Another dull gray morning. Tuesdays were hardly better than Mondays in many respects. HistoFreaks didn't even meet that day.

The rooster clock read 3:43 am when May woke prematurely that morning. May Alex yawned and rolled over. Another day another destiny, the lyrics of that song came back to her randomly. She stretched her legs out and felt something odd. Confused, May slowly coaxed her eyes open… to rest her gaze upon the sleeping man next to her.

She blinked, once twice, three times before her brain registered what she was seeing. There was a guy. In her bed.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

The young man shifted at the scream and opened his eyes to look up at the girl who had leapt off the bed, brandishing a pillow. He smiled sleepily in recognition.

"Oh, hello- ACK!" May cut him off with a violent swing of her pillow.

"Ayaaah! What the Hell! What-who are- who the HELL are YOU!"

The poor man sat up, shielding his face with his arms from the repeated heavy blows.

"Eek! Ve ve ve! I surrender, I surrender!" He wildly waved a white flag that had appeared from nowhere and continued to apologize fervidly in a stream of rapid Italian. May paused her attack and cocked her head to one side.

"Who are you?" She asked softly, hoping to quiet him down. It was really early and she was tired; her voice was hoarse and she didn't appreciate the noise.

The man's face brightened, "Oh I'm-… uh… uh… I'm, I'm…" The man was looking nervous now, his smile gone and the sweat starting to appear on his forehead.

Suddenly, the intruder leapt off the bed and lifted May's basket of old dolls and stuffed animals into the air. He then proceeded to put it over his head, dumping its contents on the floor.

"I'm-a the basket of Dollies fairy! Don't mind me! This is only a dream! Woooh!"

He made a floppy I'm-attempting-to-be-spooky movement with his arms and backed up away from her. The only problem was that there was a dresser behind him.

CRASH! The man fell backwards, knocking over a lamp and tripping on a loose boot. He stumbled forward, put his hands out… then fell out the window. The five story window. May screamed.


The Evening Before

I come home to find it as usual. Nothing is out of place and the picture of dad on the front hall table is, like always upright and proud. My shoes go in the mudroom in my "cubby" and I wiggle my toes in their fuzzy socks happily. A little later, Jonas would be here (he was out taking photos in town for his journal project, there were already a few comedy shots of him and I doing silly things like pretending to be reading over the Palmer Square statue's shoulder or eating ice-cream with weird faces… stuff like that) but for now it's just me and mom. I leave my shoulder bag leaning by the living room loveseat and eagerly make my way to Sebastian, my baby Grand.

The feel of the ivories under my fingers is always amazing. A long time ago I had found that if I just opened him up and closed my eyes, Sebastian would lead my fingers to where they should be. It was the greatest way for me to relax after a day of testing and the heckload of stress I got for taking AP Gov as a Sophomore. So I played.

Something you need to know about me is that my goal in life is to be a concert hall musician. I've already been to Carnegie hall twice and my next step is to attempt Kennedy Center. Later, I hope to tour Europe, but that won't happen for a long time. Kevin is constantly making fun of my ambition saying that I'm "trying to upstage Beethoven" and that "daddy will be sure to attend one of my performances one day, with young wife and kids in tow." Geez that guy is a jerk.

As I think this, I frown and my notes turned more aggressive and forte. Sebastian took my irritation and frustration and turned it into something that sounds great and lets me vent without saying anything. That was the best thing about music.

As for my life goal, I put aside three hours a day to practice "real" music; compositions by names such as Bach, Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy and many others. For my "break time" I improvise, like what I'm doing now. I'll close my eyes and let the music flow for half an hour before I finish up my homework (I do most of it during study hall) and get to practicing. Kevin and others would say I'm obsessive, and I guess I am, but I enjoy doing what I do and it makes my mom happy to hear me play. Jonas likes it too, and he's even managed to shown me a few tricks.

Speaking of Jonas, It's been great having him in the house. Mom is friends with Jonas' dad, so when his job required him to become separated from his son mom offered to take him in. She's cool that way. Jonas is also pretty cool. He enjoys cleaning and is pretty OCD about keeping everything neat and tidy. This is good because I'm kind of lazy when it comes to housekeeping, even though I'm a neat freak. I'll complain if a room is dirty, but I won't do anything. Mom calls me a "moocher."

