Francis scrubbed the table vigorously. His mind was all over the place.
"Hey. Look, the table's starting to squeak. If you don't stop that scrubbing, you're going to wear a whole right through that table."
That jolted him awake. He took a good look at the glass coffee table. True enough, it had become so clean that his very own image was reflected off the table.
Arthur snorted, " I didn't know you were so passionate about cleaning tables."
Francis was your average 18-year-old high school kid. At his multi national school, there were all sorts of students out and about. Arthur Kirkland was one of his closest friends. (Other than the Spaniard and Prussian) It was odd that they would end up as friends after years of rivalry. But as the years progressed, it was only natural that maturity had taken its toll, and both teens no longer sought the desire to kill the other.
Of course at such a becoming age, romance was also a necessity in their lives. Arthur, with his thick eyebrows and sarcastic remarks, had managed to get things together with the school's notorious American boy whose name went by Alfred Jones. Francis, on the other hand, hadn't struck lucky yet. But he wasn't worried about that; he still had time.
And of course, there were the part time jobs every teen had to get. Not because they were forced to – no. Neither was it because they wanted to support their family. It was merely because there were some things in life that they've always wanted, but their parents just wouldn't get it for them. Thus Francis and Arthur had become waiters in a little café – though they were also told to do the cleaning and closing of the shop everyday.
"What's eating you? You've been out of it all day today. Even I don't get that delusional when I think about Alfred!" Arthur scoffed, a light blush dusting his cheeks as he mentioned his lover's name.
"Do you think Gil's been acting all… I don't know… strange lately?" Francis asked, turning to look at Arthur.
"Huh? You mean that idiot of a Prussian? He seems the same to me. You know, arrogant, annoying… arrogant."
"You said arrogant twice. How about 'Toni?"
"That daft Spaniard's gotten twice as air headed as he once was! The other day I asked him to pass me a pen. Of all things he could have passed me, he passed me a stapler."
"Maybe he was daydreaming?"
"When is he never?"
That was not the answer Francis had been looking for. True that 'Toni was a bit of a dimwit, and Gil did have quite an ego, but that never bothered him. It just seemed to Francis that 'Toni and Gil had been arguing quite a lot and this was quite rare an occasion. After all, it took quite a lot to actually get 'Toni that fired up. And Gil was rarely mean to 'Toni on purpose. Perhaps it was his imagination.
"Well I'm done with washing up. I'm throwing in the towels for tonight. Still have lots to study for tomorrow's chemistry paper too." Francis said, as he rinsed the cloth he'd been using and hung it on a rack in the kitchen.
"Yeah ok. You go ahead first. I'll do the final checks. After all, chemistry is a piece of cake. It'll take a real twit to fail chemistry!" Arthur called after Francis as Francis left the café through the backdoors.
"Ugh. That chemistry paper was a killer!" Antonio whined, " I'm definitely going to fail that one."
"That's because you're real stupid 'Toni," Gilbert laughed.
Antonio cringed at that remark and he looked crestfallen to receive such a remark from one of his closest friend. Upon seeing this, Francis jumped to his friend's defense.
"Well your grades have never been better than 'Toni's, I don't think you've got any right to say that Gil." Francis said dryly.
"But he knows he's not smart. Right 'Toni?" Gilbert said, looking at Antonio.
Antonio looked irritated but kept quiet, he certainly didn't want to hear anything demoralizing from Gilbert, plus he didn't want to start another row with the feisty Prussian. Antonio just shrugged and looked away.
Francis sighed. Gilbert was being a real pain and his insults were always over the top. He threw a death glare at Gilbert.
"What? It's tr-" Gilbert snapped.
"Hey guys? I just remembered that Kiku wanted my help with school papers today, so I'll be going over to the Student Press room." Antonio suddenly interrupted. He then veered off from them abruptly and headed in another direction before Francis or Gilbert had a chance to reply.
"They want his help? Well that's hard to understand." Gilbert said. He looked quizzically at Francis as 'Toni disappeared round the corridor.
"Hey, what's gotten into you? You're suddenly meaner than ever. What's all this about?" Francis snapped at Gilbert.
"At least I don't look like a fucking princess with golden locks tumbling past my shoulders!" Gilbert retorted before he walked off in a huff.
Something definitely wasn't right.
