"Gentle Rain"

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers or any of it's characters.

Chapter 1:

WHAM!

The doors of Biology Lab 301 shook on their hinges as they creaked shut. Arthur, shoulder heavy with his schoolbag, ran as fast as he could down the hallway, down the stairwell, and out to the entrance hall. Arthur pushed open the heavy glass doors of the Gean Gaussman Science & Statistics Building and out to the concrete steps. Tears dripped on his favorite jacket as he bounded down the steps, right into...

"Oof!...Hey! Watch where your-" a female's voice paused before an extended hand came to assist Arthur up.

"Arthur! Hey, what's up? Why are you crying?" the young woman asked, the obvious annoyance in her voice replaced by concern, as she pulled the Briton to his feet.

"Hey, Jane... It's nothing really. I...I just..." Arthur sniffed back sobs as he spoke, " found out that I'm a single man again.". Arthur feigned a tear-soaked smile.

"Oh...I'm so sorry to hear that, Arthur." Jane replied slight shock strewn on her facial features. The brunette girl proceeded to wrap Arthur in a warm hug as he allowed his tears to soak into her blazer. Jane had remembered Arthur and his partner having a few minor issues here and there, but never had she thought it would end like this.

"So, what are you doing here, Jane?" Arthur asked.

"I was headed to the Social Sciences building." she said, clearly uninterested in the question.

"When did this happen? How did he break it to you?" Jane gently inquired, steering the conversation back to Arthur's predicament. Arthur exhaled.

Sniff..."He...te-texted me while I was in class just now. I just couldn't stand to be in there with this on my mind."

"That cowardly prick..." Jane grumbled. "If he wanted to breakup with you, he should have been a man and said it to you in person, not texting you while your in class!"

Arthur broke into fresh sobs, causing Jane to frantically attempt to change the subject. "Hey, Arthur. I know it hurts right now, but this may actually be a blessing in disguise. This can be good for you in the long run! You deserve better, do you hear me? You deserve a boyfriend that will treat you better than that! Now c'mon, I'm treating you to coffee and your not backing out!"

With that, Jane grabbed Arthur by the arm and began half-dragging him toward the Metro-Rail station near the Eastern University campus.

Arthur looked out the carriage window and watched as various busy streets whizzed by. It had been just over a year since he left his homeland for America. Arthur Kirkland decided to attend Eastern University in the United States because he had always wanted to see life beyond his average British upbringing in London, alongside his brothers and sisters. His siblings always had excelled in various talents, unlike himself. Therefore, he chose to be the first in his family to attend school abroad, despite it being the single-most nerve-wracking thing he had ever undertaken. In his freshman year mathematics course he meet Jane Mellows. After talking about various academic pursuits, he and Jane became close friends, to the point that Arthur confessed to Jane that he was gay.

Arthur peered up at the sky above and mentally groaned. "Clouds are rolling in from the west. Maybe it will rain tonight!" said Jane enthusiastically. Arthur shuddered at the thought. Ever since he could remember, the showers in England had always terrified him, especially if they produced severe thunder and lightning. Later, he found out that he suffers from astraphobia, or a fear of thunderstorms.

"I pray we don't get a damn storm this evening. I have enough to deal with right now." Arthur's frowned became more pronounced.

"To me, rain symbolizes new beginnings. A washing away of the old and a growth of the new. A gentle rain is the best example of this." said Jane. Arthur huffed.

"All my life, rain has symbolized terror and depression. Nothing positive at all." he replied. Jane sighed. She knew he harbored an apparent phobia of anything other than sunshine, but she never gives up on trying to get him to see that not all storms are something to be afraid of.

"Oh, you only say that because your still upset."

"Why, yes, actually. I just had my heart broken! You make it sound like my pain will bloody vanish in a flash!" he felt the tears begin to well up in his eyes again, causing Jane to sigh once more. "Arthur can be such a bitchy gay man sometimes..."

"You know I didn't mean it like that." Jane replied. "Besides, I'm treating you to coffee and some snacks when we arrive in downtown so be grateful!" she said happily, causing Arthur to look at her in shock "YOUR DRAGGING ME WITH YOU! I HAD NO CHOICE! YOU ESSENTIALLY COMMITTED A KIDNAPPING!"

"I don't know...you look a little old to be a kid...". She said with apparent doubt in her voice.

Another twenty minutes later, the duo found themselves surrounded by the tall concrete buildings, the taxi cabs, and the fancy restaurants of the Downtown District. Arthur and Jane walked another two and three-quarter blocks east of the Metro-Rail station until they happened upon an Italian coffee shop. Over the arched glass doors read a sign with a rather simplistic name: "Downtown Café & Pizzeria."

"I still think they could have been more creative naming the place." Arthur grumbled as he held the door for Jane like a proper gentleman should for a lady.

"Why do you complain all the time? I know you enjoy coming here so just the hell chill out!" Jane retorted.

Arthur settled into a booth nearby as Jane walked up to the barista to place their orders.

"Bollocks...looks like I will have to apologize to the professor for leaving class so abruptly." Arthur sighed.

"Hey, Arthur! I ordered your usual with extra whip cream and in the biggest size they have. Do you want some biscotti?" she chirped with glee. Arthur nodded nonchalantly, as he began unpacking his biology textbook so he could study for his lab practicals next class period.

"Your going to make me fat." Arthur retorted.

"More cushin' for tha pushin'!"

"...what did you just say?"

"NOTHING!"