This is from the point of view from fem!Canada at the moment. The next will be from fem!Italy, and I have 10 chapters already written, just editing and uploading, so I will update regularly and frequently. I hope it's not to long!
enjoy :)
Chapter one:
I was walking down my street, when I realized that I had money. I don't EVER have money. It's because this girl, my supposed best friend Abby, always snatched it away before I could buy lunch. Nowadays I don't even bother to go to lunch anymore, I just go straight to the library.
She's not the only one who's mean however. My parents don't really care about me; they just do what they want. My mom inherited all her parents money when they died and now we're wealthy. That's why my parents don't need jobs with the government like everyone else. My mom just sits around making plans to go on trips that she never actually goes on, there isn't anywhere to go anyway.
My dad stays in the garage making things, such as cabinets or chairs out of wood because it's his "hobby". I bet he doesn't even know he has a kid any more. Well, he did at one time, but got to busy with his projects, and forgot. The only thing they give me is a room and clothes whenever my mom feels like shopping. I even have to get my lunch money from my maid!
I always have that lunch money that our maid, Ms. Smith, puts in my coat pocket as she pushes me out the door each morning. Abby usually takes it by the time I get to the last step.
It is still early October, and Abby hasn't been sick yet this year, until today. I was so grateful to be rid of her in my classes, that I forgot that I could go to lunch. Even if I did remember to go, I might not even know were it is, because it would be the first time going there in the high school, because I'm now in 9th grade.
Since I have money, I decide to take this chance to walk over to the local convenience store, and buy something, because I know I won't be getting dinner when I get back. I am just leaving Abby's house after bringing her homework and finishing it for her. I am used to doing it, but I had to stay later and take care of all her needs until she fell asleep. Her parents never notice how much of a bully she is to me, because they are usually out looking for their beloved son, Peter. It's about 7:00, but I'm not sure, because I had to give Abby my watch last week.
When I go in the bells jingle and I have this over whelming feeling of happiness. I've never been able to do this before. I go up and down the rows of things that I wish I could have. I know I will most likely just buy some food, but I find that I like looking at the stuff in here. I glance up at the clock, and realize that it's closing time. I hurry up a choose a bottle of chocolate milk for 99 cents, a lollipop for 50 cents, and a bag of chips for $1.50, as a total of about $3.00, which is the total I get for lunch money.
I quickly buy it, and go out side to sit on the steps and eat. I know it's late, but I don't care. I never believed those stories of getting kidnapped or getting mugged. They wouldn't happen in this small town anyway.
When I finished, the store is closed down and it's dark out. I know that the short way would be to go back past Abby's house, but I have this bad feeling inside. I was thinking while I was eating that I could have done this every day, if not for her. I could have had a great life and friends, but she always pushes them away. I could be normal, maybe. There still is doubt in my head, what if it isn't her, but me? Do I deserve this?
I was thinking about this as I walked along, dropping my bottle and wrappers in a trash can. When I look up I realize that I went the other way, and was not exactly sure were I was, but I recognized a house, so I must not be far off.
I keep walking and wallowing in self-pity. I look up again, and realize where I am. I am by the old gas station that closed down last year. It's at the edge of town by the woods so I'm not to far from where I live. All I have to do now is go up the hill. I walk forward, keeping my head down as I pass under a streetlight, until I reach the road that goes up the hill. That is when I hear something. I walk a bit more, and hear it again, like a yelping sound. I look around.
Then I see it. It's a dog that has its collar stuck on a prickly bush. I drop my backpack, which I still had from after school, on the ground. I stumble over to the puppy. I find that it is a golden retriever. Its neck is all scraped up from trying to free itself. I unclip the collar, pull up my shirt a little to tear my undershirt into a bandage strip that I wrap around the wound. The dog whimpers and I look around for the home it may have been from. I notice that there is a guy over by the station. I try to forget about him, and try to console the dog. I pick it up, and pet its golden fur, and tell it that it will be ok.
