As expected, the day was long and tedious, but Ivan was able to handle it well. He actually didn't feel like going to school would do anything to alleviate his pain, seeing as he had no friends other than his sisters who were in different classes because of their age difference, so he was mostly alone during the day. He could be with Matthew, but that would be weird, given that they didn't talk much. They never talked, actually.

"Hey, commie, can I talk to you?"

Alfred said after the bell had signalled the end of the classes for the day and everyone was leaving. Ivan was confused and decided to stay seated to hear whatever Alfred had to say. He thought perhaps he was going to ask him something about the episode in the bus. Ekaterina and Natasha appeared at the door, waiting for their brother, but he made a sign with the hand for them to wait them outside while he talked to Alfred.

"What do you want, Alfred?"

Alfred turned around the chair in front of Ivan to talk to him face to face. He took off his glasses. Ivan was thinking that perhaps he wanted to talk to him about something serious, but they hardly ever talked other than the usual jokes. Alfred sighed before starting to speak.

"Well, you know how I always bother you and call you a 'commie'? I-It's because I like you"

Ivan was really happy. Alfred seemed sincere, and perhaps he could have a friend after all. If he liked him, they would be friends. That was the way things worked in Ivan's head. He was excited, to say the least.

"Well, thank you. Then we can be friends..."

"No, Ivan, you don't understand"

Alfred sighed and said, a little exasperated, and embarrassed for what he really wanted to say. Ivan didn't understand, indeed.

"What do you mean, then?"

Alfred stood up suddenly and grabbed Ivan by the shoulders, pulling him flush against his chest, with the desk in the middle. When Ivan's wide open eyes met Alfred's, their lips connected but it wasn't Ivan who took the initiative. The Russian boy was surprised by the sudden contact and blushed madly. Alfred had already closed his eyes and was enjoying the kiss as much as he could. When they parted, it was not by Alfred's choice.

"What was that?"

Ivan asked, breathlessly. He had felt fireworks when Alfred's lips touched his and a thousand butterflies in his tummy, but then had decided to break the kiss when he thought that perhaps this was all an elaborate joke. Alfred looked down, blushing madly, obviously embarrassed.

"I thought that perhaps you would like it... they way I liked it. It took me a while to understand what I felt for you, but when I did, I realised that I liked you more than a friend even though we had never been such thing. I hope you understand what I'm talking about now"

Ivan was stunned by Alfred's confession; without thinking twice, he grabbed Alfred's cheeks and kissed him passionately.

"Ivan... Ivan... Ivan... Brother!"

Ivan was startled and awoke from a heavy sleep when there was no one else in the classroom but himself and his sisters, who were looking down at him in his desk. He soon realised he was dreaming again and his expression saddened. Ekaterina noticed, but Natasha was too busy looking at her watch.

"Oh, brother, I'm sorry for waking you but it's time to go home"

He then remembered that he was in the last class of the day when the teacher, a kind old man, had told him to sleep when he realised how bad he was feeling, and then he had started dreaming about Alfred again, and again had become sad realising that it was all a dream.

"Quit it, fat boy! You will never have him! What do you think Alfred would do if he knew about your silly crush? Laugh at you! Because you are ridiculous! ... Fat boy"

"Shut up!"

Ivan yelled when the voices began speaking to him. But they were right. Alfred would laugh at him if he found out about his crush on him, because he was fat and unattractive... and, above all, he was a boy.