"Mommy! Daddy! You're back!" squealed a little child, no older than 4, as he ran across the wide expanse of the front garden, ecstatic that his parents have finally returned after a 3-month journey somewhere he would never know.

He stopped right in front of the family's personal vehicle as it pulled in the long driveway, a bright, sunny smile stretching his chubby cheeks as he greeted his Mother and Father. Hopeful blue eyes longing for a hug, a kiss, a smile, an "I'm Home" to make the many ghosts and nightmares that haunted his many long, lonely nights finally go away…

his hope was dashed.

As it always have been since he could remember.

"Alfred! How many times do we have to tell you not to meet the car? It's dangerous! And why are you barefoot?! Have you been running through the gardens again? Didn't I tell you not to do that anymore?" his mother scolded just as soon as she stepped out of the car, her face contorted in as small frown as she headed inside, not even sparing a glance towards her awaiting son. "Where is Jane? She should be taking care of you! What do we pay her for?"

His father acted as though he didn't even exist as he spoke a few instructions to their driver before speed walking straight towards the second floor where his office was located.

The child's smile dropped instantly, his eyes filling with tears as he shakily followed after them, a sniffle escaping his lips.

His mother looked down at him instantly, seeing the moisture gathering in the corners of his eyes. A long sigh escaped her lips as she bent down, a hand outstretched to pet her son's hair. "Listen Alfie" she began, using the nickname in hopes to calm him down. A tired smile stretched on her face as she wiped the tears now trickling down the boy's cheeks, accompanied by uncontrolled sniffling. "Mommy and Daddy are sorry" she shushed him, bringing the little boy into her arms. "We've just had a very long day, and we're tired. Daddy as well is very cranky today" she explained as she slowly stood up.

Soon she was walking down the halls of the near-silent household, humming a sweet melody in the back of her throat as she brought her son to his room and laid him down on his bed.

Alfred looked at her through tear-filled eyes as she tucked him in. It was only 5 in the evening, nowhere near bedtime, but he didn't fight. Alfred was a good boy, so even if he felt cold in his mother's arms, and even if he felt very sad and empty inside, he managed to smile. "I love you Mommy"

The woman smiled back, containing just barest hints of warmth, and she gave him a kiss on his forehead. "I love you too Alfie…"

She didn't look back as she exited the door.

And the nightmares never did leave the little one alone.


Chapter 1: From Hero to Zero - Approved


Sunlight blazed through the parted curtains, mercilessly attacking sensitive irises as their owner shifted in his sleep in an attempt to escape it, only to wince at the sudden throbbing at the back of his skull. With a groan, he endured the ache in his cranium and shifted, more gently this time, into the most comfortable position he can find, hoping to fall back asleep.

Alfred F. Jones felt like shit. And he did not want to get up that morning.

At least, not after last night.

Oh yes, he would've been fully content to just curl up beneath his plush blankets and sleep the day away if he could. In fact, he wouldn't have minded just suffocating to death right then and there. But alas, it simply was not possible as the blaring sound of his ringtone resounded through his room, sending a shooting pain through his head.

He forced himself to turn around a bit, catching sight of the clock on his bedside drawer.

The time read 7 am –he groaned. It's too early for this. He thought, shifting again despite his headache, hoping to get back to sleep.

Fate wasn't letting him.

The phone rang again, and he had half a mind to just ignore it, but the sound was just making his already aching head worse. Besides, who's to say whoever's calling him would just give up if he didn't answer? With a sigh, he forced himself upright with one arm, the other reaching out to search for the ringing mobile somewhere on the bed, groaning as he pressed the receive button. "What?" he almost growled.

The other end was silent… before a familiar voice rang through. "Alfred? Are you alright?" the caller asked, worry evident in his tone. "You sound… strange"

He ran a hand through his hair at that, a humourless grin spreading across his lips. "Yeah? I guess I do" he managed to reply, only then noticing how raspy his voice sounded. Damn hangover… "Anyways, what can I do for ya Toris?"