I stand up and walk in the direction were I dropped my bag, without taking my eyes off the dog but when I do I look down, and my bags not there. I look around and I don't see it. I walk back over to the side of the road were the prickly bush was, not there. I hear a dull thud. I turn, the guy about 10 feet away, is standing next to my bag.
I don't think it's the best idea, but I walk over to him, taking in his apperence as I go. He is wearing a black pull over hoodie, faded black jeans, and beat up black converse. He has his hood on, so I can't se his face, but I see white hair coming from the darkness.
I look up at his face, I didn't notice how tall he was before, but he must be like 6 feet tall at least. I slowed my pace a stopped about 4 feet away from him.
"That's m-my bag." I stuttered out quickly.
He pulls down his hood so I can see his bleach blonde, nearly white hair. He looked down his long, pale nose at me with his crimson eyes. Those eyes scare me but I can detect something some thing in them I can't understand, as if he had a secret. His mouth was curved down at the corners into a frown.
"That's my bag." he replied with a slight German accent.
I took a step back, "O-ok-k-ay, it's your bag then. S-sorry, m-my mistake. I'll be g-going now." I turned, glad to get away, and started walking up the street with the dog clutched to my chest.
Then I realized what the look in his eyes was. Sadness. I saw it often; whenever I looked in a mirror. I always have that same sad look in my purplish blue eyes when I check my reflection. When I see the sadness in my eyes, and try to distract my self with my other features. I have long wavy blonde hair that I part above my left eye. My face is round and pale but can turn quite pink at times. I am tall, 5' 8" maybe, and slender. I try to forget about sadness when I think about everything else about me, but I can't. Sadness is pain, and it's hard to forget about something that hurts 24-7.
I looked back, he was still looking at me, and I made a split second decision. I walk back to him.
I took a short breath before I said, "Actually, that's my bag, and I, um," my voice faltered, "I would like it back now, please." He looked a bit surprised, yet pleased in a way, like it's nice to have someone contradict him for once.
"You stood up for your self, wow, I though I was scarier than that." he replied, with a hint of sarcasm in his words.
I didn't think, I just spoke, "You don't look scary," I paused, because he sort of does, then continued, "you look, sad. Are you okay?"
I could tell by the look on his face, that that as not what he thought I would say. He looked almost sadder now. He ducked his head and didn't reply, this made me want to find out even more, and help. I didn't want to go home anyway, I could help him. Helping seems to be all I do anyway. I would help my maid clean, and help teacher with grading. In a way, I help Abby get all her anger out, though, not by choice.
"Really, are you okay? Is there anything I could do to help, I'm serious." I really wanted to help, I don't know why, but I felt as if he was in pain, and it was a type of pain that I could understand. He leaned back against the abandoned stations wall, and slid down. I kept waiting for an answer. I heard a small sob escape him and I knew he was crying. He looked up at me; he didn't seem scary anymore, more like a lost kid.
"What could you do any way? You don't know what I've gone through, you don't understand, just, just go away," he said this trying to make me leave, but it did just the opposite. I turned around and sat down next to him. I wasn't afraid any more, though, my conscious said I should be.
"How could I know what you went through unless you tell me, I'll listen. I can help you know, you're not the only one who feels pain. I have my own troubles. I will help, no matter what." I knew that I couldn't do some things to help, but I could try right? "I'm Ma..." I paused I didn't want to be called Madeline anymore, it was to formal, not this new brave me, "I'm Mattie. What's your name?"
He looked at me like I was crazy, which I was, so I didn't mind. He wiped away his tears, and turned to look me in the eyes. "I'm Gilbert. You don't have to be nice to me, no one else is. It would be better for you if you just leave. Now." he said, in what I suppose that he thought was a forceful voice, but really was more like a shaky, half-hearted plea.
"Well Gilbert, I think that you need help, so I do have to be nice to you. Anyway I don't want to go home, ever, so I'm not leaving." I felt so brave just then, I didn't know I had this in me, "I'll be you friend, I promise."
He was still looking at me carefully, as if he didn't believe me, but I felt that I was helping, he wasn't crying anymore. "Why don't you want to go home, and why do you want to be my friend, you could probably be friends with anyone else." he asked, with some jealously hidden within those words.
