Written from Canada/Matthew's point of veiw, and all the characters are in highschool. (I'm just to lazy to pick who should be teachers or not...)

DISCLAIMER: Obviously I don't own APH or the characters.

Count the Scars PART 1

I sighed quietly in the corner of the classroom, glancing at the clock. Five more minutes. Five more lonely minutes before the school day was over. I should have been paying attention since I'm failing science, but it doesn't really matter; it's not like I have any goals.

"Pssst! Hey, Matt!" a very familular voice whispered from the next table over. Alfred; the most idiotic and childish person you could ever meet.

I pulled one of my knees up to my chest, hugging it to my body as I tried to shrink more and more away from my social brother. "W-what do you want?" I whisper quietly, staring down at the closed text-book infront of me.

"Well, since mom and dad are out of town this weekend, I was thinking of throwing a huge party! Could you buy the snacks and stuff?" the blue-eyed twin replied, smiling pleadingly.

I closed my eyes; I had no logical reson to refuse his request. "Fine... But I don't want to get stuck cleaning every thing up afterward again, okay?"

Alfred smiled, nodding. Just then the bell rang and all the students rushed to gather their things and leave, all of them but me. I'd wait until every one was gone first. The room was chaotic as students chattered loudly, flocking together into their groups and piling out of the class. Even my science teacher left, not noticing that I was still in my seat. Just another ordinary day in my missreble life.

[LATER]

The swingset creaked just slightly at the sudden weight put on it. Funny, I've had such a small appetite lately that there was no doubt I lost several pounds... None the less, now was my only chance to relax before my home would be filled with abnoxious strangers and become party centeral for the next two days. How utterly annoying. It didn't matter to me how hot the evening air still was as I rolled up the sleeves to my favorite red sweater. Looking down at my left wrist, I ran my fingers over the many smooth pale scars. There's so many... To many to coun- my thoughts were interupted by the sound of the swing next to me creaking loudly and the sudden realisation that I wasn't alone on the formerly abandoned playground. I rushed to pull my sleaves back down when a large hand gripped my arm to stop me. It was quiet. So very quiet. I glanced at my company from the corner of my eye and flinched away from him once I regestered who he was.

"I-Ivan?" I stammered quietly, weakly pulling my arm from his grasp.

"Da. You're Matthew, right?" the silver-haird teen asked; all I could do was nod since no words came to mind.

When I didn't speak, he desided to continue. "Why did you do that to yourself?" he asked, his gentle words not hiding the cruelty that lased his voice.

I looked away from him, unable to stare into those violet eyes any longer. "I-it doesn't matter, Ivan. Please leave me a-alone." I mumbled and attempted a soft smile to prove I was okay; though any fool could tell I wasn't. He was so intimidating. He was so much taller than me, infinatly stronger than me, and I just couldn't get rid of the feeling in the pit of my stomache that he was dangerous. This Russian man scared me, but I still felt a tiny warmth through my body at the thought of some one acctually acknowledging my exsistance.

His lips curved down into a faint pout as he seemed to almost squint at me. I'd never seen any one make that face before, but it made me feel almost like he was disecting my personality, reasons, and motives. Ivan was analising me and I didn't like it. His next words only made me feel more uncomfortable. "You're a terrible liar, Matthew. And I won't leave until I know the trueth."

I stared down at the scars on my wrists. Some old, some new. "Why do you care?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"You don't know me..."

"Doesn't mean I can't get to know you. You're... intriguing."

It felt as though my heart froze when he said that last word. It wasn't a concerned, nice word as he had been using prior. No, the way he said it, 'intriguing', was dark and cold, it almost had a devious ring to it. It was like he had dark intentions; not ones to help me through my pain like he had previously made me beleive. I should have ran, away. Returned to the safety of my home where I could try to count these scars like I did every night. But I was to scared to move; it was a chore to breathe calmly. It didn't help that I could feel his dark smile burrowing into my head...

And I bring you yet another emo story; 'cept this one I'm planning to continue. I'll update when the inspiration hits to write another chapter, so I may do a few one-shots here and there as well. Thanks for reading this chapter and I hope you'll read the next one when I get around to making it! :)