"Well, I brought you some breakfast. I'm outside your door right now actually" Toris explained, and Alfred felt his stomach flip at the thought of breakfast. Instantly he felt nauseous.

Without another moment to spare, he made a mad dash straight to his bathroom, barely dropping his phone on the sink before doubling over the toilet bowl.

"A-Alfred?!" questions began spilling from the phone, but the star was too busy emptying his stomach to form a coherent reply. A shuffling sound was heard from the other end before the line went dead.

Soon afterwards, a click was heard and the door to his room opened to reveal a panicked brunette. At the sight of him, the newcomer immediately let out a sigh –of relief or exasperation, he couldn't really tell. "Wow Alfred… you look horrible" the young man stated, placing the bags he'd carried inside on a nearby table.

Alfred smirked weakly at him after his hurling fit. "That bad huh?" he more stated than asked, checking his legs before shakily rising to his feet. Almost immediately he was hit with another wave of nausea, but thankfully not as bad.

The newcomer took this time to disappear somewhere, returning moments later with a glass of water and a couple of pills at hand. "Take these" he said, handing them over to the blond idol. "It'll help with the headache"

"Thanks Toris" the teen did as told, popping the pills in his mouth before downing the water. Almost immediately, the pounding in his skull lessened as well as the field day in his stomach; he sighed in relief.

"Tough night?" 'Toris' asked, inspecting the blond's ragged state. "I thought you didn't like to drink?"

The idol shook his head, plopping down rather ungracefully on his bed and closing his eyes. "I don't, usually, I'm still under age after all…" he explained. "But last night was an exception" he sighed again.

"What happened?"

Alfred stared at the ceiling, silent for a few moments. He heard shuffling beside him, the scraping of wood on the floor telling him that his companion has taken a seat next to his bedside.

Toris Laurinaitis, the tall half-Lithuanian brunette, has been Alfred's manager for the past 6 and-a-half years, ever since the start of his career as a teen idol; he is also the first, and best, friend Alfred's ever had despite being 8 years older than him.

You don't get a lot of friends when you're so high up the hypothetical social ladder… at least not a lot of real ones; and Alfred's known this for ever – which is why he considers himself very lucky to have the soft-spoken brunette as a manager.

"Alfred?" the brunette called again, worry once again coating his voice. Alfred sighed.

"I got dumped last night" he stated blankly. "Dumped by a girl I didn't even like"

Toris doesn't seem surprised though. And it was justified. "I'm sorry to hear that…"

Alfred F. Jones didn't get drunk and depressed just because he was dumped. He'd sort of been expecting it to happen any time now.

Francesca is a gorgeous girl. She's tall, blond and sexy; the top supermodel of one of the largest entertainment firms. She was every guy's wet dream and everyone knew her name.

She was also a shameless flirt.

And she wasn't exactly Alfred's type –he knew he wasn't exactly her type as well— but it was just natural that the two most popular names in the industry would hook up. Came their first ever movie together just a year ago (which was massive hit by the way) everything was pretty much set in stone.

But of course, he knew it wasn't gonna last very long –heck, he was surprised they made it this long.

So no, he wasn't depressed that he got dumped.

It was how.

Last night was his and Francesca's half-a-versary –yes, that long– and he thought it'd be nice to take his girlfriend for 6 months out on a romantic dinner; so armed with a bouquet of roses and his most charming smile he knocked on her door.

Thinking back, he should've expected it really, considering the situation -but he wasn't thinking at the time. So when no one answered and he found the door unlocked, he waltzed right in undeterred.

And when he finally spotted his 'girlfriend' in her bed with someone else… he really shouldn't have been so surprised.

But as if in a cliché love story, he stood by the doorway, stunned speechless, flowers long forgotten on the floor as he stared at the two of them on the bed.

