Introduction: Hello! I hope you guys enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 2: All for one, one for all

"Alfred!"

"What? There's cabbage in the burger!"

Alfred Jones told Elizabeta defensively. The older girl rolled her eyes as the teenage boy before her was holding a big juicy hamburger. Grease and mustard could be seen oozing from the sides of the burger but that didn't seem to bother Alfred Jones. In fact, it just only made him hungry. The two teenagers were sitting at a table in the heart of the crowded cafeteria. It was like any other day. It was a Monday afternoon and Alfred and Elizabeta were sitting at the same table they had been sitting at for the past three years. The only thing that changed this scenery was the dark atmosphere due to the heavy rain pouring outside.

The pretty girl tried one last time to change Alfred's mind,

"Alfred, you promised me you would start eating healthy. So far you've been eating french-fries and burgers all day!"

"I told you that there's cabbage! See?"

The dirty blonde held the greasy food close to Elizabeta's face. Sure enough there was a thin slice of cabbage crushed between a big slab of meat and thick slices of cheese. She simply frowned and pushed his hand away,

"You're going to regret it."

Alfred just gave her one of his signature dorky smiles before chowing down on his lunch. His friend murmured under her breath,

"And you've exercised so much to lose all that weight…"

"It's fine, we have PE after this anyway."

Elizabeta gave the boy a gentle smile. The two had known each other since the seventh grade and it seemed that they never changed. Alfred used to be short and chubby when he was younger but over the past few years he decided to work out and lost quite a bit of weight. If not for the horrible case of pimples, Alfred Jones could have easily been one of the most attractive boys in school. The only thing that Elizabeta was bothered about the boy was his unhealthy eating habits. Alfred raised an eyebrow while cleaning his oily fingers,

"What's with the smile? Do I have something between my teeth?"

The brunette shrugged,

"No, it's not that. I was just thinking how we haven't changed a bit."

"Oh yeah-we've known each other for quite a while now, huh?"

"Yeah-and you're still the little boy who Roderick and I always have to look after."

"Hey! I can take care of myself!"

Elizabeta giggled while Alfred huffed in annoyance.

"It's okay Alfred. I actually don't mind that the three of us haven't changed a bit."

"Well…"

Alfred leaned closer and gave the girl a cheeky grin,

"Things did change a bit with you and Roderick. Speaking of which, where's the old man at?"

"Right behind you Alfred,"

The two turned to see the serious teenager with glasses. Roderick sat beside Elizabeta and pulled out a sandwich and a small bottle of juice from his bag. Alfred's smile widened,

"Roderick! How did the music club meeting go?"

The other boy pushed up his glasses and answered,

"It was okay I guess. Even though some of the freshmen did not show up on time…that was quite frustrating."

Elizabeta giggled and gave him a peck on the cheek,

"Don't get too grumpy. They are young after all."

Alfred chuckled,

"You both sound like you're in your sixties."

While getting ready to eat his sandwich Roderick spoke,

"Now that reminds me…Alfred, you have been playing around since the beginning of the year."

"So? Tell me something I don't know."

The brunette rubbed his temples,

"You are in your junior year. Should you not be concentrating on your studies? Seriously, Alfred- I worry for you-you even messed around in English class! Knowing you that should have been an easy A+ but you choose not to even try."

The blonde rolled his eyes and pushed his lunch tray away from him,

"Here we go again-college, college, college."

The other boy placed his sandwich back on his tray and stared directly into Alfred's childish blue eyes.

"This is no laughing matter! Did you forget how you completely failed your sophomore year? Alfred, you're not going to make it anywhere if you keep this up!"

Alfred's blue eyes twitched,

"Geez Roderick, maybe I want to do other things than just study all day."

"It doesn't matter whether you want to or not. Either way you have to study if you want to make it in this world! Alfred, the world is a big competition. Those who lack behind end up on the streets."

Alfred felt his heart drop when he saw how cold and calculating Roderick's eyes turned when he said that last sentence. The boy before him was one of the most ambitious students in this school. Even at middle school Alfred could recall Roderick hurting himself when he couldn't get a perfect score on his exams. Elizabeta seemed to be the only reason why he hadn't been hurting himself during those ridiculous episodes. Even though Alfred admired Roderick's intelligence his perfectionist ideals got on his nerves easily. Alfred sarcastically stated,

"Oh geez Roderick, maybe I should just put a bullet between my eyes because I can't stand hearing another sentence from Macbeth!"

Roderick narrowed his eyes as his hands tightened around his lunch tray,

"Now you are just being childish."

"Oh yeah? I rather be childish than be a slave to my grades!"