"Are you even listening to me? OI. Arttie!" Francis puffed. He knew Arthur could go galloping into his own world of unicorns and goodness knows what any time and anywhere, but he's been especially dreamy today.
"Yeah yeah. I heard every word of it. Here are two things I want you to know: One, what you told me, well, it sounds like something Gilbert would normally do. I don't exactly see anything so strange – as you put it – about the situation. And two, do not call me Arttie! Now, who gave you the permission to call me such a revolting name?" Arthur said, jolting out of his reverie.
"It's a crisis I tell you! I mean, that's not exactly normal for Gil."
"Yes it is. I just told you it is. He's like that."
"Are you even listening to what I said?"
"Well are you listening to what I said? I said it was something Gilbert would normally do."
"And I'm saying it's not."
"Okay, I get it. Relax. Maybe something's up with his family? Family matters? Or maybe he's just going through some kind of Prussian phase." Arthur said, gesturing with his hands and attempting to sweep the floor at the same time.
Francis watched Arthur in dismay. Surely his friend could offer some kind of better advice? This wasn't exactly what he hoped Arthur would say.
"Ok. I've got a plan. I'll get them over to have a sleepover at my house this weekend. My parents are currently out of town, you see. Maybe when he's away from his family, it'll help Gil cool off. Plus, maybe we can settle things better when it's the three of us alone at my house." Francis said, mentally congratulating himself for his smarts.
"Pfft. I said maybe Gilbert had family matters. That doesn't mean he has. Plus, the way you said it just now, it made you sound like some kind of certified pervert. Also, I always thought that having a sleepover was a feminine thing. But I guess it's worth a shot."
Francis smiled. Yes, this just might work.
Or not.
It was lunch hour and they were all gathered at the school cafeteria. Francis had been trying to introduce his idea for the past hour, but every time he opened his mouth, Gilbert always interrupted him. He grew irritable. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea. He didn't like to imagine what the weekend would be like with Gilbert rambling on and on about his awesome skills at making mashed potato or something along those lines.
"Can I say something?" Francis interjected, raising his voice slightly above his norm.
Both Antonio and Gilbert looked at him expectantly. Antonio looked genuinely curious, a small smile on his face. Gilbert looked slightly irritated, but listened all the same.
"I've been thinking. Would you guys like to have a sleepover at my house this weekend? My parents are out of town and we have the whole house to ourselves. We can watch movies till the sun rises or read or I don't know, eat or something. Gil can even show us his "awesome" skills at mashed potatoes," Francis offered enthusiastically.
"It'll be fun?" Francis added feebly when neither Antonio nor Gilbert said anything.
"I think it woul-" Antonio said when Gilbert cut him short.
"I do NOT want to sleep with this fag." Gilbert snorted, looking at Antonio.
Then Antonio blew over.
"You're quick to label me like that! Plus France didn't say we were going to share the same bed, genius!" Antonio snapped at Gilbert.
"Neither did I! I don't even want to be sleeping under the same roof as you!" Gilbert retorted.
"You're a jerk, Gil! Your… Your… Your pants are unzipped!" Antonio floundered pathetically as he fished for an insult.
Hanging his head dejectedly, Spain pushed back his chair and walked off. As he made his way out of the canteen, a certain Italian walked up to him. The Italian was none other than Lovino Vargas. Lovino was well known for his sharp tongue and his rude attitude, yet for some reason, Antonio and Lovino got along well. As both Lovino and Antonio left the cafeteria, Gilbert let out an irritated huff.
"That whiny bitch is always clinging to our 'Toni." Gilbert snarled.
Francis blinked. It certainly was a change in attitude. Somehow, Gilbert didn't look as triumphant as Francis had imagined him to be.
"Well if you treated 'Toni better, I don't see why 'Toni would always be around little Lovino." Francis replied ruefully as the bell rang, signaling the end of their break. " Come on, we have Literature class next."
A/N: This will probably come in three installments. I know Francis is really out of character, but I believe there's a part in France who's more logical then everyone else. Well I hope you've enjoyed it so far. (: The character involved, I placed it under Prussia and Spain. Though it's through France's eyes, I guess the main thing about this story is the way Prussia treats Spain. And perhaps a bit of France's life and stuff. (: R&R please (: Constructive comments are appreciated! ^^
Hetalia © Hidekaz Himaruya