He would've been fine just walking away and pretending he wasn't all that bothered by it –because he's not and, seriously, he should've seen it coming. But he was there, and Francesca knew he was there. She smiled at him.

And she didn't say anything.

No apologies, No explanation… Nothing.

She just laid there, looking at him as if saying "Hey there, sorry, we're a bit busy right now, tata~" and continued as if he didn't even exist….

Again, he wasn't angsting about the break-up.

He was angsting because he felt absolutely pathetic. Not only that… but it was just made known again how fake the world around him is.

And he's absolutely sick of it. Sick of everything.

And the worse thing about it was that as soon as the media gets a hold of the situation –which is soon, he knows. Very soon— well… he just didn't want to deal with it.

He just… he just wanted to be normal for once.

"Do you ever feel like breaking down? Do you ever feel out of place?
Like somehow you just don't belong, and no one understands you?"

He began to sing despite the rasp of his voice. He'd always feel better after a song, especially ones that conveys his feelings.

"Do you ever wanna run away? Do you lock yourself in your room?
With the radio on turned up so loud, that no one hears you screaming?

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
You don't know what it's like

To be like me…"

Toris smiled as he listened. Even hungover his charge can still sing like the pro he is. Just from the blond's expression, and now through the emotions in the song, he had quite a good picture of what might've happened. He sighed quietly, sympathising with the teen.

"You know Alfred, all relationships have ups and downs" he began once the teen quieted down. "You'll find someone" he consoled.

Alfred looked at him dejectedly, a pout playing at his bottom lip. "Yeah right, like I'll ever have a chance at life when half the country's head-over-heels for me and the rest doesn't give a damn" he stated bitterly.

Toris frowned.

"To be hurt, to feel lost, to be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down, to feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down and no one's there to save you...

No you don't know what it's like,

Welcome to My Life"

"You're lucky Toris" the teen stated, staring back up at his soft blue ceiling. "You and Feliks have been together since High School"

The brunette flushed a bit at the mention of his own love life. "W-We weren't always together…" he stated softly, his eyes downcast, but Alfred wasn't listening.

An thought was forming in his mind. It wasn't new… in fact he'd always been imagining it, what it's like…

"Do you wanna be somebody else? Are you sick of feeling so left out?
Are you desperate to find something more, before your life is over…

…"

"Hey Toris…" he perked up, his baby blue eyes lighting up with curiosity as well as… something else. "What's High School like?"

Toris immediately caught up. "This isn't about you're love life anymore is it?" he spoke slowly, a smile creeping up his face.

He had an idea where this was going. "What are you thinking Alfred?" he asked expectantly.

The teen began again, sitting up and fully facing his manager.

"Are you stuck inside a world you hate? Are you sick of everyone around?
With the big fake smiles and stupid lies, while deep inside your bleeding

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
You don't know what it's like

To be like me…"

"To be hurt, to feel lost, to be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down, to feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down and no one's there to save you...

No you don't know what it's like,

Welcome to My Life

And no one ever lied straight to your face
No ever stabbed you in the back
You might think I'm happy but I'm not gonna be okay!"

Toris closed his eyes, the smile still on his lips as he gave a soft sigh. Then he began to sing.

"Everybody always gave you what you wanted, you never have to work it was always there
But I do know what it's like, what it's like…"

Alfred stayed silent, listening to Toris with slight surprise. His manager had a good voice, the slightest trace of his old accent ringing in the melody.

"To be hurt, to feel lost, to be left out in the dark. To be kicked when you're down, to feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down and no one's there to save you…

Yes, I do know what it's like…"

The brunette trailed off, leaving Alfred very curious about what the genuine emotions in his song was about.

"To be hurt, to feel lost, to be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down, to feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down when no one's there to save you...

So you do know what it's like…?