"Stop being so stupid!"

"At least I'm not a slave!"

"Alfred-!"

Elizabeta gently placed her hand on her boyfriend's shoulder to stop him. The couple looked at each other-Roderick was frowning deeply while his lover gave him a sad smile. Alfred noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere and looked down at his hands in embarrassment. All he could hear were Elizabeta's soothing voice,

"Now, now boys-no need to get into an argument. Alfred, Roderick is just worried for you. We both worry and care for you. You know that he is only trying to push you to achieve great things."

Alfred released a reluctant sigh. He knew Elizabeta was telling him the truth. The two people in front of him had looked after and defended him since middle school. Elizabeta would emotionally support him while Roderick would push him to do his best in his subjects. He never admitted it but the two teenagers were like parents to him. He felt selfish for his childish antics from earlier and murmured an apology,

"Sorry Roderick...I was just..."

Roderick nodded in reply,

"No need to finish, I understand. I admit that I was a bit too rough on you. You've always been the rebellious type after all."

"I'm serious…I was being…childish."

Elizabeta and Roderick glanced at each other. Before them the usually cheerful teenager was gloomily staring at his hands. The older boy cleared his throat and said,

"Alfred, don't be sad. If you'd like I will help you in your studies. Doesn't that sound like a good idea?"

Alfred shot straight up and his blue eyes gleamed,

"Hell yeah! But aren't you busy?"

Roderick and Elizabeta almost fell off from their seats from Alfred's sudden change in personality. They never seemed to get used to how easily Alfred's mood could be changed.

"I am-but you have been with Elizabeta and I through thick and thin. Helping you get the grades that could at least help you graduate high school is nothing."

"Aw-man! Roderick you're the best-!"

Alfred leaned over the table in order to give the boy a hug but Roderick slapped his hands away,

"No touching!"

Alfred simply smiled. The three friends continued to chat about their long day. Roderick continued to complain about the unprofessional attitude the freshmen students had in the music club while Elizabeta talked about how she was excited about the upcoming swimming contest. Alfred just listened, enjoying the changes in his two friends' facial expressions and tone of their voices. He was thankful to have them as his close friends. Even though all three had their flaws they supported and brought out the best of each other.

"Elizabeta,"

The three friends glanced up to see Lovino Vargas leaning against the table with his usual scowl. The short boy usually did not talk to them but once in a while he would come over to complain about the latest gossip. Alfred greeted the boy,
"What's up, Lovi?"

Elizabeta asked,

"Is this about the biology assignment?"

Lovino answered the two questions at the same time,

"That's Lovino to you asshole-and yes-I am here to talk about the assignment."

Alfred frowned while Elizabeta answered the grumpy boy in her calm voice,

"I'll send the data after school. Is that all you wanted to ask?"

The brunette furrowed his brow while biting the bottom of his lip in contemplation. His brown eyes turned back to the three friends,

"Oh yeah-I remember-did the asshole invite you to his party?"

The girl smirked,

"Which asshole? You tend to call everyone in school an asshole Lovino-you will have to be more specific."

The skinny boy rolled his eyes,

"You know-THE asshole."

All four students turned to look at the far right of the cafeteria. Gilbert Beilschmidt was shouting and laughing with his big group of friends. On his right sat Antonio Carriedo, the infamous womanizer of the school. The popular boys seemed to be throwing trash at a small group of sophomore students who were sitting not too far from them. Alfred frowned,

"Poor kids…wonder why he doesn't pick fights with someone his own size."

Roderick simply answered,

"It is because he has the intelligence of a rock. Him and his flock of geese are a lost cause…I would not worry about it."

Elizabeta said nothing while staring at Gilbert. Alfred noticed this and looked down at his hands, he remembered how Elizabeta and Roderick used to hang out with Gilbert from elementary to middle school. He did not know what happened but since the beginning of freshman year Gilbert simply ignored them. However, there were moments where Gilbert tried to woo over Elizabeta. Despite rejecting him multiple times the German never seemed to give up, even though Elizabeta was in a relationship with Roderick.

"No, he hasn't said anything yet. Did he invite you?"

"Yeah. But I don't think I'm going to go. He probably only invited me since my younger brother is best friends with his brother."

Alfred knew Gilbert's younger brother-Ludwig Beilschmidt. The two brothers were polar opposites-Ludwig was the introverted brother who cared more about his grades than socializing like his brother. Ludwig also never tried to harm other students and was seen with Lovino's wimpy brother Feliciano and a quiet boy named Kiku. Despite being complete opposites everyone knew to never mess with Ludwig since he was physically strong and Gilbert was protective of him. In fact, Ludwig seemed to be the only person in this world who Gilbert seemed to truly care about. Before the teenagers could further complain about the popular bully, the bell rang, signaling the students to go to their next class.