"I don't want to go home, because I have a horrible life, and I don't have any friends, well, except this dog I just found. And I will be your friend, if you want." I feel like I should emphasize the, "if you want", part, so he'll answer me.
"I had a horrible life once, and didn't want to go home," he mumbled then paused, "I-I do want to be your... friend." I could tell he isn't used to saying that word. "I have a few other friends, I guess, that don't want to go home," his voice was considerably happier, almost like a little kid wanting to show off, "They would be happy to have a new... friend, too."
"Sure, How many friends do you have? Where are they? Will they allow the dog?" I had some more questions, since I am going with a scary guy, to an unknown location to meet strangers at night, and not to mention running away from home. I didn't ask those questions though, in case my new friend Gilbert would be offended.
"I have six friends, and I'm sure they would love the dog. Follow me!" he stood up and took my hand to pull me up. "Oh, and sorry about the bag, it was just a good chance for us to get more supplies. We don't have much of any thing." he handed me my bag.
"Thanks. Wait, were are we going?" I didn't know how far we would have to walk, and it started to rain while we were talking.
"Oh, yeah, we're already here, my friend Yao's dad worked at the gas company, so he gave this land to him. He ran away too, but his dad caught him, and was like "I can't have my son live on the streets! Here's some land.", cool right? But we don't want to look suspicious, so we keep it boarded up." He said as he pulled me along.
"We named our group Hetalia a little while back, so this place we call the Hetalia headquarters or once in a while the Hetalia hideout." He continued, "It's just a made up word, but I think it fits us somehow."
He took out a key from his pocket and unlocked the back door. I hadn't noticed before, but there was an extensive garden back here and a cloths line with a few articles of clothing on it hanging there getting soaked.
He was still holding my hand and I noticed it was cold. He must have been out there a long time. My hand was warm so I held on tighter to warm his up as he led me inside. He closed the door behind me, which closed with a loud click.
Inside, It still looked a bit like a gas station store, with the cash register, and fridges along the far side. The difference was that the ground was carpeted, and there was an old fold worn out couch in front of an old TV set. There was trash and yard-sale-type things strewed about the place.
I looked a bit more closely at the couch, there was a skinny kid with oddly large eye brows sleeping it, and someone on the other side who I couldn't see because of the massive amount of blankets piled around the small figure.
"That's Arthur and Peter; they are the youngsters who go to bed before 11:00, they came here together, but Arthur doesn't seem as fond of Peter as Peter is of Arthur. They also have big temper, so I wouldn't wake them up. Lets go meet the others. He seemed to be in a much better mood, and I no longer could see a trace of scary on his face. He was actually quite handsome, but I shouldn't be thinking things like that, but he was still holding my hand!
"Okay... lets go meet your friends." I said.
"They are your friends too, now that you're mine." He said as he pulled me down the steps. I couldn't help but notice that he said that, "your mine" not, "I am your friend", there's a difference, isn't there?
"Hey guys! We have a new friend! Look! Look! Look! Isn't she Aesome?" he was almost jumping, and he was shaking my arm up and down.
"Ah, I'm, um, Mattie." I said to the awkward silence that greeted me.
There were four guys sitting on couches and there was stuff… everywhere. I don't think that I could walk through it with out falling and getting sucked into it.
Even worse, they were all shirtless, and I knew of them all from my school. There was a search party for one guy, I think that guy was named Francis, he was sitting on the couch next to my right. He was a medium height, almost feminine guy with shoulder length blonde wavy hair. I had to admit he was handsome, but I didn't think too much about it. I think he was the son of some famous cook. I remember he used to be in my 7th grade English class, and would always be flirting.
Francis was on the couch next to Alfred. Alfred was sort of chubby, with blonde hair, and pink cheeks. He was in my gym class once, and all the guys made fun of him for being fat. He was a good football player though, the weight was on his side, but only then I suppose. I always felt bad about that day I saw the guys making fun of him, but Abby was there so there was nothing I could do to help.
