Chapter 2:
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. J. R. R. Tolkien Bilbo Baggins Fellowship of the Ring
I stepped out of my fathers beat up F150 and stretched. We had just arrived at my new school, Hetalia Academy after three hours of driving. I was sore to say the least, and I hadn't been able to sleep. The back of my dads truck had been packed to the limit with things Mattie and I would need for school, and why Mattie got to stay in the front I still didn't understand.
" come on Al your horse is probably freaking out about being on a trailer for three hours." Matt said as he stepped out of the truck. He yawned, he got to sleep on the ride up.
" Patriot doesn't freak out." I defended as I opened the tack room door and got out Patriot's lead rope. He didn't get scared... just excited... Yeah excited.
Matt just snorted as he checked out his hockey gear to make sure nothing got disorganised.
" ah you boys must be Alfred and Matthew ." a cheery voice called as I stepped out of the tack room, note how he didn't try to point out who was who.
" yes sir" Matt replied as he shook the mans hand. The man was wearing a polo shirt and khaki shorts. His brown hair was messy and he had a strange curl sitting that refused to stay with the rest of his hair, not that I should talk what with the bane of my mother's existence sitting atop my head. He had a bright warm smile as he turned to me and shook my hand. His brown eyes were warm and glinting in warmth and humour.
" I'm Mr. Vargas the schools headmaster. glad you boys made it on a Sunday, it will give you time to settle in, tomorrow's a day off anyway. The stable is over there Alfred, someone is waiting for you from the equestrian team and he'll show you around once you put your horse away. Matthew and Mr. Jones I will take your around the school after you get settled. " He talked very fast and sounded extremely happy. Mattie and Dad nodded and smiled politely, but I beamed, I liked this guy!
" Nice to meet you Mr. Vargas." I said and waved to Matt and Dad as they walked with Mr. Vargas to the main school building as well as the dormitories, before I started to unload Patriot.
Patriot was excited to be off the trailer and as soon as he was out he let out a call to let the other horses know that he was here. We had parked near the stable and at Patriots call someone exited the stables.
He was shorter than me and had messy blonde hair that had neon green bangs and his hair didn't seem to lie flat. He was wearing jeans and an old Beatles teeshirt. His eyes were a bright green and he had the biggest eyebrows I had ever seen, I let out a soft chuckle that only Patriot could hear. He had on a serious expression and he seemed angry to be here.
" hullo." he said, oh god he was British.
" hey I'm Alfred Jones . I'm gonna be on the equestrian team. Are you the person who Mr. Vargas told me would meet me." I said as I gave him one of my million watt smiles.
" you're going to be on the equestrian team. " he corrected under his breath, I flinched, grammar nazis and I never got along. Still not quite meeting me in the eye he said, " I am Arthur Kirkland. I am president of the sophomore class and I have been ordered to show you around school and teach you the ropes ." he said. It was clear he was trying very hard to be civil, and wait did he say he was ordered to help me? Ouch.
" where can I put my horse?" I asked gesturing to Patriot who hat bent his head to start grazing.
He eyed my 17 hand palomino American warm blood appreciatively. He seemed to have sized him up immediately and he seemed to soften his eyes for him, but when he lifted his gaze to briefly meet mine again they hardened. " we have a stall ready but if you'd rather turn him out we can see if anyone minds if you put them out with their horse."
I grinned again, " sounds good"
"most of the horses have a specific herd and they get antsy when another one comes in but I'll get the rest of the team and see who your horse will fit in with." he turned around on his heals and headed to a building separate from the rest of the stable, it looked like a kind of building where riders could hangout on hot or cold days.
Arthur returned a while later with four other people. There were three girls, all of who were smiling stiffly at me and one other boy . The other boy had a stern expression, but he seemed nice enough .
" everyone's horse is in a herd except for mine, talk to them and you can try to get your horse in." Arthur said referring to his teammates.
" Arthur, 'ow rude you did not even introduce us." one of the girls chided. She had golden blonde hair which reached down slightly below her chin and twinkling blue eyes, Arthur merely scoffed and leaned against the wall of the clubhouse.