While walking down the fairly crowded hallway Alfred separated from his two best friends,

"I forgot to bring my sport shirt. I'll be right with you guys!"

Roderick smirked while fixing his glasses on his face,

"Don't get lost."

"You take care too old timer!"

Alfred chuckled when he noticed Roderick's eyebrow twitching in annoyance. Elizabeta was behind her boyfriend, giggling quietly. It was simply too easy to get under the smart boy's skin. Just when he was about to turn a corner the teenager stopped in his track when his eyes caught the sight of a short boy being shoved against a locker and falling on the floor. The bullies quickly rushed off but the attacked boy was struggling to pick up his fallen books. Following his heroic instincts, Alfred Jones walked towards the boy's aid. While picking up the fallen books he started a conversation,

"Hi there, what jerks am I right?"

When Alfred looked up his blue eyes fell upon a pair of frightened almond shaped brown eyes. The boy before him had long black hair that was tied into a ponytail and an old red hoodie. Alfred tilted his head-he had never seen this boy before.

"You new here? I don't think I've seen you around."

The Asian boy blushed,

"Oh…uh…yes."

The dirty blonde flashed his friendly smile,

"I'm Alfred Jones, great to meet you!"

He handed over the fallen books towards the nervous boy who gingerly took them from him,

"Um…Wang Yao."

He closed his eyes tightly and looked away. Alfred just looked at him in confusion,
"You okay?"

"Sorry…I thought you would make fun of me."

"What? Because of your name?"

Yao nodded slowly. Alfred shook his head as he stood up and offered his hand,

"I'm not like that. Hey, what class do you have next? Maybe I could go with you so you won't get lost. It's a pretty big school."

"I have…PE?"

"Cool! I'm going there too! Come on, I'll walk you there!"

Yao looked at the boy cautiously before accepting his hand,

"Thank you."

Coach Butch's whistle screeched into Arthur's ear,

"Come on Artie, you gotta give me better push ups than that!"

Coach Butch's foot landed heavily on Arthur's back, causing the boy's sweaty hand to slip on the gymnasium's floor and fall right on his chin. As he grumbled in annoyance Coach Butch just frowned in disappointment,

"You gotta do better than that if you want to pass this class Mr. Kirkland. Give me twenty."

With that the heavy man walked away from the scrawny boy. The moment the teacher left Arthur stopped his pathetic push-ups and simply sat on the crowded gymnasium cross-legged. He was sweating all over and he didn't want to bother doing any more of these stupid push-ups. Kirkland could hear a chuckling voice behind him,

"I told you that you should have not participated today."

Arthur glared at his blue-eyed friend,

"Oh shut up."

Francis smirked as he sat beside the frustrated Brit,

"You are too stubborn for your own good. Your hand is injured but you keep on insisting that it's nothing more than a small cut."

"Can you please just drop it?"

Francis poked Arthur's thick eyebrow,

"Whatever you say-eyebrows. Of course, you always know best."

He added sarcastically.

"Alfred Jones! What the hell took you so long?"

Coach Butch's deep voice boomed in the gymnasium. Arthur's green eyes shot at the boy who was being scolded-he couldn't believe it!

"Sorry Coach Butch…I was just helping Yao around the school. He's new!"

Arthur continued to stare at the same boy who had given him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. He was in a different shirt and Arthur could see a good amount of muscle…

"Good excuse Mr. Jones. If I didn't like you so much I would have made you give me fifty push ups like last year."

So Alfred Jones was his name? It was simple…yet catchy. It just rolled in your mouth smoothly. Arthur was not going to complain about what he was seeing until his eyes caught the sight of an Asian boy standing nervously behind Alfred's toned body.

"Who's that?"

He asked under his breath. Francis, hearing the question, leaned over,

"He seems to be new. Quite a cutie-I actually want to know him better-if you know what I mean"

Arthur pushed Francis away,

"Shut up."

"Hey, I was only saying what was on my mind."

The British boy wasn't shutting Francis up for the same reasons the Frenchman thought he was. Arthur agreed that Yao wasn't bad looking and that was the problem. He had a slim figure with silky black hair and warm brown eyes. Something tugged at his heartstring furiously when he noticed how close Yao was behind Alfred. Yao had smooth white skin…Arthur had freckled skin. Yao came off as an innocent boy…Arthur came off as a weirdo. Why wouldn't Alfred fall for Yao? Arthur's fingers curled up into tight little fists.