BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Canada sighed and turned his alarm clock off. He sat up and yawned. He looked over and smiled as he saw the huddled shape of Kuma in the sheets, peacefully snoring.

"Who are you?" he quietly asked in his sleep, and he rolled around in the sheets. Canada frowned and patted the polar bear on the head.

"I'm Canada..." he muttered.

He quietly left the room and pattered down the stairs into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and peered in, seeing if their were any leftover pancakes from yesterday's breakfast. After a few seconds, he then felt an eerie presence. Like someone was watching him...

He slowly raised himself up, and peeked over the edge of the fridge door, a bottle of maple syrup in his hand. His eyes widened as he saw what was before him.

There before him, sitting at his table, was a boy with blonde hair, holding a polar bear cub, and a stray strand of hair drifting from his head, shaping itself into a curlicue...

The maple syrup fell from his hands and clattered to the floor. He didn't mind to pick it up. All his attention was on the boy. The boy himself showed no expression, just staring at Canada. The polar bear cub tilted its head to look at the boy's face.

"Who's that?" it said in a small voice.

Canada opened his mouth, but no words came out, just air, and he could feel his tongue becoming dry with his lips.

"I'm... I'm Canada..." he finally stuttered out.

The boy then began to frown and shook his head, as if that was the wrong answer. Before Canada could respond, he heard a few soft thumps and looked over to see Kuma crawling down the steps. He yawned and tugged at Canada's pants, motioning he wanted to be carried. Canada bent over and hefted him up. Kuma then turned his head and looked at the boy and polar bear across the room. His brow furrowed and he looked up at Canada.

"Who're they?" he asked.

Canada didn't say anything but looked at the two again.

"That's what I want to know..."

Canada whipped himself to face the oven.

"Oh no! I'm going to be late."

He let go off Kuma in a panic and hurried to go get his stuff. Kuma frowned and huffed. Canada quickly grabbed his backpack and shows, stopping a minute to tie the laces. He looked up at the strange boy and the bear and met their gaze. He gave a quick smile.

"Well, are you coming?"

The boy nodded, and followed Canada and Kuma to the garage. They went into Canada's beat up white car, and Kuma yelped. Canada looked down.

"What's wrong?"

"That guy's in my seat!"

Canada looked over to see that the mysterious boy was indeed in the passenger seat, still clutching his polar bear. Canada sighed and lifted Kuma.

"You can sit with me."

Canada started the car and began to drive out of the driveway (which was very difficult, as Kuma was squirming in his lap, trying to get a good look at the two strangers). As they began to drive to school, an unnatural silence came over the car.

"So..." began Canada, "What's your bear's name."

The boy said nothing, but the bear piped up.

"I'm Ouch!"

Canada smiled.

"Really? Why?"

Ouch frowned, and glared at his owner.

"Because he drops me so much."

The boy just shook his head.

Canada turned the car into the high school parking lot and parked it into an empty space. All of them exited out of the car and began to walk to the school's front doors. Canada took the boy's hand and pulled him to Canada's first period class.

Gym.

When the morning bell rang, Canada had changed into his gym clothes, and brought the boy to his coach.

"Um, coach, this is a new kid," Canada said in a barely audible voice.

The coach nodded and smiled at the newcomer.

"You look like a strong kid. Now why don't you sit next to Canada, as I take roll, kay?"

The boy nodded and followed Canada to the back of the gym.

After roll had been called, the coach led Canada's class to the school's ice rink.

"Okay people! Today we're playing hockey! Team Captain's are going to be... France and America! Go!"

France and America began to call people's names.

"I choose Canada!" yelled France.

Canada smiled. At least this was the one thing he was accepted in. He looked back at the boy and waved good-bye.

"See you on the ice!"

Soon the rest of the students were separated into two teams, and Canada found the boy on America's team, and himself as goalie.

A whistle then started the game.

The puck was hit by America and he began to skate through several of the skaters. He then passed the puck to the new boy. The boy took the puck and skated with such grace, finesse, and skill, that Canada was amazed. He didn't even notice that the boy had scored a point until the buzzer went off.

Who was this kid?

After the game, the boy had soon scored all America's points. Canada sighed as he exited the locker room. It was amazing the boy's game. He was the only one to have scored against Canada in hockey. Only one! He looked over to see Kuma and Ouch sitting on the bleachers and he quietly walked over to them. He sat down on the cold metal, and looked over to see the new boy swarmed by all the other kids congratulating him, and patting him on the back.

Canada sighed and looked over at the two polar bears.

"Ouch?" he asked. "What is your owner's name?"

Ouch looked confused for a moment.

"Why didn't you know? His name's Canada."