I remember that he was more like C student, but he always did volunteer work at the fire station so he could be a hero. He disappeared one day last year and the news reporters found a bunch of suicidal poems in his room. They said that he probably ran away and killed himself.
In the newspaper that had the article about him, it had a quote from his mom, "I don't care were he is as long as never comes back." It was the meanest thing I had ever read. I ripped up the paper, and threw it away in tears. Now that I think about it, his mom reminds me of mine.
Yao and Ivan sat on the couch across from Alfred. Yao was Chinese, with long black braided hair. Before he disappeared one day, he had the highest grades in the school, and came from a rich family that worked for the government at a higher level than everyone else. No one thought he could disappear so easily.
I remember Ivan; he was not one you forget. He was, maybe 6 feet four, with platinum blonde hair. He was the kind of guy who could threaten to torture your whole family with an innocent smile on his face.
He was an only child of a drunken dad. His dad was found dead, and he was gone, so they thought he was to blame. I knew it sounded right, but I think he loved his dad. He probably just fled the scene because he didn't know what else to do. Well, that's what I hope anyway... I wonder how they all got here?
"Nice to, um, be here." I said it more as a question than a statement. None of them spoke. I felt so weird being the only girl. I wondered, not for the first time, if this is a good idea.
"Come on guys, be nice, she didn't have any friends until now, just like us. She talked to me even though I looked scary. She stood up to me and it was awesome." he said as if it was the most amazing thing in the world, which, to him it might be. "Liz, this is, Yao, Alfred , Ivan and Francis," he said as he pointed then out.
I wasn't sure if it was the best thing to say but I said it any way, "I already know who they are, Gilbert, they go to, or at least went to, my school. They are the ones who don't know me."
"Wait," said Ivan in his Russian accent, "You know who we are? Why are you here? Hey, Gilbert what's going on, who is this girl?"
"This girl is our new friend, and your new friend, so be nice. She said she could tell I was sad, and wanted to help. She could help you too." Gilbert said in a matter of fact tone.
"How can she help? She's nothing special."
"What do you mean not special? Of course she is," he said, as he went behind me and gave me a hug with one arm and pointed to the bandaged dog with the other, "she saved this dog, by ripping up her shirt, and she gave me her bag, and said she would help me!" I felt so awkward with his hands on me, and his chest against my back. I could tell I was getting pink, and they were all staring at me.
"You only brought her here because you want to become one with her, da?" I van said.
"Love, it's the only explanation." Yao agreed.
"Ah... well... whatever!" he said releasing me, "at least I show it, unlike you two!" I realized two things from that, Ivan, and Yao are a couple, which I didn't mind, and that he likes me. I didn't know what to say, but I didn't have to say anything.
"That's mean, don't do that." said Alfred, "you know that's why they came here in the first place."
"Well they don't have to tease me either," he said, and I looked at him, and he looked away, but I'm sure he was blushing as much as I was.
"Well, today is your day to get us money for tomorrow, and I bet you didn't get anything again, am I right? You just got us another person we have to feed and shelter, thanks a lot," said Yao. I got the impression that this has happened a lot before.
"Well, I can go home, an get some money, if you need it. My parents probably wouldn't notice. They don't seem to notice anything, ever." I said with a sigh, "I could also get some other stuff you might need. I could bring a bag of cloths too, if you could let me stay here. I will be really helpful, I'll do the laundry, and sweep, and cook, or whatever else you need, I promise, just let me stay here... please." I sat down on the last step, and put my head on my arms that were resting on my knees, so they couldn't see my face. I was determined not to cry. They were a bit stunned, but snapped out of it quickly.
"It would be really helpful to have a maid," said Francis, who was looking around at all the mess.
"And she could get us some money for food." said Alfred, who obviously liked food.
"She's not that bad, looks like she accepts us too." Said Ivan, making Yao blush.
"Well I think that she will be good for Gilbert, so you can stay Mattie . We'll be you friends, right?" said Francis, everyone else nodded, and Alfred smiled.
"R-really? I can stay? And you are my... friends?" I asked to make sure I was hearing correctly.
