Welcome, one and all! I am Bookie, and this is my Hetalia fanfiction with my OC, Melina. Please enjoy!
I sprinted through the forest, ignoring the low-hanging pine branches that whipped at my face and arms without mercy. A small bag with only a change of clothes, my iPod Touch, a Swiss army knife, and the $87 dollars I'd saved up I clutched desperately in one hand. I could hear Martin, my father, screaming at me from the house as I ran.
"I'll get you, Melina! You can't hide forever! I will find you!"
I ignored his threats and pumped my legs even faster. My cheek hurt from where he'd slapped me, as did my shoulder where he'd cut me with a kitchen knife. It only bled a little, but the stain on my shirt and hoodie would be irremovable, not to mention the rips in the fabric.
A short bark, more like a yip, made me pause and look behind me. Zip, my blond Pomeranian, came racing after me, unwilling to be left behind. I smiled and scooped him up in both arms, planting a quick kiss on the top of his head before continuing on with my mad dash to nowhere. Anywhere as better than where he was.
I stopped after some time, setting Zip down and falling to my knees, panting hard. My legs slid out from under me and made an "M", my hands curled into fists on my thighs. Zip put his front paws on my hands and licked my arm comfortingly.
Grinning, I swept him up into a hug. "We did it, boy. We finally got away," I breathed into the back of his neck. Zip tried to lick my shoulder wound, but I set him down quickly. "No, boy. I'll take care of it."
After slipping my hoodie and shirt off (hey, no one was around to see me), I took a look at the gash. It was maybe two inches long, thin, and bleeding a bit more than I was comfortable with. Cursing Martin, I used my knife to cut a strip off the hem of my dark green T-shirt. Wrapping the makeshift bandage under my armpit and over the cut, as well as tying it off with my teeth and one hand, proved to not be too difficult.
When I was finished I put my clothing back on and stood, shaky from fatigue at first. Zip came back from relieving himself and nudged my pack with his nose.
"Right, let's not forget this," I said, picking it up by one strap and slinging it over my good shoulder. He followed me into town, where we got on a bus and rode to the next town over.
For the next three days that's what we did, going from town to city until I felt like I could breathe freely. I knew Martin would make good on his threat, by there was no way I'd make it easy for him. During those three days, I bought Ace bandages, cut my long gold/red/brown hair into a short boy's cut, and practiced imitating a teenage boy's voice to complete the disguise. I didn't want to be easily recognized if he came after me, right?
It was on day four of "My Great Adventure" (note the sarcasm) that I noticed the looks I was receiving from people, like they were about to call child services on me. Trying not to panic, I stopped a couple girls on a street corner who were wearing matching school uniforms and asked them what school they were from.
"Why, do you want to enroll?" the busty one with short gray-blond hair and a headband inquired.
"Yes," I answered. "That is, if they have a scholarship program, because I'm tight on funds. Well, my family is, I mean."
"We go to Gakuen High, and there is a program like that. It's two blocks that way," she said, pointing me in the right direction.
"Thanks a lot!" I said gratefully before going that way.
Why would I want to enroll in some private school or whatever? So I could claim to have a place to stay, for starters. Food, shelter, showers, other kids my age, even education! I could enroll as a boy and keep my identity a secret while hiding from Martin. Maybe I could even find a part-time job and earn money for my own place...
I was so lost in my thoughts that I nearly went right past the gates of what could only be Gakuen. It was big, ornate, and the buildings on the campus looked more like a fancy college than a school for teenagers. Hesitantly, I went through the gates and wandered in the direction I hoped the main office was in. After searching hopelessly with no results, I saw two boys about my age arguing with each other and strolled over, my bag on my good shoulder and Zip sleeping inside. They didn't notice I was there as I walked closer.
"... don't care how good of an idea you think it is! There is no such thing as an engine that can run on "pure awesomeness"! You've been hanging out with that Gilbert bloke a bit too much lately," the shorter blond with green eyes like mine and very bushy eyebrows shouted, clearly fed up, in a British-accented voice.
The taller on me wih sky-blue eyes, glasses, a cowlick that stood straight up where his light brown hair parted, and a muscular build crossed his arms over his brown jacket. "How do you know? Have you ever even looked into it? Awesomeness could save the world someday, and when it does you'll have to admit I was right and you were wrong." He looked confident, and I suppressed a small laugh. Did he really think that would work?
The British boy looked pissed, but gained control of his emotions. "Fine, but I'll only say that if this... "awesome engine"... actually saves the world."
"Works for me, bro."
"I've got a question?" I said to gain their attention, and they both turned towards me. The blue-eyed boy stuffed his hands in his pants pockets while the green-eyed boy balled his fists at his sides like he was resisting the urge to strangle his friend.
"Oh hey, dude. What's your question?"
I resisted the urge to blush; they both were insanely good-looking. No, Melina, no blushing. You're Malcolm now, and he doesn't blush when cute boys talk to him. "Can you tell me where the main office is?"
"Sure thing, dude!" The boy with glasses launched into a series of directions that I just couldn't follow, and question marks floated above my head.
"You git, you completely lost him," the British boy said harshly before turning to me with a kinder expression. "My name is Arthur, and this is Alfred. How about we just show you the way instead?"
I nodded. "Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'm Malcolm, by the way."
We started talking together, just random stuff to get to know each other. I found out that Arthur was a whiz at literature, a horrible cook, and believed that magical creatures exist. Alfred loved hamburgers and was obsessed with being the hero (hence the "world-saving energy source").
"You know, dude, you kinds look like a girl," Alfred commented tactlessly.
"You moron, be nice!" Arthur chastised, smacking him on the back of the head.
I laughed and shook my head. "No, it's fine. I get that a lot, no worries." 'Please buy it!'
My pack started to quiver, and I put a hand on it to calm Zip down. He wouldn't settle, and Al and Arthur gave me odd looks. Groaning and my misfortune, I flipped the top down and Zip's head shot out. He was panting hard, gasping for air.
I smacked my forehead in exasperation. "I forgot to leave the top down! Sorry, boy." I scratched him behind the ears, but froze when I remembered Al and Arthur.
"Um, this is Zip," I said, turning and showing them my dog.
Alfred got a squee face and begged me to let him hold Zip. "Uh, sure," I replied, and Zip was lifted out of the bag and held in Alfred's arms while being petted lovingly.
"You do know pets are allowed here, right?" Arthur asked as he held a hand out for Zip to smell.
I blinked at him, and then sighed in relief. "That's good to know."
"You brought a dog here without knowing the rules?" he asked incredulously.
"Dude, that's so awesome! Screw rules!" Al cheered, and we high-fived, both of us laughing.
"Yeah, sorry. Zip goes everywhere with me," I explained.
Arthur stopped walking, announcing "We're here." A set of double doors stood by us, ornate and polished oak. Al gave Zip one last squeeze and gave him back to me.
"Thanks a lot, guys. Maybe I'll see you around?" I said hopefully.
"Yeah, dude! Definitely!" Alfred said as he flashed a heroic thumbs-up and a grin to match.
"I look forward to it," Arthur said, ever the gentleman.
They left me to go in, waving as they rounded the corner. I waved back and turned to the doors, rolling my shoulders. Putting a hand on the left door, I wondered if I actually knew what I was doing and hoped that whatever madness was driving me to do this would stay until I couldn't back out. 'I must be out of my mind' I thought before I pushed the door open.
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