To anyone who may be reading this and may find it familiar/similar to another story on this site:

This is a re-write of a set of stories that I had put up a few years ago. But in the past few years, my writing style has changed, and those stories were so full of grammar/continuity issues, so I am opting to rewrite them out. Once I have them started, I will be more than likely removing the old ones.

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Arthur leaned against his locker in the hallway, holding a single notebook in one hand. No point in getting to class any earlier than he had to be. He would just act like he was waiting for someone and watch the crowd pass him by. And maybe I can feel a bit… normal for once. He scowled momentarily, as familiar words echoed in the back of his head. Just shut them out. Don't listen. Arthur shook his head and pushed himself off the locker, determined to head for the classroom before his mood could worsen.

The freshman year was only halfway through, and already Arthur was sick of it, though it wasn't for any reason that he could blame on someone else, unfortunately. Just my own dumb fault. As usual. He pushed open his classroom door, putting on a smile for the teacher, "Good morning."

"Good morning, Arthur."

He walked by the teacher and sat at his desk by the far windows. He'd ended up a few minutes early anyway. There wasn't any other student in the classroom yet. Just as well. It made it easier to get to his desk without having to push past any group of friends that would be standing in one spot. There is a time for talking to friends, and it is not in the classroom. Arthur opened his notebook and flipped it to the first blank page, calmly waiting for the class to begin.

They should be covering yesterday's lecture again. The teacher had said it would be on the test, so she wanted to go over it one more time to make sure nobody had any questions. The classroom door opened again and the other students started coming in, talking more than they were moving, as usual. Arthur rolled his eyes and looked out the window, barely hearing the teacher trying to get the other students to sit down so she could begin. Every morning it's the same. Nothing ever changes.

That wasn't to say Arthur didn't have friends of his own to talk to. Well… one friend anyway. Roderich who was on the student council with him was the only person Arthur could really call a friend. Are we even friends though? It seems more as if we just tolerate one another. What do friends do again? What do they even talk about? Arthur frowned slightly, tapping his pencil on the paper as the teacher started writing on the board. Do they hang out outside of school? He and Roderich definitely didn't. Arthur's gaze shifted to the student next to him who was whispering to the friend in front of him about their plans for the day. Is this what friends do?

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"Roderich…" Arthur paused by the student council room to find the other member putting a file into the cabinet, "Can I ask you a question?"

"If it can't wait." Roderich commented, not even sparing the blonde a glance from another folder he was looking at, "I'm trying to get this mess cleaned up again. I don't know who keeps tossing these around everywhere, but I swear if I ever catch them…"

Arthur cast a glance over the papers that were scattered around on the floor, "It can probably wait. It's just something I was wondering about." He picked up the papers nearest to him and laid them on the table, not bothering to fix the order.

Roderich stooped over to pick up another file folder and shoved the papers back inside, "Oh? Normally you don't have a weight on your mind."

"… do friends get together outside of school hours?" Arthur asked, watching him shove the file into another drawer of their filing cabinet.

"Normally." Roderich raised an eyebrow at him, "Whatever it is they like doing I suppose. Walk in the park… going to the movies…" He shuffled some more papers together and looked back at Arthur in confusion, "Why do you ask?"

"… curiosity I suppose. I overheard someone talking in my first class about the plans they had made." Arthur handed an empty folder to Roderich.

"Well don't you?" Roderich asked, tilting his head as he took the folder from Arthur.

"…" Arthur stared at Roderich with a blank expression, "Don't I what?"

"… Don't you get together with anyone after school?" Roderich sighed.

"… no. I go home." Arthur frowned, "I have to do my homework after school."

"A valid point." Roderich shook his head, "But what about on the weekend then? What do you do during your spare time?"

"… study?" Arthur avoided the other's gaze this time, and bent over to pick up more papers off the floor, "I don't really go out at all, other than to school."

Roderich paused in the straightening of the room to look at Arthur in disbelief, "Well, when do you talk to your friends then?" He put both hands on his hips.

"… I'm… not sure I have one." Arthur's face reddened slightly, "If a friend is someone you talk to a lot… or hang out with… then I don't have someone like that." He offered a stack of papers out to Roderich, who ignored them in favor of staring at Arthur as if he had suddenly grown an extra head.

"Surely you're joking." Roderich stated flatly, "Not one?"

"… W-well it's not like I go anywhere." Arthur gave up on trying to hand Roderich the papers, and stacked them on top of the table instead, "I have to study… I try and help dad out by cleaning around the house while he's working…"

Roderich shook his head, "The house cannot possibly get that dirty in one day! Take a break and enjoy some sunshine once in a while! Life will pass you by if you're not careful!"