"Yeah, of course they are!" Gilbert said to me, "Now, why don't you and me go back to you house to get you stuff. How far is it?" they were being so nice, and I had started to cry, but I don't know when. A surge of happiness swelled up inside me, I couldn't stop myself, and I threw my arms around Gilbert and hugged him (after putting the dog down). I saw Francis smirk from the corner of my eye, but I didn't care, I had friends.
"Ah, yeah... lets go get you stuff then, Ok?" he said, he was blushing again. I nodded, and wiped away my tears.
"Can you guys look after the dog while we are out? Oh, and try to think up a good name for him." I said to no one in particular, as we climbed the steps, I heard some one shout "Okay!" but I could tell it was Alfred.
When we got outside it had stopped raining. There were small puddles of water everywhere, and the starry sky reflected off of them. The clouds were almost gone too. I was a bit chilly though, then I realized Gilbert was holding my hand again, but I didn't feel like letting go. What should I say to him? I know I should say something, but what?
"So, how far to your house?" Said Gilbert, his voice seemed loud, now that we were outside, and everything was quiet.
"Just go up this hill here, my place is at the top." I was going to stop there, but I need to fill the silence, "So, what kind of stuff do you need?" I asked.
"Oh, not to much, but just some house hold things like, I don't know, stuff, and of course some money for food, or maybe you could just bring some food too, I don't know what they would want, but whatever you have is fine I'm sure..." he was jus babbling on and on then I got an idea.
"Well of course because today is Friday, we can come back Saturday and Sunday, to get more stuff, before mom realizes I'm gone. I could get stuff on Monday too, but only if I go to school, which I guess I won't be doing anymore." I said.
"Well, if you want to go to school you can, but I don't suggest it. I haven't gone since 5th grade, so-" He couldn't go on because I interrupted.
"You haven't gone to school since 5th grade!" I can't imagine that, "How? Why? Wh-" This time it was his time to interrupt.
"Well, I ran away from home the summer between 5thand 6th grade, because I just couldn't stand it anymore. I always looked scary, I guess, so no one would talk to me. I had no friends, and even my mom was scared of me. She was my only relative, but she rarely talked to me. I came here, to the abandoned station. Yao hadn't come yet but it was convenient. Yao came next, and he agreed to let me stay with him, since I was already here. After a while we found Alfred living on the streets and he joined up. Ivan came, and Yao fell for him, so of course he let him stay." He chuckled, and then continued.
"If you haven't noticed they're kind of a couple, but we don't care. It's just odd, because all they do is sleep on the same couch, not anything very couple-ish has happened that I know of. Then England came with Peter, because Yao found them last year in a beat up tent on the side of the river. Recently, Francis came, and he knew Yao from before, so it was okay. We are like brothers, but they always try to make me the leader who has to choose stuff and it can be annoying." he sighed. "Now your here, you are the only girl, but I think it will be okay. They will just have to learn to wear more clothes. They don't always wear pants to bed, so watch out," he laughed when he saw my face. I laughed too.
Now that he was done talking I couldn't wait any longer, "So, what did you mean back there, ah, about, um, liking me?" I asked, not sure how he was going to reply.
He blushed again, "I meant that I, well, no one has ever said anything like that to me, no one has wanted to be my friend, ever, and I, uh, well, like... you a lot, and" He said, stumbling over all his words. I knew what he wanted to say. I stopped and turned so I was facing him, and took his other hand. I wanted to be brave all my life, so I decided that here, I will be.
I looked into his eyes and said, "I know you like me,"
"Uh, well yeah..." he said, blushing, but not looking away anymore.
"I like you too, so it's okay. I haven't had anyone like me before, but I like you back and I want to be with you." I leaned in and hugged him. What was I doing! I just met him! I feel so stupid, but still... my heart just won't stop pounding.
"I want to be with you too..." he breathed in my ear as he hugged me back.
I looked up at him, "Do you... want, um" I can't believe I'm saying this but, "Be my boyfriend?" I said quickly, and then looked down feeling embarrassed beyond belief.
