To say the countries were pissed would be an understatement. They had to put their already busy lives on hold to act like children. Well not exactly children, high school students actually. It was decided by their bosses that all of the countries would travel to one place and attempt to "get along". Why they had to pose as exchange students none of the countries could guess. Their bosses said they needed a believable cover story and that was the most probable. Well they thought it was bull.
"Ok, it's time to chose," Germany sighed at the end of the meeting. They of course wouldn't be able to agree which country they would all be stuck in so they agreed to draw one from a hat. Germany reached into the hat as the other countries watched gloomily. He looked at the paper and if possible, his face fell more.
"America," he said to a chorus of groans.
"Haha yeah!" America shouted. He, of course, was one of the only ones to have not been put out by the idea in the first place and now he was even more excited.
"Be ready to leave in two weeks, America is now in charge of setting everything up," Germany said a little nervously. He didn't much like the idea of America being in charge of anything.
"Don't worry, I'll choose a totally awesome place for us!" America said.
"Make sure it's a smaller town. We don't want to attract too much attention," Germany muttered.
"I'm on it Bro!" America practically shouted while slapping Germany on the back. They're doomed.
"What is this place called again?" England asked as they walked through the airport.
"Dude this is Portland, but it's not where we're gonna be. We have a bus waiting that's gonna take us to a town less than an hour away," America explained.
"What is the name of the town?" China asked.
"Some Podunk town called Molalla," America answered.
"How did you choose it?" Germany asked nervously.
"Well I would have normally set us up in New York or something but dude you told me a small town. I threw a dart at the map of the US and it landed in Oregon. Then I threw a dart at the map of Oregon and it totally landed on Molalla," he said and started laughing for some reason.
"Our fate was decided by darts… why did we leave this up to America again?" England muttered.
"Oh don't be so gloomy, it was just the location that was decided by fate. Who knows? Maybe there is a reason we are going there," France said.
"Yeah right. It's not like we are going to be able to socialize with the population there anyway. We don't want the town to find out we're countries, remember?" England shot back.
"That's right," Germany said loudly as they seated themselves on the bus. "Try to avoid the population as much as possible outside of…classes."
"But Germany, I want to make friends!" Italy whined.
"Nein," Germany almost shouted. "Why would you want to be friends with high school students anyway?"
"Germany~…" Italy whined back as the other countries lost interest and started their own conversations as the bus headed for the freeway.
Germany scooted closer to Italy, "Aren't I your friend?" he whispered grabbing Italy's hand. Blushing, Italy squeezed Germany's hand and cuddled in close.
"Of course we're friends Germany."
"Then why do you need more friends?"
Italy looked up at Germany whose face was as red as the T-shirt that he wore that America had given him. Italy couldn't believe how cute the usually stern Germany was sometimes.
"Don't feel bad Germany! I just like to meet new people," Italy rushed to comfort him.
"I know Italy. I'm sorry, I just…"Germany trailed off, not exactly knowing what he was trying to say. Italy watched Germany grow rapidly more flustered and giggled lightly to himself and cuddled in closer for the rest of the ride.
"We're here. Now get your crazy asses off my bus," The bus driver grumbled sometime later.
Running down the aisle to be the first one off, America jumped off the bus onto the grass covered hill behind the school where the students were dropped off for school. "Yo, I'm here now guys! We can start the year now!" He yelled, not even realizing that the only looks he got were of confusion and mockery. "Carry this will yah, dude?" he said throwing his bag at Canada who had got off the bus after him.
"Oh… Ok," Canada managed, dragging both his and America's overly heavy bag with him. "Hey, what exactly is in here?" he asked sheepishly.
"Only the necessities," America beamed putting an arm around Canada, adding even more weight onto his shoulders.
"Oh…"
Behind them France and Britain argued over who would be getting the top and bottom bunks in the room they had agreed to share, yet neither seemed to realize that they had started holding hands when they realized how uncomfortable they were in this new setting. Britain and France were followed by a Flustered Germany and an overly ecstatic Italy who clung to his arm and pointed at the strangely dressed teenagers in the quad. Germany reluctantly went with Italy to talk to a boy and girl he had spotted with bright red hair.
"Hey!" Italy yelled excitedly, "girl with the spaghetti hair!"
"I think he's talking to you," The tall boy nodded over her head. She turned looking very confused.
"Who the fuck?" she asked looking over the two countries. "Spaghetti hair? Really?"
"Yeah! It's really red and curly," Italy explained excitedly.
"Fair enough I guess," She said slowly.
"Are you guys exchange students?" The tall boy asked.
"Ja, I'm Ludwig Beilschmidt," Germany replied.
"And I'm Italy!" Italy stated proudly.
"Your name is Italy?" The boy asked confused.
"Nien, his name is Feliciano Vargas," Germany corrected quickly nudging Italy whose face shown red with shame. "He's from Italy and I am from Germany."
"Oh, ok," the boy said seeming to lose interest staring across the quad at one of the exchange students carrying two bags and following a boy who had apparently stolen an American flag and was using it as a cape as he jumped over students heads claiming to be a hero.
"Damn! Germans are hot!" The girl exclaimed looking Ludwig up and down.