There is one downside to having Jonas around, though. That downside's name is Kevin. He and I have been partnered for everything since we came to high school. We're the only two Sophs in AP gov, so we have to do concepts and bill analysis together. Ugh. I really hate gov., but I want to go Ivy league in college, so I have to start now. Kevin is there for the same reason; his "aunt" (she's really just some lady his dad pays to take care of him, like in Les Mis) Bella won't give him any financial backing so he has to take all of these ridiculous classes so he only has to go for like, two years. Cost cutting, true, but since Kev is pretty idiotic I don't think it will work.

Mom's standing behind me and listening. I can tell from the shadow on Sebastian's obsidian surface. She shuffles back to the kitchen from where she wafts the scent of baking cookies to my nose. I stop and turn to meet her grin.

"They'll be done in about twenty minutes. Do you know when Jonas will be home?"

"He said he just wanted to get some fountain shots, so it shouldn't be long. Oh, that must be him." The doorbell chime sounded and I looked back to my ivories while mom got the door.

"Mooch." She whispered as she passed by and ruffled my hair.

The December air pored in through the open door as mom gasped in surprise.

"Oh! Did you two meet up in town? Come in! Jonas, you know where to put the camera case. Come on in!"

"Wow Ms. Herd-a-very, you look great! Do I smell cookies?"

Oh God.


(In German) Jonas Belshmidt

America Log; Month 3 day 7

If you look throughout the world, you will not find a more annoying, obnoxious, egotistical sixteen year old boy than Kevin Belshmidt. And, just my luck, he's my cousin.

It's gotten too dangerous for me in Berlin. Living with Vati is out of the question, and since Mutter died last spring, I've been in constant danger of being discovered by the government. Of course, since I am the kind of man to voluntarily live in a dungeon for three weeks eating only cheese, bread and water, I'm not exactly easy to pin down.

So Vati sent me to America to live with a friend of his and her daughter. Alicia is a very nice girl. She's been helpful with my limited English and has helped me to start adjusting to the local cultures. Like I have said before, she is pretty good at German and can usually translate the rapid English into something I can understand. She also had been very supportive of me, although she is slightly smothering. Just because I am not the best-spoken man, does not mean that I need to be mothered. I know she means well, but Ally sort of treats me like a little brother… even though I am two years her senior.

And on the other hand, there is Kevin. Today he tracked me down after school and scared the crap out of me on the campus as I tried to get a snow shot. Then he followed me home and practically invited himself into Elizabeta's home.

"SO… Al-i-sia, heard you've got a big gig coming up on Saturday." He laughed and put his hands behind his head as he propped his legs up on the coffee table. I had to bite my lip and clench my fists until the knuckles showed to keep from cursing him out in German. I was technically a guest here; it wasn't my place to yell at him.

"Yes, I do have a recital. Why, you wanna watch? I'm sure Mrs. Kendel won't miss you." She taunted him, knowing as well as the rest of us where Public School Enemy #1 spent his Saturdays.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to disappoint," He smirked back "The pictures of her cats are so riveting."

Ally smiled slightly until Kevin, as usual, said something about her dad and woke the dragon. The two of them have a very interesting relationship that tiptoes along the fine line between best friends, and enemies. Of course, there's also that additional element that neither of them will admit to the existence of unless gagged and beaten until… well beaten badly anyway. It's amazing how blind people can be to their own emotions. Especially Kevin.

I don't pretend that my cousin is a saint, but his life hasn't exactly been very happy. My uncle Gilbert held onto Kevin too long; the government had threatened force, so he and dad had to lose the toddler quickly. That meant sending him to America where, at the time, they had very few connections and consequently had to enroll Kevin in a private foster program where the American government wouldn't have the ability to track him down. Unfortunately, this meant that my cousin was given to the care of Bella Goode and her husband Gus: who care for Kevin on the personal level of the Swiss mercenaries. He won't admit to being lonely or upset, but I managed to sneak a look at his diary and plus: I've met Bella. She's very uhhh… interesting. Nevertheless, Kevin is a major pain in my butt.

The cookies came out just as the phone rang.

"I'll get it!" Ms. Herdavery sang and went to the kitchen where the phone hung from its hook.

My contacts had been bothering me so I also traveled to the kitchen to splash some water on my eyes. I was about to dry my hands when something in Elizabeta's voice kept me frozen.

"Yes I understand the situation, but can't the conference wait a bit longer? I just got home from the last one- yes, yes I know what is at stake. I DO Rod, or have you forgotten who it was that was his slave for hundreds of years? Yes, yes, no I do not have to tell you why I am where I am. I have an apartment here for diplomatic reasons. Dammit! I can't leave right now- Jonas how long have you been standing there?"

It took me a few moments to realize she was talking to panic in her eyes was startling. Crap, if she knows I know… WWMD?