" Alfred ," Arthur gestured to me. " this is Jeanne, Elizabeta , Bella, and Ludwig. " Arthur said gesturing to each of our teammates.
" So good to meet you." Elizabeta said warmly enough though I could detect an undercurrent of hostility. She had mouse brown hair and green eyes that seemed to fail in comparison to Arthur's.
"Yeah it is so great that we have a new teammate ." Bella said, she too had blonde hair slightly longer than Jeanne's and again green eyes, that again didn't seem to be as... enchanting as Arthur's.
" don't mind them, welcome to the team." Jeanne said scolding the others slightly. For some reason I was getting a tense vibe from the others as if they were upset about me being here.
Grinning I told them that I couldn't wait to practise with them. After talking for a few moments I had won all of them over except for Arthur who seemed to have a permanent scowl on his face. Challenge accepted I thought.
" would you like to try him out with our herd?" Ludwig asked he was tall and carried himself as if he was in the military, he had pale blue eyes and his blonde hair was slicked back.
" yeah."
Elizabeta led us to a padock to the side of the arena.
" we'll bring your horse over to Blitz." Ludwig said gesturing to a black Holsteiner. " he's the leader of the herd and if he doesn't like your horse then we'll have to put him alone until they get used to each other."
Ludwig brought over the big black gelding and held him on one side of the paddock fence I held Patriot on the other. Almost immediately Blitz pinned his ears and he tried to rear, responding Patriot nearly knocked me off my feet as he did rear, the lead was pulled out of my hands leaving a nasty rope burn. Quickly Arthur caught the lead and led Patriot a good distance away.
" thanks " I said as I took Patriot back, he had calmed down and continued munching on some grass, as if nothing had happened. Yup that was Patriot.
" that's a no." Elizabeta said walking over her pony tail, which was tucked under a bandana, was swinging back and forth.
"why don't you try to out 'im in with Morgana?" Jeanne asked as she stroked my horse's neck.
Arthur grumbled something but reluctantly took us to a smaller paddock behind the stables. He ducked under the fence and easily caught a small bay mare. He led her over and Patriot knickered enthusiastically. We waited a few moments but nothing happened, our two horses sniffed each other then merely stared and eventually they went back to grazing .
" I don't know..." Arthur said as he glanced at Patriot, and then to me, which seemed to put more conviction in him not wanting Patriot to go out with the bay.
" Arthur you know what Beilschmidt says, if they don't kill each other in the first five minutes theyll be fine." Bella said as she opened up the gate so I could let Patriot go. He trotted over to where Morgana and Arthur were standing, reluctantly Arthur let Morgana go and the two horses trotted over to a different area and began grazing .
" Come on we'll help you unload your tack and ten Arthur can show you around school." Elizabeta suggested , her eyes lit up a little when she talked about me and Arthur being alone.
" thanks" I said grinning as I turned to Arthur, he didn't say anything he just scowled turned and walked to my trailer.
When none of us followed he said, " are you gits coming or not, because I have better things to do today than to lead a bloody yank around school."
My face must have given away my annoyance at the Brit because Bella patted my arm sympathetically, " don't worry about him he's just a... What did you call him Liz?"
" tsundere ." Elizabeta replied with a slight German accent, that was different than Ludwig's.
" yeah tsundere , don't worry he'll come around." Bella said as we continued walking .
I paused for a moment wondering what tsundere was then I smiled, remembering what Kiku ( he had shown me around when I was visiting the academy and we had kept in touch afterward) had told me what tsundere meant.
I ran to catch up with Arthur and slung my arm around his shoulder, " I am sure we will be great friends ."
I could feel him squirm in my grasp as he let out a stream of curses all while telling me to let go. I grinned as I let the short British boy go , if I could hang out with him for the next three years with him I would be good.
A/N: YAY for Chapter two!
The quotes at the beginning kinda only a little have to do with the chapter though not really.
Ugh... I am so bad at describing people.
Please review. Please?
Again still need a beta *Puppy dog eyes that could rival Italy's/America's*.
I am sorry to inform you all that I do not own Hetalia. I know you all thought I did, but I don't. I am also not J.R.R. Tolkien
