic where my bedroom is and try as hard as I can to nurse my black eye. I get a lot of these, I was a "nerd" so I literally had every person at my High School bullying me.
The next morning I help Peter get ready for school and then go get ready myself.
"Arthur don't go to school" Peter says "They might hurt you there"
"I'll be safe" I promise "I'll stay near teachers"
Peter looks like he's going to cry "I just don't want you to get hurt!"
I hug him "I told you don't worry about them"
I sit on the bus trying to keep people from noticing my black eye. That was practically impossible but whatever. Last thing I needed was everyone knowing that the lame geek got beat up by Francis of all people.
I look out the window fantasizing over everything up until I notice something strange happening. The bus stops in front of a house it usually doesn't stop at and two boys I don't know get on.
One boy sits right behind me, I don't notice him as much other than a bit of movement in the corner of my eye. The other boy is pretty hard to miss as he sits right next to me.
"Hi, I'm Alfred F. Jones" the boy says "What's your name?"
"Arthur Kirkland" I reply
"Where'd ya get the shiner?" Alfred asks
"None of your buisness" I reply
"Why do ya talk like you're from England?" Alfred asks
"Because I'm originally from England" I sigh "You ask too many questions"
"Arthur is a boring name" Alfred says looking up
"So is Alfred" I counter
"Arthur always reminds me of that stupid kids show" Alfred says
"Why are you talking to me?" I ask
"Because you seem nice" Alfred replies looking slightly surprised "Why do you ask?"
"Nobody talks to me" I reply dully "Your good looking, you talk to me and your popularity will drop faster than if it was tied to a 500 pound weight falling off a cliff"
"Even your metaphors are weird" Alfred says scratching his head "I like you"
I looked out the window and did my best to ignore Alfred's oh so annoying questions.
Turns out Alfred was in every single one of my classes. And in every single one guess who sat next to me? If you guessed Alfred F. Jones then you'd be correct.
"Whats x+y=x^2?" Alfred asks "Are letters even supposed to be in math?"
"It's Algebra genius" I reply rolling my eyes
"You know I really am a genius" Alfred says smiling
"Says the boy who has no clue Algebra is" I mumble
Alfred slumps of his paper drawing Captain America symbols for the rest of class. The harder I try to ignore him the harder it is to do so.
"So do you have a brother or sister?" Alfred asks in English class
"Yes, I have a little brother named Peter, he's 12" I reply sighing
"I have a brother name Matthew" Alfred grins "He's a pain in the ass but I love him anyways, he's in our grade"
"Wonderful" I reply
"You're a real downer Artie" Alfred mutters
"My name is Arthur" I snap
"Artie is better" Alfred replies grinning in the most annoying way possible.