Hearing her words Italy clung to Germany tightly.
"Oh," The girl said seeing the gesture, "I didn't realize you two were together."
"What?" Germany looked down and realized he was holding Italy against himself with a single arm. "Nien!" He yelled pushing Italy away. "We are just friends!"
"But Germany~" Italy whined.
"Do you always refer to yourselves as your countries?" The boy questioned, once again gaining interest in the conversation, as the boy he had been watching had noticed him, and told the hero and they had began to walk towards them.
"Ja," Germany replied, "It is just a little thing we do."
"What's going on over here?" America yelled jumping onto the girl's shoulders.
"What the fuck dude!" The girl yelled pushing him off onto the grassy ground where he landed on his butt with his glasses on sideways. Looking down at him she blushed realizing just how cute he was, especially all flustered as he had obviously never been pushed down before.
"What was that for dude?" the boy said gathering himself and his flag-cape.
As the girl introduced herself as Keri, and helped America to his feet who claimed to be Alfred Jones, the boy began to talk with Canada.
"H-hey…" The boy stuttered.
"Hi."
"So, um, what's your name?" the boy asked.
"Oh, I'm Matthew," He said quietly. "What's yours?"
"I'm Evan," He replied just as quietly, blushing a little. Evan glanced over and laughed at Keri's blush as she tried to keep up with Alfred's ramblings and crazy laughter.
"Sorry my brother is a lot to handle sometimes," Matthew said a little sheepishly.
"Oh, I'm sure she can handle him," Evan laughed and Matthew blushed at his words. The Bell rang overhead stopping everyone's conversation short.
"The get your ass to class bell," Keri laughed.
"What's your first class?" Alfred asked her.
"Well I have math with Ms. Ledesma, and I think Evan does too, right?" she said and looked to Evan.
"Yeah," he said, starting to head inside.
"Oh awesome so do we!" Alfred cheered, indicating him and Matthew.
"So do we!" Feliciano yelled grabbing onto Ludwig's arm causing the German to blush.
"Well then, follow me," Keri gestured hugely towards the school.
Keri took the lead with Alfred close behind, itching to be able to lead himself, as he was, of course, the hero of the story, or so he thought. Evan and Matthew followed close behind, switching around bags so Matthew was only carrying Alfred's making Matthew blush so red he seemed to glow. Behind them Feliciano clung to Ludwig like a magnet.
"So what's he got in that bag that's so heavy?" Evan asked Matthew.
"Oh… I'm not really sure, but he needs it," Matthew replied, refusing to make eye contact and staring off into the distance.
"It's my necessities!" Alfred yelled while hopping behind Keri, making her giggle like a child.
"Why are you so close behind me dude?" Keri asked Alfred.
"It's because I'm the hero, bro!" He yelled with pride.
"You're the hero of what?"
"Well I can be your hero if you'd like."
At his words Keri stiffened for a minute and Alfred bumped into her before they started moving again, this time side-by-side. Peering over her shoulder Keri caught Evan and Matthew exchanging phone numbers.
"I-uh… I think Matthew and Evan are getting along pretty well," She said still blushing brightly.
"Bro, your face is super red," Alfred laughed.
"Yeah, it's warm in here," she said and turned into the classroom. She went right to the back of the room and sat in a corner. Alfred immediately plopped down next to her causing her him give him a confused look. Evan and Matthew grabbed the seats next to them and Ludwig and Feliciano sat in front of Keri and Alfred.
"Lovino, Antonio!" Feli called to two boys that just walked in. "Come sit here!"
The two quickly made their way over and grabbed the seats next to Ludwig and Feli.
"Wow, foreigners on all sides," Keri laughed then looked over at Alfred. "Though… you don't seem that foreign really."
"Oh… yeah Mattie and I are from C-Canadia," He said, sounding almost strained.
"Canada?" She asked.
"Y-yeah! That place," he chuckled weakly.
"Oh," Keri stumbled. "I'm so sorry…"
"Wait, wha-" Alfred started but was cut off when the teacher walked in and immediately started going over what we would learn that term. Keri watched the teacher for a while until a paper slid onto her desk.
What are you doing after school? She glanced over to Alfred then beyond him to Evan who had clearly seen the note passing. He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she rolled her eyes at him. She wrote a response and slid it onto Alfred's desk.
Pretty much nothing.
Want to hang with us tonight?
Evan too?
Duh. Mattie seems attached already.
I'm down I guess.
Great! I'll catch you after class.
The class dragged on and after doing some math problems the bell finally rang. True to his word Alfred was talking before Keri even started putting her things away.
"So give me your number bro," he said cheerfully.
"Oh damn," Evan laughed from behind Alfred.
"Shut up man, it's not like you didn't just give your number to Matthew," she shot at him.
"Oh you saw that?" he mumbled and Keri smirked.
"Yes I did, bitch," she said and stuck out her tongue.
"You're avoiding me," Alfred said playfully.
"Oh…um," Keri stuttered and grabbed a pen and grabbed Alfred's hand to write on it.
"Awesome!" he cheered as he looked at it.
"Get to your next class guys," Ms. Ledesma called from her desk.