Welcome to My Life"

"High school is hectic" Toris suddenly stated as soon as Alfred finished the song, making the teen idol jump a bit in surprise. "It isn't that different from this really, only you deal mostly with kids your own age and try your best to pass all your classes. T-There are always b-bullies somewhere, and rivalries and drama and homework –can' forget the homework—and a lot of the other stuff… but if I have to think about it myself… it's one part of my life I will never forget…" he smiled at the childish light in his charge's eyes. "And it would be a good experience… though it is a bit late…"

Baby blue eyes widened as Alfred gawked at him. "T-Toris… w-wait… a-are you…?"

"You'd be in Junior year right now, and completely unprepared" the brunette stated, a twinkle of mischief in his warm, honey-colored eyes. "Think you can take it?"

"Are you kidding?!" the teen idol exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "The HERO can take ANYTHING!" he announced, striking a pose that would make most people laugh had it not been the gorgeous Alfred F. Jones. (Because with him, squeals are a more valid response)

Still, we could say Toris is immune and it was funny. "Well. Everyone deserves a break, and God knows you really need it" he explained. "It won't be easy, but I'll see if I can convince you're parents and your sponsors. You'll probably only have few weeks off, which means sometimes after the start of the semester we'll have to mix your schedule and work around—"

"W-wait! Toris… uhm, this is just a crazy question but w-will I be going as I am?" Alfred asked, excitement bubbling in the pit of his stomach as a crazy idea popped into his mind.

The brunette looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

The blond blushed. "W-Well, you see –n-not to be arrogant or anything- but just about the entire country's heard of my name at least once a-and… well…"

Toris raised a brow. "Let me guess" he chuckled, causing the blush on the teen's face to darken. "You want a secret identity"

The teen idol dived straight into his bed, hiding his flushing face in the plush covers and Toris couldn't help but laugh at the childish act.

There was a reason Alfred was called 'The HERO'. He chose that stage name himself due to his love of Superheroes period. It was his trademark to strike up any at all heroics whenever he can, and this was definitely an opportunity.

"Well, school is chaotic enough as it is; if you add news of a famous superstar attending, then that can hardly be called a break. You'll never be able to relax, let alone learn something"

A blond head peeped out the top of the small pile of pillows, blue eyes bright, hopeful, and very excited. Toris couldn't help but think of a child creeping out of bed on Christmas Eve hoping to see Santa Claus. The brunette smiled. "I'm sure that can be arranged" and before he could brace himself he was engulfed in a bone crushing hug.

"THANK YOU TORIS! YOU'RE THE MOST AWESOME MANAGER-FRIEND EVER!"

And like that the topic of girl troubles was all but forgotten.

Three weeks later, Alfred F. Jones was announced to be taking a three week escape from the limelight and one Albert Johnson was enrolled into World Academy W., right before admissions ended.

"Speaking of which, what did you come here for anyways Toris?" the idol asked, tilting his blond head to one side curiously.

The manager sighed. "I was phoned very early this morning about a live interview you'll have with Francesca later on tonight…"

Alfred groaned as soon as the words were spoken, his mood darkening considerably.

"…And because I knew you'll have that reaction, I decided to cheer you up first with some McDonalds" the brunette quickly added, grabbing the discarded bags from the bed-side table extending them to the teenager. The blond perked up immediately.

"McDonalds? SWEET! Why didn't ya say so earlier?"


Song: Welcome to My Life by Simple Plan (I'm not sure if this is seriously a songfic though. At least, I don't think most of my chapters will have songs)

XD So here's the first chapter XD How is it? C:

No Arthur yet this time sadly, but I love that brit too much to keep him away too long XDD And Toris is a minor character in this fic with Feliks too! (I don't really know how to write Lith despite him being one of my favs. :( I hope he's not too OOC...? :D)

Thank you to everyone who reviewed/faved/followed/read/clicked-on this fic XDD I hope you liked this chapter too!
Please feel free to tell me what you think! Reviews charges my writing machine ssu! XD

P.S. This setting is Three Years Later from the Prologue ssu ^^;