by ~MasterofDice
France was my BEST FRIEND compared to everyone else. He had nice light-blonde hair that reached his shoulders in shiny waves that looked very handsome on him. My friend also had pretty purple irises that made all the girls cry out in joy if they happened to look at one of them. Most of the time he acted as if nothing really mattered, that he was "too cool" for life to handle. Sure he was the kind of person to try making my life as miserable as possible but best friend's don't hurt their best friend in return. So I lived through my handsome best friend's nasty comments and whatever else he said about girls being more important although I looked like one. Such a sweet person to be around…
In fact, I was sitting with him on a grassy hillside under a big oak tree. His hair was tied back in a small ponytail, slightly drifting in the warm summer breeze. I couldn't stop grinning from being in France's presence for he rarely stayed long enough to call it a visit. Occasionally I'd tug at the lapels of my brown boots before looking back up at my best friend to see if he was in the mood for talking. Last time I spoke "out of turn," he grabbed my bright-blue bow that held my cloak on my shoulders and pulled me right up to his face and said some naughty words. Naturally I scolded him for that before hugging my knees against my chest hoping he wouldn't yell like that ever again. So we sat here on this sunny day in silence.
On days like these, France usually said something about me that should make me feel upset. The fact that I had pink hair was the most common subject for him to complain about before moving on to my eyes. The color of my irises matched my lovely bow which was apparently "not normal." My smile was considered "too happy" and that I looked like a freak whenever I smiled. How I cooked was wrong. I failed at magic. Magical creatures hated me. Most of this I told my best friend about and he just agreed with those rude people instead of trying to make me feel less bad about myself. Of course that was how France was so I had to take it as a compliment.
"England, I heard you wear powder to hide your freckles."
Immediately my eyes widened. Who told him that? It was the most precious secret I had! There was just too many freckles and I had to do something to get rid of them! "Heh heh, that's a funny one, France!" I laughed.
"I'm being serious."
"I thought you were being France-"
He reached out and brushed my cheek with his thumb. Moving away, I hid the exposed skin with my hand while biting my lip. France looked at the white grains on his thumb before smiling to himself as if my ugliness was funny.
"And to think you were my best friend!" Standing up, I ran away towards the woods.
"England! England, wait!"
But I wasn't going to turn around. Today I finally was giving up on trying to fit in with others and decided to go where no one would be. The forest was my own comfort place where I could be accepted for who I was and what I looked like. Trees never said anything bad about me…unless they were talking trees. Most magical creatures lived in the woods but they stayed as far away from me as possible unless pulling mean pranks on me was possible. I just had to hold my head up high while making the best of what life still had to give me.
Soon I found a lake that shimmered like a billion crystals in one spot. A young girl around my age was drawing water with a bucket. Seeing such a girl in a beautiful scene made my mouth go dry. She must've been someone of the lower class judging by the plainness of her dress and the fact she didn't have any shoes. Dirt was smudged all over her brilliant skin, I was surprised she wasn't bathing instead! I would've left her alone if I hadn't seen her face when she turned around holding a full bucket of water with her work-beaten hands. Those eyes…They seemed to be able to look straight into my soul and say that "I am a normal human being."
She smiled at me.
She-she…
Smiled?
…At me?
I'm only eleven! W-what kind of world was this? Oh butterscotch! I'm thinking nonsense! Everything was random inside my head as I stood where I was wondering if the girl actually intended that smile to be for me to see. My cheeks began to warm as I watched her walk towards me while swinging the bucket beside her. She seemed to be a happy-go-lucky girl. I liked that. Actually, I liked her a lot.
"Hi there!" She greeted.
"H-h-hi? Hi!"
Giggling, she held out her free hand, "I'm _."
"I…I'm E-E-," I shook her hand as formally as possible, "England. Shouldn't you-you be with an adult out here? It's sunset."
_'s joyful expression fell. It pained me to see her before me looking as if she was going to cry any second. Her (eye color) eyes seemed to have paled as her smile faltered its' return. "I live by myself."
By herself? No one to watch over her? _ needed someone to care for her at such a young age. Hesitating, I thought about myself. How no one wanted me around and connected it with _. Her willingness to trust me although I was a stranger was weird. And the fact that she was always smiling would make someone's nerves shiver, unless _ was involved with a touchy subject. She seemed…"Different." I couldn't quite explain it but I've noticed it before when I was visiting a mental institution because France suggested it. What am I thinking?
Calmly I grabbed the bucket from her, "Mind if I keep you company?"
Immediately _ changed from sad to extremely happy. Her eyes were bright with joy and I couldn't help but think that they were beautiful. Just seeing _ this way melted my heart, I vowed that I would do anything to see this attitude more often. That I'd be the one to bring it out of her. Happier than ever, she grabbed my hand and led me in the direction of what would be my new home.