Arthur sighed and slid the last of the file folders across the table towards Roderich, "I don't particularly care for the movie theater anyway. It's always so loud. And going for a walk is pointless if you don't have a destination in mind."

"I take back what I said; I think life passed you by already." Roderich huffed and shoved the papers into the third drawer of the filing cabinet, "Honestly! Where on earth did you learn that all high school was meant to be was homework and studying?"

"… from my grandparents, though not in so many words. Studying comes first." Arthur answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

Roderich made a face and shot a look towards Arthur, "Your grandparents are the strict ones? What about your parents then?"

Right. I never told Roderich about that. Arthur shrugged, "I don't know… dad's not strict. He just… he works a lot. Work comes first."

"Before his family?" Roderich stared at him incredulously, "What kind of father is that?"

"… It's just us. Him and me." Arthur answered flatly, "And I understand that work comes first."

"… You just said your grandparents are strict though? Where are they?" Roderich frowned slightly.

"Not living with us anymore." Arthur's face reddened again, "It doesn't matter anyway." He grabbed his notebook back up off the table and headed for the door, "I should get to my next class."

"Old habits die hard?" Roderich tilted his head as Arthur retreated out of the room.

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He tapped his pencil on the surface of his desk, agitated. He should never have brought up the conversation. Hopefully Roderich would just forget about it. Arthur glanced down at his notebook, trying to re-read what he had written down for notes so far. Definitely not as much as the teacher had written on the board. It's been a while since I told anyone about my grandparents though… Arthur frowned. Not since… middle school was it? Or perhaps not since elementary school even. No… it was fifth grade. That's right. They left when I started middle school.

Arthur tapped his pencil against his chin, looking upwards towards the ceiling. And yet… I'm still the same as I was. Schoolwork first… maybe Roderich is right. I should try living a little more. But it's not like I have anywhere to go or anyone to go with… so what's the point of that?

He supposed that he could try to at least make a friend… but… Arthur scowled to himself. This late in the school year? Friendships were usually formed within the first couple days right? It was far too late to be starting now! I could just try saying hello to someone. But who would I talk to? Arthur snuck a few glances around him, hoping to see someone that he could strike up a conversation with. But doing so during class meant having to ask a question related to what the teacher was talking about.

Maybe the blonde next to him would be of help. Arthur regarded the male, trying not to be caught staring. He didn't seem to talk much to other people either. I don't want to try talking to someone who has a lot of friends, so maybe someone like him would be the easiest type of person. Arthur looked down at his notes again. He could try catching the blonde after class too, but what should he say? I can't just say hello… that would sound strange… not to mention stupid. Maybe he could ask for help studying? Ugh. But I don't need help studying in this class. It's common sense.

"Alright, class, I think we'll stop there for today!"

"Huh?" Arthur blinked, looking at the board in surprise as she erased it. Is class over already? Damn it! I missed the notes I was supposed to be taking! He frowned at his notebook for a moment. Oh! I can use this opportunity! He stood up hastily and hurried after the blonde, frantically trying to remember his name, "Um… excuse me!"

"Hm?"

Arthur nearly jumped at the expression on the male's face. Did I interrupt something? But he wasn't talking to anyone. He doesn't look very friendly! "S-sorry! Did you happen to get the last of the notes off the board? She erased it before I had finished writing it down!"

"Ach, ja. Here." The blonde passed his notebook to Arthur, "She did erase it rather fast."

"Too fast for me." Arthur sighed in relief and glanced down at the notes that he had taken. His handwriting is really… neat. And small. "Perfect, ah before I forget! When can I return this to you?"

The blonde paused, "Uhm… do we have another class together? I don't remember."

"Unfortunately, neither do I." Arthur sighed. Well this was hopeless. So much for that idea.

"You can just give it to me at the end of the school day. I'll wait by the front doors for you." The blonde offered him a small smile.

"Oh! Thank you so much!" Arthur breathed a sigh of relief as the blonde went off in the opposite direction. Perfect! And that will give me another opportunity to try a conversation! Arthur continued reading over the notes and paused at one of the lines. 'I have no idea what she said here.' … well maybe I can copy some of my notes into his to return the favor.

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Arthur seated himself at a small circular table near the back of the cafeteria. The farther away he was from most of the noise, the better. He rubbed his forehead, scowling. Blast these headaches. He sipped on his tea while copying notes from one notebook to the other, making sure he wasn't missing anything in either one. This should help him out as well then. Though I still don't know what his name is…

He glanced around the cafeteria, watching as empty chairs at other tables were slowly filled up one by one. Arthur was used to sitting by himself, so it didn't bother him anymore. I just wish I could ask someone what that guy's name was. But how would I even describe him? Just describing him as tall, blonde, and slightly scary sounds rude.