"Sorry, I was just… umm.." I gestured to my eyes. "Sorry, mein English…"

Something like relief crossed her face "Sorry to scare you, I'll call you back." She said the last part into the phone and put the receiver up. Smiling she retreated to her room and I rejoined my cousin and Ally in the living-room. But I couldn't focus on the conversation. Because, you see, I used my English as the excuse that I hadn't understood the phone call… but Ms. Herdavery had been speaking in German.

And now to the question that has been nagging me since I arrived here; who is she? How does she fit into the world I'm hiding from, and why do I have to hide from it?

Gutentag

Jonas Belshmidt


"So let's go through this again please."

"Alright."

The girl fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably. This was awkward and she could tell from the hospital personnel's faces as she had related the story the first five times that they didn't believe her. Now they had brought in another doctor: who she figured had come fresh from the rubber room side of the building.

"You say that you went to bed at nine thirty?"

"Yes."

"and you woke up at, what time again?"

"Uh, three fourtyish." She nervously fingered her wooden cross.

"Uh huh. Did you go to a party last night?"

"No! I already told you that I went to bed ALONE and when I woke up, there he was," May gestured towards the glass window to the next room where her "friend" was sitting, unscathed from his fall, staring happily at the ceiling.

"Well… why don't we ask him about it? The nurse says that he's perfectly fine which is strange. How high up did you say you were?"

"Five stories, yes I know, it sounds crazy." She snapped in exhaustion. Waking up four hours early, rescuing a dazed man from an old lady who beat him with her purse calling him a fallen angel from the devil, driving said man to the hospital in a taxi, attempting to tell the doctors what had happened and not being believed had not helped her odd sleep issues. She was tired, cranky and scared of being locked up or interrogated by the police. She also hadn't had contact with her companion for the last four hours.

"Hello there son. You've had quite a morning. Lets check you out."

The doctor shined a light in the man's eyes as he asked questions.

"So how old are you?"

"I'm-a … twenty!" He shifted a little. "Of course that's-a the people equivalent I'm-a actually….. ung." He groaned as the doctor put a hand on the side of his head to keep him steady. "Please… don't do that."

"Oh, I'm sorry," he removed his hand, "does it hurt?"

"Uh… something like that." He sighed in relief.

"So this young lady says that you fell out her wimdow?"

The man spotted May and waved. He was grinning, but the smile disappeared when he saw the embarrassed look on her face.

"Uh, yeah. I was… mistaken."

"Mistaken?"

"Yes. You see, my apartment is in the same building, one window over. Unfortunately, the building was locked by the time I came back so… I climbed the trellis."

"You climbed the-?"

"Yeah, uh I always keep my window open so I… must have accidentally come in May's window by mistake. I'm very sorry." He beamed at her again.

May was shocked.

"Uh how do you-?"

"So," the doctor cut her off "Where are you from son?"

"Italy! Its-a my home and-a very beautiful!" He went on for five minutes with great hand gestures until they finally caught him.

"So what's your name, son?"

"Italy!"

"No, not where you're from, what is YOUR name?"

"I just said it. I'm Italy, Italy Veniciano…."

The man's face suddenly lit up and he waved in the opposite direction.

"He can tell you! That's-a my best friend! He's Germany!"

A nurse escorted another, more mature looking man into the room. May felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as his fixed her with a strange glare. She trembled and looked away, back to… whatever his name was.

"Sorry for the trouble doktor. Mein name is Ludvig Belshimdt. I believe you have my Coleage? He's easily confused and a nurse informed me he fell out a window?" At this, he looked directly at May.

What? Did he blame her for it? She opened her mouth to say something, but the doctor spoke before she could.

"Yes, but he appears to be fine. There may be a slight concussion, but its really a miracle he didn't brak his neck. Five stories is not a small drop-"

"Jes, I am very much aware. Where can I sign him out? Come Feliciano, say goodbye to the nice people." There was a threat hidden in his voice that made May shiver.

"But can't I just-?"

"Nein. Come on. Vere is the front desk, doktor?"

"Right this way sir. Nurse, find the proper paperwork for Mister…"

"Belshmidt."

"Right, Nurse?"

"Okay doctor! You're free to go Miss. Castella, your aunt is waiting out front."

May nodded and walked out of the office. On her way to the front gate, she bumped into someone.

"Oh, sorry I-"She gasped in surprise, it was the man from the office.

"You, May, stay away from Feliciano if you know vat's good for you," He growled and walked off, leaving the terrified girl standing frozen in place.

What was going on?