He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger, so I had to look at him. He was smiling, smiling! Then I leaned in closer, and he bent down, and right there, at about midnight, on top of the hill, we kissed.
I didn't want to let go, but then a car came, illuminating us with its headlights. He pulled me to the curb, to be hidden by the darkness, since there are no streetlights here or anywhere all the way down the street. I was so surprised, that I fell on top of him as we toppled to the ground. I smiled, and I kissed him and he kissed back. We only stopped this time, so we could catch our breath. We were both smiling like maniacs.
"We should get going, so the maid doesn't fall asleep before we get there." I say, though I don't want to move.
"Oh, then lets go!" he said as he pulled me up from the damp grass. We walked the rest of the way with smiles on our faces. This felt like a dream, like if I let go of him, he will disappear, and I will wake up. But, this wasn't a dream, I could tell because I could feel his body heat next to me.
When we got to my front steps, I pulled him up them and dragged him as quietly as I could, up to my room. When we get there I rummaged around in my closet and took out some travel bags mom bought for me, but I never used.
"See that dresser," I pointed to the dresser in the corner of my small cramped room, "take out everything in it and put it in these bags, okay, and put in the stuff on top of the dresser while you're at it. I'm going to find Ms. Smith, she will help find the other stuff we need." Then I ran out of the room, and down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Where have you been Madeline! I was worried sick!" scolded Mrs. Smith.
"I'm found a place to live, and I'm going tonight! Don't try to stop me, or tell mom, just help me find stuff that you need to live in a house of eight people!"
"Well... I'm not sure, this doesn't sound like good idea, but I'll help if I must. At least tell me who's house you're staying at, is it Abbey's?." she replied in a cautious tone.
"I'm not staying at a house, I'm staying at that old gas station, Yao owns it, he's Gilbert's friend, and Gilbert is my friend. There are five other guys too. They're all so nice! Especially Gilbert, we're dating, can you believe it!" I was so exited, that I couldn't contain myself.
"Wait, wait a moment, your living at a gas station with a bunch of guys! Who is this 'Gilbert'? This is all crazy anyway, I'm not sure I can let you do this, you should just go back up stairs, and go to bed." she said, sounding quite worried.
"Well," I giggled, "you can go up stairs and meet Gilbert now, he's packing my clothes. You can't stop me from going." I said smugly.
"How'd he get there? Oh, well, it doesn't mater, let me meet him first." she said, defeated.
"Start packing supplies!" I ordered excitedly before I ran up the stairs.
When I opened the door, it looked like he was done, because, he was sitting on my bed, not packing. "Done?" I asked.
"Well," he blushed, "almost, I just, um, didn't do the second drawer on the left."
M face went pink, that was my underclothing drawer, "Oh, uh, well, I'll do that." I said, embarrassed that he saw them, nothing I could do about it now.
"Well," I said when I was done, "Mrs. Smith wants to meet you, are you okay with that?" I asked
"Yeah, sure, why wouldn't I?" he replied, though I could tell he was nervous. "I'll help you carry this down, right?" he said, and I nodded back.
"This is Gilbert!" I said, indicating Gilbert, who stood awkwardly at my side in the middle of the kitchen, as our maid looked him up and down.
"He's to old for you" she finally said.
"I actually just turned fifteen two months ago" he said in defense.
"Oh, well then, your just too tall, but that's good, because you can protect Madeline from harm then." she said with a wave of her hand. "Here, take this. It has a lot of things you might need, including a bunch of food, and a microwave."
"Really! A microwave! Thanks! We've always wanted a microwave! You're awesome!" Gilbert said, and gave her a big hug.
"Oh my, well, you can come tomorrow, and I'll have more supplies ready for you." she said, rather flustered, yet pleased.
"Okay! We'll, see you!" he yelled over his shoulder as he took my hand, and ran out the door, with the luggage.
"She seemed to like you, that's good." I told him.
"Yeah, I like her too! She didn't say I was scary, or anything mean!" he practically shouted.
"No need to yell" I said, and giggled before leaning in to kiss him. Then with out another word we walked the rest of the way back in a happy silence.