"I don't care who you are, but I'm sitting over here!"

Arthur looked up in surprise when a tray banged down across from him, "… Ah. Hello." Well so much for peace and quiet. He stared at the newcomer to his table, whoever it was seemed to be in a bad mood. Maybe I could use this opportunity to try and talking to him!

"Hi." The male answered flatly. He seemed to be arguing with the plastic wrap around his fork (and losing by the looks of it).

"…Do you need help with that?" Arthur asked, hesitant to offer.

"I refuse to lose to this thing!" The stranger bit down on the plastic and tore at it with his teeth, finally succeeding in ripping open the packaging.

I suppose that's one way of doing it. Arthur took another gulp from his bottle of tea and continued copying down the notes. Oh. Ignoring him is rude though. "… Why are you sitting over here?" That question was rude. Way to go, self.

"Because the idiots at my usual table are annoying as hell. Make this less awkward for me, would you? What's your name again?"

"… Arthur." The blonde wondered where the other male usually sat. I wonder what's wrong that he can't sit with them today? Maybe it's just because of his bad mood?

"Lovino. Nice to meet you and all that crap."

Arthur stared at Lovino in confusion as the Italian went straight to eating his lunch, "… Ah. Likewise." He looked back down at the notebook and continued writing.

"Now this is how a lunch should be spent. In a nice and quiet atmosphere." Lovino sighed in relief, "The idiots over there didn't know when to shut up."

I don't hear any peace and quiet. Arthur kept the comment to himself, and only glanced up at Lovino to show that he had heard the other male.

After a few minutes, Lovino tilted his head, "Aren't you eating your lunch?"

"… not hungry." Arthur closed the notebook, finally done copying back and forth so both he and his blonde classmate would have the same notes written down. "You're welcome to it if you want it. I just wanted the drink."

"Seriously?" Lovino stared at him in disbelief, but he shrugged and reached over to help himself to the bread that was on Arthur's tray, "I'm not going to pass up free food."

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Things are going good today. I have a potential friend to sit with me in the cafeteria, and I still don't know the blonde guy's name. I should introduce myself when I see him after school. Arthur nodded to himself and headed for the front doors, spotting the other male almost instantly. He's taller than most everyone else…

"Have a good day, Ludwig!"

Arthur perked up slightly when he saw the blonde male waving to someone else who had run out the door, "Oh, that must be his name! What a relief!" He approached the male and offered the notebook, "Thank you for letting me borrow this!"

"No problem." Ludwig took the notebook, "I, ah, forgot to mention that I missed some of the notes, so my apologies on that."

"Oh it was no trouble. I copied mine into yours for you." Arthur responded hastily, "Consider it another thank you!"

Ludwig looked at Arthur in surprise, "Really? Thank you!"

I should say something else. But I don't know what else to say… Arthur mentally kicked himself, trying to hastily think of some conversation he could start up.

"This should help for tomorrow's test!" Ludwig looked through his notebook, "I was a little worried I would fail that part of it."

Arthur shifted his weight from one foot to the other, still not sure of what to say. There must be something I can talk with him about… but I can't think of a single thing. "Her tests are usually pretty simple, so I'm sure you wouldn't have had too much of a problem."

"Ach, not for me they're not." Ludwig sighed, "As soon as I start taking a test, I forget everything we've learned completely. Doesn't seem to matter how much I study the night before either."

"Really?" Arthur frowned, "I can usually get by on studying only for an hour or two."

"How do you study?" Ludwig looked at him in surprise.

"Ah… usually by looking over my notes… sometimes the chapter in the textbook depending on what we're going over…" Arthur tilted his head, "I don't think there's really anything else though."

"I should tell my brother to leave me alone so I can study. It would probably help more if I could concentrate." Ludwig frowned down at his notebook.

"… You have a brother?"

"Ja. Actually I have two." A scowl creased Ludwig's face for a moment before vanishing again, "But only my oldest brother lives with father and me."

Huh? His parents are living separate from one another, too? Arthur hesitated before offering, "W-would you like help studying? Maybe it would help you more if you had help going over it!"

"Really?" Ludwig's eyes widened, "If you wouldn't mind then! I'm sure father wouldn't mind me having anyone over!"

Ah. Perfect. I don't have to go home to an empty house. Arthur sighed in relief, "Sure! I'll walk with you then."

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Another reboot chapter done :D